How do your characters handle matters when forced to change direction and take a path they had not expected or wanted? Image via Pixabay.

FAVOURITE STORIES

January 27, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Robin Hood, which I went to see a pantomime of this evening, is one of my favourite stories because it focuses on wrongs being righted. This probably is my favourite overall theme in fiction. So tonight’s post discusses Favourite Stories. The post looks at what would be your fictional world’s favourite tales and whether they are based on fact or not. I also look at how favourite stories affect your characters.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I sometimes find it useful to review why I write at all and it can be helpful if you’ve hit a difficult patch. Reviewing why you write can be an encouragement to keep going. In my post, Why Write? I list my reasons for writing. Comments – and your reasons for writing – would be very welcome.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

This week’s post will go up later tomorrow evening as I am slightly behind schedule but it is a post I’ve wanted to write for a while. It will look at why non-fiction reading is absolutely crucial for fiction writers and where inspiration can come from. More tomorrow…

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss going to the pantomime and why I didn’t wave my arms about much! See the post for the reason why…

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A way into the magical realm, perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

I went to see Robin Hood, the pantomime, tonight. This isn’t Sherwood Forest but the story of its most famous resident is one of my all time favourites. Image via Pixabay.

WHAT FAIRYTALES GIVE US

January 25, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Fairytales Give Us could easily have been called My Ten Reasons for Loving Fairytales. In my list, I include my love of the fact that in fairy stories, justice and truth will always win in the end (so unlike life!) and that background doesn’t matter when it comes to there being a hero/heroine in the story. Think of Cinderella, of the miller’s son in Puss and Boots, then up to royalty for the prince transformed into a beast in Beauty and the Beast. Can you add to my list? Comments welcome!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Working Methods takes a look at some of my writing methods but also asks about how your characters work. Is it all done by manual labour, magic, machinery or any combination of these? I also share why I start my characters off by looking at their main trait and worry about the physical description later.

FACEBOOK PAGE – AND BOOK NEWS!

My first volume of flash fiction stories, From Light to Dark and Back Again, is currently in production by independent press, Chapeltown Books. I share some further news about this on my Facebook page and will share more as and when I have it but, as you can imagine, I am thrilled about this. Chapeltown will be bringing out a series of books with their own branding and mine is going to be the first of them. Very much ongoing news story here!

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Books make wonderful gifts. Image via Pixabay.

Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.

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

MISTAKES THAT COST

January 25, 2017January 26, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Mistakes that Cost lists some of the things certain fairytale characters could’ve done to avoid meeting their truly horrible fate. Still, it is easy to be wise after the event.. not a lot of good in the case of these characters but it is easy!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Writing Tips I learned – eventually! lists three major points. I discuss First Drafts, the character versus plot debate, and whether it is worth planning a piece of work. In my view the answer to the last one is very simple – yes! Of course, how much planning you do can vary. I don’t plan all the last details in any story but simply work out the main points that I’ve got to have so the story is as I envisaged it to be.

FACEBOOK PAGE

Unless I’m writing for a competition, I don’t usually write to a theme. I write to my main character and it is their main traits that drive the story. I talk about this and what my favourite kind of characters are.

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There must be some truly fantastic fiction here. Image via Pixabay.

When I'm not at my desk, I'm likely to be in the swimming pool or walking the dog (never both at the same time!). Image via Pixabay.

FAIRYTALES IN ONE LINE

January 24, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Fairytales in One Line sums up some fairytales, 1 nursery rhyme and a pantomime favourite in one line. See what I make of Cinderella, Mother Goose and Robin Hood to name some of those in this post.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Working Day looks at how your characters organise their time, what kind of work is important to your fictional world and asks just what do your characters do in terms of income so their needs are met. The questions here I hope make for some good writing prompts!

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss a pantomime I’m due to see on Thursday. Our local theatre group, The Chameleons, will be staging Robin Hood. This is one of my favourite stories. I also mention my favourite Sheriff of Nottingham performance too.

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The magic of stories. Image via Pixabay

TEN THINGS TO AVOID ON A MAGICAL HOLIDAY

January 23, 20172 Comments

WEEKEND SUMMARY FOR FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I was at a conference over the weekend and in case you missed the links to my website posts, I put them here for both websites.

http://fairytaleswithbite.weebly.com/blog—kingdom-life/when-characters-wake-up-to-reality This post talks about redemption and a character’s need to repent.

http://fairytaleswithbite.weebly.com/blog—kingdom-life/the-flash-fantastic Here I talk about keeping a sense of realism in even the most fantastic of stories. There should be no coincidences and when magical things/appearances are going to happen, it should be established early on this is the kind of world where these things are expected.

AND BACK TO TODAY… FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Ten Things to Avoid on a Magical Holiday is full of those useful hints and tips that could save you a lot of misery and possibly your life too. Dragons are the obvious ones to avoid but then there are the evil stepmothers who may want to carry out a dummy run before getting rid of the person they really want to remove. The important thing here is to ensure you are not the dummy. See my list of the other things it would be good to avoid.

WEEKEND SUMMARY FOR THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

http://allisonsymes-thisworldandothers.weebly.com/blog—creating-worlds/writing-books-ive-found-useful Here I share my favourite how-to-write books. Some are funny, others are serious, all of them are well worth reading. I’ve learned lots from each of them.

http://allisonsymes-thisworldandothers.weebly.com/blog—creating-worlds/what-to-expect-when-a-good-supernatural-being-enters-your-world

This post probably is my contender for the longest title! However, I share a few things you can expect should a good supernatural being enter your world. Trouble to start with… these visitations are not always popular especially with those in power.

AND BACK TO TODAY… THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Rejection is something every writer can expect. I found that discovering rejection is never personal helped enormously. I share some reasons why rejection might happen.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY AND FACEBOOK PAGE

Later than usual, due to my conference, I share the links to my current Chandler’s Ford Today post, which is all about classic books. What makes a classic book? Does age matter? I also list my Top 10.

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Classic Books – this week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post. Image by Pixabay.

QUICK BLOG SUMMARY

January 21, 2017January 20, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE and THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Just to say I’ve needed to schedule posts to appear on both of my websites and my Facebook page for a day or so. Back to normal on Sunday evening! Have a fabulous weekend. Have put up the links to the Blog page on my websites so you should get to see the latest post as each one appears (I hope!).

http://fairytaleswithbite.weebly.com/blog—kingdom-life

http://allisonsymes-thisworldandothers.weebly.com/blog—creating-worlds

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE AND THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

January 20, 2017January 20, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE and THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

http://fairytaleswithbite.weebly.com/blog—kingdom-life

http://allisonsymes-thisworldandothers.weebly.com/blog—creating-worlds

A classic book doesn't necessarily have to be old. Image via Pixabay

MIRACLES TAKE A LITTLE LONGER…

January 20, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Miracles Take a Little Longer discusses simple miracles (two rival species ending that rivalry) and more complicated ones (a dictatorship becomes a democracy for example). What would count as a miracle in your fictional world? What are the chances of it happening and would it be welcomed even if it did?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Missing Information discusses what data could be deliberately withheld from your characters and the impact on them when they realise they have been kept in the dark. The missing information has to be crucial to your characters (both to those withholding it and those who need it) so what would motivate them here?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I love discussing books on CFT as these posts usually generate comments and a good online discussion takes place. I discuss Classic Books this week and ask what makes a classic book and lists my Top 10.

FACEBOOK PAGE

Unsurprisingly perhaps, I discuss my CFT post here tonight.

My Chandler’s Ford Today post for this week. Image via Pixabay

The classic beginning for all stories... Image via Pixabay

WHAT EVERY FAIRY GODMOTHER NEEDS IN HER ARMOURY

January 19, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Every Fairy Godmother needs in her Armoury lists five things or attributes I think the average fairy godmother would definitely need to be able to carry out her role efficiently. Do you agree with my list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

In How Characters Relate, I discuss this and ask about those characters who can’t or won’t relate to others. Are they psychopathic? How do other characters relate to them? Where this isn’t an issue, how do characters react when their prejudices are shown up to be wrong?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I ask what is your favourite book theme tonight. One of my favourites is that of injustices being put right (I suppose I like this because they so often aren’t put right in life). I also share some of my favourite stories on this topic.

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A useful working knowledge of what you can do with pumpkins could be helpful to your average fairy godmother. Image via Pixabay.

THE POINT OF CHANGE

January 18, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Point of Change talks about that pivotal moment when the story is “on”. It is at that point your main character realises their life is going to change and they either can’t fight this further or accept that the need for change is there and “go with it”. So how do they handle it? Do they have help? Is your point of change strong enough to be the story (because effectively that is the story. Something happens to Character A and the ramifications are X, Y and Z, but without that something, there is no story).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Character Spotting refers to spotting those characters whose story is worth telling (who are literally strong enough to carry the tale) and to picking up on those attributes/attitudes the character has, which will confirm they are strong enough to carry said story. I list three major qualities I look for in a character which confirm to me this character is the one to write about/for.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about how music conveys mood and how writers must do this by carefully selecting which words they use. Obvious perhaps but this is also where double meanings are so useful for a writer. They can convey so much without upsetting your word count limitations!

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I write fairytales with bite as flash fiction and short stories in particular. Image via Pixabay.

Your characters step out of the page and seem real to your reader when the point of change for them is strong enough to keep your reader wanting to know what happens next. Image via Pixabay.