Tag: magic

Images from the magical world... Image via Pixabay

WHEN YOU NEED MORE THAN A MAGICAL WAND (TO KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE)

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I had fun with one of the titles tonight!  Care to guess which one?!

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When You Need More than a Magical Wand (to keep you out of trouble)… now what could that possibly be about?!  I list those moments when your magical character(s) will realise a magical wand is not going to solve the problems they are in at that time.  As ever, can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Judging by Appearances is something most of us have been guilty of at times (and certainly from my experience I have always been wrong when I’ve done this).  In fairytales, of course, it is common for the ugly or mild-mannered one to either be the most powerful magical being around or turn out to be the hero/heroine.  But there is nothing to stop you getting your characters to judge each other.  After all, isn’t all human frailty demonstrated in stories?  So why shouldn’t this one be as well?  I could see great comic and tragic stories coming out of this.

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A bit of a news update on this.  I share news of how I’m getting on with my proofreading.  I also share my views on Grammarly (a free add-on for Firefox) and on predictive texting.  I also list my favourite Chandler’s Ford Today post of the year.  A little early for that?  Maybe but I’m not sure the one I listed will be surpassed.

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Writing in many forms... Image via Pixabay

Writing in many forms… Image via Pixabay

 

 

Fairytale magic can go awry - characters lose powers or become power obsessed. Neither is a pretty sight. Image via Pixabay.

FIVE SIGNS

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In our world, some worry about losing their hair.  Others worry about losing their general appeal.  In the magical world characters worry about losing their magical abilities.  Five Signs Your Character is Losing Their Magical Ability describes the five most common signs this is happening to your character.  The most common cause is being cursed.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Power obsession is an ugly thing.  Five Signs Your Character is Becoming Power Obsessed shows the most common signs this is happening to your character.  What will be really interesting is what happens to your plot as a result!

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A shorter post tonight and I look at a query most dog owners will have – namely why their pet takes so long to do its night time business when it is freezing outside.  When it is mild they are back in the house within a minute or so.  Guess who froze tonight?!  I also discuss the wonderful changing leaf colours around me.  And I share what I’m reading at the moment in general terms.  What are you reading?  And now, in the UK, the nights are drawing in earlier, are you reading more?

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Fairies are not twee creatures... tonight I ask what do fairytale characters most care about. Image via Pixabay

Fairies are not twee creatures.  They are dangerous, especially if they think rivals are losing magical ability.  Image via Pixabay

Shakespeare had his quill, modern writers have their laptops. Image via Pixabay.

SEASONAL CHANGES

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Given we are now into November, tonight’s posts look at autumnal changes in different ways.

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The Time of the Year asks what are your characters’ favourite times of year and why?  Could the answers here show something about their state of mind?  (If they like autumn/winter do they tend to be melancolic, for example?).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On the other hand, the title for the post here tonight indicates a more lighthearted theme!  Autumnal Flying Hazards For Your Average Magical Being does sum up the post nicely though and looks at hazards that could reasonably be expected at this time of the year in any magical realm.

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I discuss Vincent, the song by Don McLean and the episode of Doctor Who tonight and share one of my favourite You Tube clips.  I share the clip again here.  This also makes a great introduction to the works of Van Gogh.  The clip was originally put up several years ago by Anthony DiFatta.

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Come sunrise the fairies (and fairytale witches) must vanish. Image via Pixabay.

OFFENDING A FAIRYTALE WITCH

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I love writing a  mixture of funny posts and those that share writing tips/thoughts about writing, hence tonight’s billings!

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Offending a Fairytale Witch is full of hints and tips for anyone brave or insane enough to give this a go.  It’s not something I’d do but then I like (a) living and (b) going to bed the same shape and species with which I began the day.  Call me fussy and all that but we all have our lines we won’t cross and this is one of mine.  Still the great thing is even if you’re not brave or insane enough to offend a fairytale witch, like me you can always enjoy reading about what you could do but for health and safety reasons have wisely chosen not to indulge in!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Turning from the ridiculous to what I hope is the more sensible (and maybe sublime?), What is a Good Story shares what I think makes for a truly gripping tale.  Do you agree with my findings?  Can you add to them?  I’ve deliberated not named any specific stories but the principles of my list apply across all genres and word counts.

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Today was lovely in that I sent back the proofs for my short story, Helping Out, which will be appearing in Bridge House Publishing’s annual anthology soon.  This year’s anthology is called Baubles and I am looking forward to going to the launch event in London in December.  It will be a joint launch with Cafelit and I am thrilled I have a flash fiction piece, Telling the Time, in their compilation, The Best of Cafelit 5.  It has been a good year for my short stories and I very much hope to build on this in 2017.

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

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

Poets stand and stare and then write down. Image via Pixabay.

MAGICAL GOVERNMENT

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The trouble with living in a magical environment is it would be only too easy for everyone to resolve arguments with magic and, basically, the most powerful would always win.  The realm itself would almost certainly be in a bad way as nothing can stand having too much magic go through it at one go.  So politics has to creep in – an accommodation has to be found.  And that is the theme of Magical Government.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

With You Must be Joking I go from one sort of joke – politics (!) – to another and ask what role does humour have to play in the fictional world you’ve set up?  Is satire allowed?  Who does do any joking in your setting and what happens if they break the rules?  There could be a comic tale or several and/or tragedies to write here.

OTHER NEWS

Last week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post on the Story Shuffle Project has led to some Twitter activity about it.  Many thanks to all who retweeted the link to the post.  And I am glad to say I have been looking at the edits on my flash fiction collection (couldn’t believe some of the silly, but easy to correct, errors I’d made but then that is why you need a good editor!).  I’ve also sent the edits back to the publishers.  So it has been a busy week already and it is only Tuesday!!

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I discuss poetry tonight and list one of my favourites from Pam Ayres.  Though I do find with poetry I can’t really name a favourite as so much depends on mood – mine and the poet’s!  What do you think?

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Poetry conjures up images and war poetry conjures up some of the most famous of all. Image via Pixabay (and I think one of the loveliest I've ever shared. Simple but stunning).

Poetry conjures up images and war poetry conjures up some of the most famous of all. Image via Pixabay (and I think one of the loveliest I’ve ever shared. Simple but stunning).

 

Come sunrise the fairies must vanish. Image via Pixabay.

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA BUT…

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

My post Fairytale Hints and Tips shares advice on not judging others by their species or their size.  It also stresses the importance of knowing where your fruit comes from and what exactly has gone into your food and drink.  In a magical world, you really cannot be too careful!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

My post Ideas that seemed good at the time but… lives up to its title and shares examples from well known fairytales.  Why Little Red Riding Hood never thought to question the whole idea of a wolf talking to her remains a mystery…

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A little bit of advance notice for this week’s Chandler’s Ford Today post which will be about what I look for in a good writing conference.  I also look forward to what will hopefully be a great day at the Association of Christian Writers Day in London on Saturday.

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The way into the magical realm perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

The way into the magical realm perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

 

It's amazing the worlds a book can show you. Image via Pixabay.

FAIRYTALE JOBS YOU DON’T WANT

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Tonight’s post, Fairytale Jobs You Don’t Want, shows some of the roles in a magical world you really don’t want to be carrying out. That is, assuming you want a nice, healthy life span!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Unglamorous Side of Magic is tonight’s post and looks at the fact that every world has its lowest of the low.  In a magical world, this “honour” is held by the lowly minion, that poor so-and-so who collects eye of newt for his/her witch bosses and so on.  (No gender discrimination here either, anyone can be a lowly minion).  There really are some jobs in life you don’t want.  That includes the fictional life!

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I discuss the joy of I-player and music tonight.  I also talk about short story collections, particularly The Best of Cafelit 5.  I have a flash fiction piece in this, Telling the Time, but felt it appropriate I should have my own Kindle copy of the book!  I like the Kindle for all sorts of reasons but feel short story collections do work well on it, especially with the ability to bookmark your position and so on.

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The Kindle - modern reading for a modern era. Image via Pixabay.

The Kindle – modern reading for a modern era. Image via Pixabay.