As a writer, the advice is constant: create conflict. We are to make our characters overcome one obstacle after another, after another… Because readers want hope. Think about your favourite books or movies. Why do you re-read/watch them? I personally …
Knowing the Details
“It’s only a skeleton.” “He’s eating a biscuit.” “It’s just standing there. It’s not even making woo-woo noises!” At the weekend, I watched the Hogfather. It’s one of my go-to movies in terms of studying story-telling. The characterisation always makes …
The Plan for 2013
It’s May 2013. I began writing my first novel in November 2009. Including that first attempt, I’ve begun seven novels. But it wasn’t until October 2012 that I decided I liked one enough to try and make it work. My …
Milestones
On Wednesday night I passed the 100,000 word mark for Planes Shifter. For a fantasy novel, that’s still a little short. However, it’s the longest I’ve ever managed to get one story to be, and I’m not quite half-way through …
The Second Rejection
On Monday night I received my second novel-related rejection. When I received my first one back in March, it was a generic email titled “submission update” and the first sentence began with “Thank you very much for providing us with …
Redrafting a Novel
The first draft of Planes Shifter was around 78,000 words, and comprised of a girl finding a bird of prey, and together, they find love and go home to claim the throne. The second draft of Planes Shifter had all …