A Magical, Classical Night out. Image via Pixabay.

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND FICTION

November 5, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Role of Classical Music in Fiction asks if music is controlled in your fiction setting – that is, can musicians play what they want or do they have to stick to a repetoire? What are the consequences if they don’t? Also is your world developed enough to have radio or when people want music, is it a question of going out to concerts? Does the state encourage people to do this? (Too busy enjoying music, too busy to question them!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Now you may spot a theme developing when I mention my post here tonight is called Musical Tastes. (A) You’re right (!) and (B) the theme all ties in with my Chandler’s Ford Today blog for this week. More on that shortly. But in this post, I ask what the status of music and musicians are in your fictional world? What can you reveal about a character’s love (or otherwise) of music to show more about them?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I write all of my CFT posts as a labour of love but every so often one stands out, for me at least, as a particularly special one. Tonight’s post is one of those. My Top 10 Classical Music Greats shares my favourite pieces of music, some wonderful You Tube clips and I hope also brings back some memories. For example, one piece I’ve chosen is Ravel’s Bolero. Where were you in 1984 when Torvill and Dean raised figure skating to an all time high with their dance on ice interpretation of this? Hope you like the post. I loved writing it and comments as to your favourite classical music pieces would be very welcome in the CFT comments box.

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No surprises here but I talk about my CFT post and again provide a link.

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Classical Music score. Image via Pixabay.

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.

I could spend many a happy hour here - the library at Prague. Image via Pixabay.

LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS

October 22, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Living Up to Expectations, I look at expectations from a character’s viewpoint. What expectations do they have? What expectations do others have of them? How does their culture shape those expectations? Does anyone challenge them and what are the results?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

When Things go Horribly Wrong is something that, in a way, has to happen in every story, regardless of format. After all where is the story? It is in how the characters deal with the crises that have arisen for them. What for them is drama, tragedy even is from the reader’s viewpoint pure entertainment! Heartless lot aren’t we?! So how does your character handle matters when everything appears to have gone down the proverbial spout? How do they pick themselves up again (assuming they do – if they don’t, well that’s a story in itself).

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I take a lighthearted view at alternative titles for children’s classic fiction, list six and challenge you to come up with some in tonight’s post! This came about from a photo from Quercus Books that I shared on Facebook earlier this week. It showed new versions of Famous Five stories – Five Go to Brexit Island, Five Go Gluten Free and so on. This photo has been one of the most popular things I’ve shared so I thought I would extend the idea a little. See what I’ve come up with for my list and then see what you can come up with!

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The magical world of the imagination. 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?

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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!

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.

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!

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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.

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).

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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.

Notebooks - ancient and modern. Where characters start to take shape. Image via Pixabay.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

September 25, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

When Things Go Wrong takes a look at those moments when certain fairytale characters would have known they would have been far better off staying at home that day. (But alas didn’t!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

A Bad Day sets out some story ideas as to what could go wrong for your characters and above all how they handle this. At the very least the thoughts here might give you ideas for how to flesh out your characters more because true character is shown when someone is put under unexpected stress. The pretences, the cover ups all come crashing down. If you really want to know what your characters are made of, drop them right in it! How do they react?

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Tonight’s theme is the joy of outlining. I also share which Scrivener tools I use to help with this process, which I find particularly helpful for the standard short story. For flash fiction, I give myself one line and the “mood” of the story as the outline and away I go but Scrivener has some useful templates short story writers might find useful. I do anyway.

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Have notebook. Will jot down ideas for how to drop my characters right in it and work out how they get out of it again. Image via Pixabay.

One of the exhibits at the Steam Museum, Swindon. Image taken by me.

PRACTICAL WORLD BUILDING

September 24, 2016September 24, 2016Leave a comment

Tonight’s posts all have a being practical theme to them.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at Transport in the current post having visited a railway museum today. Magic would be an obvious form of (a) fuelling transport systems and (b) actually being the transport system. But there is a downside to most things in life, including transport, so where would that be in your fictional creation? How much magic does it take to enable someone to fly? Can everyone in your world manage it? Just a few thoughts to consider…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I look at Practical World Building and set a few questions that I hope may help anyone who is starting off on the process of creating their own world but may not be too sure of where to start. It is a big undertaking when you think of it – a whole world out of nothing except what your fertile imagination can invent. But this is where looking around at the world we live in can be such a good place to start. What is your world’s equivalent of the trains for example? And Terry Pratchett famously started by working out what the plumbing would be for Ankh-Morpork (the waste has to go somewhere and fresh water, or as fresh as possible, is crucial of course).

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I talk more about my railway museum visit and speculate what it is about history (including things like the history of transport) that I love. It is all about stories. The story of this, the story of that, when all is said and done but there are fascinating tales in our past, any one of which can be used as inspiration for kickstarting our own ideas into play.

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At the Steam Museum, Swindon. Women at work during WW2. Image taken by me.

A beaten knight but Richard III's injuries at Bosworth would have been far more horrific. Image via Pixabay.

IMPOSSIBLE INTERVIEWS

September 23, 2016Leave a comment

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Tonight’s post is the start of a new occasional series, Impossible Interviews, in which I interview historical figures. My “guest” tonight? Richard III! Maligned or monstrous? What do you think? For anyone with a love of history I think it is fair to say you can’t be impartial about the king.

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I take the Impossible Interviews theme a bit further with my post here tonight. Called Impossible Interviews – In the Magical World, I look at who I would interview in such a setting. I would quiz those who set the magical standards as to why they have set them the way they have and also chat to those who are very low down in the magical pecking order.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

In Doing the Impossible: Listening to Characters, I ask if it were possible for you as the writer to listen to what your characters have to say to you, would you do so?! Are they happy with the way you’ve portrayed them and if not, why not, and what will you do about it?!

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I share the link to my Chandler’s Ford Today post.

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The Bard tells a cracking story but that doesn’t mean any of it is true! Image via Pixabay