Tag: Books

What I learned about writing – Writing great dialogue is hard

Crafting Believable Dialogue: Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid for Writers

Dialogue is both a writer’s strongest tool and their greatest temptation. When done right, it breathes life into characters, propels the plot, and immerses readers in a story’s world. But when it’s forced, lifeless, or overwrought, it can derail even the best plots. So how do writers create conversations that feel natural, engaging, and unforgettable? Let’s break down the art of dialogue and uncover how to avoid its most common pitfalls.

Why Dialogue is Tricky (And Why It Matters)

Dialogue isn’t just people talking—it’s a dance between realism and intention. Real conversations are often meandering, sprinkled with “umms,” small talk, and redundancy. But in a story, every line must earn its place. The challenge lies in balancing naturalism (making the exchange feel authentic) with necessity (ensuring the dialogue serves the story). If your characters’ words aren’t advancing the plot, revealing character, or adding emotional depth, they risk becoming filler.

How to Write Great, Unstilted Dialogue

  1. Let Personality Speak
    Each character should have a distinct voice shaped by their background, education, and temperament. A teenager’s slang, a professor’s erudite turns of phrase, or a mechanic’s blunt jargon all help readers visualise who they’re listening to.
  2. Embrace Subtext
    Rarely does anyone say exactly what they mean. Subtext—the unspoken tension beneath the words—adds layers of meaning. For example:
    Stilted: “I’m angry that you broke the vase.”
    Subtext-rich: “I see your footwork skills are as clumsy as ever.”
  3. Trim the Fat
    Real life includes greetings and awkward pauses (“Uh, hello, how are you—?”). In fiction, they often slow the pace. Cut small talk unless it serves a purpose (e.g., hiding tension). Instead of:
    Overwrought: “How’s your mother? The weather is lovely today, isn’t it? I heard about the party…”, go for:
    Pithy: “You’d better explain why you missed Mom’s birthday.”
  4. Use Conflict to Spur Motion
    Healthy dialogue has stakes. If two characters want the same thing (or want different things), their exchange becomes dynamic. Even a simple disagreement can crackle with energy if it reveals hidden desires or fears.
  5. Interrupt, Don’t Monologue
    Long speeches often feel unnatural. Break up dialogue with interruptions, actions, or interjections to maintain rhythm. Think of it like a tennis match—short, sharp, with momentum.
  6. Read It Aloud
    Stilted dialogue often reveals itself when spoken aloud. If a sentence trips off the tongue awkwardly, it likely will for readers too.

What to Avoid: Common Dialogue Mistakes

  • Overly Formal Speech: If your characters sound like Shakespearean scholars in a modern setting, readers will notice. Keep their language natural unless it’s part of their personality.
  • Identical Voices: If every character speaks the same way, they’re not characters—they’re clones. Vary sentence structures, vocabulary, and cadence.
  • Exposition Dumps: Avoid monologues that feel like a lecture (e.g., “As you know, the Kingdom of Orlandia fell to Zoltar in 1223…”). Weave backstory into the narrative or drop hints organically.
  • Unnecessarily Polite Exchanges: In real life, people get to the point. Unless a specific context demands formality (e.g., royal court intrigue!), cut the pleasantries.
  • Telling, Not Showing: Dialogue should reveal, not explain. Instead of “She was furious,” let her say, “You’ve got a nerve showing up here after what you did!”

Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Believable

Writing great dialogue is less about following rigid rules and more about observation. Eavesdrop on conversations (in public, of course—discreetly), study scripts of your favourite films, and read authors known for sharp dialogues (e.g., Oscar Wilde, Nora Ephron, or Neil Gaiman). Then, practice. Rewrite. Let your characters talk themselves into life.

Remember: The goal isn’t to replicate real speech perfectly—it’s to create an illusion of reality that feels true, even in a fantasy world. After all, the best dialogue doesn’t just move the story forward; it makes us feel like we’re sitting in the room, eavesdropping on something unforgettable.

Now go make your characters talk—and don’t let the struggle silence them. 💬

365 Days of writing, 2026 – 8

Day 8 – How to improve your vocabulary

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No Textbooks, No Timetables: 5 Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary on the Fly

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of an important email, a compelling conversation, or a presentation, and suddenly, the perfect word is… just out of reach. It’s like a mental shimmer, a ghost on the tip of your tongue. You settle for a lesser word, and the moment passes.

In a busy world, who has time for flashcards, vocabulary lists, and scheduled study sessions? The good news is you don’t need them. Building a more powerful, precise, and impressive vocabulary isn’t about a massive time commitment. It’s about building smarter, faster habits into the life you’re already living.

Here are the five best ways to improve your vocabulary on the fly, turning everyday moments into learning opportunities.

1. Become a Context Detective

This is your number one, tool-free, anytime-anywhere superpower. When you stumble upon an unfamiliar word while reading an article, a report, or even a social media post, don’t skip over it. Pause and become a detective.

What it is: Using the surrounding words, phrases, and sentences to deduce the meaning of an unknown word.

Why it works: The brain is a pattern-matching machine. By analysing the context, you’re actively engaging with the new word rather than passively receiving it. This active effort forges a much stronger memory link than simply looking it up.

How to do it on the fly: Read the sentence before and after the word. Ask yourself: What’s the topic? Is the word being used to describe something positive, negative, large, or small? For example: “The politician’s speech was so turgid that most of the audience started checking their phones.”

Even if you’ve never seen “turgid,” you can infer it’s negative and probably means something like bloated, boring, or overly complex. Make a mental guess. This act of guessing primes your brain to remember the real meaning later.

2. Master the “Tap-and-Lookup” Rule

Being a context detective is great, but sometimes you need confirmation. This is where your smartphone becomes your best friend, not a distraction.

What it is: The immediate, reflexive action of looking up an unknown word the moment you encounter it.

Why it works: Momentum is everything. If you wait, you’ll forget. By looking it up within seconds, you connect the word directly to its context and your initial guess. This creates a complete learning package in under ten seconds.

How to do it on the fly: Keep a dictionary app (like Merriam-Webster or Dictionary.com) on your phone’s home screen. When you read a word you don’t know—whether in an email, an ebook, or a news article—literally tap and look it up right then. Read the definition, and then go back and reread the sentence with your new understanding. The “aha!” moment is instant.

3. Eavesdrop Like a Writer (or an Active Listener)

Your ears are vocabulary-building goldmines, especially in our world of podcasts, audiobooks, and YouTube videos. But you have to listen with intent.

What it is: Tuning into the language used in podcasts, interviews, and conversations to actively identify and absorb new words.

Why it works: Hearing a word used correctly—with its proper pronunciation and emotional tone—teaches you how to wield it yourself. It’s a more dynamic and memorable way to learn than just seeing it on a page.

How to do it on the fly: On your commute, during a workout, or while doing chores, replace mindless scrolling with a high-quality podcast or an audiobook on a topic you enjoy. When you hear a word that piques your interest, make a mental note (or use a voice memo to say, “Look up ‘ubiquitous'”). Later, when you can, do a quick lookup. You’ll be amazed at how often that word will pop up again now that you’re aware of it.

4. Play the Synonym Game

Improving your vocabulary isn’t just about learning new words; it’s about finding better ones for the words you already use. This is a quick exercise you can do while writing or even speaking.

What it is: Actively swapping a simple, common word for a more precise or powerful alternative.

Why it works: This method directly applies new knowledge to your communication, making it instantly practical. It trains your brain to reach for more descriptive language, moving your vocabulary from passive knowledge to an active skill.

How to do it on the fly: As you write an email or a message, identify the most basic verbs or adjectives. “We need a good plan.” Now, open a thesaurus (most word processors have one built-in, or you can use a site like Thesaurus.com). Is the plan robust, strategic, comprehensive, or ingenious? Swapping “good” for a more specific word elevates your entire sentence. Do this for just one word per email, and it’ll soon become second nature.

5. The “Use It or Lose It” Challenge

This final tip is the glue that holds everything together. A word you learn but never use is a guest who never leaves the lobby—it doesn’t become part of the family.

What it is: Making a conscious effort to use a new word within 24 hours of learning it.

Why it works: The act of retrieval—pulling a word out of your memory and using it in context—is the single most effective way to commit it to long-term memory. It builds the neural pathway that makes the word accessible in the future.

How to do it on the fly: Let’s say you looked up “turgid” during your morning reading. Your challenge for the day is to use it. It can be in a work email (“Let’s avoid turgid explanations in the client deck”), a text to a friend (“That movie was so turgid”), or even just spoken aloud to yourself. It might feel a little forced at first, but that awkwardness is your brain working hard to integrate its new tool.

Your Brain’s New Toolkit

Improving your vocabulary doesn’t require a life overhaul. It’s about shifting from passive consumption to active engagement. By combining these five “on-the-fly” habits, you create a virtuous cycle:

You listen for a new word, use context to guess its meaning, look it up to confirm, swap it into your writing, and then use it in a conversation to seal the deal.

These are small actions, but taken consistently, they transform the way you communicate and think. So, which one will you try first? The next time you’re reading, give it a go. Your future, more articulate self will thank you for it.

Harry Walthenson, Private Detective – the second case – A case of finding the “Flying Dutchman”

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What starts as a search for a missing husband soon develops into an unbelievable story of treachery, lies, and incredible riches.

…

It was meant to remain buried long enough for the dust to settle on what was once an unpalatable truth, when enough time had passed, and those who had been willing to wait could reap the rewards.

The problem was, no one knew where that treasure was hidden or the location of the logbook that held the secret.

At stake, billions of dollars’ worth of stolen Nazi loot brought to the United States in an anonymous tramp steamer and hidden in a specially constructed vault under a specifically owned plot of land on the once docklands of New York.

It may have remained hidden and unknown to only a few, if it had not been for a mere obscure detail being overheard …

… by our intrepid, newly minted private detective, Harry Walthenson …

… and it would have remained buried.

Now, through a series of unrelated events, or are they, that well-kept secret is out there, and Harry will not stop until the whole truth is uncovered.

Even if it almost costs him his life.  Again.

A long short story that can’t be tamed – I always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress – 3

Three

It was dark, the curtains had been closed, but even in that light, we could see the flat was a mess.

Emily went in first, then I followed.  She switched on the light, and that mess we had seen, was the product of one or more people systematically searching and basically trashing the place.

Emily was shocked, muttering, “What the hell happened here?”  She then went to look at the other rooms.

I made a closer inspection of the room.  None of the furniture, some moved, some overturned, showed signs of there being a fight, as there was no blood anywhere.  If she had left before this, even after it, she had not been physically assaulted enough to cause bleeding.

I was not sure if that was a consolation.

Emily returned.  “Just as bad everywhere else.  I need to call the police.  Dad gave me a number to call.”  She pulled out her mobile phone, and then searched for the note with the number, going into the other room.

That was the moment there was a knock on the door.  It wouldn’t be Cecile knocking on her own door, but hopefully someone who knew her.

I opened the door to see a middle-aged woman who looked like she had rushed to get there.  Her face was flushed, and her breathing was heavy.  And there was a flustered air about her.

Before I could get a word in, she asked, “Are you James Bentley?”

How could she possibly know who I was?  I nodded.

“Then this is for you.”  She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a letter-size envelope and held it out.

“Did you know her?”  It was possible she might be able to help us finding her.

“No.  Two days ago, she pounded on my door and gave me that letter and said a man of your description would arrive within three days.  Here you are, and here it is.”  She shoved the envelope in my hand.  “That’s all I know, don’t bother me again.”

With that she was gone, apparently from a downstairs flat judging by the sound of her feet on the stairwell steps.  I closed the door.

“Who was that?” Emily asked, coming back from the other room, phone call finished.

“A woman with a letter from Cecile.”  I held it up.

“Did she have anything else to say?”

“Just that giving me the letter was the extent of her involvement.  I’m guessing by her manner; she was scared doing even that.  It just reinforces the notion that Cecile is probably in serious trouble.  What did the policeman have to say?”

“He’s sending a couple of detectives to look into the matter, and that we shouldn’t touch anything.  You should read the letter.”

I opened the envelope and took out a single page.  It had been haphazardly folded in haste then straightened out again, and the writing that I could see was hers and had been written in haste.  The paper had been ripped crookedly off a pad.  I looked around the room and saw the pad on the floor, near the table where the phone had sat.

I picked it up off the floor and kept it to one side, thinking it might have something useful hidden on the top page running a pencil over the paper to see if there was writing on the previous page, a trick I’d learned from watching TV.

Emily was waiting impatiently for me to read the letter, and I could see her restraining herself from snatching it out of my hand.

It said, and reading it out aloud for Emily,

Jimmy,

If you are reading this then it’s the worst possible scenario.

I began to suspect Jake was not what he seemed to be about a month ago, and then, one night, he came home, bleeding from a bullet wound.  He said it was not serious and refused to go to a hospital.

He left two days later and didn’t come back.

I then went looking for him, only to discover he didn’t work where he said he did, his parents were not who he said they were, and none of his friends didn’t really know anything about him.

Two days after he went missing, some men came to the door and told me, quite emphatically, to stop asking questions.

Or else.

After they left, I wrote this and gave it to Mrs Williams with specific instructions to give it to you when you came to the flat, in case something happened to me.

Since you’re reading this, it has.

I will be packing an overnight bag and going to the hotel you and I once said we would stay at if we ever came to London.  I will leave another note there if I’m able.  Just ask at the front desk first.

I will try to send a text if and when I can.

Cee

So, text sent, it was a serious situation.  And, I noted, she had called me Jimmy, knowing how much I hated being called that.

Emily fired the first question, “What the name of this hotel?”

“We will be going there, right after we deal with the police when they arrive.”

“We have to go now, while the trail is still hot.”

The trail was anything but hot.  This mess looked to me like it had been here for a few days, or more.

“Patience.  The fact she texted us tells me that she will not be at the hotel, and there might not be another letter waiting.  And, if there is, it’s not likely to help us much, unless she gives us the name and details of this Jake character.  Perhaps the police might know something about him.  Whatever the case may be, we will have to report her as missing.”

“Might that be wise in the circumstances?”

Were there circumstances I missed, or did Emily know something I didn’t.  After all, she had insisted, before I got the text message that we should go to Cecile’s flat and check if she was there.

“What did I miss?”

“She is trying to tell us the fewer people who know about this the better.  That’s what I inferred.  She didn’t give us the police contact, her mother did.”

It was something I hadn’t considered.  That said, was there also an inference we couldn’t trust the police.

“We’d better be careful what we say when the police arrive then.”

“Agreed.  Also, you check the pad, I’m going to look in her secret hiding spot.  She might have left something for me.”

A secret hiding spot.  Cecile had never told me about that.  I tried not to look disappointed.  Perhaps I failed.

“It’s a sister thing.”  Then she disappeared into the bedroom.

Emily, I knew from the past, wasn’t the most patient of people, and Cecile often said she often ventured where others feared to tread.  I was going to have two battles on my hands, the first, trying to find Cecile, and the second, curbing Emily’s self-destructive streak.

Fortunately, there was another knock on the door.

Hopefully, it was the police.

…

©  Charles Heath  2024

365 Days of writing, 2026 – 7

Day 7 – Dealing with contentious issues

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The Hot-Topic Tightrope: How to Take a Stand on Sensitive Issues Without Losing Your Following

You see it trending. A sensitive, divisive issue is lighting up social media, and a knot forms in your stomach. You have an opinion. A strong one. You feel a pull—a responsibility, even—to use your platform to say something.

But then the doubt creeps in. What if I say the wrong thing? What if half my followers unsubscribe overnight? What if I start a firestorm in my comments that I can’t control?

This is the modern public figure’s dilemma. You want to be authentic and engaged, but you fear the fallout. So, let’s get real about the question everyone is asking: Will taking a stand on a contentious issue cost you readers?

The uncomfortable answer is yes, it probably will. But that’s not the whole story.

The Inevitable (and Good) Loss of Readers

Here’s the thing about taking a stand on something that matters: it’s an act of clarification. You are drawing a line in the sand and saying, “This is what I believe in. This is what I stand for.”

The moment you do that, you create a filter. People who fundamentally disagree with your core values on that issue may indeed leave. They might unfollow, unsubscribe, or simply tune you out. And that’s okay.

In fact, it can be a good thing.

Chasing universal appeal is a recipe for being bland and forgettable. A smaller, deeply engaged audience that shares your values is infinitely more valuable than a massive list of passive followers who feel no real connection to you. The “readers” you lose were likely never your true community to begin with. They were just passers-by.

Think of it this way: you’re not losing followers; you’re refining your community. You’re attracting the people who will champion your work because they see themselves in it. You’re building a tribe, not just a crowd.

How to Avoid Problems: A 5-Step Strategic Framework

While losing some readers may be a natural consequence, starting an unnecessary war is not. You can engage with sensitive topics in a way that is thoughtful, constructive, and minimizes needless drama. The key is to be strategic, not reactive.

Before you hit “publish,” walk through this framework:

1. The ‘Why’ Check: Before You Post

Ask yourself a few critical, honest questions. Your motivation is everything.

  • Why do I need to say this? Is it to educate, to support a community, to share my unique perspective, or just to vent?
  • Am I adding value? Is what I’m about to say a new take, a personal story that illuminates the issue, or am I just echoing the noise?
  • Am I emotionally triggered? If you’re posting from a place of pure rage or fear, take a beat. A considered response is always more powerful than a knee-jerk reaction.

2. Know Your Audience and Your Brand

Context is king. A statement from a political commentator is expected; the same statement from a food blogger might seem jarring. This doesn’t mean you can’t speak out, but it does mean you should be aware of your audience’s expectations. Acknowledge the shift if you need to: “You know me for talking about baking, but today I need to talk about something else that’s on my heart…” This shows self-awareness and respects your audience.

3. Focus on Principles, Not Personalities

This is the golden rule of constructive debate. Frame your argument around your values and principles, not around attacking a person or group.

  • Instead of: “I can’t believe how ignorant Person X is!”
  • Try: “I believe in a world where everyone has access to healthcare. Here’s why that principle is so important to me.”

The first statement invites a fight. The second invites a conversation. It’s much harder to argue against someone’s deeply held principles than it is to hurl insults back and forth.

4. Embrace Nuance and Acknowledge Complexity

Few issues are truly black and white. Using absolutist, all-or-nothing language will immediately alienate people who might otherwise be receptive. Show that you’ve considered the complexity of the issue.

Phrases like:

  • “I know this is a complicated issue with many valid perspectives, but…”
  • “I’m still learning about this, but my current thinking is…”
  • “From my personal experience…”

These phrases don’t weaken your argument; they build credibility and show humility. They invite thoughtful discussion rather than a flame war.

5. Prepare for the Pushback (and Have a Plan)

Don’t post and run. Decide in advance how you’ll engage with the response.

  • Define the line: What constitutes a healthy debate versus harassment or hate speech? Have a clear comment policy in mind.
  • Decide your level of engagement: Will you reply to questions? Will you correct misinformation? Will you ignore trolls?
  • Protect your peace: It is 100% acceptable to block, mute, or delete abusive comments. Your platform is your home; you don’t have to entertain vandals.

Knowing your plan beforehand prevents you from being dragged into a draining, unproductive argument in the heat of the moment.

The Power of Knowing When Not to Speak

Finally, one of the most powerful skills you can develop is knowing when silence is the strongest statement. You do not have to comment on everything. Choosing not to speak is a valid and often wise strategic choice.

Consider staying silent if:

  • You are not deeply informed on the topic and would be adding noise rather than insight.
  • The issue doesn’t intersect with your expertise or lived experience, and your voice would end up centring yourself instead of amplifying those most affected.
  • You are not in the right headspace to engage constructively.

Your platform is a tool, not an obligation. Use it intentionally.

Walk the Tightrope with Confidence

Taking a stand as a public figure is a tightrope walk, but it doesn’t have to be a reckless one. Yes, you risk losing some followers, but in doing so, you gain something far more valuable: a clarified brand, a more loyal community, and the integrity that comes from speaking your truth.

The goal isn’t to keep everyone happy. It’s to build something meaningful around what you believe. Be thoughtful, be strategic, and be brave. Your right readers will be right there with you.

What I learned about writing – I prefer happy endings

Does a Happy Ending Sell Better Than a Tragic One?

In the world of storytelling—be it novels, films, or viral Instagram captions—one timeless truth persists: people love a good joke more than a good poem. Why? Laughter is instant, accessible, and leaves us feeling lighter. A clever punchline slips past our defences; it doesn’t demand melancholy reflection or emotional labour. It simply disarms us with joy.

This raises an intriguing question: Does the happy ending to a story sell better than one that doesn’t?

Let’s explore the art—and business—of conclusions.

The Allure of the Happy Ending

From fairy tales to rom-coms, the template is familiar: trials, tribulations, and—against all odds—love, triumph, or redemption. The hero gets the girl. The villain is vanquished. The lost is found.

Why do these endings dominate mainstream media? Simple: they feel good. In a world brimming with uncertainty, a happy ending offers closure, comfort, and a kind of emotional reassurance. It’s the narrative equivalent of a warm blanket on a rainy day.

Market data supports this. Box office hits like The Avengers: Endgame, Crazy Rich Asians, and even animated films like Frozen lean heavily on uplifting conclusions. Romantic comedies—despite critical eye-rolls—are enduringly popular because audiences crave that final scene: the airport sprint, the heartfelt confession, the kiss in the rain.

Happy endings sell because they affirm hope. They whisper: No matter how dark it gets, things can get better.

The Power of the Unhappy—or Ambiguous—Ending

But let’s not write off the melancholy, the unresolved, or the devastating. Some of the most iconic and impactful stories in history end not with a bow, but with a gasp.

Consider The Great Gatsby, 1984, Requiem for a Dream, or Chinatown. These stories don’t comfort—they challenge. They linger. They haunt. They leave readers and viewers wrestling with questions long after the final page or frame.

Artists like Cormac McCarthy, Lars von Trier, and Sally Rooney have built careers on bittersweet or bleak conclusions—and their work sells. Critically acclaimed. Academically studied. Culturally influential.

Why? Because tragedy moves us. It speaks to the human condition with unflinching honesty. A sad ending can feel more true, more resonant in a world where not every problem has a solution and not every love story lasts.

And let’s not forget the ambiguity. Shows like The Sopranos or Inception end without clear resolution—and yet, they generate massive engagement, endless debates, and cult followings. Sometimes, not knowing is the point.

So, Which Sells Better?

It depends on the audience, the genre, and the purpose of the story.

  • Mainstream, mass-market stories—especially in film, TV, and commercial fiction—tend to favour endings that uplift. Happy endings dominate bestseller lists and blockbuster charts because they are broadly appealing, emotionally satisfying, and easy to recommend.
  • Literary fiction, arthouse films, and niche genres often thrive on complexity. These stories aren’t just selling entertainment—they’re selling insight, introspection, and emotional depth. In these realms, a tragic or ambiguous ending isn’t a risk—it’s a statement.

In truth, it’s less about what the ending is and more about how well it’s earned. A happy ending feels hollow if the journey lacks stakes. A tragic ending feels manipulative if it serves shock over substance. The best endings—joyful or sorrowful—are inevitable in hindsight. They resonate because they are truthful to the story that came before.

The Joke vs. The Poem Revisited

Going back to our original observation: a good joke sells better than a good poem. Jokes are immediate. Poems linger. The same applies to endings.

A happy ending is the joke: satisfying, gratifying, widely shared.

A tragic (or ambiguous) ending is the poem: layered, lasting, often underappreciated at first glance.

But the most enduring stories? They find the balance. They make us laugh, then ache. They give us joy tinged with sorrow—or sorrow pierced by hope.

And perhaps that’s what truly sells: not happiness or heartbreak alone, but the courage to be honest.

Whether your story ends with a laugh, a tear, or a quiet sigh, make it real. Because authenticity—more than any plot twist or punchline—is what readers will remember, and return to, again and again.

The story behind the story – Echoes from the Past

The novel ‘Echoes from the past’ started out as a short story I wrote about 30 years ago, titled ‘The birthday’.

My idea was to take a normal person out of their comfort zone and led on a short but very frightening journey to a place where a surprise birthday party had been arranged.

Thus the very large man with a scar and a red tie was created.

So was the friend with the limousine who worked as a pilot.

So were the two women, Wendy and Angelina, who were Flight Attendants that the pilot friend asked to join the conspiracy.

I was going to rework the short story, then about ten pages long, into something a little more.

And like all re-writes, especially those I have anything to do with, it turned into a novel.

There was motivation.  I had told some colleagues at the place where I worked at the time that I liked writing, and they wanted a sample.  I was going to give them the re-worked short story.  Instead, I gave them ‘Echoes from the past’

Originally it was not set anywhere in particular.

But when considering a location, I had, at the time, recently been to New York in December, and visited Brooklyn and Queens, as well as a lot of New York itself.  We were there for New Years, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.

One evening we were out late, and finished up in Brooklyn Heights, near the waterfront, and there was rain and snow, it was cold and wet, and there were apartment buildings shimmering in the street light, and I thought, this is the place where my main character will live.

It had a very spooky atmosphere, the sort where ghosts would not be unexpected.  I felt more than one shiver go up and down my spine in the few minutes I was there.

I had taken notes, as I always do, of everywhere we went so I had a ready supply of locations I could use, changing the names in some cases.

Fifth Avenue near the Rockefeller center is amazing at first light, and late at night with the Seasonal decorations and lights.

The original main character was a shy and man of few friends, hence not expecting the surprise party.  I enhanced that shyness into purposely lonely because of an issue from his past that leaves him always looking over his shoulder and ready to move on at the slightest hint of trouble.  No friends, no relationships, just a very low profile.

Then I thought, what if he breaks the cardinal rule, and begins a relationship?

But it is also as much an exploration of a damaged soul, as it is the search for a normal life, without having any idea what normal was, and how the understanding of one person can sometimes make all the difference in what we may think or feel.

And, of course, I wanted a happy ending.

Except for the bad guys.

Get it here:  https://amzn.to/2CYKxu4

newechocover5rs

365 Days of writing, 2026 – 7

Day 7 – Dealing with contentious issues

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The Hot-Topic Tightrope: How to Take a Stand on Sensitive Issues Without Losing Your Following

You see it trending. A sensitive, divisive issue is lighting up social media, and a knot forms in your stomach. You have an opinion. A strong one. You feel a pull—a responsibility, even—to use your platform to say something.

But then the doubt creeps in. What if I say the wrong thing? What if half my followers unsubscribe overnight? What if I start a firestorm in my comments that I can’t control?

This is the modern public figure’s dilemma. You want to be authentic and engaged, but you fear the fallout. So, let’s get real about the question everyone is asking: Will taking a stand on a contentious issue cost you readers?

The uncomfortable answer is yes, it probably will. But that’s not the whole story.

The Inevitable (and Good) Loss of Readers

Here’s the thing about taking a stand on something that matters: it’s an act of clarification. You are drawing a line in the sand and saying, “This is what I believe in. This is what I stand for.”

The moment you do that, you create a filter. People who fundamentally disagree with your core values on that issue may indeed leave. They might unfollow, unsubscribe, or simply tune you out. And that’s okay.

In fact, it can be a good thing.

Chasing universal appeal is a recipe for being bland and forgettable. A smaller, deeply engaged audience that shares your values is infinitely more valuable than a massive list of passive followers who feel no real connection to you. The “readers” you lose were likely never your true community to begin with. They were just passers-by.

Think of it this way: you’re not losing followers; you’re refining your community. You’re attracting the people who will champion your work because they see themselves in it. You’re building a tribe, not just a crowd.

How to Avoid Problems: A 5-Step Strategic Framework

While losing some readers may be a natural consequence, starting an unnecessary war is not. You can engage with sensitive topics in a way that is thoughtful, constructive, and minimizes needless drama. The key is to be strategic, not reactive.

Before you hit “publish,” walk through this framework:

1. The ‘Why’ Check: Before You Post

Ask yourself a few critical, honest questions. Your motivation is everything.

  • Why do I need to say this? Is it to educate, to support a community, to share my unique perspective, or just to vent?
  • Am I adding value? Is what I’m about to say a new take, a personal story that illuminates the issue, or am I just echoing the noise?
  • Am I emotionally triggered? If you’re posting from a place of pure rage or fear, take a beat. A considered response is always more powerful than a knee-jerk reaction.

2. Know Your Audience and Your Brand

Context is king. A statement from a political commentator is expected; the same statement from a food blogger might seem jarring. This doesn’t mean you can’t speak out, but it does mean you should be aware of your audience’s expectations. Acknowledge the shift if you need to: “You know me for talking about baking, but today I need to talk about something else that’s on my heart…” This shows self-awareness and respects your audience.

3. Focus on Principles, Not Personalities

This is the golden rule of constructive debate. Frame your argument around your values and principles, not around attacking a person or group.

  • Instead of: “I can’t believe how ignorant Person X is!”
  • Try: “I believe in a world where everyone has access to healthcare. Here’s why that principle is so important to me.”

The first statement invites a fight. The second invites a conversation. It’s much harder to argue against someone’s deeply held principles than it is to hurl insults back and forth.

4. Embrace Nuance and Acknowledge Complexity

Few issues are truly black and white. Using absolutist, all-or-nothing language will immediately alienate people who might otherwise be receptive. Show that you’ve considered the complexity of the issue.

Phrases like:

  • “I know this is a complicated issue with many valid perspectives, but…”
  • “I’m still learning about this, but my current thinking is…”
  • “From my personal experience…”

These phrases don’t weaken your argument; they build credibility and show humility. They invite thoughtful discussion rather than a flame war.

5. Prepare for the Pushback (and Have a Plan)

Don’t post and run. Decide in advance how you’ll engage with the response.

  • Define the line: What constitutes a healthy debate versus harassment or hate speech? Have a clear comment policy in mind.
  • Decide your level of engagement: Will you reply to questions? Will you correct misinformation? Will you ignore trolls?
  • Protect your peace: It is 100% acceptable to block, mute, or delete abusive comments. Your platform is your home; you don’t have to entertain vandals.

Knowing your plan beforehand prevents you from being dragged into a draining, unproductive argument in the heat of the moment.

The Power of Knowing When Not to Speak

Finally, one of the most powerful skills you can develop is knowing when silence is the strongest statement. You do not have to comment on everything. Choosing not to speak is a valid and often wise strategic choice.

Consider staying silent if:

  • You are not deeply informed on the topic and would be adding noise rather than insight.
  • The issue doesn’t intersect with your expertise or lived experience, and your voice would end up centring yourself instead of amplifying those most affected.
  • You are not in the right headspace to engage constructively.

Your platform is a tool, not an obligation. Use it intentionally.

Walk the Tightrope with Confidence

Taking a stand as a public figure is a tightrope walk, but it doesn’t have to be a reckless one. Yes, you risk losing some followers, but in doing so, you gain something far more valuable: a clarified brand, a more loyal community, and the integrity that comes from speaking your truth.

The goal isn’t to keep everyone happy. It’s to build something meaningful around what you believe. Be thoughtful, be strategic, and be brave. Your right readers will be right there with you.

A long short story that can’t be tamed – I always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress – 2

Two

I opened the door and was about to welcome them in when I saw a man, about six foot ten tall, 250 plus pounds, and tattoos leaking out of his overly tight collar and ill-fitting shirt.

Not the police.

“I think you have the wrong flat,” I said.

I went to close the door, but a size 20 shoe was blocking it.

“Where is Jake Mistrale?”

Heavily accented English, this man was a thug of the worst order.  There was nothing polite about his manner.  I needed to think quickly some way of getting rid of this man.  He was more than likely the one who tossed the flat before we arrived.

“I’ll tell you what.  We can keep talking, you could do something really stupid and break-in, and we can wait for the police to arrive.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to know who you are, and who you work for.”

“You are bluffing.  There is no police.  Where is Jake?”

“I have a question, where is Cecile?”

He looked surprised.  “I do not know who this Cecile is.”

“I think she was Jake’s friend, and they are both missing, and I think you know where she is.”

We both heard the footsteps on the landing, just before reaching the floor.  The man looked sideways in the direction of the stairs, then, without waiting to see who it was, started walking in the opposite direction.  There must be another flight of stairs around the back.

Then two men appeared at the top of the stairs.  These men definitely looked like the police.

Both seemed to be surprised I was outside in the passage, perhaps to greet them before stepping into the room.  Another two, a man and a woman, dressed in protective clothing, followed them.

The first introduced himself.  “My name is Detective Inspector Chandler.”  The other man, now beside him, pulled out his warrant card, as Chandler said, “DS Williams.”

Hearing voices, or perhaps wondering what had happened to me, Emily came out into the passage.

“Ah, you must be Emily.  I spoke to your father about two hours ago, and he said you should be here.  Now, I will need you to remain outside while the forensic team does its magic.”

With that, the two forensic officers went in, and DS followed them, putting on a pair of rubber gloves.

“We didn’t touch anything, by the way.”  She then pulled a photo of Cecile out of her bag and handed it to Chandler.

I was waiting to see if she mentioned the note Cecile left.  If she did, I would hand it over, if she didn’t that would be our starting point.  If we didn’t make any progress, I would give it to Chandler and let him get on with the job.

He looked at it.  “I take it this is recent?”

Emily nodded.

“Anything else you can tell me?”

“We know she had a boyfriend named Jake who was not who she thought he was, that she was here a few days ago, and perhaps some of the others living here might know something.  We were going to start knocking on doors, but now that you’re here, we’ll get out of your hair and let you do your job.  I’ve put my phone number, and James too, just in case you can’t get me.”

Chandler turned to me.  “Where do you fit in?”

“Jake’s last name was Mistrale, by the way.  As for me, I’m an old family friend.  I received a text message a few days ago, which seemed rather odd, so we came over to see if everything was alright.  As you can see, when we saw this, things are not alright.”

“Do you have that phone with you?”

I did but I was not sure I wanted to give it up, but a glare told me I had to.  I found the text message and gave him the phone.

“Can we hang on to this until tomorrow?”  He gave me what looked like a business card with his address on it.  “You’ll be able to pick it up tomorrow morning.  I’ll get the tech guys to see if they can trace where that message came from.”

“No problems,” I said with a measure of reluctance.  Although it was unlikely, she might try to call or text again.

“Now, there’s nothing more you can do here.  I’ve got your numbers, and I expect I’ll see you tomorrow morning, by which time we should have made some progress.”

Nothing left to say, he went into the flat.

“Time to go,” Emily said.  “We have to get back to the hotel.”

It was loud enough that Chandler would hear her, but I knew what she meant.  Time to go to the hotel that featured in the note.

When we reached street level and outside of the block of flats, I had to ask, “Why didn’t you mention the note?”

“Because we would have to give it to him and lose the one clue we had.  If it doesn’t pan out then we can say we forgot about it, no harm done.  Telling him would only stop us from the investigation, and, if the police go there, anyone who might be able to help us would be less likely to help the police.”

I hadn’t thought of it like that, but it was a valid point.

“So, where is this hotel?” She asked with a touch of impatience in her tone.

“A fair distance away tucked away not far from Whitehall and past, if I’m not mistaken, Horseguards Parade.  We might get to take in a bit of British history in the process.”

…

©  Charles Heath  2024

365 Days of writing, 2026 – 6

Day 6 – Writing exercise

Writing exercise

You’ve got a habit of being in the wrong place, don’t you, Sam? But this time…

…

Everyone was busy.  

The morning meeting, where the boss sat at the head of a long table, and the writing staff sat, waiting for either a bollocking or an assignment, had travelled along the usual path.

The boss was the typical editor, loud, opinionated, and acerbic.  Very few could remember him being complimentary.

I sat at the end of the table, the opposite end, and as far away from him as I could get.  He hated me more than any other.

I looked around.

Whether or not they liked their assignments or the request for a rewrite, it was hard to tell.  No one wanted to be seen shirking.

Yes, he called it shirking if you were not pounding the keyboard, working on tomorrow’s news today.

And because he hated me, I was last, got the full-on death stare and then in those oily words dispensed with forced amiability, “Jacobs, you got the dead guy, what’s his name, Rickard, Richard…”

“Ricardo,” a mousey voice called out, his current ‘favourite’.

“That dead guy.  A thousand scintillating words.”

Then the expansive glare around the table, “Well, what are you lot waiting for?”

Al, just up from me, muttered, under his breath, “A written invitation.”  As he did in every meeting.

Another obituary.  Another nobody that needed life breathed into the corpse. 

A gopher dropped a file on my desk as he went past, not stopping.  Not worth the five minutes of hell from the boss about wasting time on idle chatter.

A single page, a name, and an address.  Several notes that highlighted a nothing life.  Too young to have a life.  Too young to die.  Too young for scintillating words.

Cause of death?  Heart failure.

His photo belied the notion that he had anything remotely wrong with his heart.  Adonis himself would be jealous.

Coroner’s report?  Heart failure, cause unknown.

Not obese, not too thin, none of the danger signs that he was heart attack material, I knew my way around a medical report and this one?

Something was not right.  Was the boss testing me, see if I could see if there was anything more?

Of course, I’d been down this path before and come a cropper.  No, the boss took anything I requested with a grain of salt.

“Just report the facts.  Don’t embellish, don’t add your suspicions, ten times out of ten you’re going to be wrong.”

And infurioratingly he was right.

Which meant I had to get creative.
…

The name Freddie Ricardo brought up 100,000 plus hits on the search engine, but I found one entry that pointed to an Instagram page that loaded, then disappeared.

Like completely disappeared, returning a 404 error when I tried to reload it.  Someone had deleted it just after I found it.

Why?

Who would care?

From the fleeting look I got of it, it was just a guy’s page that had photos of him and friends guzzling beer and either hunting, fishing or acting stupid.

Very unaccountant-like. 

Next step, go to the address.

A suburban street, quiet, an old house, run down and in need of repair, garden overgrown.  Two car wrecks in the front yard, and an antique car in the driveway.

I sat outside the house for an hour, not a creature stirred, not even a mouse.  The car suggested someone was inside, but they didn’t look out the windows, and they didn’t turn any lights on.

At the end of the hour, I got out of the car and walked over to the front door.  The fence was falling over, the gate off its hinges, held up by the weeds and growth around it.

The door had peeling paint, but the lock and handle were new.  The verandah boards were rotting and in places broken.  They creaked as I walked on them.

I knocked.  No answer. 

I checked the car in the driveway.  A fine film of dust covered it, telling me it hadn’t moved in days, maybe a week.

One of the neighbours came out and looked over.

“Who are you?”  It wasn’t a polite question.

“Does Freddie Ricardo live here?”

“Did.  Who wants to know?”

“I’m from the newspaper, asked to do a small piece on him.”

“No need.  He wouldn’t want it.”

“Anyone else live here?”

“His sister.  She ain’t here at the moment.  I’m keeping an eye on the place.  Now, I suggest you leave.”

A sister.  Rather a large omission in the briefing paper provided.  Research was slipping.

“Fair enough.”

A last look, I went back to the car.  I waited, but the neighbour didn’t leave his porch.  When he reached for his cell phone, I left.

…

Before going back to the office, I went to the city administration building and met up with an acquaintance who got me a copy of the deed for the house.

It had belonged to the parents, then was handed down to the elder daughter, Bethany.  There were only two of them, Bethany and Freddie.  He didn’t have a stake in the house.

I ran Bethany’s name in the search engine, and it brought back a few thousand hits, the first with a picture of a brother and sister on the front porch.

The second was a photo of her in a gondola in Venice with a man, Italian perhaps.  She didn’t look happy.

From what I could see, the brother and sister were not similar, so maybe step-siblings. 

Bethany also had titles to three other houses in the city.  Perhaps she lived at one of those addresses and let her little brother stay at the address I called on.

Another acquaintance looked up the car registrations, and for the other cars the siblings had, of which there were four, including one for Freddie.

It was not mentioned in the police report at the crime scene, nor was it at the house, so it might still be somewhere else.

I had another five pieces of paper to go with the photo of the victim and the coroner’s report.  It didn’t amount to much.

…

I thought about inventing a thousand words and making him a traitor, but the boss would see through it.

The alternative wasn’t much better; tell him I had nothing, well, suspicions.

I knocked on the door, and he growled something unintelligible.  Not a good day.

“What have you got?”  He didn’t look up.

“Missing car, expensive.  Job belies the income to have it.   Looks belie the cause of death.”

“And you infer?”

“Drugs, using, selling.  Has a sister in Italy, or not?  Needs a deep dive.”

“Is that it?”

“Been to the house.  Looks like a mess, but I checked the values.  It’s a gold mine for someone.”

“No one home?”

“Not for a week.”

“Talk to your police friends, see if they’ve got a rap sheet.  Police miss the car?”

“Not in their report, not where he died.”

He looked up.  “Find it, find the sister, talk to the neighbours.  Go.”

No third degree, so sarcasm, just barked orders.  But I wasn’t going to count the chickens just yet.

…

3am was always the best time to surprise people.  My father once said that the best time to get answers was when people were unprepared.

He had been a policeman and kicked doors in at or just before dawn.  Disorientation, gear, terror at dawn.  Worked a treat.

I wasn’t kicking the door in.  I was visiting.

And hopefully the house was still empty.

The back window was unlocked and opened easily.  I was able to get to the back because of a quirk in the planning of the estate.  The house had a narrow walkway behind it, a public thoroughfare.

At 3 a.m., no one would be about.

I hope.

There wasn’t.  The back fence was as bad as the front, with a gap wide enough to squeeze through.  The back yard was worse than the front, three cars hidden by undergrowth.

Tripped once and crashed into a car.  It hurt

It took a few minutes to get inside.  It smelled badly of wet paper and damp.  The floorboards creaked.  Several pilot lights were giving off just enough light to see by, once my eyes adjusted.

Signs of recent habitation.  Fast food wrappers, health drinks, cigarette butts, and beer cans.  Half-eaten food with mould.  A week, perhaps longer, since anyone was there.

Upstairs.

The reason for the bad smell.

A body, not the sister, but a woman. 

No sign of a bag.  Dead, checked while trying not to be sick, downstairs, found the bag, wallet, ID.  Jessie Walker.  This was the residential address; her car was outside.

Long enough to find nothing else.  If the place had been tossed, it was done by a professional.

I left.

Found a phone booth and called the police to report the body.

I got back to my car to find two men waiting.  There wasn’t much use in running.

“At it again, Sam?”

The two cops that my father had asked to keep me on the straight and narrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t insult us, Sam.  You know what we’re talking about.  You can’t be poking around crime scenes.”

How did they know where I’d been?  I’d only just called it in.

They knew.  I’d known my father had not exactly been clean, not as clean as he said he was, and besides, clean cops were not murdered in a mob hit. No, these were two acolytes.

“How do you…”

Lance, the more senior of the two, shook his head. “Tsk, task, Sam.  Wrong place, wrong time.  Don’t make a habit of it now, will you, son?”

I shook my head in that obedient fashion they liked.

“Good boy.”  Borg patted me on the head like I was a good boy.  I was anything but.  A chip off the old block.

“Good lad.  Leave this one alone.”

A parting pat on the back, and they left.  Was I going to heed good advice?  No.  I waited for an hour, and then I started searching for details on the internet.

Jessie Walker was famous.  Over a million hits in the search engine, and fascinating in death as much as she was in life.  For a police commissioner’s wife of three weeks.

She looked so much more interesting alive when splashed all over the front page of the city daily.  In death, she would barely rate a second glance.

And what did she have to do with Freddie and Bethany Riccardo?  Tomorrow was not going to be a good day.

…

©  Charles Heath  2025