Chandler's Ford Today

am writing

Deadlines

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:- Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

Deadlines are a fact of the writing life and apply equally to non-fiction as well as stories of all lengths.

Douglas Adams, renowned for his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, famously said he loved the sound deadlines made as they “whooshed by”. Hmm… I do feel sorry for his editor and publisher here. Someone has to meet printing schedules etc. Clearly, Douglas Adams left that for someone else to worry about!

Having said that, you would get short shrift if you tried that now. You would have to be a very big name indeed to get away with that and I’m not convinced even by that. There is a greater awareness of how the book market works. Everyone wants their books out in time for the Christmas market and, for certain books, the summer holiday one. You definitely have to meet deadlines to have any chance of achieving this.

[Read more…] about Deadlines

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Esther Chilton – Author Interview – Myths and Magic

By 4 Comments

Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Esther Chilton for supplying author and book cover shots. Other images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos or images supplied by Esther. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes, as was the photo from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick.

It is with great pleasure I welcome fellow Swanwicker, Esther Chilton, back to Chandler’s Ford Today to talk about her second book for children, Myths and Magic. This is part of her Saffy’s Secret Quest series. As well as writing for children, Esther also writes flash fiction and short stories, is a tutor for The Writers’ Bureau and tutors at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick.

[Read more…] about Esther Chilton – Author Interview – Myths and Magic

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

A Change of Scene

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes, as was the photo of a splendid Scottish loch.

I’ve just returned from a wonderful break in the north-east of Scotland. The scenery there is amazing. Naturally, the change of scene has been rejuvenating (as were the winds!). One highlight here was as we drove through the Cairngorms National Park to get to where we were staying, we saw plenty of snow still on the mountains. In the valleys below them were fields of oilseed rape in full bloom. Quite a contrast!

Now fiction reflects life. So if we need our metaphorical batteries recharging, it is likely our characters will need something similar themselves. Even superheroes have weaknesses (Kryptonite, anyone?) and/or need time to recharge before getting on with their acts of derring do.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[Read more…] about A Change of Scene

Tags: , , , , , ,

Story Essentials

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

The essentials for any story are to have a proper beginning, middle and end. This conveniently helps with this post as it automatically gives me three sections to write about. But the following thoughts will apply to any fiction, regardless of length, and, as writers, we will always be looking to improve our skills. For a story to grip a reader, there has to be something for the reader to be gripped by!

[Read more…] about Story Essentials

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Book Event Tips

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Many thanks to Janet Williams for taking the images of me at the most recent Hiltingbury Book Fair.

It is with great pleasure I can reveal my third flash fiction collection, Seeing The Other Side, will be published by Bridge House Publishing on 18th June 2026. I hope to share more news as and when I get it but it does mean, for the first time in six years, I need to start thinking about book launches and events.

Six years ago, I was launching Tripping The Flash Fantastic but thanks to the pandemic, all launches and promotional work had to be carried out via online means only. These were a lifeline, of course, and I still use Zoom regularly for all sorts of things and am very glad to do so. But it will be lovely to have more options this time around.

Having said that, and having been to various book fairs and launches of my own (and others), I have picked up various tips so I thought I’d share these here.

[Read more…] about Book Event Tips

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Using Old Sayings in Fiction

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

There is a lot of truth in the old sayings. One which immediately springs to mind for this month is Ne’er cast a clout before May is out. It is always a good idea to have a coat to hand until we get into June at least! But can we use these old sayings for stories or as themes for stories? Definitely. Because these things are timeless, that will help give your stories longevity too.

This post then will explore a few sayings and suggest some thoughts on what could be done to use them for creating stories. Bear in mind too, these sayings are often open to interpretation. Also, even where they’re not, you can use them time and again for different characters and situations.

[Read more…] about Using Old Sayings in Fiction

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Writing Wishes

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:- 
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

Every writer has wishes. We work hard to try to bring some at least to fruition. But there are other, bigger wishes going on now and most are centred around Artificial Intelligence (AI). Nobody wants creativity destroyed by it. Many are wary of what it can be capable of.

[Read more…] about Writing Wishes

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Character Moments

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I love those moments in any fiction where a character stands out. They say or do something which has resonance and, if at the same time, this can provide a laugh, even better.

[Read more…] about Character Moments

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Flash Fiction on Radio

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:- 
Images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. AI images avoided. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I was delighted to have another story, Out With The Old, recently broadcast on Hannah Kate’s Spring Equinox show on North Manchester FM recently. It was also a joy to hear the other tales too, especially since another was from a dear friend of mine from the Association of Christian Writers.

https://www.mixcloud.com/Hannahs_Bookshelf/hannahs-bookshelf-spring-equinox-special-21032026/

[Read more…] about Flash Fiction on Radio

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hopes in Writing

By Leave a Comment

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

Every writer has hopes – hopes of being published, being read, receiving good reviews, being published again and again, winning the Booker or any other respected writing prizes (I refuse to believe that is just me!), and many more thoughts besides.

But our characters should have hopes too. It will be hopes which will be the driving force behind them wanting to achieve their overall goal and this applies equally to villains as well as the goodies.

[Read more…] about Hopes in Writing

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Templates

By Leave a Comment

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

I’ve always thought a story works or fails based on how well the character grips a reader’s imagination. If you don’t care about the characters you read about, why should you read about what happens to them? For this reason, I’m firmly on the side of character in the character versus plot debate.

A great character can do a lot to help save a weak plot but a weak character will only let a great plot line down. So this is why I do like to outline my characters before I write my stories. I need to know enough about them to know I am interested in them (and then a reader is more likely to be too).

[Read more…] about Templates

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting Writing Exercises

By Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

The writing journey can throw up plenty of surprises. I remember going to my first writing event, many moons ago, and feeling terrified at being set my first writing prompt by someone else. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to do it. I did by the way. You do just get on with it. But there was no way on this earth I was sharing that first effort with anyone! I also had no idea what a variety of writing exercises there are. I have found out since!

[Read more…] about Setting Writing Exercises

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Getting The Hooks In

By Leave a Comment

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

Hooks are crucial for holding a reader’s interest, regardless of whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction.

They can also be placed in varying places within a piece to give maximum effect. The idea here is an opening hook draws readers in, one somewhere in the middle will keep their interest going, and then another one at the end brings in a satisfying conclusion to the piece.

This mirrors the Three Act structure though the hook in itself isn’t enough to keep things going. The golden rule, if there could be said to be one, is there should be no boring bits, nothing readers might be tempted to skip.

[Read more…] about Getting The Hooks In

Tags: , , , , , ,

Catching Up

By Leave a Comment

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

Do you like the prospect of catching up? I guess it depends on context. I’m not fond of those times when I’m catching up with the housework, say. But when it comes to catching up with my reading and writing, that’s different. I have no problems with either of those.

I thought I’d use this post as a “catch up” one with my writing matters. A few things have been going on since I last wrote this kind of post.

[Read more…] about Catching Up

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Writing Events

By Leave a Comment

Image Credits:- 
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Many thanks to Lynn Clement and Gill James for two photos included here. Other images (especially of The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick) were taken by me, Allison Symes.

Hopefully later this year, I will be off once more to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick and I expect to take in a couple of other writing events. It took me ages as a new writer to pluck up the courage to go to my first writing event where, ironically, I ended up meeting the lady who would become my publisher. Neither of us could have known at the time.

Why go to writing events at all? What benefits are there for writers? Does it pay to work out what it is you would like to achieve by going to a specific writing event? I hope the following helps.

[Read more…] about Writing Events

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Writing To Themes

By Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

Themes crop up all the time in creative writing. Many story and article competitions set a theme. Many writers have a theme in the back of their minds when creating a story or piece of non-fiction writing. Indeed, my theme here is to share tips about writing to themes.

For Writers’ Narrative magazine (which can now be found via Substack), there is a monthly theme the core contributors, including me, write around.

[Read more…] about Writing To Themes

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Top Ten Author Newsletter Tips

By Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos

My most recent marketing development has been to have a monthly author newsletter. I started this on Mailchimp but as they stopped their free plan, I moved over to MailerLite. The transition was painless, I’m glad to say, and there are certain things I can now do which I couldn’t on Mailchimp. The important one is being able to schedule my newsletters. I schedule pieces all the time including for Chandler’s Ford Today so I appreciated coming across this feature.

I enjoy putting my newsletters together and work on them throughout the month so there’s no last minute rush to get a newsletter out. It also gives me time to add things as more news and ideas occur to me. It also gives me plenty of time to review my draft ahead of scheduling it so it is good to go on the first of each month.

[Read more…] about Top Ten Author Newsletter Tips

Tags: , , , , , ,

Spoofs

By Leave a Comment

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

I have a soft spot for a good spoof. This is because I love stories, films etc., which make me laugh. I also think there is a huge need for these especially at times when the world seems unremittingly grim as it is right now. The dictionary definition of a spoof is something which mimics something else to comic effect and often uses exaggeration to get the laughs.

[Read more…] about Spoofs

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Pitching

By Leave a Comment

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

Other than the word “marketing”, the word “pitching” can be enough to make a writer’s blood run cold. Why? In both cases, it is because we all know it has to be done. We also all know we would far rather be writing.

We also know with pitches we do open ourselves up to rejections. Indeed, it is common to have far more rejections than acceptances for any kind of pitch.

[Read more…] about Pitching

Tags: , , , , , ,

Story Inspiration

By Leave a Comment

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

One reason I love conducting, reading, and/or taking part in author interviews is because I often learn what inspires a writer and/or a particular tale of theirs.

Inspiration comes from many sources, which is immensely encouraging to any writer, but it does pay to know where the great “hunting grounds” are for it. It pays not to rely on it coming to you but by actively seeking inspiration, you are in with a much better chance of finding it.

This post looks at inspiration “haunts” I’ve found repeatedly useful and I hope you’ll find them useful too.

[Read more…] about Story Inspiration

Tags: , , , , , ,