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How to begin a novel – part 3 – Me, Myself and I
We continue our series on how to begin a novel by looking at opening with a first person description. In my opinion (and in the context of book beginnings), first person narrative tends to be an ‘all...
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The value of repeating a joke
When we were read stories as children, which many of us can recall, a large part of the enjoyment was knowing what was coming and being able to join in. “Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an...
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Least Favourite Trope
There is an argument that tropes can be unavoidable. In fact, some genres are so formulaic that a trope is mandatory and that the only thing that matters is presenting it in style. Personally, I hate...
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Check Mate!
One of the things which unfortunately slaps you in the face about many self-published, first-time authors is that their books get uploaded complete with a whole host of easily rectified errors that any...
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When you least need Writer’s Block
Writing, in its broadest sense, is probably the last civilized tool to abandon a human being. I’m picturing here the educated prisoner holed up for decades in a dungeon, scratching poetry on the damp...
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Get them hooked!
The hook – the opening few paragraphs that drag the reader in – is an absolutely vital part of your book and merits having time being spent on it. How you tackle this section will, to a large extent,...
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What makes a great book?
Ask a thousand people chosen at random and you’ll get a thousand different answers to the question “What are your top 5 books?” Not only will your sample differ wildly in tastes, the sheer volume of...
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Setting the scene
Until relatively recently, any book which involved ‘exotic’ settings (anything from a tense Len Deighton Cold War spy exchange across the Glienicke Brücke on a cold November dawn to a raw and...
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Tone and flavour
Tone and flavour are two words which don’t seem to belong to the world of writing. The first could have been taken equally from the worlds of music or painting, and the second is definitely culinary....
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Life on Mars?
Everyone has their vices. It’s kind of an unwritten human right. So long as you don’t let them consume you, you’re fine. Not that you’re happy, exactly, but who is? You know how to let reality become...
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Bright lights and blurry faces
Brighton Pier is an area of unrivalled artificial beauty by night. From down here the Ferris Wheel looks as though it could take you to the moon; the waltzer, lurid with bright lights and blurry faces,...
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You have to laugh
Well, you do, don’t you? Thing is, for some reason, many authors seem to lose sight of this quirk of human nature when they’re writing dialogue. Guessing at their motivation, it appears they’ve created...
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Fear of flying
I’m not a nervous flier. No valium or Xanax for me, thank you. I note that I am managing my claustrophobia very well. I am in a window seat and legroom is scarce, which isn’t great when you’re over...
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Something out of nothing
If you tried to push a deal on someone whereby they got money for doing precisely nothing, they’d (quite rightly) be very suspicious. Why then, why, do writers think that it is acceptable to create a...
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‘He Said, She Said’– do you need these?
In a nutshell – yes, you do. But in moderation. Some approaches to teaching creative writing suggest that you should avoid using the word ‘said’ as much as possible. You should use words like...
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The importance of proper editing
Finishing the first draft of a piece of writing is a great feeling. Although you should be very proud at this stage, you are far from finished yet. As a writer, editing your work is imperative. It is...
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What helps you concentrate?
There are days when absolutely everything is a distraction. Despite all the ideas and inspiration you may have, there will inevitably be times where you find it more than a little difficult to just sit...
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July 19th – Poem
It feels like a Saturday. There’s orange pulp in my water. I’m depressed about my weight. She says ‘sing cos it’s obvious,’ but how or why it’s so obvious I can’t fathom. I’m really far from home. I...
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Tips on writing erotica from Misty Wells
Here are some tips on writing erotica from Misty Wells. Enjoy! The Basics Yes, the purpose of your story is primarily to arouse, but people also read erotica to escape into a fantasy world. To create...
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Brain on a budget
I sowed the seeds. I am utterly capable of growing golden trees on my inner skull; but with the branches torn, there’s nothing to catch the lovely language I am learning. Like sand, like water, crushed...
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