Fiction
Below are some links to excerpts from Richard's various fictional works. Some are longer than others; some are complete; some are works in progress.
If you have any comment or feedback on them, Richard may be contacted using the 'Contact' button on the left.
shore leave
First saw the light of day as a NaNoWriMo entry (it won, but it wasn't halfway finished); this ever-expanding story started from a family story told to Richard by his mother. It now is pretty much unrecognisable from that, and remains a work in progress. Notwithstanding that it has yet to have its first edit, an excerpt can be found here.
words and music
Another unfinished NaNoWriMo entry, this is a collection of short stories based on the idea of telling the backstory of some popular songs. Some worked, some didn't, and some meandered off into odd places, never to be seen again. A couple of early drafts may be seen here: The Flyer and Middletown Dreams
morningside crescent
It was a game of Mornington Crescent, and then it turned into a novel. It's complete, but it needs some work to make it properly readable. For a start, it was written, Dickens style, in periodic episodes, and some of the plot doesn't quite add up. However, it has its moments - as may be seen here.
going back
It started life as a short story, and it just kept on growing. It's probably at about 'novella' length now, and needs some editing. Perhaps it will eventually turn back into a short story; who knows? Not exactly based on a true story, but it is vaguely derived from one: Going Back
fragments
Not a work called 'Fragments,' but bits and pieces which may one day turn into something else. We'll see...
- Vote Vote Vote - an idea for a science fiction story. It got stretched out to a huge 600 words, and submitted to the nice people at 365 Tomorrows, who quite liked it, but suggested it needed more work. They're probably right, and one of these days, Richard will get round to it...
- An Examined Life - nothing's ever going to come of this, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
- The Old Folks in the House - long ago and far away in the future. These are real people, so it's really only fun if you know them.