Fairies are definitely not twee and you do not want to come across one that has had a bad day due to Murphy's Law affecting her. She will take it out on s

MURPHY’S LAW FOR A FAIRY GODMOTHER

November 14, 2016Leave a comment

Sorry – shorter post tonight. Weebly are carrying out essential maintenance works so have only been able to update my Fairytales with Bite website. Still I hope you enjoy reading Murphy’s Law for a Fairy Godmother. I love writing posts like this.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Murphy’s Law for a Fairy Godmother actually lists five laws. Can you add to this list?

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I discuss why writers get more joy from reading other people’s stories than anyone else on the planet. I discuss the “guess the influence” game and urge support for your local anthology writer(s). The fact I am an anthology writer has EVERY bearing on this!

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What is a fairy godmother supposed to do when she turns up to support a client and there isn’t a pumpkin in sight?! Fortunately NOT a problem here. Image via Pixabay.

Blogging - a hugely enjoyable part of what I write. Image vix Pixabay.

QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK – OF A WRITER

November 8, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Questions Not to Ask – of a Writer lives up to its title and lists five bugbear questions any writer will hate being asked. Okay, scrub that, make it four questions and one statement. The latter is for my poet friends and I’d be very surprised if they’d not heard this particular comment in their time. My pet hate is point 3! See what you think…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

You Know You’re a Writer When…. again lives up to its theme. I list 1o points of interest but amongst these are three different opportunities for writers to become insufferably smug if they so wish! I put my hand up and plead guilty to points 3, 4 and 7 especially. Which would you plead guilty to – there will be at least one?!

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I talk about border collies (mine!), fireworks, and my border collie deliberately going out into the garden tonight to look for said fireworks even though she hates them. Have no idea why! Am glad the diffuser we got this year seems to be helping her. I also discuss what’s coming up in my next Chandler’s Ford Today post (a review of a play I’ve recently seen) and plug a CFT writers’ get together this coming Saturday.

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The lovely Mabel. Image taken by me! So much happier when there are no fireworks about – and that goes for Mabel too.

One of the best ways to escape is with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

ATTRACTIVE CHARACTER TRAITS

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Attractive Character Traits discusses what I think are the most attractive traits any character can have. Top of the list is persistence – and Andy Murray’s wonderful achievement in becoming world # 1 in men’s tennis (especially in this era) put me in mind of this. See what you think about my list. Can you add anything?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Escaping discusses how characters escape – from literal danger (escapes must be credible) to leaving behind daily work cares etc. How do they do the latter? What hobbies and interests do they have to help them achieve that sense of escape?

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Being a tennis fan, I couldn’t let Andy Murray’s achievement today pass without comment but I also link it to hard work and persistence also being of vital importance to writers.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just a quick thanks to all who have commented so far on my Top 10 Classical Greats post from yesterday. Some pieces of music listed I know, others I don’t (but will look up and play!).

Hard at work. Image via Pixabay. Music (playing and listening) can be a great form of escapism, which is one topic I look at tonight.

A Magical, Classical Night out. Image via Pixabay.

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND FICTION

November 5, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Role of Classical Music in Fiction asks if music is controlled in your fiction setting – that is, can musicians play what they want or do they have to stick to a repetoire? What are the consequences if they don’t? Also is your world developed enough to have radio or when people want music, is it a question of going out to concerts? Does the state encourage people to do this? (Too busy enjoying music, too busy to question them!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Now you may spot a theme developing when I mention my post here tonight is called Musical Tastes. (A) You’re right (!) and (B) the theme all ties in with my Chandler’s Ford Today blog for this week. More on that shortly. But in this post, I ask what the status of music and musicians are in your fictional world? What can you reveal about a character’s love (or otherwise) of music to show more about them?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I write all of my CFT posts as a labour of love but every so often one stands out, for me at least, as a particularly special one. Tonight’s post is one of those. My Top 10 Classical Music Greats shares my favourite pieces of music, some wonderful You Tube clips and I hope also brings back some memories. For example, one piece I’ve chosen is Ravel’s Bolero. Where were you in 1984 when Torvill and Dean raised figure skating to an all time high with their dance on ice interpretation of this? Hope you like the post. I loved writing it and comments as to your favourite classical music pieces would be very welcome in the CFT comments box.

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No surprises here but I talk about my CFT post and again provide a link.

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Classical Music score. Image via Pixabay.

Where almost all stories spring from these days. Image via Pixabay.

MAGICAL COMPETENCE AND GOOD STORY CRITERIA

November 3, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I discuss what any magical being needs to be able to do in Tests for Magical Competence. Even the lowliest sprite can achieve the items in my list. Of course the ones you’ve really got to worry about are those who are not only magically efficient, they are magically formidable!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss the criteria for what I think makes for a good story in Criteria for A Good Story. Some of my items are interesting characters, a story that I remember (for good reasons!) long after I’ve read it and where the outcome really matters. Do you agree with my list? What could you add to it?

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I discuss what’s coming up in my Chandler’s Ford Today post for this week and why I think autumn is not my border collie’s favourite season.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Due up on site tomorrow will be my Top 10 Classical Greats. More details tomorrow.

A truly beautiful library but do the books in it meet my criteria for what makes a good story. I would hope so! Image via Pixabay.

Fairytale magic can go awry - characters lose powers or become power obsessed. Neither is a pretty sight. Image via Pixabay.

FIVE SIGNS

November 3, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In our world, some worry about losing their hair. Others worry about losing their general appeal. In the magical world characters worry about losing their magical abilities. Five Signs Your Character is Losing Their Magical Ability describes the five most common signs this is happening to your character. The most common cause is being cursed.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Power obsession is an ugly thing. Five Signs Your Character is Becoming Power Obsessed shows the most common signs this is happening to your character. What will be really interesting is what happens to your plot as a result!

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A shorter post tonight and I look at a query most dog owners will have – namely why their pet takes so long to do its night time business when it is freezing outside. When it is mild they are back in the house within a minute or so. Guess who froze tonight?! I also discuss the wonderful changing leaf colours around me. And I share what I’m reading at the moment in general terms. What are you reading? And now, in the UK, the nights are drawing in earlier, are you reading more?

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Fairies are not twee creatures... tonight I ask what do fairytale characters most care about. Image via Pixabay

Fairies are not twee creatures. They are dangerous, especially if they think rivals are losing magical ability. Image via Pixabay

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

SEASONAL CHANGES

November 2, 2016Leave a comment

Given we are now into November, tonight’s posts look at autumnal changes in different ways.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Time of the Year asks what are your characters’ favourite times of year and why? Could the answers here show something about their state of mind? (If they like autumn/winter do they tend to be melancolic, for example?).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On the other hand, the title for the post here tonight indicates a more lighthearted theme! Autumnal Flying Hazards For Your Average Magical Being does sum up the post nicely though and looks at hazards that could reasonably be expected at this time of the year in any magical realm.

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I discuss Vincent, the song by Don McLean and the episode of Doctor Who tonight and share one of my favourite You Tube clips. I share the clip again here. This also makes a great introduction to the works of Van Gogh. The clip was originally put up several years ago by Anthony DiFatta.

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One of my favourite book images. They really are magical. Transportation into other worlds and around this one in a few hundred pages. Brilliant! Image via Pixabay.

WHEN A CHARACTER KNOWS THEY’RE IN TROUBLE

October 31, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

When a Character knows they’re in trouble is another of my “sum it all up in the title” posts! A short, sharp list of points for a character to ponder – do you agree with what I’ve come up with? Can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Reviewing Characters is another sum it up title! I appear to be on a roll with these tonight! But it occurred to me it would be no bad thing for writers to review their characters every so often. Are the characters still coming across the way you want them to do so? If not is this because they’ve developed and do you need to change your story to handle that development correctly? Characters should change and develop of course, it’s the classic sign they “live” (and as a result so does the story), but a check to see the character is still “up to the job” is no bad thing I feel.

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I was really pleased Andy Murray won in Vienna. I discuss my thoughts on that and the creative arts in my FB page tonight. A strange mix? I don’t think so. Sports people can be creative in how they play after all (AM is a great example of that. Some of his shots take my breath away in a “how the hell did he do that” kind of way). I also love the fact that there are so many forms of creative arts, so much so there is bound to be at least one to suit most people!

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When I’m not at my desk, I’m likely to be in the swimming pool or walking the dog (never both at the same time!). Image via Pixabay.

FICTIONAL TEACHING, ADVICE AND INTERVIEWS

October 29, 2016Leave a comment

Both of my website posts tonight were inspired by my Chandler’s Ford Today interview post with Barbara Large, the second part of which went up on site tonight. Link below.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at fictional interviews in tonight’s post and these can be a great way of revealing more about characters (both interviewer and interviewee) as long as the interview serves the story and moves it onwards to its conclusion.

Some of my previous posts on my websites have discussed interviewing your own characters and that can be a useful technique to find out more what makes them tick. But whether the interview is actually in the story or you are using one to help flesh out your portrayal of a character, it should convey significant information, which is crucial to your story in some way.

This is because you may well find out something about the character that you had not originally envisioned but the interview brings out. Find out where that takes you, it could be fun (!), indeed I think it should be fun (!!), and it should add depth to your character portrayal if nothing else.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Teaching and Advice looks at the role of teachers, advisors/mentors in the role of fiction. What experience do they have? How does it help the one they are advising? Are the teachers and advisors generally respected or not (and why is this the case)? Plenty of story ideas to be found here I think!

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I share details of my Chandler’s Ford Today post, which is part 2 of my interview with Barbara Large.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Part 2 of my interview with Barbara Large is now on site and, as ever, Barbara shares a wealth of advice for writers of all backgrounds. It was a great joy to meet up with her again and I can’t overestimate how much she has supported writers of fiction (all genres) and non-fiction over the years. It was lovely to talk to her and thank you, Barbara, for sparing your very precious time for the interview.

The Writing Life with Barbara Large is a two part interview and now available via Chandler’s Ford Today, Image via Pixabay.

Says it all really and ties in with my post tonight for This World and Others. Image via Pixabay.

FAIRYTALE NEWS HEADLINES

October 27, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALE NEWS HEADLINES

Fairytale News Headlines takes a whimsical, humorous look at what stories would grab the magical media’s attention. There is also suggestions as to what periodicals might take which item. It’s not good news for the big, bad wolf here though.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Other Side of Writing explores why all writers who want to develop well must read well, in and out of their genre and ideally including non-fiction too. Why? Because ideas spark all over the place, so the wider you read, the wider you are casting your metaphorical net. That can only be a good thing for your writing.

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I discuss the importance of “taking in” stories in different formats for my post here today. The great thing about writing is, because most accept to write well you need to read well, you get two hobbies for the price of one here!

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Part 2 of my interview with Barbara Large will be up on site tomorrow. Barbara shares her thoughts on what she’d like her creative writing classes to achieve and shares numerous hints and tips for all writers. Links up tomorrow.

The ultimate book circle perhaps? Image via Pixabay.