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Danger - Submerged Objects! - by Meryl McKean

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We looked out across the estuary, the tide was still high, water filled the tributaries, which stretched out into the marshy grassland like an arterial network, they flowed one to another from the main river. At low tide vast sand banks would be exposed and the tributaries emptied completely, leaving them exposed like muddy slashes on the landscape. As part of our holiday we were visiting the village of Penclawdd, situated on the northern edge of the Gower Peninsular in Wales. Most of the village sits around the Burry estuary. As we watched we saw a queue of small motorised dinghys being launched from the slipway. Each was crewed by a team of 3 or 4 men and women, feet clad in wellies and armed with large sieves and buckets. We learned that these were cockle gatherers, catching the high tide and travelling out to where the low tide exposes the rich cockle beds. The cockles would be harvested and sold worldwide. The cockle industry has been part of this village’s history since Roman ti...
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The joys of writing outdoors by Joan of Green Pastures Christian Writers

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‘Grandma, it's a tree tunnel’ said one of my five-year-old twin granddaughters, with great excitement, during a road trip to the coast. She is a teenager now and probably doesn't even remember saying it (and which of the two little girls said it first is still a mystery…), but I remember it well and with great affection. I find that being out in nature is where my mind can wander away from the day-to-day grind of my quite difficult life circumstances. A few years ago, I felt that in order to settle in our new home, I needed to plant a garden. Little did I know that our circumstances would change so much that I would spend a lot of time in my garden as my activities are now very restricted. Each morning offers a brief peaceful time enjoying the cool air, the perfume of lavender and mint, and appreciating the bountiful colour of my pots of roses, geraniums, petunias and marigolds.  Here, in God’s beautiful creation, I can feel the inspiration to write – even if only a few words...
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Finding Your White Whale

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  My most recent distraction from writing comes in the form of short videos, mostly from the USA, which chronicle the success or otherwise of trips to thrift stores.   Women with more time on their hands than myself record their trips to these outlets and allow the viewer to share their treasure-hunting expeditions. It so happens that I am a big fan of trawling the UK charity shops for bargains and gems.   Truth to tell, while there are treasures to be found, there is also a vast quantity of tat.   Nevertheless, it only takes one prize to make you forget all that other rubbish. In one particular ‘filmet’ (seems a reasonable term for a short reel), a lady claimed to have discovered her ‘white whale’.   I was intrigued, wondering how she would not only fit it in her trolley but how she would cram it into her car (granted these are significantly bigger across the pond), and where in the world she would put such a thing once she managed to drag it inside her house. ...
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New things, old favourites by Annie Try

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  This is the week of coming out of chaos into new things. I hope! I am sitting in my living room which has sofas pulled to the centre of the room and boxes and bags piled behind and between them. The kitchen is over-full with packaged possessions on the floor and the table, which has a small space clear at one end to eat our breakfast tomorrow. Glasses are wrapped in newspaper, trinkets carefully boxed and every bag, basket and specially bought cardboard box filled to overflowing with books, cushions, children’s toys, dog toys, audio tapes, video tapes, CD’s and good old vinyl records! Two old sofas, a large table with a wonky leg and a chest of drawers that is impossible to close have gone to the recycling centre. I know what you’re thinking, but no we are not moving! All this disruption and chaos is due to the imminent fitting of carpets in the dining room, hall, stairs and landing. A necessary activity to avoid falls from worn out rugs which slipped on the dining room floor and...
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An Introduction to Editing (Part 2)

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When you are preparing a piece to be shown to a wider public, one of the questions you need to consider is how much you want to edit your manuscript before submitting it to an agent or publisher. Many writers worry that, if they send out a draft that is too polished, agents and publishers may not see any potential for developing or changing the book to meet their stable or imprint. While there may be a little truth in this, an agent or publisher will definitely look for potential before they seek a perfectly polished piece. However, there is far more danger that, in working through a large pile of submissions, an agent or publisher will be distracted by superficial problems with your draft and therefore fail to see its best qualities. Should your draft suffer from repetition, too much description, or unrealistic dialogue, an agent or publisher may decide not to read further and thus fail to appreciate the strength of your novel. Edit your manuscript until you are really pleased with it...
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My Writing Journey so far... by Nicky Wilkinson

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In the winter of   2024 I went to the ACW committee annual retreat. It was cold and misty and   there was much fumbling to find the keypad to open the door. But there was a buzz amongst us; almost like rebels, we were breaking away from the time-honoured norms of how the committee had always worked and doing things our way. Armed with baskets of, pasta and basil, we gathered in an Airbnb, with a new agenda. Rather than interminably rehashing the old discussions and controversies we needed a new path. Cradling hot chocolate in our hands we huddled in the warmest room. Our intuitive new chair was seeking intimacy to encourage inspiration and hopefully innovation. With dynamic new members of the team and an ‘out of the box’ approach it felt like anything was possible. As the weekend progressed it became clear the old could not continue. Over washing up and glasses of red wine ideas were explored and formulated.   I had arrived conscious that my own time on the committee was ...
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Christian Writer: A Mature Approach to Challenges by Peculiar Medinus

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  Being a Christian writer comes with unique challenges. One of the most difficult things can be facing those who look down on you because of your faith or the perspective you bring to your work. Whether it’s criticism from peers, dismissive comments online, or scepticism from the publishing world, it can be tough not to take it personally. However, responding with maturity and grace not only reflects your values but can also influence others more powerfully than any argument. 1. Stay Rooted in Your Identity Remember that your worth is not determined by others' opinions. Your identity lies in Christ, not in the approval of readers, critics, or colleagues. When negative remarks come your way, pause and remind yourself of your purpose as a writer and who you ultimately serve. 2. Respond, Don’t React When you encounter disrespectful comments or condescension, it’s natural to feel upset. However, knee-jerk reactions rarely resolve anything. Take a deep breath before answering (if you c...
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