Mala Naidoo's Blog, page 2

Paving the Crime Fiction Way

Why does crime fascinate the reader or the viewer? From a gripping novel to a suspenseful film, both mediums are loaded with intrigue, blood, gore, missing persons, and dead bodies, and they certainly hold our attention for more.  Pushing boundaries is the adventurous inclination invited by human fascination, as is vying for the person we … Continue reading "Paving the Crime Fiction Way"

Author Spotlight: Mel Goven

As creatives, news about a debut author from the land of one’s birth is received with great joy. The creative landscape is a connected, supportive space that celebrates newcomers to the publishing fold.     Meet Mel Goven, South African debut author of the crime novel, Unfinished, launched in July, 2022 on Amazon. Please join … Continue reading "Author Spotlight: Mel Goven"

Creative Life : Discerning Choices

  Is there ever too much in a writing life? A full-time writer lives and breathes, creating fresh stories, poetry, and essays. Nothing is ever too much for the creative. When starting out as a writer, passion draws one to all things writing, from social media, literary associations, events both live and online and a … Continue reading "Creative Life : Discerning Choices"

Fiction and Reality

Pen, a fictional story and aspects of the scribe’s life, spills onto the page between fiction and reality. Angst and joy collide in the unfurling of the emotive content of the story. The emotional hooks in a story invite readers to open their own wounds and happiness for a well-penned story.   In my novels … Continue reading "Fiction and Reality"

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Between Fiction and Reality

Pen, a fictional story and aspects of the scribe’s life, spills onto the page between fiction and reality. Angst and joy collide in the unfurling of the emotive content of the story. The emotional hooks in a story invite readers to open their own wounds and happiness for a well-penned story.   In my novels … Continue reading "Between Fiction and Reality"

Experience and Writing

Does life experience matter for writing a book? There are two answers to this question (In my book, anyway). Experience matters in writing to represent an authentic voice, if the story/plot pertains to a particular generation/profession/life situation etc – authenticity will draw the reader into the story. A sense of place if core to the … Continue reading "Experience and Writing"

Creative Inspiration: Paint through Sensations

As writers, we engage the reader through the senses. Paintings are layered with colour depicting a sense of place, mood, and so too a story must be layered with emotions and perhaps physical reactions attached to the power of effectively crafted descriptors/imagery, etc.       Make the reader laugh or cry, see, feel, smell … Continue reading "Creative Inspiration: Paint through Sensations"

Creative Time and Space

You work full time but have a raging desire to write that book buried deep inside you.   If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ ~ Toni Morrison   How can I make it happen? Time and space are necessary, negotiation with … Continue reading "Creative Time and Space"

Creative Inspiration: Tiger Courage

Narrow down goals set for 2022 as we enter the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Tiger – courage, strength and wisdom offer the possibility to soar in new creative dimensions.   Creativity, like the birth of every new year goes on in whatever shape, form, time of week, or day it chooses … Continue reading "Creative Inspiration: Tiger Courage"

The Way We Were

The creative question asked is, where are we now? What have we done? As we slow pedal to year end, as opposed to manically motoring towards the shenanigans of the period, its time to reflect. Lessons from lockdowns include pondering on the way we were.   When freedom is aborted by the rapid onslaught of … Continue reading "The Way We Were"