Category Archives: indie writers

A writers solstice

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Mark Hayes

I have always been fond of the above quote. It comes form Stephen King’s memoir/guide to the craft of writing, On Writing . A book I recommend to anyone looking to progress in the craft. It is also a quote … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, indie writers, pagan, reads, writes, writing | Tagged pagan, reads, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Marrakesh Musings by Will Nett

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Mark Hayes

North Africa. This is not the Africa of Sir William Nettleton III infamously lost explorer and drinker of gin. This is another Africa. The Africa of endless desert dunes and the epicentre of French colonialism. You would be mistaken however … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Europe, humour, indie writers | Tagged reads, travel, writer, writerslife | Leave a comment

Larceny of Countenance

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I felt the sting of remorse. This face I had stollen for my own, now looked haunted and here I was to pay witness to its end. An end I had brought him to. Oh, I could rationalise it all … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, indie writers, rant, Uncategorized, writes, writing | Tagged opinion, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 1 Comment

A Brush with the Law A Guest post by Will Nett

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Mark Hayes

To the Black Maisonette the Childe Nettleton came This line is of course from the infamous fragment of the lost narrative poem by Bob Brown, found written on the back of a fag packet in 1992. Many have since claimed … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, humour, indie writers, reads | Tagged guestposts, reads, travel, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Creating books

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

This is an updated article that I originally wrote in 2020 because the subject keeps coming back around, one way or another. Please bear in mind this is written with some humorous intent, but the advice contained within is meant … Continue reading →

Posted in books, editing, indie writers, indiewriter, self-publishing, writing | Tagged books, self-publishing, selfpub, writers, writerslife, writingtips | Leave a comment

Monkeys! a guest post by Will Nett

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Sir William Nettleton IV, once married a monkey called Kevin. He was drunk at the time (Kevin, not Sir William) which was the only reason he agreed to the marriage, which it is believed was never consummated. At least, as … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, indie writers, pointless things of wonderfulness, reads | Tagged amreading, guestposts, reads, writers, writerslife | Leave a comment

Verne: A guess post by Will Nett

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Sir William Nettleton VII, was once arrested for ‘lewd behaviour involving an elephant’ in his short stay in what was at the time refereed to as Eastern India, later became Burma and is now Myanmar one of only three nations … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, humour, indie writers, reads, sci-fi, steampunk, writing | Tagged amreading, reads, steampunk, writers, writerslife | Leave a comment

Monomania et le gothique

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Mark Hayes

If a Gothic tale needs one thing to make it a truly Gothic tale, it needs an antagonist in the grip of a profound monomania. Obsessions and obsessional manias are among of the principle building blocks of gothic literature. Be … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, books, fantasy, Goth, horror, indie, indie novels, indie writers, novels, opinion, Poe, reads | Tagged amreading, fiction, gothic, newbook, reads, steampunk, writing | 4 Comments

The Snail Telegraph by Jessica Law

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark Regular readers will be aware I have a workaday interest in quantum theory. In particular what fascinates me are ‘spooky’ particles as they can be interpreted to explain a spiritual connection to, well, everything. Having a degree … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, blogging, dreamlands, fantasy, humour, indie writers, indieoctober, music, writing music | Tagged books, music, quantum pagan, reads, wierdtales, writer | 1 Comment

Breaking Reality in Gloucester by Nimue Brown

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Introduction by Mark Nimue Brown is one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite people. Despite this I invariably mispronounce her name, I’m a bit useless like that, I read a word and how it sounds in my … Continue reading →