Category Archives: writing

Unblocking the Dam: Guest Post by Kate Baucherel

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Kate Baucherel, fellow Harvy Duckman author, expert in anything with the words cyber or crypto in fount of them, black belt in some form of violent sport or other and occasional drinker of Guinness, with some interesting thoughts. I think this sort of thing should be encouraged… Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, indie, indie writers, indiewriter, opinion, reads, sci-fi, writing | Tagged amwritingscifi, books, sciencefiction, scifiscarbrough, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingcommunity, writingtips | Leave a comment

Steampunk Fiction, what is it?

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Mark Hayes

Anyone who knows anything about the Steampunk subculture will generally answer the question “What is steampunk?” with words to the effect of “Whatever you want it to be..!”

This is of course an absurdly unhelpful answer. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, amwriting, books, Canadian steampunk, fiction, Hannibal Smyth, indie, indie novels, indie writers, indiewriter, novels, opinion, reads, steampunk, writing | Tagged books, reads, sciencefiction, steampunk, writer, writers, writerslife, writing, writingtips | 6 Comments

More words to music…

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Mark Hayes

When I write, I write to music. I have in fairness mentioned this before, but these posts seem surprisingly popular for what amounts to Mark’s favourite obscure bands and musicians, so what the hell here is another little collection of … Continue reading →

Posted in amwriting, humour, indie, indiewriter, music, music, reads, writing, writing music | Tagged amwriting, amwritingsteampunk, music, writerslife, writing, writing music, writingcommunity | 2 Comments

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 →

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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 | 1 Comment

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

Auguries

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Mark Hayes

A storm was coming, dark things on the horizon, a great gnashing of teeth, dogs and cats doing unnatural things together. That sort of thing, nothing specific, just general ominous stuff. But whatever was brewing it wasn’t the Earl Gray… Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →