Rambling, For sure

It's a nightmare. But one I got myself into. So I'm not pandering for sympathy there. 

I've almost caught up with all deadlines on official and unofficial challenges. If anyone else is running one and I haven't entered let me know. I'm currently in the process of writing a Scottish folklore inspired Scottish dialect tale for SA Crawford's October unofficial challenge.

I'm not rushing it because I want it to be excellent.

I need to sit down and actually write my scroll no more entry.

Which I am quietly quite excited about because while fiction it is based around one of my favourite people, who is sadly no longer with us. So it should be seen as a tribute and homage to her spirit.

As most will know I am running a pain in the arse style challenge for you all. I'll drop the link at the bottom. I gotta say I am always blown away by how people respond and so far the response has been epic. Truly epic. Everyone is bringing their a game. So I'm going to have a hard time judging each part when all is said and done.

A lot of people seemed to like my ramblings last week and I had said I might do it again and maybe weekly. So here we are.

It's good, like those morning pages that courses and writing guides often encourage to help you clear the cobwebs from your brain and throw out or spew up the clutter and messy messy stuff so you can concentrate on what you're working on.

Speaking of cobwebs, my latest published piece is a horrible disgusting little horror tale for RMSs latest unofficial challenge. It involves a spider. And includes artwork by the same bloke that wrote it.

Did I say nose is running and a little sore?

Good

 As long as you are all aware of the latest updatesm

As it's Wednesday my thoughts inevitably turn to the latest challenge results we are due for the October vocal challenge. I'm nervous because both my entries were subversive. One did have a more sombre undercurrent and deeper meaning, though.

I didn't take my usual approach one one serious unique take then a second then a third more subversive onr. I just cut to the madness.

As a heads-up I think I'm going to be leaning to the madness more often. I get so worked you when writing that I hate stumbling down well trodden paths. Unless I can add something unique. So I avoid those paths.

Don't get me wrong, i do my utmost to adhere to the challenges but then try to avoid the usual ideas.

But while I want to do my best to win..I've never made any bones about that or hidden that fact, I don't want to circle around the pit of misery because I try too hard to make a story feel traditional.

Fuck. That.

If that is what it takes to win. And I'm not sure it is. But if it were. I'm not going to do it that way. 

Which is why when I did a second entry for Dead Air, I went full tilt Paul.

Sports talk sports talk

One sports fact I know is that Harry Kane and English footballer man won that Balloon award everyone always goes on about (I know I said it wrong but I love the idea of grown men being given balloons. Maybe along with their orange wedges from half time) 

Either way, I guess well done Hairy Kane.

Currently my three best albums of 2026 are Lost Weekend by Phoebe Bridgers, We are Unpeople by Unpeople and Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C. but that could change by December 32st. There has been a lot of good music released this year.

I'm still thinking of writing an anthology based on the story I wrote in which I, plus the main character kill off the Vocal legend Cali Loria. In the anthology I'm thinking of killing off a different Vocal creator in each chapter. Because fun.

And it's some kind of honour is it not? 

To be morally wounded to death in textual fictionalised form by that crazy Scottish Italian arsehole?

Question mark, genuinely.

Some tips.

Dont eat three day old sushi. 

Unless you need to clear out your systems.

The artwork I have used for this week's ramblings started as a pencil shading thing..I even used a ruler like a good disciplined boy. I wish I had taken pictures of the process. But I didn't so you just have the finished piece to gaze at in wonder and awe, mostly trying to work out what it is or is meant to represent and how long you should look at it to be polite before moving on.

I've included different orientations as I have not worked out which way it should be displayed.

Ruth wants me to put it into a frame, which from my artistic better sounds like some kind of compliment.

Funny thing. We did a mini shop and we got more chocolate eclairs, so guess what's getting smashed into my face later?

Following on from last week's ramble, I will include two links to others pieces (in addition to any links related to stuff I've discussed) as a way of not making this totally about me.

Even if it is mostly totally about me.

I'm also frying up some leftovers of chips, cheese and chicken pakora.

Yep, frying. The Scot is frying.

If I'm anything in contrarian and also clichéd all in one.

Obviously I just realised that by the time this has been published we may know the results of the October challenge.

So there 

If you have nominations for whom should make the cut in my macabre anthology, let me know. You could use carrier donkey but it might be best saying in the comments sectioni have a few already penciled in for maximum deletion.

But always welcome to hear from the great people of Vocal for suggestions.

I still need to work out what I am going to steal from myself too. But I'm thinking Sally. I love Sally. I love most of my creations but I have a soft spot for Sally. 

Anyway, this has been even less poetic than the last delvination into my mind. 

There once was a man called Paul 

Who grew to nearly six foot tall 

He had some issues

Blew into tissues 

And I can't be bothered at all 

Sara raised a good question to me too about whether people actually laugh out loud when they type lol and I am not sure that they do.

What do you all think?

 Anyway

Until next time 

Please do give whoever I highlight below some love and read the pieces.