Tag: Association of Christian Writers

INTERVIEWING

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I discuss interviewing and include news of my Chandler’s Ford Today post as part of this, more on that in a moment.  But from a world building viewpoint, who does carry out interviews in your fictional setting?  What passes for the media in your world?  Who runs it?  Who asks questions on behalf of the layman?  All worth thinking about.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I talk about Meeting and Greeting tonight.  I’m looking forward to doing quite a bit of this tomorrow when I go to the Association of Christian Writers’ Day in Birmingham (UK).  But from a story viewpoint, how do your characters meet and greet each other?  What is the hierarchy?  How welcome (or not) are outsiders?

OTHER NEWS

I am delighted to say that fellow author, Georgina Hannan, invited me to donate a prize to one of her recent giveaways.  I donated a signed copy of From Light to Dark and Back Again and the winner is Doris Orman and I will be posting her prize off to her next week.  I was thrilled to be asked to join with this – and even more thrilled I have a book to be able to offer!

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY/FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about the joy of interviews in this week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post.  I share some questions I was asked by fellow author, Jacci Gooding, and discuss what I liked about the questions.  Jacci was great at asking me questions that made me think about what I do as a writer and look back at how far I’ve come so far on my own writing journey.  The best interviewers draw the interviewees out and I think Jacci has great talent here!  Certainly it was interesting being on the other side of the interviewing fence!

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Feature Image - The Joy of Interviews - image via Pixabay

This week’s CFT post.  All credit to Jacci Gooding for setting some excellent questions.  Image via Pixabay

 

Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Seeing is Believing I discuss the importance of readers being able to see where your characters are coming from” and so why they react the way they do.  Taking us into your character’s head and thoughts will help us see the way they see the world.  We don’t necessarily have to agree that perspective but it will increase our understanding.  Increasing understanding will increase sympathy for a character (even a villain) and if we are sympathetic (even slightly) we are more likely to want to read on to see how things turn out for them.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

In Classic Hooks, share some of the great hooks that will keep readers reading to the end of your story/book.  These range from the “character must succeed in their quest or their world is doomed” to “the character is so vile you read on hoping they will meet a truly nasty fate”!  (Readers can be so nice at times!).  But what matters is we keep reading…

BOOK NEWS

Glad to report From Light to Dark and Back Again is now up on the Association of Christan Writers’ Bookshop and Writing Magazine’s Subscribers’ Showcase.  The latter includes a link to this very blog and my interview by Jacci Gooding as well as the Amazon link.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I share news of the Subscriber Showcase Spotlight.  Really pleased with how this looks.

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Social Media Tree. Image via Pixabay.

Social Media Tree – spreading the word about books and stories.   Image via Pixabay.

 

 

SPREADING THE WORD

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I talk about Spreading the Word tonight and actually do it in the post!  (From Light to Dark and Back Again is now up on the Association of Christian Writers’ online bookshop and I was spreading the word about that, as well as my book!).  I also talk about characters’ spreading the word (especially from within their viewpoint.  Even villains have good reasons for doing what they do, even if it is only good from their perspective).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Adapting to Change looks at how easy it is (or otherwise) for characters to do this.  I ask about what happens when change is forced upon a character and how do other characters react if they feel Character A hasn’t handled the change well?  Plenty of story ideas in answering that alone!

BOOK NEWS

As well as the online bookship news, I hope to have news of the cyber launch of From Light to Dark and Back Again soon.  Chapeltown Books and I have a date in mind and I hope to post more on this before too long.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I share news about my book being up on the ACW Bookshop page and discuss the forthcoming ACW Writers’ Day in Birmingham (UK) on 11th March.  I hope to meet up with old friends and make new ones.  I also have two short story competitions to enter before the month is up so busy busy busy!

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One thing that has been true throughout history is the need for a good edit! Image via Pixabay

One thing that has been true throughout history is the need for a good edit! Image via Pixabay

 

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

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

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

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

MORE THAN WRITERS – ACW BLOG

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

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

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

FACEBOOK PAGE

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

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many-of-us-wont-be-sorry-to-say-goodbye-to-this-year-image-via-pixabay

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

 

 

 

 

Learning with others in a writing conference is huge fun. Image via Pixabay.

PUNISHMENTS AND CRIMES

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I talk about punishments in tonight’s post.  My fictional Fairy Kingdom likes a rough justice kind of approach.  If you offend someone more magically powerful than you in the world I’ve set out you are (a) going to know about it and (b) the results are definitely going to hurt.  (All that’s open to question is just how much your punishment is going to hurt).  I list some of the typical punishments meted out.  The clever bit here is to ensure you are never caught like this.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On the flip side I look at crimes and discuss why breaking someone else’s magical talking mirror is not a great idea.  I list some of what are considered the worst things you could do.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss my day out today at the Writers’ Day held by the Association of Christian Writers in London today.  I learned a lot, talked with old friends, talked with new ones and had a wonderful time!

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A typical writing conference room. Image via Pixabay.

A typical writing conference room. Image via Pixabay.