Caffeine Withdrawal and Game Of Thrones

*Note: This post contains Game of Thrones spoilers, so don’t read if you haven’t seen the latest episode yet 🙂 I am, for some reason, a day ahead of myself. I thought today was the solstice, but the 21st is tomorrow. Although, the solstice seems to move around a bit, so it could be today.Continue reading “Caffeine Withdrawal and Game Of Thrones”

Guest Post: Legends Of Windermere Author Charles Yallowitz on Character Sacrifice

Today Charles Yallowitz is stopping by with a post on the idea of sacrifice in story-telling, and how to make it effective. As a story element, sacrifice needs to be handled carefully, and Charles makes some excellent points on how to do so while keeping the reader engaged. Take it away, Charles! Cover Art byContinue reading “Guest Post: Legends Of Windermere Author Charles Yallowitz on Character Sacrifice”

When A Character’s Story Ends

Killing your darlings. I’m certainly not the first writer to use this phrase, nor will I be the last. In fact, it comes from the lectures of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, a professor, journalist and literary expert who used the term to describe removing fancy words and overblown description from your writing. But here I’m usingContinue reading “When A Character’s Story Ends”

Getting Ready for Camp NaNo

I was going to write ‘It’s Monday.’ Then I realised that it’s Tuesday. The Bank Holiday has thrown me off a little, the week already starting without me realising. It’s only a few days till I head to my virtual cabin for Camp NaNoWriMo. We have a full cabin, twelve writers in all, and ourContinue reading “Getting Ready for Camp NaNo”

Cast Of Characters

I’ve been watching Miss Fisher’s mysteries for a little while now. I used to live in Melbourne, so it’s nice to see the familiar streets and buildings such as Rippon Lea, The Manchester Building, Como House and Melbourne Town Hall. And the fashion! If I could have anyone’s television wardrobe it would be Miss Fisher’sContinue reading “Cast Of Characters”

Return To The World

It’s been nearly a week since I returned from holiday, and it seems to be taking a while for me to return to regular life. I still wake most nights wondering where I am, the familiar lines of my wardrobe and dresser taking several moments to register, as though I’ve been travelling far in myContinue reading “Return To The World”

Margaret Atwood and The Man On The Bus

He had been handsome once, but now his hair was greying and unkempt, his face reddened by the elements or drink or some combination of the two. Still there was a twinkle, a lively curiosity in the dark eyes. ‘Hello, little one.’ His voice was roughened, gravelly, but his smile was wide as he watchedContinue reading “Margaret Atwood and The Man On The Bus”

Character Building

It’s a strange thing, to dream a person to life. Yet that is what a writer does, creating characters to walk the pages of their book, talking and breathing and thinking and doing. I’ve had to come up with quite a few people for Ambeth, and the interesting and slightly eerie thing is that theyContinue reading “Character Building”

Unearthing Ideas

Where do ideas come from? Ambeth was inspired, as I’ve said before, by something that happened to me when I was a child. But it has grown and evolved, the characters telling me things and taking me down paths I didn’t realise were there, and I’ve learnt to sit back and let them tell theContinue reading “Unearthing Ideas”

Night Scribbles

I woke last night with a half formed idea for a blog in my head. Something about rejection and happy thoughts and yet acknowledging it was tough yada yada. I tossed and turned and mumbled about it, then went back to sleep, a smile on my lips, certain I had a nice post for thisContinue reading “Night Scribbles”