ASKING YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Asking Yourself the Right Questions lists some of the questions I like to know the answers to before I write or read a story.  I include things like “what is the real point of the story?” and “how can your lead character achieve their objectives?”.  Comments very welcome.  What do you think you should be able to answer when reading or writing any story in any genre?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

My Favourite Moments in Any Story lists, amongst other things, discovering at least one character I can root for, for the story to end with a punch or a good twist, and having a good, strong pace which is appropriate for that tale.  Can you add to my list?

WEBSITE NEWS – UPDATES TO MY HOME PAGES

I’m thrilled that, after many years of writing, I am now a published book author with From Light to Dark and Back Again (Chapeltown Books).  I’ve updated my home pages on both Fairytales with Bite and This World and Others to reflect this.  I hope to create an email list in the not too distant future so I can send out newsletters and so on but the pages are still under construction at the moment.  I am pleased with the updated home pages though, as I’ve been meaning to refresh these for some time and the advent of the book has given me the necessary spur to get on and do it!  Links below.  Will update when pages are fully ready.

http://allisonsymes-thisworldandothers.weebly.com/

http://fairytaleswithbite.weebly.com/from-light-to-dark-and-back-again.html

With the Fairytales with Bite site, I have created a specific book page and am currently working on this, as you will see from the link, but thought I would put a link up now to show that (a) the website is being updated and (b) what is going to come.  I don’t know about you but speaking personally, I find it helpful when an author says they are updating their website/blog etc as it acts as a reminder to me to check it out.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about what I love in stories.  Do you agree?  Comments very welcome.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F892150867554560&width=500

Social Media Tree. Image via Pixabay.

Social Media Tree. Image via Pixabay.

 

Images from the magical world... Image via Pixabay

FURTHER FAIRYTALE MEMOS AND PROMISING ENDINGS

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

As promised yesterday, I share some Further Fairytale Memos that definitely would have changed the course of the traditional story concerned as we know it.  I also continue to add to my book page (and am delighted to say From Light to Dark and Back Again  – Chapeltown Books – is now up on Amazon in paperback).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Promising Endings follows on from yesterday’s post which looked at the start to stories.  Here I look at endings and, in particular with my flash fiction, I aim for my stories to end up with a “punch” or with a twist.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss why this week has been an excellent writing week.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F891485444287769&width=500

Back cover of From Light to Dark and Back Again

Back cover of From Light to Dark and Back Again

 

UNPUBLISHED FAIRYTALE MEMOS

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What if certain fairytale characters had written memos and these somehow were leaked?  Would they have changed the course of a story or an outlook of a character after seeing these?  Judge for yourself in Unpublished Fairytale Memos…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Making a Promising Start looks at some of the ways I start a story.  Do you use any or all of these?

WEBSITE UPDATE – FROM LIGHT TO DARK AND BACK AGAIN

I’m currently putting together a specific page on Fairytales with Bite for my debut flash fiction collection.  I have put up the Amazon link on this (and was thrilled to see my first review has come through too!).  I plan to write about what the book is about, how I came to write it, share book cover images and a link to an interview carried out by Jacci Gooding, a fellow scribe and attendee at Winchester Writers’ Festival amongst other things.  Once I’m happy with the page, I’ll copy it across to This World and Others as well.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My post this week is about Robin Hood – The Pantomime staged by wonderful local theatre group, The Chameleons.  I share what I love about the show and the tale of Sherwood Forest’s most famous and infamous resident, as it is one of my favourite stories.  I like legendary figures – see also my Sir Bevis of Hampton posts on CFT!  And many thanks also to the Chameleons for supplying the wonderful images.  It was a great show and very, very funny.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I share news of my CFT post tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F890726434363670&width=500

A fun show, well produced. Image from the Chameleons.

A fun show, well produced. Image from the Chameleons.

 

Rejections and perseverance-

Leave a comment

Am glad to share Alyson Faye’s blog here as she is a fellow Chapeltown author, whose book will be out with them in due course. She has also kindly shared news of my From Light to Dark and Back Again debut flash fiction collection so., thanks, Alyson and good luck with your book too!

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

THE RELUCTANT HERO/HEROINE

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Reluctant Hero/Heroine lists some reasons why I think this kind of character ranks amongst my favourites.  Do you agree?   Can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

A Wonderful Day asks what your characters would consider would make up such a thing.  Do they need to have a special meal or to have something happen to make it a special day?   Do other characters try to spoil a perfect day and if so, how and why?

FACEBOOK PAGE AND BOOK NEWS

Many thanks to all who have sent congratulations, words of support etc on news of From Light to Dark and Back Again.  I also discuss Doctor Who, my Chandler’s Ford Today post due tomorrow and my love of writing about legendary characters.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F889965817773065&width=500

The chorus from the Chameleons Theatre Company and their Robin Hood panto. I review this in tomorrow's Chandler's Ford Today post. Many thanks to the Chameleons for this image and the ones in the CFT post.

The chorus from the Chameleons Theatre Company and their Robin Hood panto. I review this in tomorrow’s Chandler’s Ford Today post. Many thanks to the Chameleons for this image and the ones in the CFT post.

 

Says it all really. Image via Pixabay.

LIGHT READING

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Light Reading discusses what your characters might read when they want to escape their cares for a while or are just after literary entertainment.  There is very much a place for books and stories that tackle issues but also one for those that “just” entertain.  Does your fictional world reflect that?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Creating Images discusses how writers create images. This topic came about as the image for my book cover for From Light to Dark and Back Again, my debut flash fiction collection, came through from Chapeltown Books.  Naturally, I take the opportunity to share that too!  Hope you like the cover.  I know I’m biased but I think it’s fabulous!

FACEBOOK PAGE

Well, my big news is the book cover so I talk about that more here.  It has taken me a long time to get to this point in my writing so this is very special.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F888997397869907%3A0&width=500

My debut flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books

My debut flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books

 

This, for me, would be a magical place to be. Image via Pixabay

WHAT EVERY GOOD FAIRYTALE SHOULD HAVE

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

What Every Good Fairytale Should Have lists my five most important criteria.  Do you agree with my list?  Can you add to it?  Characterisation, of course, is vital.  I like a good message from a fairytale without it being preachy and I like a clear hero/heroine and villain.  I also love a good narrator led story too.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Five Favourite Character Types is another of my titles that sum up the post well!  I list the reluctant hero,  the heroine who is as worthy as her male counterpart and often better, and the seemingly insignificant character amongst others.  Who would you list and why?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss the joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today and what constitutes a “works outing”.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F888015661301414&width=500

Books really are the gatekeepers. Image via Pixabay.

Books really are the gatekeepers. Image via Pixabay.

 

The magic of stories. Image via Pixabay

FURTHER FAIRYTALE HEADLINES

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Further Fairytale Headlines is another lighthearted post, following on from yesterday’s one.  See what Santa and Cinderella, amongst others, might have to say to the press.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Decisions, Decisions looks at how one decision by a character should be the pivot for the whole story.  See Frodo Baggins’s example of deciding he would go to Elrond’s house with the Ring of Power in The Lord of the Rings.  Okay having the Ringwraiths sent after Frodo did help speed up the decision making process here, but it is the one vital choice Frodo made and it led to consequences for others, especially Sam.  So what vital decisions are your characters making?

BOOK NEWS – FROM LIGHT TO DARK AND BACK AGAIN

And talking of decisions, I am in the middle of working out with my publisher the kind of launch I would like for my debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again (Chapeltown Books).  Last week I had the great joy of choosing my book cover (which looks fab and yes I know I’m biased, but I look forward to being able to share the image at a later date).  It is an exciting journey as it has taken a very long time for me to get to this point.  More details later…  am currently building a book page on my websites as well.

FACEBOOK PAGE

And away from the written word (a bit), I discuss the joys of swimming.  I had thought I would use the time in the pool to mentally work out plots, characters and so on but it hasn’t worked out like that.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F887113741391606&width=500

After a swim, I'm soon back at the keyboard. Image via Pixabay.

After a swim, I’m soon back at the keyboard. Image via Pixabay.

 

 

FAIRYTALE HEADLINES

Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Fairytale Headlines shares some lighthearted ideas as to what headlines you might see in a magical world newspaper, magazine, or advertising supplement.  I include tabloid reaction to the tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker and how the Three Bears might be involved in these publications.  Hope you enjoy!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Getting Feedback gives useful advice on something that should be of immense value to writers – reaction to what you have written!  I share what I look for when seeking feedback and also general pointers on competitions.  For example, I always look for a competition’s track record before deciding to enter it.  And while I haven’t mentioned it in this post (as I forgot!), I will add for newly set up competitions, I look at the people behind it.  There will be a track record somewhere for you to judge whether you have a go at the competition or not and, if in any doubt, always check things out with a reputable writing body such as, in the UK, the Society of Authors.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about music in my post here tonight, what I listen to as I write and how this has changed over time.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F886158498153797&width=500

I listen to wonderful classical music concerts in the comfort of my own home. Image via Pixabay.

I listen to wonderful classical music concerts in the comfort of my own home. Image via Pixabay.