Writing Hints & Tips: It's a Kind of Magic.

Hello everyone, I’m back writing a monthly blog on writing tips, which you can also read on the Romantic Novelists' Association website. So hopefully there will be a few nuggets of advice that are new to you – and to me, as I get my thinking cap on and try to analyse how we go about conjuring up people, places, situations, adventures and relationships that didn’t exist yesterday!

Ann Evans in Guyere, Switzerland. 

To quote Freddie Mercury, maybe ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’. He probably wasn’t thinking of writing a book when Queen guitarist Roger Taylor wrote those lyrics for the film Highlander but there’s parts that ring true to all writers.

One prize, one goal… Get it written.  Get it published!

This flame that burns inside of me, I'm hearing secret harmonies. That desire to get your story written down on paper (okay on screen) can be like a burning flame inside of you. It is harmonious in your mind – you know what you want to say, but getting the right words down in the right order is not as easy as you might think.

 Well, unless you are a magician, writing a book or a short story won’t happen with a wave of a wand. It’s going to be a learning curve, probably a very big learning curve; lots of trial and error, a few disappointments, stacks of perseverance and hopefully a lot of fun along the way.

Writing should be fun – I don’t know of anyone who took up writing as a quick way of getting rich, or a great career move, or an easy way of becoming famous – without first starting to write as a hobby. For lots of people it remains a hobby. For a few it’s earning them a living. For some it’s made them rich. Others will tell you it’s a great career move, they wouldn’t want to earn a living any other way. And quite a number of writers have become famous.

It's all possible, but I truly believe the love and enjoyment of writing has to be at the very core of your being, otherwise why put yourself through it?

So, on to writing tips – well firstly head over to the Harry Potter Shop and buy yourself a magic wand… no, only joking! Let's start with those all-important relationships, particularly thinking about stories where two people fall for one another. And for ease of writing, I’m going to stick with the age-old traditional man/woman, him/her genders/pronouns.

Close to the beginning of most romance stories, you introduce your leading characters to one another (and to the readers). And I believe that this is when we should feel the spark between them. It probably won’t be love at first sight – although it could be – but why? If there is an instant mutual attraction – or a one-way attraction, what is it they’ve seen in the other person that’s pulled at their heart strings?  

Chances are in your story, your hero and heroine won’t be mutually, instantly in love. Chances are they won’t even like one another – but again, make sure there’s a good reason for that. It might be because they are at cross purposes. When you’ve created your characters, give them aims, desires, beliefs, goals – even moral issues that aren’t compatible with the other main character’s desires.  Do that, and you’ll have lots of ‘ammunition’ to create lively conversations with emotions soon running high. Place your two main characters in a situation where they can’t easily rid the other one from their life – perhaps it's a work situation or a homelife situation etc.

I don’t know about you, but if I’m introduced to someone I don’t like or aren’t comfortable with, I don’t hang about making conversation if I don’t have to – I’m outa there! And your characters will be too – unless an unavoidable situation is stopping that.

So, if you have great plans for these two people, there has to be a believable scenario where they have no choice but to be stuck in one another’s company, whether they want to be or not.

And that spark! What big or small trait do your characters unwittingly (probably) give out, that inwardly appeals to the other person? It could be looks, in fact I suppose we’re all initially attracted by someone’s appearance. It could be the way they move – a person’s gait and the way they hold themselves can often be very appealing – that could be the other character’s spark. Could be their voice – the tone as well as what they say can be a make or break point in two people getting to know one another.   

Or it might be what that person is physically doing at the moment they first glimpse one another. Are they doing something that sparks a touch of admiration in the viewpoint character’s emotions. Perhaps showing some skill, or some authority, or a sense of humour. Could they briefly interact or catch the other one’s eye – a fleeting moment that can’t be forgotten.

A tiny spark of magic that’s gone in a flash but made a striking impression on the other character that could be a prelude to falling in love.

Happy writing. 

Ann

Christine launches her third Bassett-Lowke book.

 

I’m delighted to welcome back non-fiction author, Christine Sanderson, as she launches her third book in her series Bassett-Lowke – The Making of an Identity.

 As many people – and especially model rail enthusiasts will know, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke was the co-owner of the renowned Northampton based Bassett-Lowke company, who were not only famous for their locomotives, model ships, stationary engines and architectural models, but also for Bassett-Lowke’s interest in art and design.

 The company was heavily involved in model making during the First and Second World Wars. Owing to their skill and expertise the company was the perfect choice to be deployed in invaluable model making for the Ministry of Defence.

The first house Bassett-Lowke owned was 78 Derngate in Northampton, today a Grade II* Listed Building and a popular tourist attraction. However, the building isn’t famous just because of the man who owned it. It’s also renowned for being the only house in England remodelled by the famous Scottish architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

 As a member of the 78 Derngate committee, a tour guide and researcher with 20-years experience of Bassett Lowke and Derngate, Christine also writes articles for the ’78 Derngate Newsletter’ and the ‘Lowko News’ for the Bassett-Lowke Society.  She is on the Committee of the Friends of 78 Derngate and gives talks on Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke.  So, there is no one more qualified than Christine to write these books.

THE BOOKS

 The first in the series Bassett-Lowke Art: The Making of an Identity, features over 80 colour pages illustrating the work of those artists who were famous in the engineering and art world such as Henry Greenly, Cecil J. Allen, Edward McKnight Kauffer and of course Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Christine went on a year-long quest to source rare catalogues and acquire the necessary copyright permissions to use them in her book.

 Her second book, Bassett-Lowke War Work: The Making of an Identity, covers the extent and importance of the work undertaken by the artisans of Bassett-Lowke Ltd and their associated companies Winteringham Ltd and E W Twining Ltd.  The work, undertaken mostly in desperation and with the utmost secrecy, bearing in mind the shortage of materials, makes for an incredible story.

And her third book, Bassett-Lowke Stationery: The Making of an Identity covers the stationery designed for the company, including letterheads, envelopes, invoices and acknowledgement cards.  Information on who designed the images, where known, is included along with original artwork and additional information from stickers found on the stationery advertising fairs and exhibitions the company attended. This book will appeal not only to those interested in the history of the Bassett-Lowke business, but also to people interested in art and design. 

 With 70+ pages and over 100 colourful images, this A5 sized book is full of fascinating facts about the ephemera of the Bassett-Lowke company.

 Printing was generously funded by the ‘Friends of 78 Derngate’ enabling all proceeds from the book to go directly to 78 Derngate.

The remodelled interior of 78 Derngate was transformed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1916/17 for W J Bassett-Lowke and his wife Florence Jane Jones as their new marital home.

78 Derngate has been meticulously restored and opened to the public.

 Next door at 80 Derngate, is the museum of W J Bassett-Lowke’s famous model making company, showing many exhibits of model locomotives, model ships and various ephemera connected to 78 Derngate and Bassett-Lowke’s life.

There is also a boutique restaurant, light filled art galleries, a stylish shop and elegant spaces that can be hired for meetings, events and functions.

GET YOUR COPY

Bassett-Lowke Stationery – The Making of an Identity By Christine Sanderson

ISBN 978-1-3999-3848-8

Priced at £7.50 +pp it is now available to buy at 78 Derngate or via the website www.78dergate.org/shop

For more information on 78 Derngate – The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House including opening times and admission prices go to: www.78derngate.org

 I'd like to wish Christine every success with her latest book.

 

Christine produces her second book on Bassett-Lowke

 

Christine Sanderson with her latest book

I’m delighted to welcome Christine Sanderson    back to my blog as she launches her second non-fiction book on the war work of W.J.Bassett-Lowke. This book is entitled Bassett-Lowke - War Work. The Making of an Identity.

I’m sure that many people will be familiar with the name W J Bassett-Lowke, and his link with model train sets and model boats. As the son of an engineer, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke was born in Northampton in 1877. 

As a young man, he, along with H.F.R. Franklin and help from W.J’s father, set up the company Bassett-Lowke Ltd. To begin with they were a model engineering supplies company, but they went on to become one of the country’s largest suppliers of model railways, garden railways, model ships and exhibition models which became famous the world over.

The company was heavily involved in model making during the First and Second World Wars. Owing to their skill and expertise the company was the perfect choice to be deployed in invaluable model making for the Ministry of Defence. During the First World War, models ranged from waterline ships for recognition purposes to machine guns allowing new recruits to learn how to assemble and operate them without needing the real thing, so urgently needed at the front line.

In the Second World War many more models were produced for instructional purposes and the larger ones enabled the military to plan D-Day in secrecy. All of this and more was produced by Bassett-Lowke Ltd.

The first house Mr Bassett-Lowke and his wife owned was 78 Derngate in Northampton, today a GradeII* Listed Building and a popular tourist attraction in the town once noted for its shoe industry. However, the building isn’t famous just because of the man who owned it. It’s also renowned for being the only house in England remodelled by the famous Scottish architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. A visit to the house reveals so much about both of these forward-thinking men.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy a conducted tour around 78 Derngate with Christine Sanderson. Christine has been involved with this house since 2000 and is an expert and enthusiast on W.J. Bassett-Lowke.

 In 2018, Christine wrote and compiled a book on him and his company, entitled Bassett-Lowke Art. The Making of an Identity and was backed by 78 Derngate. Since then, she has written a second book in the series, Bassett-Lowke War Work. The Making of an Identity. (ISBN: 978-1-5272-8931-4). Again with the backing of 78 Derngate. As a member of the 78 Derngate committee, a volunteer tour guide and researcher, there’s no one more qualified than Christine to write these lavishly illustrated books.

The first book in the series Bassett-Lowke Art concentrated on the art work that Bassett-Lowke Ltd used to produced the many catalogues and advertisements for the company over the years.  They used many accomplished artists and these are featured in the book.

This second book, Bassett-Lowke War Work. covers the extent and importance of the work undertaken by the artisans of Bassett-Lowke Ltd and their associated companies Winteringham Ltd and E W Twining Ltd.  The work, undertaken mostly with the utmost secrecy, bearing in mind the shortage of materials, makes for an incredible story. For example, the reader will find out where the wood was sourced for the thousands of model ships produced and what was the secret in the coffin at Bath?

 

Regarding writing the book, and gathering information, Christine said: "I have been very lucky to have been loaned a lot of ephemera from the Bassett-Lowke Society and various other sources. It took a lot of research and time to find the information, but as it was completed during lockdown it was, of course, a very quiet time which gave me the opportunity to concentrate on the book." 

Christine is hoping that the book will appeal to those interested in model making, the War and of course Bassett-Lowke Ltd. With 100 pages and over 80 colourful images, showing the work achieved together with advertisements and catalogues produced during the wartime years, this A5 sized book is packed with original information from articles produced by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke.

Plus, she has another two books in the pipeline, Bassett-Lowke Advertising and Stationery. Christine added, "Whether they will get published remains to be seen, depending on whether the finances for printing can be obtained.  But at least the information is gathered together and can be kept in the 78 Derngate archives for future reference. This is really what my books are about, to save the information so it will not be lost."  

 Printing was generously funded by ‘The Friends of 78 Derngate’ enabling all proceeds from the book to go directly to 78 Derngate. Priced at £9.99 +pp it is now available to buy at 78 Derngate or via the website.Likewise, the first book in the series Bassett-Lowke Art - The Making of an Identity is also available, at a cost of £7.50 +pp.

  www.78derngate.org.uk/shop.

 

 

 

Coventry Writers' Group has been Telling Tales!

 

Coventry Writers’ Group has produced a brand-new anthology celebrating the city becoming the UK City of Culture 2021. Entitled ‘Telling Tales’ it features 21 creative pieces of writing in the form of short stories, articles and poetry, all with a Coventry theme.

Despite lockdown and the group not being able to meet since the start of the pandemic, the group have kept in touch on line and virtually, and managed to write and put the book together. And just in time for the official start of the UK City of Culture celebrations.

 The CWG is the longest established writing group in the city, founded in the 1950s. Contributors to the anthology include novelist and playwright Margaret Egrot, romance novelist Ella Cook, children’s author Ann Evans, poet Emily Lauren-Jones, Queen of African horror Nuzo Onoh, article writer Margaret Mather, short story writer Hilary Hopker and writer David Court who has recently had one of his sci-fi stories adapted for the screen. There are also excellent pieces by up-and-coming writers in the group.

 Between the covers you'll find humorous stories, nostalgic tales, factual articles about this great city, and poems that you'll love. The actual cover of the anthology features a beautiful original watercolour painting of Bayley Lane by local artist, and secretary of the CWG, Hilary Hopker.

 Chair of The Coventry Writers’ Group, Maxine Burns said: “As a group, we have published a number of anthologies over the years, and we are proud to present our latest medley of stories, poems and articles written by some of our members to mark the city becoming UK City of Culture 2021.

 “The CWG has always welcomed all calibre of writers, be they complete novices, multi-published, or anywhere in between. The group offers enthusiasm, support and advice to all. We hope people will enjoy reading this book as much as we have enjoyed writing it.”

 Once Covid restrictions are fully lifted, the Coventry Writers’ Group hope they will be able to launch the anthology with events around the city. They are hopeful too that they will be able to resume their monthly meetings at the Big Comfy Bookshop, Fargo Village, on the first Tuesday of each month from 8pm – 10pm.

 Telling Tales – Celebrating Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 is available from Amazon and all good book shops, priced £5.99 paperback, £1.99 kindle.

ISBN 979 8746368317

 

Deadlines!

Most writers know about deadlines. Often, they are  our key motivation for getting a piece of work finished. 

But for five weeks during November and December 2020 I was kept on my toes writing to some challenging but exciting and enjoyable deadlines as I’d been commissioned to write a 5-chapter book for Fiction Express.

Fiction Express is an award-winning innovative book platform that connects students with professional authors, encouraging reading for pleasure through fun co-creation of stories. Schools from all around the world who have signed up with Fiction Express, get a reading experience like no other; and for the authors, it’s a unique experience for them too.

Working closely with the editor, once the story proposal is agreed and a 5-week time slot allocated, the first chapter goes live on their website at a specific time – 11am GMT Fridays. Each chapter ends with a cliff hanger and three choices of what should happen next. Students vote over the next 3 days with the author receiving the verdict by the Tuesday. They then have two days to write it, ready to go live the coming Friday morning. Phew!

 Fiction Express provides additional resources for the schools, including a forum where the author poses questions in relation to the story, and the students give their opinions. They can also give you feedback on each chapter and say whether or not they are enjoying it. Happily, I had great comments about my book, Warning Signs. But also the forum proved to be a fascinating insight into the lives and cultures of the readers, some of whom were as far afield as Peru and Mexico.

 Additionally, the author also records each chapter. Not the easiest of tasks when there’s only a 2-hour slot to record and send it. Especially tricky if you have a dog who normally goes walkies at that time of day.  The number of times I’d literally get to the last paragraph and Rusty would do his usual attention seeking trick of paws on my lap and head on my keyboard! 

Aaghh! Back to square one. Happily, by week five we’d both got the hang of it. And it was a great experience, an amazing opportunity, and I’ve my fingers crossed for another book for Fiction Express in 2021.

Discover more about Fiction Express here: https://en.fictionexpress.com/

 

Making Sense of it all

When planning your stories, consider what sort of emotion you are trying to get your readers to feel. For example, in a thriller or crime story you might want to generate a foreboding mood through your writing. This might be achieved by dropping in little hints of troubles to come; or creating darker scenes through your narrative. Dialogue could include a character's worries and concerns; you might pile on the layers of difficulties to add to that overall sense of foreboding through your description, narrative and dialogue.

The same applies if you're trying to create a sense of intrigue and mystery. Let everything you write go towards that mood and atmosphere. Or perhaps you're writing about the grandeur of something, a royal palace, a sumptuous banquet, so you want to create a sense of occasion. Again, build up the atmosphere through description, using all the senses.

Maybe you're trying to write something humorous. You'll definitely be hoping your readers will have a sense of humour and will see the funny side of what your characters are saying and doing. You'll no doubt find that the characters themselves aren't deliberately trying to be funny. The humour often happens through their tragic circumstances, as things go wrong for them. 

So, think carefully about the mood and atmosphere in your scenes, know what sort of 'sense' you're trying to get across to readers. Keep that in focus as you write your stories.

Common sense

Unless you're writing about a Frank Spencer or Homer Simpson type of character, then your characters should be blessed with a bit of common sense. So that in any given situation, they would use their common sense. And this is worth remembering if you're not going to irritate your reader. For example, your character might be facing some sort of emotional or physical conflict that could be easily sorted if they just used their common sense.

Try not to let your plot become contrived – if a character's difficulties could all be overcome if they'd just used their common sense. For example, all would have been sorted if they’d spoken to Uncle George, or opened the letter, or said they were sorry etc. It’s so annoying for the reader when the character doesn’t do the obvious.

If it would ruin your plot for them not to act in the most obvious way, then be sure you have a very good reason for them not to have acted as any normal person would.  Otherwise readers and editors with be groaning with frustration. Look at your plot and make sure your characters do the obvious. It might mean you thinking a lot harder about the conflict facing them, and their situation.

Sensing when it’s right

As writers, we have to use our senses too, especially when trying to work out whether we've got a piece of writing right, or whether there's something wrong with it.  Far better to sense that it's not right and then to work on improving it, rather than thinking it's great – when it's not.

So how do you do that?  I can only say that it comes with practice and with learning. Writing is a craft that you can learn. If you don't bother learning the rules of grammar, punctuation, viewpoint, the tenses, adverbs, dialogue etc., then you won't be able to see your mistakes. Additionally, it’s so important to read. You learn by reading and seeing how other writers create their magic.

But even if you've done all that, you still need to develop a sense of knowing whether your work is finally as good as you can get it – or not. This comes with edits. You need to go over and over your work, tweaking, re-arranging, re-phrasing, reading it aloud, listening to the euphony of every sentence, listening for repetitions. Look out for bad writing habits. Know when something jars. Have a keen ear and listen to anything that doesn't sit quite right.

If you're looking to create a tear-jerking scene, it should bring tears to your eyes. If you're creating a dramatic scene, then you should feel anxious as you read it. If you're creating a humorous scene, it should at least bring a smile to your face, no matter how many times you go over it.

Be critical of your own work, but not to the extent that you're never happy with it, or you lose confidence in your abilities as a writer. Develop that sense of knowing when something isn't right, but also develop the sense to know when it's well written. Learn to trust your own senses.

Narrative in brief

• Always aim to keep the reader reading. Don’t make it easy for them to put your book down, or to put your short story aside before finishing it.

• Don’t let there be a let up from the action. When one trouble is over another one is just beginning.

• When the action isn’t so dramatic or intense, consider using a transition to move the story forward. Also, feed the reader with tasty little morsels or hints of the drama to come.

• Plot and plan your story scene-by-scene, or by chapters so action and/or emotion rises to a crescendo at the end of that scene/chapter. Stop at a point where the reader is desperate to know what’s coming next.

• Don’t be afraid to use cliff-hangers. Let your protagonist be in some sort of predicament – emotionally, physically or both.

• If you have more than one viewpoint character, make them as interesting as each other.

• If a section is feeling even slightly long winded or tedious to you, shorten it, either in content or in the sentence structure. Or consider whether it’s even necessary. Make every word count.

• When describing people and places and things, pick out the most poignant aspects. Always tell the reader something they didn’t know.  

• Create characters that the reader will be interested in.

• Use good dialogue to move the story forward. Let characters say how they are feeling.

• Hint at troubles to come though the narrative and the dialogue.

• Adjust punctuation. You can create tension through your punctuation. Add a more breathless feel to a section by deliberately shortening the sentences.

• Occasionally highlight poignant words, phrases or thoughts in italics.

• Always use the senses. Let the reader see, hear, feel, smell, touch and taste everything the character experiences.

• When you want to ‘up’ the tempo of your story, let there be a deliberate switch, something happening in the story that changes everything.

• Plan scenes to give a ‘calm before the storm’ type of feel.

• Make good use of the weather and environment to add drama and atmosphere.

• Show don’t tell: Don’t say a character is afraid/happy/excited etc, show it by how they behave and what they say, do and think.

• Read aloud. You may find that adjusting the punctuation and re-phrasing may turn something mundane into something dramatic.

  

Exercise 1

As an exercise think of an object. Now describe it using the relevant senses i.e. what you might see when looking at it; what sounds it might make; what it tastes like; what it feels like; what it smells like. Ask a friend or relative to try and guess what you have described. Repeat the exercise until you are bored (or your friend is).

Tomorrow:  Editing your work.

Thank you Rob Tysall, Tysall's Photography for the image. This was taken at the Nuneaton & Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary.

Keep the reader reading

 

Whether you’re writing a short story or a novel the outcome is the same – you want the reader to be so captivated by your words they can’t put your story down until they’ve reached the very end. So, keeping hold of the reader’s interest is something that needs to be worked on. And there are lots of little ploys that can be woven into your fiction that help to do just that.

Firstly however, you must have a good story, believable characters, realistic dialogue, a gripping flawless plot, written without superfluous words and continually moving forward with vocabulary that’s a pleasure to read. And then you can start to be a bit crafty!

When I’ve found a good book that keeps me reading, it’s often because there’s no let up from the action, the protagonist hasn’t resolved their troubles. Before one problem is solved another is just beginning. Be sure to have things happening in your story, don’t allow it to become stale or slow.

Be guided by your own judgement. If a section you’re writing feels even slightly long winded or tedious to you, then look to shorten it, either in content or in the sentence structure. Or consider whether it’s even necessary.

Of course, you don’t want every sentence and scene to be high drama, but when the action isn’t so dramatic or intense, then feed the reader with tasty little morsels or hints of the drama to come. You can do this either through narrative or dialogue. For example, this snippet of dialogue foretells trouble: “We can’t go there, haven’t you heard the legend?”

Or a little narrative to sow the seed of more drama to come: She put the creaking of upstairs floorboards down to the house settling for the night.

The occasional repetition of a word or a poignant phrase can work well to keep the reader on board. A word or phrase they’ve heard before in the story, but then said in a different context can be effective.

In The Beast, when the strange old Scotsman tells Grant and Amanda to “Beware the Beastie” they find it hilarious. But later in the story, when they sense something stalking them, the old man’s words, “Beware the Beastie” take on a far more sinister meaning.

And look at punctuation and sentence length. Short punchy sentences can give a breathless effect to a scene. Likewise, with dialogue, you can really create drama and mood through your characters’ conversations.

Still with The Beast, the valley where Grant and Amanda are camping is reputed to be haunted and early one morning:

    “You must be able to hear it. Listen, Grant. It’s coming from the valley.”

   “What is? I can’t hear a thing.”

   Amanda swung round to face him, her frown heavy over her eyes. “Are you deaf or what? There are people coming this way…I can hear an enormous crowd of people heading right toward us. And horses, can’t you hear the hoof beats? Can’t you feel the vibrations through the ground?”

   Grant slowly shook his head. “Manda, it’s as silent as the grave out here.”

   “Shouting! They’re shouting now!” She gripped his arm. “And screaming.” Her voice rose. “Can’t you hear those screams, those horrible shrieks? Like…like people killing each other.”

   Grant put his arm around her. “We’d better go and get Mum.”

   “What’s happening, Grant? What’s happening to me?”

It might be a cliché but remembering the calm before storm can certainly work when pacing your story. When you have a tense scene about to happen, ensure that the scene before is the complete opposite. Trust/betrayal; love/hate; tranquility/chaos etc. So, when the drama happens it has more impact because of what’s just gone on.

Another little ploy when you want to ‘up’ the tempo of your story, is to create a change – perhaps in the environment your character finds themselves in; or a change in the weather; or a change in the atmosphere in some way. Have something happening which triggers that switch.

Cliff-hangers

One sure way of increasing the tension and the dramatic high spot is by having cliff-hangers. Plan your scenes so that the most dramatic spot can come at a point where you can break off for a new chapter. Build each scene up to its most exciting point – then stop. Perhaps your character is left in a tricky position emotionally or physically.

A new chapter may provide fresh momentum, or you may keep your reader hanging on in suspense while you deal with another thread of your story. Maybe that too can be brought to boiling point. You could be like a juggler spinning plates, precarious yet balanced so perfectly with you in control.

Read aloud

And finally, if you want the readers to keep reading, then read your work yourself – out loud. By doing so, you’ll hear the euphony of your sentences and phrasing. You’ll get a good ear for how it should sound and how it does sound. Awkward sentences may only need a word taken out or putting in, or a slight alteration of the punctuation. Read aloud and only pause where you’ve indicated a pause with a punctuation mark. The smallest little tweak to a sentence can make all the difference.

So, go through your story and see if by re-phrasing certain sections you can add to the atmosphere or build tension. See if you can create little ploys of your own – barely noticeable things which only register in the reader’s subconscious. Occasional words in italics for example, or the repetition of a word or sentence that turns it into something poignant or sinister. Could you subtly hint that disaster is soon to befall the character? Could there be a recurring thought, word or phrase that jabs at your character when things are getting tricky? Experiment with your writing and see what works and what doesn’t.

Today’s Exercise:

Write two scenes where it's the calm before the storm, e.g. trust/betrayal, joy/misery. read aloud and try to improve your work so it has more impact.

Tomorrow: Making Sense of it all.

Opening photo is of my good friend, writer Karen King and I running a writing workshop.