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Blog 47: Can you handle your Advent?
Does anyone else feel like this year has gone by incredibly fast? It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were celebrating the New Year, and tomorrow we are at the beginning of December. Yes, tomorrow I will be wading into the attic and getting out all the Christmas decorations. I will put on some Christmas music and try to erect the tree while six cats attack it at various stages. And it is also the first day of Advent, where we all get to open a window and see what treat lies

Angie Halliwell
4 days ago6 min read
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Blog 46: What time is it, Doc?
Hi there and Happy Doctor Who Day! I’m sure you are spending the day binge watching all your favourite episodes, which of course will be those featuring David Tenant, derr. You’ll be humming the theme tune, remembering some of his old nemeses and perhaps even wearing a Doctor Who costume or, a fluffy Dalek onesie. Hey, I’m not judging. You do you! It’s getting chilly and being all snuggled up watching your fav episodes on a chilly day sounds a pretty good way to celebrate. If

Angie Halliwell
Nov 238 min read
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Blog 45: Interview with a Developmental Editor
Yes! It’s that time again, when I ask one of the members of the Author Support Network to introduce themselves and tell us how they can help you elevate your writing. Today, I am delighted to be chatting with the lovely Nej Steer. To save yourself the embarrassment of mispronouncing her name, as I did, Nej is said as Neigh (like a horse, I was told), and I have tried to remember this ever since. Hello Nej, it is great to have you with us today. Please tell us a little about y

Angie Halliwell
Nov 169 min read
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Blog 44: Self-Publishing on a Budget
Welcome back to another one of my blogs. I don’t know if you are like me at the moment, but with Christmas approaching, a few months of throwing my cash at repairs on the house and the car, new clothes for my children, and prices of outgoings going up, up and away, money is tighter than Superman’s underpants (I mean they can’t be comfortable to fly about in). I seem to spend all my time scrutinising items, wondering if they are a priority, whether I can wait before I buy them

Angie Halliwell
Nov 910 min read
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Blog 43: It's all a Conspiracy
Hello again, you creative bunch. Now that Halloween has come and drifted back into the shadows again, the next celebration that awaits us is Bonfire Night. Of course, this was originally called Guy Fawkes Night. I still remember when I was young and older kids would knock on the door asking if they could have a ‘penny for the Guy’. They would make an effigy of Guy Fawkes, dress it in old clothes and burn it on a bonfire. I recall them collecting spare wood for their bonfires

Angie Halliwell
Nov 25 min read
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Blog 42: Poetic Licence
Since I was a young child, I’ve always loved to write. My Nana was an avid storyteller who would always teach me about the folktales and mythical creatures of Ireland. I still remember her warnings of the Fae and instructions of how to catch a Leprechaun (to this day, I believe I saw a Leprechaun at seven years old, but of course, I blinked and he disappeared. Sure, it could have been my imagination, but I swear it feels like a memory). We would sit up late at night writing h

Shannon Éilis
Oct 263 min read
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Blog 41: Shock and Horror
I’m shocked because this year is flying by so quickly. The summer has well and truly left us, and winter is fast approaching, along with the spooky season of Halloween. Do you celebrate it? We didn’t when I was a child, but once I had children, I wanted them to enter into the fun of the season. So we carve pumpkins, dressed up and went trick or treating when they were younger, give out sweets and treats to little ones that come knocking on the door, and I have a selection of

Angie Halliwell
Oct 195 min read
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Blog 40: Writing for your Brain
Hello again. As October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and is something I feel strongly about, I‘m going to chat a little about how...

Angie Halliwell
Oct 129 min read
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Blog 39: Spacing Out
Welcome to blog number 39! I have an interesting fact about that number: it’s Japanese chat slang for thank you (san kyu). Following that...

Angie Halliwell
Oct 54 min read
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Blog 38: Give your Motif Teeth
In literary works, the motif refers to a repetitive pattern or recurring element that is used to develop the complexity and depth of the...

Shannon Eilis Doherty
Sep 284 min read
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Blog 37: Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
Welcome to another blog, and to the last day of Summer. Yes, sadly it’s true, we can officially say goodbye, as the 22nd heralds the...

Angie Halliwell
Sep 214 min read
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Blog 36: National Gobstopper Day
Hi there, Creative Writers, and happy National Gobstopper Day! You haven’t got any, you say? Well, get to the shop and buy some. I recall...

Angie Halliwell
Sep 145 min read
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Blog 35: Back to School
It’s arrived! The time that many parents have been waiting for. After six weeks of trying to find things for the kids to do over the...

Angie Halliwell
Sep 74 min read
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Blog 34: The Shape of the Poem
GCSE English has done the disservice of convincing generations of writers that their poetry must fit inside the strict boundaries that...

Shannon Éilis
Aug 315 min read
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Blog 33: It's a Dog's Life!
Hello there, and welcome to blog no. 33! Yep, I have been coming to you for 33 weeks, well 30 as our lovely Shannon has done three of...

Angie Halliwell
Aug 245 min read
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Blog 32: Short and Sweet
Well, hello there! I am quite excited at the moment because my birthday is coming up later this week. Not only that, but I found out that...

Angie Halliwell
Aug 175 min read
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Blog 31: Pantsers -v- Planners
If you have a cat, then perhaps you know that it was International Cat Day last week. As we have six of the furry little things, I get...

Angie Halliwell
Aug 106 min read
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Blog 30: Interview with a Structural Editor
Hi there! Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Sarah Banham, who, along with other editing services and writing workshops,...

Angie Halliwell
Aug 36 min read
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Blog 29: Story Flavours
We are now comfortably into the wonderful season of Summer, and I have been enjoying the sunshine (when it appears). Something else a lot...

Angie Halliwell
Jul 274 min read
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Blog 28: The Political Nature of Poetry
I remember back when I was four years old in nursery, and my favourite time of the day was when we would do arts and crafts. Every single...

Shannon Eilis Doherty
Jul 206 min read
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