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).

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F791728314263483&width=500

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.

WHAT NOT TO DO AT A SOCIAL GATHERING IN A MAGICAL WORLD

October 1, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at what not to do at a social gathering in a magical world in tonight’s post. This kind of advice is always useful I feel!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Having had a family event today where lots of wonderful conversations took place (always a sign of a good event that!), I thought I would write about this topic for tonight’s post. What kind of events are celebrated in your fictional world, especially if you write fantasy and/or science fiction? Are there groups in/on/under your world who are forbidden to talk to one another and does anyone break that taboo? You can see where the Romeo and Juliet plot could come from here but there are other stories to be had from this. Over to you!

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss the joys of being interviewed on my author page tonight! I am currently working my way through some wonderful questions put to me by fellow scribe, Jacci Gooding, and am really enjoying doing this. I love reading and indeed conducting writer interviews. (See Chandler’s Ford Today for some posts where I’ve interviewed local writers, writers known to me through local conferences which is where I met Jacci, and other writers who have become small publishers). Why do I love writer interviews regardless of what side of the fence I am on? I always learn something that either encourages me with my own writing or I pick up tips to help me improve said writing. And that can only be a good thing.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F791013364334978&width=500

Working out ideas. Image via Pixabay.

Part of the Reception Area at the Roman Baths, Bath. Image taken by me. Easily the most beautiful place I've ever queued!

AWAY DAYS AND TECHNICAL ISSUES

October 1, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

In Away Days, I link to my latest Chandler’s Ford Today post (more below), but also ask what magical beings would do and where would they go when they fancied a jolly outing. This post was particularly fun to write and I hope you like it.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Aptly, as I have had technical issues tonight sharing my website posts on Facebook (Weebly are looking into it), tonight’s post is on Technical Issues. I focus on what these are for writers – spelling, grammar, presentation of work and so on – and give one or two tips. I like the technical side of writing. While the creative side, that imaginative spark that gets you going with a story or whatever, is obviously more fun, I love having a piece to work with that I know a good edit will improve. (I’ve yet to come across any work of mine that isn’t vastly improved by a darned good edit!).

ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN WRITERS – MORE THAN WRITERS

I write a post for ACW once a month now. For my fellow Christians who are part of this, my latest post (which appeared yesterday) is on The Joy of Hymns and I share some thoughts about my favourites and why I love them. It is generally down to the imagery the words create (much the same would go for poetry in general I should imagine).

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

My latest post is another in my Away Day series and looks at lovely Bath, once home to Jane Austen, one of my favourite writers. I focus on the Roman Baths here. Those Romans were amazing engineers. The connection with Chandler’s Ford? Chandler’s Ford has good train links and you can get to a wide range of destinations by rail in a day from the local station, hence my Away Days series.

Beautiful Bath. Image taken by me.

Escape with a good book. Image via Pixabay

THINGS NO WRITER WANTS…

September 30, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I look at aspects of life in a magical world that no fairy godmother, worth her training, would want to come across.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Things a Writer could Well do Without is a lighthearted look at some of the irritations writers come across.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I’ve shared news of my More than Writers blog post for the Association of Christian Writers. I talk about some of my favourite hymns and their imagery. I also share news of my forthcoming Chandler’s Ford Today post which will be another in my Away Days series. More on that tomorrow hopefully.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F789438724492442&width=500

The Roman Baths at Bath, the subject of my Chandler’s Ford Today post for this week. More to follow tomorrow. Image taken by me.

The scribe's tent at the Medieval Weekend held in Hampshire earlier this summer. Image taken by me.

ON BEING A FAIRYTALE WITCH

September 29, 2016September 29, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Continuing with my Ideal Candidate series, tonight I look at the role of the witch in the fairytales. Advantages you include never having to moisturise and knowing you can curse as much as you like because the latter is precisely what is expected of you!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I share which fictional characters I would interview if it were possible to do so. Who would you choose and why?

FACEBOOK PAGE

I was delighted to discover on reading the most recent Road to Agincourt Project newsletter that Chandler’s Ford Today and I are in it! My Facebook author page shares the link on this. And thanks again to the Road to Agincourt Project for this.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F788678794568435&width=500

The scribe’s tools of the trade in medieval times. Image taken by me.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The above title is not a reference to the US elections, honest! Instead, my post, The Ideal Candidate for being a Talking Animal in a Fairytale, gives some thoughts as to what a talking animal in a fairytale should be like. It definitely has to be more intelligent than your average human….

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

This post, What a Good Character Will Do For You, outlines some of the things I’ve found to be true about a really good character. Though I say “good character”, this post also refers to the well portrayed villains too, without whom there is no story.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I discuss my tendency (in the past) to over edit a story or an article. It is a form of procrastination and the only way to make progress in writing is to send your stories out there and see what happens. Learn from the comments you may attract. What I do now is write the piece, edit it, put it aside for a few days, then look at it again and then get the piece out there. If there is one thing I have learned as a writer, it is that nobody ever writes the perfect piece of work. They can’t. Neither can I so you aim for as near perfection as you can get.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F787990544637260&width=500

The classic beginning for all stories… Image via Pixabay

Shelves of stories waiting to be discovered. Image via Pixabay

IDEAL CHARACTERS AND FAIRY GODMOTHERS

September 26, 2016Leave a comment

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

I share what I think makes up the perfect qualities of the ideal fairy godmother. What do you think? Do you agree? Are there qualities I’ve missed out?

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Continuing with the theme of idealism, I ask what makes the perfect character from the writer’s viewpoint. Amongst other things I suggest that the writer should be sympathetic to their character’s flaws but not be annoyed by their virtues. Do you agree? I remember reading Agatha Christie became thoroughly fed up with Hercule Poirot. So how as writers do we remain in love with our characters enough to keep on writing about them? That is really relevant of course for series writers but see what you think of my suggestions here.

FACEBOOK PAGE

I share what I like about classical music and admit I don’t know that much about it! What matters is that I know what I like when I hear it. And the same can go for writing to an extent. I know what I like when I read it. And that goes for my own stories as well as those of other writers. It’s definitely time to move on to another story if you are not gripped by it. And this is something to watch for when editing your tales. Is your story gripping you? If not, it won’t grip anyone else!

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F787381438031504&width=500

From paper to PC, characters and stories must grip you as the writer first if they are to have any hope of gripping readers! 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?

FACEBOOK PAGE

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.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F786721928097455&width=500

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).

FACEBOOK PAGE

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.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F786028601500121&width=500

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?!

FACEBOOK PAGE

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

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAllison.Symes.FairytaleLady%2Fposts%2F785403864895928&width=500

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