Owen G. Richards - ANTIFAscist

#ScribesAndMakers 27Mar—What's a book that made you see the world differently? How?

Animal Farm - It opened my eyes to the existence of such foul behaviours (which are so very evident these days) in human beings.

1984 - Current media behaviour? Oh, YES!

#WordWeavers May12 - What role does romantic love play in your story?

Only whatever is appropriate to the relationships involved. Not airy-fairy, nor is it cold and platonic, it is whatever is appropriate to the interested (or disinterested) parties.

#WritersCoffeeClub Q for 5 May:
Have you ever taken inspiration from something which could have but didn't happen?

Kind of...

One of the Beagle missions to Mars "disappeared" - which I attributed to the intervention of inter-dimensional entities in "The Awakening" - subsequently reading that it had suffered a "catastrophic failure" of some sort...

#WritersCoffeeClub 9/3: Do you prefer to write complex, intricate plots, or more straightforward ones?

A preference? 🤔 Nope. I always blame the muse for what happens - complex, straightforward, crazy, sane, silly, deadly serious... it happens when it happens.

#ScribesAndMakers March 13. How do you feel about short fiction? Do you read short stories as often as novels?

Short fiction is simply another form of story telling - I've practiced the art of producing 50 word stories, single-sentence tales, etc. It's worth trying/playing with to enhance the ability to keep your writing concise.

As for reading - I used to read collections/anthologies and generally enjoyed those that were most effective in taking me to another time/place.

#ScribesAndMakers 26 Do you dance or move along to music when you listen?

It has been known to occur at any time, and in any place... though generally I do not inflict my enthusiasm for the music on others.

It is usually used as a background to my writing (formal and authoring) and hobbies. But not my sport!

#WritersCoffeeClub 25/3: What do you feel when a loved one reads your work?

Shocked, surprised, amazed, confused... 'cause mostly they don't read! At least not my stuff.

#WritersCoffeeClub 10Mar—How informal is your prose? Is there a limit to informality?

Context determines whether my prose takes itself seriously, or not...

A less rigid format is most commonly used as it seems to be a relatively easy read, but there are times when a more formal style is appropriate.

#microfiction

Hi peeps/mastodonians/scribes and scribblers... Could someone please explain the microfiction hashtag and its uses.

Might want to share some recent scribbles... if anyone is interested that is.

Thanks in advance.

#ScribesAndMakers Mar 25. Do you use music as a storytelling tool? Give an example.

Not as such... but...

I found inspiration in a couple of tracks that tied in nicely with "Dark Path".

"The Chain" - Fleetwood Mac - matched the desperation of one who loved the protagonist deeply, but that love was not returned, rather it was usurped by the protagonist's affliction.

"Towards the Sun" - Rihanna - matched the sort of advice given to the protagonist when they learning about their condition.

#WritersCoffeeClub 13/3: Talk about an experience when you consulted an expert for a piece of writing.

**crickets**

Peers yes, "experts", nope... and certainly not in the current "lies, damned lies and AI/LLM slop-driven responses" period...

#WSS366 May 12th #purple

Velveteen purple and red robes, and a crown create the impression of royalty for all to see.

But for those who dare look down there is the truth of the gaunt, starved, neglected, abused bodies covered with the black, blue, purple, and yellow patches produced by the countless beatings of the downtrodden.

Fortunately, crowns will topple and fall... with the right persuasion. All we must do is look to the French of 1793 and their monarch.

#PennedPossibilities 953. What author(s) did you dislike at first but grew to enjoy reading?

🤔 If I disliked them, it is highly unlikely that I would go back and read them with even the slightest intention of offering them the opportunity for redemption.

Besides, in all likelihood, I've consigned them to the abyss of obscurity, never to return.

#PennedPossibilities How do you use social media as an author?

As an author? I don't.

I use Mastodon to "socialise" in a minimalistic fashion... (otherwise self-sufficient on the socialising front)...

Sometimes I use it to have a rant about the shit state of the world, the oligarchs, the tech bros, the bullshitters in general and the total lack of accountability built into systems of governance.

Otherwise... **crickets** disturbed by a whisper of "the rest is a social tedium".

#PennedPossibilities⁩ 969: "Do your stories have happy endings?"

Like any snapshot of life, it could have any kind of ending... happy, sad, hopeful, depressing...

#PennedPossibilities 672 — What’s the current word count for your WIP?

0

Dear all,

Apart from an occasional grunt - I will be absent today/tomorrow...

Finally got an appointment with the local council (Ayuntamiento in Spanish)... gotta prepare for the meeting on Friday - second language stuff - gonna be nervous, right?

#WSS366 May 10th #Mother

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention and you, wonderful person that you are, are causing the presence of that necessity.
Trust me when I say I can be quite inventive on the horror front when the mood takes me, and you have put me, amongst so many others, in that mood.
I have such a show lined up for you Donny... it's a family oriented presentation, and it'll start with the termination of your lineage.
What?
Wait. Let me remove the gag..."

"You motherf...!"

Shhhh!

@Firlefanz@writing.exchange

Just had a peek and *** SOOO Many outlets *** - that provokes other questions. How have you managed it? Are they all free? (My brain has just played pinball and I am still astounded by your distribution network).

Yes. You may recommend that I read something, although "when" is an issue I would have to resolve.

26th Mar 2026. How much of a break or hiatus do you take between works?

🤔 Break? Not so much... Hiatus... it varies, depending on the willingness of the muse.

Sometimes the muse's enthusiasm level is so high there is no break. (Three novellas in 45 days!)

But they are currently A.W.O.L. and have been for far too many months!

#dailyhaiku May 12th #South wind #North wind

North loves the south wind's
Warmth and comfort. Whereas the
south loves the north wind.

Anyone who would like to have a copy of "Letters from Erik" - a collection of short stories based on my experiences as a new writer (so long ago now...) feel free to DM me and I'll provide a copy in the .epub format, or any other preferred format.

For reading - absolutely no obligation attached to this offer.

(Yeah, I know... I don't do freebies, but here is one!)

#SmallStories #Series 1

Heavy footfalls close behind, spurred him to greater speed.
Sharp left.
Across a small square.
Into a narrow alley.
His pursuers slowly lost ground.
Into an abandoned house, through empty rooms.
Out of one building and into another, and another.
Then… nowhere.
The escape route ended abruptly.
Eyes frantically searched for options, but other than a fist-sized hole in the wall to his right, there was no other way to get past that final barrier into friendly territory.

*** For clarity ***

My observations are aimed at the organisers, sponsors (yes, Mr Depp, I mean you) not the participants.