Language can convey meaning and hide it.  For some examples see:-

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Tonight’s post looks at what is really meant by phrases that often come up in fantasy fiction, especially the quest type. Oh it also discusses whether you are likely to end up with a companion for said quest.  The answer is a definite no, see the link for why.  Are you with the hero or with the potential companion on this one?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Coded Speech is the title of tonight’s post here and discusses if your characters are smart enough to pick up on the hidden meanings so often contained within what someone says.  What is said is often so very different from what is meant!

FACEBOOK

My author page tonight shares news of my first post with the Association of Christian Writers called Appreciating the Small Successes.  It also discusses how I’ve become insatiable… for reading non-fiction.  Link to my author page below.

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This picture was taken by me as I was walking my border collie, the lovely (but sometimes noisy) Mabel. I used the image in a Hidden Hampshire piece for Chandler’s Ford Today. Probably my best photo ever of a sunset.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE/THIS WORLD AND OTHERS WEBSITES

Picking up the pieces is my theme for Fairytales With Bite tonight.  I discuss how characters handle doing this and whether this topic could be used for comedic, as well as the more obvious tragic, purposes.

On This World and  Others tonight, I discuss a similar theme under the heading of “When Life Hands You Lemons”.   I ask how characters react to being faced with this and discuss how, given lemons can become really sour over time if not used, so can characters.  What leads to that?  Can it be prevented?  Food for thought for story ideas there I hope.

FACEBOOK

On my author page tonight, I discuss the Proms, the stifling heat, and the joys of sending a book contract back, all signed and ready to go!  It is strange when something you have worked for and longed for suddenly comes to fruition, it can feel unreal.  Still writing competitions I want to have a try at over the next few months will ensure I get some real writing done.  I find deadlines helpful in that regard – they really do focus the mind!

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I tend to write articles here on writing, publishing and so on but have written some pieces on local events (such as the Medieval Weekend), appreciation items on Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett, away days by public transport (especially train) from my area and so on.  I’ve interviewed local authors and those known to me.

And I should add one reason I love writing for CFT is the great community feel it encourages in its readers as well as contributors (the link takes you to the list of writers, which has steadily grown over time).  Chandler’s Ford is one of those places which sprang up and then grew and grew and grew without any real planning so there’s no real central community.  Hopefully CFT helps feel the gap there a bit.  I think it does.

One of the views on a local dog walk.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My post for tonight is part 2 of my overall review of the recently held Medival Weekend, organised by the Road to Agincourt Project. The weekend was a lot of fun but I am so glad I live in an era where literacy rates are generally high. In this post I look at the role of the fletcher and the taverner amongst others.

The King’s Fletcher at work, showing off his wares and explaining what he did at a recent Medieval Weekend in Hampshire. Image taken by Allison Symes.

WEBSITES –

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE AND THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On Fairytales with Bite, I discuss New Chapters and Some Very Old Ones…

This is pertinent as I signed my first book contract today and sent it back to my publisher electronically.  My first flash fiction collection will be published, hopefully later this year, with my short story collection to follow in 2017.  Am thrilled to bits over this.

I also use the FWB post title to ask what new chapters your characters have.

On This World and Others I discuss time travelling given the Medieval Weekend gave me a big look at what life would have been like for most people back then.

WEBSITE ROUND-UP

On my Fairytales with Bite website, I look at ambitions.  Ambitions of characters, whether these are achieved and what fosters ambition? There should be plenty of story prompts here.

On my This World and Others website, I discuss can happen when dreams come true.  Do your characters really believe it?  Are they generous in being glad for those characters where this has happened and so on?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Tomorrow’s post will be Part 2 of my review of a recent Medieval Weekend held in my part of Hampshire and looks at the roles of a fletcher and a  herbalist amongst others.  Links to come tomorrow.

FACEBOOK

Tonight, a huge thank you for the congratulations and good wishes from my fellow writers on the news my first flash fiction collection has been accepted by an independent publisher.  I also send my own congratulations to those who’ve obtained GSCE results today.  I also mention a couple of writing events I’m due to go to over the autumn and winter months though I will say more about both of these nearer the time of each of them.  And I also mention what I’m currently reading.

A closer look at what a medieval scribe worked with. This image comes from Part 1 of my Medieval Weekend review which was up on Chandler’s Ford Today last Friday.

WEBSITE POSTS

I discuss the unexpected in my Fairytales with Bite website post today.  I refer to the unexpected joys as well as the unexpected horrors and how characters react to these.

On my This World and Others website, I look at the importance of keeping the faith. Writers are generally good at doing this given almost everyone has to spend years developing their writing before successes come.

The latter is pertinent to me as I will shortly be blogging for the Association of Christian Writers on a regular basis and I’ve heard my first flash fiction collection will be published by an independent publisher.  Am naturally thrilled about all of this as things are happening and my writing is taking off, albeit in a small way, in a manner it has not done so before.

As for Facebook, I talk again about the value of persistence and highlight my Chandler’s Ford Today post this coming Friday, which will be part 2 of my Medieval Weekend review.

A very interesting day!

Part of a Medieval Village re-enactment

I discuss objects to be wary of in my Fairytales with Bite website.  Generally if you avoid lamps, rings (especially those with dodgy inscriptions) and magic carpets, you should get along just fine.

I also consider the importance of books and other literature in my This World and Others website.  I think books are magical in themselves regardless of what is actually in them.  What other object can transport you to different cultures, times, universes and so on and entertain/educate/enlighten you as it does so?

On my Facebook page, I discuss Goodreads, the Kindle and the writing tasks I’m hoping to achieve by the end of the evening.  Am so pleased the Road to Agincourt Project is sharing links to my recent Chandler’s Ford Today posts reviewing their Medieval Weekend and Ships Trail.  I hope they hold the weekend again, I’m not aware of similar events in this part of Hampshire before.  The Ships Trail is a lovely walk to the River Hamble where you are rewarded with stunning views and a glimpse at what is left of Henry V’s ship, The Grace Dieu.

Below are a couple of images I took at the Medieval Weekend and while walking the Trail.

Part of the King’s Great Ships Trail, the monarch being Henry V of the Battle of Agincourt fame.

The beautiful River Hamble

The tools of the medieval writer’s trade