Month: January 2019

SUBMISSIONS, IMPACT, AND DELVING INTO THE PAST

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Facebook – General

Sent off a story submission tonight so pleased with that. Had drafted the story a while ago but wanted to leave it to one side and come back to it with a fresh eye. The voice of my character comes through loud and clear!

This piece is just under 1000 words, which is LOADS compared to my favourite 100-worders! But that is a major joy of flash fiction – it has divisions within it and there is nothing to stop you sticking to one type or mixing and matching. I like the latter approach.

Sometimes a character does need to be “let off the leash” for a longer distance and that was the case with this story.

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Whenever I watch/listen to an adaptation, whether it is a panto, a play or a novel turned into a TV series, am I looking for a word-to-word faithful rendition?

No! What I am looking for is the adapation to be faithful to the spirit of the original book, play or what have you. There is also a strong reason to adapt, say, fairytales for pantos and the like, given so many of the original stories are far too grim (some pun intended!) to be staged exactly as they were originally written.

I want the characters to be recognisable as the ones the original author created. I don’t like mish-mashes of characters, as can happen. Those never seem real to me, precisely I think because now I can spot the joins!!

Great characters = great books. Image via Pixabay.
The writing journey can be a long one so setting goals along the way makes sense. Pixabay image
Books invite you into their world. Go! Image via Pixabay.
Decisions, decisions and a not terribly helpful signpost. Image via Pixabay.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
Changing from one state to the other with your writing goals! Pixabay image
The joy of editing! Image by Pixabay
Or you could ask some simple questions! Image via Pixabay.
Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.
Use personal reviews to help you generate characters and story outlines. Image via Pixabay.
Stories are magical and inspire other stories. Image via Pixabay.

Am looking forward to sharing my CFT post as it will be a review of a recent panto put on by The Chameleon Theatre Group. The style I’ve used for this one is a bit different too but suits the material well. More on Friday! (I think we need pantos in January given it seems such a long month and the weather’s generally awful or cold or both).

Making good progress with the novel. Am “brewing ideas” for a story competition (deadline end of March) so plan to start outlining hopefully later this week/over weekend.

Also hope to finalise third flash fiction collection in the next couple of months. The material is pretty much all there now but it needs a darned good edit! Mind, there is nothing I write (with the possible exception of the annual holiday note to the milkman) that DOESN’T need a darned good edit!

The classic fairytale opening line. Pixabay image.
Let the words flow! Image via Pixabay.
There be dragons. Pixabay
Notes about your characters can help you portray them more accurately. Not every note has to make it into the story itself. Pixabay image.
Reading can make it seem as if you are in your own bubble! Pixabay image
Can’t have too many notebooks and pens. Image via Pexels
The building blocks of putting a story together. Pixabay image.
Reaching out for writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
And which is the right way?! Pixabay image.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
The joy of writing is you never stop learning. Pixabay image.
What worlds will emerge from your writing? Pixabay image

I discuss impact in my turn on the More Than Writers’ blog spot from the Association of Christian Writers.

I look at the impact I hope to achieve in the stories I write by deciding in advance what I’d like that to be and then selecting the words to best achieve that. The rest, of course, is down to the reader. You can put down the pointers but it is up to reader if they “run with them”.

Having said that, I have found thinking about impact like this means I’m trying to engage with readers from the outset. It also stops me going off at unhelpful tangents (and that is too easily done!).

Use feedback, whether negative or positive, to help improve what you do. Pixabay image.
Feedback can vary in scale! Pixabay image.
Reading has such an impact. Can’t imagine the world without it. Pixabay image.
You may never know what impact your blog has but write it for the love of it anyway. Pixabay image.
Go for positive impact wherever possible. It is easier for a reader to identify with. Pixabay image.
Now that is what I call impact! Pixabay image.
Strong clear words help your descriptions hit home. Pixabay image.
No shortcuts to editing! Pixabay image.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Looking ahead to some of the writing prompts coming up in my diary, there are some promising thoughts for new flash fiction stories. Some of the prompts are asking for character studies (with some being based on a specific name. I’ll have fun with that when I get to the week for that one. A name is just a peg after all. It’s what you do with the peg that matters!).

There are also some word association prompts. That will be fun too. A great way to allow yourself to go off at tangents to generate further story ideas. I love playing with words like that.

Making the most of the writing time. Pixabay image
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image
Let one creative idea spark another. Pixabay image.
Taking time to look back and then look ahead is a good thing. Pixabay image.
Outline the characters and away you go! Image via Pixabay
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
Writing tips! Pixabay image.
Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
Always good advice! Pixabay image.
Beware! Writer at work. Other beverages are available. Pixabay image.
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Always get contracts checked out – see Society of Authors as one place to go here. Pixabay image.

One huge advantage to writing flash fiction is it can give you a way of getting work out there while working on a much longer project, such as a novel.

I’m happily revisiting a novel of mine and using the editing skills writing flash fiction has given me. This should sharpen the novel up and I hope give it a better chance “out there” when I’m ready to submit it.

Naturally, this is going to take time but when not working on that, having flash fiction stories on the go is a great way of building up publishing credits and so on. I hope all of that will prove useful with regard to the novel later on. Watch this space, as they say!

Fiction is strengthened when backed by fact. Image via Pixabay
Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.
Aiming for more “magic” from my stories this year! Image via Pixabay.
Preparing the blog. Image via Pixabay.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
Working things out the old school way. Pixabay image.
This was the title of one of my CFT posts. Always true though!Image via Pixabay
There was always something magical about having a blank page to write to. Image via Pixabay.

One of the hardest things to do is cutting out a character you love but you know doesn’t really fit into the story or novel you’re writing. At one time you thought they did, that’s why they were there at all, but you have come to realise, often on repeated reading, that they’re not doing that much and if you cut them out, they wouldn’t be missed. (By anyone other than you naturally). Of course they’ve GOT to go but it seems such a shame…

Well, have you thought about seeing if you can write some flash fiction for them? Waste not, want not and all that. If a character can’t justify a full length story, can they be useful in a much shorter piece?

Food for thought I hope!

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Linking on from my theme of impact which I discuss in my monthly spot on More than Writers (the Association of Christian Writers’ blog), flash fiction has the huge advantage that its impact is immediate. It has to be.

That doesn’t rule out having “big themes”, far from it, but in a flash fiction story, you touch on them briefly and leave the readers to ponder on them.

I love this when I read flash fiction by other authors. I like being given the room to think on the impact of the stories I have just read. When a piece really inspires me, I look at how I think the author achieved that and learn from this. One shared joy of reading and writing is there is always something to learn to add greater enjoyment to what you read/help you improve your own writing.

Goodreads Author Blog – Delving into the Past

Delving into the past has great connotations for readers and writers alike.

Firstly, there is the whole range of historical books to explore – fiction and non-fiction. Then there’s the delight in exploring your favourite historical eras and discovering ones you hadn’t known much about.

For me, coming across Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time was one of those moments when a book really does change things for you. It completely altered my views on Richard III. Do check out the book and see if it does the same for you!

Secondly, there is the joy of rediscovering the stories that were favourites of yours in your own past. I’ve done this recently by, of all things, going to a panto and revisiting a story I’d not read in years – Ali Baba. The panto was great but the story reminded me that fairytales are anything but twee and when justice is served, it is usually with a very rough edge!

Other books connected to my past are my late mother’s Dickens collection. Some I’ve read, others not, but I do know I’m not running out of reading material any time soon! This is a VERY good thing!

So if you are stuck for something to read (I know, perish the thought!), delve into your past and look again at wht you used to read. Why did you stop reading that? Is it a question of going, say, from “childish” fairytales (though I’d argue fairytales are anything but childish) to more adult magical realism and fantasy stories?

Above all have fun delving into your literary past and see where it takes you now!

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Stories – and why Flash Fiction isn’t new

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

My latest CFT post – The Story of Stories – Ali Baba – is effectively a two parter in that I discuss how I discovered the story of Ali Baba and next week’s post will be a review of that as a panto recently performed by The Chameleons.

It is always a great joy when writing these posts coming up with suitable Feature Images and I can’t recommend Pixabay and Pexels (both free to use sites) highly enough. Tonight’s image is my favourite to date. Many thanks, Pixabay!

I also discuss some of my favourite character types in this post and why fairytales definitely are NOT twee.

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Had a great time at Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, the pantomime staged by The Chameleons this year. Review to follow on CFT next week though for tomorrow’s post I do share where I came across this story and the special memories the book it was in has for me.

Yes, everyone did join in at the appropriate times in the panto.

Oh yes they did!

All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Lost in a world of books. Pixabay image.
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Write to screen but edit on paper. Pixabay image.
Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.
Write first, edit later. Pixabay.

Reorganised my TBR pile earlier today. It is as large as ever but in a much neater heap now! To be fair, the pile IS slowly coming down but it is always the way I finish a few books, then somehow a few new ones make their way on and I’m back where I was!

Have almost finished drafting a story I want to submit later this month/early in February for a competition I took part in last year. Have got ideas for the annual Bridge House story too and want to flesh those out and go with what I like best.

I’m talking a little about the story of stories and why I think oral storytelling will never die out in my CFT post this week. Link up on Friday.

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

In many ways flash fiction isn’t something new. It just hasn’t been known by that name. Many of the parables of Jesus come in at under 500 words (and quite a few under 100!) and I suspect that many of Aesop’s Fables would also qualify.

The ideals of the very short story are conciseness and clarity. There really is nothing more to be said! It is an art form to get to the level of conciseness required though but this is why I think every writer should try flash fiction. It beefs up your editing muscles a LOT!

Generating those ideas. Pixabay image.
This made me smile! Pixabay image.
Ebooks and print – both have their own frustrations when it comes to publishing. Image via Pixabay
Is the truth welcome in your fictional world? How does your community react to it?. Image via Pixabay.
My reading at my signing at our local railway station. Image taken by Janet Williams, CFT editor.
PC playing up do you think? Image via Pixabay.
Waiting for an upload to finish. Image via Pixabay.
Books are the keys to knowledge. Image via Pixabay
Connections to what you read and what you write. What are yours? Image via Pixabay.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
My book on sale at Bay Leaves Larder, a wonderful local cafe that does a lot to support writers in the area.
At the Hursley Park Book Fair. Image by Allison Symes
Walking into the words maybe. Pixabay image

I don’t have an issue with serious stories. They serve a major purpose and can be a great way of getting a message across and usually on causes needing that.

However, I am a huge fan of stories “just” being for fun and things like pantomimes, where the story is acted out, and a great time is had by the cast and the audience are, I think, vital for keeping a proper balance.

There has to be light AND dark in fiction I think.

Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
Words have power, whether funny or tragic. Pixabay image.
Fiction should show you new ways of looking at the world. Image via Pixabay.
Would Dickens have loved technology like this? Image via Pixabay
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.
Online writing -v- on a line writing! Image via Pixabay
Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.
West Bay in December 2018. Image by Allison Symes.
So true. Pixabay image.
Hope you have lovely books as presents! Pixabay image

Can you cover concepts such as freedom in flash fiction, given its limited word count?

I think so. You can show what it means to ONE character. You can show your character’s attitude to it. You can’t go into much depth due to that word count restriction but you can imply so much with your character’s attitude and reaction. The reader can then figure out just how important (or otherwise) the concept is to that character.

You can show a character’s attitude to freedom by what they do to attain it (and that can be to restrict the freedom of someone else or to remove them if they are seen to be the obstacle to that freedom). Actions and attitudes then are the way to convey what a character really holds dear.

Always time and space for the pen and paper method of drafting
Let those ideas flow! Image via Pixabay,
Side view of my book stand. Image by Allison Symes
Reviews can have global reach. Most impact I think can often be local to the writer.
What writing triggers will help you create your new worlds? Image via Pixabay
Fiction is strengthened when backed by fact. Image via Pixabay
Writer at work. Image via Pixabay.
Escape with a good book, it’s good for you! Image via Pixabay
A good interview will bring the best out of the interviewee.
Use what you know of our world and your imagination to create something really special. Image via Pixabay
Escape with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

Fairytales with Bite – Where Stories Go Wrong

Where stories go wrong can be down to a number of factors but I list what I think are the most important points below.

1.  Character not strong enough.
By this I mean the character does not grab the reader’s attention.  There is not enough in the character to make the reader want to have their attention grabbed!  A reader needs to either identify with the character and so follow the story to see if all works out in the end, or be very happy to see your character get their comeuppance and again follow the story through to find out if they do!  (I remember wanting to cheer when Molly Weasley in Harry Potter “dealt with” Bellatrix Lestrange – and sorry but I refuse to accept that’s a plot spoiler now!  The point is the characters or Molly and Bellatrix grabbed my attention.  One I wanted to succeed, the other not to and so I was hooked).

2.  Story not strong enough.
There isn’t enough conflict or drama to warrant there being a story!  Things have got to happen in a story and sometimes those things are not necessarily dramatic but they are everything to your characters.  The reader needs to find out how your people will react if things do or don’t turn out well in the end.  Is there enough in your story to make readers want to find out what happens next?  It can be a good test to step aside from your work for a bit and come back to it as a reader would.  Is your story the kind you would eagerly pick up from a book shop because its opening lines and its blurb grip you?

3.  Characters not distinguishable from each other.
Each major character has to have their own voice.  A reader should be able to tell who is who.  If they can’t confusion sets in and nobody will read a story like that.

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This World and Others – The Story of Stories

I look at this in my latest CFT post and it was a temptation to go straight into a history of stories.  Instead I focused on one – Ali Baba (partly because I’m reviewing the panto of it next week!) – but what is fascinating about stories like this which cross cultures and time is why they have.  My own feeling is that the characters and themes of the stories still resonate and they will continue to survive because of that.

The challenge for us as writers then is to ensure our own characters and themes resonate so readers will want to engage with them.  How can we do this?  By ensuring that our characters have virtues we aspire to and failures we can sympathise with!  No goody-goodies.  No villains who act in ways we can’t understand.  There has to be a reason for them acting the way they are, even if the reason isn’t a good one.  A reader has to be able to see where the character is coming from even if they think (rightly or wrongly) the character is going in totally the wrong direction!

As for themes, you can’t beat the big ones of love, justice, redemption etc.  What matters is the take we bring to these themes.  My voice (and therefore my characters) will be unique to me, yours will be unique to you.  Mix things up.  Often the themes of love and redemption are used together and very powerfully too.  So write about what matters to you.  If justice is your raison d’etre, then how can you convey that in a story?  Do you have a character who fights passionately for justice or who has been a victim of injustice?  What makes your character special that they’re going to stand out to, firstly, an editor and, secondly, readers?

Work out what you would like your story to convey.  Planning is vital, I find, to stop me going off at a tangent.  Focus.  Edit. Fine tune your story so you ensure it meets your theme.  Cut out anything that doesn’t help the story with that objective.  And have fun doing it!

Good advice – and it applies to our characters too. Image via Pixabay
Wormhole. Pixabay image.
There be dragons. Pixabay
The classic fairytale opening line. Pixabay image.
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.
Love this image! Image via Pixabay
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
Indeed! Pixabay image.
This statue reminds me of myself when I was a lot younger. Okay I wasn’t made of stone (I’m still not!) but I did always have my head in a book. (And do so as often as I can now!). Image via Pixabay.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Fiction and Successful Writing

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Facebook – General

When is writing considered successful? When you are published? When you submit more work in a year than you’ve done before? When you have more acceptances than rejections? When you can make a living from writing?

All of those things matter, of course they do, BUT if you are committed to your writing, and seek to always improve on what you do, I’d say that was being successful. Why?

Because you do need stamina to cope with the ups and downs of the writing life. You need to recognize you do need to keep striving.

And whether you seek publication for one book, lots of books, or just want to win short story competitions from time to time, then that’s fine. Decide what you would like to achieve and give it your best shot.

Good luck!❤

 

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Whatever writing you do, I think the two most important things are to enjoy it and use it to help you develop.

If you write flash fiction, as I do, seek to find more ways of generating ideas and find more markets/competitions for your work.

Writing is a journey after all and, even after publication, you will still face rejections. You will want to get better at what you do. There are always things to spur you on.

My overall goal? To be the best writer I can be.

 

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West Bay Beach on a gorgeous day in December 2018.  Image taken by Allison Symes.  Walks along a beach can be a good place to reflect on what you would like to achieve as a writer.

Enjoyed the writing prompt in my diary tonight. I had to use certain words to come up with an opening to a story or a poem. A poem emerged! Needs a lot of work mind you but enjoyable to draft. What was nice about this was I could “hear” the rhythm of the draft and knew from that, this would a poem and not a piece of flash fiction.

I like the mixture of writing prompts in this diary. They’re going to keep me on my toes this year. I also like prompts as a chance to play with words and just see what comes out. Later will come more fun when I look at these drafts in the cold light of day and assess what works and what doesn’t and then obviously go with what does. I know now NOT to try and write and edit the same piece in the same session. Doesn’t work. I find I need to give myself some distance before appraising anything.

 

Checking spelling and grammar isn’t fun but so necessary. Pixabay image.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
The darkness can have its own beauty. Pixabay image.
Thinking your writing through is always a good idea. Pixabay image.
What wonderful colours. Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
The sun setting. Pixabay image.
What populates your fictional world? Pixabay image
The lightbulb moment of inspiration for writers is wonderful. Pixabay image.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.

Off to the panto later this week. Oh yes she is! Oh no… etc etc.

Don’t think I’ve seen Ali Baba before and it’s been a long time since I last read the story. Should be a good fun evening and panto I think is about the only time nobody cares too much how noisy the theatre audience gets. (That may just be me remembering childhood pantos too vividly though!). Review will follow on CFT in due course.

My favourite panto story is probably Robin Hood though as I’ve always adored that tale.🏹🏹 Recently rewatched Prince of Thieves. (The much missed Alan Rickman IS the definitive Sheriff of Nottingham.)

Back to normal after a lovely weekend away. Why is it that, wherever it is you go, no matter for how short a time you’re away for, you always come back feeling jetlagged, even if you’ve been nowhere near a plane?!

Does your story conjure up your setting well enough? Pexels image.
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
My smartphone has not yet managed this! Pixabay image.
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
Where do your characters like to take time out to reflect and why? Pexels image
Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
What are the difficulties in your characters’ way? Pexels image.
Series novels contribute so much to the wonderful world of books. Pixabay image.
Someone set a goal here of some sort! Pixabay image
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image

My CFT post later this week will take a brief look at why the oral tradition of storytelling will never die out. I also look at how I came across the story of Ali Baba, the panto I’ll be off to see on Thursday, and the special memories of the book I have where I first read the tale. Much as I can see the point of decluttering, I draw the line at books!

Practically all of mine have special memories attached to them and it is a great pleasure to have a shelf of books written by friends of mine. (Take a bow, #ValPenny, #JenniferCWilson, #BeatriceFishback, #DawnKentishKnox, #GillJames, #RichardHardie, #BrendahSedgwick amongst others!). I look forward to filling other shelves with books by friends and, of course, my own!

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Drafted another flash story on the train yesterday. Plan to polish that and submit it I hope sometime next week.

Never despise “only” having 5 minutes to write or what have you. These pockets of time are really useful for getting some drafts written. You’d be surprised at how much time those pockets can mount up to and therefore how many drafts you can get done!

This made me smile! Pixabay image.
Checking spelling and grammar isn’t fun but so necessary. Pixabay image.
Always time for a laugh with writer friends! Many thanks to Cheryl Holland for taking this with my phone.
My flash fiction collection. Image taken by Allison Symes.
Some of my published works, most anthologies. Image by Allison Symes
FLTDBA for sale in the Swanwick Book Room. Image by Allison Symes
The building blocks of putting a story together. Pixabay image.
Fake news and roundabouts that are too small make it into my CFT post. Image via Pixabay.
I read some of my flash fiction from FLTDBA and Cafelit. Image by Dawn Kentish Knox

Some one-line stories for tonight’s post, I think.

1. The red dragon thought it would defy being out of time by sitting on the clock tower and crushing it.

2. The fraud would work, she knew, but did she have the guts to go through with it?

3. It had a 90% risk of failure, and that would mean death, but he liked odds like that for bringing out the best in him.

Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
Notebooks, pens, beverages… bliss for the writer. Image via Pixabay.
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
Barbara Large has done so much to support and encourage writers for many years. Pixabay image.
All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
Social media has made the world a smaller place. Image via Pixabay.
Edit, edit, edit! Pixabay image.
What stories will come from this pen? Pexels image.

Flash fiction lends itself well to having fun experimenting with genre writing. Why?

Because it has to be character led, you can set that character anywhere you want. So you can write fairytales, crime stories, historical fiction etc. The framework is that you are writing a flash story. It may even help you discover what your favourite genre to write in is – I will always have a very special fondness for humorous fairytales. But I do enjoy coming out with crime flash fiction every so often.

Mixing things up keeps ME thinking and stretching the old imaginative muscles, which is always a good thing.

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I’m enjoying tackling the weekly writing prompts in my diary. Some are picture prompts, others you have to use certain words, and still others you have to write a description of a particular thing. All good creative stuff. Loving the mix too.

The one for last week was to use certain words as an opening for a poem or story. What was lovely was I heard the voice of my narrator immediately and they were demanding their words be written as a poem. Well, when you’re told like that, you have no choice do you?!

When writing is really going well, it can seem as if you are taking dictation from your characters, but that is a very good thing. It shows they’re real and if they engage you, they’ll engage readers too.

There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Lost in a world of books. Pixabay image.
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
A truly beautiful book. Pixabay image.
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Another one I’ve yet to see happen. Pixabay image.
Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay
Some of Shakespeare’s sayings in popular use now. Image via Pixabay
Books are a fantastic form of escapism. Image via Pixabay
Research material, notebook and pen to hand. Image via Pixabay
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.

Flash fiction is wonderful for stories which are moments in time for a character. These moments are not enough in themselves to make a standard length short story but are of enough interest and insight to justify being “out there”. And those moments can be as funny or as sad or as horrific as you care to make them.

The great irony with flash fiction is, despite its restricted word count, it does actually give the writer a great deal of freedom as the stories HAVE to be character led. Of course it is up to you where and when and how your characters lead us! The important thing is you as the writer have fun here and we as the readers will pick up on that and love reading what you write.

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Goodreads Author Blog – Going Away

Sorry, post a day later this week, as have been away this weekend, but I use opportunities like that to revise what I am reading and what I want to take with me while away. It helps with packing too! I won’t take the huge volume of stories which takes up far too much room. I WILL take the Kindle and one of my slimmer paperbacks..

So when you go away what crucial books do you HAVE to take with you?

I was catching up on Peter Ackroyd’s The Civil War over the weekend – like his style and this is a period of history I know a bit about but am conscious I ought to know more. Good to get back to this book again.

I usually finish Kindle books before I move on to something else but can sometimes get sidetracked, especially if a friend has a book out I really want to get on and read, but I do catch up in the end. Am always glad to do so too.

 

Books are the keys to knowledge. Image via Pixabay
Puns can be visual. Pixabay image.
What every writer needs. Image via Pexels.
Books and swimming but not at the same time! Pexels image.
Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay
Ebooks and print – both have their own frustrations when it comes to publishing. Image via Pixabay
Let one creative idea spark another. Pixabay image.
I now use a laptop. Pexels image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing and Outlining

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My post is up a night early due to other commitments over the next few days but hope you enjoy.  There is still time to take advantage of the book offers as part of my author of the week promotion but you only have until tomorrow, 18th January.

My first story appeared here. Photo taken by Allison Symes
My flash fiction collection. Image taken by Allison Symes.
Another flash fiction piece of mine is in here. Pixabay image.
I was in this Bridge House anthology. Picture taken by Allison Symes
Another of my stories made it into this collection. Image taken by Allison Symes
It is a great joy to be published by Cafelit online and in print. Picture taken by Allison Symes
This is the first solely ebook compilation I’ve had work in – cover photo from Bridge House Publishing.

Meanwhile:-

Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

Delighted to share my latest CFT post, Three Wishes. Great fun to write. So go on then – what would your three choices be? Have a look at the ground rules and assumptions (they’re not arduous, really, and I think they’re fair too) and then have fun picking your three. Comments on my CFT page would be great.  (And find out why space comes into my choices).

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My CFT post will be going up a night early so look out for Three Wishes tomorrow. What would you wish for if your fairy godmother turned up and allowed you to have said three wishes? There are ground rules (no wishes for more wishes for a start! She has got a busy round you know) – see the link tomorrow. Great fun to write this piece. Looking forward to sharing the link.

Also am off to the local panto next week with my lovely CFT editor, Janet Williams. Will be a hoot, I’m sure. Whenever I go out like this it’s for Shakespeare, a funny or serious play, and panto! Still, I guess it is a good mix!

feature image - three wishes

My latest CFT post. Pixabay image.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Linking in with my Chandler’s Ford Today post this week about Three Wishes, what would you choose as a flash fiction writer? Mine would be:-

1. To always get the word count right for the story. (Not necessarily the competition or market. You may just have to find a competition or market the story suits better but the story HAS to be right).

2. To never run out of ways to find ideas for stories. (Random word generators, slogans, classic themes, the old question of What If? all come into what I use for mine but it is good to have a variety of ways to generate those ideas. For one thing, it keeps things fresh for you).

3. To never run out of ways of generating titles. Due to flash fiction’s restricted word count, getting the title right is hugely important. It can be used to convey the mood of the story and its genre and save you precious words doing that in the body of the tale. As with any story, the title has to tempt the reader in to reading the rest. You want to get it right!

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Am away at the weekend so hope to draft a LOT of flash fiction while on the trains! Great use of dead time. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how quickly I got used to (a) using an app on a smartphone to write stories, blogs etc while travelling and (b) that using the stylus was no problem at all.

Main thing I loathe is my local train company has taken OUT all of the mobile phone recharging points that were on board (and put there by the previous train company, whom I miss a lot). The new lot have literally blank-plated the plug sockets out! Why? I saw the recharging points as a useful customer service and I really can’t quite believe that a lot of power would’ve been drained. Nobody is plugged in ALL the time! Oh well…

Let one creative idea spark another. Pixabay image.
Always a good idea! Pixabay image.
Words are the power source of so much creativity. Pixabay iamge.
Picking up wriitng tips will help you improve your work. Pixabay image.
Taking time to look back and then look ahead is a good thing. Pixabay image.
Playing with words. Pixabay image.
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
A good writing group will help you discover this. Pixabay image.
Clarity and constructive criticism are always useful. Pixabay image.
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
Puns can be visual. Pixabay image.

Echoes can be useful in flash fiction. In my Pen Portrait I refer to a character that follows the “Shirley Williams school of thought rather than Margaret Thatcher’s” when it comes to caring for hair!

If you recall both of those politicians, you will remember they had very differing hair styles. I’m sure the latter’s would not have moved an inch even in a hurricane. (Also for those who don’t recall but wish to do so, it’s easy enough to look up pictures of these two. Indeed you only need to look up one of them to get some idea of what the other would be like here).

What’s useful is the mention of these two politicians will give a reader an idea of the age of the character without me spelling it out, as well as what their approach is to brushing their hair!

Think about what you could use to convey information across to readers like this. Echoes are a great word count saver!

Technology has helped short story writers. Image via Pixabay
Even in the heart of a city, books can provide escapism. Image via Pixabay.
The road should not be an easy one for your hero/heroine. Image via Pixabay
Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay
Some very strange creatures are in books. Image via Pixabay
Lovely nib! Image via Pexels.
Always good advice this. Image via Pexels
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay.
I don’t always write directly to screen. Image via Pixabay
What new worlds and scenes will books show you? Image via Pixabay
Aiming for more “magic” from my stories this year! Image via Pixabay.

Fairytales with Bite – Wishing, Just Wishing

My Chandler’s Ford Today post this week is called Three Wishes and asks what would you choose if your fairy godmother turned up and granted you the customary three wishes?  Naturally, there are ground rules but check the post out and have fun picking yours!

For this post, I thought I’d look at what your characters would wish for.  Okay a lot is going to depend on your story, genre, etc but some general pointers I think would cross all of that and be true for most of them.  These then are:-

1.  To be well thought out before my writer puts me to paper or screen
I’ve found outlining a character to be a useful tool.  I don’t put down every single thing but I need to know their major traits, what might send them “over the edge”, what drives them etc. By the time I’ve thought about all of that, I can hear the voice of that character and once I’ve got that, I can write them into existence!  I’ve found that time spent initially in thinking about what I need to know here has saved me time later in editing and not having weaknesses in characterisation and/or the plot.  The lovely thing here is each writer can decide what they need to know.  It will vary from writer to writer.  It can vary from story to story too.  For example if you know you are going to write a humorous tale, you can ask what would your character dread happening to them because they’d be so embarrassed?  There would be a lot of humour potential there!

2.  To give me dialogue I can actually speak and which doesn’t sound like “authorese”.
This is where reading your work out loud pays off.  You can literally hear if the words flow or not.  If you stumble over dialogue, a reader will too.  Time to edit then! Speech itself, as well as speech patterns of characters, must seem natural.  You want to convey that this is something a “real” person in these circumstances might actually say (even if the setting is fantastical).

3.  For the writer to know what they are doing!
We’re back to outlining again.  Your characters need to have a function to justify their place in your story.  So you really do need to know what they are doing in your story and, as importantly, why.  Once you know that, you can write with confidence (and it does show through).

The ultimate smartphone maybe?! Image via Pixabay
Online writing -v- on a line writing! Image via Pixabay
The classic start for fairytales. Pixabay image.
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
Hope you have lovely books as presents! Pixabay image
There be dragons. Pixabay
Fiction should show you new ways of looking at the world. Image via Pixabay.
The moon rising. Pixabay image.
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.

This World and Others – Outlining

Do you outline? Should you outline? Is there one absolute way TO outline?

Firstly, I do outline and I have found it has saved me a lot of time editing and fixing problems in the characters/plot because I’ve worked out the main points first.  That to me is the best reason of all to outline.

Secondly, I think most writers should outline.  Working out your direction before you start off, especially on a major project, makes a great deal of sense.

Thirdly, no!  For a flash fiction piece, I once wrote one sentence as I knew my story idea could go in one of two directions and naturally I wanted to go with the strongest idea.  By writing down that sentence, I could then see what was the strongest idea and I went with it.  For short stories and novels, I obviously outline more.

I don’t outline every single thing.  For characters, I look at what drives them (as that reveals their attitudes to life, to others etc).  For a story I want the beginning and end and a point in the middle which will usually prove to be the turning point.  I deliberately allow room for my imagination to kick in and have found when ideas come to me as I write the story, I can jot them down, look at my outline, work out where they’d fit in and away I go.

I will sometimes outline a setting to help me get a clear picture of it in my head.  For a setting I already know well, I may look at what might surprise me about it and see if I can be surprised by it.

Outlining is a tool.  How you make use of it is up to you but it is good to have that tool in your writers’ toolbox.  Use it to serve your writing.  I’ve found it pays off.

Time flies when reading or writing. Image via Pixabay
What stories will come from this pen? Pexels image.
Barbara Large has done so much to support and encourage writers for many years. Pixabay image.
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
Making the most of the writing time. Pixabay image
Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.
Notebook to hand ready for those story ideas. Image via Pexels.
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
Potentially your blog can go global. Image via Pixabay
A familiar sight to many of us. Image via Pixabay.
Goals don’t have to be huge but can give you a huge sense of achievement as you tick them off. Pixabay image.
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
A good book will illuminate some truth. Image via Pexels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Write and Using Writing Prompts

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Facebook – General

Scribblers Books also shared details of the special offers on my writing available for this week only, folks!  A reminder about these offers follows shortly.

One of the nicest things a writer can experience is signing one of your books for a reader! Congratulations to Jim Bates who will be receiving a signed copy of my From Light to Dark and Back Again in due course. (You don’t tire of signing books for things like this!).

And a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my being author of the week for Bridge House by sharing posts, sending congratulations etc. Much appreciated!🙂💐💐♥️

BOOK OFFER REMINDER

Book news! I’m Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown’s author of the week and there are free books up for grabs AND special offers on others. What’s not to like?

I’ve had the great pleasure of being published by BHP/CB in various anthologies as well as with From Light To Dark and Back Again. These form the basis of the package below.

BOOK PACKAGE: There are SIX, count them SIX, publications where I have work on offer for £4.00, all as mobi-files. This includes To Be…To Become (the Waterloo Festival competition, anthology), Baubles (BH anthology), The Best of Cafelit 4, 5 AND 6 and From Light to Dark and Back Again, my first flash fiction collection.

And for those of you who would like print paperbacks there’s an offer for you too.

PAPERBACK OFFER: My first published story was A Helping Hand in Bridge House Publishing’s Alternative Renditions. That isn’t available on Kindle BUT is in paperback and that along with From Light to Dark and Back Again is on offer at a mere £7.00 for the two!

GIVEAWAY:  Still available,  I’m giving away one signed copy of:-

Alternative Renditions OR
Baubles OR
One of the Best of Cafelit books I’m in.

 

If you’re interested email my lovely editor, Gill James, at editor@bridgehousepublishing.co.uk with your contact details. Also let her know which of the books you would like and Gill and I will take things from there.

All of the above books are available on Amazon.

And if you would like to try some of my work out first, head over to Cafelit at http://cafelitcreativecafe.blogspot.com/…/l…/Allison%20Symes

 

Scribbler also shared the links to my Chandler’s Ford Today author page where I often write on topics of interest to the writing community (such as The Benefits of a Good Writing Conference, Creativity is Good For You, Fiction -v- Non-Fiction etc etc)

Next challenge? Get more out there! Pic below is of my flash fiction collection on sale at last year’s Swanwick Writers’ Summer School Bookshop. Always a thrill to know your book is in there!

Oh and the offer ends this Friday, 18th January.

What Barbara Large's writing classes will help writers discover - what is their story - image via Pixabay

A good writing group will help you discover this. Pixabay image.

Loving the writing prompts in my diary. (Pictures like the woodland and other landscape ones below are great for suggesting atmosphere and therefore what type of story I’m likely to come up with). Looking ahead a little, there is a nice mixture of picture prompts, suggestions of words to use to create an opening for a story or poem (flash fiction in my case), and pieces asking you to describe something in a setting (for example a journey in winter, which is the one for this week). These are going to make a nice challenge for me. 52 new flash fiction stories at least then this year!

I like coming up with title ideas every so often and will come up with a dozen or so. Then I write the stories to suit. I deliberately choose “open” titles, open in terms of what the mood/setting of the story could be. I like to have plenty of possibilities to play with and then I go with the one I like best. The other ideas I will revisit at a later date. They may suit another story.

There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Pressing on towards the light. Image via Pixabay
What lies beyond the shore…. ideas for stories? Image via Pixabay
The dark can seem to overcome the light but light will prevail. Image via Pixabay
Walking through a landscape like this is a joy. Pixabay image.
The moon rising. Pixabay image.
Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Reflections at Swanwick earlier this year. Image by Allison Symes
A lovely place to reflect during Swanwick. Image by Allison Symes
A post Christmas New Forest walk is traditional for me. Image by Allison Symes
The road should not be an easy one for your hero/heroine. Image via Pixabay
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.

Why write?

1. Because you have to. There is just something hardwired into your brain driving you to write.

2. To give something back to the wonderful world of stories you’ve enjoyed (and still enjoy) being part of.

3. Because there are characters and stories you simply have to develop. (Ties in with 1 above though 1 can apply to non-fiction writers just as much).

4. Because you read something awful and know you can do better. So you rise to the challenge and do it!

5. Because it’s a joy to do, whether you seek publication or not.

6. You always loved inventing stories at school so why stop there?

7. To see if you CAN do it and then see if you can improve on what you do.

8. To explore what it is you actually want to write and maybe discover areas of writing you had not known about before.

9. You come across a writing competition you really like the sound of and you think it may have your name on it. There’s only one way to find out if that’s right!

10. You believe most people have some sort of creative/artistic “bent” to them and writing is the most natural for you.

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Is it harder to write a book or promote one? Answers on a…well I don’t think a postcard would be big enough.

Both have their challenges and rewards of course. Getting the balance right between doing both is tricky. Always has been, always will be, and I think every writer has to work out what works for them.

It is one of those things that when I first started writing seriously for publication, everything was still sent by snail mail. These days practically every story I submit anywhere is by email.

And to not be involved with social media in some way (even if you focus on one, say) is a serious disadvantage. What I like best about social media is the way it can help you to engage with other people and ultimately isn’t that what we’re trying to do through our writing, whether it is for educational or good old sheer entertainment purposes?

(No time for trolls though – the only place for those is in a fairytale!).

Puns can be visual. Pixabay image.
As I write now. Pixabay image.
Looking up one side of the hall from my stand. Image by Allison Symes
Generating those ideas. Pixabay image.
Write to screen but edit on paper. Pixabay image.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
Making the most of the writing time. Pixabay image
What decisions will your characters make? Image via Pixabay.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
Very true.. Pixabay image.
Walking into the words maybe. Pixabay image
Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.
Image via Pexels
What every writer needs. Image via Pexels.
It isn’t always clear which route you should take. Pixabay image

When writing light stories, what are you looking to achieve? I want to write stories that make people smile (I’m not necessarily aiming for the laugh out loud moment). The impact I want to leave on a reader is one of them having had a hugely enjoyable read. I know I’m always cheered up no end reading stories like that.

As for the dark stories, I sometimes want to make the reader shudder, I want to make them see how and why my character would act the way they are, and then be glad they’re not in the situation I’ve put the characters in!

I like a balance of both types of story in my books and I also like reflective character study pieces too. I find, when reading this kind of story by other writers, they’re the stories that make me think the most. The “would I have done that in those circumstances?” kind of story has a quieter impact than the funny or scary tales, but the impact is there all the same.

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When writing a story in flash
Don’t decide you’ll be oh so rash.
By just writing everything down.
Tangents occur to make you frown!
Plan your ideas, a note will do,
Sketchy, detailed, it’s up to you.
Stories are stronger if they’re planned.
Saves many a tale being panned!

Allison Symes – 14th January 2019

This one comes from direct experience! Sometimes my outlines are as little as a sentence. For longer stories, I go into more detail. I deliberately don’t plan everything out. I want to encourage the imagination to “fire up” and not stifle it but a plan sends me in the right general direction.

I love the Scrivener templates for character and setting outlines. I draft those and they get me into the world of my story idea so quickly. But there is no reason why, if you don’t use that kind of software, you can’t think of a useful template of your own. Think about what you need to know about your characters before you start writing about them. Base a template on that. It will come in handy many times.

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Echoes can be useful in flash fiction. In my Pen Portrait I refer to a character that follows the “Shirley Williams school of thought rather than Margaret Thatcher’s” when it comes to caring for hair!

If you recall both of those politicians, you will remember they had very differing hair styles. I’m sure the latter’s would not have moved an inch even in a hurricane. (Also for those who don’t recall but wish to do so, it’s easy enough to look up pictures of these two. Indeed you only need to look up one of them to get some idea of what the other would be like here).

What’s useful is the mention of these two politicians will give a reader an idea of the age of the character without me spelling it out, as well as what their approach is to brushing their hair!

Think about what you could use to convey information across to readers like this. Echoes are a great word count saver!

What worlds will emerge from your writing? Pixabay image
What light will your world shed on how ours “behaves”? Pixabay image.
Love writing, love reading, love books. Pixabay image.
The Writing Life. Pixabay image.
What do your characters face? Pixabay image
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
Barbara Large has done so much to support and encourage writers for many years. Pixabay image.
Words have power, whether funny or tragic. Pixabay image.
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
Reality should feed your imagination. Pixabay image.
Wonderful writing desk. Pixabay image
The lights fantastic. Pixabay image.
Words are the power source of so much creativity. Pixabay iamge.
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image

Goodreads Author Blog – Good Books

What defines a good book for you?

For me a good book is one that fulfils its purpose, whether that is to make me laugh, show me a world I did not know previously, or help me improve my history knowledge etc.

It has to keep me gripped to The End. I have to be eagerly looking forward to reading the next chapter when I read in bed. (And be mightily miffed if the Sandman comes along a bit early and I don’t get to read for as long as I’d like).

A good book will have writing that takes my breath away with the joy of how it is put together. P.G. Wodehouse is the master there as far as I’m concerned.

Humorous books have to not only make me laugh out loud, but to keep me smiling until The End. I love books which are obviously funny but which raise smiles by their subtle use of language, puns etc. Again Wodehouse is brilliant here and so was Terry Pratchett.

Crime fiction has to bring out the “I’ve got to find out what happens next” feeling. And it must deliver on its promise. Historical fiction has to make me feel “yes, it could have been that way” and so on.

Good books I always re-read. Maybe that is the true test of a great read.

Says it all really and both must balance out Pixabay image

So true. Pixabay image.

 

Tried and Tested – and Book Offers!

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A very busy night tonight and a special post about book offers too and I will start with those I think!  Also included this week is a link to my guest spot on crime writer Val Penny’s wonderful Book Review blog.  Many thanks to her for hosting me.

BOOK OFFERS!  ONE WEEK ONLY.  ENDS 18TH JANUARY 2019

Book news! I’m Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown’s author of the week and there are free books up for grabs AND special offers on others. What’s not to like?

I’ve had the great pleasure of being published by BHP/CB in various anthologies as well as with From Light To Dark and Back Again. These form the basis of the package below.

BOOK PACKAGE: There are SIX, count them SIX, publications where I have work on offer for £4.00, all as mobi-files. This includes To Be…To Become (the Waterloo Festival competition, anthology), Baubles (BH anthology), The Best of Cafelit 4, 5 AND 6 and From Light to Dark and Back Again, my first flash fiction collection.

And for those of you who would like print paperbacks there’s an offer for you too.

PAPERBACK OFFER: My first published story was A Helping Hand in Bridge House Publishing’s Alternative Renditions. That isn’t available on Kindle BUT is in paperback and that along with From Light to Dark and Back Again is on offer at a mere £7.00 for the two!

FREE BOOKS! BUT YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK.

I’m giving away one signed copy of:-

From Light to Dark and Back Again AND
Alternative Renditions OR
Baubles OR
One of the Best of Cafelit books I’m in.

First come, first served, naturally. Also one book per customer.

If you’re interested email my lovely editor, Gill James, at editor@bridgehousepublishing.co.uk with your contact details. Also let her know which of the books you would like and Gill and I will take things from there. I’m looking forward to getting some books off in the post next week!

So two lucky people can be in for a free read! What are you waiting for? Gill is waiting to hear from you!

All of the above books are available on Amazon.

And if you would like to try some of my work out first, head over to Cafelit at http://cafelitcreativecafe.blogspot.com/…/l…/Allison%20Symes

Do check out the other wonderful stories here. You’re in for a great read, I promise.

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

Busy night tonight but fun! Hope you saw the book offer posts earlier. Meanwhile back to CFT and I’m glad to share my Tried and Tested Writing Tips this week. Hope you find it useful.

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Will be a busy day tomorrow. As well as my usual CFT post (all about tried and tested writing tips), I’m Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books author of the week and will have news of book offers so stay tuned.

Re my CFT post: I’ve picked those tips I use most often and go into detail as to why they are useful.

Absolutely delighted to have been guest blogger on Val Penny‘s Book Reviews blog. Many thanks to her – it’s been a good week writing wise when it comes to getting the word out there!

And talking of words, the ones I’ve found most helpful are the ones that encourage when all that seem to come in are rejections etc. This is why you need writing friends. We know what it is like – both the joys and the down sides. It is a roller coaster ride but nobody says you have to be alone on the thing!

What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
And which is the right way?! Pixabay image.
Good advice. Image via Pixabay.
Val Penny’s latest work is a great read. Image kindly supplied by Val Penny
Unless in a thunder storm or high winds, this is a good idea! Image via Pexels
All writers have felt this way at times. Pixabay image.
See! It is a good idea, weather permitting! Image via Pexels
The first draft, the second, the tenth? Pixabay image
The joy of editing! Image by Pixabay
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay.
Val Penny’s book cover for her debut novel, more to come soon. Image kindly supplied by Val Penny.
Even in the heart of a city, books can provide escapism. Image via Pixabay.

Am delighted to share the link to the great blog from crime writer Val Penny. The fact that I am her guest on it tonight is not at all coincidental!

Many thanks, Val, for the invite. The questions were great fun to answer. Val and I met at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School (or more accurately just outside Derby Railway Station just ahead of us both going to Swanwick!) and we’ve been great friends ever since.

It is also lovely being on the receiving end of questions too!

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I’m due to be Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books author of the week. News of book offers tomorrow.

Getting the balance right between writing new material, revising and improving material that has not yet found a home, and marketing has never been easy to get right. Has there ever been a writer who doesn’t feel there is always something they could be doing better in any of these departments? I don’t think so!

One advantage to flash fiction of course is it can be a great way of getting work done and “out there” while working on longer projects. (And if said work is published, you’re building up your writing CV too).

Some very strange creatures are in books. Image via Pixabay
What are your characters’ favourite memories and why? Image via Pixabay
The building blocks of putting a story together. Pixabay image.
The magic of stories. Image via Pixabay
Good advice – and it applies to our characters too. Image via Pixabay
Use personal reviews to help you generate characters and story outlines. Image via Pixabay.
Another way of publishing…. Image via Pixabay
Connections to what you read and what you write. What are yours? Image via Pixabay.
The magical world of the imagination. Image via Pixabay
What wonderful worlds we can creat! Image via Pixabay.
Is the truth welcome in your fictional world? How does your community react to it?. Image via Pixabay.
Honest feedback is the only kind worth having. Image via Pixabay.

What questions would you put to your characters to get the best out of them before you write their story?

One of my favourites here is “what drives you?” I use it to dig deep into a character because there will be an answer that is something nobody would mind revealing – the public face, if you like.

However, it is the answer the character (and we as individuals) try to keep to ourselves that is the really interesting one to work with! It can also reveal things about our characters that make us realise we can do so much more with them. It IS worth digging that bit deeper to get to these points.

Your stories will be deeper and have more impact as a result – even the shortest of flash fiction stories will benefit. If I know my character thinks they’re capable of, say, robbery, but I dig deeper and find in certain situations, they could kill, guess which story I’m going with!

You DO want to dump your characters right in the mire and put them under as much stress as possible and really see what they’re made of. Let the drama play out. Have fun with this, I do! (Oh and nobody said writers have to be nice to their characters, often it’s the opposite in fact!).

 

Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.
As I write now. Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
The classic start for fairytales. Pixabay image.
Taking time to look back and then look ahead is a good thing. Pixabay image.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
The writing journey can be a long one so setting goals along the way makes sense. Pixabay image
Charging up for new ideas, maybe? Pixabay image.

Many thanks to #ValPenny for hosting me on her Book Reviews blog. It was great fun answering the questions.

Questions like these are really useful for making you evaluate why you write and whether the “how” could be improved. (The answer is almost certainly “yes” to that by the way!).

This made me smile! Pixabay image.
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
Editing is vital. Nobody gets it right first go. Pixabay image.
Love this image! Image via Pixabay
The ever useful post-it note. Image via Pixabay.
Alas, too late for me! Image via Pixabay
Online writing -v- on a line writing! Image via Pixabay
Indeed! Pixabay image.
Picking up wriitng tips will help you improve your work. Pixabay image.
Always good advice. Image via Pixabay.
A good writing group will help you discover this. Pixabay image.
Writing Likes and Dislikes. Pixabay image.

Fairytales with Bite – Storytelling

Storytelling is one of our oldest traditions of course. You can understand the appeal of fairytales especially when it comes to the oral storytelling tradition. A simple plot, a structure that works, a clear goodie and baddie, and a happy ever after ending. Perfect way to end the day!

Now, of course, we expect our characters to be more nuanced. There is no such thing as the perfect hero. Villains have to have good (and understandable) reasons for acting the way they are (and that can include the fact they simply enjoy being evil. To them, that is reason enough!).

What I love about stories is that there is no one perfect format. I love books in all their forms but totally understand why audiobooks work for some, whereas the print format doesn’t. Our focus as writers is to come up with stories that can work in several formats. Our focus is to entertain. I’ve never understood why some look down on escapism. The world is sad and bad enough to make a wish to escape understandable. After all why did our cavemen ancestors tell stories? To remember what was important. To bring the community closer together. To escape the cares of their day and the ones to come for a while.

So as a writer then I want my characters to appeal to readers. I also want to drop my characters right in it whenever I can. I want my books to engage people. It’s a good thing to aim for: to improve your storytelling as much as possible. You discover better ways of expressing things, learn what works and what doesn’t. Enjoy your storytelling and relish every moment of it.

 

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This World and Others – Tried and Tested

My latest CFT post is Tried and Tested Writing Tips, which I hope you find useful.

How are your characters tried and tested?  Do they pass the tests you set them?  In almost any story you can think of, it is only when the characters are put right through the emotional wringer, do you see what they are capable of and where their limits are.  That is also where sidekick characters are useful – to help see your leads through to the bitter end and to get them through that “about to give it all up” moment.

Testing doesn’t need to to be overly dramatic either.  It can be as simple as a character having their patience tested by a relative who is trying to goad them (deliberately or otherwise, it’s not always consciously done).  Your character is very patient to begin with, then they become slightly less patient as time and the goading continues, and so on before they snap or do something they would not ordinarily have done.  Your character may be aware of this process so what do they do to try and fight it?  To not give in to that urge to snap no matter what the provocation?

Think about what would stress your characters out.  Think about their coping mechanisms.  What would happen if they failed or weren’t available when needed?

Have fun finding out!

Where good ideas start… but good ideas need refining and editing, Image via Pixabay
Books are magical – image via Pixabay
Love this library. Mine is somewhat smaller than this! Image via Pixabay.
Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.
I write fairytales with bite as flash fiction and short stories in particular. Image via Pixabay.
Never give up, work hard, be disciplined… all valuable traits for success, whether you’re a tennis player, a writer or a character in a story! Image via Pixabay.
Well, what IS your story? Image via PixabayImage via Pixabay.
The wonderful world of stories… Image via Pixabay.
Writing the first drafts! Image via Pixabay.
Stories reflect all sorts of moods. There is a story to suit everyone out there! Image via Pixabay.
Such a familiar look. Image via Pixabay.
Books are the gateway to other worlds. Image via Pixabay.
Says it all really. Image via Pixabay. And am glad to say my poorly border collie, Mabel, has very much been showing this spirit.
Escaping with a good book is a fantastic idea. Image via Pixabay.

PROGRESS, PLANS AND MOODS

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Facebook – General

Does the mood you are in affect what and how you write? My own answer to that is it depends!

If I’m in a flat state of mind but the writing I’m working on has a character in a similar state, then I can use my own mood to help write that piece! (I get something useful out of being in a flat mood! Ironically that knowledge cheers me up so win-win!).

Sometimes I deliberately write opposite to my mood so, again if I feel flat, I try to put myself in the head of a character in a lighter mood and find myself writing light. Again that can be a mood booster for me. Writing can be amazingly therapeutic at times.

What I do know is writing anything is a good “outlet” and later, once in a better frame of mind, I can evaluate any writing done in a flat state and see what I can do with it. But the great thing is I have still written, I still have work to do something with, so my advice would be, if you feel flat and don’t feel like writing, try to write something, even if it is a very short piece. I’ve found many times once I get started, I keep going, and writing takes me to a different, better place. Again, win-win there, I think.

The perfect place to reflect and take stock. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Always a good idea! Pixabay image.
Taking time to look back and then look ahead is a good thing. Pixabay image.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
Let those ideas flow! Pixabay image
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
Charging up for new ideas, maybe? Pixabay image.
Write first, edit later. Pixabay.
A great new idea makes me smile, as does this image. Pixabay image.
Writing Likes and Dislikes. Pixabay image.
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.

Drafted first flash fiction story that I’ve created using a picture prompt in my new writing diary. 51 challenges remaining then given there’s one such prompt a week! Also enjoying working on my novel again. I want to try to enter more short story competitions (1500 word type) this year too. I like mixing the writing up. Challenges the old brain and that’s never a bad thing.

Third flash fiction volume coming along nicely though I need to group my stories at some point. Am hoping to get along to Winchester Writers’ Festival and, of course, Swanwick Writers’ Summer School later in the year, also the ACW Writers’ Days. I think one of the best things about writing is you never stop learning whether it is how to improve what you do, new places to try to submit work or what have you. That is also a very good thing.

Feed that brain!

Image Credit:  Many thanks to the Hampshire Writers’ Society for the image of me reading an example of what flash fiction is at their meeting last year.

Planning your characters. Image via Pixabay.
I now use a laptop. Pexels image.
Books are a fantastic form of escapism. Image via Pixabay
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
Hope you have lovely books as presents! Pixabay image
The writers’ basic kit. Image via Pixabay
No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.
So true. Pixabay image.
Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay
What decisions will your characters make? Image via Pixabay.
Walking into the words maybe. Pixabay image
Image from Hampshire Writers Society where I was a guest speaker last year. Great fun! Many thanks to HWS for permission to use the photo.
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.

Having completed a picture prompt generated story yesterday, I see this week’s prompt in my diary has no picture whatsoever! Still will tackle that prompt later in the week I hope.

I’m planning to share a few of my favourite writing tips and why they’re useful on Chandler’s Ford Today this week. You pick up lots of useful tips from conferences, chatting to writer friends etc., but as is the way with these things, some advice will always be more useful to you than anything else. It can be a question of working out what is going to help you most. Anyway, will share the link on Friday.

Made good progress on the novel and short story ideas over the weekend so will resume work on those shortly. A writing session for me is most useful when I know I’ve made progress on work, whether that progress is editing something, adding a line or two to something already down, or writing a whole new flash fiction piece/draft CFT post.

It’s when I feel I haven’t got anywhere that is most discouraging and that’s when encouragement from writer friends is enormously helpful. I still wish my fairy godmother would turn up though and grant me “elastic time” which I could stretch as and when I needed to without any side effects/damage to history etc. You know I’d use it to stretch my writing time!

Image Credit:  Many thanks to Dawn Kentish Knox for the picture of me reading at the 2018 Bridge House celebration event.

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Am looking forward to sharing book offer related news later this week. Will share info and links soon!

Meanwhile, am making progress on a longer term project (non-fiction) I’d been wondering about doing for a while and have finally got around to tackling. I don’t know yet whether I’ll submit this to publishers or self publish but it is good to have both options on the table.

Am also making good progress on my novel too. My writing times are fairly consistent (which helps a LOT) and I’ve learned how to use which sessions for which projects in a way that suits me best.

I suppose the biggest lessons I’ve learned are to make the most of the time you do have AND accept you are in writing for the long haul. Stamina and persistence are key. (Good luck is a useful extra though!). How like life!

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Once I’ve finished a few posts tonight, I’m going to use the picture prompt in my writing diary to draft a new flash fiction piece. The diary has one for every week in the year so that’s potentially 52 new stories to be written!

I do use picture prompts sometimes to trigger stories but tend to use phrases, proverbs, and things like that to get me started on stories. I’ve posted before about mixing up sources for ideas so I will be practising what I preach tonight at least!

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We talk about “moments of illumination” – well, flash fiction could be the written version of those! Such moments are always brief and reveal something not known before. Your flash stories should do that too and be to the point.

From the writer’s viewpoint, this is the fun bit as you get to decide what that moment is in your story. For me, it has to be a turning point, whether you “turn” the character or the direction your story is going in to surprise the reader. It is where twist endings come in because you can save the moment of illumination until then.

I often, when reading stories like this, then go back through the tale to look for any clues I may have missed that hinted at the story ending up the way it has. I usually spot something on that look again read and of course I can learn from that and develop the techinique for my own writing.

Lighten up your world with stories! Pixabay.
The classic start for fairytales. Pixabay image.
What do your characters face? Pixabay image
Is it Time for a Change for the dragon in my story on Cafelit? Image via Pixabay
Trusted notebook! Image via Pixabay
Unless in a thunder storm or high winds, this is a good idea! Image via Pexels
See! It is a good idea, weather permitting! Image via Pexels
My flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books!
Work and the muse will come. Don’t wait for it to show up first! Image via Pixabay
Love this image! Image via Pixabay
Not arguing with this! Image via Pixabay
Good advice. Image via Pixabay.

When I work out ideas for a story, I focus on the lead character and then plan all sorts of havoc either for them to experience or to be the cause of – all good fun! But I do need to know the lead character’s main trait/attitude first – I use this as a “driver” for working out who they are, what they know they are capable of, and so on.

For me, character is everything. The right characters for the right stories make them spark and come to life for the reader. A good character in a weak plot – both end up being disappointing. You get the feeling the character has been “wasted”.

I’ve found it pays to take my time in outlining a character (and this is a feature of Scrivener I adore. On their fiction setting, you have a template you can fill in to help you plot out a character and I’ve used this several times. Scrivener also have one for working out what the setting of the story is and I have used this but the character development one is really useful. I don’t tend to use it for flash fiction but for longer stories where I’ve got 2 or more characters to flesh out).

Once I’ve got my character, I’m generally well away into writing the story. While editing is always necessary, outlining at the start does stop you going off at an irrelevant tangent and has saved me considerable time.

Creating great characters. Image via Pexels.
Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Reach for those ideas. Pixabay image.
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
One of my favourite spots at Swanwick. Image by Allison Symes
Always good advice! Pixabay image.
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.
Without the darkness, we would not see the stars. Pixabay image.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
What wonderful colours. Pixabay image.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
How is your world governed? Is it done well? Pixabay image.

Will have book offer related news later this week so stay tuned! Links and info up when I have them.

What are the difficulties of writing flash fiction?

1. It is so easy to overwrite and be well over the word count limit. Okay a very good edit will take care of that but the story still has to flow, make sense, and impact on readers, once that editing is done. There’s the real challenge, I think.

2. Knowing where and when to stop! (Having said that, if the idea is a strong one and you can continue it so you end up with a standard length short story, do so. You just enter that piece for standard length short story competitions and markets instead!).

3. Getting people to take the form seriously, though this situation is improving!

Goodreads Author Blog – Story Idea Spotting

Do you ever indulge in story idea spotting when reading a favourite novel? I do!

I love looking for what I think are the influences for a writer. To me this adds extra enjoyment to the story and gives me the perfect excuse for re-reading a book. Not that I really need one but never mind.

It’s my experience you never find all the influences/links in one read through! Sometimes not in two reads either!

Sometimes I know what the writer’s influences are in advance because I’ve read interviews etc and can then have fun seeing how these play out in what they have produced. Other times I don’t know and I get to play detective here.

What I like best is when spotting an influence in a book and it is clear the writer is a fan of another writer I also love. Double whammy!

Reading is fun anyway of course but for me this is extra and I love that.

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A Welcome Break and Winter Traditions

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Hello again! 

It’s good to be back after a Christmas and New Year break.  I hope you had a lovely time over the festivities.

Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

My CFT post this week looks at winter traditions. I share some of mine and look at good reasons for having any at all.

Is winter the toughest part of the year to get through? I think so (though I can appreciate why some might argue summer is – all that light and you are supposed to be cheerful all the time because of it can be hard to handle). The early dark nights are the most depressing part of winter for me. The weather comes next!

I share some of my favourite “traditional” TV watching, my views on when the words to carols are changed, and recall the alternative versions of certain carols which were always sung with gusto at home when I was growing up.

Oh and Lady gets a mention and a pic too!

So what winter traditions do you have? Do you find they help you get through the coldest and darkest time of the year?

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My CFT post this week will be a look at winter traditions. Which are yours and why?

I share a few of mine and why I think it is good to have something of this nature to relish at this time of year.

Spring, summer and autumn have their own attractions but is winter the “ugly sister” of the seasons? It’s cold, gets dark early etc etc. I suppose a lot depends on the weather but so far it has been reasonable and I guess you have to learn to make the most of that.

More tomorrow when the link goes up. (Also included are fond memories of singing the alternative versions of well known carols as this is also a tradition! I suspect you can think of a few of those!).

Apologies – can’t seem to upload photos at the moment. Normal service tomorrow, I hope!  (Problem resolved itself I’m glad to say but still at a loss as to why it happened at all!).

8d5ff-acronyms2b-2bkeyboard

Technology is wonderful when it works properly!  Pixabay image.

What story genres have you got on your Kindle? I’ve a good old mix on there:-

Historical fiction
Non-fiction (particularly history)
Crime
Historical crime/non-fiction look at crime (A Very English Murder by Lucy Worsley – very good).
Fantasy
Classic fairytales
Classics (Austen, Dickens, Shakespeare).
Humour
Wodehouse
Flash fiction (of course)
Pratchett
Theology (but in an easy to read format. I like ALL my books like that!).
Poetry (Shakespeare, bless him, comes into this category too though I would like and must remember to download more poetry on to the Kindle. Like flash fiction, poetry is, I find, a joy to read on the small screen).

I’m sure there are others on there but I like to keep a good mix going on my bookshelves as well as on the small screen. It all helps inspire my writing. Spread the net wide when it comes to looking for inspiration for your own stories! If nothing else, you will have a wonderful time reading!

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Is it easier to write funny stories or sad ones? Hard to say. A lot depends on your own mood of course but, that aside, I would say the biggest way of determining this is it is all down to your main characters. How do you see them? Are they funny or capable of coming out with one-liners? What is their dominant mood?

How you portray them is crucial here. What do you want them to DO/BE in your story? What is your character’s voice? Another crucial thing to remember is that for the majority of the time, your characters may well not think they’re funny at all. It is the readers’ job to pick up on the humour and “run with it”.

You set your characters in situations and of course a lot of humour comes out of contrasts. A snobby character ends up falling head first in the local duck pond. Not at all funny for them but hilarious for the reader (especially if said snobby character “had it coming”).

It is also crucial you enjoy writing your funny characters/lines. It shows through in the story and will come across as natural humour. Forced humour never works. Have fun here! I love writing funny one-liners for my characters when it is appropriate to them and the situation I’ve put them in. Relish the humour yourself. If you don’t, why should anyone else?

Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
Edit on paper, not on screen. Pixabay image.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
Always time and space for the pen and paper method of drafting
One downside to online writing is auto-correct! Image via Pixabay
A Christmas Carol is my favourite ghost story. Pixabay.
Preparing a talk or a flash fiction story perhaps. Image via Pixabay.
Let your stories have impact. Image via Pixabay
Let those ideas flow! Pixabay image
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.
Writing to screen. Am using smartphone more for this.
Big screen, little screen, LOTS of stories on either! Image via Pixabay
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
A great new idea makes me smile, as does this image. Pixabay image.
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image

Uses for flash fiction:-

1. Makes a very good writing exercise to kick off your main creative activity.

2. Teaches you a lot about editing and what your wasted words are. We all have them. With time, you get better at spotting them in your script and eliminating them.

3. You learn to make an impact with your words in as few words as possible. No purple prose here!

4. The stories are a good length to share on, say, a Facebook post as an “advert” for what you write and your style of writing.

5. You can use it to test out which genres you would like to write. Flash fiction is character led and you can set those characters anywhere and at any time. Have fun with that. Do you discover a love of historical fiction or sci-fi coming out of this, say? Fine, explore that genre further and see what you can do.

6. It is an excellent writing form in its own right, of course.

Always good advice. Image via Pixabay.
What journeys are your characters going on? Image via Pixabay
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.
If your story grips you, all sense of time will go! Image via Pixabay.
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
Is it Time for a Change for the dragon in my story on Cafelit? Image via Pixabay
I’ve never read a book in these conditions, have you? Pixabay image.
Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.
What every writer needs. Image via Pexels.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.

I love using the first person for my flash fiction because:-

1. It is immediate.
2. You get right into the character’s head.
3. You get to show how they see the world, revealing much about their attitudes.
4. It helps drive a good pace.
5. You can only show what the character would think, say, do, feel etc. It helps keep you to the point!
6. You show what your character thinks of other characters. You could have lots of fun here! (I do!).
7. You can show the character justifying their actions to themselves. That tells you the reader much about them – CAN they justify their actions, how they do so, if they have to “twist” things to be able to do so etc.
8. Depending on the mood you give your character, your story can be poignant, funny, grim etc, and all driven by that mood.
9. You literally see the world of the story through that character’s eyes. I find that helps me to identify with the character and want to keep writing about them. Hopefully, that element is picked up on by readers who will want to keep reading about them.
10. If you are writing a story which has “nods” to other stories, a great way in is via a minor character you make your own. For example, in my Learning the Trade, the story is a nod to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. In my story, I use the first person viewpoint of that apprentice.

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Fairytales with Bite – A Welcome Break

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year.  I enjoyed the break but am glad to be back writing again.

In your stories, what would count as welcome breaks for the general populace?  Do they have holidays and how are they celebrated?  Are visitors welcome to join in or are they kept out?  I look at Winter Traditions in my Chandler’s Ford Today post this week – what would these be in the world you’re creating?  Is there such a thing as winter?  (I suspect we often wish there wasn’t but it is necessary, honestly!).

Is everyone in your world celebrating a special holiday or is that the privilege of the ruling classes? What makes the holiday different from what we know here?  What are the similarities?  Does everyone enjoy the break?

Now there’s some story ideas there for you!  Happy writing!

West Bay beach, Dorset, in late December 2018. Image by Allison Symes
Hope 2019 proves to be as good as possible for everyone. Pixabay image.
The appeal of reading around a fireside cannot be overstated right now! Pixabay image
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
CAN you manage time? Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.
How they USED to put pictures into books! Image via Pixabay.
Potentially your blog can go global. Image via Pixabay

This World and Others – Being Different

What counts as “normal” for the fictional world you’ve created? How are those that are different to the “norm” treated? How do your “being different” characters cope with that? What pressures are there on the from family, friends, government etc?

Those who are different – are they doing this deliberately to rebel against the norm or is it cultural expectations that make them different? What reaction is there to their differences from those around them?

Within your world setting, are there different cultures, faiths etc and if so how do these get along (well or not at all?!)? Explore the differences. Explore how they would affect how your characters act and react.

Hope you find some story ideas in answering those!

Reflections at Swanwick earlier this year. Image by Allison Symes
Love the sun glinting off the sea in Dorset. Image by Allison Symes
From Lairg looking down at Loch Shin. Image by Allison Symes
Walking through a landscape like this is a joy. Pixabay image.
View from near where I was staying in Scotland. You wouldn’t want to rush away from this. Image by Allison Symes
The sun setting. Pixabay image.
The moon rising. Pixabay image.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
Remembering… image via Pixabay
Use what you know of our world and your imagination to create something really special. Image via Pixabay
What writing triggers will help you create your new worlds? Image via Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

A New Year – New Goals?

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Facebook – General

I don’t really start thinking in specific terms about what I’d like to achieve writing wise for a New Year until about now. I know what my general goals are and those don’t change much but at about this time I set myself some specifics and then work my way through them as the year goes on.

Some years I achieve them all, some years I don’t, but I feel as if I achieve more for having set some ideas down as to what I’d like to get done.

One specific thing I really do want to do next year is enter more writing competitions (flash, short stories, maybe novel but certainly the first two). I didn’t enter as many as I thought I might this year though I have been working away at other projects, one of which I’d like to also get out in 2019 if I can.

Whatever your projects are, whatever your writing goals are, the most important thing is to enjoy what you write and believe in it. If one market or competition does not work out for you, see if you can figure out why. If there is nothing obviously wrong, try with another market or competition that the piece or story would suit. Above all, don’t give up. Enjoying what you write helps a lot when the rejections come in – and they will.

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The only problem I have between Christmas and New Year is working out which day of the week it is and I know I’m not the only one to lose track. Back to full writing routine from tonight though and it is great to be back.

Looking forward to using my new writing diary. Full of prompts and loads of places to jot down ideas (including a monthly To Do/Goals page and at the end of the month an Achievements page. The trick here is to try to get both pages equally full I think! A blank achievements page could be depressing! However I plan to use this to help me try and achieve a plan to enter more writing competitions this year).

Under the picture prompts, there is space to jot down notes for story ideas. I’m going to use those to flesh out some flash fiction!

Big plan is to have the novel ready to start submitting again (I hope around Easter time). So lots to do and I start by preparing material for a guest blog and my usual CFT spot. More details on both to come.

Good luck with your writing plans and have fun with them!

Can’t have too many notebooks and pens. Image via Pexels
Let your writing sparkle. Image via Pexels.
Love that clock. Pexels image.
A nice clear desk (not mine!). Image via Pexels
Great characters = great books. Image via Pixabay.
Time flies when reading or writing. Image via Pixabay
Decisions, decisions and a not terribly helpful signpost. Image via Pixabay.
Is everything black and white in your stories? Image via Pexels
Lovely nib! Image via Pexels.
Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay
Great characters will engross you. You will lose time reading their stories. Image via Pixabay.

Happy New Year, everyone. Good luck with all writing endeavours.

Never be afraid to check out the credentials of publishing services companies/publishers/agents etc as the genuine ones will (a) not mind you doing this as it shows you are taking things seriously and (b) will be able to answer queries well and thoroughly. Also don’t forget you can seek advice from the Society of Authors/Alliance of Independent Authors and their websites are always worth checking out.

Have fun with your writing, try out competitions, write what you would want to read, and read loads! (Magazines, novels, short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction – it all “counts”).

I’ve got a couple of projects planned for the next year including submitting my revamped novel, a third flash fiction volume, and I’d love to do more non-fiction too. Don’t know whether I’ll get this all done but it will be fun finding out – and I guess that’s the point!

Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
A good writing group will help you discover this. Pixabay image.
Says it all! Pixabay image.
Ebooks and print – both have their own frustrations when it comes to publishing. Image via Pixabay
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
Memories are fragile especially over time. Pixabay image.
Get those ideas coming! Pixabay image
Doing something with those ideas! Pixabay image
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image
Hope you have lovely books as presents! Pixabay image
Love this image! Image via Pixabay
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.
Alas, too late for me! Image via Pixabay

Loved the Doctor Who special tonight. Can’t keep a good enemy down, that’s all I’m saying.

The whole point of any story is conflict resolution though that can cover anything and everything from exterminating someone to being reconciled with them. What matters is the conflict is over. The story has concluded.

But while the conflict is going on, it is true that the hero/heroine and villain must be worthy of each other. No hero/heroine gets to win “easily” – there must be huge hurdles to overcome. The villain needs then to be capable of stretching your heroes to their utmost (and beyond ideally, making said heroes stretch too. Drop your characters right in it and see what they can do).

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Had a great trip on the Watercress Line (steam railway) yesterday with family. Always think of the stories of the navvies who cut out the sidings etc to make our railways. So many stories we won’t know but can only make educated guesses at.

When it comes to our own stories, what is most important to your characters? Who are the characters who you MUST tell stories about and why? Think about what has made you choose these people and play to their strengths and weaknesses. A well portrayed character has plenty of virtues and failings and both will affect the direction of the story.

Or get away from it all in one book. Pixabay image.
Assemble your characters, assemble your world. Image via Pixabay
I’ve never read a book in these conditions, have you? Pixabay image.
A familiar sight to many of us. Image via Pixabay.
Beautiful books. Pexels image.
The blank page (or screen) is ready for your diary (or blog!). Image via Pixabay.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
Preparing the blog. Image via Pixabay.
Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.
All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
Outline the characters and away you go! Image via Pixabay

It’s a good idea to mix up how you source ideas for stories. I like to use proverbs, well known sayings, songs can be an inspiration too and this year I hope to use more picture prompts. (My new writing diary has loads of these in it and I plan to get several flash fiction pieces from these!).

It’s also nice from the writer’s viewpoint to mix up how you gather the ideas/raw material to get you on you way to generating a new story. It keeps things interesting for you and you on your toes, which is never a bad thing. One of the things I adore about flash fiction is it is always a challenge to write small but doing so is very satisfying. (Even more so if the story is published!).

One thing I would like to try and do more of is use more of my own photos to trigger ideas and to take pictures specifically with story generation in mind. The great thing with using your phone for pictures is it is so easy to delete the ones that don’t work out. Sometimes you need to do that with a story too but that is much harder to make yourself do.

I try and avoid getting into that position by outlining first (it really does help). The great thing with outlining is it can be as detailed or not as you like. I’ve sometimes drafted a one-line outline for a piece of flash fiction but it has helped me work out which route to take with the story before I start it. I find I then write more efficiently too.

I don’t understand those who dislike books, in whatever format. Image via Pixabay.
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay.
Love both the Kindle and the paperback. Why choose when you can have both? Image via Pixabay
My feature image for tonight’s Chandler’s Ford Today post. All images in this post were taken by me.
Use personal reviews to help you generate characters and story outlines. Image via Pixabay.
CAN you manage time? Pixabay image.
Notes about your characters can help you portray them more accurately. Not every note has to make it into the story itself. Pixabay image.
Work and the muse will come. Don’t wait for it to show up first! Image via Pixabay
Memories are fragile especially over time. Pixabay image.
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
A gorgeous pen. Image via Pexels

What are your hopes and plans for your flash fiction writing in 2019?

Mine are to submit pieces online and for competitions more regularly. I also hope to post more on my website – allisonsymescollectedworks.wordpress.com – as well.

I’m working on a third volume of flash stories as well and hope to get this up together and ready for submission.

I really enjoyed taking part in Open Prose Nights for the first time this year and would love to do more of those. I would also like to give more talks on flash fiction as well.

But I should finish the year’s posts with a flash fiction piece I think.

CROSSING TIME
‘I suppose you think that was clever’, the girl said.
‘Of course, why do it otherwise?’ I replied.
‘You can’t hold me back. It doesn’t matter what you do.’
‘There’s not a human born who doesn’t long to, you know. I had the courage to try.’
‘Or the foolishness! Most of you accept you cannot beat me. You even celebrate me once a year.’
‘Yes, it’s all lights and fireworks and parties, but you are a cruel devil and I will beat you.’
The girl laughed. ‘How? You’re not immortal. You can’t win a fight with Time. I should know. I also know how long you have. I can see your sands running through’.
Out of nowhere she produced an hour glass and sure enough the sand was running through but I didn’t care. I didn’t bother looking. I didn’t want to know. It wasn’t the object of the exercise. I wanted to defy Time and I had.
‘I can keep you at bay with this time piece, and keep doing so until it is time for me to go. I like my current age. I will stay this way. That will do.’
I waved the pocket watch in the girl’s face as if daring her to take it but she waved it away from me. The watch’s hands were going backwards. I set them to a week ago last Friday. I wanted to see if I could do it the way the saleman in that strange little shop insisted I could.
And sure enough here I was back where I had been last Friday. Just outside the chip shop, cursing myself for forgetting my coat on what was the coldest night of the year so far. What I hadn’t expected was this wraith like girl turning up to berate me.
‘There is always a price to pay for crossing Time,’ the girl said, sighing. ‘I will catch you in the end. Your time will come. And trust me I will make you know it when it does. I don’t like cheats. I never have.’
‘So be it but my “time’s up” will be at the age I choose.’
‘And how are you going to explain that to people? Tell them you’ve got a funny portrait in your attic?’
I grimaced. I must admit that thought had not occurred to me. But so what? I could always tell people I had found a really good moisturiser!
The girl vanished. I went and got my chips. I was just crossing the road, munching them happily, when a Mini came out of nowhere and sent me crashing across to the other side. The last thing I remember was seeing the girl reappear and she was laughing.
I got one thing right. Time IS a cruel devil.

Allison Symes – 31st December 2018

Too much to do, too little time perhaps? Pixabay image.
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.
The world’s most famous timepiece. Pixabay image.
Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.
Some very strange creatures are in books. Image via Pixabay
My writing desk is nowhere near as elegant as this one. Pixabay image.
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
The precursor to blogging – journal keeping, Image via Pixabay.
The Waterloo clock. Pixabay image.
Be open to change. Pixabay image.
Indeed! Pixabay image.
The time turner. Pixabay image.
Jotting down ideas for future stories is always a good idea. Image via Pixabay
Good advice. Image via Pixabay.

One nice aspect to flash fiction is if you use a writing exercise to help you start off your creative work for the day, then there is nothing to stop you revisiting what you come up with for that and see if you can turn it into a flash fiction story.

From that writing exercise can come an entry for a competition, a published flash tale etc. Give it a go if you try these writing exercises (which often get you to write a couple of hundred words or so. Perfect length for a lot of the flash fiction categories. You can always edit to get a piece down to 75 words or less or keep the piece as it is and look for the 200, 250, 300 word category competitions and markets).

Good luck!

Never give up, work hard, be disciplined… all valuable traits for success, whether you’re a tennis player, a writer or a character in a story! Image via Pixabay.
Good advice – and it applies to our characters too. Image via Pixabay
Always good advice. Image via Pixabay.
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image
What journeys are your characters going on? Image via Pixabay
Making the most of the writing time. Pixabay image
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.
There must be some truly fantastic fiction here. Image via Pixabay.
My desk is NOT this tidy. Pexels image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Reviews can have global reach. Most impact I think can often be local to the writer.
So true. Pixabay image.
Images from the magical world… Image via Pixabay

Goodreads Author Blog – And Happy New Year!

Following on from my Merry Christmas post last week, I could hardly call this one anything else!

So with a New Year in mind, what are your reading and/or writing plans for 2019?

I would like to read more flash and short story collections in the next 12 months plus get my own third anthology of stories finished and ready to submit. (Still very much at first draft stage).

I would like to catch up on my To Be Read pile (but I suspect that is an ambition most of us have!). I would like to submit more non-fiction pieces too.

I don’t tend to take up reading challenges because I think I would feel so disappointed in myself if I don’t manage them. However, I would like to widen my variety of reading (which is reasonably wide as it is but I am conscious there are many genres I haven’t tried and I ought to explore. The world of books is meant to be explored!).

Whatever your plans here, good luck! Happy New (reading) Year!

This statue reminds me of myself when I was a lot younger. Okay I wasn’t made of stone (I’m still not!) but I did always have my head in a book. (And do so as often as I can now!). Image via Pixabay.
The joy of books. Image via Pixabay.
Love this library. Mine is somewhat smaller than this! Image via Pixabay.
Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.
Some of the strongest ideas have a simple theme. See A Christmas Carol as a classic example. Image via Pixabay.
Well, what IS your story? Image via PixabayImage via Pixabay.
Books are magical – image via Pixabay
Let a book carry you away! Image via Pixabay
Heavenly books. Image by Pixabay
I loved writing this book. I also enjoyed editing it before submitting it to Chapeltown Books.
Stories reflect all sorts of moods. There is a story to suit everyone out there! Image via Pixabay.
It can take a lot of self-belief to be able to call yourself this at times. Image via Pixabay
Books are the gateway to other worlds. Image via Pixabay.