WISHING

March 16, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Wishing looks at what your characters do when in a tight spot. Do they just wish and hope their fairy godmother turns up? Or do they do everything they can to get themselves out of said tight spot (and if that fails then wish?!). I must admit I prefer the latter. They are at least proactive (even when they get what they do wrong).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Wise and the Foolish again discusses character type (no prizes for guessing which I prefer!). The foolish will seek to take the path of least resistance and do what is easiest for them and won’t think to question whether this could be a trap. The wise do the opposite and will question. A well portrayed villain will use traits against a character. The foolish are far more likely to die – horribly!

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I list 10 things (bar food and drink) I can’t do without. Do you agree with my list? What would be your 10?

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A way into the magical realm, perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

The foolish character will always take what seems to be the easiest path. A decent villain will exploit that. Image via Pixabay.

Imagine the wealth of fairytales and other stories in here. Image via Pixabay.

DOWN TIME

March 13, 2017Leave a comment

DOWN TIME

In Down Time I look at the need to show how your characters relax. Nobody is “on” all the time and I think fiction should reflect that. Your characters need to eat, drink, sleep etc and I would argue down time in which to relax is crucial for mental and physical well being too. So how do your characters relax? How can you show this in your story (without slowing the plot up)? My thought here is a line or two at appropriate points in the tale to show what your characters are like outside of the “main action” is more than enough. Yet it will be these details, I feel, that will add depth to your characters and, as a result, to your stories.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Remembering What Is Important is vital for us all. After all, it is why we commemorate Remembance Sunday, Veterans’ Day, Holocaust Day and so on. It is so important we don’t forget. So what would your characters want to commemorate? What rituals and customs would they follow? How are birthdays, weddings, births, deaths commemorated?

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As it is a short post tonight, I thought I would just copy it across here rather than use the link. What genres do you read? Have you tried new genres?

One of the great things about reading is that, at whatever time you like, you can try a genre new to you. I’m currently reading my first graphic novel and loving it. Hope to review this for Chandler’s Ford Today at a later date as it ties in with other posts I’ve written.

Have happily been catching up with Poetry, Please on Radio 4. Love the real mixture of work on here. Also, the programme shows up beautifully why reading work out loud (whatever you write) is such a good idea. You do pick up on rhythms and how dialogue sounds in a way you can’t do when just reading “internally”.

Two formats for reading and Chandler's Ford library stocks both. Image via Pixabay.

Whatever the format, you can’t beat a good book. Image via Pixabay.

This statue reminds me of myself when I was a lot younger. Okay I wasn't made of stone (I'm still not!) but I did always have my head in a book. (And do so as often as I can now!). Image via Pixabay.

SIGNS OF A GOOD CHARACTER

March 8, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Signs of a Good Character, I list 10 things I would count as being signs of a well written and developed character. I include things like a good character has depth to them and how they handle crises reveals more of that depth. Do you agree with my list and can you add to it?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Putting Your Characters on a Diet is, for me, when you give the readers everything they need to know about the characters but no more than that. Cut out all the flab!

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The theme of characters continues as I discuss what is it about them that is the real draw to any story or book.

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The magic of stories – and it is the characters who cast the spell. Image via Pixabay

The ultimate Book Circle - now where to start?! Image via Pixabay.

THE CURSE OF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER

February 22, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Curse of the Fairy Godmother looks at those things which can be a curse to said fairy godmother (otherwise known as Murphy’s Law for said magical workers). I include what happens when you pick up your wand in a hurry and how one downside of your role as a godmother is everyone expects you to be nice, when what you really want to do is zap someone.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Cause and Consequence looks at how the law of for every action, there must be a reaction, also applies to fiction. Whatever your characters do, there must be a reaction to it, for good or bad (maybe both!). I also ask how your characters cope when they are under pressure and do they have support in place (or know they can get support)?

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I discuss cameras tonight -and how now I wouldn’t be without my camera phone.

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Creative writing includes blogging but also brainstorming sessons to generate future ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Working away. Image via Pixabay.

Do your characters know in which direction they're going? (Border collie is optional!). Image via Pixabay.

A NEW DIRECTION

November 23, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

A New Direction asks about how your characters handle those situations where they must take a different path to the one they were on/wanted to stay on. Do they resent having to change? As for those characters who act as guides to others, are they reliable? Do they do their work well?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Building Up discusses the need for characters to build on any successes or failures they have had. Do our characters learn from their mistakes and move on (the way we all should!)?

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I’ve sent off details of my most recent publication news to an online newsletter. Hope they take it. I will use the basis of what I have sent tonight for publications which I know share Members’ News and spread the word a bit. It has been a busy but productive few months, the best I have had to date, and I hope to build on that for 2017. Hence my themes for tonight’s website posts!

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How do your characters handle matters when forced to change direction and take a path they had not expected or wanted? Image via Pixabay.

MAKING HISTORY

November 21, 2016Leave a comment

Just want to say, as a tennis “nut”, I am thrilled Andy and Jamie Murray have ended the year as world number one in the men’s singles and doubles. Fantastic, historic achievement. I’m also pleased to see hard work, persistence, not giving up etc paying dividends for them both.

Also glad to report issues I had yesterday with titles on my Weebly websites (especially This World and Others) appear to have been resolved. Am now hoping that is not going to prove to be my famous last words! I’ll know tomorrow…

FIREFOX ADD-ONS – ROAD TESTING!

Just to also add I have added Grammarly to my Firefox toolbar (it’s free) and am finding it very useful in picking up odd typos but mainly my grammatical weaknesses. Have only been using it for a couple of days but you have a green icon appearing whenever you type something. Get something wrong and that green icon becomes a red one. Hover over it and you get a description of what you need to amend. Very helpful so far. I do occasionally test free add-ons like this. The last one I added on was E-Pub Reader for Firefox and I find that useful too.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Making History refers to the Murray brothers’ excellent achievements this year but also discusses how our characters should make history. The point of any story, regardless of genre, is to show moments of change (which lead to conflict and drama). The point of any character is to contribute to that in some way (otherwise why write them in? Even the most minor of characters must have a role they and only they can play in your tale).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Boring Traits discusses why the virtues of persistence, patience and so on are vital, whether you want to achieve success as a sportsman or a writer or as a character in a story. Even your villains must have determination, a clear aim, patience (nobody achieves all they want immediately) and so on.

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Again I celebrate the Murrays’ achievements. I suppose the thing I like most is that their persistence has paid off. I love it when virtue gets it own reward. It doesn’t always, sadly. I also discuss how persistence is vital to a writer. None of us can foresee how things will actually pan out. I still haven’t published my novel but am thrilled to bits my first flash fiction collection will come out soon. I didn’t foresee that!

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Never give up, work hard, be disciplined… all valuable traits for success, whether you’re a tennis player, a writer or a character in a story! Image via Pixabay.

Well, what IS your story? Image via Pixabay.

WHEN A CHARACTER TAKES OFF…

November 16, 2016November 16, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

When a Character Takes Off discusses that lovely moment in a story when you know it is going to work. The characters are right, the plot falls naturally into place and so on. One thing I learned a long time ago was that if someone makes something look easy, they been working for years to get to that point. Anyway, the post discusses what you might need to know about a character to ensure you do get to that take off point. Some writers need a lot, others not so much immediate detail. Where do you fit in here?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Signs of a Good Character lists five signs you can be certain show that the character you’ve invented has “life” and will work. Can you think of other signs to add to the list?

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I share how Mabel, my border collie, is faring (doing well I’m glad to say) and the downside of owning a Kindle. I’ll be judging a short story competition tomorrow night and am looking forward to meeting everyone involved with that too.

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The ultimate Book Circle – now where to start?! Image via Pixabay.

Stories come in all kinds of formats including tapestries! Image via Pixabay.

YOUR DAY IS ABOUT TO WORSEN WHEN…

November 11, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Your Day is about to Worsen When shares tell tale signs you are about to go through some very hard times indeed as a character in a story. For example it is never good when a wizard suddenly turns up on your doorstep, tells you that you’re about to go on a quest and, by the way, you can’t refuse as the powers of evil are already pursuing you! Can you add anything to my list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Why I Love Flash Fiction shares some of the advantages I think there are to writing these stories. For example by their very nature, they have to be short and that helps put a good pace into the story. What other advantages can you think of?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just to say my post tomorrow is a review of All My Sons by Arthur Miller. More details tomorrow but I discuss some of the history of the play too.

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I share the Amazon link to Baubles, Bridge House Publishing’s anthology for this year. my story, Helping Out, is in there. I also discuss what’s coming up in my next Chandler’s Ford Today post and what fiction work I’m currently getting ready for a competition.

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Bookshops are vital to encourage literary – image via Pixabay.

Looking into the past... Image via Pixabay

REMEMBERING

November 11, 2016November 12, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Remembering discusses how getting our characters to remember makes them more real to a reader and helps them to see where our “people” have come from. The more a reader can identify with a character (and we all have experience of remembering important things, personally and nationally), the more they will want to read about them after all.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Art of Remembering continues the remembrance theme and asks what important events do your characters recall and why? What events have hit their world and still have an impact? There could be some very good stories on this theme. Good luck!

Looking into the past… Image via Pixabay

ADDITIONAL

Incidentally I do have a News Page on both of my Weebly websites. This is usually updated every Friday with news of my latest Chandler’s Ford Today posts but I do post other news items such as publication news and so on.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My post tonight is a review of the Arthur Miller play, All My Sons, recently staged by The Chameleon Theatre Group. The play and the performances were brilliant. Remembrance is a vital thread to this play too. I not only review the play and performances but also share some of its history, including its links with McCarthyism.

BRIDGE HOUSE PUBLISHING – BAUBLES ANTHOLOGY

It has been a busy week but it is a “good busy”. Baubles is now out on Kindle. My short story, Helping Out, is in there. The book will be available in paperback shortly.

Bridge House have also set up a Baubles Facebook page. This book is the first time I’ve been involved with a book trailer and I think it looks great.

Love the cover for this. Image supplied by Bridge House Publishing.

The Kindle. Has expanded my reading (no more worrying about how many books I can take on holiday either!). Image via Pixabay.

THINGS NO CHARACTER EVER WANTS TO HEAR…

November 7, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Things No Character Ever Wants to Hear gives a short list of statements guaranteed to chill the blood and sink the confidence of any character. This is particularly useful information for any character about to be sent off on a quest (and who have no idea why they were chosen. This list gives reasons!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Appreciating the Arts was a post inspired by some wonderful comments which came in as a result of my recent Chandler’s Ford Today post on My Top 10 Classical Music Greats. Some fantastic pieces of music have been added to that list – and there is always room for more, hint, hint! In this post though, I discuss what role the arts has in your fictional setting and ask how accessible the arts are to your characters? This could be useful in helping you flesh our your world and could give useful pointers as to how your society works. Is there an elite that keeps the arts for themselves? Are there some arts only the “commoners” enjoy and so on?

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I discuss response to my CFT post, fireworks (loathe them – because my border collie does, which is reason enough!) and share my thoughts on Ben Macintyre’s The Last Word. I’m currently reading this on Kindle and it shares some wonderful insights as to the development of the English language. There are some fantastically funny examples of pidgin English too.

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The world of the imagination should play a role in your stories. I can’t imagine any world without some form of the arts. Image via Pixabay.