A cold, a notice board and some good tips.

August 27, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

After my last post regarding my love/hate relationship with research, well love/like a bit relationship, I found myself with a cold which stopped me in my tracks. I don’t like writing when I’m ill whether it be self-inflicted or not but I managed to stop the cold before it could get going. It put me behind on my character profiles though. I did manage to complete 2/3 of a character profile on the secretary, and wannabe searcher and killer of demons, Valerie Marks for my demon hunting story The Searcher’s Want. She is also a possible love interest for the main character. I’m planning on finishing this tonight and hopefully another profile as well. Bloody colds, you great big (insert your own insult here).

Also, I’ve acquired a notice board. My lovely mother sent me a text saying that she had one going spare. When I saw it I remembered it was the one she always used to use in the kitchen when I was growing up. I always like to keep things that have true sentimental value and, though I did forget about it for a while, this is one such thing. Now all I need to do is start to populate it. And get some pins. And small pieces of card or post it notes. And a good place to put it. Round my neck? In the bathroom? On my bedroom door? I’ll pick a good place for it.

I asked a question at the end of my last post, How do you like to go about doing the research needed for any writing that you are about to do or are currently doing?, and received plenty of good, helpful tips.

Sarah Waldock, of http://sarahs-history-place.blogspot.co.uk/, had some particularly good insights into research. She said that she likes to use actual books for research. This made me realise I don’t actually have any books that are solely used for research only. She said she also has a ‘holy shit that’s interesting!’ notebook which she keeps around for when inspiration strikes. There have been countless times when I’ve heard nuggets of information from passers-by and wanted to remember them and use them at some point. I now have a note book that will, hopefully, stay in whatever bag I carry with me day to day so none of these are missed. For all of Sarah’s useful comments, have a gander at my last post ‘Research…Will I ever like you?’ why don’t you.

Colleen Aune Moore commented when I posted on the Facebook group ‘Writing Friends’ by simply saying ‘How much time have you got?’ I replied saying I had a lot. She then advised that following the links from a Google search will get you the info you need. This is pretty much what I’ve been doing but it’s good to hear that others are doing this as well. I did think I was being a tad lazy doing this. Thanks again. Colleen.

Right, back to the character profiles and the research for the next week, ish.

Speak soon.

Research…Will I ever like you?

August 20, 2013 · 6 Comments ·

Hello

Following on from my last post, which was two weeks ago, my fault, sorry, I have looked into buying a notice board. This may seem like a simple task but I don’t want to be buying notice boards all the time. This is necessary I can assure you. (I’m sure some of you are aware of this anyway.)

I also decided to dedicate a majority of last week to research. I have started to research certain parts of two of my stories, the story I’m currently writing which is my take on the vampire myth, The End Solution, and The Searcher’s Want, my hunter/searcher against demons for the fate of the world story I started, and finished recently, for NaNoWriMo.

For The End Solution, I’ve started by looking into the structure of the British Government. Specifically, who the Prime Minister has around him and why. I since discovered that he has around 21 members of parliament who act as cabinet ministers around him mainly amongst others. This has given me the headache of having to come up with possibly 10 new fully formed characters for this story as I don’t plan to need all of them in a complete capacity. And, along with having to write full character profiles for the ones already in the story, this is both bad and good. Bad, all that time it will take. Good, because I know I’ll enjoy it on many levels and it will help to advance the story greatly. Research…Will I ever like you?

For The Searcher’s Want, I decided to start the character profiles. Using the template I found in a post from writerdsnelson entitled ‘Profiling Blake’, I’ve discovered a lot about my characters and some things I can use to enhance their back stories, and create some conflict which I think the story needs, when I come to re-draft the story in the future. What I found out when doing this was some research, which I’d been neglecting about some of my characters, was sorely needed. For instance, one of my characters, the second oldest searcher named Abraham Smith, has been a searcher for 200 years. He became immortal at the age of 55 after being a searcher for 2 years. Now, this brings up all kinds of things when I’m writing about his history. Working out dates and things. It’s as exciting as it is frustrating. I think I’ve got the dates right, which I’m going to go over again just to be sure, to then find out I’ve missed one thing out. And I have to start all over again. Research…Will I ever like you?

I know I have to do research to make sure my story makes sense when it comes to location, dates and times of things, street names etc. But I think I’m just whining because it’s not as simple as I thought. I’m going to continue for the next week and I’m sure I’ll grow to like it. Here’s hoping anyway.

Well, to end this post and push me back into a research and character building frenzy, I’ll leave you with a question. How do you like to go about doing the research needed for any writing that you are about to do or are currently doing?

Cheers

Profiling Blake

August 15, 2013September 4, 2013 · 1 Comment ·

Profiling Blake.

Hello

I thought I’d re-blog this fine post as it has immediately given me my first step of the editing process for two of my fully finished, at first draft stage at least, stories.

Thank you D S Nelson. And I hope you don’t mind me re-blogging your post.

Cheers

Looking inside myself…for stuff and things.

August 6, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

Following on from the promise I to myself that I would do more writing, I have, in fact, not done that much. Let’s see why that was…

Thursday 1st August 2013:

Got up. Went to work. Got home. Packed a bag. Stayed over at my girlfriend’s house. Fell asleep.

Friday 2nd August 2013:

Got up. Went to work. Got home. Unpacked a bag. Met my friend for a few beers. Had more beers (very bad ones). Had one last beer. Went home. Had another beer. Fell asleep at 4am.

Saturday 3rd August 2013:

Got up. Was hungover. Had a shower. Was hungover. Played on my xbox for most of the day. Was hungover. Had a nap. Woke up with the shakes. Bought a takeaway pizza. Watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (which was very good by the way. I do need to get round to reading those books you know). Fell asleep.

Sunday 4th August 2013:

Got up. Finished the July Edition of Writing Magazine (finally). Did a smeg load of ironing. Played on my xbox. Wrote 674 words of The End Solution (see I do write). Went out to the shop for supplies. Watched The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (which was very good as well.) Fell asleep.

Monday 5th August 2013:

Got up. Went to work. Got home. Packed a bag. On the tram read a chapter of Casino Royale. Stayed over at my girlfriend’s house. Fell asleep.

Today:

Got up. Read another chapter of Casino Royale on the tram to work. Got home. Unpacked a bag. Went for a run (in which I ran 10k in 57mins. I can do 55 minutes. Am I out of shape already?) Had a shower. Played on my xbox. Sat down to write this post.

*I should stress that I did eat, drink and go toilet on all of these days at regular intervals.*

It looks like I play a lot of xbox doesn’t it? I have contemplated getting rid of it but I use it as a reward when I finish writing at any given time. It is also a very good stress reliever, helps to wake me up in morning (not every morning), and helps me to wind down after work.

Seeing my girlfriend is always awesome. I shall keep doing that for as long as I can.

I have been meaning to read more often. The two chapters of Casino Royale should hopefully get me back to my reading ways. I currently have three books on the go. One which is located in my bathroom, The Curious Case of the Dog at Midnight by Mark Haddon, 1984 by George Orwell, which is in my bedroom, and Casino Royale By Ian Fleming which is in my work bag. I also carry the latest copy of writing magazine in my work bag.

Maybe I need a concrete routine to follow. I have mentioned about wanting to follow a routine but sometimes when I get home from work or at the weekend I just want to do nothing. I’m going to be purchasing an actually notice board to, again hopefully kick start my writing. I know can write more in a week. Hell, I wrote 50,000 words a month once. What is holding me back?

I read an interesting article by Martine McDonagh (www.martinemcdonagh.com) entitled ‘Write-away Days’ which got me thinking about trying to write outside of my flat. Maybe in the local library. Or potentially take a long weekend away and use that to write. I do have a lot of holidays left to take from work?

So, all these words have led me to the questions of the post. How do you ensure you write on a regular basis? And, do you prefer to write at home or away?

Cheers

To be rude or not to be rude?

July 31, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

Over the past week or so I’ve only done any writing on one day. I know it’s not very much but I found myself either busy, hung-over or doing chores. I probably could’ve done more writing in-between but I’ll make up for it over the next week. Don’t you worry.

Within the writing I actually managed to do, I found myself with the task of writing an ‘after sex’ scene. I had contemplated writing an actual sex scene but I prefer to let the reader imagine what went on between the sheets. Although on second thought I’m not so sure.

This scene was from my vampire myth story and concerned the main female character and one of the chief male support characters. Amanda and Peter are having an affair behind their friend Marks, and other chief male support character, back. They all work at the same Admin Company and were all friends with the lead male character of the story, Bruce. Bruce knew about the affair but kept it a secret as he was close with Amanda. Now that he has become the End Solution and the United Kingdom’s only recognised vampire (of sorts), Amanda has chosen to try and find him to make sure he is ok. Mark is willing to help her But Peter is not. Even with all this Amanda continues to see Peter. I think you know enough now.

It starts inside a room of the hotel they usually use. Both are discussing Bruce and their particular views on the subject. This is mostly to enhance Amanda’s need to find him and to show that Peter is against it. It’s all about character building people! Anyway, throughout the scene they are naked as I don’t think two people, who only really have sex and barely don’t do anything together when Mark isn’t there, would be too bothered about walking around in such a way.

Now I’m getting to the title of this here post and the end of it.

I was considering re-writing the scene with a bit more happening as they are naked. But I don’t think this is in keeping with the tone of the whole story so far. However, it could act as I a bit of a twist in the tone that could set up the same kind of twist in tone sporadically throughout the book for impact. So, my question is this…

Do you think it’s a good idea to be explicit, shocking, drastic et al in stories just for effect or should it always be in line with the tone of the story?

Your feedback would be awesome.

Bye

A fistful of grammar.

July 23, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

So, I’ve continued to brush up on my grammar skills and as it turns out, I know more than I thought I did. Maybe in my haste to get my stories written I’ve chosen to forget certain aspects of the wonderful, if not very frustrating, world of grammar.

As I’ve been reading through the exceptional book, ‘Improve your grammar; Learn the skills, master the language.’ By Collins. (http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/7802960/Collins-Improve-Your-Grammar/Product.html?searchstring=imporive+your+grammar&searchsource=2&searchfilters=s%7bimporive+your+grammar%7d%2bc%7b91%7d%2b&urlrefer=search or http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Improve-Your-Punctuation-Graham/dp/0007288069/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374611468&sr=1-5&keywords=improve+your+grammar) I keep remembering things that I’ve somehow forgotten or easily working out what I should be doing. I’m currently on the section dedicated to commas and all their forms. And if I’ve missed any commas so far or hereafter, I’m sorry.

This has also helped me with my editing and writing over the past week. I’ve continued with my take on the vampire myth and editing one of my older stories. The writing is coming along nicely, although as it’s going along I’m realising that I’m going to need to create a lot more for the world this story takes place in.

It’s a world in which the Prime Minister rules the country like a dictator. He has put in place huge, gothic, dark buildings in each of the main towns and cities across the country. These help him to keep a watch over a majority of it. He uses special employees or ‘Operatives’ to keep an eye on the small villages and day to day life that he can’t control himself. This, as you might imagine, creates a whole host of questions and a whole host of answers to accompany them. I’ll let you know how I get on.

On the other hand, the editing process has been more fruitful than I’d previously anticipated. I’ve always liked editing but after almost two years away from the story I’m casting my eye on, I’m chopping and changing stuff and really starting to be critical of myself. I know I’ll have to go back over it again and again (location, character, descriptions and so on) but if it’s possible I’m looking forward to it more than I ever have.

Well, that’s me for now. I’m going to get back to it. Hmm…How do I end this post…why not with a question?

If you could change one thing about the world today, what would it be? And don’t feel like you have to choose a nice, save the world, type of option. Just go nuts if you like.

Bye

Hello feedback my old friend. How I cherish thee.

July 16, 2013 · 2 Comments ·

Hello

After posting a short story I’ve been working on for a bit in my last post I received plenty of feedback. This was all quite helpful and very much needed. After going back over the story with the feedback in mind I could see where the story needed to be improved. Thank you to all those who commented on it. I’ll be reviewing and editing said story soon and I’ll probably post it back up for more comments.

I haven’t had any of my stories critiqued in a while so this was all very refreshing. I received some good comments about the story as a whole. Lori Fetters Lopez gave some very valued feedback indeed. Thank you Lori. I also received some good, honest and straight to the point comments about my grammar and use of commas from a few editors that frequent the Facebook writing groups I’m part of. David Neely, Sean Cleary and Roy C. Booth thank you for time and words.

If I could give any advice about being a writer it would be to embrace all kinds of feedback and take all the good parts from it. If you find yourself on the receiving end of someone’s rant about your story just so they can use a whole host of long and not needed words then just laugh at it and pick out the bits you can actually use.

Right, I’m going to get back to it. And if there are any grammatical errors in this post, either let me know or leave me to find them later.

Cheers

A new short story of mine.

July 8, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

This is a short story I finished a few months ago. I’ve been over it many times but would like a fresh view and feedback if possible.

It’s about a man who has lived all his life with a high pain thresh hold. This means he doesn’t feel the cold or the heat in the same way that everyone else does. He can feel these things but only at the last minute. He has felt trapped and lonely for most of his life so far. Until he decides to go for a run one Saturday morning…

‘

The doctors have never been able to fully diagnose his condition. They settled on an extremely high pain thresh hold but it did not explain why he could not completely feel hot or cold temperatures. He is twenty nine years old, six foot tall, has short blonde hair and a nice looking face. His name is Oliver. There is no known cure for him.

“They won’t treat you differently.” his pixie like mother said one Friday morning in the kitchen.

“How do you know?” He replied. She looked around nervously and then back into his eyes. He gave her a kiss on the cheek but before he could leave she gave him a warm hug.

Oliver’s job was to distribute work to the employees of a small administration company. None of them knew about his condition. He and reluctantly his parents decided that only they would know. Oliver consequently only let a few people into his life at any given time through fear of being looked at or treated differently. He thought some people might find it cool but he didn’t want to take that chance.

“I can’t come out after work mate; I’m cooking dinner for my Mrs” His Italian looking friend Peter said. Oliver nodded and said they’d do it another time. He always felt lonely when Peter did anything with his other half. He felt the same way whenever he saw a couple holding hands. He quietly made his way home.

“Oliver!” his dad said from the bottom of the stairs. He had fallen asleep in the bath again which to him felt like he was wrapped in a slimy blob from the neck down. He only got out and got dressed after seeing how shrivelled up his body had become. “What’s that on your hand, son?” his dad said as he got to the bottom of the stairs. His dad was a short, portly, overly concerned man who fussed over him a lot. Oliver knew he was just trying to be his friend so he didn’t object.

“Oh, I burned myself the other day. It’s alright now though.” He said looking at the red mark on the outside of his right little finger. He burnt it whilst frying some bacon and as always only moved his hand when it was too late. He’d felt the pain but only at the last possibly second. He did like being able to withstand high amounts of pain but what he really wanted was to be mindful of going near a fire or being out in the cold for too long.

The following morning he decided to go for a run. As he was running on a clear Saturday morning he spotted a fire engine up the street. Getting closer he saw the wild flames climbing up the house next to it and remembered to stay back because of the heat. He looked up and saw a room and heard the cries of a baby inside.

Oliver knew he had a good chance of saving the baby. He quickly ran into the house and climbed the now almost completely fire ridden stairs. He knocked the door down and grabbed the baby as the smoke began to build. It made him cough ferociously as the stairs collapsed with an almighty bang. He went back into the baby’s room and shouted down to the firemen. They quickly sent up a ladder and brought them to safety.

“Can’t you feel that?” the mother said after taking the baby and hugging the life out of him. A news reporter and camera had appeared just behind her. Oliver looked down and saw numerous red marks on his legs and arms. He had briefly forgotten he was wearing shorts and t-shirt.

“Not completely. I can’t feel hot or cold.” He said without thinking. He’d never felt happier than after saying those six little words. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
In the following weeks he became a local celebrity. He received an invitation to attend a nerve damage conference and accepted it for his mother’s sake. Peter insisted he go along with him. They sat down and waited for it to start.

“Hello, I’m Michelle.” A cute brunette girl with a flower in her hair said as she sat down next to him. She put out her hand and he was reluctant to shake it. “It’s ok. I can’t feel hot or cold either.”

‘

One finishes and another begins.

July 2, 2013September 4, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

After my lovely trip to Krakow and a few days more off work, which included a daft amount of drinks followed by a revolting hangover, I knew I had to get back into the swing of things.

Before going on holiday I was drawing ever closer to the end of the story I started whilst taking part in NaNoWriMo. I realised as I started to write again that the story was even closer than I thought to being finished. And then, as if by magic, it had finished. I suddenly realised that I was at the end of my story. It’s like it crept up on me whilst I was writing.

I had many ideas about how to end the story but all of them didn’t seem to work as I got to the last few lines of the book. I considered having it carry on after the hero’s had won the day but I ended up just finishing it with one line. After weeks of wondering how I was going to actually end my story, I settled on just one line of dialogue. If I can give out any advice about writing, and if anyone would listen, it would be this.

Trust your instincts.

After doing so and finishing my third full story since I started to write any kind of stories, I decided to edit one of the others I completed. It was a story about a small, self-sufficient town that lived in the shadow of a dense and dark forest. This forest was populated by monstrous bugbears that could attack them at any time. To stop this from happening, five hunters have been given the task to hunt and protect to town. It was a story born out of frustration as another story I had intended to be small had grown and needed more work. I just wanted to finish a story so I could go back to it and edit the thing later and iron out the creases. My very first blog post has as its subject this very story entitled ‘The Town of the Mountain.’

Anyway, the first draft has been done and I’ve started to edit it. Its looks like it will take a long time as after only the first chapter I’ve removed one big paragraph and trimmed down a lot of the others. Though I have to say I do enjoy it.

This leads me onto my question for this post….

How do you go about the editing process for any of your stories?

Cheers

Time off in Krakow for my 30th.

June 25, 2013September 4, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Hello

This time last week I was unable to update this blog. Because I was in Krakow for my 30th Birthday with my girlfriend. Which is up there with the best reasons for not doing something ever!

The time off was brilliant and spending it with my girlfriend and in a beautiful city like Krakow made it even better. I could go on and on but I’ll stick to pictures and captions instead. Which is probably the same.