tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287219602012-01-26T19:22:12.020ZC.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.comBlogger1221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-69578945847419994512011-12-23T14:43:00.138Z2012-01-26T19:22:12.045Z

# "Look around, leaves are brown now… and the sky is a hazy shade of winter…" # – Simon & Garfunkel I’ve been spending the last few winter months with some new-found friends and having a brilliantly creative (if a little chaotic) time of it...  I’m lucky enough to have a day job where I’m able to spend some of my time at work following my creative leanings, especially in the area of books and

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-15672702145527262972011-11-27T13:07:00.111Z2012-01-08T09:21:22.947Z

# "Waiting for the trains that just never come, beginning to believe in the disappearing nature of the people we have been - we have... begun... to change" #  - Counting Crows As the year draws to a close, I've been starting to cast my eye back over my creative writing year and take stock of what I've achieved and learned, and it occurred to me that it's been a while since my last "On The Road To

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-40607176800759077892011-10-30T16:42:00.126Z2011-11-05T14:01:20.272Z

# "You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome.  I need you in my house, cos you're my home..." # - Billy Joel The Lilburn Tower - view from the north... There are only a few words in my life so far that when uttered make me stare off into the distance with a smile.  My wife's name is one of them, so too is "Vancouver" where we spent the end of our honeymoon (and is possibly

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-14101773738669995082011-09-12T09:01:00.248+01:002011-11-05T12:06:36.485Z

# "But you are caught in your own glory... you are believing your own stories... but you don't know which page to turn to, do you?" - Cake I’m going to tell you a story… It’s not a particularly epic one, or even vital for you to read it, but it happened to me 10 years ago and because around this very time, this very year, the world will be thinking back that far for lots of reasons, I too find

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-73236469616533237552011-08-31T09:45:00.019+01:002011-11-05T12:05:33.625Z

# “Slip inside the eye of your mind, don't you know you might find a better place to play?” # - Oasis It’s been a pretty long 30 days this month – I’ve just moved house and apart from it living up to its reputation of being one of the most stressful things you can do in life, it’s left me with a merry medley of mixed emotions about leaving the old house behind as well as looking forward to our

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-32294262949458095512011-07-27T05:48:00.189+01:002011-11-05T12:03:57.672Z

# "If you've never stared off into the distance, then, your life is a shame..." - Counting Crows On a morning, as I make my way to work, I journey over the bus and rail bridges that cross the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead - apart from getting a lot more reading done using public transport than if I drove to work, the other curious thing I've like to note as I make the crossing is

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-13513185317600723872011-06-29T19:27:00.002+01:002011-11-05T12:02:00.833Z

# "The only thing that ever made sense to me is the words to a song from an American movie..." - Everclear This month, one of my favourite film franchises turns 30 and it's also one of the foremost influences on my many creative scribbles on the page and computer screen...  It's with the anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark in mind that I decided for this second "Blasts from the Past" post to

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-23117728953688217262011-05-30T09:09:00.179+01:002011-11-05T12:01:10.088Z

# "...and somebody spoke, and I went into a dream..." # - Lennon & McCartney Beginning a new mini-series of blog posts... The end of this very month, of this very year, marks a total of 5 years that I've been blogging about writing.  Back in 2009 when this blog turned a grand old age of 3, I posted about my top 10 favourite posts so far, but for its 5th birthday, I thought it could be good (for

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-8285846096969051412011-04-22T20:13:00.236+01:002011-05-04T19:09:05.948+01:00

# "Movin' on is a chance you take any time you try to stay... together..." # - Billy Joel "2 years down the road..." "The time has come, my friends, to talk of other things...of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings...and why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings...Calloo, Callay, come run away...with the cabbages and kings..." I recently went to hear a certain

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-28674353271650057712011-03-28T20:57:00.008+01:002011-03-29T11:36:48.173+01:00

# "But we always came back to the songs we were singing at any particular time..." # - Paul McCartney My first "hardback" read I've been thinking a lot recently about writing for a younger target audience than I've been accustomed to since deciding to embark on my adventures in scribbling around 10 years ago....  And it's led me to recall a handful of the very first books that influenced me as

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-89304455746160748262011-02-07T17:16:00.037Z2011-02-23T15:00:35.290Z

# "If you believe that there's a bond between our future and our past..." # - Jimmy NailIt’s sort of a case of in with the new as well as in with the old for this “preview post” of my writing to come in 2011… Already this year, I’ve pasted some “new” additions onto the “old” title picture of this blog journal of mine to herald the new year (spotted them yet?) – but of course the old year isn’t

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-78352678831664945212011-01-25T20:02:00.045Z2011-02-09T10:08:01.661Z

# "'Now, what think you to this, my friend Pybus?" # - Jon BodenOne of my favourite TV shows at the moment is the modern take on “Dr Who” – it still (as it did as a kid) scares me in just the right amounts, the sfx (as you’d expect) are out-of-this world and the twists and turns of the scripts, I think, make it some of the best writing to watch and learn from at the moment. And it’s as I start to

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-80241852084097760122010-12-29T12:29:00.037Z2011-01-14T18:33:27.647Z

# "Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road... Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go... # - Green DayTo paraphrase an old sitcom here in the UK, “It’s been a funny old year…” because, looking back, the 12 months that made up 2010, for me, marked a period of my life that I just couldn’t have predicted this time, back in 2009. Of course, I’d like to be able to say that this is

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-49600815655471334102010-11-18T09:02:00.074Z2011-01-14T07:21:48.776Z

# "I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars... on a collision course!" - QueenIt’s high time I did a round-up post for my “great experiment” of 2010 which I began back in June and rocketed across 100 days of writing to its (semi)completion in November. I say “semi-completion” because standing now at the end of this grand endeavour, I have mixed feelings about how successful its actually been…My idea

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-58098135676187216832010-10-26T08:39:00.025+01:002011-01-04T18:31:02.864Z

# “Tell me doctor, where are we going this time? Is it the 50s or 1999?!” # – Huey Lewis & The NewsOn this precise day, October 26, at 1:21am, in the year 1985, a crazy wide-eyed scientist intended to travel 25 years into the future in a time machine that he himself built. Unfortunately some dastardly Libyans put pay to his plans but as I sit typing this post, I can’t help reflecting upon (in my

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-19677709902650106762010-09-26T20:00:00.028+01:002010-11-10T08:47:57.805Z

# "In the backyard... In the garden... You were always there, digging down where roots would burrow underneath......" # - GusterWe’ve started the grim task of closing up our garden for the autumn in recent weeks, clearing out our summer vegetable plots, cutting the grass for (hopefully!) the last time in the year and collecting in the last of the apples from our fantastic bramley tree which we

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-59653324495522413652010-08-27T06:19:00.018+01:002010-10-13T06:43:39.238+01:00

# “Past the old school on the avenue, I am running, I am running... and now, I'm halfway home…” # – Nerina PallotIt's about time I posted a long overdue update on how my "100 Days of Writing" has been going, since I've recently passed Day 50 of this epic struggle between writer and blank page... What the heck am I going on about? Well, back in June this year, I embarked on a long-held personal

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-60098604639588662272010-08-05T06:59:00.045+01:002010-08-31T13:06:43.587+01:00

# “I’m one of a million pieces fallen on the ground, it’s one of the reasons when we say goodbye, we’ll still come around…” # - Counting CrowsI actually couldn't remember when I last sat down and wrote a new piece in my "On The Road To Publishville" saga, so I thought it was about time I put finger to keyboard and provided an update on my efforts to get my first novel into print, following the

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-44811386556244688012010-07-19T10:57:00.031+01:002010-07-23T17:14:35.449+01:00

# "If you believe that there's a bond between our future and our past, try to hold on to what we had, we build them strong, we built to last..." # - Jimmy NailIn AD 122, so the history books tell us, Emperor Hadrian of the Roman Empire ordered a grand structure to be built to cut through the British Isles from east to west and isolate Scotland... This "Roman Wall" has been on the doorstop of

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-665220913281025042010-06-22T08:14:00.018+01:002010-06-23T10:20:08.560+01:00

# "Here we are inside a novel, waiting for an end... We don't know the authors of the book, maybe someone's writing chapters for us while we sleep... from a million miles away" - GusterSince the longest day passed me by so quickly yesterday and summer is finally officially here, I thought I'd post about one of my favourite pastimes as an adult, which wasn't really something I liked to do growing

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-50133670813052883032010-06-01T11:23:00.027+01:002010-06-14T19:21:13.754+01:00

“# Don't wanna see the stars, don't wanna see the moon… I am a spaceman flying high, I am the astronaut in the sky!” - Amy MacDonaldI'm the kind of person who likes to fill awkward silences... I know people who are completely comfortable (and actually thrive) on mute gaps in proceedings but I can jabber on for Queen and country with the best of them, normally talking about everything and nothing

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-15059749327821219292010-05-17T16:09:00.018+01:002012-01-11T23:52:59.970Z

# "He's cleared all his things and he's put them in boxes, things that remind him: 'Life has been good'... And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, it's time..." # - Ben Folds “He’s left this box for you.” my uncle told me. “What’s in it?” I replied. “Open it and see…” That’s how one story from my childhood began, and recently I’ve been reminded of it as I took out that same dusty shoebox from the loft of

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-62904021193908705462010-04-21T06:08:00.017+01:002010-04-22T20:41:56.016+01:00

#“I was out on the radio, starting to change… Somewhere out in America, it’s starting to rain…” # – Counting CrowsSo here it is, a real milestone (or a “signpost”, maybe?) in my online scribbles – this post marks the 100th blog post that I’ve created to date since first establishing this online journal for my writing back in May 2006… I’ve talked about a lot of different writing themes on the

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-78753737172598413022010-03-16T10:24:00.014Z2010-04-01T10:39:48.889+01:00

# “That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion…” # - REMWith this fifth post in my “On The Road To Publishville” special-focus series, it’s unfortunate that I have to expand on my previous post on the subject of “rejections” , since I’ve continued to receive them for my “Moon Crater”TM manuscript… It’s not all “doom and gloom” though, because this really does give me

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-21724543374553306562010-02-26T08:36:00.014Z2010-03-10T08:52:55.721Z

# “I want to see gamma rays, I want to hear X-rays and I want to smell dark matter…” # – (from BSG: The Plan - “Apocalypse” by Bear McCreary)I thought I’d begin this very first post in my new “2010 - odyssey in space” Seal Your Own Fate series of posts with a clip of the song I’m quoting lyrics from (above) with the actual audio to the tune as well. I often write with music in the background, and

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-54125124890061355582010-02-19T12:14:00.017Z2010-02-22T16:26:56.613Z

# "Three... is a magic number..." # - Bob DoroughI turned 33 this month… You probably can’t hear it, but as I read that first sentence back to myself there’s a sort of dramatic horror-type piano chord playing. I’m not usually one to get caught up in the whole “dreading getting older” mindset and I actually look forward to getting wiser with my encroaching years (even turning the big 3-0 didn’t

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-50240002786493084232010-01-25T12:40:00.024Z2011-01-13T22:52:23.640Z

# “It's the perfect time of year, somewhere far away from here, I feel fine enough, I guess… considering everything's a mess…” # - the Barenaked LadiesHopefully you had a good Christmas break and rest over the festive period – while it was a great recharge of the batteries for me, the past month or so personally has been quite challenging but now the dawn of the new year has brought new hope for

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-24342871716032581172009-12-23T12:56:00.022Z2010-01-26T12:25:04.892Z

“I dreamt of success, I would be the best. I would make my folks proud… It hasn't happened yet…” – William ShatnerFor most of this year I’ve not really found time to do the kind of “feature posts” about subjects relating to creative writing that I have enjoyed writing on this blog in past years, so I thought I’d round off 2009 with a pondering sort of ramble on my own creative scribbles as I

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-52229894015175732732009-11-30T11:50:00.020Z2009-12-12T17:59:56.019Z

# "It's the end of the world as we know, abd I feel fine..." # - REMIt was back at the beginning of 2007 that I first got the crazy wild-eyed notion to attempt to write one of those old “Turn to the Page so-and-so” adventure books online, using a blog page, and now almost at the 3rd anniversary of that idea forming, I thought it might be a good time to bring a bit of an update on how the “Moon

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-13668132559017081622009-11-17T09:56:00.014Z2009-11-24T16:50:32.069Z

“Into the maze, enter the medicine handed down, within these veins… Bleeding with apathy till it drowns…” - GusterOK, I’m gonna keep this short (for a change!) but as I’ve made such a “hoo-hah” about my experience trying to get my “Moon Crater”TM novel published ever since starting this online journal, and particularly this year, since I’ve got on properly with my journey on this “Road to

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-75669636432107627992009-10-01T08:32:00.027+01:002010-01-10T16:04:23.177Z

# “But, Sean, don't get callous, I'm sure it'll be fine. I love you, I love you, Oh, brother of mine…” # - Fleet Foxes“When I was sick and lay a-bed,I had two pillows at my head,And all my toys beside me lay,To keep me happy all the day.”“And sometimes for an hour or soI watched my leaden soldiers go,With different uniforms and drills,Among the bed-clothes, through the hills.” “And sometimes sent

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-33648960104320211592009-09-21T16:45:00.018+01:002009-11-03T18:09:03.410Z

# “But, oh, my God, if I was somebody I’d be doing it all just fine, but I’m a real late starter so I’m making up for lost time…” # - Nerina PallotWell, the moment’s arrived for me, at long last (10 years to be exact!) and I’ve come to the oft mythical place I’ve seen in my head where I’d be in a position to send off a sample of the completed manuscript for my first novel to the potential

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-87100507749285267682009-08-11T18:54:00.014+01:002009-10-29T17:29:14.509Z

# "And you can't talk about it, and isn't that a kind of madness to be living by a code of silence when you've really got a lot to say?" # - Billy JoelIt’s been a little while since I last announced and launched another of The Zip Code challenges connected to my my "Moon Crater"TM novel and it’s sort of been tied up with me having to become more web-wise this year.. As regular readers will know,

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-46117405308084210942009-07-21T09:54:00.023+01:002009-10-15T08:41:06.693+01:00

# “We only stay in orbit for a moment of time, and then you’re everybody’s satellite… I wish that you were mine, I wish that you were mine… # - Counting CrowsReading my posts on here and looking across at my Official Website you could get the impression that I’m a bit obsessed with the Moon (in more ways than one!) Well, I won’t deny it – ever since I was old enough to go for a stroll with my dad

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-66973395160169190672009-06-09T10:47:00.022+01:002009-10-02T18:04:44.789+01:00

# "He's going the distance, he's going for speed... He's racing and pacing and plotting the course... He's going the distance..." - CakeWay back in October 2008 I blogged about how my wife and I were running the Great North Run and I mentioned at the end of that feature post how next I’d like to try that other “great north” running event, The Blaydon Race…Well, I’m saving this post on the actual

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-50437083827706023362009-06-01T10:33:00.110+01:002009-11-08T17:54:17.491Z

# "I don't wanna feel so different, but I don't wanna be insignificant, and I don't know how to see the same things different now..." # - Counting CrowsThere's a great line in a classic Laurel & Hardy two-reeler short film called The Fixer Uppers that goes "Merry Christmas, Momma... Happy Birthday Ma... Hey-nonny-nonny and a ho-cha-cha!" and sitting down to write this post that line is whirling

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-7399920578520094912009-05-26T10:57:00.082+01:002009-10-29T17:59:22.966Z

# “(S)He's writing, (s)he's writing, (s)he's writing a novel. (S)He's writing, (s)he's weaving, conceiving a plot...” # - CakeSo! Your masterpiece is finished and lying in a conveniently unmissable place, either printed out on paper to encourage you and convince you that you really are a writer or instead sits quietly waiting, but nevertheless complete, on your PC hard drive… You’ve read it and

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-50114965383772908952009-05-21T11:39:00.015+01:002010-06-19T09:26:42.877+01:00

# "I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow, casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there counting crows..." - Adam Duritz This month sees the return to my hometown of “my favourite band, Counting Crows”… - I haven't seen them play live for about six years and it's sure to be a brilliant gig... (reviews of the Newcastle, UK show are likely to appear here by the end of May)I've

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-83404918891872299872009-05-15T10:33:00.018+01:002009-05-27T15:12:49.708+01:00

# "What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time? ... It feels just like I'm falling for the first time" # - Barenaked LadiesI’m afraid this post begins with a bit of a “Warning” (perhaps even a ‘red alert’?) because I’ve got a feeling that even before I begin to type it, it’s going to be one full of question marks and exclamation points… (and sometimes both at once!)It was just over

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-16864101833921521042009-04-28T09:14:00.013+01:002009-05-11T18:06:52.197+01:00

# "I got pictures of what's in my head... They took 'em in Tokyo, and I brought 'em back with me..." # - Ben Folds"..Kansai Gaidai is the next stop!" If you’ve ever been to Osaka, Japan, and travelled out near Hirakata City, chances are you may have heard this phrase being uttered over a bus Tannoy, in English, among a lot of Japanese that just isn’t decipherable if you don't speak the native

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-47440201430251912932009-04-13T15:03:00.037+01:002009-06-05T10:20:49.371+01:00

# "Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten" # - Natasha BedingfieldI've just returned from a brilliant fortnight's holiday in country far, far away (more on that in my next post here!) and the break from my life in the UK has really helped to fire me up to do a writing "stock take" in order to re-focus my writing in general as well as my "Moon Crater" novel in particular... (

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-20608974081359132092009-03-17T20:41:00.014Z2009-03-26T17:41:22.232Z

# "We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium, God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them!" # - Kate RusbyAs I continue my journey into the world of writing, I'm finding that the most inspiring things for my scribbles are ones that I just "happen upon", without actually seeking them out... and when I do come across them, I know for definite that they're worth making note of

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-90455907441727109702009-03-02T07:40:00.012Z2009-03-02T17:12:39.870Z

# "I must give the impression that I have the answers for everything..." # Ben FoldsI'd hoped over the last few weeks to bring you some news about how my story entry in the Invisible Ink 2 anthology turned out, but as I'm finding increasinly happens in the literary world, the cogs of the industry move frustratingly slow and I haven't heard a whisker about the results yet (I'm hoping no news is

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-16542840137152526682009-02-03T12:10:00.017Z2009-02-12T13:47:07.052Z

# "This dizzy life of mine keeps hanging me up all the time..." # - Counting CrowsI'm beginning the writing of this post with mixed emotions because I'm excited to bring you the results of 2008's 3rd Moon Crater Fiction Decisions Poll but at the same time it's a melancholy event because this is the last time readers will be able to make an impact on my "Moon Crater" novel since it's the FINAL

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-26654938217031924222009-01-14T11:14:00.011Z2009-01-28T16:46:10.132Z

# “Let's keep it together… Can we keep it together? We're singing a new song now and everything starts today” # - GusterIt's time for that annual event I like to call my "stepping back to go forward" with a review of the past year and a preview of the upcoming one... (you can check out the previous two "year round-ups" from me by clicking here for 2006/2007 and clicking here for 2007/2008. This

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-79703142672490513192008-12-29T12:55:00.014Z2009-01-09T11:04:30.257Z

# “Isn’t it time you got over how fragile you are? We’re all waiting, waiting on your supernova, cos that’s who you are, and you`ve only begun to shine” # - Anna NalickI don't know what it is about winter but it definitely makes me reflect more than other times of the year - maybe it's the cold weather when all you want to do is be indoors next to a cosy fire, but actually for most of 2008 I've

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-53061745846370844572008-11-26T09:14:00.028Z2008-12-24T11:31:27.080Z

# “From your red balloon you were a super hi-tech jet fighter, floating over planet Earth, come back down here...”# - GusterIt's become a bit of a November tradition now to give an update on how my first online gamebook is coming along... So by means of an early but hopefully timely Crimbo present with this post, artist Rich Windass and myself will give you some early concept designs and ideas

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-58893220157736698972008-10-30T09:10:00.016Z2008-12-12T17:24:19.701Z

# "You are lost in your own glory, you are believing your own story..." # - Cake I've been reminiscing a lot about years gone by in 2008 (the reasons for which I'll make properly clear in a couple of posts' time), but in particular this month I'm recalling an undergrad study I took on around the time I first got into serious fiction writing which looked at the idea of "obsession" being used in

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-21800116419273414162008-10-10T09:00:00.014+01:002008-12-01T09:14:10.880Z

# "I'm an anchor on the line of a clock that tells the timethat is running out on you" # - Counting CrowsI'll be recovering for most of this month I suspect from one of the greatest things I've ever done in my life so far... a 13.1 mile half-marathon called the Great North Run here in the UK... It's been one of those events in the local calendar and popular imagination that I've grown up with in

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-55469851217841359832008-09-18T09:00:00.038+01:002008-12-05T17:57:25.319Z

# "They never notice the zap gun in your handuntil you're pointing it and stunning their senses..." # - Billy JoelI've been thinking about those peculiar but interesting lists you sometimes see on the inside of book dust jackets that detail an author's biography, the one with unique and often surprising jobs they've done leading up to becoming a published writer, and in particular I've been

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-91029949891898996082008-08-21T15:04:00.027+01:002008-10-21T09:19:37.357+01:00

# "Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lostWhat if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time?" # - the Barenaked LadiesNot too long ago now I actually lost one of my writing notebooks which I’ve not yet found and am still pretty much lamenting over - it’s the first time it’s happened to me and it’s made me kind of pause for thought as I go into the second half of 2008 with my

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-67261956773528385292008-07-28T08:49:00.018+01:002008-09-25T09:23:53.978+01:00

# "Honest is easy, fiction is where genius lies..." # - Guster Ever since being around the age of seven and being bought Stratego for Christmas by my granddad, I've become obsessed with games of all kinds. From Othello to chess, Action Force to Crossbows & Catapults, to Monopoly and Scrabble, and even nowadays to the newer DVD interactive games, I really enjoy pitting my wits against others, even

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-37751168402601899492008-06-24T08:56:00.020+01:002008-08-28T15:33:54.185+01:00

Unless you’ve been on Titan for the last year or so, you’ve probably come across someone you know who’s been excited about the fact that there’s a new Indiana Jones film out this year. It’s something I’ve blogged about at numerous times before here, so it’s no secret that I’m an uber Indy geek. It would be quite an understatement to say I’ve had a passing anticipation to Indy IV because, man,

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-33529897257217431852008-06-04T07:54:00.016+01:002008-08-07T09:03:18.755+01:00

# “What if I'd been born fifty years before you, in a house on a street where you lived?Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike…” # – Ben FoldsEverybody needs a rest and holiday, right? The way I tend to approach my writing is the same as I would any job – I do the actual act of scribbling and typing up my thoughts during the working week and then at weekends, where ironically most of my

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-31513034755432176612008-05-15T10:17:00.023+01:002008-12-08T21:51:39.678Z

# "The only thing that ever made sense to me is the world that I saw from an American movie..." # - EverclearSince I've mentioned before on this blog journal of mine how I love going to the cinema and I've stated on my Official Homepage just how influenced by filmic writing I am, I thought it was about time I wrote a feature post explaining more about just how much a fan of "the flicks" I really

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-45104193809030818432008-05-01T08:49:00.020+01:002008-12-08T21:51:40.213Z

# "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, ten! What about nine? Seven ate nine..." # - the Barenaked LadiesIt was about a year ago that I began the "Big Write-Up" of my proposed kids' adventure novel tentatively titled "Moon Crater" and began reporting on it here on the blog and through my Official Homepage, and it's really amazing to me to think how far I've been able to advance in that

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-36838276008579153832008-04-14T15:04:00.031+01:002009-01-20T18:00:53.529Z

# "Now today is tomorrow, and tomorrow today, and yesterday is weaving in and out..." # - Cake This week I thought I'd give a sort of writing news update post to let you know about what’s currently going on with my writing on the Net… Things have kind of been quiet so far with all of it since the beginning of the new year but a lot has been ‘waiting in the wings’ and now like overdue buses

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-64397760538090826592008-04-01T12:48:00.031+01:002008-12-08T21:51:42.721Z

# "We thought he was gone, but now he's come back again, last week it was funny, but now the joke's wearing thin... # - Ben FoldsI'm not quite sure how to begin this post but it's got to be put out there so here goes... Recently I've been taught a bit of lesson in humility with my writing and it's led me to realise that part of being a successful writer is knowing when to admit that you've made

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-82722617511141171832008-03-19T09:03:00.030Z2009-01-16T17:56:24.485Z

# "And who was wrong? And who was right? It didn't matter in the thick of the fight..." # - Billy JoelThis is my first "feature" post of the new year - it's the kind of post I started this blog journal for and as my own writing news grows and I report it here too, it's nice to get back once in a while to my meandering ramblings regarding some of my favourite themes in writing...One aspect of the

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-79259367881770708612008-02-29T08:52:00.032Z2009-01-02T11:20:43.512Z

# “And you think Rockford Files is cool, but there are some things you would change if it were up to you…” - Ben Folds Five Introducing the 3rd & FINAL Moon Crater Fiction Decisions Poll! For each year of the two years so far that I’ve kept this blog journal, I’ve launched a reader poll in an attempt to generate interest in my novel as I continue to write it. With the turn of the new year I’ve

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-80577653901755945972008-02-13T15:26:00.034Z2008-12-08T21:51:47.403Z

# “Your place on the map has faded away, must've been lost in more than one way…” # - Ben FoldsThis month I received quite a kick up the proverbial behind over my writing from probably the one person who can say something right to the point without me taking it to heart but equally with me very much paying attention to the words being spoken. After admittedly taking an extended break on writing

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-83377241765458443222008-01-15T10:00:00.038Z2009-01-21T17:04:36.521Z

# "What a year... for a new year,... we need it like we needed life,... I guess..." # - Dan WilsonSo, here we suddenly are in 2008… I remember writing my first “year in review” post last January like it was only yesterday, but as I’ve started to look back over the past 12 months, I’m quite amazed (but pleasantly surprised) at how much writing I’ve been able to cram into the year that was 2007…I’

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-9616690162067520462007-12-27T09:10:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:51:51.905Z

# “A long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last” # - Counting CrowsI’m in a “tidy-up” sort of mood right now… I find that in life I can be the most messy person known to humankind, letting things pile up around the house, but every so often there comes a realisation and real motivation of “enough is enough” and I suddenly bolt into action and whiz

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-55615061058973972942007-12-12T10:51:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:51:52.105Z

I'm adding a short post here today to bring some sad and unexpected news that's come my way this month about a writer I knew who's recently died. Her name was Chrissie Glazebrook and I was taught by her on the MA in Creative Writing I studied for a few years ago.Unfortunately Chrissie finally succumbed to a form of cancer she was suffering from for a long time - the full details of her career and

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-72058312628787829842007-11-21T15:04:00.002Z2008-12-08T21:51:52.863Z

# "It’s lonely out in space on such a timeless flight" # - Elton John "Zip-Zap-Zupow!" It's launch time... Are you ready? We are a-go for take-off... Back in January this year, in my 2007 preview post as well as in my 2007 "Coming Soon" stories post, I promised that come the late Autumn and year's close that there'd be the launch of a new "spin-off" series of space stories from my main novel of

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-14987921826780705232007-10-12T18:20:00.005+01:002009-03-17T23:46:53.222Z

# If I had a wish, or even a choice, I'd wake up to the sound of your voice # - Barenaked Ladies I've been looking forward to October for the past five months - to a nice and relaxing time, with space to breathe after my "Big Write-Up” of the novel was done... And now it's here, it also means I've got time now to post a decent report on my experience being interviewed by a local theatre about my

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-39828589680651350052007-09-28T13:48:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:53.888Z

# "Closing time... Time for you to go back to the places you will be from" # - SemisonicThis was my grand plan back in May this year:"...to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-91921729522192138192007-09-24T10:34:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:54.393Z

# "This is a list of what I should have been but I'm not..." # - Counting Crows The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-84080690250169553452007-09-21T14:50:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:51:54.992Z

# "You still don't like to leave before the end of the movie..." # - Cake The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them myself! So

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-8463662784030027742007-09-04T17:36:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:56.315Z

# "I can always change my name if that's what you mean" # - Counting CrowsThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them myself! So

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-62179769381651710752007-08-28T14:09:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:51:56.993Z

# “Inspired by true events and movie screens, I am a one-man wrecking machine…” # - GusterThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-53031200408808329722007-08-23T09:12:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:57.600Z

# "You see it all in 3-D, it's your favourite foreign movie" # - Nerina PallotThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them myself!

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-13022097857960324072007-08-16T08:44:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:58.233Z

# "And, we're sorry, Mr Jones,... it's time..." # - Ben FoldsThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them myself! So with a

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-58580768695852941332007-07-25T08:22:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:51:59.113Z

# “I don’t remember... much of anything... of those years…” – Anya MarinaThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them myself! So

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-91295701213587119532007-07-21T11:44:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:51:59.499Z

# "The disappearing nature of the people we have been, we have begun to change..." # - Adam DuritzThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-77451152486543336722007-07-11T10:05:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:00.029Z

# "A lot... goes... on... A lot... goes... on, but nothing happens!" # - Ben LeeThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I discover them

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-92179304604236279542007-06-29T13:05:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:00.764Z

# "I'm sick of this war I wage on myself... I don't know why I'm so gripped to go there, a universe riddle that only I know?" # - Nerina PallotThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-15534259667653114432007-06-22T14:29:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:01.210Z

# "Switch on the box, Mr Spock is on the table, Dr McCoy is unable to connect his brain..." # - Dan Wilson (Semisonic) The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-13235882060352792742007-06-19T09:32:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:01.761Z

# "Everybody's gone, they left the television screaming that the radio's on..." # - Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-16125573304276898912007-06-13T08:52:00.004+01:002008-12-08T21:52:02.199Z

lert! Hacker Alert! Hacker Alert! Hacker Alert! Hacker Alert! HacIt's a sad post to begin my 'new template' look to this blog but it's also an ironically fitting twist in my "Year of Fear" motif that the mysterious Time Warp, a fan I reported on a few weeks back in the News section has taken a step too far this week. As I said, I intended to keep a close eye on developments over at his 'fan' page

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-74163092930810801152007-05-29T09:09:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:02.688Z

# "I've got to begin again, though I don't know where to start... Yes, I've got to begin again, and it's hard..." # - Billy Joel The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-5337065588604955012007-05-18T14:55:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:03.265Z

# "Elevator to the moon, whistling our favourite tune, trying to get a closer view" # - Guster The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other first-time writers as I

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-39233710223725561792007-05-08T15:34:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:52:03.894Z

# “Cos you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable, and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table” # - Anna NalickThe grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-18444396151021668322007-05-01T09:20:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:04.562Z

# “What a beautiful day... I'm the king of all time... and nothing is impossible in my all powerful mind” # – The Levellers The grand plan: to finish the novel I've been working on for about 8 years over a period of 5 months! All of the planning, plotting and preparation is over, it's time to just get down and write the blighter! Hopefully along the way I’ll be able to pass on some tips for other

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-92222265757985374392007-04-16T09:59:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:52:05.587Z

# "But I’m gonna burn, I’m gonna shine and multiply, I’m gonna fill up the great divide" # - Anya MarinaAs the results of the 2nd Fiction Decisions Poll trickle in, I thought I'd report on some cool news, some disappointing news, and hopefully, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, some downright earth-moving news (for me anyway)...A little while ago, I read an article on Blogger about blogging

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-30502447774383272007-03-20T12:15:00.005Z2009-01-02T11:25:05.396Z

# "Big brother’s got keys and I got Jackson Cannery!" # Ben FoldsCGAllan is keen to give YOUthe chance to decidehow the story of his novel turns out!It's back and it's as big as before - it's...The 2nd Moon Crater Fiction Decisions Poll!Since the 1st Decisions Poll... back in October 2006, I've been using that poll's results as I continue to write the newest parts of Moon Crater, as well as

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-35556002687418956762007-03-14T09:25:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:52:07.095Z

# "Gonna get dressed for success, shaping me up for the big-time..." # - Per GessleThe weather is gloriously bright (but cold) today as I look out of my window at work, past the 1960s brickwork of the adjacent building and on upwards into the blue skies of the changing seasons... I've been getting into the spirit of spring this week and have sprung into action to some much-needed overhauling of

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-67300940239084606222007-03-05T12:42:00.003Z2008-12-08T21:52:07.680Z

# "We didn't start the fire - it was always burning since the world's been turning..." - Billy Joel I’m a real “geeky fan” of whatever TV show or series of books I get into... I always need to know the small details of characters' back stories and always get caught up in the "extra media" that comes out to accompany the main work that got me into a particular storyline in the first place.If it's

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-88095852822538843412007-02-22T09:24:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:52:07.816Z

# "Careless talk, I don't believe what they say..." - Billy JoelJust a brief update on a new and exciting venture I've launched to link in with major changes I'm planning for probably the end of March time for this blog in particular. (If you're a regular reader here, you might have guessed it already) Yep, I've set up another new blogspot! You may remember a post here around last June time I did

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-48114459447147808142007-02-13T11:11:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:52:08.598Z

# "We know of an ancient radiation. that haunts dismembered constellations..." - John McCrea Recently, I've been pondering on exactly where that sort of "primal urge" comes from for we humans to want to make journeys to places that are so ancient and connected to all our pasts..."Hang on! What on Pluto is all this reflective talk about?!", you might be asking - well, the truth of it is I turned

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-38852681006852470582007-01-25T16:59:00.002Z2008-12-08T21:52:09.070Z

# "If dreams are like movies, then, memories are films about ghosts..." (Adam Duritz)I love film trailers... If I'm ever going to the cinema with friends I think I'm a bit awkward when I say that we absolutely must be in the screen and sat down comfortably, popcorn and drink already purchased, before the previews for upcoming films start. For me, it's all part of the cinema-going experience. (And

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-66154556398244556212007-01-09T17:25:00.002Z2009-06-19T11:51:00.444+01:00

# "Turn the clock to zero, boss, the river's wide, we'll swim across - started up a brand new day" - Gordon SumnerHappy New Year, everyone! So, how was your Christmas holidays, then? I saw lots of family and mainly had a restful time - this was a sort of "forced" rest due to the fact that I had a chest infection which I'm still feeling the effects of even now, but it was a rest nonetheless...

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-70839878187413447072006-12-22T10:42:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:52:10.514Z

# "We are spinning, and spinning, and spinning, and now..." - Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)For quite a while now I've been really interested in my writing in the idea of "a story within a story" or the book within a book - the "Mise en Abyme" - where say the main narrative is influenced by, inspired by or parallelled to a secondary story told within the world of the same book or novel...I'm not

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-16119247042152618492006-12-08T08:53:00.001Z2008-12-08T21:52:10.738Z

# "It's all smiles and business these days and I'm indifferent to the loss..." # - Ben Folds" Another day another dollar", as my dad used to say (I'm English, remember - my dad can be a bit eccentric at times - maybe that's where I get it from!) Anyway, just another short post while I busy myself with loose odds and ends to do with my writing to tie up with a nice pretty bow before Christmas...

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-83800939929335776752006-11-24T11:42:00.001Z2008-08-20T17:50:36.866+01:00

# "All my life, I've been watching America..." - (Razorlight)This week, it’s just a short post to let you know that the facelift of this blog continues with the promised Moon Crater handy catch-up links list being added. So now there’s no excuse not to know what the heck I’m on about when referring to my novel! Anyway, if you scroll right to the bottom of this page, below the general links to my

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-22409078318403157212006-11-15T14:35:00.002Z2009-03-17T23:49:52.279Z

# "It's a new day, it's a new plan, I've been waiting for you..." # - Bryan AdamsWelcome, everyone to my newly-improved and spy-errific writing blogspot. Hopefully you've all come along equipped with your waterproof watches, unmarked silver briefcases and dark glasses - Yes? OK, then, we can continue...For those of you wondering if you've stumbled onto the wrong blogsite, this is still the online

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-34362179789950312892006-11-14T17:10:00.001Z2008-08-20T17:52:19.030+01:00

Hi, everyone,I'm in the process of changing the blog template over, what do you think?! :>More tomorrow - stay tuned!Chris

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-1161772895937019692006-10-25T11:32:00.001+01:002008-08-20T17:53:15.951+01:00

Autumn has gone and winter has clasped us almost overnight by the blink of an eye into its frozen grip, and so in the spirit of change on this cold, grey day, I'm going to start this post by advertising writing that's other than my own. Poetry isn't really my forte but there's a fantastic place in the city where I live that's been providing a quality platform for both new and established poets to

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-1161265490825008732006-10-19T14:01:00.002+01:002009-02-12T14:59:34.861Z

Well, it's a bit later than promised, but I've now got the results from the 1st Moon Crater Fiction Decisions Poll and I'm happy to be able to report them to you right here, right now. Loads of you responded to the call to help me decide what Billy and Jo, the main characters of the story, will look like and so without further ado, here's what the most popular results were: Billy will have:1 b) -

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28721960.post-1158940901838012462006-09-22T16:56:00.001+01:002008-12-08T21:52:10.934Z

# "I feel like a quote out of context, Withholding the rest, so I can be for you what you want to see" # - Ben FoldsAnnouncing the 1st Moon Crater Fiction Decisions Poll!I'd like you to help me shape the appearance and characteristics of the two main characters in my story. This isn't me just being a lazy writer - I'd like to involve readers as much in the writing process as possible, (my website

C.G.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808352829587560572noreply@blogger.com2