Ask the Author: Steve Bridger
Answered Questions (7)
Steve Bridger
Carla - great question and I'm torn between a number of characters that have become close friends. I say this because when I write I visualise them as miniature human beings sitting by my monitor and talking to me in real life as I write.
I guess Jannah is my leading lady and Freddie as my leading man. In truth when I created Jannah I originally intended for her to play a very short supporting. But in an instant, I realised what a wonderful twist on expectation by making her the dominant, talented, empowered woman who was as intelligent and cunning as she was beautiful. A calculating woman who is a match for any male counterpart. A praying mantis. Now that's far more interesting!
I guess Jannah is my leading lady and Freddie as my leading man. In truth when I created Jannah I originally intended for her to play a very short supporting. But in an instant, I realised what a wonderful twist on expectation by making her the dominant, talented, empowered woman who was as intelligent and cunning as she was beautiful. A calculating woman who is a match for any male counterpart. A praying mantis. Now that's far more interesting!
Steve Bridger
Walk away from your computer. Go to the gym - do something physical that shakes up your mental blockage. Don't obsess with the problem - think sideways around a problem to find another way to tackle the same situation. Read something by Thomas Hardy to witness a masterclass in plotting, characterisation and descriptive genius.
Develop a mind-map of your plot outline and look at it afresh to see where the blockage is. Importantly don't stress about it. You are in control. You are the creator.
Develop a mind-map of your plot outline and look at it afresh to see where the blockage is. Importantly don't stress about it. You are in control. You are the creator.
Steve Bridger
Two interactions. One is the sheer pleasure of being drawn into a creative 'zone' as you lose yourself in the plot and characters you are creating. The second is to feel the appreciation of others as they enjoy and comment on your work.
Steve Bridger
Start small. Write short stories to develop your own particular style - some writers call this your 'voice'. It is the stamp that makes you special and different.
Steve Bridger
I'm currently working on the plot outline for the sequel to One Degree North and also rewriting my business book ' Fast Track Your Business Writing Skills'. The new book will include a guide to public speaking - how to overcome your nerves and communicate effectively using the written and spoken word.
Steve Bridger
I had been wanting to write the story that became 'One Degree North' for some time. But I lacked the lightning bolt of inspiration to make the novel take shape. It came during another lengthy period of research when I learned of certain events that followed the Japanese invasion of Singapore in February 1942. Learning from the past suddenly showed me a way to turn reality into fiction and plot my writing route forward.
Steve Bridger
One Degree North - so titled because most of the action takes place in the island of Singapore. The island lies one degree north of the equator.
In 1965 there was upheaval and turmoil in South East Asia. The communist threat to the west loomed large. The Vietnam war was gaining terrible momentum, the Malayan emergency had just officially ended but the communist threat was still high. Indonesia under General Sukarno wanted to annex northern Borneo. Singapore was to become an fortress in the Indonesian Confrontation. A war so small that few in the wider world knew about it.
In 1965 there was upheaval and turmoil in South East Asia. The communist threat to the west loomed large. The Vietnam war was gaining terrible momentum, the Malayan emergency had just officially ended but the communist threat was still high. Indonesia under General Sukarno wanted to annex northern Borneo. Singapore was to become an fortress in the Indonesian Confrontation. A war so small that few in the wider world knew about it.
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