Chandler's Ford Today

Allison Symes

Wildflowers

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Image Credit:  Photos of the wildflower meadow at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Am glad to say that, after a late start, the wildflower meadow is back at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground. There is a surfeit of yellow this year. One year the dominant colour was white. I prefer white as a backdrop to show more colourful flowers off with but that’s probably just me.

Now I must admit I’m not the world’s best gardener but I do know what I like when I see it when it comes to flowers. The wildflower meadow here has been a delight and all credit to those who have made this happen so thank you all.

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Local Author News – Allison Symes – Crossing Fiction and Non-Fiction

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Image Credits:–

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying the book cover credits for Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing.

Many thanks to Gill James at Chapeltown Books for the cover pictures for The Best of CafeLit 10.

Screenshots of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Friday Flash Fiction, and new ACW Flash Fiction Group details were taken by me, Allison Symes.

This summer, I have been kept busy with more Zoom talks. I spoke again to the Dundee City Writers on 19th July and am due to speak to another Scottish group, Byre Writers, right at the end of the month.

This is made possible thanks to the wonders of Zoom and a huge thank you to both writing groups (as I know here and now Byre Writers will make me very welcome!).

I had a lovely time talking about short story writing to Dundee City Writers. I am looking forward to talking about flash fiction writing with the Byre Writers. And there has been plenty else going on too.

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YouTube for Authors

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Image Credit:  Most pictures created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, others direct from Pixabay.

I’ve mentioned before that what goes around comes around in writing circles. A great example is my recent interview with Helen Matthews as she wondered about how an author could use a YouTube channel. Now I know the cue for another Chandler’s Ford Today post when I hear one so away we go.

I’ll take a look at how I use my channel and share what other authors do. I hadn’t anticipated using visual media to help my writing but I have found YouTube easier to use than expected and it is now a regular part of my marketing work.

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Small World Syndrome – Part 2 – Helen Matthews

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Image Credit: Many thanks to Helen Matthews for supplying the author and book cover pics. Other images either created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos or are direct Pixabay images.

Welcome back, Helen, to Chandler’s Ford Today. This week Helen shares with me what drew her into writing domestic noir, her social media preferences, and reveals her top three tips for writers amongst other topics.

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Small World Syndrome – Introducing Helen Matthews – Part 1

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Image Credits:  Many thanks to Helen Matthews for supplying author and book cover images. Other photos created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

Most of us have experienced small world syndrome when you re-meet someone you haven’t met for ages or discover the person who is sitting next to you at the cafe (now possible but suitably distanced of course!) went to the same primary school you did thirty odd years ago.

Recently this has happened again to me.

I first met Helen Matthews, novelist and short story writer, at the Hursley Park Book Fair as her table was near mine and we got chatting.

I’ve also met her at the Winchester Writers’ Festival. And now I’ve re-met her thanks to a Twitter group – #writingchat. This is on every Wednesday night between 8 and 9 pm where writers get together online and chat about a range of topics. We also share experiences and tips (including sometimes on what not to do). It is a friendly place to “hang out” and I always learn something useful from the discussions. (And it is wonderful being able to share with other writers the frustrations as well as the joys of the writing life).

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The Joy of Editing

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

I know, I know – Allison, you’re an editor as well as a writer so you’re going to be biased here.

Yes, guilty as charged, but I will say, even without my official editor’s hat on (naturally it is a red one to match the infamous red pen), I’ve always enjoyed the editing process. Why?

Simply because I’m taking a rough draft (and trust me it is rough!) and am honing it into what I hope will become a published piece of work. Without that honing, this piece of work is going nowhere. I’ve mentioned before nobody but nobody writes a perfect first draft (see what I did there!).

Is Photoshop and the like the ultimate in editing I wonder?

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Finding Themes

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Themes, like story ideas, are all over the place. It is a question of having an open enough mind to spot them and then working out which ones you like best. Those are the ones you will put heart and soul into writing up.

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Summer Time, Maybe…

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Image Credits:-

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Image of me taken at a Swanwick Open Prose Mic Night taken by Penny Blackburn.

Other images taken by me, Allison Symes.

I think the least said about the weather recently, the better. Suffice it to say May felt more like a combination of March and April combined what with the strong winds and sudden showers. (And yes I still have the central heating on as I write this).

On a more positive note, and with more of the restrictions being eased, at least it does look as if there is going to be some sort of summer in terms of being able to get out and about.

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Writing Prompts

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I often use writing prompts to generate stories (standard length and flash fiction) and these come in a variety of forms.

Sometimes a prompt for fiction can be adjusted to generate ideas for future blog posts. (Before you ask, this isn’t the case for this one!).

Effectively, every writing competition with a set theme is a writing prompt – the theme is the prompt!

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Reflections

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Reflection is an important part of life. We reflect on what we have learned, the mistakes we have made (and hopefully ensure we don’t make again). We reflect on courage and service (as shown by the Remembrance Day events).

A time to reflect makes us take that time out of our busy schedules to ponder on things that are important. Reflection also makes us slow down, also not a bad thing.

Certain life events also give us cause to reflect. And the last year or so has given us all more time than usual to reflect on what is going on (and generally not liking it much).

 

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Understanding

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Image Credit:  All images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

One of the great roles of reading is it can encourage empathy, especially if your first choice for a good read is fictional.

Think about your favourite books (with their excellent covers, of course – see my recent series on those!).

Think about their characters. There will be characters you love to hate, or those you want to see overcome their difficulties and so on. What was it about those characters that made you feel that way (and a well portrayed character will make you feel something)?

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Favourite Lines

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Do you have favourite lines from books, films etc? I do and I can learn a reasonable amount from them to apply to my own writing. (They also show you what really works in prose. Lines you can recall some time after you originally came across them demonstrate the staying power of well chosen words).

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Judging a Book by Its Cover – Part 3

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This week I chat to authors from CafeLit, Bridge House Publishing, and Chapeltown Books about the importance of book covers. The variety of book covers is amazing but every writer has one thing in common. We all want our covers to be the best they can possibly be.

The three questions I set my guests were:-

1. What was the inspiration behind your book cover?
2. What do you think your book cover “says” to a potential reader?
3. Name one top tip for a great book cover you have found works for you.

Feature Image – Part 3 – Judging a Book by its Cover. Image created in Book Brush using a Pixabay picture.

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Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 2

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Whether you are traditionally published, self published, or combine the two, as many writers do now, there are two things everyone agrees about.

Everybody needs a good editor. (Nobody sees all the errors in their work. You are literally too close to it). The book cover must be well designed and draw readers in. It is the first advert for the book.

Feature Image – Part 2 – Judging a Book by its Cover. Image created in Book Brush using a Pixabay picture.

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Judging a Book by its Cover – Part 1

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Judging a book by its cover is a well known saying. We do judge by looks, even when we know we shouldn’t.There is one realm where the saying is 100% accurate and 100% justified and that is for book covers.

For writers, a book cover is crucial to get right. We all want the best cover possible to showcase our stories.

A good book cover draws people in to read the book.

A bad book cover – people are unlikely to pick the book up to even see if the blurb might be of interest.

Feature Image – Part 1 Judging a Book by its Cover. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay photo.

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Story Types

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What kind of stories do you like? I hope the sky is the limit here!

I read a wide range of stories and owe a huge debt to my late mother for encouraging my love of reading at an early age. I wasn’t to know how much that gift of the love of reading (and I do see it as a gift) was going to stand me in good stead for my writing.

Feature Image – Story Types. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay picture.

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Reviews

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Image Credit:  Images used from The Chameleon Theatre Group were kindly supplied by them for previous CFT reviews.

Reviews. Do you love them or loathe them?

I find them useful. I use them regularly too in checking things out on Amazon, my online food shop delivery service, and so on. I don’t necessarily take them at face value either but if 50% or more of a review of a new product is good, then I am likely to give that product a chance. That goes for everything from a new CD to a new book to a foodstuff new to me. That policy has served me well. I’ve rarely been disappointed.

Feature Image – Reviews. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay image.

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Talking About Writing

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As you know, the last couple of weeks have been pretty busy for me but all good fun and a great learning experience.

Feature Image – Talking About Writing. Image created in Book Brush using a Pixabay image,

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Places to Go for Writing Advice

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It soon became apparent to me, when I was new to the writing business, how much of it I didn’t know, it was much bigger than I anticipated, and it would be only too easy to be overwhelmed.

Due to direct experience, I soon came to realise there were sharks around. Every industry has its charlatans and publishing, sadly, isn’t exempt.

I was almost caught out by both a vanity agent and publisher (and what gave them both away was appalling grammar and spelling, funnily enough. I knew I didn’t want my works represented by anyone who could be that careless in a world where standards matter, particularly standards of spelling and grammar!).

Feature Image – Places to Go For Writing Advice. Image created in Book Brush using Pixabay photo.

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