Nearside's Life of Fiction

Yes, indeed, my Fictional Life, even...

"Literature: proclaiming in front of everyone what one is careful to conceal from one's immeditate circle."

(Jean Rostand, Journal d'un caractere, 1931)

Here are bits and pieces from my writing portfolio.

Well, it's more of an attempt to remember parts of my life which the aliens removed when I was abducted.

At the bottom of the page, you will find a link to one of my stories. I will be changing them regularly. If you really like this stuff, then EMAIL me or write to me, and let me know. If you are an Agent or a Publisher, please offer me lots and lots of cash so that I can do this for a living !
My Writing "Career"

My Early Days
I began writing in primary school, but the first major thing I did was a blasphemous rip off of all the computer games I was playing in first year at Grammar School (I was 12 at the time). A friend and I wrote a story called Arcadian, based upon the Speccy game, and we won a prize in class for the best story. After that, I filled a 30 page exercise book with a story based loosely upon the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Shame, shame shame.
My Middle Period
This really started when I changed schools at the tender age of 14. I began playing in the new school's orchestra, and during a trip to Dublin, I was inspired to start a novel- my first. I had it plotted out, and about a third written before I got bored with it, and in fact, lost most of it. It's still in my brain, somewhere. The middle period was full of half started novels, stories etc, until, when in Northampton in 1989-1990 at Nene College, I was inspired once more. I wrote my first novel, Flashback, over 1990, and it was a 60,000 word Science Fiction novel set in Belfast. I still have it, but knew at the time that it was nothing more than a practice run for later. It was the end of my middle period.
The Modern Phase
Beginning with my second Degree course, in late 1991. I began a Degree in English, knowing well that my dissertation would be a Short Story of some sort. I picked and chose my modules with a view to that end, and in 1993-1994, I wrote a short story called Bravado, my first serious non-genre work. I received a 2:1 for it, and was pleased when I was invited down to Queens to read it out at the English Society. I began writing more short stories, with an anthology in mind, which, in the summer of 1995, I completed. This was called Long Short Scratches and I consider it to be my most mature work to date. It's away at an Agency. I'll let you know more about it in a couple of weeks.
Next Steps...
My intentions are to complete a novel that I have started, working title Ghosts, which is set on the Internet. I hope to get myself a literary agent, and to persue my career of writer with some ambition.

If you would like to read one of my stories, then
Click here to read it. At your own risk, might I add.

By the way, everyone, I retain copyright of these stories. You have permission to print it out once and once only to read it, but then you have to keep it to yourself. Selling it will bring doom on thee, and thine family shalt feel mine mighty wroth till the seventh generation be past. And I'll sue your ass off if you publish it pretending you wrote it. Unless you give me the money, in which case, what do I care ?

Go back to Nearside's home page, then. Go on ! Git !