The joy of writing does not need technology (at least not to start with!). Image via Pixabay.

YOU KNOW IT’S A BAD WEEK WHEN…

October 21, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

You Know It’s a Bad Week When takes a humorous look at what could make up a bad week if you lived in a fairytale world. And if you’ve got the three little pigs thinking you know nothing about building materials, then you really are in trouble!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Reading Matters looks at whether, in your fictional setting, characters are free to read as they choose. It also asks what does your character read for pleasure.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just a brief note to say tomorrow’s post is part 1 of an interview with someone very special who has done so much to help writers over the years. More tomorrow!

FACEBOOK PAGE

I round up what I have been up to writing wise.

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What a library! Image via Pixabay.

Enough books to be going on with for now anyway.... Image via Pixabay

WORDS TO THE WISE

October 16, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

There are a lot of highly gullible characters in fairytales. Snow White is one of the worst. Words to the Wise shares why I think that and also gives some handy tips, especially about food and drink related matters, which Snow White and Alice in Wonderland should have followed. I also give advice on never putting yourself in a debt to a powerful magical being and what to do if you come across a dog that laughs and a cow that jumps over the moon (as there are certain things you should check out if you find yourself in this (admittedly unlikely) situation! Always best to be prepared though!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Character Reactions is a follow on to yesterday’s post when I looked at how characters treat each other. The flip side to this, of course, is how characters react to the treatment they receive, especially if it is unjust. Why do your characters react the way they do? Previous experience? Are they reacting in a way their society expects them to or do they fall apart? If the latter, do they “get put back together again” (the way Humpty Dumpty would have wished he could have been!) and how does this happen? How do your characters learn from their experiences?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss the variety of stories and books I’m reading on Kindle and in print and how reading widely across genres sparks ideas for writers. The more you read (in and out of your chosen genre), the more you give your mind to feed upon and it is in that process ideas spark. So if you want lots of story ideas, read widely! (And it is huge fun and a great way of supporting other authors. How can you know what you want to write without knowing what is already out there? Inspiration also sparks from what is out there already. It is your take on characters that makes your plots and stories original after all. Christopher Booker’s The Seven Basic Plots is a fascinating read incidentally.).

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The world’s most beautiful library perhaps? Image via Pixabay. But lots of lovely stories to read which may well spark off ideas for other stories. Only problem? Where to start!

Medieval manuscripts were not always the easiest to read! Image via Pixabay.

FAIRYTALE AND OTHER FICTIONAL LIBRARIES

October 14, 2016October 15, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at Fairytale and other Fictional Libraries in tonight’s post. This partly ties in with my Chandler’s Ford Today post which went live earlier this evening. More details on that below. But in FWB I wonder about what your characters would read (sharing your character tastes and traits helps in building up well rounded characters after all). I also wonder about what stories and myths your characters would grow up knowing and how these affect them and the world they live in.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Learning from the Past continues the historical theme and looks at what is vital for coming up with a real story. Answer: a real story is in how a character responds to an event thrown at them. The event doesn’t need to be particularly dramatic either. How does a character respond to, say, a row with their partner/spouse? Do they learn from it and rebuild the relationship or does a refusal to learn signal the end of that relationship? Characters can learn from their own past, their family background or the past of the world in which they live but it is how they react, whether they learn or not, that is crucial to your story. Personally I would get fed up pretty quickly with a character that doesn’t learn. It is what they learn (and whether it is enough to deal with their current crisis) that is the interesting bit of the story for me.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I love posting articles about creative writing, history, and ideas that encourage the use of the library service. Tonight’s post, The Story Shuffle Project, combines all three!

The project encourages local school children to write their own versions of the Sir Bevis of Hampton legend. Sir Bevis is Southampton’s legendary hero – think James Bond on tapestries! The stories are then put into a digital app, which can be accessed at the local library (that closest to the schools taking part in this project) using a special code the children are given. I would have loved this at that age (7 to 11). I loved codes and historical stories so what is there not to like about this?!

I hope all taking part in this project have a great deal of fun with it.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I share the link with the above project.

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Tapestries told stories – the Sir Bevis of Hampton legends just being part of this. Image via Pixabay.

The modern way to read - the Kindle. Image via Pixabay.

IF THERE WERE A FAIRYTALE WITCH’S CONFERENCE…

October 10, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I continue with the theme of conferences and look at what might be on offer for an event held for fairytale witches. This, of course, assumes you could get enough fairytale witches together who would not squabble or curse each other for long enough to get through the day itself in one piece. Frankly this is assuming a lot…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I discuss classical music in tonight’s post and how I now love listening to it as I write. There was a time when I couldn’t write with music in the background at all. I found it was affecting my mood and therefore how/what I wrote! But classical does not seem to have that affect. It’s either that or I’ve matured a bit as a writer to block out distractions! From a writing viewpoint, I ask how music comes into play (some pun intended!) in your fictional creations.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I’m feeling chuffed I’ve managed to catch up with some reading today. I discuss that and advances in technology when it comes to books (whether reading or writing them) in tonight’s post.

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My own library is not on this scale but isn’t this a fabulous place? Image via Pixabay (of Leeds Castle).

If there were such a thing as a conference for fairy godmothers, maybe one workshop would discuss how to ensure a good supply of ingredients (to definitely include pumpkins!). Image via Pixabay.

FAIRY (AND OTHER) CONFERENCES

October 9, 2016October 9, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I returned from a wonderful day at the Association of Christian Writers’ conference in London on Saturday 8th October. The theme of conferences is on my brain for all my posts tonight but the FWB one is a fun look at what would be available if fairies had their own conferences. See what you think! Do you agree with me? What workshops would the magical beings in your fictional world have?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Here I talk about what I like about writing days/conferences. Again do you agree with me? Can you add to my list?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss my hope to do some more print reading this week. I nearly always read from my Kindle just before settling for the night (and love this) but I like to read traditional print too and always wish I had more time. Now granted I could make more time if I didn’t write as much as I do but the problem is I don’t want to give that up either! Oh well. I do hope to do better in that regard this week.

And I’m looking forward to carrying out an interview later this week with someone who has done so much to help writers over many years. This in time is due to appear on Chandler’s Ford Today. I also discuss the current CFT post I’m working on, which is about a special creative writing project.

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Brainstorming ideas, just one of many good things to come from well run writing conferences and the exercises set there. Image via Pixabay.

Hard at work. While writing should always be fun, the work of getting it fit for publication shouldn't be underestimated. Image via Pixabay.

FAVOURITE STORIES

October 5, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

A character’s favourite stories can tell you a great deal about the character so this can be useful in helping to portray them as fully rounded beings. What makes the favourite stories so well loved by your characters? What legends are they brought up on and which would be their sacred texts? I ask these questions and others in tonight’s post. There are stories to be had writing the story behind the story!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

What every character wants is the theme here tonight. Are you giving your characters what they want?! My short check list may be a useful place to start!

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about my methods of writing a short story, sending it off to a competition (usually) and then immediately starting another one. Sometimes I write a story and later a suitable competition comes up so I send the piece off. But this method of working means by the end of a year, I have written a reasonable number of stories. I tend to write flash fiction in small batches. I don’t know why but it seems to work for me.

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Where stories used to start – P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, two of my favourite authors, must have produced billions of words between them on typewriters. Image via Pixabay.

Where stories emerge. Image via Pixabay.

TASKS AND CHORES

October 4, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Tonight’s post takes a fun look at what daily magical tasks an apprentice in a fairytale world is likely to have to carry out.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Tasks and Chores looks at those day to day things we all have to do and asks what do our characters have as their favourites/absolutely loathe and why. Are our characters planners or do they everything “on the fly”? What happens on those occasions when they must act contrary to the way they usually would?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss what I am up to writing wise at the moment and moan about the fact I’m not having much time for reading right now (though I hope to rectify that later this week, God willing. Things have not entirely gone to plan so far this week so I’m not taking anything for granted. I usually make time for a good read of writing related things as part of my writing session. I read fiction at bedtime. These things I see as crucial to helping me improve my own writing so it has been a bit frustrating not being able to read as much this week).

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The Kindle. I read from it at bedtime and have a wide variety of non-fiction and fiction books on it. Image via Pixabay.

Writing the first drafts! Image via Pixabay.

GOING BACK IN TIME

October 3, 2016Leave a comment

One of my heroes, Doctor Who, is of course renowned for this but my posts tonight are on the topic of the past and how this could affect your characters and plot.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I talk about a magical education in tonight’s post and how that affects your characters. Are they getting an education now to make up for lost time in their past? What happened to make them need to do this? How does the education they’ve had affect the decisions they’re making now? After all someone who is illiterate would be very dependent on someone else for interpreting any written documents they come across. Can they trust the ones helping them?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Going Back is tonight’s post and looks at how revisiting places can affect your characters. I love visiting places of historical interest and always come away from them having learned something new. I also come away with a deeper appreciation I can read and write. This has not always been universal, especially for women. The past has a deep impact on now and at least in terms of general education in the developed world this has been a major improvement. (And yes I wish this was true everywhere).

FACEBOOK PAGE

I talk about revisiting the past and education again here. This topic came to mind as I reblogged a post (first time ever!) from Tales From the Notepad’s Sunday Sojourn series where their post was about Fotheringay Castle. I would love to visit what remains here given it is the birthplace of Richard III (and I must try and get to Leicester at some point too).

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OTHER NEWS

Have sent off a new fairytale for a writing competition. I’m currently developing a flash fiction tale into a longer piece of work given the initial idea has sparked other ideas. I love that when it happens and of course I can hopefully place the flash fiction piece in one place and the longer work somewhere else should it all work out okay.

Am also currently working my way through some fantastic interview questions put to me by short story author, Jacci Gooding, who I met at Winchester Writers’ Festival. Will post details of when the interview will appear when I know more but am enjoying being on the other side of the fence. I love carrying out writer interviews and indeed reading them, as I always learn something (one of the great joys of writing at all for me), but it has felt a bit odd having questions put to me! It is a very good “odd” though!!

Blogging via diaries and tablets – ancient and modern technology! Image via Pixabay.

BEING TAKEN OUT OF YOURSELF

September 18, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In tonight’s post Developments I ask how your characters react to the big changes in life. I also ask how development in general takes place in your fictional world. Can big business dictate to government or is there one central power controlling everything?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

In Being Taken Out of Yourself, I ask what triggers enable your characters to escape their humdrum lives for a while. I also ask what happens when characters that need to escape for a while find they can’t do so. Just how long can they keep going before they crack.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss what I hope will become a mini series for Chandler’s Ford Today and wonder why it is I have days, like today, when I can catch up with my reading, yet on other days I barely have time to read at all!

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Books help you wind down, can be a trigger to escape life. Image via Pixabay.

A bookshelf of beautiful books. A joy to look at, but a greater one to read! Image via Pixabay.

IS THERE A MAGIC WAND IN WRITING?

September 16, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

You shouldn’t be too surprised that the answer to “Is there a Magic Wand in Writing?” is a resounding “no” but I discuss how you can help “beef up” the imaginative muscle. And the best way of all is to indulge in the flip side of writing, which is to read. Is there a writer who doesn’t love to read? I don’t think so and my attitude here is go for it – prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction – indulge, knowing it will help your own writing no end!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On a similar theme, my post Flexing the Imaginative Muscle shares three writing exercises. Writing exercises are, of course, the other great way to fire up your imagination. Some have given me opening lines, which I’ve then used to write flash fiction or longer short stories, though a play, a novella or longer piece of fiction could also start from something like this.

FACEBOOK PAGE/CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY POST

I use my FB author page tonight to discuss my Chandler’s Ford Today post called Why I Use Scrivener Writing Software. This is likely to remain the most technical piece of writing I ever produce but I hope it might be useful to those writers considering using this software. I have, however, put in links to some of my favourite authors for whom writing technology consisted of the quill and the typewriter! And those sites are worth exploring if you are a fan of Roald Dahl, P.G.Wodehouse and/or Shakespeare! At the end of the day it is the imagination that is the most important writing tool of all.

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Feature image for my Chandler’s Ford Today post. Image via Pixabay.