Dr Colin Will
@colindwill.bsky.social
Scottish poet, fiction writer, editor, plantsman, musician, ex-librarian and information scientist.
Since February I've submitted six short stories and two poems. The poems were both turned down, but I'm still waiting for word about the stories.
June 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Since February I've submitted six short stories and two poems. The poems were both turned down, but I'm still waiting for word about the stories.
Another batch of conifer seeds sown yesterday, after they'd been in the fridge for a month. A third batch should arrive in the post today, but they shouldn't need vernalisation. Fingers crossed for good germination.
May 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Another batch of conifer seeds sown yesterday, after they'd been in the fridge for a month. A third batch should arrive in the post today, but they shouldn't need vernalisation. Fingers crossed for good germination.
Decanted from home this afternoon, as Jane was hosting one of her prosecco and cake things, I did a tour of some of East Lothian's garden centres. Came home with a Sciadopitys, a Cryptomeria, a Podocarpus and a big bag of kurodama. Happy with that.
April 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Decanted from home this afternoon, as Jane was hosting one of her prosecco and cake things, I did a tour of some of East Lothian's garden centres. Came home with a Sciadopitys, a Cryptomeria, a Podocarpus and a big bag of kurodama. Happy with that.
I had a wonderful day exploring some of the old stones in Dunbar, in buildings and walls, and seeing the skills of today's new craft workers in action.
April 29, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I had a wonderful day exploring some of the old stones in Dunbar, in buildings and walls, and seeing the skills of today's new craft workers in action.
Puffins on Lunga, June 2019.
April 15, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Puffins on Lunga, June 2019.
I'm back to editing short stories for a possible competition. One or two possibilities so far. Still waiting for the results of older submissions.
April 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I'm back to editing short stories for a possible competition. One or two possibilities so far. Still waiting for the results of older submissions.
I did pan-fried sea bass with lemon-pepper butter for wir tea tonight, with thinly sliced baby brussels sprouts and chopped chestnut mushrooms stir fried in butter with a hint of light soy at the end. Delicious, and very healthy.
March 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I did pan-fried sea bass with lemon-pepper butter for wir tea tonight, with thinly sliced baby brussels sprouts and chopped chestnut mushrooms stir fried in butter with a hint of light soy at the end. Delicious, and very healthy.
I wrote a poem yesterday about 'Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat', the Mingus elegy to Lester Young. Such a good tune. So today I took my old alto sax out to the garden room and played it. Felt really good. Tomorrow I'll try the tenor.
March 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I wrote a poem yesterday about 'Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat', the Mingus elegy to Lester Young. Such a good tune. So today I took my old alto sax out to the garden room and played it. Felt really good. Tomorrow I'll try the tenor.
I now have six short stories and two poems in submission. Just waiting to find out if some of them have found a home.
March 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I now have six short stories and two poems in submission. Just waiting to find out if some of them have found a home.
Another short story submitted tonight. I now have four stories and two poems in submission. After two difficult years I'm getting myself together.
March 7, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Another short story submitted tonight. I now have four stories and two poems in submission. After two difficult years I'm getting myself together.
Four lots of conifer seeds have been soaked, dried, and are now in the fridge for stratification. I'm giving them four weeks, and then I'll sow them. I'm hoping they'll produce lots of unusual little trees.
March 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Four lots of conifer seeds have been soaked, dried, and are now in the fridge for stratification. I'm giving them four weeks, and then I'll sow them. I'm hoping they'll produce lots of unusual little trees.
Some years ago I wrote a short story where the main character worked in biotech. Her main work involved 3-D protein imaging. Since I wrote it the whole field has been revolutionised by an AI app - AlphaFold - so I guess I'll have to change her job.
February 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Some years ago I wrote a short story where the main character worked in biotech. Her main work involved 3-D protein imaging. Since I wrote it the whole field has been revolutionised by an AI app - AlphaFold - so I guess I'll have to change her job.
Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora) on the upper slopes of Mount Fuji. I love that gnarly look.
February 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora) on the upper slopes of Mount Fuji. I love that gnarly look.
I realise that one of the short stories I'm editing has a weak ending, so I'm putting it aside until I find a way forward with it.
February 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I realise that one of the short stories I'm editing has a weak ending, so I'm putting it aside until I find a way forward with it.
I've just submitted a short story. First time in ages I've sent anything off. Another one's in the pipeline.
February 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I've just submitted a short story. First time in ages I've sent anything off. Another one's in the pipeline.
Seeing the footage of the derelict industrial estate units near Glenrothes on the news I realised that I'd actually been there many years ago. When I was running Calder Wood Press one of the printers I used was based there, and I visited them several times to pick up pamphlet print runs.
January 28, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Seeing the footage of the derelict industrial estate units near Glenrothes on the news I realised that I'd actually been there many years ago. When I was running Calder Wood Press one of the printers I used was based there, and I visited them several times to pick up pamphlet print runs.
Finished the new poem today. Unlike in The Other Place, where it contains facts I've checked them. I'll leave it a couple of days and maybe make a few changes, but I'm happy with it.
January 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Finished the new poem today. Unlike in The Other Place, where it contains facts I've checked them. I'll leave it a couple of days and maybe make a few changes, but I'm happy with it.
Tonight, just like that, a new poem has started, the first for ages. I could blame Faraday, or Schama's time in Jarman's garden, or just the weather today.
January 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Tonight, just like that, a new poem has started, the first for ages. I could blame Faraday, or Schama's time in Jarman's garden, or just the weather today.
I did some editing on the new short story. As usual when editing, I cut some bits and added others. I'll leave it alone now for a while.
January 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I did some editing on the new short story. As usual when editing, I cut some bits and added others. I'll leave it alone now for a while.
I'm happy to be writing short stories again. To be honest, I'm happy to be writing anything again. Apart from the occasional poem, it's been very quiet here in Bag End Sur Mer.
January 20, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I'm happy to be writing short stories again. To be honest, I'm happy to be writing anything again. Apart from the occasional poem, it's been very quiet here in Bag End Sur Mer.
I cycled in the dark this morning, to get my newspaper. It felt a bit freeing, to be honest, and the traffic was lighter than it gets in daylight.
January 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I cycled in the dark this morning, to get my newspaper. It felt a bit freeing, to be honest, and the traffic was lighter than it gets in daylight.
Nice to get back on the bike again today. I cycled up to the gym and met a cyclist friend who was bikeless today. She told me she'd come off her bike on the black ice last week. She was OK but her bike was hurt.
January 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Nice to get back on the bike again today. I cycled up to the gym and met a cyclist friend who was bikeless today. She told me she'd come off her bike on the black ice last week. She was OK but her bike was hurt.
Tonight's kedgeree for @russjoneswrites.bsky.social
January 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Tonight's kedgeree for @russjoneswrites.bsky.social
Toe in the water here. Jane and I are fine in this cold weather. The house is warm, we're stocked up with food, and we're just looking after each other as usual. Other than that, NTR.
January 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Toe in the water here. Jane and I are fine in this cold weather. The house is warm, we're stocked up with food, and we're just looking after each other as usual. Other than that, NTR.