Month: October 2016

Writing the first drafts! Image via Pixabay.

GOING BACK IN TIME

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One of my heroes, Doctor Who, is of course renowned for this but my posts tonight are on the topic of the past and how this could affect your characters and plot.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I talk about a magical education in tonight’s post and how that affects your characters.  Are they getting an education now to make up for lost time in their past?  What happened to make them need to do this?  How does the education they’ve had affect the decisions they’re making now?  After all someone who is illiterate would be very dependent on someone else for interpreting any written documents they come across.  Can they trust the ones helping them?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Going Back is tonight’s post and looks at how revisiting places can affect your characters.  I love visiting places of historical interest and always come away from them having learned something new.  I also come away with a deeper appreciation I can read and write.  This has not always been universal, especially for women.  The past has a deep impact on now and at least in terms of general education in the developed world this has been a major improvement.  (And yes I wish this was true everywhere).

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about revisiting the past and education again here.  This topic came to mind as I reblogged a post (first time ever!) from Tales From the Notepad’s Sunday Sojourn series where their post was about Fotheringay Castle.  I would love to visit what remains here given it is the birthplace of Richard III (and I must try and get to Leicester at some point too).

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OTHER NEWS

Have sent off a new fairytale for a writing competition.  I’m currently developing a flash fiction tale into a longer piece of work given the initial idea has sparked other ideas.  I love that when it happens and of course I can hopefully place the flash fiction piece in one place and the longer work somewhere else should it all work out okay.

Am also currently working my way through some fantastic interview questions put to me by short story author, Jacci Gooding, who I met at Winchester Writers’ Festival.  Will post details of when the interview will appear when I know more but am enjoying being on the other side of the fence.  I love carrying out writer interviews and indeed reading them, as I always learn something (one of the great joys of writing at all for me), but it has felt a bit odd having questions put to me!  It is a very good “odd” though!!

Blogging via diaries and tablets - ancient and modern technology! Image via Pixabay.

Blogging via diaries and tablets – ancient and modern technology! Image via Pixabay.

Sunday Sojourn – Fotheringhay Castle

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Loved this piece. Would still like to walk around the place one day.

jennifercwilsonwriter's avatarJennifer C. Wilson

Hello! This week, I’m your tour guide, for a visit to a place which has plenty of interesting historical links for me, but which I’ve never managed to visit. Don’t get me wrong – I was all set to go. I’d already found a hotel nearby, checked bus routes, confirmed train times and then… Discovered there was nothing there. So, something of a ‘non site’ this week, but never mind – there is a reason. We’re off to Fotheringhay Castle!

800px-fotheringhaycastlenene Fotheringhay Castle: By Smb1001 – Own work, GFDL, from Wikipedia

As you can see, limited opportunities to explore, and not much of a chance to get a sense of the place…

Ownership of the land can be traced back to a gift from William the Conqueror to Judith of Lens, the wife of the Earl of Northumbria, with their daughter and her husband founding the castle around 1100. Through her second…

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The joy of books. Image via Pixabay.

WHAT NOT TO DO AT A SOCIAL GATHERING IN A MAGICAL WORLD

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at what not to do at a social gathering in a magical world in tonight’s post.  This kind of advice is always useful I feel!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Having had a family event today where lots of wonderful conversations took place (always a sign of a good event that!), I thought I would write about this topic for tonight’s post.  What kind of events are celebrated in your fictional world, especially if you write fantasy and/or science fiction?  Are there groups in/on/under your world who are forbidden to talk to one another and does anyone break that taboo?  You can see where the Romeo and Juliet plot could come from here but there are other stories to be had from this.  Over to you!

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss the joys of being interviewed on my author page tonight!  I am currently working my way through some wonderful questions put to me by fellow scribe, Jacci Gooding, and am really enjoying doing this.  I love reading and indeed conducting writer interviews. (See Chandler’s Ford Today for some posts where I’ve interviewed local writers, writers known to me through local conferences which is where I met Jacci, and other writers who have become small publishers).   Why do I love writer interviews regardless of what side of the fence I am on?  I always learn something that either encourages me with my own writing or I pick up tips to help me improve said writing.  And that can only be a good thing.

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Working out ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Working out ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Part of the Reception Area at the Roman Baths, Bath. Image taken by me. Easily the most beautiful place I've ever queued!

AWAY DAYS AND TECHNICAL ISSUES

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Away Days, I link to my latest Chandler’s Ford Today post (more below), but also ask what magical beings would do and where would they go when they fancied a jolly outing.  This post was particularly fun to write and I hope you like it.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Aptly, as I have had technical issues tonight sharing my website posts on Facebook (Weebly are looking into it), tonight’s post is on Technical Issues.  I focus on what these are for writers – spelling, grammar, presentation of work and so on – and give one or two tips.  I like the technical side of writing.  While the creative side, that imaginative spark that gets you going with a story or whatever, is obviously more fun, I love having a piece to work with that I know a good edit will improve.  (I’ve yet to come across any work of mine that isn’t vastly improved by a darned good edit!).

ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN WRITERS – MORE THAN WRITERS

I write a post for ACW once a month now.  For my fellow Christians who are part of this, my latest post (which appeared yesterday) is on The Joy of Hymns and I share some thoughts about my favourites and why I love them.  It is generally down to the imagery the words create (much the same would go for poetry in general I should imagine).

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My latest post is another in my Away Day series and looks at lovely Bath, once home to Jane Austen, one of my favourite writers.  I focus on the Roman Baths here.  Those Romans were amazing engineers.  The connection with Chandler’s Ford?  Chandler’s Ford has good train links and you can get to a wide range of destinations by rail in a day from the local station, hence my Away Days series.

Beautiful Bath. Image taken by me.

Beautiful Bath. Image taken by me.