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Allison Symes

The Joys and Challenges of Writing Series Novels – Part 2

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It was a great joy last week to introduce my fellow writers and contributors to this series which looks at the joys and challenges of series novels. Amongst tonight’s topics for Jennifer C Wilson, Val Penny, Anne Wan, Wendy H Jones, and Richard Hardie to tackle are the challenges of writing a series and what are the issues which arise in trying to promote a series. (Trust me it is challenging enough promoting a single book!).  And as ever many thanks to all of my guests for supplying the author pictures and book cover shots.

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The Joys and Challenges of Writing Series Novels – Part 1

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The joy and challenge of writing flash fiction is creating a short story out of nothing, with a proper beginning, middle and end, to a tight word count.

The joy and challenge of creating a novel is conjuring up your own world out of nothing and having an enthralling story set there, which usually comes in at the 80,000 to 100,000 word mark. (So your story must be strong to literally go the distance). [Read more…] about The Joys and Challenges of Writing Series Novels – Part 1

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Fantastic -v- Reality Writing

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The world of literature would be much poorer without its fantastic fiction and its realistic opposite (and I am including non-fiction in what I term reality writing). Both show worlds we can identify with in some way.

For example, in The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein’s epic fantasy work the way Saruman attempted to destroy the natural world to make his weapons and build his power is a direct reflection of how things have been on our own planet time and time again. I needn’t name the dictators and while Tolkein always denied any comparison to the build up to World War Two, you can see why people made that link. An absolute evil had to be destroyed. An unlikely hero did so. (Who would have thought Britain would win the Battle of Britain? We weren’t supposed to!). [Read more…] about Fantastic -v- Reality Writing

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Playing with Words

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I was saddened to hear of the recent death of Denis Norden. He will probably be remembered most for It’ll Be Alright on the Night, the blooper show, but he wrote far more than that and, in my view, was a wonderful wordsmith. I also loved his ironic manner. (”Dry wit” doesn’t begin to cover it!). [Read more…] about Playing with Words

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Writing Tips

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Following on from last week’s post about the best and worst decisions made regarding writing, I thought I’d share here some of the most useful writing tips I’ve picked up on my writing journey to date. The great thing about making mistakes is, if sensible, you learn from them. It is true of life in general you learn what to do by getting it wrong first!
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The Best and the Worst

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There are often best and worst lists – for example the 10 best jokes, the 10 worst ones. (Some make it on to both lists, which just goes to prove humour is subjective!). Then there are the best and worst cars, supermarkets, holiday destinations and so on. Almost anything can be listed if you try hard enough!

What can be a pain is not knowing what the best and worst options are at times – and this does go for writing and publishing too. When you are starting out as a writer, where do you go to for advice? [Read more…] about The Best and the Worst

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As Autumn Approaches

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The acorns have started dropping off the oaks around Chandler’s Ford, almost certainly earlier than normal due to the heatwave, but for me, that is the start of autumn. I don’t mind that. As I’ve mentioned before, I like autumn. (Though I try to avoid being hit on the head by said acorns, they can come down with some force, and a number of times as I hear them hit the car roof, I’m glad the car took the impact rather than me!). [Read more…] about As Autumn Approaches

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The Benefits of a Good Writing Conference

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Image Credit:  A very big thank you to Geoff Parkes for kind permission to use some of his photos from the recent Swanwick Writers’ Summer School.

Why should writers get to a good writing conference if they can and not just the once?

The obvious benefits are learning new skills, how to improve those you already have, or both, from a wide range of speakers. You literally tap their knowledge and experience and apply it to your own writing. If you need to know more about editing, you go and listen to top tips from an editor working widely in the industry etc. [Read more…] about The Benefits of a Good Writing Conference

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Books That Should Have Been Written – Allison Symes

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I thought a lighthearted post would be appropriate as we head rapidly through August.

By the time this goes up, I will be on my way back from the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School, having had good opportunities to learn, meet old friends, make new ones, and come back buzzing with ideas and even more enthuasism for the projects I’ve got in mind over the next few months or so. [Read more…] about Books That Should Have Been Written – Allison Symes

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A Bunch of Amateurs – Review by Allison Symes

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Image Credit:  As ever, a very big thank you to Lionel Elliott and The Chameleons for supplying the pictures.

There can’t be many plays which manage to be entertaining and reveal all you need to know about Shakespeare’s King Lear at the same time but A Bunch of Amateurs managed this beautifully.

Ben Williams’ review shows what a great play this is and, if you love a laugh AND Shakespeare, it is the play for you. (It was a film, starring Burt Reynolds, but for a play about a play, the stage is the best place for it).
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Judgement Day

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Don’t worry – this really is a blog post and not something to go into the CFT Events page (though I am sure if Janet could give us advance warning of Judgement Day, she would!).

It is a truth, generally NOT universally acknowledged, that all writers have to submit to some sort of judgement if they wish to be published. (Apologies to the Jane Austen Society though the good lady herself would accept my point I’m sure.) [Read more…] about Judgement Day

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Out and About – Summer 2018

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Image Credit: All pictures unless otherwise stated were taken by Allison Symes

One of the joys of dog ownership is it encourages me to get out and about. Of course, you don’t need an active pet to get you out and about, but it helps me a lot as I find I am more than willing to take Lady out, but would I just go for a walk by myself? Maybe but definitely far less often.

The only thing to watch with dogs, especially at the moment, is whether the weather is suitable and adjust timings of walks accordingly. [Read more…] about Out and About – Summer 2018

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A Look Back at the Hursley Park Book Fair

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This is my look back at the recent Hursley Park Book Fair.  Many thanks to Glenn Salter (aka author Simon Fairfax) for organising the Fair.  So much hard work (and generally unseen at that) goes on behind the scenes to make these events happen.  For an inaugural event, I thought the Fair worked well but more on that shortly… [Read more…] about A Look Back at the Hursley Park Book Fair

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Why I Blog

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It’s funny how certain types of writing remain popular, even though the format in which they are presented may change over time. Keeping a diary was something I did when younger. These days I blog! Most of us who kept diaries had no thought of publication (just as well too, you would have had to have been incredibly lucky here). [Read more…] about Why I Blog

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Reminder Post: Hursley Park Book Fair – 23rd and 24th June 2018

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Don’t forget the inaugural Hursley Park Book Fair takes place this weekend.

Amongst the authors taking part are Richard Hardie and I. Two former interviewees of mine, Anne Wan and Felicity Fair Thompson, will also be at the event. [Read more…] about Reminder Post: Hursley Park Book Fair – 23rd and 24th June 2018

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Hursley Park Book Fair – 23rd and 24th June 2018

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Richard Hardie and I are amongst the 40 or so authors taking part in the inaugural Hursley Park Book Fair over the weekend of 23rd and 24th June. (Felicity Fair Thompson and Anne Wan, both of whom I interviewed for CFT, are also taking part). [Read more…] about Hursley Park Book Fair – 23rd and 24th June 2018

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Authors Reach Update – Allison Symes with Richard Hardie

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One of the problems facing writers with books out there is how to promote your books. A lot depends on what budgets you have (and on the time you’re willing to commit to this. Marketing work gobbles up a lot of time and this shouldn’t be underestimated).

With self-publishing being so more readily accessible and acceptable, how does an individual author make themselves heard? Sometimes the answer is to be part of a larger group of writers. What happens here is that the writers “cross-pollinate” the other authors in their group in terms of publicity and the end result is you reach more people than if you were going it alone. The Book Fair held in Chandler’s Ford last year is a good example of writers being able to hold an event at all because there were several of us involved. [Read more…] about Authors Reach Update – Allison Symes with Richard Hardie

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