Category Archives: writes

Getting struck by lightning

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Seeking Inspiration is like seeking being struck by lightning, occasionally one must encourage the lightning a little. Others have said this better than me… Here then are some quotes on subjects of which I am fond. * may they inspire. … Continue reading →

Posted in humour, indie writers, indiefriday, quotes, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, quotes, reads, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

What is Steampunk? A Guest post by Matt McCall

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Mat McCall, a bulldozer of joyous exuberance and invested enthusiasm who manages to drag unsuspecting people into a whirlwind of frivolity. I love this man… He has some thoughts on ‘What is Steampunk’ he is something of an expert on the matter, though he would never claim to be. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, reads, retro book reviews, sci-fi, steampunk, Uncategorized, writes | Tagged books, guestposts, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writerslife, writing | 1 Comment

Writing Groups, a guest blog by Liz Tuckwell

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Mark Hayes

For Mark’s annual Indie Month, I thought I’d write something about my experience of writing groups. Writing is a solitary pursuit, but writers like to get together to discuss their craft and occasionally have a good moan about writing and publishing. Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amreading, amwriting, Harvey Duckman, indie, indie novels, indie writers, IndieApril, indiewriter, writes, writing | Tagged harveyduckman, reads, sciencefiction, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 4 Comments

Now That’s What I Call Rubric: Guest Post by Will Nett

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Mark Hayes

He’s squatting in his underwear with arms raised after a night of prodding and bullying our heroic author into finishing the 3-foot high tome, much the same way that modern day blog editors do now. Apparently written entirely in one evening, the author was of course largely undistracted by Love Island, social media and the goings on across the road at no. 91. Aside from the romantic ideal of an isolated monk hounded into action by a belligerent sprite such as Satan… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, humour, indie, indie writers, IndieApril, opinion, pointless things of wonderfulness, reads, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, books, guestposts, reads, stockholme, travel, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

Writing about future war… Guest Post By CG Hatton

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Mark Hayes

To this Dr Anne Forsdyke responded ,’ Oh? You think so do you matey.’ brandished a cutlass and gutted three of them before she was restrained by a brave member of the Geology department. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, big questions, books, Harvey Duckman, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, pirateday, pirates, sci-fi, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, big questions, books, reads, sciencefiction, writer, writerslife, writing | Leave a comment

When a chap is not a chap…

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Mark Hayes

An internet friend reminded me the other day of an important lesson we all need to take on board and remember. When I say all I am talking about 49.9% of the population though the core message applies to us … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, depression, Hannibal Smyth, mental-health, writes, writing | Tagged depression, despression, mentalhealth, reads, writer, writerslife, writing | 2 Comments

Dear Edgar

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Mark Hayes

About a year ago I published a book that started out as a series of blogs in which I read the complete works of HP Lovecraft. A project I started as ‘filler’ posts for the blog. I’d expected the project … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, book reviews, books, Dear Edgar, Goth, horror, humour, indie, mental-health, opinion, publication, quotes, rant, writes, writing | Tagged amreading, Dear Edgar, Poe, reads, writerslife, writing | 4 Comments

Further Words to Music

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Mark Hayes

When I write, I write to music. I have mentioned this before… The music changes,depending on mood, and what I am writing. Often times the music influences the words, not so much on a individual basis but in sense of … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, books, Goth, indie writers, music, music, pointless things of wonderfulness, writes, writing, writing music | Tagged #amwriting, Goth, music, writerslife, writing, writing music, writingcommunity | 1 Comment

The rules of write #2

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I’m not a great fan of talking about characters in terms of ‘her/his truth’. Though it is a concept I understand, my problem with the concept is it is by nature restrictive. Which is to say that the concept states that I, a white upper working class British man in his early fifties, should not write about the experience of an African American soldier born in the early 1900’s in the southern states of the US, because I can not know, or speak for, that characters ‘truth…’ Continue reading →

Posted in #amwriting, amwriting, books, fantasy, fiction, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, opinion, reads, writes, writing | Tagged amwriting, amwritingscifi, authors, bookblog, books, reads, writer, writerslife, writing, writingtips | Leave a comment

Words in Darkness

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Mark Hayes

I am fond of the dark, of laying on my bed, naked to the world, staring into the void. I could be staring up at anything. Staring up at endless worlds of possibility. The dance of the infinite. The realm … Continue reading →