A Simple Creed

The Samurai lived by a simple creed - No hesitation, no doubt, no surprise, no fear.

I can learn a lot from this. It basically says that once you have decided on a course of action to stay committed; know everything you need to know about it; don't be afraid and get on with it quickly.

If you have ever seen a samurai sword fight you might notice that they circle each other and then there is a dramatic burst of activity, a flurry of intense violence and then its all over. One or the other, and frequently both opponents will be dead.

The circling is not preparation, that is done over years and years of training. The circling is sussing out the opponent, taking their mind. When they go into attack it is a direct, swift, no hesitation attack.

Good way to live.

Hotel China

Just thought I would share this with you. Here are the results of the Hotel China writing project here in HK for the Hong Kong Writers Circle.. I missed out on the $10k first prize but hats fine as at least I will have 2 of my stories in the book to be published mid year. Its my first time published so I am pretty pleased with the result.

HOTEL CHINA:

The editorial committee have finished their deliberations and compiled their votes. The scores were out of ten and the top ten stories were the following:

1. The Inheritance by Sarah Crosby.
2. Swan Song by Mike Bishop.
3. Strangers by Jane Wallace.
4. The Bell Boy by Simon Overton.
5. Hassan's Tale by Edmund Price.
Joint 6. Hacked by Cate Jones and Still Life by Alan Brown.
7. Private Functions by Lawrence Gray.
8. The Angel in 1209 by Ian Greenfield.
9. Fragile by Alan Brown.
10. Hotel China by Mike Ashton.

You can read both stories at my www.talesofalan.blogspot.com website