Penstricken
Andrew Ferguson – Author
Archives
Book Review: Burning Bright
Posted on May 20, 2021 Leave a Comment
Originally published 27/01/2019 SPOILER ALERT Anyone who has not read Burning Bright by John Steinbeck is hereby advised that this post contains spoilers. Well, well, well, believe it or not, I’ve never reviewed a John Steinbeck book before, despite repeatedly implying that he’s one of my all time favourite authors. That changes today with this […]
Get Your Copy of Penstricken: Collected Stories!
Posted on May 1, 2021 Leave a Comment
There are short stories, there are very short stories and then there is flash fiction: the delicate and often tricky art of telling a story in as few words as possible.The stories in this tiny little book (all originally published between 2015 and 2020 on the fiction blog, Penstricken) are deliberate exercises in brevity.
In total, this book contains twelve flash fictions ranging from fifty to 2,000 words apiece, plus six collections of six word stories.
While these stories vary in mood and genre, you will find in many that the author’s tongue was firmly entrenched in his cheek; whether it be in the brief tale of a Martian liberating his ‘kin’ from the deep fat fryer of a Glasgow chip shop or the nightmarish tragedy of Santa Claus’ true genesis, Penstricken: Collected Stories is a brief snapshot of one writer’s meandering imagination.
App Review: Storywriter
Posted on April 25, 2021 Leave a Comment
I, too, despair of the hope of ever finding such an app. It was in this context that I downloaded Storywriter by Raindrop for Android but the question is: did it deliver?
How To Write When Time Is Short
Posted on April 24, 2021 Leave a Comment
Good writing takes time. That’s why it’s so important to write frequently and regularly.
Super Snappy Speed Reviews: Children’s Books Edition
Posted on April 22, 2021 Leave a Comment
I might have mentioned once or twice before that I have a little daughter….
‘And so,’ my wife suggested, ‘why not write a Super Snappy Speed Reviews post about books for children?’
5 Basic Star Trek Plots
Posted on April 21, 2021 Leave a Comment
I have compiled this list of five basic Star Trek plots to help you on your way to writing a traditional, cheesy Star Trek story.
On Character Traits
Posted on April 20, 2021 Leave a Comment
Let your reader get to know Dave by experiencing Dave, not simply being told about Dave.
Juggling Multiple Writing Projects
Posted on April 19, 2021 Leave a Comment
You’re committed. Dedicated. Come what may, you’re getting this novel done, just by plodding along one word at a time.
Plod, plod… plod…
But then suddenly:
‘I say! Who’s that smokin’ hot piece of brand new idea?’
App Review: Text Adventure
Posted on April 18, 2021 Leave a Comment
If you long for the glory days of graphics-free interactive stories then let me introduce you to Text Fiction by Onyxbits.
Book Review: Ready Player One
Posted on April 15, 2021 Leave a Comment
‘Enchanting. Willy Wonka meets The Matrix’ (USA Today). That’s what the little quotation says on the front cover of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
High praise indeed. High enough to make me buy it and read it. But I know what you’re thinking: ‘did it deliver?’
