Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. It’s Friday again, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Arthur C. Clarke's "How We Went to Mars". Clarke's How We Went to Mars is only 11 pages long and was first published in the short-lived fanzine Amateur Science Stories in March 1938. The PlotThe story follows the British Interplanetary Society—an enthusiastic but rather bumbling group of amateur rocket scientists—on their accidental adventure to Mars. Yes, accidental. What starts as a test flight of their rocket ends with an unplanned trip to the Red Planet.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, then you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. Books that Influenced my Life Two main books influenced my life—one in a positive way and one in a negative way. Let’s start with the negative to get it out of the way.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m talking a little more about inspiration. The Weirdest Places I’ve Found Writing Inspiration All writers must have been asked where they get their ideas from a million times. It’s a question that can be both flattering and, honestly, a little daunting to answer. Sometimes, inspiration strikes in clear moments, such as when you're reading a book or watching a film. But, more often than not, it slinks in when you least expect it, from the most peculiar corners of life.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I’m sharing my review of Lie With Me by French author Philippe Besson. Click the image to find the book Lie With Me was initially published in 2017 by Julliard (France) and Penguin Random House (USA) and is 160 pages long (English version). The PlotLie With Me is a coming-of-age love story set during the 1980s in rural France. The novel centres around Philippe, a seventeen-year-old boy navigating adolescence, and his secret love affair with Thomas, a fellow student.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge yourself, you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. Things I'm Thankful For Oh, wow, there are so many things that I’m thankful for. My ongoing progress in my recovery from anorexia and bulimia.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m sharing a poem with you today. I hope you enjoy it! Breathe to Please My every breath fuels a need,One stitched into my core—A need to do and do and do,And then do and do some more. I offer up, I volunteerfor the chance to win a smile;To ensure you’re gonna like me,I will go the extra mile. I’ll dredge the seas for pearls for you,And collect samples of moon cheese.I’ll blow away all the rain clouds,

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Sarah van Rijsewijk’s picture book, Santa and the Sled Dogs. Click the image to find the book Santa and the Sled Dogs will be published on 18th November 2025 by North Country Books / Globe Pequot and is 32 pages long. The PlotIn a snug mountain town, a family of four and their team of sled dogs get an unexpected knock on their door on a winter’s day by the one and only Santa himself.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you are interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. A Strange or Useless Talent I Have I don’t really have any strange or useless talents, at least none that I can think of.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I’m back again today to dispel a few more writing myths. If you've spent any time in writing groups, online forums—or even just scrolling through #writingcommunity hashtags—you've probably encountered advice that sounds solid. But not all common writing wisdom is... well, wise. In fact, some of it, as I mentioned in my previous posts, is more myth than truth—and clinging to these myths can actually stunt your growth as a writer. So let’s get to it with: 5 Further Writing Myths You Need to Stop Believing…

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and enjoying the autumn season. I'm sharing another poem with you today and I hope you enjoy it. November Nights November nights are magicalAs autumn weaves her spellWe find ourselves enchantedBy every sight and smell November nights are cold and darkThe sky all full of starsThat look down over the peopleAs they travel home in cars November nights mean cosy nightsAnd Snuggling up togetherSipping our sweet and warming drinksAway from chilly weather November nights last 30 days…

Hi everyone! How are you all? Today, I am exploring the subject of 'character’ again, and this time I'm looking specifically at the 'false beliefs' a character can hold, which can help drive a story forward. Characters and Their False Beliefs When crafting a compelling work of fiction, one element that can help bring characters to life is their false beliefs. What are False Beliefs?False beliefs are essentially misconceptions or misunderstandings that characters hold about themselves, others, or the world around them. These beliefs can arise from previous life experiences, traumatic events, inner insecurities or even societal norms.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. This week, I’m reviewing Wes Craven's New Nightmare, the novelisation of the film of the same name, by David Bergantino. New Nightmare was unleashed upon the world by Tor Books in 1994 and is 216 pages long. The PlotThe book centres around Heather Langenkamp, the actress highly regarded for her role as Nancy Thompson in several of the Nightmare on Elm Street films. Unlike the slasher premise of the earlier films, this one cleverly blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. Books I've Recommended and Why I’ve recommended so many books over the years for many different reasons. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig…

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. I’m sharing another poem with you today. I hope you enjoy it! Old Man Jack There he is, our Old Man Jack,Sitting on the porch,Mouth spread in a big wide grin,Eyes gleaming like a torch. A sentry defending the home,Protector of the night,Keeping safe all souls within,From those who would cause fright. Old Man Jack will scare awayThe scariest of all;He’ll chase away the nightmares,Who come by ev'ry fall. Thank you, as always, for stopping by to read my words. It really means a lot! Until next time, George © 2025 GLT

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. I can't believe we're at Halloween already! I say this a lot, but where has the time gone? Where has the year gone? Wasn't it just New Year's Day yesterday? Anyway, I'm sharing a poem with you today, and I hope you enjoy it. Within These Haunted Halls Shadows seem to bend and twist,Within these haunted halls,Where memories of yesterdayRicochet of the walls. Voices whisper through the air,Carried upon a breeze,Echoes of a different time,Made by misty entities.

Hi everyone! Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of the horror novella Mr. Harrigan’s Phone by Stephen King. Click the image to find the book Mr. Harrigan’s Phone was published for the first time in April 2020 as part of the short story collection If it Bleeds by Scribner and is 80 pages long. The PlotAt its heart, the novella begins with an unlikely friendship between Craig, a boy living in a small town in Maine, and the reclusive, wealthy Mr.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge yourself, you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. Things that Scare Me In general, there are so many things that scare me. I’ve had crippling anxiety for years and years, leading to agoraphobia.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m exploring some more of those pesky writing myths that need to be put to rest once and for all. Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or someone staring at a blank page wondering why you decided to write anything in the first place, this one’s for you. So, here are: 5 More Writing Myths You Need to Stop Believing Myth 1 - All First Drafts Should Be PolishedHere’s a secret no one tells you in those shiny Instagram posts about writing spaces and #WritingCommunity hashtags: first drafts are ugly.

Hi everyone! How are you all? Today, I am delving into plot twists, exploring what they are and how you can use them effectively. So, first things first: What is a Plot Twist?A plot twist is a sudden and unexpected change in a story's direction or outcome, adding depth, excitement, and intrigue to your work, keeping readers engaged and helping them stay invested in the story, as they are often unexpected and add an element of surprise. How to Use Plot TwistsWhen it comes to incorporating plot twists into your writing, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today I'm offering some tips for avoiding clichéd story openings. So, let's dive in! Clichés to Avoid for an Original Novel Opening Your story's first few lines are crucial. They set the stage for your plot, introduce your readers to your world and your characters, and, most importantly, they are the hook that keeps your readers reading. However, it can be easy to slip into using a comfortable and familiar cliché in your opening lines. Many writers (including myself when I first started) believe that because a particular type of opening has worked many times for many other writers, it will certainly work for them, but that isn’t necessarily the case.

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well! Today, I’m exploring character archetypes! Let’s get to it! Common Character Archetypes I have said it many times before, but it is true: writing and creating believable and relatable characters is essential for great storytelling. To do this, many writers rely on character archetypes. These are tried-and-true character types that readers will instantly recognise and connect with and are great for using as a template to add your own descriptions and personalities. Some of the more common character archetypes in storytelling include the hero, the villain, the love interest, the mentor, the comic relief, and the sidekick, so let’s have a quick look at each!

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am sharing my review of David Lewman’s prequel novel to the 2022 film The Batman titled The Batman: Before The Batman. Click the image to find the book The Batman: Before The Batman was published in 2022 by Random House and is 136 pages long. The PlotThis YA prequel novel set a few years before Matt Reeves’s 2022 film The Batman revolves around Bruce Wayne’s desire to make sense of the world following the murder of his parents, which feels painfully omnipresent in his life.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today is Wednesday, and it's time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you'd like to participate in the challenge, you can find the list of topics for 2025 here. If you're interested in reading other people's responses to this week's topic, you can do so here. Books I Read on Someone's Recommendation The DeepLast year, lovely Lydia Scoch recommended I read The Deep, a novella by Rivers Solomon, and I thought it was brilliant.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all well. Today, I’m going to be busting some writing myths for you so that you don’t end up believing a load of old nonsense for years like I did. 5 Writing Myths You Need to Stop Believing Writing is one of those activities that invites unsolicited advice, isn't it? I’m doing it right now, although if you’re here, hopefully, it’s because you trust the advice and information I give. But here’s the thing about a lot of advice out there: much of it is outdated, overly rigid, or just plain wrong.

Hi everyone! How are you all? October is upon us, which means it's spooky season and time to get into the spirit of things! For many people, including me, that means breaking out the old horror films and reading some scary stories. I love a good scare or even just that feeling of being a little creeped out (hello, Poltergeist, I'm talking to you), and there's almost nothing better than inducing those feelings in someone else. I've much enjoyed the look on the faces of some of my readers when they get to the creepy parts of some of my stories; it gives me such a thrill to know I've managed to send even the tiniest shiver down their spines.