Tag: Flash NANO 2024

Dialogue, finishing Flash NANO, and Competitions

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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 weekend. Quiet but lovely one here. Another smashing interview coming up with Wendy H Jones about A Right Cozy Christmas Crime on Chandler’s Ford Today on Friday. Do look out for it. What I love about interviews for CFT is how much useful information is shared other writers can use.

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Hope Tuesday has gone well for you. Lady got to see her Hungarian Vizler pal today and had a lovely time showing off her running skills in front of the dog she considers to be her “mum figure”.

Writing Tip: I’ve mentioned before about recording your stories on something like Zoom and playing them back to hear how they sound. You take in the story as a reader would doing this but I would add I think it is essential when you have plenty of dialogue.

What looks good written down doesn’t always read out well. It doesn’t always sound like natural speech either. Playing the story back will also help you pick up on those ums and ahs we do use in natural speech but which are a turn off in fiction. The odd one or two are fine but you don’t need many of them to convey a character hesitating.

The irony with fictional speech it has to be better than natural speech to keep a reader’s attention.

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Hope you have had a good Monday. Lady got to play with her Rhodesian Ridgeback pal today. Zoomies ensued! The Ridgeback’s owner and I have long experience in getting out of the way of the pair of them when they’re in full running mode like that. Why is it dogs like to play right near their humans mums just like toddlers do!

Writing wise, have had a fantastic weekend. I’d been resting some flash fiction pieces I’d earmarked for competitions. (Taking part in Flash NANO gave me an excellent time period in which to rest them). Worked on said stories, odd amendments only, and have now sent them in, well ahead of their respective deadlines. Have also drafted some blogs for later in the month.

This was all on top of what I’d usually do over the weekend so felt like I got a fair bit done. Will slow down as the month goes on – can’t imagine why!

And it was lovely to catch up with friends and family on Zoom too. Today by contrast has been chaotic but am so glad to be at my desk now. Getting to do any creative work, I find, relaxes me and I’m all for that!

468841003_1037349155071612_8758455932160783035_nAuthor newsletter went out earlier today. The “advantage” in producing a monthly newsletter is it makes it so easy to see just how quickly the year is flying by!

Loved Flash NANO. Enjoyed the prompt variety. My word count for this year came in at around the 8000 words mark as my story word counts were towards the shorter end this time. Having said that, it’s 8000 words I wouldn’t have written otherwise.

Am also getting ever closer to having a potential fourth flash collection in terms of word count though there is much to be done to tighten things up before submission. Have also got other pieces to submit this week (competitions) and another longer term project which I’ve completed, and where I’ve almost got the submission package up together.

So plenty going on behind the scenes, most of which involves flash fiction in some way.

Am delighted Writers’ Narrative is back and I hope you’ve had chance to check it out. Useful for all writers.

468885190_1036411131832081_4146249516002910914_nHope you have had a good day. Quiet one here but lovely. This time next week I will be on my way back from the Bridge House Publishing Celebration event – am so looking forward to going to that and catching up with friends old and new.

Writing wise, I’m delighted to say there was a fantastic response to the Flash NANO prompt set on 29th November. It was one I set and it’s been a joy to read what people have made of it. I too had a go at it (if it hadn’t been picked, I was going to save it for something to write up later) and my tale came in at 73 words, my shortest for Flash NANO 2024.

Author newsletter out again tomorrow – where does the time go?

Last but definitely not least, I’m looking forward to sharing a wonderful interview with Wendy H Jones about A Right Cozy Christmas Crime, a recently released short story collection, featuring 13 authors, including Wendy herself. We’ll be discussing the joys of crime fiction in the short form amongst other topics. Link up on Friday.

 

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Am looking forward to the Bridge House Publishing Celebration event on Saturday. Many of the authors get to do some readings and I hope to do so too. It’s a joy to be read to – I love being told a story. I also love sharing some of mine and flash fiction is ideal for this.

Competition News: Friday Flash Fiction are running their Christmas competition at the moment.. You can enter two stories over the two weeks the competition is on. Each story to be 90-100 words and no more. And you do have to include two different words relating to the season in your stories. You use one on one week, the other on the next. You cannot use both words in either or both of your tales. For more details, see the link. Good luck if you have a go!
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It’s Monday. Has been a hectic one for me (have the feeling that won’t slow down until after the 25th!). It’s definitely time for a story then. Hope you like my latest on YouTube – There’s Red and Then There’s Red.

What does Santa do when Rudolph comes down with a cold with five minutes to go before flying time and the famous red nose has become an infamous one? Find out why and what here.

I know. I can hardly believe we’re into Advent and the final month of the year already. Looking back, I’ve got plenty of writing done. Would still like to do plenty more before this year is out.

Had a lovely time at the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Group meeting last week. I’ve some exercises from that to tidy up and see if I can submit somewhere plus more to write up. All fun though. When I know I can do something with the character, the words fly and that is how I like it to be. I can tidy up and sharpen later. Have always found this pays off.

Will be taking time off at Christmas as usual. The break is lovely but what is nice is I am always raring to go again by the time I get back to my desk again and I like that too. I do enjoy dropping my characters right in the mire and seeing what they do to get out of it again. Whether my characters like me is a totally different matter!

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Can’t believe this is the last day of Flash NANO for 2024 already (30th November). Many thanks to Nancy Stohlman for another great year of interesting prompts. Am I biased because one of mine was chosen? A bit!

But in fairness I have found all of the challenges interesting, some I thought I’m not going to do because I couldn’t see an immediate way in, and others I took to at once. I was expecting that though.

BUT I have got something out of each and every one so I see it as another successful year here. Also 30 new stories written which is always a win!. Am also grateful for feedback received on my stories. Useful and encouraging. Thanks, folks! Probably after Christmas I will go back and look through my drafts and see what can be done with them. I hope to send at least some of them out to competitions.

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Goodreads Author Blog – ‘Tis the Season For Books

Couldn’t resist the title for this blog given we are about to go into Advent and then Christmas, of course as I write this on 30th November 2024.

It really is the season to be reading books of course. What is there not to like about being curled up somewhere nice with a good book and a lovely drink of choice (Options hot chocolate, mint or orange flavoured, for me usually) and have a good read?

‘Tis also the season for authors to be out and about selling their wares so if you have an event near you, do go along and support. Your local writers will appreciate it. Another way of support is to leave reviews in the usual places. These don’t have to be long and help writers with their marketing. They’re also encouraged because it is always nice to know you’re being read (and I love this aspect myself).

So ‘tis the season for books then – to read them and to support those who write them. Books are such a fantastic invention and there is something for everyone out there of all ages. I like to mix up my books between genres, long and short form fiction books, and non-fiction.

Whatever you read, I hope you find some cracking new books this season.

Screenshot 2024-11-30 at 17-59-22 Allison Symes's Blog - 'Tis The Season For Books - November 30 2024 09 59 Goodreads

WRITERS NARRATIVE SUBSCRIBER LINK

So nice to get back to sharing the latest issue of Writers’ Narrative here. Enjoy!

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

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Inspiring Books and Flash NANO 2024

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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 had a good weekend. Nice one here. Lady turned 8 years old on 4th November – yes, she was spoiled! Writing wise, am looking forward to sharing my review of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight on Chandler’s Ford Today on Friday. Am also loving Flash NANO so far. Plenty going on and more author interviews to come on CFT in due course too.

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Hope you’ve had a good day. Lady was delighted to get to play with her Hungarian Vizler and Rhodesian Ridgeback pals again. It’s been a cracking start to her birthday week for her!

Books are so inspiring in so many ways. Especially for series books like Discworld, I love the way familiar characters develop over the course of several novels plus I love the one-liners. With Wodehouse, I love the elegance of language and the wonderful good humour emerging from the characters themselves and the situations poor Bertie Wooster gets dumped in.

Reading widely shows me what I like about characters and how their creators have brought them to the page. That alone is inspiration for what I want to do with my own creations. Those authors ensure their characters’ dialogue, attitudes, and behaviours are spot on for them and I aim to do the same with mine. Their creators knew their characters inside out and I aim to do the same with mine, though for 100 word stories I don’t need to know as much.

But you do take in what works with stories as you read them and if that is not a great advert to read more, I don’t know what is! It really does help with your own writing.

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4th November 2024
Special day today – it’s Lady’s 8th birthday. Hard to believe where the seven years since we brought her home from the Dogs Trust have gone. Yes, she has been spoiled rotten. And she got to see her Hungarian Vizler and Rhodesian Ridgeback chums today so Lady has had a great day.

Incidentally Lady’s actual birth date is the same as the day we brought her home, the only one of our three collies for whom this has happened. She’ll probably wonder why she isn’t spoiled quite so much tomorrow!

Writing wise, I’m looking forward to sharing my review of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, an excellent thriller recently staged by The Chameleon Theatre Company. Review will be up on Chandler’s Ford Today on Friday. More author interviews to come on CFT too.

Am thoroughly enjoying Flash NANO so far and will be tackling Day 4’s prompt shortly. Did so and loved writing it up!

465668816_1016007040539157_240577107499276068_nHope you are having a good weekend. Quiet one here. Not sorry about that.

About to crack on with flash fiction Sunday afternoon, a highlight of my week. Takes my mind off the fact it is dull and gloomy at 2.30 in the afternoon! I do wish they’d leave the clocks alone. Confuses the dog a bit too.

Writing Tip: If you’re taking part in Flash NANO, don’t worry if you can’t do the prompt on the day it is issued. It isn’t always possible. Life can and does get in the way. But don’t give up! What I do and have found helpful is get back to the prompts as soon as I can but I do them in the order in which they are issued. That way I still have the surprise of what is to come and it ensures I do give each one a go.

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Hope you have had a good day. Managed to get the lawn cut – probably for the last time until the spring.
Writing wise, I will be sharing my review of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight recently staged by The Chameleon Theatre Company for Chandler’s Ford Today next week. Link up on Friday. Looking forward to sharing that.

Enjoyed the first Flash NANO prompt yesterday and looking forward to writing up today’s one later. First story came in at 94 words excluding the title. I found for previous years the story word counts will vary. Most I’ve ever gone up to on this is a 750 worder. Most of my tales end up between 50 and 500 words my natural flash fiction habitat so can’t say I’m surprised by this. If you’re taking part in this, have fun and good luck.

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Dog is wondering why she can’t have a second birthday as she enjoyed being spoiled rotten yesterday!

Am loving Flash NANO and will be having a crack at Day 5’s prompt later. Done! The variety of prompt is incredible already and so good for keeping you on your creative toes.

Am preparing a couple of flashes separate to this for a competition I’ve got in mine. One is drafted and probably won’t need much work to it but the other one does! This is the way of it!

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4th November 2024

It’s Monday. (It’s also my dog’s 8th birthday so she and I have had a lovely time today – I spoiled her, she lapped it up!). It’s still time for a story. Hope you enjoy my latest on YouTube – Going Out With Mum. What could possibly go wrong taking dear old Mum out to an art exhibition? Find out here.

 

Lady has been enjoying Pet Classics on Classic FM over the weekend. This is basically calming music designed to drown out the noise of fireworks etc. Found it useful over the last couple of years.

Now taking the idea of music and flash fiction, let’s put them together and have a writing prompt of a character influenced by one piece of classical music only. What is it? Why have they chosen it? What difference does it make to them hearing it as they go about the business of the story? Does it help them to succeed in what they are trying to do? What does it reveal about their personality?

Am sure answering those questions can throw up some story ideas!

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So good to be taking part in Flash NANO again. Will be writing up Day 2’s prompt later. Have ideas brewing!

Plus I’m looking forward to my usual flash fiction Sunday afternoon tomorrow. I get a fair bit of flash written then. I expect by the end of the year I will have a rough draft for a potential further collection. (Will let you know when I hear more about my third one).

Flash Writing Tip: Focus on your lead character. Do you know how they would speak, what kind of language they would use, what kind of things they are likely to come out up with? If not, why not free write some conversation between them and you as their creator? See what comes out. By the end of that session, you will have ideas forming. For example:-

Me: Tell me a bit about yourself then.
Character: Why? It’s for you tell me, isn’t it?
Me: Okay, okay, I think I’ve got a bolshy one here. Now I wonder what kind of awkward situations I can dump you in. Be awkward with me, would you?
Character: See if I care. I will find a way.

Just writing that has told me a lot about this character already – as well as being defiant, they’re prepared to struggle, prepared to find ways of working things out so they’re a good thinker and likely to be creative with it. Yes, I can have fun with this one.

But I hope you see the point Just writing a couple of lines like this has already put some images of this potential character in my head.

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Goodreads Author Blog – Stand Out Characters

I’ve always thought characters make or break a story. If a character grips me, whether it’s due to my being sympathetic to their cause or because I want to see them fail, then I will read on and find out what happens. The challenge for me as a writer, of course, is to create stand out characters of my own but given I’ve always loved inventing fictional characters, this is a joy.

It doesn’t matter either what format the story is in. I’ve recently seen my local excellent amateur theatre company stage a thriller where, throughout, I was routing for one character to succeed but didn’t know until the last minute whether I was right to think that way or not. Kept me glued to my seat and I wasn’t the only one. You couldn’t hear a pin drop in that hall. Now that is wonderful characterisation and acting for you.

But it’s true for books too. The classics are the classics because we remember their characters (and thus their stories). I don’t need to add anything if I say Oliver, Jeeves, Frodo, Hamlet, the Bennets, Harry, Aslan, and so many more I couldn’t list them all here, do I? You will recall their stories immediately and maybe think it’s time for a re-read!

Screenshot 2024-11-02 at 17-48-33 Allison Symes's Blog - Stand Out Characters - November 02 2024 10 48 Goodreads

WRITERS NARRATIVE SUBSCRIBER LINK

This time I share the March 2024 edition of the magazine, which focused on writing for children. I have two pieces in here – Writing for Children and Writing for Anthologies. Not long to go now before the magazine is back.

 

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

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