TOP TEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DIPPING BOOKS

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Many apologies for not being able to share my CFT post yesterday.  I’m glad to say the site is now up and running again, hence this extra post.

 

Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

Glad to say I can now share my CFT post for this week. I look at what I think are the Top Ten Accomplishments of mankind. I don’t stick to one particular field and my comments have to be a summary but I have picked photography, the domestication of the dog, and space exploration amongst others.

As ever, comments welcome on the CFT page.

Image Credit:  All images in the following slideshow are from Pixabay and are related to my CFT post.  You could play “guess the accomplishment” by looking at the slideshow first!

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With flash fiction, you are focusing on one specific moment of change for a character. There literally isn’t the word count for more so the challenge is to make sure that specific moment is strong enough to be worthy of having a story written around it.

I look for impact on me as the writer, and then on what I think the impact will be on readers, when I decide on whether a story idea is strong enough or not. That idea has to generate a strong emotional reaction whether it is to make me laugh, cry, scream or what have you.

What kind of defeats and downfalls do your characters experience? Pixabay image.
Whatever you write, enjoy it! Pixabay image
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
Wormhole. Pixabay image.
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.

Goodreads Author Programme Blog – Books to Dip Into

I love books you read straight through from cover to cover but I also adore those where you dip into them as and when.

Things like the Guinness Book of Records come into that category. I’m currently reading a “big book of facts” produced by Classic FM but will almost certainly have regular dips into this, rather than read it straight though. (To be fair it is a HUGE book).

I also like the way this mixes up my reading a bit as I read flash fiction (as well as write it), short stories, and novels. I also dip read. Dip reading is also useful when I’ve finished a book and am not quite sure what I’m going to read next.

I often fancy a change of mood after completing a novel and until I know what is next on my reading “menu”, I will dip into books like this until such time as I do know.

But the important thing is I keep reading!

A great new idea makes me smile, as does this image. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
Something I’ve yet to see happen! Pixabay image.
Like being able to store so many books! Image via Pexels
I prefer to sit and read rather than stand! Pexels image.
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
Reading can make it seem as if you are in your own bubble! Pixabay image
Or get away from it all in one book. Pixabay image.
I try NOT to chain down my creativity! Pexels image.
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay.
What populates your fictional world? Pixabay image

 

Gremlins and Hiccups!

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Facebook – General

Sorry, can’t share my CFT post for this week as usual. There’s a site issue which is being looked into. Will share the post when I can (I hope at some point over the weekend).

I’ve written about what I think are mankind’s Top 10 achievements and am looking forward to sharing it. It is not a comprehensive list (it can’t be) nor is it in one particular field but I will invite comments once I can share the post!

Meanwhile, a huge thank you to all for the birthday wishes. All very much appreciated.

Pleased I’ve managed to draft flash fiction pieces this week (I like the acrostic form and will use it again). Won’t be around much tomorrow but looking forward to next writing session on Sunday. I like the occasional break but always look forward to writing again and I think that’s a nice position to be in.

 

NB.  Once I can share the CFT post on Facebook, I will prepare a short separate post here to cover it.  I hope this can be sometime over the weekend.  Meanwhile, I’ve managed to write a blog about gremlins, more below!

Reality should feed your imagination. Pixabay image.
Thinking your writing through is always a good idea. Pixabay image.
Getting the balance right in adapting work is never easy. Pixabay image.
All writers have felt this way at times. Pixabay image.
Encouragement can do so much to help writers here. Pixabay image.
Adapations take more than one draft! Pixabay image
What are your characters like? What emotions do they have? Pixabay image.
Definitely a fantasy story here! Pixabay image.
Beware! Writer at work. Other beverages are available. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
Pixabay image.

I often find getting started with writing is the difficult bit but, once away, there’s no stopping me! This is why I will sometimes leave lines for me to finish or an odd note so that when I resume writing the next day I overcome that starting “hiccup” and can get straight on with things.

It is useful to work out what your writing “hiccups” are and then think of strategies to overcome/minimise them.

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My CFT post this week will be looking at what I think are amongst mankind’s top accomplishments. Link up on Friday. I will say now amongst other things the domestication of the dog comes into it.

Talking of dogs and having owned three collies now, I’ve spotted the similarities and differences in the characters of Gracie, Mabel, and Lady. Gracie and Lady are both champion cushion throwers (right off the sofa and into the middle of the carpet. I’m not talking sissy little cushions here either! They go for the big ones and don’t muck about). Mabel couldn’t wait to get her head down ON a cushion for her evening nap and wouldn’t dream of throwing them anywhere. She’d be very disapproving of Gracie and Lady for that!

Dogs come into my stories sometimes as pets of the main character. Sometimes they’re the driving force of a story (as in my She Did It Her Way, Kind Of). I do believe in writing what I know – well some of the time anyway!

Let the writing flow and if music can help it along even better! Image via Pixabay
Tugging the box. Image by Allison Symes
My two girls, both much missed. Mabel, the border collie, left us last week. Gracie, the bearded/border cross, left us five years ago. And yes it is the same ball. They both loved it.
Inquisitive Lady. Image by Allison Symes
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.
The lovely Mabel. Image taken by me! So much happier when there are no fireworks about – and that goes for Mabel too.

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A technical glitch has hit the CFT website tonight so I hope to share my post for this week later on this weekend, all being well.

The nice thing with flash fiction is you can write it regardless of technology. Pen and paper can be ideal for jotting down story ideas for typing up later. (It’s less useful when trying to write a novel – and yes I have written a novel by longhand. Now, I wouldn’t. I’d outline and go straight to screen).

Whatever writing you’re doing over the weekend, enjoy it! Not around much tomorrow but will look forward to my next “proper” session on Sunday. I’m always refreshed by mini breaks but then raring to write again. Never lose the love of writing!

Indeed! Pixabay image.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
And have fun! Pixabay image.
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
Self belief is crucial to a writer and Barbara did so much to encourage this. Pixabay.
Doing something with those ideas! Pixabay image
Get those ideas coming! Pixabay image
The Writing Life. Pixabay image.

Time for another acrostic flash fiction piece. I’m enjoying these. They’re stretching the imaginative little grey cells, which is always a good thing! Hope you enjoy. I think the mood of this one reflects general moods in the country at the moment, what with the Brexit uncertainty etc.

TRUTH

Truth is what you make it, I was told.
Rubbish, I replied, if you’re right, truth can be manipulated.
Under certain circumstances it’s needed, truth can be sold.
Then I want no part of it, I told the electioneer at my door.
Honestly, he sighed, I was honest then and you still want no part of it!

Allison Symes – 21st March 2019

 

There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Writing to screen. Image via Pixabay
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
My smartphone has not yet managed this! Pixabay image.
Without the darkness, we would not see the stars. Pixabay image.
This seems a familiar sight! Image via Pixabay.
It’s amazing what characters can emerge from your time at a writing desk! Pixabay image.
Ah, the bliss of reading! Pixabay image.

Time for another acrostic piece then.

FICTION

Fabulous in pink, she whirled around,
Irritating her drab neighbours who stuck to their grey.
Carefree, unlike them, she ignored their shouts to stop
Trouble happened to others, never to her.
In a moment that situation changed
Oh my… dancing straight into traffic like that
Now on the national news for all the wrong reasons.

Allison Symes – 20th March 2019

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Publication News:  Cafelit – If It’s Too Good to be True

This was a fun story to write.  Hope you enjoy it.

Fairytales With Bite – Gremlins!

Gremlins have hit the CFT website tonight so I hope to share a double bill of posts with you next week but I thought I’d look at gremlins that can hit a writer.

The Indecision Gremlin
And a right pain this one is too.  You have two good story ideas to work on.  Which to pursue first?  I look at deadlines here and prioritise the one with the closest deadline.  If it’s a choice between a short piece and the novel, I plan out my writing time so I carve out slots specifically for the novel and other time periods I use for shorter pieces.  Over the course of a week, I’ve got done (most of the time) most of the work I’ve wanted to do .  It means I know what I’m doing with each day’s writing session and it kicks the indecision gremlin where it hurts as I don’t give it house room!

The Social Media Gremlin
How much time is the right time to spend on social media?  There’s no definitive answer to that one but I’ve found it has paid me to allow so long on it before I switch it off to write.

The Editing Gremlin
Otherwise known as the “I’ll just edit this one more time” gremlin. Is a very close relative of the indecision gremlin and can be just as much of a pain.  There is no hard and fast rule here but if you find you are just tinkering with a story, stop!  Send it out to the relevant market/competition and see you how do with it.  Remember this gremlin has the power to stop you moving on with new work if you let it.

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This World and Others –

The A to Z of Story Essentials Part 2

Continuing with what I think are the essentials to any story:-

F = Fun.  You should be enjoying what you’re writing even if you’re putting your characters through the grimmest hell imaginable.  Readers should be able to pick up on your enjoyment of putting a story together.  I detect this when I feel the story flows and has good pace.  That makes you want to read on.  There has to be the “I’ve got to find out what happens next” feel to your story.

G = Genre. Write in the genre you love.  Don’t pick a genre just because it’s fashionable as fashions never last long.  You’re in writing for the long haul so write what you love.  You’ll write better because you love it.

H = Humour.  This is tricky.  What is a great one-liner to one reader falls flat with another.  Allowing for humour being subjective then, write naturally.  Humour must come out of the situation or character you’ve created and must never seem forced.  This way the humour will arise naturally and readers will either get it or not but it won’t be out of place or jar your story in any way.

I = Imagination.  Let it run riot especially when outlining your story idea.  Work out possibilities and go for the one you love most.  It’ll be the one you will write with the most conviction.  And that does show through.

J = Jargon.  The best writing is simple writing.  That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy to write.  What you can guarantee is there has been a lot of editing carried out!  Avoid jargon.  Where characters might need to use it, it should be clear from context what the jargon means.  You don’t want to irritate your reader by coming up with something they can’t fathom out the meaning.  I’d also use any such jargon sparingly.

More next week….

Reach for those ideas. Pixabay image.
Aiming for more “magic” from my stories this year! Image via Pixabay.
Well, let’s do so by writing lots of stories! Image via Pixabay.
A fictional city must seem realistic to readers. Pixabay.
Even a world populated with dragons has to make sense. Pixabay
Connections to what you read and what you write. What are yours? Image via Pixabay.
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
Is the truth welcome in your fictional world? How does your community react to it?. Image via Pixabay.
No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.
Escape with a good book. Image via Pixabay.
What we all strive for in writing. Pixabay

Books, Acrostics, and Writing Regrets

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Hope you enjoy If It’s Too Good To Be True, my latest story on Cafelit. Loved writing it. (Oh and spot the typo! Made me laugh – and I hope the story does too…)

IMPACT - What impact does your story have - Pixabay

Do you have any writing regrets?

My main one is not starting to write seriously earlier than I did. Of course, on starting out, you have no idea how long it can take to get to publication standard. Knowing what I do now, I would’ve started at least five years earlier than I did!

My other regret is not discovering the joys of flash fiction sooner but the point is I have discovered them now!

Whatever writing regrets you might have, the important thing is to enjoy what you write. Go for writing opportunities that suit you. (The worst that can happen is your work is turned down. Then you can revise said work and submit it elsewhere).

A VERY familiar sight, alas! Pixabay image.
And have fun! Pixabay image.
Self belief is crucial to a writer and Barbara did so much to encourage this. Pixabay.
Great characters escape from great books! Pixabay image.
Whatever you write, enjoy it! Pixabay image
Pixabay image.
Encouragement can do so much to help writers here. Pixabay image.

B = Brilliant covers draw your attention
O = Original storylines
O = Opening lines entice you into the stories.
K = Kindle – so easy to carry – one device to hold them all!
S = Stunning plots keep you enthralled.

A = Action should keep you riveted to the tale.
R = Read, read, read. It’s what they’re there for!
E = Education? Yes, sometimes, but entertainment too.

F = Fiction or non-fiction? A world of choice!
A = Allegories and fantasies take you into other worlds.
B = Borrow from your library and support them too.
U = Underestimate the importance of characters? Never!
L = Live the lives of the characters through the narrative.
O = Oh my moments should keep you hooked.
U = Underneath the surface: how deep are the characters?
S = Story, story, story.

Well, I think that sums up what I love about books.

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When did you decide you had to write?

I can’t say there was one particular moment for me. It was just something I’d been building up to doing for a long time (and my only regret is not plucking up the courage to start sooner. Yes, courage, as there is the tendency to think “who am I to think that I can write?”).

What I would recommend for anyone starting out is give it a go. You’ve nothing to lose. Try flash fiction. Try articles. Try longer stories. Play with words and have fun. It’s really important to have fun!

Later, on finding yes this form is my niche, then develop with practice and time the skills to be as good as you can get in that niche.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to just write for your own sake. It’s a great way to start and it was years after I started writing before I decided yes, I would see if I could be published. (Oh and success can take many forms whether it is getting a first publication credit or having a book out).

And have fun! Pixabay image.
Play with words and fill that blank page. Pixabay image.
Sadly a very familiar sight! Pixabay image
What will this be for your writing journey? Pixabay image
When is your writing time? Pixabay image
Clarity and constructive criticism are always useful. Pixabay image.
Always a good idea! Pixabay image.
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
Despite technology, you still can’t beat the trusted notebook and pen. Image via Pexels
Drafting those ideas… image via Pexels

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I’ve mentioned before I use well known phrases as a theme for a story. I also use them as titles. My latest example is If It’s Too Good to Be True on Cafelit. (I laughed at the typo. Conjures up some odd images but fun nonetheless!).  NB:  See link further up this page.

The great thing with this title is I will use it as a theme for another story at some point. It has a wide range of possibilities!

Playing with words - Pixabay image

Playing with words. Pixabay image.

Many thanks to #AlyRhodes for her six-word challenge earlier. Good fun. I do like these. Good for focusing the mind. And, of course, you can take that initial idea and expand it out to longer flash fiction or a standard short story.  My entry by the way was Tiny Dragon flees murderous girl.  A nice twist on how things usually go in tales involving dragons and young women!

I am very fond of flash fiction collections (not just mine, honestly!) because of the wide mixture of stories you can have in them. You have those collections which focus on theme, those like mine which have stories of differing moods in them, others which stick to a set word count etc. I am currently reading 365 Stories, which was given to me by a friend, and is a flash collection of stories of exactly 365 words with one for every day of the year. Good range of stories in there too.

A good adaptation will confirm images the reader has already conjured up from the original material. Pixabay image.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
Beware! Writer at work. Other beverages are available. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Let’s hope your characters have a good sense of direction! Image via Pixabay.
What decisions will your characters make? Image via Pixabay.
Waiting for an upload to finish. Image via Pixabay.
PC playing up do you think? Image via Pixabay.
Good advice – and it applies to our characters too. Image via Pixabay
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay

I sometimes write acrostics (which I guess can be a kind of flash fiction as long as there is a story unfolding line by line). I’ve just written one for Books are Fabulous (and aren’t they just!) on my author page. So how would an acrostic flash fiction piece work then?

I’d keep it simple, short and sweet to maximise its impact. (I think a one word acrostic would be best. More than that I think would seem gimmicky but you can let your imagination run free with a one word acrostic well enough!). For example, what could be done for the word “stories”? Let’s see.

STORIES

S = Sarah knew today would be different.
T = Today she would deal with Bob for good.
O = Organising a hitman proved easier than she thought.
R = Risking everything on a stranger’s act was not something Sarah anticipated she’d ever do.
I = Involuntary shudders ran through Sarah as she recalled Bob’s abuse and violence.
E = Enough was enough.
S = Sentence of death was pronounced and would be carried out at 12.30 precisely.

Allison Symes – 18th March 2019

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Am glad to share here a 100 word flash piece that appeared on the Association of Christian Writers’ Facebook page earlier today. The theme was worship.

Discovery
‘Where the hell is that singing from, Sarge? The only thing for miles is rubble.’
‘It’s not from hell, lad. It’s that hymn my gran sang, How Great Thou Art.’
The sergeant cleared bricks, revealing tiles. ‘We’re on an old church. They were destroyed when religion was banned. Remember?’
‘Yes. What a fuss. The fuddy-duddies had nowhere to go on Sundays.’
‘Rumours say some meet in underground churches.’
The men looked down.The singing was coming up.
‘Nothing to report.’
‘Sarge?’
‘Nothing here, lad. If we’re wrong, so what? Let them worship. They’re harmless. Shame our bosses aren’t.’

Ends.

Allison Symes – 19th March 2019

 

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Goodreads Author Programme Blog –

The Role of Books/Stories

What is the role of books/stories?

For me, the primary role is to entertain and provide some escapism, especially when life is being particularly grim.

A good book will take you into its world and for a while that gives you a breathing space. Somewhere to just be for a bit before facing reality again. The benefits of that can’t be overstated.

I can understand real life stories and misery memoirs. I hope the writers found the writing of these to be enormously beneficial but this material is not something I can read.

I either want to escape into another world completely (via fairytales, The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Discworld etc) OR, when I want to get my teeth into non-fiction, I want some good solid history. I love history when it is told as a story (which is why I adore Simon Schama’s History of Britain series).

A good story, and this includes non-fiction told as a tale, should have a point to it but I’d like to bang the drum for stories “just” being entertaining. To me there’s no “just” about it. A story doesn’t have to be “worthy” to be of benefit.

A story does just have to live up to the promise of its opening lines. And that’s challenging enough!

Simply stunning… image via Pixabay
I write fairytales with bite. Image via Pixabay
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
Escape with a good book – and Roald Dahl’s were amongst the best. Image via Pixabay
The most important advice of all when it comes to books whether you are just reading them or trying to write your own as well. Image via Pixabay.
The ultimate Book Circle perhaps? Image via Pixabay
Books are the gateway to other worlds – image via Pixabay
Books can be magical, regardless of what genre they actually are. Image via Pixabay.
The Kindle – modern reading for a modern era. Image via Pixabay.
Sometimes the books come to you! Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

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INFLUENCES – AND A LIFE WELL LIVED

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

There are some posts you really don’t want to write but know are coming and you write them as a way of expressing apprecation for a life well lived.

My tribute to Barbara Large, MBE, who founded the Winchester Writers’ Festival and Hampshire Writers’ Society, comes into that category.

I cannot think of anyone else who has done so much to support and encourage so many writers in our area. Barbara will be much missed.

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Glad to say I’ll be having a new story up on Cafelit in a couple of days’ time. Will share the link. Do drop by and visit the site. There’s a wonderful range of stories on there in terms of mood, setting etc.

I must admit one reason I’ve developed a real love for classical music is its breadth of style and mood. Am currently listening to The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst. Bliss! I find classical helps me relax and when I relax I write. I wonder though what inspired him to use the planets as inspiration for his music. What matters in the end though was that he did!

However you get your inspiration for story ideas, keep going! Try to produce something as special as you can. One of the great things about writing and reading is, regardless of anything else, it adds richness to your life.

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My CFT post this week will be an appreciation of Barbara Large, who founded the Winchester Writers’ Festival as it is now known. When I first went, it was under the name of Winchester Writers’ Conference. So many writers have learned so much here (and plenty have been published as a result too) and it is all down to Barbara’s vision and her drive to make that vision happen. Link up on Friday.

Indeed! Pixabay image.
Despite technology, you still can’t beat the trusted notebook and pen. Image via Pexels
A good book will illuminate some truth. Image via Pexels
Get those ideas coming! Pixabay image
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.
This made me smile! Pixabay image.
Doing something with those ideas! Pixabay image
Always good advice. Image via Pixabay.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Am currently drafting a 750 word story but also want to have another go at the 75 word ones!

I do love the freedom flash fiction gives you. Yes, there is a strict word count but you can choose what it is to a certain extent. There are markets for 75 words, 25 words, 100 words etc etc.

Have recently discovered a possible one to try which goes for 53 words, yes 53. New one on me but may well give it a go! Mixes things up nicely though. Now to find the time… (There are times I really could use Hermione Granger’s time turner device).

The time turner. Pixabay image.
Good question! Pixabay image.
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
A good read means you ARE in a world of your own. Pixabay image
Adapations take more than one draft! Pixabay image
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
It’s amazing what characters can emerge from your time at a writing desk! Pixabay image.
Making time to read as well as write is vital. Pixabay image.
Too much to do, too little time perhaps? Pixabay image.
Put work aside for a time and come back to it so you can look at it as a reader would. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.

Tips for finding your character’s voice:-

1. Write a short scene and just dump the character in it. What is their FIRST reaction? It can be exactly how you’d react. It could be the exact opposite. But once you know what that reaction is, you will have a good idea of their general attitude and approach. You will have that in mind as you write your story.

2. Ask yourself questions about your character. For example, what are their political beliefs? If they don’t have any, what do they believe in and why? Get your character to explain themselves to you! Interviewing your character can be a great way of producing an outline for the story and helping you discover hidden depths to your people. Most of that may not go into your story but you will write with more conviction because YOU know what your people are really like.

This is NOT the way to read work out loud! Pixabay image.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
The Writing Life. Pixabay image.
Ah, the bliss of reading! Pixabay image.
Always good questions to ask. Pixabay.
The sun setting. Pixabay image.
Love writing, love reading, love books. Pixabay image.
The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a bright one? Pixabay image.
Pixabay image.
Definitely a fantasy story here! Pixabay image.

I suspect one of the major reasons for the increasing popularity of flash fiction is due to how easy it is to read on a screen, regardless of the latter’s size. The drive in technology, especially mobiles, tablets etc, has helped flash fiction spread. Naturally I’m all for that.

My hope is reluctant readers will be tempted in by an easy read on a screen and then go on to read longer works later. I was saddened though by a recent FB cartoon showing people poking and prodding at a book, not knowing what it was. I only wish I could be certain that would never happen!

But online markets give writers more opportunities to get their work out there. I would far rather people read online than not read at all.

Talking of online reading, I’ll have a new story up on Cafelit on 16th March. Will share the link once I have it. Keep reading!

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Fairytales With Bite – Influences and a Life Well Lived

My CFT post this week pays tribute to the late Barbara Large, MBE, who founded the Winchester Writers’ Festival (as it is now known) and the Hampshire Writers’ Society. I cannot think of anyone else who has done so much to help so many writers over so many years.  She will be much missed.  I first met Barbara many years ago and her encouragement made a huge difference.  So many writers will say the same (including the children’s author, Anne Wan, whom I’ve also interviewed for CFT).

Influences matter to a writer and can make all the difference to whether someone keeps going or gives up.  This applies to our characters too.  What influences are your characters under or swayed by?  Are they positive ones?  If there are negative influences about, what do your characters do to fight that?

Barbara’s life was very much a life well lived and that is something we should all aspire to do.

As for our characters, what do you want your people to aspire to be?  What drives them?  What gets in their way?  Answer those questions and you have the very essence of a good, drama driven story.  And isn’t that what we all want for our books and stories?

Image Credit:  A big thank you to children’s author, Anne Wan, for supplying the images of Barbara Large.  It has been a real pleasure to interview both ladies for CFT at varying points.

My CFT post this week. Image kindly supplied by Anne Wan.
Barbara Large and Anne Wan at Anne’s book launch. Image kindly supplied by Anne Wan.
Barbara Large did so much to encourage and support writers. Image kindly supplied by Anne Wan

This World and Others – The A to Z of Story Essentials

The great thing with an A to Z post is it gives you an instant framework! So my A to Z of story essentials (to be shared over the next couple of weeks or so) includes the following.

A = Action – without this there is no story.  Something has to happen!

B = Belief – this can be the belief of the character, the beliefs held by the world in which they’re set or both of course.  The lead character has to have belief in what they are doing to be able to follow it through.

C = Credible Characters – there has to be characters a reader can get behind, whether it is to cheer them on, or hope said characters fail.  (It is cathartic to boo on the villain!).  We should be able to understand why your characters are the way they are/acting the way they are even if we don’t necessarily agree with them.

D = Dialogue – also has to be convincing.  Accents and dialects are best used sparingly.  The odd word will give enough of a flavour of the relevant accent/dialect without overdoing it.  Dialogue in characters should sound natural (read it out loud to see if it does flow well.  If not, edit!)

E = Editing – this is the writer’s friend, honestly.  Nobody produces a perfect draft first go.  Shakespeare didn’t.  Dickens didn’t.  We’re not going to either.  But put work aside for a while so you can come back to it and look at it with a fresh eye.  Remember editing is not just about spotting the typos and grammatical errors.  There should be structural and story edits to ensure the structure and the story holds together and works the way they should.

More next time…

What are your characters like? What emotions do they have? Pixabay image.
Taking time to look back and then look ahead is a good thing. Pixabay image.
A fictional city must seem realistic to readers. Pixabay.
Use weather, climate etc to reflect moods in your story but don’t overdo it. Pixabay image.
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a straight run or does it twist and turn? Pixabay image.
Thinking your writing through is always a good idea. Pixabay image.
Give your readers the details they need to know about your setting. Pixabay image.
Always good questions to ask. Pixabay.
A good adaptation is creative in its own right. Pixabay
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Write first, edit later. Pixabay.
All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
Always edit on paper and not on screen. Pexels image.
A blast from the past here perhaps. Pexels image.
Image via Pexels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Out and About

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Facebook – General

Had a wonderful time at the ACW Writers’ Day in Bath (on 9th March 2019). It is lovely meeting many writers I normally only “talk to” via the ACW Facebook Group or email! Hope everyone had a safe journey home.

Am not planning to do much writing tonight as feeling “buzzed out” (and I didn’t!), but yes, I did use my time on the train trips productively. Managed to write two new flash fiction stories and some notes for a CFT post I’m currently working on so am pleased with that.

Ah, the bliss of reading! Pixabay image.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Online writing -v- on a line writing! Image via Pixabay
Books invite you into their world. Image via Pixabay.
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
What is unforgettable about your story? Pixabay image.
The wonderful world of stories. Image via Pixabay
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image
Some very strange creatures are in books. Image via Pixabay

There are so many benefits in going to a good writing conference, whether it is for a day, a weekend, or a week.

As well as learning from the courses and talks, you get to meet with other writers. There is nobody but nobody like another writer who will fully understand the joys and heartaches of the writing journey.

Also it is the most natural thing to discuss with each other what you are writing (which ends up being a great way to practice your pitch for your book with nobody minding! The golden rule is never ever just talk about your own work. The idea is to engage with others so being a good listener comes into its own here! The great irony is that being a good listener encourages others to find out what YOU write and so a good conversation gets going).

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One nice thing I have found about having more than one project on the go is, if I’m struggling with a section, say, on some fiction, I don’t struggle with the non-fiction post I’m also working on.

And inevitably ideas to sort out the problem I’m having with my fiction work crop up as I’m drafting the non-fiction. Naturally I pause, write down some notes, carry on with what I’m working on and then happily get back to the fiction afterwards. And it works the other way round of course.

I’m not convinced about writer’s block. I DO believe any creative type is going to have days where the words, the music or what have you, do not flow as well as said creative type would like them to do. I also see that as being perfectly normal! We are human after all… bound to get days like that. What matters is not giving up.

There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
The darkness can have its own beauty. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a straight run or does it twist and turn? Pixabay image.
How can you show your readers your world? Pixabay image.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
A good adaptation will confirm images the reader has already conjured up from the original material. Pixabay image.
The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
Let your writing sparkle. Image via Pexels.
Drafting those ideas… image via Pexels
Definitely a fantasy story here! Pixabay image.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
What populates your fictional world? Pixabay image
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image

The joys of writing include:-

1. Coming up with a story that is uniquely yours.

2. Having a ball coming up with that story! The fun of inventing your own world and characters can’t be overstated.

3. Managing to sell that story and seeing it published.

4. Doing steps 1 to 3 all over again and again etc.

The woes of writing include:-

1. Rejections (but take some comfort from the fact everyone gets them and, if turned down in one place, go on and try another suitable market!).

2. Those days when it is a struggle to get the words out. (I find having more than one project on the go helps here. I’ve never struggled on everything I’m working on and often when working on something else, an idea to resolve my problem on Project A occurs, as mentioned earlier this week.).

3. Critics.

4. Steps 1 to 3 will happen more than once!

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Two new flash fiction stories produced by yours truly while travelling by train today. (Also wrote some notes for my CFT post on both legs of the journey too, so well pleased). I found myself smiling at some of what I’d written and had to repress the urge to laugh.

I think it can be forgotten the first reader of a writer’s work is you, the writer. If the story doesn’t impact on you, you can forget it doing so for anyone else! That doesn’t mean the piece is perfect. It WILL need editing as sure as day follows night but if the overall impact of the story is entertainment, then great. It’s a question of polishing that story to as good a standard as you can get it (and then test the market with it. Good luck!).

Well, let’s do so by writing lots of stories! Image via Pixabay.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.
Picking up wriitng tips will help you improve your work. Pixabay image.
Use personal reviews to help you generate character and story outlines. Image via Pixabay.
Getting the balance right in adapting work is never easy. Pixabay image.
It’s amazing what characters can emerge from your time at a writing desk! Pixabay image.
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
Write your piece, leave it for a while before editing. Pixabay image.
Gladstone’s Library. Pixabay image.
Making time to read as well as write is vital. Pixabay image.
The ultimate smartphone maybe?! Image via Pixabay

All stories should reveal something about character and what can make someone change (for better or worse. A character’s journey doesn’t necessarily have to be a good one!).

What flash fiction does is show a much shorter journey for that character and so the pivotal change is more intense.

So the best kind of flash fiction story then is where you want to highlight one particular point of change in a character. It is all about the focus!

My desk is NOT this tidy. Pexels image.
A stalwart character in the fairytales. Pixabay image.
Does your story conjure up your setting well enough? Pexels image.
Photos are vital to help preserve memories. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a bright one? Pixabay image.
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
Where do your characters like to take time out to reflect and why? Pexels image
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
Good question! Pixabay image.
Writing to screen. Image via Pixabay
Planning your characters. Image via Pixabay.
I try NOT to chain down my creativity! Pexels image.

BOOK NEWS:

Amazon have a special offer on FLTDBA at the moment. The Kindle version is on offer at £2.33 and the paperback at £2.10. I don’t know how long they’ll have this offer on for but thought I would flag it up!  NB:  The link takes you to the paperback offer and it is cheaper than when I first put this up on FB.  Grab a bargain, go on, you know you want to!

Can I also put in a gentle plea for reviews on the usual sites if you have read FLTDBA? Reviews help authors and the nice thing is it doesn’t have to be a long review either. A one-liner is absolutely fine. I DO read reviews when I’m thinking of trying a new product (or one that’s new to me anyway) and generally find them helpful. This is so true for books too.

On to other things…

One of the issues I have with a flash fiction idea is deciding which word count to go for. It isn’t always clear cut. Some ideas are tailor-made to be 50 or 100 words or what have you.

Others I could write up as a very short piece or extend. For those I often draft both versions and then go with the one I like best. It isn’t always the short version. Sometimes I am after a greater depth of characterisation so the longer version wins out.

But flash fiction is wonderful for allowing you to experiment like that. And you could use it to work out what it is you do want to write as your main interest. If the very short form grabs you, great. If it doesn’t and you find you work better consistently at the 1500+ word mark, then equally fine.

And good luck!

Goodreads Author Blog – When Do You Read?

Apologies for being a day late. Had a wonderful time at the Association of Christian Writers’ Day in Bath yesterday. I was too “buzzed out” to write much yesterday though I did write flash fiction and some notes for a blog post on a phone app while on the train!

I did, however, give myself plenty of time to read in bed last night. I indulged in magazines, books, and the Kindle. It was the perfect way to wind down after a busy but most enjoyable day.

I never feel as if the day has ended properly without my bedtime read. The only time I really get to read outside of that time is usually when I’m on holiday. Even on train trips I want to spend that time writing though it was good to see there were books in evidence on the train. Let nobody tell you the paperback is dead! It isn’t!

I would love to find a way of being able to read more in the day but I just know I’d be too conscious of all the other things I should be doing to allow myself to enjoy that read properly. So maybe at the end of the day is the best time to read after all.

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Character Types (and Why It Matters to Get Them Right)

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

There’s a nice little Q&A session which has developed from my CFT post this week about character types and why it matters to get them right.

This is one thing I love about my CFT posts. I can never know what reaction there will be until the posts go up and sometimes great discussions take place, sometimes not. Do pop over and have a look at this week’s post and if you have favourite character types I’ve not listed here, please do share them in the comments box.

Comments on the character -v- plot debate would also be welcome. I do come down firmly on one side here but I’ll leave you to find out which one it is!

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My CFT post this week will look at some of my favourite character types and why it matters to get them right.

A good story can only be that way if the characters are strong enough. A decent plot will be let down badly if the characters are not “up to scratch”. More on this and the link tomorrow.

Am looking forward to going to the Association of Christian Writers’ Day at Bath on Saturday. Always good to meet other writers!

 

There will be an expression here which will match your thoughts about most adaptations - Pixabay image

What are your characters like? What emotions do they have? Pixabay image.

It is with great sadness I see from the Winchester Writers’ Festival page that Barbara Large, MBE, who founded the original Winchester Writers’ Conference, passed away on Monday. She will be much missed.

Barbara gave so much support and encouragement to writers across a huge range of genres including me. I have a certificate for a Commended Short Story signed by her from the 31st Winchester Writers’ Conference and it has pride of place on my wall.

Condolences to all of her family and friends.

 

Resized Barbara Large and Anne Wan

Barbara Large MBE (left) will be much missed by the writing community including Anne Wan (right) and myself.  Image kindly supplied by Anne Wan.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

The advantage of flash fiction is you have to learn to write tight to keep to the word count, even though there can be flexibility with that. You don’t have to stick to 50-word stories. You can have a go at the 500-word ones!

The advantage of a novel is you have room for sub-plots and can go much further into character development, which when well done adds layers to your story.

The short story is a cross-over to an extent. Usually there would be room for only one sub-plot (but there’s no room at all for anything like that in flash). You can go into character development but the word count restrictions here will limit how far you can take that. (Though that can vary from 1500 to 8000 or thereabouts as there are some longer short story competitions out there).

And all three are brilliant writing disciplines! All need decent editing and crafting to get your story into shape. Whatever form you’re going for, or if you’re going in for more than one, you can know you will be doing a lot of editing! But above all have fun with them. Writing should be fun.

Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
A good adaptation will confirm images the reader has already conjured up from the original material. Pixabay image.
What is unforgettable about your story? Pixabay image.
How will you portray your characters? In the limelight or the background? Pixabay image.
Gollum from LOTR. More sinned against than sinning? Pixabay image.
Indeed! Pixabay image.
How can you show your readers your world? Pixabay image.
This made me smile! Pixabay image.

How do you find coming up with promising opening lines? Is it a pain or is coming out with those just fine but then you struggle with delivering on the promise of that opening line?

I’ve found mixing up how I approach this helps a lot. I outline (briefly, appropriately for flash fiction) how a story could go from that opening line. There is usually some promise from those thoughts that I can develop. Okie dokie then, away I go and write the thing.

Sometimes though I’m not satisfied with what I’ve come out with. Somehow the thoughts don’t seem strong enough. DO trust your gut instincts here by the way, they’re normally right. When I have this happen, I then see if what I thought might be a good opening line would actually work better as a finishing one. I then work backwards to get to the starting point.

I’ve not rejected an opening line altogether yet because if one method here doesn’t work, the other does. It’s just that sometimes you can’t always see the best way to go straight away and that’s where outlining comes into its own and to your rescue!

Well, what will your characters do next? Pixabay image.
Great characters escape from great books! Pixabay image.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
What populates your fictional world? Pixabay image
Clarity = communicating your ideas well through your characters. Pixabay image.
Give your readers the details they need to know about your setting. Pixabay image.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
Where is your setting? Pixabay image.
Use weather, climate etc to reflect moods in your story but don’t overdo it. Pixabay image.
My smartphone has not yet managed this! Pixabay image.
How is your world governed? Is it done well? Pixabay image.
Good question! Pixabay image.

A quick search of Writing Magazine’s Competition Guide has shown a couple of interesting competitions I’ll try and have a go at. Note to self: go through the guide at the weekend and mark the ones of interest! What is nice is some of the competitions are rolling ones in that there is one per month or something like that so if you miss one deadline, there are others you can aim for.

It proves that the market for very short stories and flash is a healthy one. Hooray for that!

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Fairytales with Bite – Top Five Tips for Characterisation

My theme this week is character type(s) and my CFT post also featured this but I thought a quick run down of tips would be useful.

  1. Be realistic.  Your characters must have motivations that we will all understand, even if we don’t agree with them all!
  2. Show flaws as  well as virtues.  None of us are perfect after all so why should our characters be?  Besides they can get to learn from their mistakes.
  3. Stretch your characters.  Don’t be afraid to put them through hell to find out what they are really made of/are capable of.
  4. Let your characters surprise you, sometimes (don’t overdo it!).  A great example of what I mean here is Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings.  Nobody expects in that wonderful world for a hobbit to be a hero, yet Frodo becomes one.  Frodo shows a determination and courage others far bigger than him are not capable of (and yet he’d have failed completedly without Sam Gamgee’s support).  It would’ve been the easiest thing of all for Frodo to stay in Middle Earth and let someone else do the heroics.
  5. Weaknesses SHOULD get in the character’s way and be something they’re seen to be fighting against.  And that, folks, is where the drama is!  A great story has plenty of that!
Always good questions to ask. Pixabay.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.
Fiction should show you new ways of looking at the world. Image via Pixabay.
Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.
Ah, the bliss of reading! Pixabay image.
Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.

This World and Others – Character Types

I look at character types and why it matters to get them right in my CFT post this week.  It doesn’t matter how fantastic your world is, the characters must be believable for your readers to engage with them and want to read your story at all.

One key to getting this right is to examine your characters’ motivations. Why are they acting the way they are?  Is it something we can understand?  I’ve long thought Woody from Toy Story is a truly great character.  Why?  Because his jealousy when Buzz comes into his life is understandable.  There are very few of us, regardless of our age, who haven’t been jealous of something or someone in our time.

Look at how your world is governed. Is it a democracy?  Is there a tier of local government?  What are the politicians like there? (And there will be politicians somewhere along the line.  Where there is any kind of power, no matter how minor, politics and playing people off against one another will come into it.  Sad perhaps but again this is something we all understand and will help make your world seem more real to your readers).

So think about emotions.  What are your characters likely to feel and why?  (This is one reason why the Cybermen as a concept are frightening.  The removal of all emotions?  Those are what make us human.  They can also make your Species X what it is and differentiate them from other character types in your fiction).

Getting the balance right in adapting work is never easy. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a straight run or does it twist and turn? Pixabay image.
The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
A book worm’s idea of heaven and picture books will be in here! Pixabay image
Even a world populated with dragons has to make sense. Pixabay
Preparing the blog. Image via Pixabay.
A truly beautiful diary. Image via Pixabay
The dark can seem to overcome the light but light will prevail. Image via Pixabay
Ready to write? Image via Pixabay.
Reaching out for writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.

 

 

 

Managing My Writing

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Facebook – General

I’ve found getting into a regular time for writing has helped me get more work done but I sneak in writing as and when I can during the day. (Generally easier to do at weekends). I’ve learned over time that pockets of time mount up and of course flash fiction can be written as complete works in those pockets.

I tend to break longer projects into time slots – say 20 minutes on a longer short story, 30 on writing my CFT post for the week and so on. Inevitably I will find I overrun on a piece as it “grips” me and I carry on writing but that’s fine. I will “mine” that for all I can and then carry on with whatever else I was working on afterwards or the next night. I look at my writing over the course of a week and work out what I’d like to achieve over that time span.

So don’t give up just because you haven’t much time. It’s a question, I think, of working out what you time you have got and deciding how best to “spend” that time.

The moon rising. Pixabay image.
Making time to read as well as write is vital. Pixabay image.
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
Put work aside for a time and come back to it so you can look at it as a reader would. Pixabay image.
The darkness can have its own beauty. Pixabay image.
Getting the balance right in adapting work is never easy. Pixabay image.
Good question! Pixabay image.

Looking forward to going to the ACW Writers’ Day in Bath on Saturday. What are the benefits of going to days like this/writing conferences in general?

1. You get to meet other writers and make friends.

2. You learn from the talks/courses.

3. Given most of the time you’re behind on the desk on your own writing, it is fantastic to meet up with others who know what the joys and problems of writing are and can sympathise!

4. Some writing conferences run competitions. Always worth a go.

5. My CFT post from last year talks about the benefits of a good writing conference. Many thanks to Geoff Parkes for the pictures of me reading at the Open Prose night.

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Reading and writing are great joys at any time but I think they come into their own the most when your own mood isn’t so great.

Books and stories can (and indeed should) take you out of yourself and into a new world where you can lose yourself for a while. The challenge for the writer, of course, is to create a world the reader will want to spend time in. How best to do that? By creating characters the reader will either love or love to hate and where they/you have got to find out what happens to them.

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Favourite characters beginning with the letter A:-

Aslan (Narnia)
Aragorn (LOTR)
Angua (Discworld – her bark really is worse than her bite!)
Adora (Belle Deerheart – Discworld. Feisty doesn’t begin to cover it for this character!).

All of these characters are memorable and stand out, not least because one of them is a lion! All overcome perils (and in Aslan’s case death as well. See The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe for more on that! I refuse to believe this is a plot spoiler after all this time. Having said that, much as I love the book, I think Prince Caspian is even better).

It is the characters that draw me into any story, regardless of its genre. Yes, an odd set-up can provoke my curiosity but unless the characters appeal in some way, I won’t stay with that story.

PS Am having difficulty posting images with this one. Don’t know why. Sorry!  This is true for my Facebook post but I can and will post images here!

Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
CAN you manage time? Pixabay image.
Fake news and roundabouts that are too small make it into my CFT post. Image via Pixabay.
No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
A good read means you ARE in a world of your own. Pixabay image
Just how fantastic is your setting? Pixabay image.
Beware! Writer at work. Other beverages are available. Pixabay image.
Books should show you other worlds. Image via Pixabay.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

When does a character come alive to you, their creator?

I think it is when you can put that character in any situation (outside of those in the story) and you would know immediately how they would react/deal with it. I sometimes know what my character’s favourite songs would be. I don’t always work thing out to that level of detail but I can hear a piece and think X would like that.

And yes it is perfectly possible to be irritated/annoyed with your characters as you get to know more about them. You need to look at why that is happening and ask yourself if this is an effect you want your readers to experience. If not, it’s time for amendments!

Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
What kind of defeats and downfalls do your characters experience? Pixabay image.
Write first, edit later. Pixabay.
Clarity = communicating your ideas well through your characters. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a straight run or does it twist and turn? Pixabay image.
Let one creative idea spark another. Pixabay image.
Making the most of the writing time. Pixabay image
Great characters escape from great books! Pixabay image.
The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
Indeed! Pixabay image.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.

Flash fiction shines a spotlight on writing faults due to its word count limitation but that can be useful as you can then do something about said faults! It is so easy to repeat phrases or to use words that don’t add anything to your story so when I’m editing, these are the first things I look for and remove when I (inevitably) find them.

Often that edit in itself can be enough to get a story down to a required word count. Even when it isn’t, getting rid of the dross can then help you assess what you really need from what you’ve got left. And at that point, I’m looking for “does this move the story on?” or “if I cut this out, would it be missed?” I’ve found those two questions so useful for helping with edits and of course they work with longer fiction too.

Playing with words. Pixabay image.
There was always something magical about having a blank page to write to. Image via Pixabay.
A truly beautiful diary. Image via Pixabay
What every author would like to achieve or set, yes? Image via Pixabay
There be dragons. Pixabay
What do your characters face? Pixabay image
So true. Pixabay image.
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
Reaching out for writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
Social media has made the world a smaller place. Image via Pixabay.
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image

I use the first person for a lot of my flash fiction as that immediacy of viewpoint suits the story form very well. It makes it easier for me to hit the ground running with my stories by showing you their viewpoint from the outset.

I often outline a character by just working out what their chief characteristic is and then deciding how far they will take that. You can have a lot of fun here if your character’s chief trait is stubbornness! Just what trouble can they land themselves/others in… and that of course can lead to a tragic tale or a funny one.

And which is the right way?! Pixabay image.
Very true.. Pixabay image.
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
I don’t always write directly to screen. Image via Pixabay
Ebooks and print – both have their own frustrations when it comes to publishing. Image via Pixabay
Books are the keys to knowledge. Image via Pixabay
The old method of printing. Image via Pixabay
Research material, notebook and pen to hand. Image via Pixabay
Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay

Flash fiction can be useful for generating story ideas for fleshing out into much longer pieces later on. I’ve sometimes taken a flash piece of mine and created a separate standard short story from it (circa 1500 to 2000 words).

Sometimes I think an idea will work better at a longer length but it isn’t always the case! For example, a quirky character can work well in a short piece. In a longer one they may irritate a reader. Just not worth going there! So when I’m pondering whether or not to expand a flash fiction story, I look at whether the lead character is really up to a longer word count. And they have to have plenty going for them for the answer to that one to be “yes”! (Beware the one trick pony – they really are best off in flash fiction and staying there).

PS Sorry for lack of images. Just not loading on this or my author page today. Don’t know why. All that happens is my text vanishes and no picture appears eitther! This has occasionally happened before. Hopefully normal service with pics tomorrow…  Again, this is true for Facebook today but not here!

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Goodreads Author Programme Blog –

Saturday Night is Alright for Reading

As is every other day of the week, of course! I thought of this title (and by default Elton John’s hit Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting) because I recall Saturday night being THE night for TV viewing.

There would be something good on everyone would want to watch and, especially in the days before VCR, you’d have to catch the programme live or hope for a repeat.

I was reminded of that this week with the news of the sad passing of Andre Previn aka Andrew Preview on the Morecambe and Wise Show.

So given I think that kind of Saturday night viewing is a thing of the past, perhaps making it the Big Read Night is not such a bad thought.

It does surprise me a bit, given how many great novels and short stories there are out there, that more are not adapted for TV. I would love to see the Discworld novels brought to the small screen. The Vimes/Watch novels would work particularly well. And it would be very original material too!

So back to the books for entertainment then. That’s not a bad thing!

How TV used to be! Pixabay image.
Put work aside for a time and come back to it so you can look at it as a reader would. Pixabay image.
Write to screen but edit on paper. Pixabay image.
Planning your writing can save you lots of time later. Pixabay image.
It would be a joy to research here! Pixabay image
Reading can make it seem as if you are in your own bubble! Pixabay image
Getting books into bookshops is never easy. Image via Pixabay.
Lovely and treasured book collection here. Image via Pexels
Books should keep you gripped and that is down to the characters. Image via Pixabay
Books invite you into their world. Go! Image via Pixabay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adaptations and What I Look For in a Fictional World

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

What do you think about adaptations? Are they good or do they stifle new work coming through?

See my thoughts on that topic in my latest CFT post. I also discuss remakes, share my favourite adaptations and discuss what makes for a good one (and what makes for a bad one!). See what you think and do share your favourite adaptations via the CFT comments box.

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Just enjoyed listening to Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens on Classic FM. This is the theme to my book trailer (so wonderfully produced by Chapeltown Books) for From Light to Dark and Back Again and is fondly remembered for being the theme used for Jonathan Creek. Every time I hear the piece, I smile – I guess it’s a kind of “my song” moment!

Saddened to hear of the death of Andre Previn today. The Morecambe and Wise Greig Piano Concerto sketch with him was comedy genius and my favourite comedy sketch. Previn’s look of frozen horror is just fabulous. I automatically think of this sketch when this concerto is played – as I suspect most people over a certain age do!

I write with classical music on in the background and find it helps me relax and get into the writing mindset. That and a nice drink helps very nicely!

 

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When is a adaptation a good one? I’ll be looking at this later this week with my CFT post. (I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on what makes a bad one!).

I suppose one thing about writing flash fiction is you know they’re never going to be make a film out of your work. The best you can hope for is a series of shorts!! Appropriate somehow I think…

Give some thought as to what your favourite adaptations are and why. Comments will be very welcome over at CFT.

I like to see a good balance between adaptations and new work coming through, whether it is in books, for radio, TV, or what have you. You need the new blood coming through but tried and tested favourites have got to be that way for a reason and shouldn’t be discarded.

The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
The Writing Life. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
A stalwart character in the fairytales. Pixabay image.
Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
A book worm’s idea of heaven and picture books will be in here! Pixabay image
John Ryland’s library. Pixabay image.
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
Love writing, love reading, love books. Pixabay image.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I discuss adaptations in my CFT post this week. Short stories are often adapted for the screen (The Birds by Daphne du Maurier is probably the most famous example). Maybe it is a matter of time before a flash fiction piece is adapted – okay it probably will have to be a short but that’s fine!

Ironically, I’ve used moments from film to inspire my flash fiction stories so maybe there can be a two way process going on here.

Reading has such an impact. Can’t imagine the world without it. Pixabay image.
Gladstone’s Library. Pixabay image.
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
Strong clear words help your descriptions hit home. Pixabay image.
Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay
Now that is what I call impact! Pixabay image.
Abbotswood House, home of Sir Walter Scott. Pixabay image.
Making time to read as well as write is vital. Pixabay image.
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
What worlds will emerge from your writing? Pixabay image
The blank page (or screen) is ready for your diary (or blog!). Image via Pixabay.
Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.

One of the challenges facing a flash fiction writer is resisting the urge to bring too many characters into the story. Flash fiction works best with one to two characters only (and I love to get my people to refer to others who never actually appear in the tale. The mention is important to the plot but the absent character isn’t actually needed to turn up and “perform”).

The great joy with having a bigger cast of characters is being able to get so many interactions going but that really is best left for the longer short story and, even better, the novel. Flash fiction has to pinpoint and focus sharply. I’ve found it best to focus on one lead character and take things from there. I ask what is important for this character to know, to do, or to say that will bring the story to the right conclusion. Whatever doesn’t fit stays out.

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I have a Dogs calendar on my desk which has an appropriate “Thought for the Day” on it. (Or should that be “bark for the day”?). All coming in at well under the 50-words mark. Flash fiction with bite, anyone?

Given I put up Street Cred about cats the other day, I should redress the balance and put up a story about my favourite pet, dogs.

GETTING THE JOB DONE
She collected specimens, whether they wanted it or not. They didn’t get to argue for long. They didn’t have to be alive for a start. Tell them that and she usually got their co-operation.
So why was this one being so belligerent? She couldn’t remember when someone last argued with her. She did know nobody ever got to tell the tale. All she had to do was inform her supervisor there was an awkward one. Everyone back home understood that.
Well nobody was going to make a dent in her track record. She whipped out a light gun and aimed it at the miniscule creature in front of her. It was a stupid looking thing. All fur, floppy ears, and big brown eyes. Goodness knew why the bosses wanted it.and then she found out.
The puppy sat, whimpered, and held up a paw. There was a husk of some sort in there.
She put the gun down, gently removed the husk, and was rewarded with a big lick across her three pink noses.
She scooped the pup up in her elongated pink arms. ‘Sod the bosses. You’re staying with me. Let’s find you something to eat.’
The pup squealed and wagged its tail. She smiled. She’d not had anything nice happen for a long time. She’d focussed on just getting the job done.
There were going to be changes around here.
Ends.

Allison Symes
27th February 2019

Hope you enjoy! Lady is generally more appreciative of walks and playtimes in the park!

Inquisitive Lady -1

Inquisitive Lady. Image by Allison Symes

Fairytales with Bite – Ideas and How to Find Them

This is by no means an exhaustive list but this includes some sources I’ve found most useful when generating story and article/blog post ideas.

1.  Proverbs and sayings.  What can you come up with, say, to fit the proverb “love is blind”? A book of proverbs is great for dipping into for themes you’d like to try to write to and generally are not that expensive to buy.

2.  Classic fairytales.  Look for the themes behind them.  A common one is that of wrongs being righted (see Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel to name but a few).  How could you use that theme?  And that is just one to play with!  There are others.

3.  Films.  Again look at the theme but also look at the theme of the sub-plots (there will be at least one in any good movie).

4.  Advertising slogans.  Don’t copy word for word but adapt.  (This ties in nicely with my CFT post this week on Adaptations!).  For example, in the UK, there was a slogan from years ago which was “go to work on an egg”, advertising the virtues of eating eggs.  Your theme could be something like “go to work on…” and name a foodstuff of your choice or a vehicle we don’t see on Earth etc.  Let your imagination run riot!

Happy writing!

What every children’s writer wants to see – children engrossed in books, ideally theirs! Pixabay image.
The lightbulb moment of inspiration for writers is wonderful. Pixabay image.
A good read means you ARE in a world of your own. Pixabay image
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
Words have power, whether funny or tragic. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
The joy of writing is you never stop learning. 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.
Is it Time for a Change for the dragon in my story on Cafelit? Image via Pixabay
Trusted notebook! Image via Pixabay
The ultimate book tunnel? Image via Pexels
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

This World and Others – What Do I Look For in a Fictional World?

This can only be a brief summary but the important points I look for in a fictional world are:-

1.  Characters.  They can have three heads, two noses or what have you, but the important point is I’ve got to be able to root for the characters, whether it is to cheer them on to success or hope they come crashing down.  There has to be something about them I love or loathe but makes me want to read on to find out what happens to them.

2.  A sense of how the world is governed.  I don’t need all the details, they’ll get in the way of the story, but I need to know that your characters know the rules of their world and how these affect them as the story progresses.  For example, in a world where there is no oxygen, what do your characters breathe instead?  DO they breathe (or are they water dwellers)?

3.  The details given are relevant to the story.  Enough said I think!

4.  A sense of what it would be like to live in that world.  I don’t necessarily have to want  to live there.  I may be very glad I don’t in fact but this sense of what it would be like is enough for me to create my own mental images of what your fictional world might look like.  That in turn helps me engage with that world and the characters you’ve put in it.

5.  A sense that it could exist somewhere out in the universes.  No matter how unlikely, the possibility should be there!  This means that there has to be a sense of a world that can sustain itself, possibly trades with other worlds and so on.

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Just a Minute and Other Thoughts

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Facebook – General

Had to smile today. I receive book recommendations by email sometimes and today it finally happened. Yes, From Light To Dark and Back Again was recommended to me!

Moving on swiftly, I’m pleased to say I’m making good progress with my novel and third collection of flash fiction stories. I’ve ideas for non-fiction that I’m working on as well and I could really do with more hours in the day or to somehow be able to manage without sleep. Given neither of those are going to happen, it’s a case of best endeavours!

Have also started drafting a short story I’ve got in mind for a competition in April. Sounds ages away I know but it’ll be here before we know it and I do like to get a story drafted and then leave it for a while before reassessing and editing it. So starting the story about now is the right sort of timescale for me.

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Have typed up a couple of writing diary prompt stories that I’m considering for my third flash fiction collection. I’m at the 15000 word mark with this so will probably go to 20K and stop there. I know there’ll be a lot of cutting to do – there always is! But I never mind that. I think it shows there IS a story there and it is just a question of getting rid of anything that doesn’t enhance it.

I’ve only consciously padded a story the once and, guess what, I gave up when I realised the idea simply wasn’t strong enough. It remains the only story I’ve ever given up on. So yes I prefer to write and then cut. It always works better for me.

The writing prompts in my diary at the moment are where you’re given an opening line and you then see what you can do with it. I like those. I like to think of them as imagination stretching exercises!

Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Gladstone’s Library. Pixabay image.
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
Online writing -v- on a line writing! Image via Pixabay
There be dragons. Pixabay
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
What worlds will emerge from your writing? Pixabay image
Fiction should show you new ways of looking at the world. Image via Pixabay.
What stories will come from this pen? Pexels image.
What kind of landscapes exist in your fictional world? Pixabay image
A good read means you ARE in a world of your own. Pixabay image

Enjoyed listening to Just a Minute on Radio 4 tonight. The rules of no repetition, no hesitation, and no deviation from the subject are great guidelines for writing fiction too.

You want your story to move onwards and upwards to its conclusion so no repetition (it will also irritate readers). I’ve found outlining a story before I start writing it gives me the confidence to write it at all and so I do (no hesitation). I also think something of that confidence shows through in the final story too.

And as for going off at a tangent… a big no-no. As someone once said “just the facts, Ma’am, just the facts”. What those facts are, as far as your story is concerned, of course is down to you!

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Glad to say a flash fiction story of mine, Mirrored, was in the recent Swanwick Writers’ Summer School newsletter.

I discuss adaptations in my CFT post this week. What makes a good adaptation? What doesn’t? Also, this doesn’t just apply to writing either. Link up on Friday.

Editing of the novel continues to progress well and I’m drafting a 750-word short story too at the moment. Really like my lead character. They have promise! The real issue for me on this one is whether I can keep to the strict word count for this particular competition. Still, I will find out! I do love being able to set a Project Target on Scrivener and find it really useful for competitions like this. I like seeing the bar change colour as I get nearer to my goal!

Scrivener images below werebtaken by me as screenshots.

Setting a word count target. Image by Allison Symes
As I start typing, the bar shows how far I have to go. Image by Allison Symes
Getting there – the bar has changed to amber! Image by Allison Symes
Finishing line in sight, the bar has changed to green. Image by Allison Symes
Preparing a talk or a flash fiction story perhaps. Image via Pixabay.
One of my favourite book images. They really are magical. Transportation into other worlds and around this one in a few hundred pages. Brilliant! Image via Pixabay.
Books can make you lose time but what a way to lose it! Music can do the same. Image via Pixabay
The wonderful world of stories. Image via Pixabay
All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
The realm of the fairytale has always fascinated me. Pixabay image.
Definitely a fantasy story here! Pixabay image.
Images from the magical world… Image via Pixabay
Where is your setting? Pixabay image.
Fantasy may look at other worlds but often reflects on our own. Time is different too. Music can interpret worlds too. Think of classic film scores like that for The Lord of the Rings. Image via Pixabay.
Let your stories have impact. Image via Pixabay
Jotting down ideas for future stories is always a good idea. Image via Pixabay

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I’m very fond of flash fiction stories that end with a line which make me laugh. When writing this kind of story, I always write that finishing line first and then work backwards to the beginning.

I’ve found outlining in that way means the ending seems natural to a reader and springs out of what has come before. I can take the time to work out what must come before for that line to work and none of that shows in the finished story. Win-win!

Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.
Edit, edit, edit! Pixabay image.
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
Making time to read as well as write is vital. Pixabay image.
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.
Stories (and indeed most books of any kind) are magical. Image via Pixabay.
The lightbulb moment of inspiration for writers is wonderful. Pixabay image.
This statue I like… a lot. Image via Pixabay
Thinking your writing through is always a good idea. Pixabay image.
One downside to online writing is auto-correct! Image via Pixabay
Doing something with those ideas! Pixabay image
Where many a first draft starts life. Old technology still has its uses! Image via Pixabay.
Where stories emerge. Image via Pixabay.

How can I tell if a flash fiction idea is going to work best at 50 words, 75, 100, 500, or what have you?

A lot depends on how strong the character is – can they carry a longer story? Also the story itself is about one moment in the character’s life. The moment you’re writing about must not be dragged out (it shows, trust me, that shows) so if you are finding you are trying to extend a story, stop, think again, and look at the piece as a much shorter one. It will almost certainly work better and pack more of an emotional punch on a reader by keeping it shorter. It is impact you want. That is what a reader remembers. You don’t want to dilute that.

Equally, I’ve found sometimes a character needs space to show what is happening in their “moment” properly so fine I go with that. The time to stop is when if you add anything at all, it will weaken the story/character and the potential impact. There’s nothing to stop you incidentally from trying out a story in two different word counts and seeing what works best. Read them out loud. What has the most impact on you?

How can you show your readers your world? Pixabay image.
Give your readers the details they need to know about your setting. Pixabay image.
Use weather, climate etc to reflect moods in your story but don’t overdo it. Pixabay image.
A stalwart character in the fairytales. Pixabay image.
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
What IS out there? Pixabay image.
The Andromeda Galaxy. Pixabay image.
Finding time to read can be difficult but is so worth doing. Pixabay.
Beware! Writer at work. Other beverages are available. Pixabay image.
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
A truly beautiful book. Pixabay image.
Books are a fantastic form of escapism. Image via Pixabay
Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay

Street Cred

I’m the coolest one on my street. I’ve been here the longest. Know the best places to hang out with pals. Know the best places to get together with the girls, if you see what I mean. It was just a pity a momentary lapse in concentration meant my cool went haywire and I managed to walk into the catflap my owner put in for me, rather than through it.

Don’t let anyone tell you cats have no sense of humour. The rest of the gang were all laughing at me. Still I’m not worried. I’ll just have to fight them all tomorrow. But for now, me the big ginger tom from No. 27, is curling up on the sofa with my so-called owner. (I own HER truth to be told). She is feeding me titbits from her tuna supper. This is the life.

Being cool again can wait until tomorrow.

Allison Symes
25th February 2019

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I love writing twist endings for my stories and, as mentioned before, often work those out first and then write the story “backwards” to get to the starting point.

But my other favourite writing technique is to begin with a promising opening line and then outline a few ideas as to where that could take me. Naturally I then go for the idea that I like the most (which is always the strongest one or has the most potential in it. Definitely not a coincidence that!).

Sometimes I can “see” a 100-word story in its entirety. My The Haunting is an example of that and was inspired by the character of Mrs Wilberforce (aka Mrs Lopsided) in The Ladykillers.

Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
Use personal reviews to help you generate characters and story outlines. Image via Pixabay.
Great characters will engross you. You will lose time reading their stories. Image via Pixabay.
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Great characters = great books. Image via Pixabay.
What writing triggers will help you create your new worlds? Image via Pixabay
Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.
Well, let’s do so by writing lots of stories! Image via Pixabay.
The writing necessities! Pixabay image.
Good advice – and it applies to our characters too. Image via Pixabay

Goodreads Author Blog – Short Stories and Flash Fiction

I’m glad to see the return of short stories and the development of flash fiction for many reasons. One of these is that I write both so I won’t pretend to be unbiased here. But the major reason for loving this development is it expands the kind of reading available.

I love novels but it is great being able to read a collection of short stories or flash fiction after finishing one full length tome. It mixes up what I read. By the time I’ve finished reading an anthology I’m raring to get on with a novel again!

Also if the novel has been a dark one in terms of mood, there’s nothing like a collection of funny short stories to show the opposite side of life and I, for one, find that helpful. I don’t want to read “dark” all the time. I also know life isn’t always one big laugh so I like to have a balance of dark and light in my reading, as well as my own writing.

Reading has such an impact. Can’t imagine the world without it. Pixabay image.
Or get away from it all in one book. Pixabay image.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
The To Be Read pile. Image via Pixabay
I write fairytales with bite as flash fiction and short stories in particular. Image via Pixabay.
Stories reflect all sorts of moods. There is a story to suit everyone out there! Image via Pixabay.
Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.
I could spend many a happy hour here – the library at Prague. Image via Pixabay.
The ultimate book circle perhaps? Image via Pixabay.
Now here is a magical environment! Enough books to be going on with for one thing! Image via Pixabay.
The world’s most beautiful library perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Uses of Weather in Fiction

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Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

I’ve finally got around to talking online about the weather in my CFT post this week, though I go on to discuss its uses in fiction. I also share why I don’t tend to use weather in my stories and look at how it can be done realistically.

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Books I chose for the 7 covers in 7 days challenge on Twitter were:-

Men At Arms (Terry Pratchett)
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkein)
Code of the Woosters (P.G. Wodehouse)
The Daughter of Time (Josephine Tey)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K.Rowling)
Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie)

Good fun to do but a challenge, given there are so many other books I could’ve included. I chose these on the basis that if I could only smuggle 7 books away with me somewhere, these would be the first ones I’d go for.

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I’m going to be talking about the weather (and its uses in fiction) for my CFT post this week. I avoid using it in my stories, the post will explain why. Link up on Friday.

Lovely to see crocuses and snowdrops out. One great thing about walking the dog is you do get to see things like that which you might not otherwise notice. I’ve seen some spectacular wildlife sights too – sparrowhawks have been known to be in Chandler’s Ford – and buzzards often circle the park. You can always tell when they’re about – the sky goes quiet. Can’t see a little bird anywhere…

It is lovely when you get those light bulb moments! Pixabay image.
Being lost in the world of your story. Pixabay image
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
The classic fairytale opening line. Pixabay image.
A good read means you ARE in a world of your own. Pixabay image
A familiar sight here! Pixabay
A stalwart character in the fairytales. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
A Christmas Carol is my favourite ghost story. Pixabay.
Reading should be a joy always. Pixabay image.
So true. Pixabay image.
A storyteller on their travels perhaps? Pixabay image.
Reading has such an impact. Can’t imagine the world without it. Pixabay image.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Had a fantastic time visiting the family tonight but a nightmare journey getting over there. What should have taken a maximum of 30 minutes took 90!! Naturally on the way home, it did take under 30.

So this led me on to think about what would be a nightmare journey for your characters. Is it just down to transport problems or what they are facing on that journey? Why are they making that trip? Can they avoid it or change it so it is better? If not, why not? There has to be a good reason for the journey to be made otherwise the reader will think why on earth didn’t Character X just stay at home and avoid all the bother!

The ultimate journey in fiction for me is Frodo Baggins’s “trip” to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings but a journey much shorter than that can still be a nightmare. For example, does your character need to walk a mile to fetch something but they have to go through a neighbourhood known to be hostile to his family?

What does your character fear that would turn any journey into a nightmare? What do they do to overcome that?

Hope these thoughts can seed some story ideas! Good luck!

Well, what will your characters do next? Pixabay image.
A beautiful woodland walk. Pixabay image
My smartphone has not yet managed this! Pixabay image.
The Lord of the Rings – the ultimate in dangerous words is on this ring!. Pixabay image.
Is your reading journey a bright one? Pixabay image.
Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
Is this light the way into a new world? Pixabay image.
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
Hope your Christmas books take you to all sorts of wonderful places! Pixabay image
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.
Where is your setting? Pixabay image.
Gollum from LOTR. More sinned against than sinning? Pixabay image.
Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.

Many thanks, everyone, for the likes and comments on yesterday’s post about how I produce a flash fiction story.

I also have brainstorming sessions every now and again where I’ll outline a possible story idea or an idea for a character in a line or two. I put those notes aside for a while before revisiting them and deciding then if the ideas were as strong as I first thought they were!

Usually they are, sometimes not (and I discard those), but in the majority of cases, the idea is okay but needs strengthening. That is where I need to dig even deeper into what my character is capable of as that is where I’ll find the trigger for turning an idea into a story. A character that I discover is capable of doing anything for a laugh because they think it is the best way to make and have lots of friends is someone with at least one story to tell (and probably a poignant one).

What if is the classic question to ask both of your character and your idea to get the best out of both.

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My process for producing a flash fiction story goes like this.

1. Have idea for interesting character. (Flash fiction works best with one or two characters at most, though others can be referred to or implied).

2. Work out what to do with interesting character! As you can imagine, this is the REALLY fun bit!

3. Draft the story and check it makes sense.

4. Put it aside for a while and get on with my CFT posts, my novel, more flash fiction stories etc

.5. Come back to the story and read it with a fresh eye. Ask myself what impact it makes on me. Is it the impact I want it to have on a reader?

6. Edit the story based on 5 above but also check for the usual typos, grammatical errors etc. (I wish I could say there were never any but life’s not like that!).

7. Re-read it and if happy submit it to an appropriate market or competition.

A good writing group will help you discover this. Pixabay image.
No matter what your setting, your characters need to resonate with readers. Pixabay image.
Checking spelling and grammar isn’t fun but so necessary. Pixabay image.
Stories can take you to fantastic places. Pixabay image.
Finding time to follow social media is difficult so pick the one or two you like the most. Image via Pixabay
No matter how strange your characters or setting, there must still be identifiable elements for a reader. Pixabay image
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
And which is the right way?! Pixabay image.
What every author would like to achieve or set, yes? Image via Pixabay
Wormhole. Pixabay image.
Get those ideas coming! Pixabay image
It would be a joy to research here! Pixabay image
The eye of the storm. Pixabay image.

I really enjoy reading and writing flash fiction stories which end with a punch. Sometimes that can be literal (!) and is most satisfying when the character has deserved it (and that will be the view your readers will take too). One huge advantage of fiction is wrongs can be righted in a way they’re so often not in real life. I believe that is one reason why fairytales are always popular!

I also love the witty one-liners that can close a story. It’s good to finish a story on an “uplift” where that is appropriate. Of course the set up for that finish happens much earlier in the story and it can be as simple as showing your character has the type of attitude which will make a witty one-line retort likely. (It usually is a retort!).

Above all, it is fun, which is what writing should be after all.

Always good to see books about and it’s very special if one of them is yours! Many thanks to Raewyn Berry for the picture.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
Creating great characters does mean hard work. Image via Pexels.
What most writers connect to! Image via Pexels
Working things out the old school way. Pixabay image.
Or get away from it all in one book. Pixabay image.
A book worm’s idea of heaven and picture books will be in here! Pixabay image
Without the darkness, we would not see the stars. Pixabay image.
Drafting those ideas… image via Pexels
What journeys are your characters going on? Image via Pixabay
Always good advice. Image via Pixabay.
There be dragons. Pixabay

Goodreads Author Blog – Hooks Into Books

I seem to have a “thing” for rhyming titles at the moment. Sure it will be a passing fad…!

What attracts you to a book? Is it the title, the blurb, the cover, or a combination of the lot?

For me, the cover draws me in but the blurb is what clinches a sale for me, whether I’m reading on Kindle or a paperback. If I like the premise of the blurb, I will “look inside” a Kindle book or look at the opening page of a paperback. If it seems to deliver, I’ll go ahead and buy.

There is no such thing as a foolproof system but this works for me!

Of course, another great hook is reading a book by an author whose works you know you like. I love series novels and my favourite of these has to be Discworld. Each book original and entertaining but there’s enough familiarity with the world to make you feel right at home as you continue to enjoy the series.

Whatever you read, enjoy!

What worlds will emerge from your writing? Pixabay image
Can’t beat a good book or several. Image via Pixabay.
Words have power, whether funny or tragic. Pixabay image.
What every children’s writer wants to see – children engrossed in books, ideally theirs! Pixabay image.
Words are the power source of so much creativity. Pixabay iamge.
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.
Reading has such an impact. Can’t imagine the world without it. Pixabay image.
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
I don’t understand those who dislike books, in whatever format. Image via Pixabay.
Let the words flow! Image via Pixabay.
No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.

Fairytales with Bite – Signs Your Character Isn’t Strong Enough

This is by no means an exhaustive list but signs your character isn’t strong enough include the following.

1.  Forgetting their name!  It can happen. It’s bad enough when a reader does it but if the writer does so, then the character is in real trouble.  If they’re not memorable enough to you, they certainly won’t be to anyone else.

2.  Running out of things for them to do.  Yet the plot is strong, the other characters are ticking along very nicely with plenty of dialogue, action etc.  You need to ask yourself whether you really need this character in the story after all.  If you feel you do, look at why.  Could this character be combined with another in the tale to make one really strong creation that keeps the reader’s (and writer’s) interest?  You need to keep in anything and anyone that moves your story onwards.  You also need to ruthlessly cut what you really don’t need.

3.  Their dialogue isn’t distinctive enough.  Your reader should be able to tell who is speaking in a story by the style of the language used by the characters.  Character A talks in clipped tones, Character B tends to laugh a lot after talking, Character C has a lisp, Character D has a strong northern accent (as someone once said, everywhere  has a north!).  If you can’t tell your characters apart by how they speak, they’re not distinctive enough and again I would look at whether you really need them in the story.

What galaxy is your world set in? Pixabay image
Does your dialogue make a powerful impact on the reader? Pexels image
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
The Andromeda Galaxy. Pixabay image.
What IS out there? Pixabay image.
Social media has made the world a smaller place. Image via Pixabay.
Even in the heart of a city, books can provide escapism. Image via Pixabay.
What writing inspiration can you find in a garden? Pixabay image.
Outline the characters and away you go! Image via Pixabay
The one time of year when Time itself is the news. Pixabay image.
Shedding some light… Pexels image.
Great reading desk. Image via Pixabay.
Love the great outdoors and use it to fire ideas for your stories and posts. Pixabay image.
The fantastical should still be grounded in reality (even if you create some of that reality too). Pixabay image.
What light will your world shed on how ours “behaves”? Pixabay image.

This World and Others – The Weather and Its Uses in Fiction

This is my CFT post for this week and I discuss my views on weather being used in fiction, as well as showing some ways it can be done realistically.

Whether you use weather or not, the general point is that your fictional world must seem realistic to the reader, no matter how fantastical the setting.  That may well mean you do need to share some details as to what the climate is etc to help readers get a better understanding of your creation but only put in the details the reader has absolutely got to know and leave it at that.  Your reader will want to fill in some gaps for themselves.  Also, you don’t want them switching off because all that lovely research detail you put in and you found fascinating has done nothing whatsoever for them!

Ask yourself if the reader really needs to know this.  I’ve found the simple approach of “just the facts, Ma’am, just the facts” is a great way of working out what to put into a story.  I’ve also found it best to share those facts in as palatable a form as possible.  No great splurge of information but drip feeding it as and where necessary makes it easier to take in and therefore more entertaining and acceptable to your reader. And that is where the reader will keep on reading and hopefully loving your story!

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