Monthly Archives: April 2013

F Scott Fitzgerald

Posted on April 29, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

Regular readers will know that I’ve always had a very high regard for the writer Scott Fitzgerald, and in particularly  his novel The Great Gatsby. For me, Fitzgerald is the greatest ‘literary’ writer I’ve ever read, the greatest craftsman of … Continue reading →

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Origin of Words & Phrases

Posted on April 29, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

I was watching a quiz show recently where as an aside they discussed the origin and meaning of a well-known phrase. In Anglo-Saxon England, also know as ye Dark Ages… …a tax was levied called ‘Scot and Lot’ – the … Continue reading →

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Dialogue

Posted on April 26, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

Dialogue seems to be one of the biggest problem areas for newer writers – not just making it seem realistic and using it to bring characters to life rather than having to tell the reader everything about them, but also … Continue reading →

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Origins of Words and Phrases

Posted on April 19, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

Backlog             My subtle hint above may have given away the fact that the word comes from a larger log that was put at the back of the fire to help keep it going while … Continue reading →

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Signed & Sealed

Posted on April 17, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

I’ve been desperately trying to interest a publisher in the biography of a naval figure contemporary with Nelson. He was very successful and famous in his day, and being local to my neck of the woods his name lives on … Continue reading →

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Origins of Words & Phrases

Posted on April 10, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

When I was doing the research for my story of England’s last fatal duel, A Matter of Honour – a landmark book that made me world-famous in certain sections of Maple Avenue… …I also wrote about the history of duelling … Continue reading →

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Pamela Hartshorne Interview

Posted on April 8, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

As promised, Rambles of a Writer presents an exclusive interview with the author of Time’s Echo. It’s published by Pan MacMillan and has 4.5 stars out of 5 from over a hundred reviewers! It’s a timeslip story about a contemporary … Continue reading →

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More Americanisms

Posted on April 3, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

Push ups (press ups) Ass (yet another Americanism for arse) Can I get a coffee to go (Can I have a coffee to take out) Out of left field and ball park (Strange or unexpected; a rough figure/idea.) The vast … Continue reading →

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Among or Amongst?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by ramblesofawriter

Which one is right? Does it matter? ‘No’ seems to be the answer – certainly according to my New Fowler’s Modern English Usage. There – that was a short and easily digested posting, wasn’t it. Except, what caught my eye … Continue reading →

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