blogs

Edgy and entertaining insights from the dangerously-talented writers in the Colony…explore at your pleasure

To receive an occasional summary digest by email, simply click below

WTF, Will! parts 14 – 15

Bev Dalton

I’d now hit the stage where I was half enjoying this challenge and half wishing I hadn’t told everyone I was gonna do it. There…

Read More about WTF, Will! parts 14 – 15

In The Pines

Pamela Jo Keeley

“The werewolf’s bride is late.” The words echoing in my head were spoken by a black horse. With a toss of its mane, the horse…

Read More about In The Pines

WTF, Will! parts 11 – 13

Bev Dalton

I’d now encountered a few stand-out plays, in my great Shakespeare-reading marathon, so I felt quite buoyed up at the prospect of what was approaching….

Read More about WTF, Will! parts 11 – 13

Polly and Dolly

Michael James Treacy

Lady Brimstone-Smedley bought two female parrots, Polly and Dolly, but was shocked to discover they kept shouting out rude and inappropriate remarks. She sought advice…

Read More about Polly and Dolly

WTF, Will! parts 9 – 10

Bev Dalton

In my quest to read all of Shakespeare from start to finish, I finally made it to plays that I’d heard about and seen on…

Read More about WTF, Will! parts 9 – 10

11. How to Promote Your Book without Being a Bore

Eva Ulian

Don’t expect people who barely know you or don’t know you at all will promote your book. It’s not likely that people will go out…

Read More about 11. How to Promote Your Book without Being a Bore

One Perfect Sentence

Michael James Treacy

As you’ll know if you drop by the Colony between the 7th of each month and the 21st, we run a monthly contest between those…

Read More about One Perfect Sentence

Of Straw-Stacks and Sisters

Laura Rikono

Ten minutes before I left the house, my boss called. “The science class is cancelled today. Take Jisoo and Jennie instead. They need adjective practice.”…

Read More about Of Straw-Stacks and Sisters

WTF, Will! parts 5 – 8

Bev Dalton

Full of enthusiasm for my lockdown project of reading The Complete Works of Shakespeare, I wandered blindly on to play number 5. Some time later…

Read More about WTF, Will! parts 5 – 8

Love, Christmas

Claire Gallagher

The Long and Short of It I enjoy writing short stories, which is a complete one-eighty compared to how I used to feel. I used…

Read More about Love, Christmas

Beware the snake oil salesman.

Jake Joy

When I first started down this self-publishing journey, I heard quiet rumours of the dangers of scammers. I knew they were out there. I knew…

Read More about Beware the snake oil salesman.

WTF, Will! parts 1 – 4

Bev Dalton

We all remember those drawn out days of the first Covid lockdown, right? I don’t know how you coped, but while other people were learning…

Read More about WTF, Will! parts 1 – 4

Grace Notes, Part 3

Jason Locke

Thank you for bearing with me. As a reward, we’re leaving high school. We’ll only revisit it in my dreams from now on. I promise….

Read More about Grace Notes, Part 3

Grace Notes, Part 2

Jason Locke

I am glad you’re still here. Come, sit down with me. We’re in my English class. Spring 1994 is the pre-Axe-Body Spray era, if you’re…

Read More about Grace Notes, Part 2

Grace Notes, Part 1

Jason Locke

This is a story of grace, not of sadness. I’m saying that because it won’t feel like that. Not initially. I’m just going to take…

Read More about Grace Notes, Part 1

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Claire Gallagher

The Good There’s so much to love about writing – the excitement of that initial spark of an idea; the stimulation of the challenge to…

Read More about The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

10. As Time Goes By

Eva Ulian

I’ve discovered a number of things to do with cloth serviettes which in today’s age we seldom use. Personally, I don’t use them anymore because…

Read More about 10. As Time Goes By

Be True to Yourself

Robinne Weiss

I recently participated in ALLi’s SelfPubCon, which focused on the business side of writing. There were sessions on using social media, monetising YouTube, website design,…

Read More about Be True to Yourself

Fright Night

Michael James Treacy

     Bert and Harry had met at the ‘Hunter’s Moon’ village pub every Wednesday night at 7 pm for the last 15 years. Both…

Read More about Fright Night

“Take what resonates, toss the rest”

Claire Gallagher

Giving Feedback The title of this post is a sentence that’s often used at the end of a fellow writer’s feedback in the Lab, and…

Read More about “Take what resonates, toss the rest”

Get The Digest

Subscribe to our occasional email featuring all the best writing from the Colony.

Free to subscribe, unsubscribe whenever you want (but we don't think you'll want to!)

Basic Membership Is Free.

Explore the net’s original writers’ colony. Get your work critiqued in our Writing Lab. Learn how to get an agent – or dive into the burgeoning world of self-publishing. We’re with you every step of the way.

Full Membership Is Only $149.95 For An Entire Year

Everything in Basic Membership plus unlimited access to all our writing seminars and unlimited access to our weekly live Writers’ Huddles for mentoring & coaching… Simply the best value on the ‘net.