Reviews

I’ve tried to post any reviews of my work I’m aware of on here, and that’s usually a Nice Thing to do. Sadly, every now and again, you get one that isn’t full of praise. But you’ve got to expect those. You can’t please everybody all the time.

So when I read:

“After three good stories things take a distinct downturn with The Woods by Nik Perring, the longest story in the issue and also the weakest. Two friends leave the pub and wander through the woods, getting spooked by local legends, though there is also the suggestion of animosity between them. ‘Only one of the friends made it out of the forest,’ reads the text, at which point we lose all sight of credibility. The police are called in and Dennis’ body is found at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft. Suicide conclude the local plod, not even bothering to consider any other theory, or even to question survivor Christopher. Christopher then goes into mental meltdown, while police officer on the make Harold starts to prowl the woods at night looking for goblins. It ends badly, which in the circumstances was only to be expected. This story has poor plotting, incredulous characterisation and a prose style that at times borders on parody. There is the hint of something interesting peeping through, a man’s descent into madness, and flashes of talent in the prose, but no more than that. It reads like a first draft.”

that’s what I thought. I’m not saying I agree with what’s said (I wouldn’t, would I?) and you’d be right in thinking I was a little disappointed. But, well, everyone’s entitled to an opinion and not everyone’s going to like what you write. You know, I didn’t like Moulin Rouge but that doesn’t make it a bad film. Does it?

(Incidentally it was nice to see Sarah Jackson’s story getting deserved praise on the same site, so not all bad.)

You can read the review in full here.

***

And here at the Perring household we’re fast running out of chocolate and marshmellows and carrot cakes. Soon I think it’ll be getting to the point where I have to opt for trick unless the little skeletons and zombies and vampires who’ve been appearing at my door want me to read them a story.

Scary Flash

Well, being as it’s Hallowe’en tomorrow, here’s a scary story. It originally appeared in Flashshot in February (I think) 2005.

SPADE

The damp cold from the cobbled street seemed to soak into his bones, causing them to throb almost as much as his head.

A hand to his mouth brought away more blood. Moist over caked hands.

He opened his mouth to speak, but found he could not. He wanted to ask why, and not being able to did to his soul what the spade had done to his body.

Something blocked out the light from the street lamp; the spade.

Finally he was able to speak, although the words would be his last.

“No. Dad. Stop.”



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This is really cool as well. I think seeing and hearing this kind of thing when I was younger had a huge influence on what and how I write now. Interesting how different forms of art can influence and inspire others, isn’t it?

Things I’ve done

Aside from the story, which you all know about anyway.

Yesterday I took a break from the long story and wrote a short one. A true one actually. Then I typed it up. Then I went to the cinema with my beloved (it is half term!) where I watched Stardust. Now, the book is one of my favourites and I was quite prepared to be disappointed; I’d read Neil Gaiman had said it was, in parts, very different to the book. And it was, in parts. But different doesn’t always mean worse. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to everyone. Top, top film.

Excellent News

The brilliantly fantastic “Chips, Beans and Limousines: The Fantastic Diary of Bathsheba Clarice De Trop!” by the equally brilliantly fantastic Leila Rasheed is now available for pre-order on amazon.

***

I’m still typing up my story from the other week. The word count at the base of my screen is saying almost 16700 and according to my calculations I’ve still got 2 – 2500 handwritten words left to type. All this is good as it means that I’m on target for around 20k. Looking forward to getting it finished and getting stuck in to the editing.

And here’s what things are looking like this side of the screen:

ENDS

At five o’clock last Wedsnesday (yup, about this time last week) I began the first draft of my next WIP – a story for children which I’d planned to be around 20,000 words long.
And I’m very happy to say that, about half an hour ago, I wrote this:

Which means that, yes, I’ve finished. It’s running, at a guess, at around 17,000 words, which I think is about right. Once it’s up and typed and altered and stuff I reckon (read: hope) that it’ll be nearer the 20k mark. All in all, not bad for a week’s work I’d say. Let’s just hope it’s good!