Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Writing Prompt: 17 June National Eat Your Vegetables Day


 

National Eat Your Vegetables Day

Create a story about someone who is not too keen on eating their vegetables and gets persuaded to do so. Maybe a child doesn’t want to eat anything green.  Perhaps someone in the family is a fan of fish and chips but leaves out the mushy peas. Or maybe someone does eat them but cooks them to a squidgy mess first.

 

Maybe you could write an article about the benefits of eating vegetables, how to grow them and how to cook them.

 

Could you compile a selection of your favourite recipes?

 

Maybe visit a local market or fresh produce shop and wallow in the sensations of being there. Now write a haiku or a poem about what you experienced.

 

Visit an allotment and actually get your hands into the soil. How does that feel? What do you see? Hear? And even taste, if you can eat some of the vegetables raw?        

 

Can you write an ode to a vegetable?

 

Or write an article about getting the children to do the right thing.

Honour vegetables by writing about them today.

 

Look at what this writer did with vegetables.

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.  

 

Monday, 19 May 2025

Reincarnation by Humayun Malik, critique

One morning, waking up normally, while he goes to the toilet and gazes at his penis as usual, it seems, it has become small. The sunlight is coming through the ventilator [GJ1] and the light creates a form of vagina on the floor; in its extra light, he checks his penis again and again. He also remembers that he has not masturbated for a long time—but why! Is his voice also changing to a feminine voice as a reverse turn[GJ2] ! 

Trying to suppress such a worry, he thinks, [GJ3] how long could I suppress this! And is it right!

His roommate[GJ4]  Ripon, who fulfills the condition that he’ll not tell anyone the matter, first discloses it to him. Apparently, [GJ5] Ripon begins to listen to it with a serious feeling but a mysterious irony twinkle in his eyes.

Welcome, he says, I think if you become a female, then you’ll be a beautiful girl. 

In the body and consciousness, such a deep chemistry, all its strange manifestations—how to deal with it and solve this!

By this time, it’s definitely going beyond the limits of control! His accent, movements, and glances provoke the students of his hostel and college in mockery. It makes him ashamed and embarrassed—these reactions also make them more provocative and even some of them are thrilled by the electric sparking of his gazes too.

It seems they also know the fact. But how[GJ6] !

It’s very possible, that Ripon has played a key role in it. Despite his promise not to disclose the matter to anyone, John was feeling uncertain. Maybe Ripon tried but couldn’t control himself. First, he says to someone, I’m only telling you an interesting secret, please don’t tell anyone. It’s like a girl who says to her lover, I love only you—and then she says it to 10[GJ7]  young men!

Then, John searches for a specialist related to the issue, and at one-point he makes an appointment with an endocrinologist. 

Estrogen! These are all the actions of such kinds of hormones, the endocrinologist says, the heredity, in many ways, gave you a fertile body for the creation of these hormones, then by subtracting and adding they are changing you. Anyhow, I’m prescribing some anti-doses to destroy these hormones and prevent their production. And as the psychological treatment: stop thinking of girls, especially weed out from your mind their breasts, vagina, hip, etc. If you think about these organs, it means you want those and, they will develop in you. Have you any girlfriend?

He had a strong crush on his classmate Anika. He imagined her—he is chatting, caressing, and kissing her, through this, he even masturbated. [GJ8] In the meantime, that’s stopped. Now he’s in silence in the face of the specialist’s question.

If there is a girl you love, the specialist advises, if you want to get rid of this disaster, leave her and forget.

The attraction to women is the basic characteristics [GJ9] of manhood, which is supposed to sustain one male—but the specialist’s advice! John falls in a dilemma.

Meanwhile, the time goes by, but change doesn’t turn reverse.

At this stage, the endocrinologist advises, Speak in a tough, masculine voice—think your penis is still as large and as powerful as before, even try to excite it.

Maybe the specialist now thinks, how his masculinity will remain awakened and active in his mind and body, as his acquired knowledge says, but is this not the reverse of his first phase treatment! [GJ10] Is he his guinea pig!

In the next appointment, the endocrinologist observes him very keenly and then asks, Do you want to be a woman?

Maybe that’s existing in his unconscious—he can answer nothing.

If you want to be a woman, the specialist proceeds, I can make you that by surgical operations. Vaginoplasty can create a vagina, clitoris, labia majora, labia minora. [GJ11] using your existing genital tissue. But it needs a lot of money!

The specialist also tells him to stop the prescribed anti-doses.

Now he always notices his changes and imagines being a girl.

But the specialist says, If the necessary surgeries are not done immediately to let you be a complete woman, your condition may be critical.

Currently, some students at his college and hostel tease him, saying eunuch, half-woman, etc.—as if the specialist confirms this identification.

His anxiety increases[GJ12] . If any mother gives birth to a transgender child, then the parents drop the child off in their community, in an inhumane environment. The child forgets the root and leads the life begging by dancing and singing with other transgenders, and even like lumpen by artifice and stealing. There are such terms as transgender dance, eunuch culture, etc. In the ‘National folk-culture festival’ there’s an evening for the third gender’s presentation—last year he enjoyed it with Ripon. Then where s/he can go to lead her/his life if s/he becomes transgender!

Is the specialist scaring him! One day when he was waiting to meet the specialist in the waiting room, a man was speaking from the chair next to him to a woman,[GJ13]  The endocrinologist pushed his patient to surgery for the interest of [GJ14] money.

John then searches for another specialist.

Now, the change is at such a stage that if we try to control it, the endocrinologist John finds out next, says, it may create great trouble, even turn into such a complex state that we would have nothing to do. Meanwhile, it’s running so smoothly towards womanhood, you need no hormone vaccine or surgery. Now rather you welcome your womanhood and pursue to [GJ15] become a woman in mind, in body, and be ready to enjoy your new life. But it’s not that any problem, any complexity may not appear. So, you should have a keen observation of a specialist.

By this time, the mockery with him doesn’t remain limited in the hostel and college; it spreads to their adjacent society and becomes a hypersensitive excitement. 

 

Meanwhile, the physical and also the mental revolution are happening, but slowly.

 

Gradually his penis is going to be extinct. His chest is growing like a pair of women’s breasts. Also, his body is becoming more delicate.

 

When it’s happening in him, then it seems, on his next bed, Ripon is dreaming an erotic daydream. Once upon a time, Ripon proposed to him to go to a brothel, where they would pay a prostitute as per rate [GJ16] only to examine her vagina, breasts, and body—how it acts as such an enjoyable source. Now, of course, he is waiting for newly created sex organs in him—breasts, vagina, etc.—and also thinking about having sex.

 

Within a few days, the curiosity of the students of his hostel, [GJ17] becomes a peculiar disturbance. It also becomes difficult to defecate for him. They just do not peek in his room or bathroom now and again—one evening someone pushes the door of the toilet so strongly that all of a sudden, the cleat slips away, and the door opens—the crazy student sees the stage of his transitional genitalia at a glance! Then how can he live in the hostel![GJ18] 

 

Then where can he go and get shelter! If he returns to his own home—how will his parents handle him/her! That’s a remote small town—it’s impossible to continue the necessary treatment there.

 

To escape from an unbearable situation, he takes shelter at his maternal uncle’s quarter in this capital. Uncle is worried for him/her. Aunt considers it a sex distortion, a very dirty matter, and becomes anxious for his[GJ19]  young sons—they may be curious and interested about the new sex organs; if it happens, their characters will be ruined.

 

He understands his aunt, but he has to stay here because of treatment[GJ20] . Fear of becoming transgender, their homelessness chases him like a nightmare. In this situation, he even thinks it’s logical if I could [GJ21] commit suicide. But it’s not the ending or vanishing of his existence—the suicide would rebirth him as an interesting story among his friends and relatives, even in newspapers. Then the woman she wants to be—that’s best.

 

John thinks by this time he should also take the college final exam.

 

On the pretext to help his study, Ripon regularly comes here. But s/he realizes Ripon doesn’t really want his study progress[GJ22] .

 

Through all such complications[GJ23] , John takes part in the exam.

 

Ripon also goes with him/her to the specialist’s chamber[GJ24] —knows the development with a special eagerness!

 

This time examining him/her very closely with mysterious curiosity, the specialist advises, Now dream and feel, a young man, by churning your soft breast, is spreading the endless joy in your body, as the God creates nectar by churning whole water of a sea for to drink. Even, an embryo is developing in your uterus, and a baby is spreading its hands and feet towards you from inside your womb.


One evening the specialist presses his—her breast with hand consecutively and tries to take these in his fist. Then, through genital examination by his finger, he says with a smile, It’s that Crack of Doris Lessing!

 

Despite some complications with menstruation—extinction of beard, perfect formation of uterus he basically metamorphoses into a young girl.

 

Nevertheless, there’s a problem in her breast development—the recessive elements of his chests grow up like a pair of boils, then stops, and do not develop to full bloom boobs.

 

When you’ll in the process of full girlhood, the specialist says, such as a man’s hand would press and caress your breast, have sex, and would menstruate, those might influence to nourish the [GJ25] breasts. A great development may happen when you conceive. From the womb, the zygote will send its future needs to breast and... then the breastfeeding… At your golden age, you’ll gain the perfect breasts like a pair of heavenly apples!

The specialist who has passed his middle age and is leaning towards the old age, it seems, is pursuing to revive [GJ26] his youth by talking and touching her—she is embarrassed. Rather, when Ripon comes here to meet her, that ever known Ripon is seen as a timid lover, and she feels a deep thrill. Then the wishes arise in her, [GJ27] if he would sit close [GJ28] to her and kiss! 

Now apparently, when she is a young girl, she can’t return to the hostel and go to college; she is bound to leave the capital and go back to her hometown, to her parents.

In her old home, in ever-familiar society, existed all problems follows her in a new and peculiar form.[GJ29] 

She has to cut her hair, but through continuous cutting, how it becomes a girl’s bobcat style she can’t realize!  When she wears her previous dress, she looks at herself in the mirror, an aboriginal young woman, as if it’s at a fashion show! [GJ30] Her mother, however, gives her two used saris. Now she wears the sari in conservative style. But even in their inner house, she has to lead her life just in infinite shame.

It’s very embarrassing for her when she appears in front of somebody; they search her full body with curious eyes. He[GJ31]  always tries to escape from people. In this time when the national daily The Horizon publishes “Sex Change—A Young Man Has Become a Young Girl,” she becomes a victim of endless public nuisance. People wait around his[GJ32]  home boundaries, and if she comes to the balcony, even stands near a window, they tease. Then her mother begins to lift curtains around her one after another.

 Despite so many problems around her, now her mind wishes for the male. In the last days of his hall life to his next bed, Ripon was waiting impatiently for his metamorphosis[GJ33] . Then one evening he asked him, If you become a girl will you be my girlfriend? Now she waits for him in her imagination. Besides, what else can she do? ♦[GJ34] 

 


 [GJ1]This seems odd. Done;t air rather than sunlight normally come through a ventilator?

 [GJ2]Intriguing

 [GJ3]Try to avoid this sort of tagging – we already know he’s thinking as we are in his viewpoint.

 [GJ4]Comma  here

 [GJ5]Is the comma really needed here?

 [GJ6]Quite a few exclamation marks. Are they all needed?

 [GJ7]Generally numbers up one hundred should be written in words. However there are lots of exceptions to this rule.  This, alas isn’t one of them.   

 [GJ8]Slightly awkward.  Maybe:  He imagined her—he is chatting, caressing, and kissing her, and even as he  thinks through this, he masturbates.

 [GJ9]is one of the…

 [GJ10]This is awkward and difficult to understand.

 [GJ11]Comma here

 [GJ12]Good use of a short sentence to break the text up a little.

 [GJ13]Full stop here

 [GJ14]Not needed

 [GJ15]Endeavour?

 [GJ16]The going rate

 [GJ17]At his hotel – and comma not needed

 [GJ18]Watch those exclamation marks again.

 [GJ19]her?

 [GJ20]of the treatment

 [GJ21]to

 [GJ22]study to progress

 [GJ23]may be: despite allof the complications

 [GJ24]surgery? Consulting room?

 [GJ25]the evlopment

 [GJ26]trying to revive

 [GJ27]; here

 [GJ28]Maybe: if only he would si close to her and kiss her.

 [GJ29]This is hard to understand. Maybe: In her old home, in that ever-familiar society, all the same  problems still exist.  They have followed here there.  [GJ29]

  [GJ30]Exclamation mark needed?

 [GJ31]S/he

 [GJ32]His/ her  or her / his

 [GJ33]Confusing – it sounds as if Ripon is going to change.

 [GJ34]An interesting story where you study some complex characters.

 

I’m guessing English isn’t your first language and it might be good to work with a native speaker of English before you submit a text like this.

 

I think this can be worked up into a very good story.

Friday, 18 April 2025

Mockery by Humayun Malik

The almighty Eadhrum, weary of granting the prayers of avaricious, fraudulent, and unscrupulous[GJ1] , both corporeal and incorporeal, wonders whether to cease the practice. While there’s joy and self-satisfaction through this charity, justice and beauty are corrupted by it. Facing the dilemma, as Eadhrum’s time stops in his court, he is interrupted by a human.

O, Infinite Merciful, you never turn anyone away empty-handed, the man prays, kneeling before him. O, great Eadhrum, I want immortality[GJ2] .

Eadhrum is surprised and entertained by this request. Human’s utmost prayer should be for the eternal happiness of Dhrumspace, although the real prayer concealed in almost everyone’s mind is worldly happiness—money, land, other wealth; but this guy is not anywhere near those; his prayer is only for immortality—immortality [GJ3] in the real world.

He notices the guy. It transpires he is a writer. A so-called writer. An idea then comes to Eadhrum, and He says, I can fulfill your wish only if an immortal writer recommends you.

The man goes to the region of Dhrumspace, where the authors reside whose writings have become timeless.

He observes that each residence in Dhrumspace exists in such eternal peace that no frustration or grief can ever reach it[GJ4] . Everyone lives there with their absolute beauty. First, he knocks on a lovely dark blue door, and the one who opens it is Yasunari Kawabata.

When Kawabata speaks naturally, the writer blurts out, I’ve come to you for a recommendation so that I, too, can be immortal as a writer.

Kawabata looks at the writer curiously, Do you suffer such unbearable grief, disappointment, or melancholy as Ernest Hemingway that can force you to commit suicide?

No.

Then how could you ever write anything—a poem, a fiction, a drama that will be timeless? So, how can I help you? Kawabata asks, closing the door in the writer’s face[GJ5] .

The writer then seeks out Milan Kundera. After learning the reason for his visit, Kundera asks, Do you consider yourself so daring that you could have written against the fascism of your government?

Then, if like you, my citizenship was revoked, I would have to spend the rest of my life in exile!

Could you accept such a destiny?

Is it possible? the man counters.

Have you written anything like Blindness, The Waste Land, or Hamlet?

No, he is embarrassed but confesses.

Even a dialogue, like: Life’s...  it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

He thinks, in the meantime, the writers he meets are all infamous—are they jealous of him! He says, But I’m so popular…

It’s not a criterion for immortality availability, Kundera says. Are you, like Benjamin Malaysia, for the rights of deprived, oppressed people, able to rebel by writing a poem for which you could have been hung?[GJ6]  And from this sacrifice, mankind will be inspired to fight against injustice.

I’m not a so-called revolutionary!

Only a revolutionary’s poetry may not be timeless; his poem must also be aesthetically rich.

He meets Federico García Lorca.

Are you a writer of any defeat, grief, or killing—from which blood flows continuously? Lorca wants to know.

No, no, and no.

Obsessed with his quest, the writer knocks on yet another door. Kawabata’s idea: Hemingway.

Were you the victim of such violence, such injustice, which made your world a hell! Hemingway’s bitter voice.

 Not even that.

Then what did you write with!

With joy and beauty! his strong accent.

Then just read John Keats and verify your availability.

The guy thinks of meeting Keats.

Have you ever found the beauty in which you were ready to blend in or vanish? Keats asks.

Why is that! he feels uneasy.

So, what did you write that could grant you immortality?

He returns to Eadhrum’s court, upset. He pledges himself fully to the Eadhrum in one last bid for immortality, In your holy Dhrum Book it is told, only you are the great generous, great giver.… I’ve already written so much, and in its return… and above all you are almighty[GJ7] —!

Eadhrum interrupts the writer. Even though that power of mine is not unbounded, there's also a statutory limit. Though not immortality, behold, Eadhrum points to the mortal, I’ve given you as far as I could.

The man notices that his rich bank balance, earned by selling his popular writings, is now increasing at the rate of compounding [GJ8] for the book, which, in the meantime, has been recognized as a best-seller. His multi-story tower is rapidly growing to touch the sky, but it’s also silently expressing that its staircase will never reach Dhrumspace. It means, he realizes, all my works are worthless[GJ9] .

But what will happen to those so-called timeless writings in just one crore [GJ10] years, eventually Eadhrum soliloquies, Even am I immortal—is it not a great mockery! ♦

 

 


 [GJ1]I note that you have sued web formatting, This is unusual for a submission, But.  Of course This is  published online anyway.   

 [GJ2]Your deity certainly has a personality.

 [GJ3]I wonder if everyone’s idea of this is different?

 [GJ4]So, will they be able to write?

 [GJ5]Indeed.  

 [GJ6]Hanged? Different past particle when it’s death penalty?

 [GJ7]Unconventional punctuation for dialogue  but it works here.  

 [GJ8]Slightly odd expression.  

 [GJ9]A Tower of Babel moment?

 [GJ10]?

Sunday, 23 March 2025

Getting your work out there

 



Top to bottom

Get an agent first, then everything else follows on. However, agents are probably only interested in full novels, scripts, non-fiction books and people who are young enough to develop a career. They are useful: they will negotiate a better contract for you and can get to some publishers who are only accepting via agents.   However, for poetry, short stories and flash fiction you will probably have more luck going bottom to top. 

 

Bottom to top

Start with small press and work your way up.    

 

Keep good records

A spread sheet can be useful. Who did you send to whom and when might you get an answer by?

 

Be like the fishermen at the end of the pier

Have lots of lines dangling.  

 

What to do when you’re rejected

Grumble to yourself a bit.  Take another look at what has been rejected. If they gave you any feedback try to respond to it.  Can you take another look at your work? Tweak it then look for where else you might send it.

How to find a publisher

1.      Try Fair Submissions  https://www.fairsubmissions.co.uk/ . This site is searchable and browsable. Submissions are fair because they lead to payment or publication, good exposure or are great fun. Some you have to pay to submit but only enough to cover what we used to have to pay for paper, print and postage.  Watch my video of how I use this site.

2.      Indie Press Guide:  https://mslexia.co.uk/shop/indie-press-guide/

3.      Writers and Artists Year Book: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/  You can buy the books or look at it online.  I prefer the online version as it will always be more up to date.  

 

Two special tips:

Write for CaféLit https://cafelit.co.uk.

Join the LAA to be eligible for their competitions: www.lancashireauthorsassociation.co.uk

     

Some fun stuff

If you like responding to prompts: https://www.fairsubmissions.co.uk/2021/02/reedsy-prompts.html

Anything: https://www.fairsubmissions.co.uk/2022/09/medium.html