Sentences

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I was reading yesterday about sentences. Have you ever read The Sentence by John Barthelme ?? No? Me neither lol…. Brilliant 😉

So, the sentence (can I just say at this point that for some reason I keep trying to spell it with an “A” ie sentance lol….weird!). Here are some tips on writing sentences (yay, I did it and didn’t even need the spell check kicking in…..I’m hoping that if I keep writing it during this post that it’ll sink in lol) from the lovely Judy Reeves 🙂

Every sentence needs a subject and a verb.

Oh dear, black to school for me again then lol

Put things in a logical order so that the reader can understand. Don’t show images before the reader can see the action.

Emphasis flows towards the end, so if there’s a word or phrase you want to stand out, put it at the end.

Put your most powerful sentence at the end of a paragraph.

I do tend to do that at the end of chapters when I’m doing Nano….always end dramatically I say 😉

Vary the length. Word count sentences in a paragraph (to check they’re not all the same length). Remember, long sentences slow a piece down, short ones speed it up. A paragraph full of long sentences will be boring for the reader.

And that’s why I LOVE dialogue, to break it all up.

Use punctuation to create breaks and pauses. Rhythm in a sentence is important.

Aim for one sentence (i guess, depending on how talented you are will decide on whether that will be in every paragraph or on every page) that is so beautiful and stunning that it stops the reader in their tracks.

I wrote a sentence for my Nano novel in 2010 which was about a woman who’s husband died and the fact that she couldn’t wash the sheets because she could smell him on his pillow. Emma Darwin thought it was fantastic when she did a critique of the first 3 chapters…..I’ll have to dig that out lol.

In my very humble opinion….. The best sentences are the ones that conjure up instant imagery. I want to be able to see in my mind what the writer is telling me 🙂

And that folks, is why writers should also be readers 🙂

I’ll end on a quote from Ernest Hemingway “All you have to do is write one true sentence.” Good old Ernie 😉

Do you keep an eye on your sentence structure when you write?

By the way….I’m reading this at the moment…. Will it improve my writing d’ya think?

Today’s prompt about before you were born inspired the fictional story (based on the true events, or what I’ve been told) about the moment my mum told my dad she was pregnant. Not a happy tale as she was 16 and he was 17…..and there was no happy ending. Today’s prompt is these are seductive voices of the night after Franz Kafka Hmmmmm, interesting 🙂

Show, Don’t Tell

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

*sighs deeply and raises hand* Ok, I admit it, I’m a teller, there, I said it 😦

There are lots of things I need to improve with my writing, but, unfortunately the Show Don’t Tell thingy is really taking a while to sink in. It’s especially annoying when you read successful authors work and you think, ‘ere, ‘ang on….. How comes Anne Tyler gets away with it? (sorry Anne, if you’re reading this, which i know you’re probably not, but you were the only example that sprung to mind as I recently read one of your books and annoyed the hell out of my husband for constantly complaining about your ‘telling’ lol).

I’m sure Ms Tyler wouldn’t really mind me using her for an example…..how many books has she had published now?

Anyway, I know what I should be doing, it’s just that when I write I completely forget. I get so carried away in the story that I end up tell tell tell tell tell 🙂

Was good to see a Show Don’t Tell article on the Writing Forward site a few days ago. I loved the examples. It’s easy enough isn’t it?

Before I started writing I didn’t even notice the difference between Showing and Telling when I read a book. A good story is a good story isn’t it?

Do you naturally ‘Show’ or do you battle with ‘Telling’ too?

Came across this photo on FaceBook….. exactly! 😉

I’ve spent the last 2 days editing a 2500 word romance short story which will be my final assignment for my course. It will be going off tomorrow!!!!!!! I’ve submitted it to a competition , so that brings my ‘Out There’s’ up to 15 *grins stupidly* It’s so addictive! It’s like just after getting your first tattoo and then wanting another one lol 😉

Yesterday’s prompt, about the eve of a funeral….was upsetting 😦 I actually cried whilst I was writing it lol. The thought of people I love dying scares the hell out of me, it’s my Achilles heel if you know what I mean. I wrote a story about a woman’s husband dying of a heart attack and the fact that she placed his mobile phone in his coffin so that she could always hear his voice on his voice mail and be able to text him. God…even just writing that has set me off blabbing again *and breath* lol

*pulls herself together*

Tomorrows prompt is the world before you were born and I’m thinking of writing a piece that’s sort of memoir, well, I wasn’t actually there, but, you know what I mean, a true story, about my parents 🙂

Having a writing session with a friend today, to work on our Horoscope home work…should be good! 🙂

Fiction V Non Fiction (Memoir)

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

As a fairly new writer, I’ve kinda concentrated on fiction….but, a link on Jenny’s Blog recently, had me dashing over to Midlife Collage for a read.

Being that I am *cough cough* of a certain age, I am allowed to join this site *snigger*

I’ve never really considered the idea of memoir writing. I don’t think my life has been that interesting to warrant it. Who would actually want to read it? I didn’t have an awful childhood (by most standards) and as an adult, there have been major difficult times, but again, I don’t consider that I stand out from the crowd 🙂

Sooooo….a new challenge maybe? Life writing?

Me as a toddler 🙂 What feelings does that conjure up?

Have you ever tried writing memoir or do you tend to stick strictly to fiction?

I spent most of yesterday working on my final OCA assignment. I’ve managed to write a 2500 word romance, which was the story that I wrote for the prompt about being in a garden. I think it will be suitable for one of the women’s magazines, but I’m not quite sure which one yet. Will have to do some research 😉

Yesterday’s prompt was hindered by toothache 😦 but, the woman in the window breathed life into the start of a story about a female delivery driver, trying to deliver a parcel. I’m not too sure where it’s going, I’m thinking ghost story perhaps? 🙂 Tomorrow’s prompt is on the eve of the funeral so that’s conjuring up loads of ideas 🙂

Following On….

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

….from yesterday’s post about an ideal writing space, The Literary Mom asked the question… “What do you need to write?”

Well, we’ve already talked about noise vs silence, so you know my views on that 😉 But what about the material side of things?

I discovered very early on, when I started my first Writers Notebook that, although I love words, and can be inspired by them, I’m also a very visual person. I love art, spent a couple of years doing collages (you’ll have to look at my Flickr page to see the kind of stuff I did) and enjoy being surrounded by colours.

Soooo, what do I need to write? Different coloured pens lol. I’m not fussy with my notebooks (although I do love a Moleskine!) but what I really hate is to have a whole notebook full of writing in the same pen, in the same colour. I like to flick back through my jottings and practice work and not only be gratified by the words, but be excited by the whole visual experience of it. My notebooks are a mixture of my writing, quotes, lists, cuttings, pieces of writing I have been in awe of and hints/tips. I get just as much joy out of compiling my notebooks as I do re-reading them and weeding out the great stuff.

I’ve just started a new notebook:

This little baby is affectionately known as No11 😉 It contains enough visual stimulation without me adding to it with a rainbow of coloured pens lol, but hey, it puts a smile on my face every morning 🙂

Is there anything specific that you NEED to write? A certain pen? A particular type of paper?

I spent most of yesterday evening going through an old stash of magazines, tearing out Horoscopes. Our homework for The Write Place this week is to come up with a 700 word story inspired by a horoscope….should be fun 😉

Today’s prompt about the empty street was a weird one lol. I managed to turn it into the start of a story about a woman leaving for work, only to be arrested at the bottom of her road by a large group of policemen dressed in riot gear….don’t ask me where that’s going 😉 Todays prompt is “the woman in the window” after Roger Aplon so I see a bit of research on the horizon 🙂

HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who went and voted for my story that’s up on the Flash Fiction World website. It is much appreciated 🙂

Fantasy Time or Wishful Thinking

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Yesterday I was thinking about how bored I am with my dining room table lol…..no, I don’t mean the actual table (well, that too but that’s a different post!) I mean where I write *deep sigh*

So I decided to do a free writing session on my ideal writing location and that reminded me of a journal page I did back in, ooooo, must of been 2008 lol

I love the treehouse idea as a place to write, but, it’s not my ideal writing space……

I’m not greedy, or particularly demanding. A small room would be ok. I don’t need a chaise lounge or a huge desk. A couple of bookcases, where I could store all my notebooks and writing books. A small armchair in the corner for reading and a couple of shelves above my desk for photographs and small nick nacks that have meaning and importance. Some inspiring quotes and pictures on the wall and an old clock, the kind that ticks. The walls would be pale pastel tones, the furniture, natural wood. A stripped wood floor with a large rug and some fluffy cushions on the armchair. My favourite mug on a coaster and a vase of flowers.

A large window in front of my desk that opens wide, with a view of the sea and the beach below. Scented candles and a couple of lamps. A coffee machine or some kind of tea maker (I wonder if you can make tea in a coffee percolator?) and my favourite pair of cozy fluffy slippers. A comfy office chair to support my back and plenty of power sockets for my iPad and netbooks.

White voile curtains at the window that flutter in the breeze coming off the sea. The scent of seaweed and salt filling the room.

Ahhhhhh…..bliss….I’m feeling rather chilled right now lol 🙂

Ok, when I become a best seller (ha bloody ha!) you just know where I’ll be moving to 🙂

What would be your ideal writing space?

Shameless Begging……..
I’ve got one of my stories up on Flash Fiction World and I know I haven’t got a chance in hell of winning lol, but, if you do get the chance, click the link and leave me a comment and rating *flutters eyelashes* 😉

Went to my class last night. I always look forward to it….it’s so nice to have 3 writery type groups that I’m part of 🙂 We did some work on story ideas, and we have homework….to write a short story using a Horoscope for inspiration. Guess what I’ll be doing today? Buying magazines with horoscopes in lol

Yesterday’s prompt about the eyes turned into the start of a short story about a teenage girl with a powerful stare that creeps out all her class mates 😉 Today’s prompt is at the end of an empty street which kind of reminds me of a few pics I’ve taken over the years *goes off to hunt some down for inspiration* 🙂

Book Launch

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Last night I attended Elizabeth Haynes Book Launch for her 2nd novel Revenge Of The Tide

We’re all so proud of Elizabeth. Even only a few days ago we learnt that Amanda Ross has publicly announced that Into The Darkest Corner (Elizabeths brilliant debut) is one of the 4 books she recommends you must read this year! So what with that and being voted as Amazons Book of the Year 2011 and the The TV Book Club Elizabeth is hot stuff at the moment (and long may it continue!!!!).

I met Elizabeth through a writing group (just as she was getting a book deal for the first book) and she has been a wealth of information. Always eager to encourage and share information with those of us who aspire to be where she is now 😉

I went to the last launch (in Central London) with the ladies from the writing group, but this time, as it’s more local, hubby came with me. We read Elizabeth’s first book simultaneously (I bought 2 copies) so no doubt we’ll be doing the same with this new one.

The launch went really well. I got to meet up with the ladies from the Mermaids Writing Group and the lovely Maidstone Writers were all there. Plus, I met a BookCrosser from Essex who I’d corresponded with through email and it looks like I’ll be going to Colchester at some stage 🙂

So, if you’re reading this Elizabeth….CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! it really is much deserved. I wish you luck and success for the future, and can’t wait to be invited to the opening of “The Shed” lol 🙂

Elizabeth looking stunning with her pole dancing cake 🙂

Yesterday’s prompt about the fog turned from a creepy tale of a woman breaking down in her car on an empty fogged road, to a romance, where along came a knight in silver armour….awwwww, perhaps happy endings aren’t so bad after all 😉 Today’s prompt is write about your fathers eyes. Oooo, errrr, that’s a bit close for comfort….I didn’t even meet mine til I was 26! Lol

A Creative Life

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

When I was younger I never really considered myself creative. I had no aspirations, hadn’t even thought about writing. I wasn’t particularly good at it at school, and as an adult, being a mother and a housewife just completely took over my life.

My mother wrote poetry (something I only discovered when I found one of her old notebooks) when she was in her teens, and was also a very good dancer (she won awards for ballet). But other than that, I’ve never been around creative people. I also thought creative types were special, like you had to be born that way.

My first experience of being creative myself happened in 2007 when I did The Artists Way for the first time, it made me believe that I could actually be a creative person *shock horror gasp* and that we all are, it’s about encouraging those skills to come out 🙂

Not many of us work well all the time. We have different moods at different times of the day. I’m ok in the mornings. I bounce out of bed looking forward to the day ahead (most days) whereas my husband can take ages to even be slightly coherent lol. We all have our best moments throughout the day. The times where you’re feeling physically and mentally at your best. So that’s the time when you will probably be your most creative. For me it’s definitely first thing in the morning. That first cup of tea before everyone else gets up 😉 Whens your most creative part of the day?

As Albert Einstein said……

Are you naturally creative? Or like me, do you have to work at it?

In Other News……..

A quick thank you to Bridget…. She really made my day when she made this blog post *blush* Glad to have been of assistance hon and good luck with the rest of the book 🙂

Sundays prompt (about a lie) ended up being a story about a house husband who’s wife is having an affair, and yesterday’s prompt, the face of tomorrow was about a girl who’s mother is an Oscar winning actress. Her mother wants her to be an actress, but, she isn’t prepared to give up the life and anonymity she currently has. Today’s prompt is what can be seen through the fog.

I really enjoyed doing the piece of Flash I did yesterday for part of the Writers Platform Building Campaign (see previous post) and I managed to get my “Out There’s” up to 14!!!!!! 🙂

Finally, I’ve got a very exciting night to look forward to…..will tell you all about it in my next post 🙂

Second Campaigner Challenge

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Today the 2nd challenge was set for the Writers Platform Builders (see tab above).

I chose to do:

Prompt 1 – Two people are sitting together under the remains of a concrete bridge. Their backs are against a rusted bridge support. One persons leg is cut, the other person has wet hair.

Option 2 – Write a short story/flash fiction piece of less than 200 words based on the chosen prompts.

Here’s my offering which came in at 197 words 🙂

As the sky rains fire they shelter from the falling debris at the remains of the old bridge.The smell of diesel and burning plastic stings their eyes and chokes their lungs.
“We’ve got to get out of here.” Tom pushes his wet fringe away from his eyes.
“I know Tom, but I don’t think I can….my leg.”
Tom looks down at the gaping wound in Zoe’s leg, the blood pooling on the concrete.
“If we stay here, we’ll die Zo.” He pleads.
In the distance they hear a piercing scream. Zoe’s heart beats in her throat as she notices the sound of dull thuds.
“Tom, what’s that noise?” She whispers, but before he can respond a body lands a few feet away, it’s limbs twisted and broken.
Zoe screams as Tom wraps his arms around her and shields her face from the horror.
He then grips her shoulders roughly.
“Listen to me Zoe, I don’t know what the fuck is happening here, but I think we need to leave…now! If something hits this bridge…”
Tom is unable to finish his sentence as a large object hits the bridge and Zoe is plunged into darkness.

please let me know what you think, all critiques welcome 🙂

And, if you like it, please vote for me on the link above. I’m number 26

Practice Makes Perfect, Doesn’t It?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I’ve spent much of the weekend ‘practicing’ or should that be ‘honing my craft darling’ 😉

Of course, writing is just the same as any other discipline. You wouldn’t be a brain surgeon without years of training would you? And you can’t speak a foreign language without learning it.

So yes, when you think about it, it’s obvious, to be a great writer you need to learn how to write great stuff (unless you’re just naturally goddam talented and if you are….I am soooo jealous lol).

The problem is…..can writing every day make you get stuck in your ways? Will you ever grow if you continue to write in the same style, using the same voice? Where’s the challenge?

Sooooo, this week I’m going to try a little experiment 🙂

I read somewhere recently (don’t ask me where, I read so much stuff about writing lol) that where you write can affect what and how you write. Oh dear, we’re going back to the noise/silence issue again lol.

Ok, well I did take on board everyone’s comments to my noise post, so with that in mind I’m going to write (or do my practice) in 3 different locations throughout the week. You are my witness, if it gets to next Friday and I haven’t been to 3 different locations, shout at me, you have my permission 🙂

I’ve spent all weekend writing at home so we’ll say this is the marker. When I write at home I often struggle, get distracted (the kids, the dog, the cats, the husband, the phone) but I do seem to write in the same style, the same voice……it will be interesting to see if anything changes at other locations….progress report mid week 🙂

Today’s prompt about the lie remains undone…..but, I did manage to finish all the prompts I was suppose to do yesterday. I spent the evening going through competitions, deciding which ones to enter 🙂 Tomorrow’s prompt is the face of tomorrow so it looks like I’ll be playing catch up 😉

Do I Really Need To Plan?

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

This is Joseph Heller’s writing plan for Catch 22 (curtesy of Flavorwire.com where you can find other examples) and I admit, I am absolutely in awe!

I’m not really a planner, but I can see the merits in making sure you have an ending.

My retreat yesterday went well, but I only managed 4 of the prompts. I got too carried away with one of them (whoops), but I did enjoy it 🙂

So now I have another 4 short stories, or rather starts of a short story. So yeah, I think I better start thinking about endings. I hate having so many unfinished pieces 😦

A great article on Writability is definitely worth a read 🙂

Sooo, are you a plotter? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

Yesterday’s daily prompt about memory inspired a story about a guy who’d lost his memory. Tomorrow’s prompt is a lie someone told you which might be difficult lol.