Skip to content
  • A Journal of Random Things
  • What’s Left
Tree reflecting of peaty pond water

Clark of Words

A Journal of Random Things


  • April 12, 2011

    Issue 6 – Crossing Borders

    Fankle Issue 6 – Crossing Borders. Continue reading

    Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Fankle, Magazine, Poet, Poetry, Writer, Writing
  • April 12, 2011

    Kenick Burn

    This must be a canoeist’s dream river. Okay, there had been a lot of rain and the river may have been in spate, but there was a lot of water travelling very quickly over a series of rapids. It all looked very impressive – and dangerous. The walk through the wood beside the burn was… Continue reading

    Dumfries and Galloway, Forest, Nature, Walk, Walking, Wood
  • April 10, 2011

    Fankle 6 has arrived!

    Dumfries and Galloway Writers Group has just released issue 6 of The Fankle magazine. As usual this is an A3 piece of paper cunningly cut and folded into a little booklet by some nifty origami work. In fact it’s kids play to do this (though you wouldn’t think so from our efforts!) Here’s a demonstration… Continue reading

    Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Fankle, Magazine, Origami, Poet, Poetry, Writer, Writing
  • April 3, 2011

    Kirkconnell Flow Nature Reserve

    I took myself off to Kirkconnell Flow National Nature Reserve this afternoon. For those of you who don’t know where this Scottish Natural Heritage Site is, it lies just of the A710 slightly south of the turning for Mabie Forest and is located across the Nith from Glencaple. There are a couple of easy, short… Continue reading

    Dumfries and Galloway, Forest, Reserve, Scottish National Heritage, Walk, Walking, Wood
  • March 24, 2011

    Markets for Writers – A Masterclass

    I don’t know if she will ever read this but I’d just like to say a great big thank you to Rosemary Gemmell (http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com/) for the marvellous talk she gave to Dumfries and Galloway Writers on researching markets for selling writing to publishers. The amount of time and energy she puts into researching where her… Continue reading

    Dumfries and Galloway, Market, Poet, Poetry, Publisher, Publishing, Writer, Writing
  • March 19, 2011

    A Walk In The Woods

    To Mabie forest near Dumfries on a fine afternoon in early spring. I thought I’d be uber adventurous (for me) and attempt the longest walk available through the wood. No such luck; the Forestry Commission have taken to tree felling in the forest at the moment and the nice long walk I’d planned was curtailed… Continue reading

    Dumfries and Galloway, Forest, Mabie, Nature, Walk, Walking, Wood
  • March 19, 2011

    Modern Art

    This is the bit where I show my philistine tendencies… This morning I took myself to my local arts centre to see the latest couple of exhibitions. The main gallery rooms were hosting a random collection of artifacts, drawings and paintings created by artists from in and around this area. This is a precurser to… Continue reading

    Art, Crafts, Exhibition, Gallery, Uncategorized
  • March 14, 2011

    Publishing Fankle Magazine

    One of the recent things Dumfries and Galloway Writers’ Group has been doing is the publication of The Fankle magazine. To date five Fankles have been released and number six is closed for submissions, with its release due shortly. The Fankle is a great wee booklet of short stories and poems, not just from writers… Continue reading

    Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Fankle, Magazine, Poet, Poetry, Writer, Writing
  • March 13, 2011

    Eskrigg Nature Reserve

    It’s amazing how you can live in an area all your life yet still be able to stumble upon some little unexplored corner. For me that was Eskrigg Nature Reserve, by Lockerbie. While visiting the Environment Fair in Dumfries the other week I came across the stall of the volunteers who look after the Reserve. After… Continue reading

    Annandale, Dumfries, Lockerbie, Nature, Reserve, Walk, Walking
«Previous Page

About Me

I exist somewhere in south-west Scotland, juggling a full-time job against family life and the desire to write.

  • Goodreads

Recent Posts

  • Chapter 1 – Arthur
  • Writing Critique Partners
  • May 16 Bird list
  • A Question of Titles
  • April 2016 Bird List

Useful Resources

  • Arvon
  • Moniack Mhor
  • Wigtown Book Festival

RSS Feeds

Writing Excuses

  • 21.34: Knowing the Distance
  • 21.33: When To Shift Gears
  • 21.32: Barrier Breaking- Time Constraints
  • Writing Excuses at Worldcon (LAcon V)
  • 21.31: Deconstructing Save the Cat

Grammar Girl

  • Stray Russian words and made-up style rules, with Daniel Heuman and Chris Ryder
  • Who's a good boy? The science behind 'dog voice.' Is it 'bated breath' or 'baited breath'?
  • How we got from no spaces between words to the interrobang, with Florence Hazrat
  • Why do so many last names sound like jobs?
  • Explosions, chemistry, and dictionary 'spite,' with Kory Stamper

Recent Posts

  • Chapter 1 – Arthur
  • Writing Critique Partners
  • May 16 Bird list

Designed with WordPress

Loading Comments...