FAIRYTALES WITH BITE
In The Perfect Character, I point out there is no such thing! What we as writers must do is create the character that is perfect for our purposes. Does every aspect of the character create the picture we are intending to create? Will the reader be convinced the character you’ve got carrying out Action X is actually capable of doing so? In a longer piece of fiction, you often need to write several thousand words before you really know your characters but this is where the rewrite is your friend! (And you can have as many of those as you like!).
THIS WORLD AND OTHERS
Character Building explores what I think is one of the most fun aspects of writing fiction. You get to create your own people and, unlike Doctor Frankenstein, remain in control of the whole process! I start with the dominant trait of a character, work out whether they would get on well with others or not (and explore the reasons), whether they have a sense of humour or not (doesn’t that tell you so much about someone in itself?). Funnily enough the physical description of a character is nearly always one of the last things Ii think about.
FACEBOOK PAGE – GENERAL
I share news of my book launch (8th July) which will be held at my local railway station. Debut authors makes tracks, anyone?
FACEBOOK PAGE – FROM LIGHT TO DARK AND BACK AGAIN
I met Jennifer C Wilson (author of the Kindred Spirit series) at the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School last August and got on really well – with Swanwick and with each other! (We’ve already booked for this year’s Summer School!). Jennifer kindly reviewed my book and I share the link to that, though I recommend having a good look at her blog. Fascinating reading – and ideas for trips out in the Sunday Soujourn spot! (And huge amounts of kudos to anyone who has managed to get Soujourn back into usage – it’s a lovely sounding word).
My debut flash fiction collection from Chapeltown Books
Allison Symes: Collected Works 