Story Shuffle Project: Choosing what to read. Image supplied by Eastleigh Borough Council.

EXPECTATIONS OF A FAIRY GODMOTHER

October 23, 2016Leave a comment

I’ve written lists tonight for both of my website posts. I do love a good list!

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Expectations of a Fairy Godmother lists ten things an experienced fairy godmother should expect during the course of her career. If you can think of any to add, I’d welcome comments!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Why Annoying a Writer is Not a Good Idea gives 10 reasons why this is so. Again, if you can think of others, I’d be glad to get your comments! This post was inspired by a Facebook photo doing the rounds earlier this evening.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I’ve written a quick update post tonight on the Story Shuffle Project. This project is a great way of encouraging local school children to create their own stories and use their local libraries.

The idea is they write a story which, for this project, will be based on the tales of Sir Bevis of Hampton, Southampton’s legendary hero – think James Bond on tapestries basically!). The stories are then digitised and put into the Shuffle app.

The children are given a code and have to visit their local library to use this code to unlock their own stories and gain access to a wealth of other books and stories. From a writer’s viewpoint there is nothing not to like about this – creative writing and library use, wow!

I do hope all who use this project have a great deal of fun with it. Tonight’s update shares further images sent into CFT about this. I think the app looks great. See what you think! (And I hope ideas like this spread – great use of technology, stories, history, animation etc).

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I share news of my CFT update and must thank Eastleigh Borough Council for supplying the images. They support the Story Shuffle Project because of its role in encouraging creative writing and reading. I must also thank my lovely editor for re-arranging the feature image. She is very creative on this sort of thing!

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Story Shuffle Project: Code Setter. Image supplied by Eastleigh Borough Council.

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

MAGICAL GOVERNMENT

October 18, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

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).

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?

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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!

WISHING YOUR LIFE AWAY

October 15, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

It is frighteningly easy for a character in a fantasy story to wish their life away – just go and upset some more magically powerful than they are will do the trick nicely! (And there are so many magically powerful beings to choose from too). In Wishing Your Life Away I look at a few other ways a character could end up having a very bad day indeed. (It ends up being their last!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

How Your Characters Treat Each Other explores well exactly that! I also look, from history, at Margaret Beaufort’s (Henry VII’s mother) renowned piety – this in an era when almost everyone believed is very telling. But something like that makes me suspicious. What are you being so devout for? Is that devotion being used to cover up something less pleasant? (My experience is those who are genuine in their Christian faith don’t want to be seen to “show off”, it doesn’t honour Jesus.). Conspicious displays of anything do make me query the motivation of those doing it. Do you find the same? And I ask what is the main motivation behind your characters’ behaviour(s). Know the character, know the story!

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Tonight I give a round up of what I’ve been up writing wise in the last 24 hours or so. I always like to have plenty to do – whether it is editing, writing new stories or blogs or what have you. Good for the old brain if nothing else!

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Books are vital for learning as well as entertainment. Image via Pixabay. What do your characters get up to in your books? What is their motivation?

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.

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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 wonderful world of stories... Image via Pixabay.

WHEN STORIES CRASH…

October 13, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

When Stories Crash discusses two examples of how stories can go wrong (and end up crashing out. I have had this happen to me only the once, thankfully, but in my case it was due to my not thinking the characters through properly. Lesson learned there!). The post also shares how, sometimes, stories can crash together as two fictional worlds meet. There is a lot of fun to be had there!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Mood Music again looks at the role music can play in your stories. Does it evoke mood and memories the way our music does for us? Because music can inspire relationships, does anyone seek to control/stop/abuse that?

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I discuss my next Chandler’s Ford Today post which should be up after 6pm on Friday. I discuss a new creative writing project designed to encourage children to write and to use their local libraries. What is there not to like about that?! More details tomorrow.

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Love this library. Mine is somewhat smaller than this! Image via Pixabay.

Where all stories start, regardless of technology - the blank page. Image via Pixabay.

ASKING THE AWKWARD QUESTIONS

October 12, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Asking the Awkward Questions is one of those titles that says it all really. My rebellious fairy godmother, Eileen, is the expert at this and as a result always lands herself in it it. Characters like that are huge fun to write about. But in this post I list a few awkward questions that could be asked within the magical world. One example is “can’t you use your magical powers to end hunger, all diseases etc?” How would you get your magical characters to answer that? Can you add to my list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The Musical Arts explores more on music within your fictional world and the status of musicians/composers. I explain why I don’t have a favourite composer and ask what role music would play in the feasts and festivals your fictional setting would have.

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I discuss why I don’t have one overall favourite story/book but also nominate the one how-to writing book I happily recommend to anyone! Inconsistent? Moi? Surely not! But I find it impossible to name any one fictional work I’d always put above any others. The Lord of the Rings is probably the closest but even then I have to be in right mood for an epic quest! Still that is the great thing with stories – there really is at least one out there to suit every mood!

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Well, what IS your story? Image via Pixabay.

THE WIZARDING CONFERENCE

October 11, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Part 3 of my mini series on conferences in the magical world looks at what would be on offer for the wizards. Not sure I’d like to go to one though. I suspect there would be a clash of egos! What do you think?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

A fairly short post tonight but I hope to expand further on the theme of the arts in the fictional world in further posts. I ask if the arts are supported by central/local government in your settings and if all characters have access/can take part in the arts or if this is restricted. Whatever your world, there should be some form of art in it somewhere. The more intelligent the creature the more need there is to express itself. And that is where art does come into its own.

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I discuss how a good piece of writing makes me feel and relish the challenge of trying to produce good writing myself. Can I make others laugh? Can I make them think? Can I entertain them? The great thing is whether you write fiction or non-fiction (0r both), challenging yourself to produce the best work you can is good for (a) your writing and (b) you yourself. Why? Stretching yourself mentally is good for the brain.

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Notebooks old and new – image via Pixabay. Ideas have to be jotted down somewhere!

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.

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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).

Learning with others in a writing conference is huge fun. Image via Pixabay.

PUNISHMENTS AND CRIMES

October 8, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I talk about punishments in tonight’s post. My fictional Fairy Kingdom likes a rough justice kind of approach. If you offend someone more magically powerful than you in the world I’ve set out you are (a) going to know about it and (b) the results are definitely going to hurt. (All that’s open to question is just how much your punishment is going to hurt). I list some of the typical punishments meted out. The clever bit here is to ensure you are never caught like this.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

On the flip side I look at crimes and discuss why breaking someone else’s magical talking mirror is not a great idea. I list some of what are considered the worst things you could do.

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I discuss my day out today at the Writers’ Day held by the Association of Christian Writers in London today. I learned a lot, talked with old friends, talked with new ones and had a wonderful time!

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A typical writing conference room. Image via Pixabay.