tips

Short Story Collections

November 28, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Book cover images from Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books.

I am fond of short story collections for various reasons, not least of which is the fact they gave me my way into being published. My first story in print was A Helping Hand in the Bridge House Publishing anthology Alternative Renditions back in 2009.

Coming right up to date, I am also pleased to say another short story of mine, The Family Legend, has recently been published in Bridge House Publishing’s Magi anthology. I’m looking forward to celebrating that book at the Bridge House Publishing celebration event in London next week, which is always a fun event.

Tags: am reading, am writing, anthologies, Bridge House Publishing, building up a writing CV, Cafelit, creative writing, short stories, short story collections, themes, tips, writing advice

The Writing Community

October 6, 2023 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:-

Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Many thanks to Julia Pattison for taking the image of me at my editing workshop at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying the Writers’ Narrative image (which I’ve added text to). Screenshot taken by me, Allison Symes.

One of the joys of the writing community is it is supportive. Given most of the time you are at your desk, writing alone, having your fair share of rejections or not hearing back on competition entries and so on, that support is wonderful and vital. We all need a lift at times.

As well as writing events and conferences, which are fabulous ways to get to know other writers, there are a number of writing communities online. There are monthly groups which meet up in person such as the Hampshire Writers’ Society, which meets in Winchester.

Tags: advice, Alliance of Independent Authors, am reading, am writing, Continuing Professional Development, Hampshire Writers' Society, networking, the writing community, tips, Writer Beware, writing scam information

Writing Pitfalls

January 13, 2023 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

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

The writing life is fun but being prepared for the roller coaster aspect of it is a good idea. Every writer has their ups and downs. It helps to know this. Going into the writing life with your eyes wide open also helps. It also helps, I think, to accept the following is true.

[Read more…] about Writing Pitfalls

Tags: am writing, creative writing, marketing, networking, regular writing, the writing life, tips, writing advice

Underlining in Fiction

June 24, 2022 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

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

What do I mean about underlining in fiction?

Simply it’s how to emphasize a point to a reader without repeating yourself. It will be as the reader looks back at the story they will realise certain points were emphasized without them being aware of it. Otherwise known as planting information!

Tags: am writing, creative writing, inference, planting clues, tips, underlining in fiction, writing advice

Part 3 – The Writing Game – and What to Watch For

August 7, 2020 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

For the final part of this series, I would like to say a big thank you to my wonderful guests for their excellent contributions. Please find the links to Part 1 and Part 2 here.

Writing is the fulfilment of many people’s dreams (and being published even more so) but, as with any other area of life, there are those prepared to make money out of your dreams and rip you off doing so. When you start out, it is knowing what to look out for that can be tricky. Also, where do you go for advice? (Answer: The Society of Authors, The Alliance of Independent Authors, and talk to other writers. Word does get out about scams and the like).

Scams happen in creative writing too, image via Pixabay

Tags: Association of Christian Writers, creative writing, crime writing, Jacci Gooding, Jennifer C Wilson, non-fiction, paranormal writing, scams, self publishing, short stories, Swanwick Writers' Summer School, tips, Val Penny, Wendy H Jones, writing advice

Part 2 – The Writing Game – and What to Watch For

July 31, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Welcome to Part 2 of my new series. You can find the link to Part 1 here. Writing colleagues and I share tips we hope will be useful ranging from contracts to marketing to even handling professional jealousy. There is much to learn from here!

Any industry attracts charlatans. Writing isn’t exempt. From copyright infringements to piracy, it pays to be aware of what can happen and where to go for advice. It is also useful to know what to avoid.

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Tags: advice, Allison Symes, Amanda Baber, Bridge House Publishing, Cafelit, Chapeltown Books, creative writing, Dawn Kentish Knox, fantasy, flash fiction, Gill James, hints, humour, Paula C Readman, publishing, scams, short stories, tips

Making Space – Part 2 – The Writing View

August 16, 2019 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

I was looking last week at the importance of making space. This week I’ll look at this topic specifically from a writing perspective and share a few tips I’ve found helpful.
[Read more…] about Making Space – Part 2 – The Writing View

Tags: analysis, creative writing, engaging with other writers, making space for writing, tips, treating your writing seriously

tips

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Book cover images from Bridge House Publishing/Chapeltown Books.

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