Reading and Writing Seasons

September 19, 2023Leave a comment

Image Credits:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated with many created in Book Brush. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Many thanks to Janet Williams (my lovely CFT editor) for the image of me at the Book Fair in July. It is a great marketing shot!

Hope you have had a good weekend. It was a mixture of Zoom (running a workshop and having lovely chats with writer friends and family), painting a fence with wood treatment, sunshine, heavy rain, taking the dog out and, of course, writing. Busy but that’s how I like it. Here’s to a good week ahead of us.

Facebook – General

Posting earlier than usual due to a meeting later. Hope you have had a good day. Have spent a lot of the day getting wet. Only one time was fun – when I was in the swimming pool!

Will be looking at Favourite Supporting Characters for Chandler’s Ford Today later this week. Put your thinking caps on and see if you can name some of your favourite supporting “cast” from books and stories as comments are always welcome on the CFT page. Link up on Friday. My problem with this post? Making myself limit the numbers of favourites I could submit! I could have gone on for some time. Best not, I think, but am looking forward to sharing the post.

Writing Tip for Bloggers: Don’t forget you can make use of the random generators (especially those on theme and questions) to trigger thoughts for blog post ideas. I have used pictures randomly generated to trigger ideas for a post as well.

Blogging is a great way to practice writing to deadlines

Am pleased to be back on Authors Electric with my latest post, Reading and Writing Seasons. I look at what I mean by this and discuss how the writing season in particular has its dips but it helps to be aware of these. Hope you enjoy the post.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Lady and I had a soaking on our trip out today. Boy, did it bucket down. She dries off quicker than I do though!

Many thanks for the lovely comments coming in on Time Travel, my latest tale on Friday Flash Fiction. If you missed it, do check out the link. Sometimes an image just puts a story idea into my head and that was the case here. The image here was of a photo album. See what I made of that in the story.

I do sometimes use my own photos for this kind of prompt but also the random picture generators. Those are to an extent better as I don’t know what will come up from those.

Many thanks to the lovely people at the Spiderplant writing group for making me so welcome via Zoom this morning (Saturday, 16th September 2023). It was a pleasure to share my flash fiction workshop with you. I hope you find the hints and tips (which can be applied to almost every form of writing) will prove useful.

I’ll be looking at Favourite Supporting Characters for Chandler’s Ford Today next week and am pleased to say there will be further author interviews in the next couple of months. Plenty to look out for then. I love conducting as well as reading/listening to author interviews.

Always plenty to learn (which I think is one of the great strengths of creative writing. It stretches your brain and you always seek to improve on what what you do).

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Have to post a bit earlier than usual today. Next couple of weeks or so are going to be especially busy but this is where planning out my writing time is helpful. I use this to help me work out what time I do have and then I can deduce how I can make the best use of these “slots”.

Drafting flash fiction pieces will come into it. I often use small pockets of time to jot down ideas for those pieces or even the first draft of one, based on say a title idea I’ve already jotted down in a previous pocket of time I had to hand. Overall, I get more written. Like that a lot.

When out and about I tend to use Evernote on my phone for this. At home, it’s back to old school ways with the good old notebook and pen. But however you do it, it is the use of those small pockets of time which can help you (and do help me) to end up with more written than you would otherwise have done.

It’s Monday. It has been bucketing down. The darker evenings are drawing in. Have had to dig out my boots so I can walk the dog. And it is still Monday. Time for another story from me then. Hope you enjoy my thoughtful piece, A New Life, on YouTube.

One thing I watch out for in my stories (flash and standard short ones) is not to put anything into the story which could date it, unless I am specifically writing a historical fiction piece. Sometimes a story can become a historical fiction piece when real life events overtake it.

My story, Jubilee, in The Best of CafeLit 12 is like that given the background to it was the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and at the time I wrote it, I was looking forward to seeing what those celebrations would be like.

Her Majesty’s sad passing has now made that tale a historical piece but these things happen. What I try to do with stories where this is a possibility is to make the theme a universal one. In this case it was the theme of someone beginning to make new friends after a difficult time in their life. There is never a time when that theme won’t be relevant.

What I won’t do is put products into a story unless I want to use them to convey a certain era. For example, I would not refer to Betamax video or CDs unless I wanted those to reflect what my character owns and give a time setting that way.

It was wonderful sharing something of the joy of flash fiction writing with the Spiderplant writing group this morning.

Flash has certainly taught me never to fear editing or being edited again, which is handy to say the least. It has also shown up my wasted words and repeated phrases, which are always useful to know as these are the first things I cut on my first edit.

Okay, I wish I could stop myself from writing the things in the first place but the next best thing is to be aware of them so you can remove them later. I take some comfort in knowing every writer has their own pet phrases and words here!

Goodreads Author Blog – Early Books

Do you recall the early books which were used to introduce you to the joys of reading? I have some memories of the Janet and John books but I was much happier when I was able to choose books of my own to read. I am pleased that now there is far more variety with books designed to encourage the reluctant readers. In my school days, there wasn’t much at all. There was less sympathy too for those who found reading difficult. Some things have got much better.

What amuses me somewhat is when I was bringing up my own child the Spot the dog books were popular. I am sure they still are and we liked them too along with books such as the fabulous The Gruffalo and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. These things will be timeless. These days, said child as an adult loves reading political history. It is hard to imagine a greater contrast in types of book enjoyed!

What matters then is encouraging that love of reading as early as possible, to have help where reading is difficult (there is a book type out there for everyone to love and enjoy, honest, and there is help available for the difficulties), and to nourish the love of stories.

Early books matter. I couldn’t write one myself but I admire those who can. Those writers are building the foundations for a lifetime of happy reading which is such a worthwhile thing to do.

WRITERS NARRATIVE SUBSCRIBER LINK

Screenshot 2023-08-22 at 20-42-35 Writers' Narrative magazine September 2023

Screenshot 2023-08-21 at 20-12-18 Writers' Narrative magazine September 2023

369216011_10159759544524842_5951025231131759723_n

Screenshot 2023-07-15 at 17-16-07 Writers' Narrative

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The heatwave this month took me by surprise. Dog wasn’t over happy either. But this led me to wonder what surprises would your characters not want? Should you drop them in it (course you will, being writers, it’s what we do), how would they handle this? How would they change? pic.twitter.com/7YuDqSpZ3R
— ACW (@ACW1971) September 16, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

liked Allison Symes's blog post: Early Books https://t.co/nGhzC1c7Jq via @goodreads I recall my early books for this week's Goodreads post and am so pleased there is more variety available now. pic.twitter.com/RBslyUjPqh
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) September 16, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I like to know my characters before I write their stories up. I must know their main trait because from that attitudes/actions spring. If someone is stubborn, I want to know why and what trouble could that cause. Just in that, you have a basic outline for a story. pic.twitter.com/Z1kaJ7gb8J
— ACW (@ACW1971) September 17, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I don’t plan everything for my stories. I like to give my imagination manoeuvre room but I need enough to get me started so that’s where my planning happens. The starting point for me is always with the character(s). I must be interested in them to write about them. pic.twitter.com/P7vjnXhFLs
— ACW (@ACW1971) September 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

It’s Monday. It has been bucketing down. The darker evenings are drawing in. Have had to dig out my boots so I can walk the dog. And it is still Monday. Time for another story from me then. Hope you enjoy my thoughtful piece, A New Life, on YouTube. https://t.co/NEkmtbayvW
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) September 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Am pleased to be back on Authors Electric with my latest post, Reading and Writing Seasons.I look at what I mean by this and discuss how the writing season in particular has its dips but it helps to be aware of these. Hope you enjoy the post. https://t.co/FECYz9Iwss pic.twitter.com/uJOnkvpiyz
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) September 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Holiday Writing and Quizzing Characters

June 20, 2023Leave a comment

Image Credits:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated with many created in Book Brush. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Hope you have had a good few days.

Am looking forward to a trip out with family to Windsor Castle later this week. I suspect there will opportunities for people watching. Whenever I go out anywhere, there usually is! Sometimes a snatch of dialogue will inspire a story. Sometimes a striking hat or other clothing item will make me think of a character of mine who might wear something similar and what situation they’re in. As ever, I just need something to get me started and getting out and about can help with that!

Facebook – General

Nice, cooler day today – Lady and I appreciated that.

Part 2 of my interview with YA fantasy author, Francesca Tyer, will be up on Chandler’s Ford Today later this week. Cracking interview. Link up on Friday. Be sure not to miss.

Now if you were temporarily allowed to bring one of your characters to life to ask them one question, who would you choose and what would you ask? Could be great material for a story or two here. Hmmm… something I too need to check out I think!

Am looking forward to the Association of Christian Writers’ Flash Fiction Group meeting next week. These are always great fun. I do set exercises here. I find writing exercises a great way to put into practise a tip or two you’ve picked up. The nice thing with writing exercises? There is sure to be at least one or two which really suit the way you write. Practising writing to them helps build up your writing skills so worth a go for that alone.

Wasn’t sorry for the rain yesterday evening. Has cooled things down though the grass is still like straw over the Recreation Ground. Not that it stopped Lady having a good time with her Rhodesian Ridgeback bestie today.

Writing Tip: Quiz your characters. Find out what makes them tick. What wouldn’t they do in any circumstances? Your job here – put them in those circumstances and then see what they do. They will have to find a way of coping with it. Doesn’t necessarily have to be something “overly” dramatic.

For example, let’s say you have a character who doesn’t like the water. A friend is ill and someone is organising a charity swim to raise funds to help this friend. What would your character do? Sure, they could just donate but where’s the story in that?

What they would do so there is a story is learn to swim, take part in the event (though they probably wouldn’t do many lengths given the lack of experience here) but everyone is thrilled they’ve done this. That would make a nice human interest story. Your character has faced up to something they don’t like here. They are putting themselves out for someone else. It’s that which readers will like.

So think about something which would make your characters do something they wouldn’t ordinarily do. This can be taken in many directions. Have fun!

I’m talking about Holiday Writing for Authors Electric this month. Do you do any and/or do you send your characters on holiday? Take your characters out of their normal environment and what could happen? I discuss this and more in this post. Hope you enjoy it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bit of an odd day. Have gone from doing the ironing to painting a wood preservative on another fence panel. Oh the joys! So it is with great relief I am now back at the writing desk.

It was great to share Part 1 of the interview with Francesca Tyer on Chandler’s Ford Today yesterday. Am looking forward to sharing Part 2 on Friday.

Many thanks for the great comments coming in on Anniversary, my latest tale on Friday Flash Fiction. This one has a dark twist – if you missed it, check out the link. I very much appreciate the feedback on this great site and if you want to see what flash fiction can be, this is a very good place to start.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Flash fiction collections are a great way to show off what flash can do and be. Mine have a wide range of characters and situations in them. Equally The Great War by Dawn Kentish Knox is a wonderful book (100 x 100 word stories) all based on World War One. So flash works well for characterisation and themes then. Then there are the flash-in-novella books too.

There is more flexibility in flash than at first might appear to be the case. It is the top word count only you have to watch for but there is much you can do within that

I regularly share tips on flash writing via my author newsletter. Next one is due out on 1st July. If you’d like to sign up, please head over to my landing page at https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s Monday once more. It’s still hot (in my case not helped by having an afternoon in the kitchen batch cooking though it will pay off later in the week!). Time for a story then. Hope you enjoy my latest on YouTube – Editor Edited.

One of the joys of flash (and there are many) is that it is a great format for turning the tables. In my The Terrified Dragon I do exactly that. Firstly, the expectation normally is the dragon would be terrifying. Not in this story from Tripping the Flash Fantastic. Secondly, I then go on to show good reasons why it is terrified instead and have another character come to its aid. Great fun to write. Best kept as a very short story, anything else would be padding, and so flash is perfect for it.

Sometimes you just know when an idea comes to you that it works best in the shorter formats and with flash we have the ideal vehicle for the very short form. A single idea executed in the right amount of words works so well. Gauging whether an idea has “legs” for a longer format is not easy to get right. My gut instinct is to keep an idea tight – stick to the point of it and don’t elaborate further. Turning the table kind of stories tend to focus on one central action so this is why it works brilliantly when kept short.

I’ve sometimes used proverbs as title ideas (and often they end up being the theme as well). One of these is A Stitch In Time from Tripping the Flash Fantastic. I used a humorous slant on this one.

The great thing with using proverbs for fiction is the proverbs have a timeless quality to them. People will always identify with the point they’re making and that is something invaluable to use for your stories. People will always get the point you’re showing in your tales as a result. So don’t throw out that book of proverbs – you can make good use of it here.

Goodreads Author Blog – Book Fairs

Do you go to book fairs? I hope so. I’m taking part in one in my area in July and am looking forward to that. It gives local authors a chance to show what they do and these things are especially useful in areas which have a lost a lot of their bookshops. We had a fantastic local one but that had to close due to the owners’ retirement. Much missed.

All of us as readers appreciate the works of authors. We wouldn’t be on Goodreads otherwise but authors do appreciate support from readers. Going to book fairs is just another way of showing that support. So if you have such an event coming up near you, try and get along. You may well be surprised at the range of works your local authors produce. I know I’m impressed with what is available in my area.

Besides which, these events are fun!

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

liked Allison Symes's blog post: Book Fairs https://t.co/Pl741VQNxG via @goodreads I explore the value of book fairs for this week's Goodreads post. I'm taking part in one in July so will admit to bias but, having attended others, have been impressed with the range on offer. pic.twitter.com/Njp8ulSHan
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) June 17, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Do you review where you are with your writing? I ask as we're now beyond the middle of the year (I know!). Being positive, there is still time to get things done. It is also a chance to see where you have got to since the year start. You will have achieved things, small or large. pic.twitter.com/sc3ChHlRIf
— ACW (@ACW1971) June 17, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Reviewing where you are at writing wise is never a waste of time. I use this review time to have some encouragement from what has gone well. Those things which have not, and inevitably there are some of these, I ask what can I learn and there usually is something of value here. pic.twitter.com/naZbWKbS6p
— ACW (@ACW1971) June 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Authors Electric: Holiday Writing by Allison Symes https://t.co/S4n2c9OnVN I talk about Holiday Writing for AE. Do you do any and/or do you send your characters on holiday? What could happen if you take your characters out of their normal environment? Hope you enjoy the post. pic.twitter.com/AocZHAi2uW
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) June 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I plan my writing time over a week. There are days when I can't get much done. I try to save those times for “writing bits and pieces”. When I do have more time, I use those for my longer pieces of work. I’ve found working out what I can do when has made me more productive. pic.twitter.com/SsDGKmH695
— ACW (@ACW1971) June 19, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

It’s Monday once more. It’s still hot (in my case not helped by having an afternoon in the kitchen batch cooking though it will pay off later in the week!). Time for a story then. Hope you enjoy my latest on YouTube – Editor Edited.https://t.co/LiNEJPDrpz
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) June 19, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Writing To A Theme and Dragon Duty

April 18, 2023Leave a comment

Image Credits:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated with many created in Book Brush. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

Hope you are well. Had a lovely weekend away at the ACW Committee Retreat. Lady not happy I went. Was overjoyed when I got back! Now back to the usual routines, writing and otherwise. Spring weather seems to be more settled now. Am hoping that won’t prove to be a case of famous last words!

Facebook – General

Regular blog posting is a good indication of how quickly time passes by! Can’t believe we’re at the 18th already and it is my turn once again on the Authors Electric blog. This time I talk about Writing to a Theme.

This is something I do a lot for my blog posts here and elsewhere (I set them), to other places where the theme is set for me, including competitions. Hope you find the post helpful.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a busy weekend, it has been a busy Monday! Start as you mean to go on, perhaps?

Will be scheduling a story for my YouTube channel so it appears tomorrow. Looking forward to sharing that. Spent a lot of my train journey home yesterday drafting different pieces – will find homes for them in due course. I often do draft potential blog pieces/stories like this because I know I can use them at a later date. I don’t usually edit pieces on journeys like that. I just want to get something written and save the editing for when I‘m back at my desk again. I see journey time as bonus writing time.

On way home from the Committee Retreat (Association of Christian Writers). Plan to do reasonable amount of writing on the trains home. Never short of things to draft here!

It was lovely to be back at The Hayes, Swanwick. Due to be back in August for The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick.

This weekend I stayed in the Main House for the first time. Very nice and I literally got some steps in going up and down the stairs.

Will be talking about Book Recommendations for Chandler’s Ford Today. Link up on Friday.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Am currently at the Committee Retreat for the Association of Christian Writers. Good to see everyone again. Getting to stay at The Hayes, Swanwick again which is lovely.

Between us the Committee represents Christians writing for the secular market (I’m included here) and those who do write for the Christian market. There are novelists across different genres, article writers, short story and flash fiction people (yes I count here but am not the only one I’m pleased to say).

We are in a way a microcosm of the wider writing world. Not sure what my colleagues will make of being referred to like that (!) but I think it is an excellent thing. The writing world is huge and the variety amazing. With both my reader and writer hats on, I love that.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I may be a day late (thanks to being away at the weekend) but there is always time for a story on a Tuesday as well as a Monday! Hope you enjoy my latest YouTube tale – Dragon Duty.

The day after you get back from anywhere is always a toughie as you try to resume your normal routines (whether they be writing, domestic, or in my case both!). This is where writing in the short form is a lovely bonus. If I get, say, 200 words written today, that may be a complete story for me (or I am well on my way to a useful blog post).

Never worry about only writing a “little”. These “little” bits and pieces mount up over time. It’s how I ended up putting two collections (and now a third) together. Also it’s not as if you could write a novel in “one go” anyway. All writing does need building up, you do get to the end. It’s not a race and I would rather write something than nothing.

I won’t beat myself up because I could only write a little rather than my standard amount (and I deliberately don’t work out my average word count. I just write and enjoy the process – mostly. I say mostly because we all get days when we’d far rather be doing something else but I always feel better for getting something creative done and for me that creativity is in the writing).

Many thanks for the great comments coming in for Making Her Day, my latest tale on Friday Flash Fiction. Much appreciated.
Plan to write and submit pieces as usual this week for FFF and my YouTube channel but will be a day later than usual. Hope to draft both on my way back from my weekend away. I bless Evernote!

Writing flash helps with other formats too. I’m not going to be fazed by having to write 500 words for an article, say, given I often write to that word count for stories.

I also know editing is vital no matter what word count you write to as there is no such thing as a perfect first draft. What you do get with that draft is a basic story which needs strengthening but that can be done later. You can’t strengthen the unwritten!

Flash has taught me to be specific with word usage and that is useful elsewhere too.

Goodreads Author Blog – Reading Away From Home

I usually take my Kindle with me for trips. Gives me choice. Saves weight. Gives me packing room for other things too.
But for my trip to the Commitee Retreat for the Association of Christian Writers, where I am as this goes out, I left my reader at home. Why?

Because I’m currently engrossed with two different paperbacks I couldn’t bear to leave behind.

One is 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which is funny and informative (written by Stephen Clarke).

The other is The Continuing Times of Isabella M Smugge (written by Ruth Leigh). This is funny and moving.

Plan to continue to make progress on these while away. Do think two decent sized paperbacks is a good limit for books in a case though!

ALLISON SYMES – BOOK BRUSH READER HUB

MOM’S FAVORITE READS LINK – CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINE INCLUDING MY FLASH FICTION COLUMN HERE –

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

liked Allison Symes's blog post: Reading Away From Home https://t.co/C0EdPCCzcx via @goodreads I share why, for once, I haven't taken my Kindle away with me. Hope you enjoy. pic.twitter.com/MKUVNnpEFo
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 15, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I may be a day late (thanks to being away at the weekend) but there is always time for a story on a Tuesday as well as a Monday! Hope you enjoy my latest YouTube tale – Dragon Duty.https://t.co/BUZcbEXZhl
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Authors Electric: Writing to a Theme by Allison Symes https://t.co/sd8tkCCsDF It's my turn again on Authors Electric. This time I talk about Writing to a Theme. I do this a lot for my blog posts (I set them), to other places where the theme is set for me, including competitions.
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Evergreen, Blogging, and Historically Based Flash Fiction

February 7, 20234 Comments

Image Credits:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated with many created in Book Brush. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

Getting colder again where I am but there are signs of spring about. I’ve seen my first daffodil out and even a very early crocus. My snowdrops have put in an appearance too. How would your characters think of emerging from spring in their lives? When something happens which uplifts them? Coming out of winter is cheering but you can take this metaphorically for fiction too.

Facebook – General

Pleased to say I am putting in an appearance on Gill James’ blog today where I talk about my contribution to Evergreen, the most recent anthology from Bridge House Publishing. Hope you enjoy it and many thanks, Gill, for inviting me on to your blog.

Screenshot 2023-02-07 at 15-58-08 Allison Symes talks to us about her involvement in Evergreen

Am busy preparing a story for a competition. Hope to have that submitted soon. I will also be having a catch up interview soon too – more details nearer the time.

I write for a number of monthly blogs (and have a ball doing so too!) so pretty much with all of them, the moment I’ve put one to “bed” so to speak, I’m away drafting my piece for the following month. It gives me time to get something down, and then come back to it as I need to, and still have plenty of time for editing and submitting the blogs. It works for me!

I sometimes use the random question generators to trigger ideas for potential pieces here too – they can work for non-fiction too. When I have my brainstorming sessions for ideas for titles, blog posts etc, I am jotting down themes to explore. I then come back to these every so often and write up the ones I like most.

Many thanks for the comments coming in on The Milk, my latest story on Friday Flash Fiction. This is one of those tales I would put in the “wry smile of recognition” category as I suspect this has happened to most of us in our time. Hope you enjoy it. This one also definitely falls in the category of “write what you know”!

Hope you have had a good day. I’ll be chatting to YA author Richard Hardie, for Chandler’s Ford Today this coming week. Link up on Friday. Richard is also behind Authors Reach Limited. I hope to chat to other writers from that stable later in the year. Watch this space, as they say!

With the boot on the other foot so to speak, I’ve recently sent back my own answers to some excellent questions sent to me by Val Penny. More details on that nearer the time I am due to be on her website. It is always an interesting experience being both sides of the questions!

And don’t forget you can outline characters effectively by asking them a few questions too. Work out what you think you need to know. Interviewing your own creations is a good way to find out more about them. I’ve found by working out what I need to know I can then write my characters’ stories up convincingly precisely because I now know what they are and what they could be capable of doing when push comes to shove.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Delighted to say the February issue of Mom’s Favorite Reads is now available FREE to download on Amazon. See link to my Author Central page. Do check the magazine out – it is a wonderful read.

It’s Monday. It’s dark. It’s slowly getting lighter in the evenings – hooray – but for the moment it is still dark. It helps if you like spiders for my latest on YouTube – As Good As.

I sometimes write historically based flash fiction where I either take a character I’m interested in and have their flash story told from their point of view. I do this for Elizabeth of York in Not Knowing from Tripping the Flash Fantastic.

Sometimes I take an event and base my story around that, focusing on just one aspect to it, given I won’t have the word count room for anything else. Both approaches work and you could also write a story based on the viewpoint of someone connected to the historical character or event (a servant’s viewpoint for example).

It’s an interesting form to write in and I hope to do more of this. History is a wide field after all (and don’t forget there are other aspects to it such as scientific history so explore!). What does matter though is being true to the character and what is known.

If you’re going down the reasonable supposition route (as I have occasionally), there should still be plenty of historical fact around to show this is reasonable supposition based on what is known. If you’re going to change history in your fiction, you do have to make it clear from the outset this is alternative history, a “what if” kind of story, otherwise readers will feel cheated and that will switch them off.

From Light to Dark and Back Again - by night

Another thing flash fiction writing teaches you pretty early on is how to hit the ground running. You do have go straight into the action (even if that is revealing a thought in your character’s head). What it must be is intriguing enough so the reader will want to find out what happens. Now that’s the core factor for all fiction but it is even more crucial for flash. No time to waste. Straight in there. Job done.

Flash also teaches you how to end a story. You can’t witter on. The story has to end with some sort of “bang”. And that’s a good thing.

I keep in mind my Ideal Reader here. I always think how does this line serve the story? If it doesn’t, it’s out. I’m thinking of the impact I want my tale to have on my Ideal Reader as well.

It’s all about the focus!

Goodreads Author Blog – Light Fiction

What would you say light fiction was? It’s definitely nothing to do with the weight of the book, though I would advise against dropping the three volume paperback of The Lord of the Rings on your foot (to say nothing of the hardback!).

Light fiction isn’t necessarily anything to do with genre either. I have read cosy crime which I would consider to be “light” fiction because it has amused me, entertained me, but doesn’t pretend to send a great message out to the world at large.

I love reading books “just” for entertainment (though it is my experience the writers of said works have worked very hard to get to this point. If something looks effortless, it means someone somewhere has put in years of work to get to that point).

Jane Austen is rightly considered a classic author. The messages in her book are sbutle but she delivers them through entertaining stories. I don’t want a heavy, serious read. I read to unwind or to learn something and even there, non-fiction doesn’t have to be “heavy going” either. The best books here read like novels too and, for me, are far more likely to have readers keep turning the pages to find out more.

Being aware of your writing weaknesses is a good thing. One of my mine is writing conversational ping-pong! Great fun to do but unless it moves the story on, no dialogue (or anything else) should be in there. At least I know to look out for it. pic.twitter.com/FtenoxSZaB
— ACW (@ACW1971) February 4, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

liked Allison Symes's blog post: Light Fiction https://t.co/aXqZtxKaPz via @goodreads I discuss what makes for light fiction for Goodreads this week.
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) February 4, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Think about what your character weaknesses are. How can these be exploited by others in your stories? How can your characters either overcome or manage these to try to avoid that exploitation? pic.twitter.com/YKcfmnbcCP
— ACW (@ACW1971) February 5, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Writers are often urged to play to their strengths but for our characters, we do need to know what they can be capable of – good or bad. This is why knowing character weaknesses as well as their strengths is important. A well rounded character has both. pic.twitter.com/FoKg0QR8X4
— ACW (@ACW1971) February 6, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

It’s Monday. It’s dark. It’s slowly getting lighter in the evenings – hooray – but for the moment it is still dark. It helps if you like spiders for my latest on YouTube – As Good As.https://t.co/Q4Mz41smIk
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) February 6, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Delighted to say the February issue of Mom’s Favorite Reads is now available FREE to download on Amazon. See link to my Author Central page below. Do check the magazine out – it is a wonderful read.https://t.co/TTiRp40EEI
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) February 7, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Pleased to say I am putting in an appearance on @GillJames blog today where I talk about my contribution to Evergreen, the most recent anthology from Bridge House Publishing. Hope you enjoy it and many thanks, Gill, for inviting me on to your blog. https://t.co/tQBwzmYkpb
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) February 7, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

ALLISON SYMES – BOOK BRUSH READER HUB

MOM’S FAVORITE READS LINK – CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINE INCLUDING MY FLASH FICTION COLUMN HERE –

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Stories and The Joys of Working with the Indie Press

April 19, 2022Leave a comment

Image Credits:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

I hope you had a happy Easter, if you celebrate it as I do. The weather was lovely and it actually felt spring-like! After the bizarre weather of the last month or so that was welcome.

Facebook – General

Hope you have had a good day. Am catching up with some flash fiction reading at the moment then I’m on to non-fiction books again. I do like a good mix.

Writing wise, this week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post will be Names In Fiction. Sorry my Originality in Fiction will be out for CFT on the 29th April. I got ahead of myself by a week there! (I blame the bank holidays and the clock change – so there! Having said that, I hope you enjoy both posts when they come out over the next two Fridays!).

I schedule blogs and tweets I write every so often for the Association of Christian Writers as much as I can. It saves time and it means I don’t forget things but it does mean I can occasionally put myself out of sync with myself as I did over the weekend!

Blogging wasn’t really a “thing” when I started writing seriously. I am glad it is now though. I love blogs and have learned so much from them myself over the years.

Am looking forward to going out with my CFT editor, Janet Williams, next week to see the Chameleon Theatre Group’s production of The Dragon of Wantley. This panto was deferred from January but I’m looking forward to seeing it The Chameleon pantos are always great fun and I do plan to break my In Fiction series to write a review in due course.

Authors Electric Blog

Pleased to share The Joys of Working with the Indie Press for Authors Electric this month. It was a joy to write this one up as it continues to be a joy working with said indie press! I love the way the indie press has given so many writers, including me, more options for getting work out there.

17th April

Happy Easter Sunday!

I’m chatting about The Joys of Working with the Indie Press for my Authors Electric blog tomorrow. Looking forward to sharing that link. See above.

A big thank you for the wonderful comments continuing to come in on my A Timely Reveal for Friday Flash Fiction. Much appreciated and I am loving writing the 100-worders again. You can pack quite a punch with the short form of fiction – and it is great for the twist ending.

My Chandler’s Ford Today post will be about Originality in Fiction. Looking forward to sharing that link on Friday. Oops! Post will actually be Names in Fiction for this week though Originality in Fiction will follow on 29th April. The dangers of getting ahead of yourself are illustrated here!

Have a good week (and those who are not working, I hope you enjoy the rest of your Easter break).

S = Short forms of fiction are great fun to write and read.
T = Telling tales in fewer words is the best way I know to tighten up writing skills.
O = Original short stories and flash fiction can stay in the memory longer precisely because they are short.
R = Remember all forms of writing need editing and honing – the short form is no different.
I = Imagination is focused in the shorter stories and therefore impact is more intense.
E = Every word has to punch its weight to justify being included – there is no spare room here.
S = Stunning stories can be submitted to markets, competitions or compiled for a collection.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

I mentioned yesterday that I used the random scenario generator again yesterday for my YouTube story, Strange Room. I took the theme of waking up in a strange room and wrote a different story which I hope will make it on to Friday Flash Fiction this week. And that’s the thing. You can take a great prompt, write two different stories for it and send said stories off to two different markets. Win-win there I think!

It has been a Bank Holiday here in the UK but that doesn’t stop it being story time once again. My latest YouTube video is called Strange Room and is based on another prompt from a random scenario generator. The prompt was to write about waking up in a strange room. Hope you enjoy it.

17th April

Happy Easter Sunday!

Am looking forward to watching Doctor Who later on. (It was great!). It is one of the few things I will watch as “live” telly.

Writing wise, all is going well on my workshop material and I am pleased with how my In Fiction series for Chandler’s Ford Today is panning out. Do see the direct link to my page here for more.

Just to finish by saying there are offers on Amazon on the paperbacks of From Light to Dark and Back Again and Tripping the Flash Fantastic. Do see the link for more information. Hope you enjoy a good read!

I love mixing up the moods in my stories and a flash collection is a great way to have a great mix of tales reflecting this. Just as life isn’t all laughter and sunshine, neither are my tales. Equally, life isn’t all grim and darkness (despite what the news is saying) and again my stories reflect that. There needs to be room in fiction as in life, for laughter and tears, comedy and tragedy – we experience all of these things.

Fiction should reflect it all too. Then it is up to the reader to decide what they want to read in terms of mood. The lovely things with collections is you can get a good range within one book cover! I think that’s a great idea. And the indie press does take collections so short story writers and flash fiction authors, be aware – there are opportunities here.

Goodreads Author Blog – Odd Books

I suspect, like me, you have a good range of books on your shelves and most of them you can put into categories. I have a significant amount of crime novels, a whole section of humour (Wodehouse and Pratchett), and many others besides. With my writing guides, those have their own sub-categories as some cover short story writing while others look at novels etc.

But I do have odd books I can’t put into a section. Some of these are reference books as some stand alone because they cover a particular topic. So I group these in my “odd corner”. These are the kind of books which would have gone out of print long ago but which are a fascinating read and great for dipping into. My odd books tend to be non-fiction and I have found that many a fiction story idea is inspired by something I’ve read in a non-fiction book. So this is another good reason to ensure I know where to find my odd books!

I’ve not yet got back to going to charity markets etc where you will often find odd but interesting books on offer. It is something I hope to resume but what I would say is even if you are the most die-hard fiction writer, do have a good selection of non-fiction books in. They are great reads in and of themselves and do use them to inspire your own story ideas. When you are at charity markets have a good rummage and see what you can find. You may end up being glad you got those odd books in!

liked Allison Symes's blog post: Odd Books https://t.co/nnYP2zoofI via @goodreads I talk about "odd" books this week for Goodreads and what I find useful about them. pic.twitter.com/R7D3ywVEHX
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 16, 2022

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Authors Electric: The Joys of Working with the Indie Press by Alliso… https://t.co/JUNb70bXO2 Pleased to share my blog for AE this month. It was a joy to write this up as it continues to be a joy working with said indie press! pic.twitter.com/IpWScBnNuQ
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2022

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

It has been a Bank Holiday in the UK but that doesn’t stop it being story time once again. My new YouTube video is called Strange Room and is based on a prompt from a random scenario generator. The prompt was to write about waking up in a strange room. https://t.co/u3JWrafWar
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2022

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Moments, One Liners, and Publication News

April 20, 2021Leave a comment

Image Credit:-

All images from Pixabay/Pexels unless otherwise stated. Some images created in Book Brush, using Pixabay images.

Book cover images from Chapeltown Books and Bridge House Publishing.

Screenshots of my latest CafeLit story and latest Author Electric blog spot taken by me, Allison Symes. (But do go and check the links out – see posts below!).

Spring has finally turned up here in the UK – hooray!

Facebook – General

Hope you have had a good Tuesday. Loving the spring weather (now it is finally here!).

Don’t forget the ebook of Tripping the Flash Fantastic is on offer at Amazon for £0.99 for the next two days. See http://mybook.to/TrippingFlashFantastic for more details.

Looking forward to sending out my next author newsletter. If you would like to sign up for a monthly newsletter, full of tips and stories, as well as news, please go to my website landing page at https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com – and on sign up, you will receive a welcome email with a link to a giveaway too.

In other news, as they say, what do you make of writing prompts? I love them though I appreciate not everybody does. My favourite kind is the opening line. I like to rise to the challenge of them! I also like picture prompts though I find it easiest to use a prompt like that where the image is taken by someone else. I suppose with my own photos I’ve already got the links and stories in my head associated with those pictures.

I find writing prompts are a great “go to” as a warm-up writing exercise but the most important thing about them is to have fun with them. If they take you out of your comfort zone, then you’re being stretched as a writer and it is only by being stretched like that, you will find out what you are capable of and it may well prove to be more than you think.

Definitely worth a go I think!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

CafeLit – Publication News

Pleased to share a new CafeLit story from me – Smashing Sally. This is a long piece (by my standards!) but I hope you enjoy it. I was rooting for Sally all the way through – and I don’t always do that for my characters as it depends on how I’ve portrayed them! – and hope you do too. (Also nice to have a longer piece published again. Makes for a nice balance with my recent drabbles on Friday Flash Fiction!).

Facebook – General and Authors Electric

Pleased to share my latest post for Authors Electric. This time I talk about editing. I look at when to edit and discuss whether you can edit too much. I always feel a sense of relief when I’ve got my first draft down because I then know I’ve got something to work with and improve and it will improve after a decent edit.

I can’t edit as I go. I have to reassure myself it is okay to write total rubbish to begin with because it is not going to stay in and that nobody but nobody ever wrote a perfect first draft. That’s definitely not going to change with me!

However you write and edit, what matters is you do and it helps enormously to get as much creative joy out of both processes (if only for your own sake!).

Hope you enjoy.

AE - Being lost in a story world can mean listening to it

AE - Continuing the oral storytelling tradition

Thought the funeral service for HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was beautifully done. Felt so sorry for the Queen sitting alone. (And for anyone who has had to do that this past year).

Looking forward to sharing my Authors Electric blog tomorrow and there will be a new CafeLit story from me up on that website on Monday.

Oh and a quick shout out for #ValPenny who kindly gave me a mention on her blog today.

Friday night is often Zoom night for me and it was lovely catching up with friends from the Association of Christian Writers. To think just over a year ago, if someone mentioned Zoom to me, all I would think of was that it is a fabulous ice lolly and a great word to get out in a game of Scrabble, especially if you can get it out on the triple word score! Yet since then, I’ve attended various writing events on Zoom, given a talk on Zoom, and been part of an international writing summit (the Share Your Story Writing one) all thanks to it. I wonder where we’ll be a year from now!

Screenshot_2021-03-05 summit presenters 2021

Whatever kind of writing you do, exercises help you improve what you do

I hope what comes next will be some more examples of word play

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Many thanks for the great response to my new story video, Fear. (See below for link to it). Some aspects of life never change and my character’s attitude and actions in this prove that!

It has been a joy to find a way of using my mini-tales (the one and two sentence kind) as a way of flagging up (a) what I do and (b) what flash fiction can be. I never anticipated having my own Youtube channel only a year or so ago.

I adore writing the mini tales because they are an excellent challenge (and would also work well on Twitter incidentally which reminded me to just put Fear on there!).

I like writing across the range for flash. The form has more flexibility than it might at first appear. Not only can you set your characters in different genres and times etc., you can choose the word count to write to as long as you don’t go above the 1000 maximum allowed. I’ve written across the word count range though my natural home is under 500 words. Have fun with the format!

And a good book cover is the first advert to draw readers in to finding out!

Time for a new mini-story video again. This one is called Fear. Hope you enjoy it though it will have more meaning I suspect for the cat owners out there! (Also like to think of this as a kind of tribute to the old Tom and Jerry cartoons. Absolutely adore those though clearly Jerry was the intelligent one. Being small myself, I like that!).

One reason I like to start my stories with a character I know well enough to write for is that stories encourage empathy and understanding. Therefore I think it crucial to understand your character and where they are coming from so you understand (as will your reader) their actions and attitudes. It is that which I think keeps readers reading. Readers will follow a character they can get behind.

The great thing is you don’t have to like the character. You don’t have to approve of their actions either but you do need to understand why they are the way they are. Interviewing your characters is something I’ve mentioned before but it is a useful way of making sure you know what you need to know before getting that first draft down.

It is also my belief it will save you a great deal of time later. I know I’ve stopped myself going off on unhelpful tangents by simply using an outline of my character so I know what they are likely to do. It doesn’t stop them surprising me but when the surprise comes, my reaction should be one of “yes, that’s possible because they’re capable of this, that, and that, so doing this ties in with that”.

If something comes completely out of the blue, I need to look at my character again because I want to know where that surprise came from. There is always a trigger. And it flags up to me I didn’t know my character as well as I thought I did.

Oh and a quick bit of promotional – the Kindle version of Tripping the Flash Fantastic is currently available on Amazon at the bargain price of £0.99 so do grab a copy. Offer lasts for four days.

READING CHALLENGE - Good questions to ask your characters or help you find what made an article work for you

What questions do you put to your readers via your characters? Pixabay

BACKGROUND CHARACTERS - Do your background characters act as catalysts in your story - Pixabay image

CHARACTER CONVERSATIONS - Dialogue in fiction should show connections between the characters and be relevant to the story

CHARACTERISATION - You do need to know your characters well enough to write for them

WRITING PROMPTS - Coming up with characters is fantastic fun but I like to mix up how I do things to keep my writing fresh

The challenge of a good story is to make it seem as if the characters could step out of the pages

CHARACTERISATION - How will your readers identify with your characters

Little moments can have a powerful impact and that is something flash fiction brings out so well. I mention this as I was moved at seeing the late Prince Philip’s hat and gloves on the seat of the horse drawn carriage today. (17th April 2021 – for the royal funeral). (Also loved seeing the sugar lump pot for his horses). Things like that mean a great deal.

Another item that brings things home are shoes. If you ever go to the Imperial War Museum or the Mary Rose Exhibition when such things are possible again, there are a collection of shoes there, which brings home to you the people they’re telling you about were real. And, for me, there is a link forged between the past and the present.

So when it comes to our storytelling, what are your characters’ little moments? The things that mean the most to them? Why do these things mean so much? What it is about them that will convince your readers about the truth of your character portrayal?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Goodreads Author Blog – One Liners

What are your favourite one liners from stories etc?

I love the opening to Pride and Prejudice.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Sets the scene and the tone. Beautifully done.

I also love this one, by complete contrast, from Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

“Many phenomena – wars, plagues, sudden audits – have been advanced as evidence for the hidden hand of Satan in the affairs of Man, but whenever students of demonology get together the M25 London orbital motorway is generally agreed to be among the top contenders for exhibit A.”

Hard to argue with that one! It certainly explains the queues…

A good one-liner usually makes me smile or laugh out loud. A really good one-liner will make me pause, read it again and enjoy it again, before moving on to the rest of the story.

And there are far too many from P.G. Wodehouse to quote here but that in itself is a tribute to his wonderful ability to come up with lines that just “hit” you and make you laugh out loud.

As you will gather from this, my favourite one-liners are of the humorous variety. Which are yours?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

liked Allison Symes's blog post: One Liners https://t.co/ys67Gp4rgs via @goodreads I discuss my favourite one liners and share a couple of examples. Which are yours? pic.twitter.com/ZGDTTTOZYk
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 17, 2021

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Authors Electric: Editing – Love It or Loathe It? by Allison Symes https://t.co/tlYlu7bajv I talk about when to edit and ask if you can edit too much in my spot on Authors Electric this month. pic.twitter.com/f9HkBOtCdD
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2021

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

If you like flash fiction, which has historical flash, tales told from the viewpoint of a mother dragon, amongst others, do check out the ebook of my Tripping the Flash Fantastic on Amazon at the bargain price of £0.99. Offer lasts for four days.https://t.co/6TLeBXhoR4 pic.twitter.com/0FYhPNQnXC
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 18, 2021

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Fear by Allison Symes https://t.co/w3B37czQcL via @YouTube Hope you enjoy my latest short story video.
— Allison Symes (@AllisonSymes1) April 20, 2021

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Plans, Flash Fiction and Guest Blog Posts

September 10, 2019September 10, 2019Leave a comment

Image Credit: As ever, the marvellous Pixabay, unless otherwise stated.

Facebook – General

Many thanks to #PatriciaMOsborne for inviting me on to her blog. I always relish an opportunity to talk about flash fiction and it was also great fun to take part in her 100-word challenge earlier this year.

Do check out the other 100-worders on here. There is a wonderful mixture of styles and moods. (My guest spot includes a link to the story I sent in for this earlier in the year).

I share how I became a flash fiction writer at all and some of the things I love most about the form.

One writing tip I DON’T follow, because I know it just wouldn’t work for me, is the one that recommends keeping a notebook by your bed. The thought here is you can jot down any ideas that occur to you as you drop off to sleep/wake up early with the Best Idea of All Time etc etc. (It always is meant to be the Best Idea of All Time).

There are several reasons why this tip isn’t for me:-

1. My reading pile is by my bed. There is no room for a notebook! Yes, it is a seriously impressive reading pile. (I LOVE being surrounded by books).

2. I read to unwind before sleeping and really don’t want to be writing at all at that point.

3. I often don’t dream at all. Once I’m asleep that’s it.

4. When I DO dream, the images are so confused and bizarre, there is no way a story idea is coming out of them. (And before you ask I never eat cheese late in the evening or partake of any other substances that might induce such daft dreams).

5. I have never, ever, woken up with the Best Idea of All Time running through my mind. I haven’t even had the Second Best Idea of All Time. Not sure whether to be sorry or relieved, to be honest. I appreciate my sleep, that’s all I’m saying!

It pays to set your own deadlines. I set some at least a week ahead of any competition deadline to ensure I don’t miss the real date. Pixabay

Again, well?! Pixabay

Well… again! Pixabay

Our stock in trade… Pixabay

A writer’s life. Pixabay,

Well? Pixabay

A creative mess or planned writing - planning ahead helps you focus more

Recharging… Pixabay

What we all need… Pixabay

PART 2 - This isn't my style either - I do like my screen clear - Pixabay

Not exactly a selfier but… Pixabay

I’m looking forward to sharing my CFT post later on in the week as I’m going to be sharing some Rules That Need to Exist!

Posts like this are fun to write. I don’t write many “opinion” pieces but I like to throw one in every so often. What I like to do with these is make them fun so no politicial arguing on these ones but hopefully they’ll generate some good comments back again.

I’m also pleased to say I shall be a guest on a fellow Swanwicker’s blog later this week (see earlier – and many thanks again to Patricia M Osborne) and look forward to sharing the link later. And later in the month I shall be popping up on another Swanwicker’s blog too.

So yes I’ve been doing a lot of blogging! There should be a term for that… what do you think? A brace of blogging?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Looking forward to sharing a new series on CFT in October. More details nearer the time. I’m also editing a series for CFT on local history which, again, I’ll share details about nearer the time. So the red pen is being kept busy at the moment… plus I’m editing my novel. (These things ALWAYS take longer than you think they will).

The only aspect to editing I don’t like is when I know I’ve gone through a piece of work on screen and on paper and STILL miss an error, which I pick up later. The phrase “why the hell did I miss that” springs to mind. If anyone knows a surefire way to avoid that, they’ll probably end up wealthy, as I know I’m not alone on this one.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Loved taking part in the Tuesday guest spot on the blog page of #PatriciaMOsborne. Many thanks, Patricia, for hosting me.

I shared my love of flash fiction (briefly, honest!) and how I got into the form at all. Flash fiction was a happy accident for me. I could do with more happy accidents like that!

Now, is there anything about flash fiction I dislike? I think it is fair to follow up with that question.

Yes, there is one thing, and that can be other people’s reaction to it. I know, I know. How can anyone not be IN to flash fiction at all?

I think a lot of this is due to misunderstanding what the form is – flash fiction has to be a complete story in and of itself. It isn’t truncated prose.

Still, we can but spread the word – literally!

Many thanks to Penny Blackburn for taking this image of me at the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School Open Prose Mic. Patricia and I both adore Swanwick and have made many friends there, including each other!

I was talking on my author page about a writing tip I deliberately don’t follow because I know it just wouldn’t work for me. So here I thought I’d share the ones I can’t live without.

1. Always edit on paper and not on screen. Your mind “fills in” missing words on screen. Really annoying that!

2. Read work out loud, particularly dialogue, to literally hear if it flows as well as you think it does. You may be surprised! If you trip over something, your readers will do too.

3. Write first, edit later. Never worry about a first draft being rubbish. Nobody writes a perfect first draft. You’re not going to change the universe there. Neither am I.

4. When entering competitions, take AT LEAST a week off the official deadline to give yourself a little extra time to make sure you have followed the rules to the letter, formatting is as they want it, there are no last minute typos etc to trip you up. I always aim to submit a story with several days to spare before the deadline.

5. Outlining your thoughts for your main character and the story they’re going to be in can save so much time (and you going off at unhelpful tangents). How much of an outline you want to do is up to you but I find them to be like a road map and they do help keep me on track.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I like to start my flash fiction stories by “hitting the ground running”. Often this means I take you straight into the head of my character so you see their attitudes and thoughts (and from that try and work out just how far in the mire they’re going to drop themselves!).

Sometimes I set a scene with a time. (My Pressing the Flesh starts with “It was 3 am. The neighbours were sleeping”. Well, yes they would be, but it is important for my character here to have been certain they WERE sleeping! And that tells you at once said character is unlikely to be doing something wholesome! The title is a clue here too).

The key to my opening line is to try to intrigue. With any fiction, you have to hook a reader in quickly. With flash fiction, I say you’ve got to do so immediately.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Goodreads Author Blog – Choosing What to Read Next

How do you choose what to read next?

If I’m reading a series, fine – problem solved. I carry on until I finish said series. But what about when I reach that point?

I often don’t feel like reading another series immediately, This is where stand-alone books come into their own, of course.

I’ve mentioned before a lot hinges on my mood when reading. If I’ve just finished reading a dark novel, I’ll inevitably got for something lighter just to balance things up a bit.

If I’ve been reading lots of novels, I’ll switch to short story and flash fiction collections for while.

If I’ve been reading books, I’ll switch to magazine reading for a time too.

The good thing with all of this?

I’m never going to run out of good things to read – and neither are you!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Guest Blogging and Facebook Author Page Likes

July 19, 2018Leave a comment

Many thanks to Val Penny for hosting a spot from me on her book reviews site. More in a moment on that…

Facebook – General

Many thanks to Val Penny for hosting me on her book reviews site. It was huge fun to write! Hope you enjoy reading. I chat about my flash fiction (and what I love about flash fiction in general) and Chandler’s Ford Today

Looking forward to catching up with Val at Swanwick next month!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

My CFT post is very close to home this week. There are some lovely places to walk in my area, whether I’m with the dog or not, and I share some of those, along with some gorgeous pics of a wildflower meadow. Link up tomorrow.

I don’t tend to think about stories etc while out and about. I’m too busy (a) watching out for what Lady is doing or sniffing (!) and (b) appreciating the local fauna and flora.

The benefit from the writing point of view is having that break away from the desk or household chores (or both) and coming back tired but refreshed. (Lady sees to the tired bit, she comes home and sleeps during the afternoon, lucky girl!).

What stories will come from this pen? Pexels image.

From my local wildflower meadow a few weeks back. Loved the colours. Image by Allison Symes.

Flash fiction should sparkle! Image via Pixabay.

The lakes at The Hayes. Image by Allison Symes

Always good advice! Pixabay image.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.

Books should keep you gripped and that is down to the characters. Image via Pixabay

No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.

The Hayes Conference Centre, home of the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Image by Allison Symes

Where will your characters take you? Image via Pixabay

What wonderful worlds we can creat! Image via Pixabay.

Many thanks to all who have liked my author page. It is lovely to have 50 of you on board now, thanks to you all!

Indeed! Image via Pexels

beautiful beautiful flowers bouquet color

And you can also say it with flowers! No hayfever either! Image via Pexels

No calories here! Image via Pexels.

Thank you! Image via Pexels

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Always nice to guest blog so many thanks to Val Penny for hosting me today.

I suppose in a way flash fiction and blogging are good “bedfellows” since you’ve got to watch the word count with both of them! For flash, you’ve got room for usually one character. For blogging, it pays to stick to one topic per post. (Ironically with my Word Press site, I can’t really do that as it is meant to be a round up of what I write where, but for things like this post, it pays to stick to one theme).

Have you got a favourite theme for your stories? Was it one that emerged naturally as you wrote or did you plan it from the start? There are a lot of poetic justice stories in From Light to Dark and Back Again. In my case, the theme emerged.

How about you? Comments welcome.

Your blog, your topic, your theme – just be sensible on copyright and libel issues. Image via Pixabay.

Characters no matter what their world should resonate with readers. Image via Pixabay

Fiction should show you new ways of looking at the world. Image via Pixabay.

Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.

Assemble your characters, assemble your world. Image via Pixabay

The ultimate book tunnel? Image via Pexels

Just what is your story then? Image via Pixabay

Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.

Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.

I love the flexibility of flash fiction. There is some flexibility with word count, ironically. I’ve often found what I thought might be a 100-word story works better as a 500-word one, but that’s fine.

You can be flexible with genre of the specific tale. I’ve written historical fiction as flash fiction, likewise fantasy, crime, light horror, ghost stories etc.

You can also go back or forward in time. Your characters can be human or other worldly. You can write in first or third person. (I do both, though not in the same story!). You can write dialogue alone, though I think all stories, regardless of type, work best with a mixture of narrative and conversation/thoughts.

Flash fiction is a style of writing to have a lot of fun with!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Why I Blog (and some stories in a sentence!)

June 29, 2018Leave a comment

An apt title as my main focus in the last few days has been blogging on different sites. All good fun, hope you enjoy.

Facebook – General – and Chandler’s Ford Today

My latest CFT post is Part 1 of a 2 part series called Why I Blog. Many thanks to my guest writers for sharing their thoughts too.

I blog for a variety of reasons – from marketing to self expression to the fact it is simple and fun to do! Who says you have to have one reason?!

See what you think and do post your comments in the CFT comments box.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Looking forward to sharing the Why I Blog post on CFT tomorrow (with part 2 next week). Many thanks to my fellow writers for their thoughts on the topic.

I often use blogging as a warm up “writing exercise” before I tackle my fiction. I suppose I find that useful because blogging is immediate, I can get a few hundred words under my belt fairly quickly, and then I am right into the “zone” so to speak.

My ACW post is due up on site tomorrow as well as the CFT one. Another Goodreads one is due from me soon too. Writing for the different audiences is also useful – it makes you think about your material more and that is never a bad thing.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

My favourite way of getting started on a new piece of flash fiction is to take a well known saying and see what I can do with it. Sometimes the results are funny, other times the results are much darker, but I find it a great way to start.

I find I need something to “peg” my idea to so must have a title. It also challenges me to ensure my story fits that title but not in a blatantly obvious way, there still has to be room to surprise the reader, and the first reader I have to surprise is me! What I always love is when, as I am writing the story, I can kind of “feel” the tale coming together and I know then that the piece will work. It is then a question of finding the right home for it but that’s another story, so to speak.

Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.

Is it Time for a Change for the dragon in my story on Cafelit? Image via Pixabay

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Pressing on towards the light. Image via Pixabay

Trusted notebook! Image via Pixabay

What wonderful worlds we can creat! Image via Pixabay.

Love this bookmark! Image via Pexels

From Light to Dark and Back Again perhaps? Image via Pixabay (and so beautiful)

The dark can seem to overcome the light but light will prevail. Image via Pixabay

Writing is rewriting. Image via Pixabay.

Lost in a good book. Image via Pixabay.

I sometimes have fun writing stories in one sentence. Usually I go on to expand these a bit so they become either flash fiction pieces circa the 100 words mark or standard length short stories. However, occasionally, it is fun to leave them as they are. After all, Ernest Hemingway did this with his For Sale: one pair baby shoes.

1. After the latest foul-tasing meat scandal, the dragon decided it was time to go veggie.

2. Jemma knew monsters existed, the monsters knew they existed, so why did everyone else scoff at the idea and then end up eaten by the things?

3. Just for once, the fairy was going to grant her own wish and the authorities could go hang.

Allison Symes – 29th June 2018

: Doesn’t look comfortable to me. Pexels image.

: May require help turning the pages. Pexels image.

: Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.

: Hopefully the Book Fair will encourage even more reading! Image via Pexels

: Let the words flow! Image via Pixabay.

: Love both the Kindle and the paperback. Why choose when you can have both? Image via Pixabay

: Escape with a good book, it’s good for you! Image via Pixabay

: The delights of a cosy read. Pexels image

: Can’t beat a good book or several. Image via Pixabay.

: What ever writer needs. Image via Pixabay

Goodreads Author Programme – Blog – What Does Reading Do For You?

Well, what DOES reading do for you?

In my case, it depends on the book. I read for:-

1. Entertainment – whether it makes me laugh, cry or scream.

2. Escapism – nearly always fantasy/fairytales for grown-ups so I enter another world for a while as I read.

3. To learn (especially from non-fiction) – I read a fair amount of history and am currently enjoying London by Peter Ackroyd and Double Cross by Ben Macintyre. Different “storytelling” techniques used here but both brilliant.

4. To relish what I know from past experience is masterly prose – Terry Pratchett, Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse for me here.

5. To experience something different from what I usually read and/or write. I like to read in my genre, flash fiction, but it is refreshing to read longer short stories, novels etc.

Reading takes me out of myself and into other places for a while. You see things from other perspectives. You identify with characters, whether you like them or not. Reading makes you think. (No wonder one of the first actions of any dictatorship is to try to limit or ban books and/or journalism).

Reading, like the arts, is good for the soul. It feeds the mind, even if the fare you prefer is lighthearted, humorous, not intended to be taken seriously etc. I do know I feel much poorer in myself during those times when things get in the way of my reading time. When life is stressful, turning to a good book won’t resolve the crisis, but gives you time out from it for a while. Sometimes that is all that is needed. At other times, the break is useful for you.

So happy reading!

Books make wonderful gifts. Image via Pixabay.

Books are wonderful – whether in print or electronic, whether as audio stories or told by a storyteller. Image via Pixabay.

Let the writing flow and if music can help it along even better! Image via Pixabay

Well, why not? Image via Pixabay.

Chapeltown Books have a distinctive central image in a frame such as with mine. Image by Allison Symes

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Stories reflect all sorts of moods. There is a story to suit everyone out there! Image via Pixabay.

I write fairytales with bite as flash fiction and short stories in particular. Image via Pixabay.

The magic of stories. Image via Pixabay

You can't beat a good read and I would include Jane Austen in amongst the top of my list. Image via Pixabay.

I finish my writing rituals for the day by having a good read. Immerse yourself in books! Image via Pixabay.

Some of the strongest ideas have a simple theme. See A Christmas Carol as a classic example. Image via Pixabay.

The ultimate book tunnel? Image via Pexels

More than Writers – Association of Christian Writers blog – Should You Resemble your Characters?

I can think of several colleagues who would take one glance at that question and say “no way”. Some may express that more forcibly!

I can think of several of my own characters whom I would never want to meet in life, yet alone resemble, and for all sorts of reasons.

So why ask? Well, so much depends on the character, doesn’t it? If a character shows grit, determination, honour etc, we probably wouldn’t mind emulating them. If a character shows horrible traits, we’d pass, thank you. How many of us want to be a coward for example?

In outlining our stories, we have to create our “people” based on what we know about human nature and behaviour. We know we need our characters to be believable so that means no goody-goody heroes of whatever gender. It also means no cardboard cut out villains. They’ve got to have some redeeming quality or a motive which is understandable. Often writers do both of course.

Redemption, of course, is possible, as is a good character going astray. What makes us choose which way they go? A wish to show that if this character was us, this is how we’d be? Or do we opt for the choice of this is how the character would be and I wouldn’t be like this in a zillion years?

In creating our characters, we have to be honest in their portrayal (or readers will see straight through it and switch off). So maybe I should have rephrased the question to read do we resemble our characters? I suspect there would be some interesting answers to that!

Truth is stranger than fiction but good fiction can reveal something of what humans are capable of, even if we use fantastical creatures to represent us in some way. Sometimes good fiction can be prophetic and I am thinking of George Orwell’s 1984 here especially. Whatever would he have made of social media? I can imagine his harsh criticism of it.

And what is the great thing about honest character portrayal? Simply, I’ve found both as a reader and writer, that honesty comes through, and I am engaged with those characters and their stories as a result. It is, for me, honestly portrayed characters, whether they’re goodies or baddies, that grip me and keep me reading. I identify with the truth behind their portrayal.

Even in flash fiction, my genre, the moment I have what my character is like outlined, I am away, happily scribbling the story down. After all, if I’m not engaged with my people, why should anyone else be?

So it’s off to write characters that intrigue me then. The great thing is I don’t have to like them, yet alone resemble them. Just as well really. Fiction would suffer without the characters we dislike. Story is conflict and it is the dubious characters that get that conflict going. We need to see the Ebenezer Scrooges before their transformation to be able to appreciate that transformation when it happens. Now just how human is that?!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Fairytales with Bite – What Makes a Great Fairytale Character?

A great fairytale character will:-

1. Be easy to identify with. I love Tinkerbell in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan for “wanting to get at those who didn’t clap” when the children had been told clapping would restore her. You can just imagine the annoyness and irritation there, can’t you?

2. Sometimes arouse your pity, other times your anger. Fairytales are strong on right and wrong (which I think is why kids love them so much. I remember at a very young age already knowing the world wasn’t fair so stories which put “things to rights” very much appealed). The Little Mermaid always generates pity in me. The vileness of the cruel characters in fairytales riles me but all of the characters make you feel something.

3. Be on some journey or quest and you just HAVE to find out how it goes. This can be anything from finding out whether Cinderella will go to the ball or not to discovering if Frodo will complete his mission in the right way in The Lord of the Rings.

Great characters = great books. Image via Pixabay.

Books are the keys to knowledge. Image via Pixabay

Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay

What wonderful worlds we can creat! Image via Pixabay.

The classic start to a fairytale. Image via Pixabay.

Reading is wonderful. Image via Pexels.

The wonderful world of writing should include non-fiction, which benefits from creative techniques too. Image via Pixabay.

I don’t always write directly to screen. Image via Pixabay

Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay

Let those ideas flow! Image via Pixabay,

The tools of the scrivener’s trade. We’ve come on a bit since then! Image via Pixabay

Great characters will engross you. You will lose time reading their stories. Image via Pixabay.

Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.

Even in the heart of a city, books can provide escapism. Image via Pixabay.

This World and Others – Populating Your World

How do you populate your fictional worlds?

A lot will depend on genre, of course. (One great reason for loving fantasy and sci-fi is the huge scope for creating your own peoples and civilisations).

However, one fundamental here is that there will be a major people/alien being group and minorities around it. Of course there are a lot of stories to be had in showing how the major group treats the minorities and do they rebel against ill treatment etc? But even where there are no direct clashes on the grounds of racism etc, what do your peoples need to survive and how do they get this? Is there a have and have-not society going on?

You will need the suppliers and the supplied-to. You will need the ruled and the rulers. Different peoples will have specific needs so how does your world cater to those needs? What are the belief systems? Do the peoples share common values/faith etc or not?

And, to add spice to the mix, there will always be those characters who defy their society’s expectations of/for them.

So have fun creating your peoples!

Flash fiction should sparkle! Image via Pixabay.

No room for gobbledygook here. Image via Pixabay.

From Light to Dark and Back Again perhaps? Image via Pixabay (and so beautiful)

Fiction can take you anywhere. Image via Pixabay.

Great characters will engross you. You will lose time reading their stories. Image via Pixabay.

A nice clear desk (not mine!). Image via Pexels

A wonderful palette of colours. Image via Pixabay.

Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.

Characters no matter what their world should resonate with readers. Image via Pixabay

Pressing on towards the light. Image via Pixabay

What writing triggers will help you create your new worlds? Image via Pixabay

What worlds could there be out here? Image via Pixabay

The dark can seem to overcome the light but light will prevail. Image via Pixabay

What lies beyond the shore…. ideas for stories? Image via Pixabay

HOT AND BOTHERED AND BLOGGING!

June 27, 2018Leave a comment

Facebook – General

Does the hot weather affect your writing? In my case, not directly. I’m at my desk, everything is as comfortable as possible, and off I go.

What I do dislike is the lethargy that can set in so I find it harder to stay up and write, write, write. So, accepting that is how it is is, I just squeeze more writing into the time I know I can work with before I simply HAVE to go to sleep. Must admit this is where I loved the weather in Scotland – generally good, but a few degrees cooler. Lady loved that too.

Reaching out for writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Generating the writing ideas. Image via Pixabay.

The ultimate book tunnel? Image via Pexels

The delights of the open page. Pexels image.

Quite a few to choose from here. Image via Pexels

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What decisions will your characters make? Image via Pixabay.

I’ll be looking at blogging in my Chandler’s Ford Today post this week and next. I’ll look at some of the joys of blogging and share some fantastic contributions from fellow writers and bloggers. Looking forward to that.

Hope to get some more flash fiction out to Cafelit before too long. Plus I hope to put more stories up on Scriggler, the US based site as well. I’ve got longer term plans for non-fiction writing, revamping my novel, as well as more flash fiction books so will be busy, busy, busy. All in a good way.

Must admit I am finding the heat a bit much (Lady is being pretty sensible about it to her credit for such a young dog). So the idea of sitting in the garden to write does not appeal. I’m definitely one for the shade!

Books are fabulous, whatever the format. Image via Pixabay.

Is everything black and white in your stories? Image via Pexels

Pressing on towards the light. Image via Pixabay

A lovely place to reflect during Swanwick. Image by Allison Symes

See! It is a good idea, weather permitting! Image via Pexels

What worlds could there be out here? Image via Pixabay

Books have their own sense of time and space. Image via Pixabay.

What lies beyond the shore…. ideas for stories? Image via Pixabay

View from near where I was staying in Scotland. You wouldn’t want to rush away from this. Image by Allison Symes

The dark can seem to overcome the light but light will prevail. Image via Pixabay

What is the best thing about a story, regardless of genre? Is it the tale being written well enough to make you forget your cares for while?

Or is it that the characters are so well drawn you sympathise with them and can see why they are acting the way they are? The best stories contain elements of both, of course, but I don’t think it is something the writer can set out to do deliberately.

What we can do deliberately is give the most honest portrayal of our characters as we can and then it is up to the reader whether they identify with them or not. A really good story will leave you with no choice but to do so!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

One thing I mentioned in my talk on flash fiction on Saturday at Hursley Park was the fact I love the way flash forces you to fill in the gaps. For example, if I give you a story about a time travelling alien, you fill in how/what it looks like as I get on with the important bit of showing you what happens to said alien in the story. There is no room for anything else.

The great thing here is your experience of time travelling aliens will be down to how much sci-fi you read or watch, whether you’re a fan of Doctor Who or not, and so on. You will fill in the gaps in description based on what YOU think a time travelling alien should look like. My interpretation will be different (even allowing for some overlaps). And that is where flash can be such fun.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

My favourite ending for a flash fiction story, whether I write them or read them, is easily the twist one.

This is partly because I like to guess ahead and then see if I guessed correctly (and all kudos where it is due to flash fiction writers who wrongfoot me!).

I also like to see a twist that really works well and makes me go back into the story to look for the clues I know the writer will have planted there. There is always lots to learn from reading other fiction, whether it is in your own genre or not. If you needed an excuse to read more, please use that one!

Would Dickens have loved technology like this? Image via Pixabay

Books are a fantastic form of escapism. Image via Pixabay

Books should keep you gripped and that is down to the characters. Image via Pixabay

The ultimate smartphone maybe?! Image via Pixabay

Great characters = great books. Image via Pixabay.

Trusted notebook! Image via Pixabay

Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay

Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.

Flash fiction encourages readers to fill in the gaps, given there isn’t room for much in the way of world building. I love that, both as a reader and writer.

You can infer so much more with flash too, indeed inference is a major tool in the “kit” to write it. It is true that with any story, you have to give the reader what they need to know to make sense of it, but with flash, that is fine tuned to the nth degree.

Write what you need to write and then get out is a useful guiding principle. Another is to check each line and ask myself, well why do I need this? The answer has got to be strong enough to justify that line’s inclusion in the story. Any hesitation on your part and at best you need to rewrite that line, at worst cut it.