Relaxing with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED

November 10, 2016November 10, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Expecting the Unexpected asks how your characters cope with the unexpected hitting them and their world. Which show courage? Which show cowardice? Magic can’t be used to solve all problems, otherwise it would make for a flat and short, uninteresting story, so what limits are there on magic in your setting? Can these be overcome? What other ways do characters use to overcome problems?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Interesting Times is my favourite Rincewind novel by Sir Terry Pratchett but it also refers to the old Chinese curse. There can be no doubt about it – we really are living in interesting times! So I ask in this post what form do interesting times take for the world and characters you’ve set up? What would count as a political (or otherwise) upset and how is it handled?

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Today has been a strange day politically and personally. In my FB page I pay tribute to my mum who passed away one year ago today (9th November) after a very brave fight against aspirational pneumonia brought on by dementia. I owe mum a huge debt for all sorts of reasons but I really appreciate the timeless gift she gave me – a love of stories and books. That kind of gift never dates!

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Enough books to be going on with…. Image via Pixabay

WHAT A FAIRYTALE HERO/HEROINE DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR

November 8, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Lines a Fairytale Hero/Heroine doesn’t want to hear lists those words that will tell your characters here their quest is almost certainly doomed. Can you think of others?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Further Signs You’re a Writer includes my thoughts on anguishing over edits, how real your characters seem to you and whether you prefer them to those you come across making the news. Again, can you add to the list?

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I am delighted to say Baubles, Bridge House Publishing’s 2016 anthology, will be out on 15th November. My story, Helping Out, is in there and for the first time I’ve contributed an image to the book trailer. I share the links to said trailer via my FB page. Hope you enjoy. I think the front cover of the book looks stunning.

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Baubles – the new anthology by Bridge House Publishing. My story, Helping Out, is in there. 2016 has been my most successful year for acceptances to date and I hope I can build on that. Image supplied by Gill James of Bridge House Publishing.

Blogging - a hugely enjoyable part of what I write. Image vix Pixabay.

QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK – OF A WRITER

November 8, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Questions Not to Ask – of a Writer lives up to its title and lists five bugbear questions any writer will hate being asked. Okay, scrub that, make it four questions and one statement. The latter is for my poet friends and I’d be very surprised if they’d not heard this particular comment in their time. My pet hate is point 3! See what you think…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

You Know You’re a Writer When…. again lives up to its theme. I list 1o points of interest but amongst these are three different opportunities for writers to become insufferably smug if they so wish! I put my hand up and plead guilty to points 3, 4 and 7 especially. Which would you plead guilty to – there will be at least one?!

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I talk about border collies (mine!), fireworks, and my border collie deliberately going out into the garden tonight to look for said fireworks even though she hates them. Have no idea why! Am glad the diffuser we got this year seems to be helping her. I also discuss what’s coming up in my next Chandler’s Ford Today post (a review of a play I’ve recently seen) and plug a CFT writers’ get together this coming Saturday.

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The lovely Mabel. Image taken by me! So much happier when there are no fireworks about – and that goes for Mabel too.

The Kindle. Has expanded my reading (no more worrying about how many books I can take on holiday either!). Image via Pixabay.

THINGS NO CHARACTER EVER WANTS TO HEAR…

November 7, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Things No Character Ever Wants to Hear gives a short list of statements guaranteed to chill the blood and sink the confidence of any character. This is particularly useful information for any character about to be sent off on a quest (and who have no idea why they were chosen. This list gives reasons!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Appreciating the Arts was a post inspired by some wonderful comments which came in as a result of my recent Chandler’s Ford Today post on My Top 10 Classical Music Greats. Some fantastic pieces of music have been added to that list – and there is always room for more, hint, hint! In this post though, I discuss what role the arts has in your fictional setting and ask how accessible the arts are to your characters? This could be useful in helping you flesh our your world and could give useful pointers as to how your society works. Is there an elite that keeps the arts for themselves? Are there some arts only the “commoners” enjoy and so on?

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I discuss response to my CFT post, fireworks (loathe them – because my border collie does, which is reason enough!) and share my thoughts on Ben Macintyre’s The Last Word. I’m currently reading this on Kindle and it shares some wonderful insights as to the development of the English language. There are some fantastically funny examples of pidgin English too.

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The world of the imagination should play a role in your stories. I can’t imagine any world without some form of the arts. Image via Pixabay.

One of the best ways to escape is with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

ATTRACTIVE CHARACTER TRAITS

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Attractive Character Traits discusses what I think are the most attractive traits any character can have. Top of the list is persistence – and Andy Murray’s wonderful achievement in becoming world # 1 in men’s tennis (especially in this era) put me in mind of this. See what you think about my list. Can you add anything?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Escaping discusses how characters escape – from literal danger (escapes must be credible) to leaving behind daily work cares etc. How do they do the latter? What hobbies and interests do they have to help them achieve that sense of escape?

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Being a tennis fan, I couldn’t let Andy Murray’s achievement today pass without comment but I also link it to hard work and persistence also being of vital importance to writers.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just a quick thanks to all who have commented so far on my Top 10 Classical Greats post from yesterday. Some pieces of music listed I know, others I don’t (but will look up and play!).

Hard at work. Image via Pixabay. Music (playing and listening) can be a great form of escapism, which is one topic I look at tonight.

A Magical, Classical Night out. Image via Pixabay.

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND FICTION

November 5, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Role of Classical Music in Fiction asks if music is controlled in your fiction setting – that is, can musicians play what they want or do they have to stick to a repetoire? What are the consequences if they don’t? Also is your world developed enough to have radio or when people want music, is it a question of going out to concerts? Does the state encourage people to do this? (Too busy enjoying music, too busy to question them!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Now you may spot a theme developing when I mention my post here tonight is called Musical Tastes. (A) You’re right (!) and (B) the theme all ties in with my Chandler’s Ford Today blog for this week. More on that shortly. But in this post, I ask what the status of music and musicians are in your fictional world? What can you reveal about a character’s love (or otherwise) of music to show more about them?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I write all of my CFT posts as a labour of love but every so often one stands out, for me at least, as a particularly special one. Tonight’s post is one of those. My Top 10 Classical Music Greats shares my favourite pieces of music, some wonderful You Tube clips and I hope also brings back some memories. For example, one piece I’ve chosen is Ravel’s Bolero. Where were you in 1984 when Torvill and Dean raised figure skating to an all time high with their dance on ice interpretation of this? Hope you like the post. I loved writing it and comments as to your favourite classical music pieces would be very welcome in the CFT comments box.

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No surprises here but I talk about my CFT post and again provide a link.

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Classical Music score. Image via Pixabay.

Where almost all stories spring from these days. Image via Pixabay.

MAGICAL COMPETENCE AND GOOD STORY CRITERIA

November 3, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I discuss what any magical being needs to be able to do in Tests for Magical Competence. Even the lowliest sprite can achieve the items in my list. Of course the ones you’ve really got to worry about are those who are not only magically efficient, they are magically formidable!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss the criteria for what I think makes for a good story in Criteria for A Good Story. Some of my items are interesting characters, a story that I remember (for good reasons!) long after I’ve read it and where the outcome really matters. Do you agree with my list? What could you add to it?

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I discuss what’s coming up in my Chandler’s Ford Today post for this week and why I think autumn is not my border collie’s favourite season.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Due up on site tomorrow will be my Top 10 Classical Greats. More details tomorrow.

A truly beautiful library but do the books in it meet my criteria for what makes a good story. I would hope so! Image via Pixabay.

Fairytale magic can go awry - characters lose powers or become power obsessed. Neither is a pretty sight. Image via Pixabay.

FIVE SIGNS

November 3, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In our world, some worry about losing their hair. Others worry about losing their general appeal. In the magical world characters worry about losing their magical abilities. Five Signs Your Character is Losing Their Magical Ability describes the five most common signs this is happening to your character. The most common cause is being cursed.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Power obsession is an ugly thing. Five Signs Your Character is Becoming Power Obsessed shows the most common signs this is happening to your character. What will be really interesting is what happens to your plot as a result!

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A shorter post tonight and I look at a query most dog owners will have – namely why their pet takes so long to do its night time business when it is freezing outside. When it is mild they are back in the house within a minute or so. Guess who froze tonight?! I also discuss the wonderful changing leaf colours around me. And I share what I’m reading at the moment in general terms. What are you reading? And now, in the UK, the nights are drawing in earlier, are you reading more?

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Fairies are not twee creatures... tonight I ask what do fairytale characters most care about. Image via Pixabay

Fairies are not twee creatures. They are dangerous, especially if they think rivals are losing magical ability. Image via Pixabay

Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.

SEASONAL CHANGES

November 2, 2016Leave a comment

Given we are now into November, tonight’s posts look at autumnal changes in different ways.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Time of the Year asks what are your characters’ favourite times of year and why? Could the answers here show something about their state of mind? (If they like autumn/winter do they tend to be melancolic, for example?).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On the other hand, the title for the post here tonight indicates a more lighthearted theme! Autumnal Flying Hazards For Your Average Magical Being does sum up the post nicely though and looks at hazards that could reasonably be expected at this time of the year in any magical realm.

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I discuss Vincent, the song by Don McLean and the episode of Doctor Who tonight and share one of my favourite You Tube clips. I share the clip again here. This also makes a great introduction to the works of Van Gogh. The clip was originally put up several years ago by Anthony DiFatta.

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STORIES BITING BACK

November 1, 2016Leave a comment

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Stories Biting Back shares my thoughts on flash fiction and how they must pack a punch. I also share a link with Chapeltown Books, who have a blog page up about the flash fiction collections they are currently producing. The three authors selected so far are Neil Campbell, Gill James and myself. The link shares samples of work from Neil and myself. My flash sample is A Kind of Hell. Hope you like it.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Creating Worlds again shares the link with Chapeltown Books but also discusses one major thing I love about stories and books in general. That is: each story or book, regardless of length, takes you into its own world and there is no limit to how many worlds you can visit. The more you read, the more worlds you visit so happy travelling!

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Again I share links with Chapeltown Books. On this link there are also Amazon connections to The Best of Cafelit series. I have work in Best of 4 and 5 and reviewed 3! No surprises here but I’m all for supporting the independent presses!!

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All books are gateways to other worlds, fantasy and science fiction especially I think. Image via Pixabay.