FAIRYTALE WORLD BUILDING… AND STEAM TRAINS

January 7, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALE WORLD BUILDING

As ever, a title that says it all! I share some tips I have found useful when it comes to world building. In Fairytale World Building, I discuss how reading widely (including non-fiction) is so useful for sparking ideas and helping you to make your created world more realistic. It is the great irony in fiction that our stories have to “seem real” even though they are completely made up, but to have any resonance with readers, they have got to seem plausible if say the world is magical or what have you. The reader has got to feel “yes, it could be like that”. Anyway, I hope the tips here are of help, they have been to me.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

What Drives Characters follows on from a recent post on motivations. Tonight’s post looks at what would make a character behave differently from the way they would usually. In a crisis, is their inner cowardice or courage let loose? When stubbornness drives them to finish something when they are not usually stubborn? What brought this trait out? Commitment to an idea? An extreme situation? Food for thought here I hope.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I look at The Watercress Line, a Hampshire based steam railway, in tonight’s post. There are lots of pictures including one of a totally politically incorrect sign, which always makes me laugh when I see it as I can’t imagine who would buy the product with the name it was given. See the post, you’ll easily spot the picture in question and well, would you buy it?! I also recommend Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett in this post as he spent a day on the Watercress Line researching this novel. Strongly suspect this was a real labour of love!

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Again I discuss my CFT post here.

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My feature image for tonight’s Chandler’s Ford Today post. All images in this post were taken by me.

Lovely Hampshire countryside, image taken by me from a local stream train

VISITING OTHER WORLDS…

January 6, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Visiting Other Worlds looks at whether your main setting encourages visiting other worlds or not and if so can anyone go? Are disguises encouraged or is it expected visitors will be treated in the right way? Equally, how does your main setting encourage visitors to it?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Awkward Characters should appear in every story. Character A wants something, Character B doesn’t want them to have it. Each character will think the other is the awkward one. I look at why I like awkward characters and what their purpose(s) can be.

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I discuss tomorrow’s Chandler’s Ford Today post which will be about a local steam railway and a totally non-PC sign, which always makes me laugh when I see it. More tomorrow!

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Getting up steam on the local line. Image by me.

Notebooks - ancient and modern. Where characters start to take shape. Image via Pixabay.

ALTERNATIVE WORK POSSIBILITIES

January 5, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Alternative Work Possibilities, I follow on from yesterday’s post about what well-known characters could do now their main roles are over. Tonight, I look at what Dracula, Frankenstein and the wise men, to name a few, could now be doing instead.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I continue with the theme of work in tonight’s post, Employment. I ask about what your fictional society is based on – agriculture, technology or both – and how your characters provide for themselves. Even in a magical world, some characters will have to work because not all will have impressive magical skills and will need to find alternative ways of (a) providing for themselves and (b) proving useful to their society so they are not eliminated by those who are magically powerful.

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There are times aspects of the world are so mad it is beyond satire. Tonight’s post is a bit of a rant on not being able to get through on the phone when I should have been able to do so. I would be surprised if you couldn’t identify with this though.

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Says it all really. Image via Pixabay.

RESUMING WORK

January 4, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

It always takes me a few days after a break like Christmas to get fully back into my writing again. Resuming Work looks at what fairytale characters might do in the way of employment either after a break from what they usually do or if their work there has come to an end. I hope to put up some more on this topic tomorrow. I love writing fun posts like these. See what you think!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

There are certain qualities my heroes/heroines must have if they’re going to make it into my stories. I look at these in What My Heroes/Heroines Must Have post. I suspect you’d be able to add to my list. Comments welcome.

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I talk about what irritates me in characters and how I like my heroines to be active and not passive (which influenced what I wrote about in This World and Others). I also share a link to a wonderful poem by a friend of mine, Sandra Lyn Gordon, which appeared tonight on Chandler’s Ford Today. Fantastic review of the year!

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Poetry conjures up images so beautifully. Image via Pixabay. See Sandra Lyn Gordon’s wonderful poem on Chandler’s Ford Today for another example of great imagery.

The wonderful world of stories... Image via Pixabay.

WHAT FAIRYTALE CHARACTERS COULD DO WITHOUT

January 3, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Fairytale Characters could do Without lists 5 things all such characters wish did not happen. One of these things is magic going wrong and I share why evil witches/wizards and the like never have this problem.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Motives are a crucial building block for successful characterisation. The two big questions, after all, are what does a character want and what are they prepared to do to get what they want. I can’t think of any crime story without these elements being answered. I look at how motives have got to be right for the character you’re portraying (and strong enough to be convincing). Also if hiding motives (especially if writing crime), you should play fair with your readers and give clues as to what the motives could be. Okay readers may guess wrong (I actually love that when it happens to me. I love coming across an author outwitting my intelligent guesses. Why? Because that author has written something so powerful and gripping, I am wanting to find out whether I am right or wrong in my guesses long before I do discover the truth. This, for me, is the very definition of a page turner).

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My post will appear later in the week but I will say there is going to be a very special review of 2016 appearing tomorrow, written by a good friend of mine. Will share more details tomorrow.

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Got to see a beautiful crescent Moon and Venus in the sky tonight when walking the dog. Stunning sight. I also discuss what I’m reading – and what I’m hoping to catch up on, there is always something to catch up on!

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Do your characters know in which direction they're going? (Border collie is optional!). Image via Pixabay.

Mabel. Image taken by me.

CHARACTERS WHO DEFINITELY NEED A FRESH START

January 2, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Well, I start the New Year as I mean to go on with a blog post with a title that says it all! Characters who definitely need a fresh start looks at five characters (fairytale and otherwise) who need a new beginning and why. In one case, Dracula, I give a practical pointer to Terry Pratchett’s Black Ribboner programme as the way forward. Course the big problem is the characters have got to want to change… hmm, that probably rules Dracula out then. Still, I hope this lighthearted post raises a smile or two…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The theme for the New Year period kind of sets itself. New Beginnings is the title of tonight’s post and I look at why characters would feel the need to have them. A classic reason is the character’s need for redemption and the reasons why have been the basis for many a wonderful story.

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I discuss my love of classical music tonight and how it affects my writing. I never used to be able to write with music on at all (I found it affected my mood and therefore what I wrote) but have found classical to be relaxing so I end up writing more. (I think that’s a good thing anyway!).

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Classical Music score – image via Pixabay

Images from the magical world... Image via Pixabay

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR A FAIRY GODMOTHER

January 1, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

New Year’s Resolutions for a Fairy Godmother follows on from yesterday’s post so what would a fairy godmother resolve to do or not do then? Does she use magic to help her succeed and would that be considered cheating?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Resolutions discusses what your characters might resolve to do or not and asks if governments in your fictional settings issue such things, are they obeyed?

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Really a New Year’s greetings post but I also rant (as much as I ever do) about fireworks and why they are so horribly noisy. Even reducing the noise level would help reduce pet stress levels. See what you think.

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Is a fairytale world really magical to live in for those who find it hard to keep their chin up and fit in with the rest? Image via Pixabay

Does a fairytale world issue resolutions and are these harsh if so? What would the consequences of disobedience be? Image via Pixabay

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR A FAIRYTALE WITCH

December 31, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

New Year’s Resolutions for a Fairytale Witch lists 10 resolutions I think your average fairytale witch would come up with. Probably got little chance of succeeding in any of them given your average fairy/fairy godmother will also seek to improve their magical and flying skills at any and every opportunity. Still, even a fairytale witch can dream…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I look at Honours in tonight’s post. This follows the release on the news today of the Queen’s New Years Honours List (and I am so pleased about Andy Murray’s knighthood and Gordon Reid’s MBE. Love tennis!). How does the honour system work in your fictional world, assuming you have one? Who is honoured? Who does the “honouring”? Are the honours open to all or just an elite few? What happens to those who rebel against the system here?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

2016 has been my best year, writing-wise, but, in many ways, it has been a ghastly year. So I hope 2017 is a lot better. I finish my CFT posts for the year with a lighthearted look at (and share of) some Seasonal Limericks and Flash Fiction. Hope you enjoy them.

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I share my CFT post and wonder just what George Orwell, were he still with us, would have to say on Brexit and Trump. Quite a bit I should think…

My last CFT post of the year. Image via Pixabay.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

December 30, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Past, Present and Future reflects on this time of year when most of us look back at the last 12 months, relish the present (still enjoying the Christmas break hopefully) and anticipating the future. I ask how your characters do this. What end of year event do they have which would encourage a time of reflection?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Coping with Sadness takes a look at sadness in fiction (I think Tolkein got this spot on with Frodo after the seemingly happy ending in The Lord of the Rings. The book does not end with the fate of the ring being finalised). It strikes me that the tendency is to go from tragedy (see Shakespeare on this, Hamlet especially) to showing sadness as a passing emotion which doesn’t really impact on the character or the reader. What do you think? I also share some thoughts which should trigger story ideas.

MORE THAN WRITERS – ACW BLOG

For my fellow members of the Association of Christian Writers, my post, Making an Impression, is now up on the More than Writers blog. I discuss “flash moments” and the role of the innkeeper in the Nativity.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

The post appearing later will be my annual one of limericks and flash fiction pieces as a more lighthearted post to finish the year with.

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As well as sharing my CFT news, I discuss what I think makes for an ideal heroine. I thought of this as Princess Leia (played by the late Carrie Fisher) was my idea of a true heroic princess. I hated heroines who just screamed and did nothing to help themselves. More in the post.

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Many of us won’t be sorry to say goodbye to this year. Image via Pixabay.

A FAIRY’S CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

December 29, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Have you ever wondered if a fairy is allowed to send in their own wishes to Santa (working on the assumption they are definitely not permitted to grant their own)? Wonder no more! A Fairy’s Christmas Wish List shares what I think would be on such a list. And I even include a wish a lazy fairy would ask for too.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss Christmas Customs in tonight’s post. I share a few of mine but ask what your fictional characters would do in way of celebrating a festival that was important to them/their society? Does your fictional world observe other civilisations, including ours, and what does it make of our customs and festivals?

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This is a “hello, I’m back” kind of post and I share news of how Mabel, my border collie, is doing after she was so ill. I also hope everyone had lots of lovely books for Christmas!

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