New Sayings

July 8, 2025
Am I the only person who shouts at the television when she sees a sign on an advertisement that says 'Invite Only'? (INVITATION Grrr!) Or grinds her teeth every time someone says 'gifting' instead of 'giving'?
There are so many more important things to get red in the face about, such as cuts to adult learning classes, artificial intelligence ripping off writers' work, online piracy, and books being banned from libraries and schools in countries that should know better. Why does the misuse of words irritate me so much?
After all, we all make up words (don't we?) for everything from silly songs for our children to nicknames for our other halves. We deliberately use bad grammar when we're messing about, such as 'we woz 'ere' or 'I is idiot'. William Shakespeare made up words and new ways of saying things in virtually every play he wrote, if not all of them, and it never did his career any harm. There's no record of anyone throwing rotten veg at the stage and yelling: "There's no such word as 'fardles!" during Hamlet's soliloquy. James Joyce deliberately broke the rules of standard English, and while he was vilified by the arbiters of taste at the time, his work is now hailed as that of a groundbreaking genius.
I think that it's the deliberate rule-breaking that is the key. Joyce had a purpose in mind when he created new words or ways of writing. All too often, those who say 'different to' instead of 'different from' or 'less' instead of 'fewer' think they are absolutely correct. What is more, they will incorrectly correct the right usage.
As I have written here previously, language is a living thing, and changes are inevitable. The things I complain about now, will no doubt soon become standard, so I should get used to it, especially as these changes when used in dialogue help to build a character's identity e.g. their age, class, education etc.. Maybe instead of shouting at the TV, I should learn how to make the most of them.
Yours sincerely–I mean, best regards,

Karla

P.S. Don't forget, you can download Discord's Child and Artists & Liars FREE in the Smashwords Summer-Winter Sale at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ksdearsley
 

I'm Back!

June 29, 2025
You might not believe this, but this is the sixth time I've written this blog. I've done it once a month, but for one reason or another, it's never actually made it online. What went wrong? You may well ask. I'm not sure that I know myself.
The year started off with good intentions, as it always does, but nothing so far has come to fruition. I would say this is despite my efforts, but the truth is, I've found it really hard to get motivated. The chaos around the world this year, hasn't helped...
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'Bye 'Bye 2024

December 29, 2024
The days between Christmas and New Year are always strange: not exactly festive, but not normal either. Like many people, I find myself looking back over the year that's almost gone as well as looking forward. What have I done? What have I achieved? Has anything turned out the way I expected it to? The differences between now and this time last year might appear no greater than acquiring a few more grey hairs, but even if I haven't achieved all I'd hoped to, I'd like to think I've learned a f...
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Christmas Traditions

December 24, 2024
Most people have traditions they like to keep at this time of year, whether it be something that's widely recognised, such as gathering for Christmas dinner, or something only their family does. In recent years, I've tried to set up a new tradition. It's mainly something I like to do for myself, but I hope it gives those who are on the receiving end of it a little fun too. 
I try to write some verses or mini stories reflecting the time of year to put in the Christmas cards I send to my neares...
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What's Afoot

December 19, 2024
The Smashwords end of year sale is now on, which means it's time for me to make a few decisions, and put some changes into effect.
I transferred my books to Draft2Digital earlier this year as a result of the merger of the two indie publishing platforms. Since then, I haven't enrolled any of them in the Smashwords sales because authors either had to enrol all their books at the same discount or none. However, this has now changed (possibly because other authors also opted out). Consequently, u...
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Writing Left Unread

December 2, 2024
People write for many reasons: to record something for posterity, or to jog their own memory; to entertain, to inform and educate; to communicate something to others. It had never occurred to me until recently that anyone would write something without intending it to be read. At first, I thought the notion was ridiculous: what would be the point? However, the more I thought about it, the more reasons for doing it I found.
It was after completing a joint project with the writers' group I go to...
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Something to Look Forward to

October 29, 2024
It's all over! Tea Party of the Gods has had three performances by Theze Guyz, including yours truly, and like the aftermath of any party, I could be suffering post-celebration blues.
The performances took place over two days. Tea Party of the Gods was the third play on, and I'm please to say that  half the audience didn't disappear after the first two. I wouldn't say we were faultless, but we still got laughter and applause. Several of the audience approached me afterwards to say how much th...
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Endings and Beginnings

October 15, 2024
Putting on a play can take almost as long as producing a baby. It's been a long haul since Theze Guyz first asked me if I had a one-act play they could perform back in March. The group, founded by Sarah Love, is celebrating its 21st birthday this month. It has both adult and youth sections, and has a policy of giving everyone a chance to perform whatever their experience.
I was delighted when they chose 'Tea Party of the Gods' as one of four short plays to be performed on 18th and 19th Octobe...
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Anyone for Tennis?

August 8, 2024
Am I the only one who finds it incredible that we are already more than two thirds of the way through summer? I confess to spending quite a lot of time watching lawn tennis and reading the pile of books I acquired at the last book group picnic I attended. However, I contend that I haven't been lazing around.
Tennis tournaments have a gladiatorial aspect with heroes and villains; past favourites against newcomers, athleticism versus experience, wiliness versus strength. How do the players cope...
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Zooming in on Success

June 9, 2024
The week before last was exciting and scary in equal measure. I received an email saying that two of my three entries in the Wildfire-Words Flash Fiction 150 contest had been longlisted, then I received another congratulating me on winning second place, and inviting me to a showcase on Zoom of all the longlisted and winning entries.
When I'd come down from the ceiling, the reality of having to read out my entries and get to grips with unfamiliar technology hit me. My only previous experience...
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About Me


My writing career began as a freelance feature writer for the local press, businesses and organisations. Now a prize-winning playwright and short story writer, my work has appeared in numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic. I write as K. S. Dearsley because it saves having to keep repeating my forename, and specialise in fantasy and other speculative genres.

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