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’ve had a good week so far. Has been so hot here. Lady has had limited exercise but is coping well. Thankfully we have a generally shady garden. Writing going well. Thankfully I can do that in the cool too!
Facebook – General and Chandler’s Ford Today
I’m delighted to share a wonderful author interview with Esther Chilton on Chandler’s Ford Today this week. She discusses her new children’s book, Myths and Magic, which is book two in a series of six called Saffy’s Secret Quest.
In this in depth interview, Esther discusses the values of planning, how she decided on Saffy’s age given that has a direct impact on Saffy’s character arc, and the issues which surround marketing not just one book but one which is part of a series.
Esther also discusses the value of reading work out loud (something I also find useful especially for my flash pieces) and which fantasy tales inspired her writing. We are all inspired by what has gone before. There are good reasons why the fairytales and other fantasy work remain timeless. For one thing, their themes are timeless.
There are plenty of useful thoughts and tips here. Hope you enjoy the interview.
Esther, good luck with Myths and Magic. It’s always a joy to share news of books coming out into the world.
Cooler day, even had some rain this evening, so much better for Lady.
It was a quiet session of the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Group last night so will save my presentation on using questions for the next meeting, but had a lovely chat about all things writing wise.
This is the joy of good writing groups – the support and encouragement you can gain and give out from these is amazing. It is a two way street too because no one writer can know everything and we all end up sharing useful information with each other. Some of this is useful immediately. Some may be useful later, years later sometimes.
Talking of sharing useful information, do look out for a fabulous interview with Esther Chilton on Chandler’s Ford Today regarding her newly published Myths and Magic children’s book. Link up tomorrow. There are plenty of good tips and advice for all writers here so do check it out. See above.
Another scorching day here so again limited exercise for Lady but she’s a good girl, is drinking well, and is happy curled up at home in the shade.
Writing wise, I’ll be running the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Group meeting later on. We’ll be looking at questions and how we can use these to create characters, themes, and settings.
Questioning is a useful tool for all writers. My favourite is the “what if” one as that can spark all kinds of ideas. Many of my flash fiction stories have been based on my answering that one!
Don’t forget I’ll be sharing a smashing interview with fellow flash fiction writer and children’s author, Esther Chilton, on Chandler’s Ford Today on Friday. There is plenty to discuss about her new children’s book, Myths and Magic, and there is also good information for all writers (Esther shares her thoughts on marketing series for one thing) so do look out for this. And if you want to find out how washing up can help your writing, do catch the interview! Again, see above.
Facebook – From Light To Dark and Back Again
Hope today has gone well. Thankfully cooler and much pleasanter for Lady (and the rest of us, frankly).
Looking forward to a trip out to The Dorset Museum tomorrow with editing colleagues – we’re going to a Thomas Hardy exhibition. Should be interesting. The museum itself is a gem.
Am sure I’ll be able to jot down some useful notes on my trip. It is one of writing’s oddities that non-fiction can often spark ideas for stories and naturally I am hoping that will happen for me tomorrow. I can always put a writing prompt to good use after all.
Talking of which, why not try the following prompt?
Flash Fiction Prompt: He didn’t know the species but there was something about this creature which was familiar.
Have fun!
Almost time for my author newsletter again. To sign up for flash fiction tips and advice on writing, competition news, story links and more do head over to my landing page at https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com
I use themes for my newsletter, of course, but am also writing to set ones a lot given many competitions come with them. Indeed, I often find competitions with a set theme “easier” than open ones because the set theme does at least give you a starting point. I like starting points. Give me one of those and away I go!
Flash Fiction Tip: Mix up the word counts you write to – I’ve recently got back to the 50 worders again. Also think of the other end of the scale here and try the 750 worders (there are some competitions for these) as well as writing to the full 1000 word count allowance.
Writing across the spectrum is not just fun, it’s useful. There are various competitions for the different flash “categories” so if you know you can write to them, you already have a head start here. And then why not try this for flash non-fiction too! It’s all great writing experience.
I’m looking forward to joining in with at least some of the writing exercises I’ve set for the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Group later this evening. It means I get some drafts down too and I can always make use of those. It was a quiet session so hope to do this for the next meeting instead!
Am out with editing colleagues on Saturday and I expect things I will see and hear on the train and/or at The Dorset Museum may well spark story ideas. Am glad for my note app on my phone. It is always useful (and given everyone is on their phones on the train these days it looks less obvious for me to be on my mine jotting down thoughts for potential stories compared me to getting out a notebook, looking around me, taking down notes etc!).
Mind you, that has sparked a writing prompt thought for you (and it may well be one I’ll use later).
Writing Prompt: Someone has left their notebook behind on the train. Your character cannot resist flicking through it. (Be fair, would you especially if you know the owner is well away from where you are!). What do they find in there? What intrigues? What horrifies? Do they discover something momentous?
Definite story ideas there – have fun!
Fairytales with Bite – Ideal Weather for Whom
As I write this in late May 2026, the UK is experiencing a heatwave. Okay, it’s not unknown for May but this one is hotter than normal. I keep hearing descriptions of the lovely sunshine and, yes it is and all of that, but not everyone will feel the same way – hayfever sufferers for a start.
So in your stories and settings, what weather conditions would be ideal for your characters and why? Which conditions would they find especially trying to handle and why? Which weather conditions would get in the way of them achieving what needs to be achieved?
Also, are your characters looked down on because they find certain types of weather troublesome when those around them just get on with things? What kind of empathy, if there is any, would there be here?
If you have magical beings who can tamper with the weather, why would they do so and what do they hope to achieve? How did they develop the skills they’d need here?
This World and Others – Climate Change
Has your setting always been the way it is or has it seen climate change (or something similar to that) over time? If so, have there been any benefits to the way the setting has changed? What have been the disadvantages?
Has something which was useful been lost for good and your characters are only realising that now? Is there anything they can do to restore things or get an approximation back again which would help their world? I must admit I’m not convinced by the Jurassic Park films. I remain unconvinced it would be a good idea to bring the dinosaurs back!
Where magic is a major part of your setting, has that been used to help the climate or is it responsible for negative changes? I would see magic here as a form of energy and could your setting/characters have abused this in the past with the consequences beginning to come in now?
What would your characters do about it now?
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A busy day but changeable weather again. Lady did get to see her Hungarian Vizler though. Lots of affection shown and they both mug the Vizler’s owner for treats. Two happy dogs went home.
I mix up how I decide my flash pieces are going to be. Sometimes I know the mood of the story I want to write. Sometimes I know the theme. Sometimes I have a character making themselves known to me and I have to get their story down.
