Andrew Ferguson
Children's/YA Author
Throwback Thursday Category
Throwback Thursday: Daydreaming is an Essential Exercise for Writers
Posted on May 28, 2020 Leave a Comment
Daydreaming is a habit you should definitely get back into, especially if you plan on being a story-writer.
Throwback Thursday: How to Help Your Audience Suspend Disbelief
Posted on February 27, 2020 Leave a Comment
You as the writer have a responsibility to write a story which makes it easy for the audience to suspend their disbelief…. The issue is not one of what is possible. The issue is of what is likely.
Throwback Thursday: Dear Authors, Size Does Matter
Posted on February 6, 2020 Leave a Comment
Best of all, you’ve had a story idea! A superb story idea that you’re sure other people are going to love too! Well isn’t that just fabulous? I’m made up for you. Really. You won’t see the verdant steam of jealousy billowing from my ears at all. In fact, I’m so happy for you that I’m going to help you make sure you don’t ruin it.
‘Ruin it?!’ You cry, aghast and perturbed. ‘What could possibly ruin this little gem of mine?!’
Lots of things, but what I’m really thinking about today is the length of your story: writing a novel that should be a novella; a novella that should be a short story; a short story that should be a one hundred word story; a one hundred word story that should be fifty… or indeed, writing a fifty word story that should be a 550,000 word trilogy with a spin-off stage musical.
Throwback Thursday: The Secret of Sig. Pieroni’s Pizza
Posted on January 30, 2020 Leave a Comment
It occurred to me that a takeaway restaurant could make a lot of money if only the owner had exclusive and discreet access to a time machine, thus allowing him to deliver food promptly no matter how busy a night he was having. However, I neglected to actually show you the story that came about as a result of that plot bunny.
Throwback Thursday: 50 Quotes About Writing
Posted on January 16, 2020 Leave a Comment
Well, we’ve already had fifty quotes about fiction in general so today it’s time for another fifty quotes, this time providing advice, encouragement and general reflections on the process of writing.
Throwback Thursday: D. Wallace Peach Interview Omnibus
Posted on January 9, 2020 Leave a Comment
I had the pleasure of chatting with D. Wallace Peach, whose books, including the ‘Shattered Sea’ duology, are available to buy now on Amazon. This is part one of our interview. Don’t forget to check back next week for part two!
Throwback Thursday: Doctor Who (Series 11) Review
Posted on December 27, 2019 Leave a Comment
Jodie Whittaker’s first series as the titular character in the BBC’s Doctor Who is finally over. Actually it was over almost two weeks ago but I had to do 6 Six Word Stories for the 6th last Sunday so you’re getting the review this Sunday instead. Lap it up.
Throwback Thursday: The Well of Ascension: A Review
Posted on November 28, 2019 Leave a Comment
So, here we have it: my full scale review of The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson; the second book in the high fantasy Mistborn series.
Throwback Thursday: The Malice Restored My Faith In Sci-Fi/Fantasy Trilogies
Posted on November 14, 2019 Leave a Comment
A few days ago someone very kindly (but not entirely accurately) referred to Penstricken as a ‘writing tips blog’ when really I intended this site to be for both story writers and their audiences. So, I decided it was time to write a post for those of you who have put up with me rambling about writing week in and week out when all you really want is a book recommendation. And since I have recently finished The Malice, it seemed a logical choice to review it on this week’s post.
Naturally I will try to give a fair, balanced and critical review but you know…
The Vagrant trilogy is arguably the best sci-fi/fantasy series I’ve come across in a long time! It has made me believe in sci-fi/fantasy trilogies again! I wish the third book would just hurry up and COME OUT already!
… and relax.
Throwback Thursday: The Fireplace Coppers
Posted on November 7, 2019 Leave a Comment
I wrote this story earlier this year as an entry for a short story competition. Alas, I did not win and therefore was not published in print or online so I’ve put it here instead. The rules of the competition were that it was to be fewer than one hundred words long and given my frustrating tendency towards long-windedness, I thought it was worth having a go at…
Andrew Ferguson 