Faber was cancelled again last night due to the snow, so instead, today I’m introducing you to…..
Mr Squiggle
He’s a right nasty bit of work. Made up of all my good words that he kidnaps, then bends into squiggly lines so that they no longer resemble words.
We have conversations where I try to talk to him in clichés, just to irritate him and make him go away…..
It’s not worked 😦
Do you have an idea what your inner critic looks like? And what do you do to silence the nasty little scum bag? 😉
I’m a bit behind with replying to comments and e mails because I’ve been up London today. Will catch up tomorrow I promise.
My first session back at Faber since before Christmas 🙂 So it was latte, cake and I treated myself to a new book!
Today’s session was about show and tell, that age old adage that puts the fear of God in most writers 😉 Well, ok, perhaps that’s just me lol
Literary critics admire ‘show’ but really, how important is it?
Telling is a form of showing and bleeds over into subtext and dialogue and if you think about the greatest story ever told, The Bible, well, that’s all tell isn’t it?
No one would argue that ‘showing’ your reader that your character is sad is far more interesting than actually telling them so, but you can pull off ‘telling’ if you are confident in what you’re saying and your words are written well. Many authors use tell as part of their style. Roth, Franzen, Eugenides and Munro are all good examples.
We did 2 exercises where we had to set a scene and then use dialogue to convey an emotion our character was feeling. Here’s what I wrote:
Sue entered the room, her head down, shoulders hunched. She sighed as she picked up the remote from her sleeping husbands leg. Looking at the clock she frowned, it was 11.45pm. Outside the street was alive with party goers, the sound of laughter could just be heard above the drone of the action film that was playing to no one.
She kicked Johns leg.
“Ow! Er, what’s going on?”
“You were asleep.”
“No I wasn’t, I was just resting me eyes.”
“Yeah, like you do every night John.”
“No I don’t!”
Sue tutted. “I’m not going to argue with you, It’s New Years Eve, 2013 in less than 10 minutes.”
“So where’s the bubbly?”
“I didn’t buy any!”
John sat forward in his chair and looked up at his wife.
“You ok love? You always buy us a bottle of bubbly for New Years Eve.”
“Yeah, well perhaps I’m just fed up with it always being me?”
Sue picked up her cigarettes and lighter and stepping over Johns legs made her way back towards the kitchen doorway.
“Where you going love?”
“For a fag!”
“But it’s nearly midnight?”
Sue ignored him and slammed the kitchen door. Lighting her cigarette she mumbled “Happy fucking New Year.”
So what did I show you about Sue? What emotion was she feeling? Lets see if I was successful with my show 🙂
I came away feeling a little less paranoid about the whole show vs tell thingy. As writers we have enough to worry about as it is! 😉
So tell me…Do you think “modern” writers get too hung up on show and tell? Do you think it’s less important than it used to be?
A couple of months back I had the chance to see Ros Barber talk about her new book, The Marlowe Papers and hear her read some of her poetry. Wow! :o)
Ros runs a website with fellow writer Kate Marillat called Be The Writer You Dream Of Being and together they run writing courses and do talks. I can highly recommend it 🙂
So when Kate requested that readers submit articles, I jumped at the chance (you know me, I do like to waffle on about writing stuff lol).
Head on over to Ros & Kate’s website to read my article, A Prompt A Day Keeps Writers Block Away where I talk about my experience of using writing prompts.
Please leave a comment. Oh, and let me know what you thought of the article? 🙂
Some more notebook pages 🙂
Hope you enjoy! 🙂
ps….tomorrows post will be a little late, as I’m off to a Nano Writing Retreat 🙂
A few weeks ago (or was it months?) someone asked me if I could share some pages from my note books. I have 14 now that are completely full up, and another 7 currently on the go.
So here are a few pages 🙂
As you can see, I collect crap lol….anything I think might help or inspire me at a later date goes in my note books 🙂 I love flicking back through them when I’m stuck for a title idea, or need inspiration on a story.
so the question is…..do you want me to do a regular post, sharing the contents? Or shall I just leave it there because you’re yawning?
One of my favourite bloggers, Hunter over at Hunters Writings recently included a link in one of her posts to a very interesting article:
Making A Writing Bible is an article that appeared on The Write Thing’s web site.
Edited to add: This link appears to be down 😦
Hunter has also been talking about The Novel Journal
So that’s what I’ve been working on, in preparation for Nano, my WIP Bible 🙂
I’ve decided to use a notebook rather than my Netbook as I can add things as and when I think of them. Even carry it around in my bag if inspiration strikes.
So, I’ve got the hero (although he’s changed a bit since you last heard about him….thank you for all your comments and suggestions!!!!). His name is now Daminano Moretti 😉 harry is still knocking about, and I’m sure i’ll find a use for him later 😉 Kate Walker suggested that we find a photo of what we envisage our hero to look like. So after some extensive Googling I have a couple of pics!
Then this section is for notes on my heroine, who is still Kate 🙂 I’ve also found a couple of pics of what I imagine her to look like.
I have a section for the minor characters. There won’t be many, as, in a Mills & Boon, its all about the hero and heroine.
The setting…..ahhhhh…. *day dreams wistfully* It’s Sorrento in Italy. So I’m collecting pics and info.
Chapter breakdown is a suggestion made by Sharon Kendrick at Swanwick. Because Mills & Boon books generally have a pattern, it’s a good idea to have an outline of where things need to happen, such as “the black moment” and that way you know where you are 😉
Notes and ideas is basically the section for everything else….title ideas, ideas for scenes, back story etc…..
I’ve never worked like this before (I was a pantster lol) but I can really see the benefits. And now, I have 2 whole months to collect all the info I need before I actually start writing on the 1st November! And I have to say….I’m loving it! 😉
Have you ever created a WIP Bible? And if not, would you consider it?
I recently attended a Short Story Writing Workshop with Sue Moorcroft
What a great day 🙂 Sue is an excellent teacher!
As per usual, you know me, I made lots of notes 🙂
Sue had lots of interesting tips for writing short stories for magazines, so if that is something you’d like to explore, I can highly recommend Sue’s book. But it’s not just for short stories. Sue has published several full length novels too 🙂
One of the tips she gave us that I thought was really helpful was the 10 Words/Phrases This really helps with writing description, and if you incorporate those actual words into your story, hopefully, the reader will be more able to picture what you’re describing. Personally, I think it is great for getting to know my characters. I can split it up into 10 personality traits, or 10 physical features. It’s really helping me focus on what my characters look like 🙂
Think of 10 words or phrases that relate to your character or your setting. So, for example, when I picture my heroine, Kate, these are the words that immediately come to mind:
Pale skinned
Plain
Clumsy
Chestnut hair
Single
Smartly dressed (suit)
Stubborn
Dog owner
Believes in romance
Friendly
Sue is teaching a writing course in Italy next year, and I’m so tempted to go, no, more than tempted, I really want to go 🙂 Arte Umbria are doing Creative Writing courses next year, the setting, a country house set in 220 acres of the Umbrian Hills near Tuscany *wistful sigh* 🙂
So, dear reader, should I go to Italy? lol 😉 and anyone fancy joining me? 😉
to follow on from the previous post…..
Since the first of January I have been using The Writers Book Of Days by Judy Reeves to encourage me to write every day. It’s been hard at times, to the point where I’ve wanted to give up, but I haven’t, and I’m determined to see it through until the 31st of December.
As I’m kind of half way in the book (and because Judy provides a checklist), I thought I’d do the exercise How Can I Tell If My Writing Is Improving here on my blog
Soooo, after 6 months of daily prompts, let’s see shall we….. PART 2
You can find Part 1 HERE
11. Do I layer my writing with sensory images, including smells, sounds and textures. Crafting tasted emotions, heard colours and hence, creating mood?
Oh definitely, but I’m not a huge fan of synesthesia. I’d love to fill my work with it, but, I dunno, that just wouldn’t be me lol
12. Have I learnt not to overwrite, or be stingy with words?
Ha ha ha, I don’t think I could ever be accused of overwriting lol
13. Have I expanded my language, learned new words?
Hmmmm, not really. I write as I talk. So, usually, if it’s a word I wouldn’t use in real life, you wouldn’t find it in my writing, unless it’s in dialogue and the character speaks using long words that no one understands 😉
14. Have I found my voice?
Oh, a resounding YES but I’m not sure whether that’s been totally down to the daily prompts. I think it’s helped, but also blogging daily has helped too.
15. Do I save the strongest word for the last sentence without the sentence sounding false?
I’m aware of this tip, but I often forgot it *hits fore head with palm* so I must make more of an effort.
16. Have I stopped rushing through to get to the end and now take my time, lingering and savouring, letting the tension build?
Sometimes, I think, no, oh I dunno, sometimes I have to rush if I haven’t got much time. It really depends on how inspiring I find the prompt lol
17. Do I take more risks?
Ha ha ha, well, I have been writing more 1st person pieces. I was so scared of it a few months ago. I thought that surely, each time I wrote in 1st person it would sound the same. But hubby has said he can tell a difference now….go me! Lol
18. Have I stopped pulling punches?
Not really sure I understand this question lol. If it means what I think it means, I still avoid certain subjects in depth because I find them too emotional to write about.
19. Have I eliminated generalities, write in specifics?
I think so lol
20. Am I willing to experiment, to try out, go to unknown places in my writing?
No, not exactly, but I would like to. I would lie to experiment with other genres but I’m not too sure where to start 😦
Sooooo, the second lot of questions didn’t have as many positive answers as the first lot, but I’m pleased over all 🙂
A HUGE thank you to Judy Reeves for certainly enriching my writing life. The book has been an incredible help, it really has. I can’t wait to start work on her other stuff 🙂
Exciting!!!!! 🙂
Here’s a difficult question for you….. what’s been the most valuable thing you’ve learnt that has improved your writing? For me it has to be the use of all your senses. When I first started writing I didn’t even think about smell or sound *blushes* 😉
I stumbled across a great web site a couple of days ago. Create Write Now which has a free e book download and loads of info on the joy of journal writing.
And then, I came across a post, Keeping A Journal over on The Change Blog, and then another at Writability and at this stage I’m thinking, is somebody trying to tell me something? Lol
So BAM I’m back journalling lol, and I lay the blame right at the feet of Diana M. Raab 🙂 For my birthday treat, hubby took me to Foyles in London on a book buying spree, where I picked up this…..(I won’t tell you how many times I have attempted to pick up that pen on the front cover LMAO!)
What can I say? Loved it loved it loved it! Read the back and tell me you’re not interested lol
Ok, so it says “Notebook” but, the chapters inside refer to “Journal” and include sections like The Journal as Tool & The Journal as Muse so the writers who have contributed don’t seem to place a distinction between a “writers note book” and a “writers journal”.
For me, the difference is that my notebook, I would be fairly happy for anyone to read (so long as they don’t pinch my ideas lol), but my journal? *sharp intake of breath* I’ll cut your hands off if you read all that personal stuff without my permission 😉
Anyway, so I’ve started journalling again, and it’s been good, yeah, really good, I’m trying not to whine see 😉 Trying to be a bit more constructive lol.
So, dear reader, do you journal? Do you think there’s a difference between a writers notebook and a writers journal?
Ever tried scriptwriting? I’ve dabbled, but not seriously lol
Last week, writer, Linda James came to our Writing Group to do a talk/workshop on scriptwriting. But a lot of what she said would be valuable advice to all writers, regardless of their genre or medium 🙂
I made lots of notes, but here are the best 10 things I wrote down (IMO obviously) 🙂
1. Transform your story into pictures/images – i.e., when you think about a setting or a character, visualise them in your mind. Your reader needs to be able to see these things, from the words that you use.
2. Include body language – When describing what a character is doing, include body language, don’t tell your reader your character is depressed, show them.
3. Open your story in the most interesting visual way possible, introducing key characters right at the start. – You need to hook your reader from the very first page.
4. Make sure you have clues on the first page (Linda calls them seeds) – Throughout a novel the writer must drop clues for the reader. Make sure you start this on the very first page. The reader needs to have questions that they want answered.
5. Practice writing monologues, to get inside your characters head – The more you know your character, the better they will come across in your work.
6. Every scene must have a telling detail – Each scene needs to reveal something about the character or plot.
7. Use symbolism – If there is a crucifix on the wall it will tell your reader your characters religious beliefs. like wise if there is a Buddha statue on a coffee table.
8. Use local dialect sparingly – Your reader doesn’t need to know exactly how a person with a broad accent sounds, too much and they won’t understand it.
9. Use work by authors who were writing fiction at the time your story was set for research – If you’re writing historical fiction (even if it’s set in the 1950’s!) read fiction by authors who were publishing work in that era. You will get a feel for the time and be able to see what words and phrases were common.
10. Research the way film directors use “mood” to convey a scene – You wouldn’t have a severely depressed man skipping through a field of daisies would you? 😉
I’m a bit of a film addict, and sometimes I will sit with my note book as I watch a film, so a lot of what Linda said made perfect sense. Obviously, I just had to buy her books 😉
That’s 2 more to add to the collection *snigger*
Our homework for next months meeting is to turn a short story into a script, which should be interesting, I’ll stick mine up on my blog when it’s done 🙂
So have you ever tried your hand at scriptwriting?
The View Outside 