Stories (and indeed most books of any kind) are magical. Image via Pixabay.

GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START

October 19, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Getting Off to a Good Start discusses my love of Hemingway’s classic 6 word story exercise. I also ask what would be a good start for your characters and how would they achieve that. I know I need a good start for a new blog, article or story and do find Hemingway’s exercise an invaluable way to brainstorm ideas.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

No prizes for spotting tonight’s theme! Again I discuss Hemingway’s writing exercise but in My Favourite Writing Exercise I give some examples of my efforts here. For some reason I usually end up producing 5 or 7 word stories rather than the classic 6, but the pointers for future story ideas are still useful. I must try this exercise for non-fiction at some stage as the whole idea of the exercise (I think) is to give a starting point. I could see potential for using this to generate article and blog post ideas.

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More Hemingway here! When I manage to get on to a theme, I do see it through!

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Where many a first draft starts life. Old technology still has its uses! Image via Pixabay.

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).

This statue I like... a lot. Image via Pixabay

A GOOD DAY IN THE MAGICAL WORLD

October 17, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

A Good Day in the Magical World looks at how this might be viewed through the eyes of someone who is definitely junior in the magical rankings. Do you agree with my list? (I do love a good list!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

What Your Characters Really Want speaks for itself really. I discuss obstacles getting in the way of characters achieving their objectives and also those deep down wishes your character may not reveal openly. (This could be due to knowing their wish is highly unlikely to be granted and they don’t want to seem foolish by being open here – I suspect most of us have known that feeling sometimes. Also sometimes a character could suppress their own wishes if it helped someone they cared about so the question what does a character really want has lots of potential for future stories).

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I discuss film and TV music, having enjoyed a wonderful concert put on by Classic FM this evening (well put on for broadcast anyway). And I share, thanks to Youtube, one of my favourite pieces. Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings is a good test of whether you’re human or not. It is one of those pieces that must make you feel something. And if it doesn’t maybe it’s time the rest of us ran away from you terribly fast.

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Escaping with a good book is a fantastic idea. 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!

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!

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?

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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.