Gill James is a prolific writer and publisher. As well as running Bridge House Publishing, Chapeltown Books and Cafelit (along with Debz Hobbs-Wyatt), Gill has written dozens of books ranging from science fiction (The Tower Trilogy) to historical fiction (The House on Schellberg Street). She has also been a university lecturer in creative writing. [Read more…] about Writing Historical Fiction – Interview with Gill James Part 1
Arts
Every photograph we take, every show we present, or every song and hymn that we sing, we bring inspiration, creativity and joy to the community. Our artists have taken risks. They have brought us wonder and beauty of nature.
Humorous Writing (and why it is a serious business)
I think the hardest form of writing is humorous writing because humour is (a) subjective and (b) changes over time. Good humorous writing is a joy to read but it is so difficult to do well.
Two of my favourite authors, P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett, have sold millions of books each and have been translated into many languages. That aspect is another reason why humour is difficult to write: not all aspects of “English” humour translate well. For it to work the humour in the stories has to be universal. Still there is plenty about the human condition to send up so the material is out there, ready to be used! [Read more…] about Humorous Writing (and why it is a serious business)
Collecting Books
I love books. No surprises there. It would be an odd kind of writer who didn’t love books. My problem? The age old one of the bibliophile – where do you put them all?
My answer is to every so often have a clear out and take books I no longer require to a charity shop such as Marie Curie at Fryern.
This is where I love the Kindle. No clear out really ever necessary and it is so easy to transport 10, 20, 100 books on it! Still, some things don’t change regardless of technology. You can still only read one book at a time! [Read more…] about Collecting Books
Writer Co-operatives
Given publishing is a tough business and it is the hardest it has ever been for a writer to find a publisher and/or agent, why on earth would writers want to form groups? Surely they should focus on their own books?
Ironically, it is because the world of publishing is so tough, that writers forming co-operatives is (a) becoming more common and (b) a fantastically sensible thing to do. [Read more…] about Writer Co-operatives
Revisiting Medieval Hampshire in 2017
Last weekend, I revisited the Medieval Village in the River Hamble Country Park, set up as part of the Medieval Weekend arranged by the Road to Agincourt Project.
Image Credit: All pictures taken by Allison Symes at the 2017 Medieval Weekend
The weekend was fun. I learned all sorts of things from the “villagers” I talked to such as the cook and her girls once being camp followers and having to change their back story as they were “ladies who provided a service” (and not food either!). [Read more…] about Revisiting Medieval Hampshire in 2017
Why have Book Signings? Report from the Station – Allison Symes
Image Credit: Many thanks to Janet Williams for taking the signing photos at the railway station. Like many women, I can multi task but there is a limit and even I couldn’t take a picture of myself signing a book!
Many thanks to all who came to my book signing at our lovely railway station on Saturday 8th July. Particular thanks go to Mark Miller and Nick Farthing of the Three Rivers Rail Community Partnership, Hilary Stone for “manning” the drinks and snacks bar, Janet Williams, Richard Hardie and Daniel Symes.
[Read more…] about Why have Book Signings? Report from the Station – Allison Symes
Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017
AGINCOURT MEDIEVAL WEEKEND: JULY 15TH AND 16TH 2017
Why am I interested in history? I suppose it is because I love stories of all kinds and history in many ways is the ultimate tale.
When all is said and done, history reveals, only too clearly at times, who we are, where we came from, what horrible mistakes we’ve made in the past (and sometimes what things we did right!). [Read more…] about Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017
Signing at the Station by Allison Symes
By the time you read this, I will be coming to the end of a much needed break in stunning Scotland. (Sadly it’s not one I can write about for CFT as there’s no question of using our lovely railway station as a starting point!). [Read more…] about Signing at the Station by Allison Symes
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Last week Anne Wan, local children’s author, talked about why writing for children is fun and what she learned from writing her debut novel, Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices. In Part 2 she shares her three top tips for writers and what she loves and loathes about editing. There will be a lot of common ground here for writers in all genres! [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan Interview Part 2 – Allison Symes
Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
I enjoy interviewing authors for Chandler’s Ford Today. I love finding out their top tips, how they work and what inspires them.
It was a joy then to meet local children’s author, Anne Wan, for tea, coffee and a chat at Bay Leaves Larder recently. Anne has a background in primary school teaching and her book Secrets of the Snow Globe: Vanishing Voices is now out (North Oak Press). [Read more…] about Writing Children’s Fiction – Anne Wan – Interview Part 1 by Allison Symes
Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford?
By Karen Stephen
Sshh – do you want to know a secret about Chandlers Ford? You may not be aware that last year, we were thrilled and proud to publish a collection of short stories called “Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford” . Together with my writing chums, Maggie, Catherine and Sally, we spent a year researching, writing and publishing our first anthology of short stories: “Secret Lives of Chandlers Ford”. We wanted to write stories that were locally set and derived from the happenings and history of this lovely area. We also wanted to reflect Chandlers Ford modern and diverse characteristics. [Read more…] about Sshhh – Do You Want to Know a Secret about Chandlers Ford?
One Liners by Allison Symes
I like one-liners. Comedians use them of course but one-liners are invaluable to fiction writers too. One-liners can end a story or film with a gasp or a giggle. They can turn a story on its head at the very last moment.
Equally, use one-liners at the start of a tale and they can draw a reader into the story with powerful imagery. They can convey information in a few, well chosen words and because the good one-liner has to have impact, there’s no room for waffling and so can make a great writing exercise for learning how to “write tight”. [Read more…] about One Liners by Allison Symes
Why Children’s Fiction Matters by Allison Symes
When interviewing other writers for Chandler’s Ford Today, I love discovering who their favourite authors are. I end up making a mental note of all those writers they mention whom I’ve not read and whose works I must get around to investigating further. One thing that has often struck me, and also with interviews I’ve read in Writing Magazine and so on, is the importance of children’s fiction.
Now I owe my love of reading to my late mother who read widely and well fiction wise (almost everything from H.G. Wells to P.G. Wodehouse to Jane Austen to Terry Brooks to Daphne Du Maurier to Charles Dickens (amongst many others). [Read more…] about Why Children’s Fiction Matters by Allison Symes
The Art of the Book Review by Allison Symes
What does the average author, with a book “out there”, want from their readers? Well, we obviously want you to enjoy what we’ve written but what we would appreciate are reviews on blogs, certain famous online retailers, Goodreads and so on. Why?
Book reviews are a lifeline for writers. Reviews help spread the word about the book. Given every writer must be prepared to do their own publicity, (even the big publishers save their efforts and budgets for the blockbusting author, everyone else has to “hit the campaign trail” for themselves), reviews give a helping hand. [Read more…] about The Art of the Book Review by Allison Symes
Review – A Comedy Trio: Chameleon Theatre Company – Allison Symes
I saw A Comedy Trio by The Chameleon Theatre Group on 27th April 2017. Despite feeling miserable due to a heavy cold, (I am not the world’s best patient!), I am glad to say the production made me laugh and I went home feeling considerably better in spirit, at least, than when I arrived! Now there’s a review for you…
Many thanks, as ever, to Lionel Elliott for supplying CFT with the pictures. [Read more…] about Review – A Comedy Trio: Chameleon Theatre Company – Allison Symes
Review: The House of Fog by Chameleon Theatre Company
I thoroughly enjoyed the comedies I watched last Thursday, performed by Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall in Chandler’s Ford. In this post, I will focus on one of the comedies, The House of Fog, by Peter Brammer.
The play The House of Fog was a really funny mockery of a horror movie, with an extra layer of comedy added due to the fourth wall aspect.
[Read more…] about Review: The House of Fog by Chameleon Theatre Company
Great Themes by Allison Symes
Themes are an interesting topic for writers. Do you deliberately write to one or see what you come up with and then look to see what theme emerges?
I have done both. Sometimes a theme really does emerge after you’ve written the story because you’ve focused on portraying this particular character, what they do, what they don’t do and the consequences of all of that for them and others in the tale. [Read more…] about Great Themes by Allison Symes
Journalists – Masters of the English Language
In an old notebook I found some humorous newspaper headlines I had collected some while ago. You may find some of them entertaining, even the old chestnuts. I sure some are written tongue-in-cheek but others are the result of careless editing. Some were broadcast without the brain being linked to the voice. Others are unnoticed double-entendres. These are dire times, lighten up and enjoy a laugh.
[Read more…] about Journalists – Masters of the English Language
Advice to My 20 Year Old Self – Allison Symes
One writing exercise that came out of my trip to Swanwick Writers’ Summer School last year was to write to my 20-year-old self with advice based on knowing now what I didn’t know back then. This was fun, really made me think and I thought at the time this could make a good CFT post because I can throw it open for you to join in. What would you tell your 20-year-old self? I am only talking in general terms for this but my list is below. [Read more…] about Advice to My 20 Year Old Self – Allison Symes
Cyberlaunch Lessons by Allison Symes
I loved the cyber launch for From Light To Dark and Back Again held at the beginning of the month. Thanks again to Chapeltown Books and Cafelit for hosting the event. I was co-host. This post looks at how I prepared for the event and what I learned from it. I hope it will be of use to other writers. The images used in the post were those I used during the launch itself.
[Read more…] about Cyberlaunch Lessons by Allison Symes