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Continue reading →: Review: Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
“Pratchett has the ability, second to none, of bringing us characters who will become our friends.” It is always a delight to read one of Pratchett’s Discworld novels. It is a forever mystery to me how he managed to write so many (uncharitably, you could say ‘churned out’ so many)…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
“…the science fiction equivalent of Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake albeit far more interesting…” This book was not one that had crossed my path and been added as a ‘classic must-read’. I’d honestly never heard of it before until a friend suggested I might like it. This friend’s suggestions are normally spot…
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Continue reading →: A Brief Guide to Writing: 6 – The Writer and The Black Dog of Doom
or looking after your mental health as a writer “The days of the depressed writer… killing himself after burning all his manuscripts and considering himself a failure, are over – or they should be.” The Covid Pandemic seemingly brought grief and joy in equal measure albeit often with some getting…
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A Brief Guide to Writing: 5 – Mistakes, editing and you
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Continue reading →: A Brief Guide to Writing: 5 – Mistakes, editing and youI started this piece quite some considerable time ago. At the time, my novel was in the early stages with the publishers. It has been published over a year now, which tells you something about how long it takes for me to get a job done sometimes! By sheer fate,…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Paper Aeroplane by Simon Armitage
Having reviewed Armitage’s latest book a few months ago and not finding it quite as good as some of the selected poems I’ve read over the years, I decided to see if I could rekindle my love for this poet by reading his collection of – presumably – his best…
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Continue reading →: What is the point of book reviews?
“So, disagree with my reviews, by all means. This is also useful for those that fall upon these pages.” Recently, I had a lovely little comment on this site from ‘Jimmy’ who clearly didn’t like my reviews very much. I didn’t publish the comment because it was the usual vacuous…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Rule, Nostalgia by Hannah Rose Woods
“…we always look back to a time that didn’t exist.” Hannah Rose Woods has crafted a superb book that entertains as much as it does illuminates and does so without trying to be witty or find some forced clever idea that doesn’t work. Instead, she writes with the absolute precision…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
“We’re losing nature in huge swathes and not realising it.“ I reviewed Macfarlane’s ‘Lost Spells’ a little while ago after reviewing a wonderful production at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake. Although the production was named after the Lost Spells, it was very much based both on that book and this…
Hello, I’m Ken.
Welcome to Write Out Loud, my blog dedicated to all sorts of things to do with writing.
This page will be updated constantly every week with book reviews and writing-related stuff.
The blog is the baby sister of my personal blog kenthinksaloud where I write ‘Monday Murmurings’—insights into life and philosophy. Get a clever take on politics with ‘Wednesday Banker,’ and ‘Future Friday’ for the latest in psychology, environment, and tech.
I will use this blog to give helpful advice, tips, tricks and resources as I come across them to other writers and to advertise my own writing especially as my books start to be published.
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Write Out Loud (Reviews and Writing) 