Books help you wind down. Was glad of them after a stressful weekend. Pity this option is not available to my border collie. Still lots of cuddles did the trick there! Image via Pixabay.

TEN THINGS NEVER TO TELL A FAIRY GODMOTHER

January 9, 2017Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I’m back to my lists again with Ten Things Never to Tell a Fairy Godmother (well, I’m assuming you like living). From the “you’re not as good as you used to be” to the “there’s not much difference between you and a good witch”, there is plenty to insult the average fairy godmother should you wish to do so. As ever, can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Spotting the Difference highlights three ways of showing differences between two characters during dialogue in a story without the need to say Character A said this, Character B said that continually. There are more ways than this but the three ways I list here are the ones that struck me as being the most useful.

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I discuss my favourite things about reading and writing tonight. Do you agree with my verdicts? If not, what would you choices be?

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sg-part-2-books-whether-poetry-or-prose-can-be-magical-image-via-pixabay

Books and stories are wonderful but what would be your favourite things about reading and writing?

CHARACTERS WHO DEFINITELY NEED A FRESH START

January 2, 2017Leave a comment

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Well, I start the New Year as I mean to go on with a blog post with a title that says it all! Characters who definitely need a fresh start looks at five characters (fairytale and otherwise) who need a new beginning and why. In one case, Dracula, I give a practical pointer to Terry Pratchett’s Black Ribboner programme as the way forward. Course the big problem is the characters have got to want to change… hmm, that probably rules Dracula out then. Still, I hope this lighthearted post raises a smile or two…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

The theme for the New Year period kind of sets itself. New Beginnings is the title of tonight’s post and I look at why characters would feel the need to have them. A classic reason is the character’s need for redemption and the reasons why have been the basis for many a wonderful story.

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I discuss my love of classical music tonight and how it affects my writing. I never used to be able to write with music on at all (I found it affected my mood and therefore what I wrote) but have found classical to be relaxing so I end up writing more. (I think that’s a good thing anyway!).

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Classical Music score – image via Pixabay

One way through to the magical world but is it all sunshine and flowers? I doubt it! Image via Pixabay

WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS?

December 13, 2016Leave a comment

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What Happened Afterwards discusses what happened to certain characters after The End had been written? I find a really good story does make you wonder what would happen to characters after the official ending. See what you think!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Christmas Customs discusses what customs are followed at this time of year in your fictional world. Does everyone join in with these customs? What happens to those who don’t conform? I ask a series of questions connected with customs which should inspire some story ideas.

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I discuss the joys of writing, reading and books in tonight’s FB post. I also share one of the things I love about Christmas Day.

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Images from the magical world… Image via Pixabay

Stories come in all kinds of formats including tapestries! Image via Pixabay.

YOUR DAY IS ABOUT TO WORSEN WHEN…

November 11, 2016Leave a comment

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Your Day is about to Worsen When shares tell tale signs you are about to go through some very hard times indeed as a character in a story. For example it is never good when a wizard suddenly turns up on your doorstep, tells you that you’re about to go on a quest and, by the way, you can’t refuse as the powers of evil are already pursuing you! Can you add anything to my list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Why I Love Flash Fiction shares some of the advantages I think there are to writing these stories. For example by their very nature, they have to be short and that helps put a good pace into the story. What other advantages can you think of?

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just to say my post tomorrow is a review of All My Sons by Arthur Miller. More details tomorrow but I discuss some of the history of the play too.

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I share the Amazon link to Baubles, Bridge House Publishing’s anthology for this year. my story, Helping Out, is in there. I also discuss what’s coming up in my next Chandler’s Ford Today post and what fiction work I’m currently getting ready for a competition.

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Bookshops are vital to encourage literary – image via Pixabay.

Blogging - a hugely enjoyable part of what I write. Image vix Pixabay.

QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK – OF A WRITER

November 8, 2016Leave a comment

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Questions Not to Ask – of a Writer lives up to its title and lists five bugbear questions any writer will hate being asked. Okay, scrub that, make it four questions and one statement. The latter is for my poet friends and I’d be very surprised if they’d not heard this particular comment in their time. My pet hate is point 3! See what you think…

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

You Know You’re a Writer When…. again lives up to its theme. I list 1o points of interest but amongst these are three different opportunities for writers to become insufferably smug if they so wish! I put my hand up and plead guilty to points 3, 4 and 7 especially. Which would you plead guilty to – there will be at least one?!

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I talk about border collies (mine!), fireworks, and my border collie deliberately going out into the garden tonight to look for said fireworks even though she hates them. Have no idea why! Am glad the diffuser we got this year seems to be helping her. I also discuss what’s coming up in my next Chandler’s Ford Today post (a review of a play I’ve recently seen) and plug a CFT writers’ get together this coming Saturday.

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The lovely Mabel. Image taken by me! So much happier when there are no fireworks about – and that goes for Mabel too.

The Kindle. Has expanded my reading (no more worrying about how many books I can take on holiday either!). Image via Pixabay.

THINGS NO CHARACTER EVER WANTS TO HEAR…

November 7, 2016Leave a comment

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Things No Character Ever Wants to Hear gives a short list of statements guaranteed to chill the blood and sink the confidence of any character. This is particularly useful information for any character about to be sent off on a quest (and who have no idea why they were chosen. This list gives reasons!).

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Appreciating the Arts was a post inspired by some wonderful comments which came in as a result of my recent Chandler’s Ford Today post on My Top 10 Classical Music Greats. Some fantastic pieces of music have been added to that list – and there is always room for more, hint, hint! In this post though, I discuss what role the arts has in your fictional setting and ask how accessible the arts are to your characters? This could be useful in helping you flesh our your world and could give useful pointers as to how your society works. Is there an elite that keeps the arts for themselves? Are there some arts only the “commoners” enjoy and so on?

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I discuss response to my CFT post, fireworks (loathe them – because my border collie does, which is reason enough!) and share my thoughts on Ben Macintyre’s The Last Word. I’m currently reading this on Kindle and it shares some wonderful insights as to the development of the English language. There are some fantastically funny examples of pidgin English too.

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The world of the imagination should play a role in your stories. I can’t imagine any world without some form of the arts. Image via Pixabay.

One of the best ways to escape is with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

ATTRACTIVE CHARACTER TRAITS

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016Leave a comment

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Attractive Character Traits discusses what I think are the most attractive traits any character can have. Top of the list is persistence – and Andy Murray’s wonderful achievement in becoming world # 1 in men’s tennis (especially in this era) put me in mind of this. See what you think about my list. Can you add anything?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Escaping discusses how characters escape – from literal danger (escapes must be credible) to leaving behind daily work cares etc. How do they do the latter? What hobbies and interests do they have to help them achieve that sense of escape?

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Being a tennis fan, I couldn’t let Andy Murray’s achievement today pass without comment but I also link it to hard work and persistence also being of vital importance to writers.

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CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

Just a quick thanks to all who have commented so far on my Top 10 Classical Greats post from yesterday. Some pieces of music listed I know, others I don’t (but will look up and play!).

Hard at work. Image via Pixabay. Music (playing and listening) can be a great form of escapism, which is one topic I look at tonight.

A Magical, Classical Night out. Image via Pixabay.

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND FICTION

November 5, 2016Leave a comment

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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.

STORIES BITING BACK

November 1, 2016Leave a comment

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Stories Biting Back shares my thoughts on flash fiction and how they must pack a punch. I also share a link with Chapeltown Books, who have a blog page up about the flash fiction collections they are currently producing. The three authors selected so far are Neil Campbell, Gill James and myself. The link shares samples of work from Neil and myself. My flash sample is A Kind of Hell. Hope you like it.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Creating Worlds again shares the link with Chapeltown Books but also discusses one major thing I love about stories and books in general. That is: each story or book, regardless of length, takes you into its own world and there is no limit to how many worlds you can visit. The more you read, the more worlds you visit so happy travelling!

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Again I share links with Chapeltown Books. On this link there are also Amazon connections to The Best of Cafelit series. I have work in Best of 4 and 5 and reviewed 3! No surprises here but I’m all for supporting the independent presses!!

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All books are gateways to other worlds, fantasy and science fiction especially I think. Image via Pixabay.

One of my favourite book images. They really are magical. Transportation into other worlds and around this one in a few hundred pages. Brilliant! Image via Pixabay.

WHEN A CHARACTER KNOWS THEY’RE IN TROUBLE

October 31, 2016Leave a comment

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When a Character knows they’re in trouble is another of my “sum it all up in the title” posts! A short, sharp list of points for a character to ponder – do you agree with what I’ve come up with? Can you add to the list?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Reviewing Characters is another sum it up title! I appear to be on a roll with these tonight! But it occurred to me it would be no bad thing for writers to review their characters every so often. Are the characters still coming across the way you want them to do so? If not is this because they’ve developed and do you need to change your story to handle that development correctly? Characters should change and develop of course, it’s the classic sign they “live” (and as a result so does the story), but a check to see the character is still “up to the job” is no bad thing I feel.

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I was really pleased Andy Murray won in Vienna. I discuss my thoughts on that and the creative arts in my FB page tonight. A strange mix? I don’t think so. Sports people can be creative in how they play after all (AM is a great example of that. Some of his shots take my breath away in a “how the hell did he do that” kind of way). I also love the fact that there are so many forms of creative arts, so much so there is bound to be at least one to suit most people!

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When I’m not at my desk, I’m likely to be in the swimming pool or walking the dog (never both at the same time!). Image via Pixabay.