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Allison Symes

Numbers Into Writing Will Go

January 17, 2020 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

Feature Image - Numbers into Writing Will Go

Numbers in writing? What role do they play? In maths, obviously, but writing?

What possible role could they play in fiction, say? Surely there it is about the prose, how well the characters are created etc. Numbers turn up all over the place in writing.

Numbers into Writing Will Go
Numbers into Writing Will Go – Pixabay

Incidentally, the inspiration for the title comes from an old phrase hammered into me when I was learning  division many moons ago at school. I had to look for numbers that “would go” into another number – e.g.  2 into 4 will go (twice!) and say 2 into 5 will go (twice but with 1 left over). Anyone else remember that style of teaching?

On to the use of numbers in fiction then…

[Read more…] about Numbers Into Writing Will Go

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Tags: creative writing, deadlines, fonts, numbers, publisher guidelines, publishing, word counts, writing competitions

Winter Trips

January 10, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Winter Trips

Image Credit: All pictures were taken by Allison Symes.

Do you enjoy days out over the winter months? I do.

Okay, I prefer them when it is not howling a gale and pouring down with rain, but there are usually enough of such winter days where I can get out and about fairly easily.

What I find the hardest to cope with is the lack of light at this time of year. It makes me feel tired so much earlier in the evening which can be a pain! I am looking forward to the longer evenings and it won’t be that long before we start noticing the evenings are gradually extending.

Where are we off to now, Mum
Where are we off to now, Mum?

[Read more…] about Winter Trips

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Tags: dog walking, seasonal event, traditions, watercress line, winter trips

Beginnings

January 3, 2020 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Feature Image - Beginnings

Happy New Year!

Letting Time Get On With It

I must admit the days when I saw the New Year in are long gone… I take the view now Time can get on without me nicely thank you while I have a decent sleep! After all, it does for the rest of the year.

Says it all really - Pixabay
Says it all really – Pixabay

What the New Year brings me is a new calendar and I usually go for a Border Collie one. The one I’ve got for 2020 has a picture of my favourite breed of dog for every day of the year, guaranteed to put a smile on my face every day of the year too!

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[Read more…] about Beginnings

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Tags: beginnings, Doctor Who, feelings, goals, New Year, resolutions

It’s That Time of Year Again…

December 27, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - It's That Time of Year Again

I hope 2019, despite all the upheaval, has been reasonably good for you and 2020 may prove to be better still. My favourite gag I’ve heard so far on the theme of the New Year is:

Why are shortsighted people looking forward to next year?

Answer: Because they will finally have 2020 vision”.

Okay… that one’s never going to win any awards…

As ever the last year seems to have flown by and it’s time to take a look at how things went, writing wise, this year.

However you celebrate the turn of the year, I do hope you have a very happy 2020
However you celebrate the turn of the year, I do hope you have a very happy 2020. Pixabay

[Read more…] about It’s That Time of Year Again…

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Tags: 2020, developments, goals, Happy New Year, moving forward, plans, year end review

What Makes A Good Story

December 20, 2019 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - What Makes a Good Story

How do you decide something is a good story? Do you judge that by the genre or by the quality of the characters?

For me, the latter is by far the most important criterion. Really good characters stay with you long after you’ve finished reading or listening to the story.

Like the look of this as a reading place
Like the look of this as a reading place. Pixabay

[Read more…] about What Makes A Good Story

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Tags: books, favourite stories, fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction, reading, stories, the Christmas story

Friends and Traditions

December 13, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Friends and Traditions

This is the time of year when many traditions are upheld, of course, but I think the best involve getting together with friends to celebrate something you have in common.

For me, this winning combination works so well with the Bridge House Celebration Event held this year at St. John’s Church, Waterloo, in London on Saturday, 7th December 2019.

St John's in Waterloo was a beautiful venue
St John’s in Waterloo is a huge church. The Waterloo Arts Festival was held here in June. The Bridge House event in December was held in a downstairs room. Extremely handy place to get to from the station!

[Read more…] about Friends and Traditions

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Tags: books, Bridge House Publishing, creative writing, friends, readings, traditions

Trains

December 6, 2019 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Feature Image - Trains

I love the train. I think it is one of the best inventions and I’ve throughly enjoyed trips on them and connected to them.

The joy of steam but I love all trains
The joy of steam but I love all trains. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Trains

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Tags: Chandler's Ford Railway Station, favourite train journeys, Scotland, Three Rivers Rail Partnership, trains, writing on a train journey

Progress and Success and How to Judge Them

November 29, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Progress and Success

My Oxford Compact dictionary defines progress as forward movement, advance, development, improvement and almost everyone seeks it in many areas of life. Despite the straightforward definition, it can be hard to define if you’ve achieved progress. Not everything can be measured… Even when it can be, progress can genuinely be slow. What matters overall is that there is some!

As for success, the dictionary defines it as accomplishment of aim, favourable outcome, attainment of wealth/fame etc.

Shakespeare contributed many words to the dictionary though he didn't know it at the time - Pixabay
The dictionary definitions of progress and success do not indicate how quickly these things come, if they come at all. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Progress and Success and How to Judge Them

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Tags: creative writing, how to judge progress and success, humanity's progress, progress, science, success

Why I Love History

November 22, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Why I Love History

I set a word count for my CFT posts. For this one it was vital. Why? Because I can go on at length about this topic!

Many an author loves history because history IS a story (of a nation, of individuals who changed a nation’s fate etc) and it can come into their stories too.

I also believe there is truth in the phrase if a nation forgets its history, it is destined to re-live it. I can think of several episodes in British history which are best kept to the pages of a history book!

And, of course, it is why we have Remembrance/Armistice Day. It is important to remember. We should learn the lessons of history. Sadly we so often don’t. But that’s not history’s fault. It is ours.

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[Read more…] about Why I Love History

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Tags: character histories, creative writing, history, local history, remembrance, stories

When Authors Talk… by Allison Symes

November 15, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Richard Hardie_Antony M Brown author event

Author events are fun but they all have one thing in common – the writer always wonders if anyone will show up! The relief when people do is enormous.

So if you know writers and they are putting on events, do go along. Never underestimate the value of much appreciated morale boosting support here. (The other simple way of supporting writers is to review their books on the usual sites. The nice thing with this is the review doesn’t have to be a long one).

Warning - poems, blogs, stories, novels, all writing alike benefits from good editing - image via Pixabay
Writers at work! Pixabay

[Read more…] about When Authors Talk… by Allison Symes

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Tags: Antony M Brown, author event, books, Cold Case Jury series, creative writing, Hiltonbury Farmhouse, local writers, Richard Hardie, Temporal Detective Agency, writing

Favourite Adverts

November 8, 2019 By Allison Symes 15 Comments

Feature Image - Favourite Adverts

Do you like advertising? I don’t mind adverts that entertain me. I accept their purpose is to try to make me part with my money but unless it really is for a product I’m interested in, there’s nothing doing!

Always glad to advertise these people
Always glad to advertise these people – and yes the image is from Pixabay, who else?!

[Read more…] about Favourite Adverts

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Tags: adverts, entertainment, favourite adverts, marketing, quiz, writers and advertising

Richard Hardie/Antony M Brown – Hiltonbury Farmhouse – Author Event

November 7, 2019 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse

Richard Hardie and Antony M Brown – Author Event

Richard Hardie has shared the following details for a local author event at The Hiltonbury Farmhouse on Tuesday, 12th November. All are welcome!

Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse
Author signing and talk at Hiltonbury Farmhouse. Image kindly supplied by Richard Hardie

[Read more…] about Richard Hardie/Antony M Brown – Hiltonbury Farmhouse – Author Event

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Tags: Anthony M Brown, author talks, local author news, Richard Hardie, The Hiltonbury Farmhouse

The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

November 1, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review

Image Credit: A big thank you as ever to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for the images.

The play’s title indicated there would be play on words (in every sense) running through the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group. With a title like this, it can hardly be avoided! Still it does tie in with my post last week on Meanings!

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review
Feature Image – Chameleons – My Husband’s Nuts – Review. Image taken by Allison Symes

[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

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Tags: drama, farce, humour, My Husband's Nuts, plays, review, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Meanings

October 25, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - Meanings

By the time this post goes live, Janet and I will have seen The Chameleon Theatre Group’s latest production, My Husband’s Nuts. Review to follow next week.

The use and meaning of language adapts and evolves all the time of course. I can think of a few different meanings for the word nuts, as I’m sure you can… The word husband cames from the old Norse phrase house and owner (and it is thought such men were more attractive partners and over time the word husband came to mean married man, but it is not how it begun). [Read more…] about Meanings

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Tags: comedy writing, creative writing, meanings, use of language, word play

What Books Mean To Me – Part 3

October 18, 2019 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean to Me - Part 3

Thank you to my guests in this series, especially for answering my first question. I can’t think of any writer who would willingly just save one book!

I conclude with contributions from Bridge House Publishing/Cafelit colleagues, discover what two fine Scottish crime writers would save if push came to shove (that’s an apt expression given what they write!), and will finally answer the questions myself. [Read more…] about What Books Mean To Me – Part 3

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, libraries, reading

What Books Mean to Me – Part 2

October 11, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean To Me - Part 2

It was a great pleasure last week to start this series on What Books Mean to Me.   Now I write, I have realised  how important reading well is for developing my imagination. [Read more…] about What Books Mean to Me – Part 2

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, non-fiction, reading

What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

October 4, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

Feature Image - What Books Mean To Me - Part 1

Any writer will say to write well, you must read well (and widely). Every writer I know is as happy to talk about the latest great book they’ve read as well as what they’re working on. Why would you write if you didn’t love books and stories in the first place? There are two sides to this coin.

Image Credit:  A big thanks to my guests for supplying photos. Unless otherwise stated, the book and library pictures come, as always, from those magnificent people at Pixabay.

[Read more…] about What Books Mean To Me – Part 1

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Tags: books, creative writing, fiction, reading, writers

Put Three Words Together And…

September 27, 2019 By Allison Symes 9 Comments

Feature Image - Put Three Words Together And...

Following on from The Power of Language last week, I thought I would look at how it doesn’t take many words to have an impact on readers. This is something I think about a lot for my flash fiction writing. You get better over time at maximising impact while still minimising word count. It is literally a trick of the trade.

I calculate it takes three words, yes, that’s all, to conjure up unforgettable images for a reader. [Read more…] about Put Three Words Together And…

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Tags: draw, hang, Power of Words, quarter, UK history

The Power of Language

September 20, 2019 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

There is truth here! Pixabay

There is no doubting the power of language. Used wisely, it can inspire people to wonderful endeavours they may not have previously considered. Used unwisely or, to my mind, stupidly, you can whip up hatred and intolerance and unleash their horrors.

The gift of oratory is a wonderful one but should never be misused. History sadly is full of examples where it was and the one thing you can guarantee is the innocent suffer for it. [Read more…] about The Power of Language

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Tags: advertising, celebrating language, inspirational speeches, language, Martin Luther King Junior

Rules That Need to Exist

September 13, 2019 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Ideas for Rules that Should Exist - Pixabay-1

I know we can all be fed up with petty rules which seem to serve no purpose other than to irritate us but there are rules which need to exist. [Read more…] about Rules That Need to Exist

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Tags: humour, rules that need to exist
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