GLORIOUS BOOKS AND STORY FORMATS

September 4, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I discuss my favourite fairytale and collection of fairytales in my blog post called Books, Glorious Books (and they so are!). Working out what you like to read most can be a great aid to working out what you most want to write. Sometimes it can help you work out what you love to read but don’t feel “strong” enough to write. For example, I love crime stories. I’ve written a few short pieces but know I couldn’t make crime the main category in which I write. I also briefly discuss the inspiration we get from books and ask if what drives your writing is strong enough to sustain a novel or if it would be better for a short story.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss story formats in tonight’s post and stress the important thing is getting the story across effectively to people. The actual format in which that can be done varies of course. I’ve been inspired to read an author thanks to watching a great film adaptation of some of their work. Other times I’ve read the book and found the film a wonderfully enjoyable way of enjoying the story a second time!

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I discuss story formats again here and wonder what film adapters would do without books! I think the creative industries would grind to a halt without books – so more power to the book writers then!

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Some of the anthologies my work has appeared in – image by me.

Magazines are a wonderful read. I like the writing mags and some history ones. Image via Pixabay.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…

September 4, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Tonight’s post is called And Now For Something Completely Different. Much as I love humorous lists (reading and writing them), I thought I would look at the differences in the worlds you might create for your stories that would draw readers in. What makes the world you’ve created different from what we know? What is only all too familiar (but is easy to identify with)? These are some of the things discussed.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Talking of the familiar, I look at this in Right Under Your Nose, tonight’s post for my writing tips and prompts website. It is frighteningly easy to take for granted the familiar settings around you (and indeed the people!). Do your characters do this? Do they have cause to regret it? This post looks at this in a little more detail.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss what I’ve been reading, magazine wise, tonight and also a novel competition I hope to have a try for over the next few months. (Closing date isn’t until January 2017). I also raise the spectre of the “C” word, which I generally refuse to even think about until after the end of September, though I’ve seen so many cards and some seasonal parties being advertised already. (And I love the “C” season but in August? Really?)

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Overview of a local Extravaganza event, sadly not to be held this year. Image by me.

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A FAIRYTALE HEROINE AND ASSUMPTIONS

September 2, 2016September 2, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

You’ll have spotted a theme developing with my recent posts on here. Tonight’s one looks at what not to say to a fairytale hero/heroine (though I ended up merely writing about heroines!). The gullibility of some characters does get to me sometimes…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Tonight I have a bit of a rant about Audi drivers and discuss assumptions that irritate writers. I also look at what assumptions your characters might have and what the world of your story might have. Can these be challenged? Has anyone in your stories done so and what were the consequences? Plenty of story ideas there!

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Friday night is usually when my posts appear. Tonight’s one is a short reminder of a creative writing class coming up in the area shortly. These classes are being run by the very wonderful Barbara Large, who founded and ran the Winchester Writing Conference as it was known. Today it is the Winchester Writers’ Festival. I can’t begin to tell you how many writers Barbara has encouraged but I happily recommend her classes as I’m sure they will be fascinating and enlightening.

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I mainly share news of my Chandler’s Ford Today post on a Friday night. See link.

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Story ideas often still start life on paper – image via Pixabay

Part of the New Forest in late autumn, image taken by me.

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A FAIRY GODMOTHER AND THE CHANGING TIMES

September 2, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Following on from yesterday’s post, I suggest things that should not be said to any fairy godmother who happens to drop by. They’re not always sweet tempered creatures and, in any case, will not want some useless herbert who is not magical at all questioning the likes of them!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Tonight’s post looks at new beginnings and discusses how these should show at least some change in your characters. The post also discusses the impact of new beginnings both on your characters and those around them.

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE

I discuss the change of the season now we’re into September, share one of my favourite songs from Earth Wind and Fire, and from a writer’s viewpoint, why I love autumn. As it gets colder and darker outside, it is so much easier to stay at my desk immersed in a fictional world! Link below.

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Whatever the season, walking the dog is a labour of love. (Image by me, pose by Mabel the border collie).

WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A FAIRYTALE WITCH AND OTHER ADVICE…

September 1, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Sometimes the most innocent of conversations can rile people. Here is some advice on what not to say to a fairytale witch (assuming you like living and want to stay the same species you were born into).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Tonight’s post looks at the four seasons and discusses, amongst other things, whether the natural world in a story can ever fight back against magic used on it. I think that any environment, where magic has been used, would show the scars of that.

FACEBOOK

I ask what is the point of https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F768997693203212&width=500” target=”_blank”>housework and queues in the Post Office in tonight’s offering on my author page. I also suggest how writers can use “dead time” to their advantage.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

This week’s post from me will be a reminder about local creative writing classes coming up soon. More details a bit nearer the time.

Listening to an inspiring talk. Image via Pixabay.

Some of the books my stories have appeared in - image taken by me.

UNWELCOME GUESTS AND TIME TELLING

August 30, 2016Leave a comment

WEBSITES

The title of this post shows there’s quite a mix tonight! On my Fairytales with Bite website, I discuss the Unwelcome Guest and what makes them unwelcome. I’m not naming any names as to who or what might have inspired me to write this post!

On This World and Others I discuss calendars and how time is organised on your fictional world. Is it how we know it – based on a 24 hour day following the patterns of night and day – or something completely different, as the saying goes?

FACEBOOK

On my Facebook page, I look at an old Chandler’s Ford Today post I wrote called My Desert Island Books. See the link below but I base this on the Radio 4 show, Desert Island Discs, and you can name 8 books you would have to have with you on a remote island. No smuggling in of a Kindle or other device so you could take in more. As with the show you can have Shakespeare and the Bible. I will add in, being a generous sort, the complete works of Dickens and, in my view, our finest funny writer ever, P. G. Wodehouse. So now what would you choose for bookish company if you were stuck on said island for a while?

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SAYING WHAT YOU MEAN

August 30, 2016Leave a comment

Language can convey meaning and hide it. For some examples see:-

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Tonight’s post looks at what is really meant by phrases that often come up in fantasy fiction, especially the quest type. Oh it also discusses whether you are likely to end up with a companion for said quest. The answer is a definite no, see the link for why. Are you with the hero or with the potential companion on this one?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Coded Speech is the title of tonight’s post here and discusses if your characters are smart enough to pick up on the hidden meanings so often contained within what someone says. What is said is often so very different from what is meant!

FACEBOOK

My author page tonight shares news of my first post with the Association of Christian Writers called Appreciating the Small Successes. It also discusses how I’ve become insatiable… for reading non-fiction. Link to my author page below.

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This picture was taken by me as I was walking my border collie, the lovely (but sometimes noisy) Mabel. I used the image in a Hidden Hampshire piece for Chandler’s Ford Today. Probably my best photo ever of a sunset.

The lakes at the Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire. Home to the Swanwick Summer School. Image taken by me.

SWANWICK AND A MAGICAL SHOPPING LIST

August 28, 2016August 28, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I don’t know about you but I have to have a shopping list when preparing for the weekly shop. That’s fine for everyday stuff but what kind of things could you expect to see on a magical shopping list? My post tonight has a lighthearted look at that.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss having a to-do list in tonight’s post. I find these really helpful for planning out what to write (and therefore how best to use what time I’ve got available that day) but I discuss whether characters could have their own version of this. After all they do their have their own agendas in the story, haven’t they? I also ask whether a character that does have such a list is more scary than one that doesn’t.

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE

On my author page tonight (link below), I finally get around to sharing some of my favourite images taken by me using my trusty phone camera of Swanwick Summer School. Absolutely beautiful place. I discuss one reason why I love flash fiction and, theme for tonight or so it appears, why I like to-do lists.

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The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire – image taken by me. Stunning place.

WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS…

August 28, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE/THIS WORLD AND OTHERS WEBSITES

Picking up the pieces is my theme for Fairytales With Bite tonight. I discuss how characters handle doing this and whether this topic could be used for comedic, as well as the more obvious tragic, purposes.

On This World and Others tonight, I discuss a similar theme under the heading of “When Life Hands You Lemons”. I ask how characters react to being faced with this and discuss how, given lemons can become really sour over time if not used, so can characters. What leads to that? Can it be prevented? Food for thought for story ideas there I hope.

FACEBOOK

On my author page tonight, I discuss the Proms, the stifling heat, and the joys of sending a book contract back, all signed and ready to go! It is strange when something you have worked for and longed for suddenly comes to fruition, it can feel unreal. Still writing competitions I want to have a try at over the next few months will ensure I get some real writing done. I find deadlines helpful in that regard – they really do focus the mind!

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I tend to write articles here on writing, publishing and so on but have written some pieces on local events (such as the Medieval Weekend), appreciation items on Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett, away days by public transport (especially train) from my area and so on. I’ve interviewed local authors and those known to me.

And I should add one reason I love writing for CFT is the great community feel it encourages in its readers as well as contributors (the link takes you to the list of writers, which has steadily grown over time). Chandler’s Ford is one of those places which sprang up and then grew and grew and grew without any real planning so there’s no real central community. Hopefully CFT helps feel the gap there a bit. I think it does.

One of the views on a local dog walk.

LIVING IN THE PAST

August 27, 2016Leave a comment

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My post for tonight is part 2 of my overall review of the recently held Medival Weekend, organised by the Road to Agincourt Project. The weekend was a lot of fun but I am so glad I live in an era where literacy rates are generally high. In this post I look at the role of the fletcher and the taverner amongst others.

The King’s Fletcher at work, showing off his wares and explaining what he did at a recent Medieval Weekend in Hampshire. Image taken by Allison Symes.

WEBSITES –

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE AND THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On Fairytales with Bite, I discuss New Chapters and Some Very Old Ones…

This is pertinent as I signed my first book contract today and sent it back to my publisher electronically. My first flash fiction collection will be published, hopefully later this year, with my short story collection to follow in 2017. Am thrilled to bits over this.

I also use the FWB post title to ask what new chapters your characters have.

On This World and Others I discuss time travelling given the Medieval Weekend gave me a big look at what life would have been like for most people back then.