Ask the Author: Paul J. Fleming
Answered Questions (14)
Paul J. Fleming
Do I have to choose one? There are so many wondrous worlds out there contained within the cover of many fine novels, from both established and emerging wordsmiths, that I find myself hard-pressed to choose...
I love the imagined 'look and feel' of Dickens novels, yet I know the gruesome reality which lies beneath that 'comfortable' veneer. I would like to journey to that era and experience life there for myself, if for no other reason than to enliven my own descriptive efforts.
Likewise the simpler times of the Railway Detective novels, or the world of Holmes & Watson. In general, the Victorian era.
As for what I would do? I would try to experience life and see how people endured the seemingly base, crude conditions when compared to our own modern lives. I would love to see my home city and how it looked, as I have often looked around at the buildings which remain from that time to try and cast my mind back.
So, not a journey to some far-flung fantastical realm but a journey into the past to actually experience the life and times. That's it really.
I love the imagined 'look and feel' of Dickens novels, yet I know the gruesome reality which lies beneath that 'comfortable' veneer. I would like to journey to that era and experience life there for myself, if for no other reason than to enliven my own descriptive efforts.
Likewise the simpler times of the Railway Detective novels, or the world of Holmes & Watson. In general, the Victorian era.
As for what I would do? I would try to experience life and see how people endured the seemingly base, crude conditions when compared to our own modern lives. I would love to see my home city and how it looked, as I have often looked around at the buildings which remain from that time to try and cast my mind back.
So, not a journey to some far-flung fantastical realm but a journey into the past to actually experience the life and times. That's it really.
Paul J. Fleming
Hmm...okay, here goes:
***
I watch with growing fearful anticipation as the water creeps further up the angled deck, the sounds of my fellow passengers deafening as the unavoidable fate which awaits us moves ever closer.
At least my family would survive as their boat left our stricken vessel only a short time ago, leaving most of the menfolk to face the icy waters which now eagerly advances upon us, seemingly eager to take our very souls.
***
How's that? Two rather long sentences to depict the hopeless awe which has gripped one of the fated passengers on the deck of the Titanic in those moments before she slipped below the surface.
***
I watch with growing fearful anticipation as the water creeps further up the angled deck, the sounds of my fellow passengers deafening as the unavoidable fate which awaits us moves ever closer.
At least my family would survive as their boat left our stricken vessel only a short time ago, leaving most of the menfolk to face the icy waters which now eagerly advances upon us, seemingly eager to take our very souls.
***
How's that? Two rather long sentences to depict the hopeless awe which has gripped one of the fated passengers on the deck of the Titanic in those moments before she slipped below the surface.
Paul J. Fleming
I've mostly been reading tales set in late Victorian times, as well as non-fiction records of life in the Victorian era. My favourites of the fiction novels have been the Railway Detective series (although notably set earlier in the 1800s than my regular fare) as well as timeless classics as penned by Dickens. Straying away from the printed word, I've spiced up the reading spurts by watching Dickensian, which is inspired by Dickens work and is an absolute joy to watch!
Paul J. Fleming
Hi Ed. Quite simply, depth. I've read stories in which the characters promised much, but in the end they remained rather two dimensional and what you read is just what you got. However, the best comes when you are presented with characters who develop over time, either through learning or through revelations about their past and how they are dealing/coping with issues in relation to this. Just like real people, whose experiences make them who they are and how they relate, good characters should present this quality also and as a reader this should come across over the course of the story (or series of stories) to round out the character and make them more three dimensional. Why are they doing this? What motivates them? Will they learn and develop, etc.
I hope this comes somewhere near to an answer to the question ( ;-) ).
Best regards, Paul
I hope this comes somewhere near to an answer to the question ( ;-) ).
Best regards, Paul
Paul J. Fleming
Quite a few things. The follow ups to both Chronicles and Tales mainly, with Maddox and his crew currently investigating the possibility of Alien relics on a deserted mining asteroid and in Chronicles? Well, there are a few separate stories being developed but the one which has the most meat presently has a member of the Solar Press Core being ousted from his position as he's uncovered a story which 'someone' wants to remain buried. Right now, he's on the run with his identity tagged as a terrorist and his only hope is to try and press on with his story to try and find out why someone wants him silenced so badly.....
Paul J. Fleming
Hi Alexandar, not quite sure if I understood the question correctly but if I were to answer which genre do I find most tasking, it would be romance. I can include romantic overtones, or undertones, within my main genre but I doubt I would be able to carry off an entire novel that way under the 'Romance' banner. ;-)
Paul J. Fleming
How can I disregard? It's the only chance I get to talk to real people ;-)
:-P
:-P
Paul J. Fleming
Glad I found you too ;-)
Paul J. Fleming
I've always written little stories, or parts of them anyway. I used to scribble adventure ideas out for roleplay games in which I tortured groups of players to twisted plots and maniacal foes..... I also thought up mini stories to help my daughter to sleep at night, sitting on her bed creating this magical world of princesses and castles, dragons and magical adventure. Only short little tales, on the fly but I quite enjoyed them too!!!
A couple of years ago, I made a determined decision to actually put one of my stories into print, and began upon my quest but sadly my mum (who had always told me I should write them down!) passed away, and I became a bit disgruntled with the world as a whole.
Then I found that these little worlds I had inside my head were perfect escapes, and that by writing them down I was more absorbed and distracted in the process of creating them and it acted in part as a type of therapy to deal with the grief.
Those initial stories I wrote are saved, stashed away and may see the light of day in the future, but for now I'm quite happy in my little sci fi bubble! :-)
A couple of years ago, I made a determined decision to actually put one of my stories into print, and began upon my quest but sadly my mum (who had always told me I should write them down!) passed away, and I became a bit disgruntled with the world as a whole.
Then I found that these little worlds I had inside my head were perfect escapes, and that by writing them down I was more absorbed and distracted in the process of creating them and it acted in part as a type of therapy to deal with the grief.
Those initial stories I wrote are saved, stashed away and may see the light of day in the future, but for now I'm quite happy in my little sci fi bubble! :-)
Paul J. Fleming
I walk away and ignore the story for a while.
Maybe turn my attention to another one I am writing, or maybe just take time to do something radical, like get out of the chair and go outside....
Thing is I tend to find that the story unfolds as I type and if I hit a block, then I leave it be for the time being and later on, it just unravels once more and I set about continuing the tale.
I've sat there before now and tried to work out x situation and y problem to continue, but they seemed so out of character and forced I just scrapped them and walked away. Took a couple of days but when I sat down once more, a couple of chapters flowed out and that was that.
Sometimes it helps to rethink how you ended up where you have been blocked. Maybe your story has followed an avenue which has naturally left no way out...... I simply suggest back tracking slightly and evaluating the path your characters have trodden. Is there an alternative? Sometimes it helps and you wonder why you hadn't used the alternative before!!
Maybe turn my attention to another one I am writing, or maybe just take time to do something radical, like get out of the chair and go outside....
Thing is I tend to find that the story unfolds as I type and if I hit a block, then I leave it be for the time being and later on, it just unravels once more and I set about continuing the tale.
I've sat there before now and tried to work out x situation and y problem to continue, but they seemed so out of character and forced I just scrapped them and walked away. Took a couple of days but when I sat down once more, a couple of chapters flowed out and that was that.
Sometimes it helps to rethink how you ended up where you have been blocked. Maybe your story has followed an avenue which has naturally left no way out...... I simply suggest back tracking slightly and evaluating the path your characters have trodden. Is there an alternative? Sometimes it helps and you wonder why you hadn't used the alternative before!!
Paul J. Fleming
Write.
Oh... more? Well write, write, write.
No really. Go with the flow and write that story as it unfolds, but don't try and force it out. A forced storyline is a difficult beast...... one which flows is much more pleasant to write and enjoy, both in the creation and the reading.
Write when it comes, take time to go outside and enjoy the world about you when it doesn't.
Don't be put off if people tell you not to write. Why are they saying this? Just do it. They're not telling your story, you are...... maybe they're not as confident or creative as you? Point is, write your story and just nod and smile to the nay-sayers.
Consider little stories as well as big-uns. It was an audience with Ray Bradbury in which he stated quite clearly it may take a year to write a novel, but then it may be bad. Thats your year gone. The next? Another year?
Write short stories, maybe one a week if you can. That means you have 52 little stories and he challenged anyone present in the room at the time to write 52 bad stories. Out of the 52 there may be the diamond waiting to shine, be expanded upon and the next international best seller!!! :-)
Oh... more? Well write, write, write.
No really. Go with the flow and write that story as it unfolds, but don't try and force it out. A forced storyline is a difficult beast...... one which flows is much more pleasant to write and enjoy, both in the creation and the reading.
Write when it comes, take time to go outside and enjoy the world about you when it doesn't.
Don't be put off if people tell you not to write. Why are they saying this? Just do it. They're not telling your story, you are...... maybe they're not as confident or creative as you? Point is, write your story and just nod and smile to the nay-sayers.
Consider little stories as well as big-uns. It was an audience with Ray Bradbury in which he stated quite clearly it may take a year to write a novel, but then it may be bad. Thats your year gone. The next? Another year?
Write short stories, maybe one a week if you can. That means you have 52 little stories and he challenged anyone present in the room at the time to write 52 bad stories. Out of the 52 there may be the diamond waiting to shine, be expanded upon and the next international best seller!!! :-)
Paul J. Fleming
There are a few answers to this one, however the main one is that it allows me the freedom to cater for the ever increasing demands of my two daughters as they progress through Preschool and Secondary School. It allows me to be there for them as needs dictate and support them as much as I am physically able.
Another answer is tied in with that first one, in the fact that it allows me to dictate my working hours and pattern. I can come and go as I please, I can write or not. I DO set myself deadlines and schedules, for not to do so would lead to chaos and lethargy, but these are flexible targets which are self imposed and allow me to jump into 'that universe' when my mind sets about it and try to notate the adventures which occur within it.
I think also I must add that it is a nice distraction from reality at times. Bear in mind that I have a wonderful family and love every bit of each one of them, but it's the external everyday pressures that impinge upon your consciousness that can build up and up and up. Some people sit and watch TV avidly. Some play computer games or console games. Others read books...... whatever your poison, mine is imagining these adventures either in the 23rd Century or other settings and genres which I have not yet gone near putting on paper.
Another answer is tied in with that first one, in the fact that it allows me to dictate my working hours and pattern. I can come and go as I please, I can write or not. I DO set myself deadlines and schedules, for not to do so would lead to chaos and lethargy, but these are flexible targets which are self imposed and allow me to jump into 'that universe' when my mind sets about it and try to notate the adventures which occur within it.
I think also I must add that it is a nice distraction from reality at times. Bear in mind that I have a wonderful family and love every bit of each one of them, but it's the external everyday pressures that impinge upon your consciousness that can build up and up and up. Some people sit and watch TV avidly. Some play computer games or console games. Others read books...... whatever your poison, mine is imagining these adventures either in the 23rd Century or other settings and genres which I have not yet gone near putting on paper.
Paul J. Fleming
Oof! Well there's the second main title to follow on from Children of Earth, which at the moment is codenamed 'Little Aliens'. I'm about half way through that one but I have to admit that the promotional efforts for the first Chronicles title has absorbed my time considerably.....but I am determined to return my focus to the perils that the Erstwhile crew are facing when....... oh..... no, not just yet ;-)
There's also two partly scribbled out (in Microsoft Word) Chronicles titles which I flit between when I want a break from Maddox and his misadventures... keeps me in the right universe but a bit of a break if I hit a snafu in the imagination department :-)
There's also two partly scribbled out (in Microsoft Word) Chronicles titles which I flit between when I want a break from Maddox and his misadventures... keeps me in the right universe but a bit of a break if I hit a snafu in the imagination department :-)
Paul J. Fleming
I became frustrated when working through the revision of the first book as I trimmed out content and tried to slim it down to a more refined effort, but there were elements which then lay around the 'cutting room floor' so to speak.
Mostly these bits and pieces were descriptive content about the situation back within the inner worlds and the fraught interactions between the established colonies, but they just clogged up the flow of this story.
Thus the 'Chronicles' line was born. The concept occurred to me to write out a few short stories, featuring a variety of different characters all encountering a diverse set of circumstances which brought into light the elements I wanted the reader to have at hand to build a picture of this rich and vibrant universe.
Originally I did play about with the idea of putting an entire Solar reference guide out there which covered all these concepts and explained the whole situation as more of a 'tourist guide to the 23rd Century', but I think encountering the vast tapestry through the misadventures of the characters in the Chronicles line will be more fun!!!!
Mostly these bits and pieces were descriptive content about the situation back within the inner worlds and the fraught interactions between the established colonies, but they just clogged up the flow of this story.
Thus the 'Chronicles' line was born. The concept occurred to me to write out a few short stories, featuring a variety of different characters all encountering a diverse set of circumstances which brought into light the elements I wanted the reader to have at hand to build a picture of this rich and vibrant universe.
Originally I did play about with the idea of putting an entire Solar reference guide out there which covered all these concepts and explained the whole situation as more of a 'tourist guide to the 23rd Century', but I think encountering the vast tapestry through the misadventures of the characters in the Chronicles line will be more fun!!!!
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