Tag: Going Away

Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester

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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 week. Am about to head off to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick once again. Lady has been catching up with some of her pals. Am busy writing and editing. Two CFT posts for you this week too, see below for more. Photos from The Dorset Museum and their Jane Austen – Down to the Sea exhibition were taken by me, Allison Symes.


Facebook – General and Chandler’s Ford Today

8th August 2025 – 1st post – John Puzey

Busy day. First up is my first post for Chandler’s Ford Today this week. I share a post about John Puzey’s library event coming up on 16th August. He will be discussing his new book, Captive Audience (Authors Reach Limited). John is well known in my area as a member of the Chameleon Theatre Company too. I hope the event goes well. Full details of time etc in the post.

Author Event – John Puzey at Chandler’s Ford Library – Captive Audience – 16th August 2025

8th August 2025 – CFT post – Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester

My second post for Chandler’s Ford Today is Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester where I review my recent visit to a special exhibition at The Dorset Museum. The exhibition called Jane Austen – Down To The Sea was enlightening. I share more of my thoughts as to why in the post. If you do get a chance to go to this, I highly recommend it. The exhibition is on until 14th September 2025.

Mind you, I plan to go back to the museum anyway later in the year because it holds a wide range of other interesting exhibits which I didn’t get chance to see so a return trip is definitely called for. (For one thing, I wouldn’t mind visiting the Thomas Hardy room here).

Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester

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8th August 2025 – third post – Two year Writers’ Narrative anniversary

Another post here tonight sees me, along with the rest of the Writers’ Narrative team, celebrating the second birthday of this excellent magazine. But don’t just take my word for it. Why not check it out?

It is written by writers for writers and is packed full of interesting articles and amazing tips. See the link below to the most recent issue. (There is a subscribe link inside the magazine itself and it is free to subscribe to so nothing to dislike there!


Lady was pleased to see her other best buddy, the Hungarian Vizler, today. Nice time had by both.
There will be two Chandler’s Ford Today posts out from me tomorrow. See above for both links.

One is to flag up a local author event. John Puzey (who will be known to many in my area as a member of The Chameleon Theatre Company) is having an author signing event at the Chandler’s Ford Library on 16th August to discuss his book, Captive Audience, which is published by Authors Reach Limited. The post shares full details. All are welcome. Brief blurb below.

Behind the wire and the watchtowers, three prisoners of war begin their journey to fame. An adventure of escapism and escape, set against the backdrop of war-torn Italy and the lure of post war stardom.

The second post will be my usual one for a Friday and I’ll be sharing Visiting Jane Austen in Dorchester where I’ll review the recent exhibition I went to see. That runs until 14th September 2025 and if you get a chance to go, I highly recommend it. Links for both posts up tomorrow.

Lady got to play with her best buddy, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, today so all well there.

Writing/Character Tip: Can you summarise your main character in one line? Why not give that a go? It helps you get to their “essence” and is a good way, when you read your story back, to check that is coming out in your tale as you would want so your character makes the maximum impact on your readers.

It will show you too why you want to write this character up. There should be something about them which “nags” you to write their story up after all. If they grip you, they will grip your readers but that essence will show you why they grip you in the first place.

Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Friday Flash Fiction are currently running their annual two week competition which ties in with the Edinburgh Festival. So I am sharing the link here to the 100 words story page so you can have a wonderful read. I have submitted a story this week but no names or comments here until the competition is over. But do enjoy the tales. I have had a fabulous read and am sure you will too.

In other news, and an update to an earlier post this week, I did manage to get my 750 word story submitted, just ahead of Swanwick. 

Hope you’ve had a good day. Not bad one here.

Had a lovely time at yesterday evening’s ACW group I go to most months. Was pleased to put in the word for Writers’ Narrative too! You can’t always know when marketing opportunities come up and some of the best ones are by word of mouth. I also put in a good word for the Authors Licensing and Collection Society (ALCS). Both WN and ALCS are worth checking out but you need not just take my word for it!

Flash Tip: Another advantage to the tight word count flash demands is you haven’t got room for any waffle whatsoever. So words like whatsoever would automatically be taken out of any flash fiction story of mine! You do get better at spotting words which aren’t really needed (and really is so often another one!).

But this is the purpose of the first edit after all – to get rid of wasted words and to ensure the story makes sense. Then it is a question of polishing up and proofreading. I see these as three distinct stages. All have a purpose. All help me make my stories as good as I can make them.

Hope today has gone well. One thing I will especially look forward to at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, which happens soon (hooray!), is getting to take part in writing exercises.

I enjoy these things and know I will end up with some draft flash fiction pieces from them. Nothing to dislike about that! I have polished up some of my stories from these things in the past and had them published (CafeLit and I can think of at least one which will be in my third book, Seeing The Other Side, due out next May).

So is there a point to writing exercises?

Definitely!

Fairytales with Bite – Going Away

In your magical setting, do any of your characters go away to do what we would know as Continuing Professional Development? If so, is it compulsory they do this (annually maybe) or is it a volunteer thing?

I am about to head off for a few days of writing workshops and courses. It is a big highlight of my writing year. Not least because I get to meet up with writing friends I only see online for the rest of the year. So what would be the equivalent in your setting?

Wouldn’t necessarily be writing of course. Is there a fairy godmother school somewhere where said godmothers can improve their craft work? That could be fun to witness. Certainly I could see potential for humorous stories there. Also would there be a social side to this and what would happen there?

So where would your characters go? Why is the location for the courses etc the one which has been picked for this? If magic is flying about, you could see the point of setting workshops etc nowhere near any major populations!

Could be some fun stories here.

This World and Others – Workshops and Courses

Linking with Fairytales with Bite above, which workshops and courses would your characters go to? Would they have any choices or are there specialist ones they absolutely must do on a regular basis? Who runs these? What standards are expected of the courses themselves and how would your characters qualify to get to go to them at all? Is there the magical equivalent of OFSTED or any other body which holds educational establishments to account here?

Who decided there should be magical workshops and courses? What led them to that and do they teach them? What obstacles did they have to overcome to persuade others learning like this was essential (as not everyone would see the need. Sadly not everyone sees the need for education, especially for women, even now).

What do your attendees make of the courses they go to? Could one of your attendees learn something at one of these courses which will change their lives, for better or for worse? How would that play out?

MailerLite – Allison Symes – Newsletter Sign Up

WRITERS NARRATIVE SUBSCRIBER LINK 

As I’ve shared the August 2025 edition above, please find below an older issue of the magazine.

 

AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL – ALLISON SYMES

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Flash Fiction and Successful Writing

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Facebook – General

When is writing considered successful? When you are published? When you submit more work in a year than you’ve done before? When you have more acceptances than rejections? When you can make a living from writing?

All of those things matter, of course they do, BUT if you are committed to your writing, and seek to always improve on what you do, I’d say that was being successful. Why?

Because you do need stamina to cope with the ups and downs of the writing life. You need to recognize you do need to keep striving.

And whether you seek publication for one book, lots of books, or just want to win short story competitions from time to time, then that’s fine. Decide what you would like to achieve and give it your best shot.

Good luck!❤

 

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Whatever writing you do, I think the two most important things are to enjoy it and use it to help you develop.

If you write flash fiction, as I do, seek to find more ways of generating ideas and find more markets/competitions for your work.

Writing is a journey after all and, even after publication, you will still face rejections. You will want to get better at what you do. There are always things to spur you on.

My overall goal? To be the best writer I can be.

 

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West Bay Beach on a gorgeous day in December 2018.  Image taken by Allison Symes.  Walks along a beach can be a good place to reflect on what you would like to achieve as a writer.

Enjoyed the writing prompt in my diary tonight. I had to use certain words to come up with an opening to a story or a poem. A poem emerged! Needs a lot of work mind you but enjoyable to draft. What was nice about this was I could “hear” the rhythm of the draft and knew from that, this would a poem and not a piece of flash fiction.

I like the mixture of writing prompts in this diary. They’re going to keep me on my toes this year. I also like prompts as a chance to play with words and just see what comes out. Later will come more fun when I look at these drafts in the cold light of day and assess what works and what doesn’t and then obviously go with what does. I know now NOT to try and write and edit the same piece in the same session. Doesn’t work. I find I need to give myself some distance before appraising anything.

 

The sun setting. Pixabay image.
The lightbulb moment of inspiration for writers is wonderful. Pixabay image.
How does gravity and time work in your settings? Pixabay image.
What populates your fictional world? Pixabay image
Checking spelling and grammar isn’t fun but so necessary. Pixabay image.
Stepping into another world.. Pixbay
A good photo shows light at its best. Pixabay image.
Thinking your writing through is always a good idea. Pixabay image.
The darkness can have its own beauty. Pixabay image.
How many story ideas could come from an image like this? Pixabay.
So true. Pixabay image.
What wonderful colours. Pixabay image.

Off to the panto later this week. Oh yes she is! Oh no… etc etc.

Don’t think I’ve seen Ali Baba before and it’s been a long time since I last read the story. Should be a good fun evening and panto I think is about the only time nobody cares too much how noisy the theatre audience gets. (That may just be me remembering childhood pantos too vividly though!). Review will follow on CFT in due course.

My favourite panto story is probably Robin Hood though as I’ve always adored that tale.🏹🏹 Recently rewatched Prince of Thieves. (The much missed Alan Rickman IS the definitive Sheriff of Nottingham.)

Back to normal after a lovely weekend away. Why is it that, wherever it is you go, no matter for how short a time you’re away for, you always come back feeling jetlagged, even if you’ve been nowhere near a plane?!

My smartphone has not yet managed this! Pixabay image.
It always is! Reflecting first helps a lot! Pixabay image
Thoughts are free but check images used are either free to use or your own! Image via Pixabay.
What are the difficulties in your characters’ way? Pexels image.
Plugging in for new ideas? Pixabay image
Does your story conjure up your setting well enough? Pexels image.
Where do your characters like to take time out to reflect and why? Pexels image
Set goals for the short, medium and long terms. Pixabay image
Where will inspiration strike? Pixabay image.
Series novels contribute so much to the wonderful world of books. Pixabay image.
Someone set a goal here of some sort! Pixabay image
Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.

My CFT post later this week will take a brief look at why the oral tradition of storytelling will never die out. I also look at how I came across the story of Ali Baba, the panto I’ll be off to see on Thursday, and the special memories of the book I have where I first read the tale. Much as I can see the point of decluttering, I draw the line at books!

Practically all of mine have special memories attached to them and it is a great pleasure to have a shelf of books written by friends of mine. (Take a bow, #ValPenny, #JenniferCWilson, #BeatriceFishback, #DawnKentishKnox, #GillJames, #RichardHardie, #BrendahSedgwick amongst others!). I look forward to filling other shelves with books by friends and, of course, my own!

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Facebook – From Light to Dark and Back Again

Drafted another flash story on the train yesterday. Plan to polish that and submit it I hope sometime next week.

Never despise “only” having 5 minutes to write or what have you. These pockets of time are really useful for getting some drafts written. You’d be surprised at how much time those pockets can mount up to and therefore how many drafts you can get done!

Checking spelling and grammar isn’t fun but so necessary. Pixabay image.
My flash fiction collection. Image taken by Allison Symes.
This made me smile! Pixabay image.
Some of my published works, most anthologies. Image by Allison Symes
I read some of my flash fiction from FLTDBA and Cafelit. Image by Dawn Kentish Knox
The building blocks of putting a story together. Pixabay image.
FLTDBA for sale in the Swanwick Book Room. Image by Allison Symes
Always time for a laugh with writer friends! Many thanks to Cheryl Holland for taking this with my phone.
Fake news and roundabouts that are too small make it into my CFT post. Image via Pixabay.

Some one-line stories for tonight’s post, I think.

1. The red dragon thought it would defy being out of time by sitting on the clock tower and crushing it.

2. The fraud would work, she knew, but did she have the guts to go through with it?

3. It had a 90% risk of failure, and that would mean death, but he liked odds like that for bringing out the best in him.

What stories will come from this pen? Pexels image.
Barbara Large has done so much to support and encourage writers for many years. Pixabay image.
Edit, edit, edit! Pixabay image.
Reading immerses you in another world. Pixabay image.
All writers feel this way sometimes. Pixabay image.
Beautiful pens. Pexels image.
Social media has made the world a smaller place. Image via Pixabay.
Notebooks, pens, beverages… bliss for the writer. Image via Pixabay.

Flash fiction lends itself well to having fun experimenting with genre writing. Why?

Because it has to be character led, you can set that character anywhere you want. So you can write fairytales, crime stories, historical fiction etc. The framework is that you are writing a flash story. It may even help you discover what your favourite genre to write in is – I will always have a very special fondness for humorous fairytales. But I do enjoy coming out with crime flash fiction every so often.

Mixing things up keeps ME thinking and stretching the old imaginative muscles, which is always a good thing.

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I’m enjoying tackling the weekly writing prompts in my diary. Some are picture prompts, others you have to use certain words, and still others you have to write a description of a particular thing. All good creative stuff. Loving the mix too.

The one for last week was to use certain words as an opening for a poem or story. What was lovely was I heard the voice of my narrator immediately and they were demanding their words be written as a poem. Well, when you’re told like that, you have no choice do you?!

When writing is really going well, it can seem as if you are taking dictation from your characters, but that is a very good thing. It shows they’re real and if they engage you, they’ll engage readers too.

A truly beautiful book. Pixabay image.
What worlds will new books show you? Pixabay
Lost in a world of books. Pixabay image.
Let the creativity spill out. PIxabay image.
There is something almost mystical here. Pixabay image.
Another one I’ve yet to see happen. Pixabay image.
Some of Shakespeare’s sayings in popular use now. Image via Pixabay
Research material, notebook and pen to hand. Image via Pixabay
Whenever and whatever you read, enjoy. Image via Pixabay.
Books are a fantastic form of escapism. Image via Pixabay
Great way to relax. Now where are those biscuits? Image via Pixabay
Good reading – and writing to be done – here. Pixabay image.

Flash fiction is wonderful for stories which are moments in time for a character. These moments are not enough in themselves to make a standard length short story but are of enough interest and insight to justify being “out there”. And those moments can be as funny or as sad or as horrific as you care to make them.

The great irony with flash fiction is, despite its restricted word count, it does actually give the writer a great deal of freedom as the stories HAVE to be character led. Of course it is up to you where and when and how your characters lead us! The important thing is you as the writer have fun here and we as the readers will pick up on that and love reading what you write.

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Goodreads Author Blog – Going Away

Sorry, post a day later this week, as have been away this weekend, but I use opportunities like that to revise what I am reading and what I want to take with me while away. It helps with packing too! I won’t take the huge volume of stories which takes up far too much room. I WILL take the Kindle and one of my slimmer paperbacks..

So when you go away what crucial books do you HAVE to take with you?

I was catching up on Peter Ackroyd’s The Civil War over the weekend – like his style and this is a period of history I know a bit about but am conscious I ought to know more. Good to get back to this book again.

I usually finish Kindle books before I move on to something else but can sometimes get sidetracked, especially if a friend has a book out I really want to get on and read, but I do catch up in the end. Am always glad to do so too.

 

Books are the keys to knowledge. Image via Pixabay
Puns can be visual. Pixabay image.
I now use a laptop. Pexels image.
Let one creative idea spark another. Pixabay image.
Let the ideas flow and let journeys encourage that! Image via Pixabay
Ebooks and print – both have their own frustrations when it comes to publishing. Image via Pixabay
What every writer needs. Image via Pexels.
Books and swimming but not at the same time! Pexels image.