Melissa Barker-Simpson

Category: Writing

  • To title or not to title!

    There are just two days to go until I begin my challenge. I’ve taken part in NaNoWriMo, so writing a novel in 79 days shouldn’t be that difficult, except this time it’s for charity and I’m starting to feel the pressure.  I don’t have a title for a start, and that’s the issue. Do I start…

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  • 2.6 Challenge

    I can’t believe how long it’s been since I wrote a blog post. It’s like I blinked and a year went by! That’s definitely how it feels at the moment, working from home and following social distancing rules – the days all blend together. I’m aware, in the current climate, that things are tough for…

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  • Reflections

    At the end of October I went to Paris, and though I took hundreds of photographs, the following is one of my favourite shots and the inspiration for the short story I wrote to capture the romance of the great city.   Reflections Harry blinked against the glare of lights, dropping his gaze to catch…

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  • The Right Path – A short story

    I’ve talked about writing tools before, and the fun I have with prompts. When I’m struggling to focus on a work in progress, I often find ways to flex those writing muscles. A good sentence starter is a great way to do that. This time, the sentence was provided to me by a friend (thanks,…

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  • Reality Check – A short story

    I ignored the persistent sound of my doorbell and buried further into my pit of despair, complete with a dozen pillows, my favourite throw and a large enough duvet to drown my sorrows. A comfortable pit that allowed me to feed my misery and keep it alive; an incubator for the sad and lonely. The…

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  • Raising the Stakes – A short story

    As I perused the fresh meat section of my local supermarket, my phone trilled in my pocket, dragging my attention from an excellent cut of ribeye beef. Instead of building an entire meal around the tasty morsel in my head, I tore my eyes away to check the message. Jon-boy: Hey Kaz. Don’t forget I’m…

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  • Alphabet Spaghetti – A Word Game

    The exercise is based on a version of the 7x7x7 writing game. This time, I tried to incorporate seven words beginning with E, each with seven letters, and selected using a random word generator. I failed to include one of the words this week, but I did keep to the 700 word count. It is…

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  • Alphabet Spaghetti – A Word Game

    The exercise is based on a version of the 7x7x7 writing game. This time, I’ve incorporated seven words beginning with D, each with seven letters, and selected using a random word generator. I tried to keep to the 700 word count, but went over by 14. This is the third instalment of an ongoing fantasy…

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  • Mirror to the Soul

    This story was inspired by a beautiful young woman who battles her demons every day. When I was a girl, my grandmother gifted me with an antique mirror. It belonged to a set, a pretty, gilded looking glass that should have been a prized possession. Instead, it became a curse, the object of my obsessive…

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  • Alphabet Spaghetti – A Word Game

    The exercise is based on a version of the 7x7x7 writing game. This time, I’ve incorporated seven words beginning with C, each with seven letters, and selected using a random word generator. I tried to keep to the 700 word count, but went over by 86. The story is a continuation from last week. It…

    Read more: Alphabet Spaghetti – A Word Game