Chandler's Ford Today

Allison Symes

Stories in Troubled Times

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One photo taken by me, Allison Symes, at an Association of Christian Writers event.

Do you read more or less fiction when the news is grim? Are you conscious you’re doing so? I know I deliberately listen to more classical music, write more, read more. All of these are good to focus on, so unlike the news. I recall there was always a funny or warm hearted story at the end of the main news bulletin. Do those still exist? I haven’t come across them recently.

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Allison Symes – Local Author News – Seeing The Other Side

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Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Some images from Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books. Other photos were taken by me, Allison Symes. A huge thanks to Janet Williams for taking what I now use as my author shot from one of the Hiltingbury Book Fairs and for the other image where I am signing books at the same event.

Now this is a post I’ve wanted to write for some time but am delighted I can now do so. I am thrilled to announce I have signed and returned the contract to Bridge House Publishing for my third flash fiction book called Seeing The Other Side. Chapeltown Books are one of BHP’s imprints and both of my other flash collections came out via Chapeltown).

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Celebrating 60 Years of Drama with The Chameleons – A Look Back at the Open Evening

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Image Credits:  Images and screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images are created in Book Brush using my images.

On Saturday, 7th June 2025, I was delighted to go along to the Open Evening held by The Chameleon Theatre Company to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

I remain amazed at what fabulous productions they put on when you consider they don’t have the world’s biggest stage. They do make the most of every bit of space at the Ritchie Hall.

Bear in mind too they cover drama, comedy, and pantomimes, all of which have different demands. For the latter, there are more members on stage than there are for some of the dramas The Chameleons put on.

Did you know by the way their mascot is called Ritchie? I didn’t until that Saturday evening either.

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Why Write Fiction

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

This may be a strange question for a fiction writer to ask but it’s not a bad thing to look into as it ties in closely with why write at all. I believe the creative arts as a whole are worth celebrating and supporting. Fiction writers, though, have the chance to show reflections on humanity’s behaviour all through the medium of entertaining stories.

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Thoughts on Editing

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

Now I’ll put my hands up and admit to being biased about editing. Well, I am an editor so I would be. But my experience wearing a writer’s and editor’s hat (and sometimes both together) is there is no middle ground here. People love it or hate it.

Before becoming an editor, when I found my acceptances were increasing when I put in decent editing work on my own stories, that changed my attitude too. I thought I’d share some thoughts on editing here which I’ve found helpful with my writing. (A lot of them can apply to when I’m editing someone else too).

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The Chameleons – Open Evening – 7th June 2025 – Celebrating 60 Years of Drama

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Image Credits:  Many thanks to the Chameleons for kind permission to use screenshots (and photos) from their Facebook page for this post.

This year is the 60th anniversary of The Chameleons who are based at Ritchie Hall, Hursley Road, Chandler’s Ford.

As part of their year round celebrations to mark this momentous occasion, they are holding an Open Evening on Saturday 7th June 2025 from 6 pm to 9 pm.

All are welcome to go and find out more about them and the work they do, on and behind the stage. You can also see what company members think of The Chameleons via the slideshow, along with pictures of their recent appearance at the Fryern Funtasia.

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Please do see the various links I’ve shared below to find out more about them.

https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/

https://www.chameleontheatre.co.uk/about-chameleons.html

Better still, why not pop down and see them on 7th June? They always need people to join the company. Bear in mind they make their own sets too, they always need lighting and sound crew etc., so if acting isn’t your thing, maybe helping out here would be instead.

Many congratulations to all at The Chameleons for a wonderful anniversary!

Next Show

Oh and their next show is Notes From A Small Island based on the novel by Bill Bryson (adapted for the stage by Tim Whitnall). This will be from Thursday 24th July to Saturday 26th July 2025.

Janet and I are already looking forward to going to this – it should be very funny.

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History and Stories

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image taken by me, Allison Symes, at The Hilt Book Fair.

History is full of stories, which is one reason I love it. Of course, history is said to be written by the winners. There is truth in that but every so often someone will come along and come up with alternatives to the “orthodox” version. Josephine Tey did this in fiction regarding Richard III with her marvellous The Daughter of Time, which The Richard III Society credits as being a major reason for many people joining them.

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Author Interview: Val Penny and Historical Short Stories – The Ring

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Lynsey Adams from Reading Between the Lines Vlog and Val Penny for supplying author and book cover shots. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome back Val Penny, author of the DI Hunter Wilson/Edinburgh Crime Mysteries and the Jane Renwick Thrillers, to Chandler’s Ford Today with something different from what she normally writes.

This time Val has a short story with a historical aspect to it included in an anthology. This must be as close as it can get to be the total opposite for the crime novels she is best known for. Naturally there is a fabulous reason for Val doing this. The anthology, called The Ring, is going to be a charity one and the money raised will be going to that excellent cause, The Reading Agency.

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Inspiration Ideas

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

One of the great things about getting out and about during the spring and summer months is this can give you plenty of inspiration for your writing. You don’t have to go far from home necessarily either. How come?

Partly the reason is you are doing something different. That in itself can inspire you to think differently and be more open to creative ideas. Even just walking the dog gets me out and about, gives me screen breaks, and it gives me opportunities to spot things I might get to use in stories later.

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Building On What Has Gone Before

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

In all walks of life, we build on what has gone before. Well, there is no point in reinventing the wheel, so to speak. One person’s discovery often does lead to someone else taking that discovery and doing something special with it.

Isaac Newton confirms this thought with his quote, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

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Review – The Chameleons – Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to The Chameleons (in particular Daisy Wilkins) for kind permission to use their excellent photos. Some images created in Book Brush using Chameleon photos. Screenshot and one photo from the programme were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It’s always a joy to have a lovely night out at Ritchie Hall to see the latest production from our excellent local amateur theatre group, The Chameleons. This time Janet and I went to see Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor. (And yes I did have to fight the impulse to type Thornbury Wood there! Well, it is local!).

I have a soft spot for murder mysteries and this one was different in that the audience were able to interrogate the cast about “who did it”. It’s the first time I’ve been to an interactive murder mystery play and it was news to me there are such things. Naturally I have heard of murder mystery weekends etc but nothing like this for the stage. I live and learn!

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Honest and Dishonest Characters

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

It is ironic that, regardless of whether you create honest or dishonest characters or both, you do have to be honest about how you create them. What do I mean by that?

I mean you create a character who is fully rounded, where readers can see why they are the way they are, even if they disagree with them, and your characters are not set up as cardboard cutouts. They have to seem real and believable, an honest creation if you like.

But you can have fun with honest and dishonest characters and naturally literature abounds with both kinds.

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What You Need to Know About Character Creation

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

As I write a lot of flash fiction and short stories, I need to create a lot of characters. I do re-use some but not many compared to the numbers I’ve created in total. My characters often have one story in them, though occasionally one may play a “bit part” role in another tale.

For me, any good story of whatever length is all about what happens and, specifically, what happens to the lead character. I must know what happens to them. I must care about what happens too, even if they’re a villain and I am hoping their evil plans will fail. I also need to know whose story it is.

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Writers and Stationery – A Match Made In Heaven

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Image from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick was taken by me, Allison Symes. Two images directly from Pixabay.

With apologies to the late Jane Austen, I will start by saying it is a truth universally acknowledged that writers have two obsessions, okay three if you count chocolate, but what are the other two?

  1. Books – our own and those we love reading.
  2. Stationery items – pens, notebooks, items for the computer, but especially the first two.

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What Makes A Story Work

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Image Credits:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images

You take in what makes a story work subconsciously. Even as a child, when I read the classic fairytales, I knew on the third time of something occurring, there would be a different result leading to the happy ever after ending. I had no idea that was the Rule of Three in action. I just knew if this didn’t happen, there was something wrong with the story. I also knew early on I had to want to find out what happened to the characters so there had to be something interesting about them to grab my attention (and just as importantly keep my attention going).

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Springtime in Words and Music

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Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

Springtime is one of my favourite times of the year. The other one is autumn, funnily enough. I like both ends of the spectrum. Life as it begins and life as it begins to ebb and fade.

I love spotting the Virginia Creeper in our area and seeing it change colour from red to green and back again. Lovely plant. As I walk the dog it is great to spot the crocuses and other spring flowers emerging, though I am a little saddened my snowdrops have now finished.

It is great being able to walk Lady in the early evening and still be in daylight when only a month or so ago, the same time would have seen me coming back home with her in the dark. It also means we can put her light up collar away for a bit. It is odd walking with a glow in the dark dog (at least around her collar!) though she doesn’t care.

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Author Interview: Introducing Joy Wood, Storyteller

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Joy Wood for supplying author shots, book cover pictures, and photos of her at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Screenshots and other images from Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using photos supplied by Joy. Some images are directly from Pixabay.

It is a pleasure to welcome fellow Swanwicker, Joy Wood, to Chandler’s Ford Today. I met Joy at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick and we often “cross paths” via Facebook. Say what you like about social media, and many do (!), but when used properly, it is a fabulous way to keep in contact with your writing colleagues.

Joy and I celebrate publications at Swanwick

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Writing Competition Tips

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay

I’ve had the privilege of being listed in competitions, being one of a selection of winners for a competition, and have since gone on to judge short story and flash fiction competitions.

The joy of a reputable writing competition is, if you win or are listed, you have something invaluable to add to your writing CV. They can be great ways to build up that CV. It shows an agent or publisher someone else decided your work was publication worthy. It can also show a commitment to your writing.

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The Benefits of Writing Exercises

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I’m regularly on both sides of the writing exercise equation as I do them often and set them too. I run a monthly flash fiction group on Zoom for the Association of Christian Writers which is great fun and I set exercises as part of the topic for the evening.

I also have been to many workshops and courses and continue to do so (especially The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, which I’m looking forward to going to again this year). Inevitably writing exercises are set in these things.

There is a huge variety of writing exercises to try. I’ve developed some firm favourites which I often use to inspire ideas for stories I submit to places such as Friday Flash Fiction, where I have a 100 word story published most weeks.

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The Writer’s Wish List

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, with some directly from Pixabay.

Picture the scene. You discover this dodgy lamp. You polish it. A genie appears and grants you the ability, as a writer, to create your own wish list. You can have five items on it. Better still, all of those wishes will be granted. The only rule here is no wish should be harmful. You think fair enough and then compile what you would wish for.

So what would I choose and why?

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