Mala Naidoo's Blog, page 7
October 12, 2019
Bundled to Go!
We thrive on the continuous feed of a series and the pace, the desire to know more — the adrenaline rush with the thrill of action and the unexpected. Emotionally we are hooked when we pursue more with the fervent desire that it won’t end. Bundled books/boxsets continue to be what readers want in …
September 28, 2019
Shake It Up!
Most fiction and particularly thriller fiction feeds off suspense created by secrets, fear, challenges, and the element of surprise. Lies, deception and the battle for truth keep readers on the edge of their reading seats. Compelling characters extract emotional responses. Do we love or hate a character? Beginnings Beginning a chapter with …
September 14, 2019
Writing Through Adversity
Writing has been well documented as having therapeutic value. Do you keep a personal diary, or do have a journal to record moments that are significant to you? Would you write a memoir or autobiography? Have you tried poetry writing? Fiction is an avenue that has therapeutic benefit when writing about angst through …
August 30, 2019
Author Proficiency and Professionalism
Author professionalism is not negotiable in a world where access to all we say, do and create is out in the world in a click. It costs nothing to be supportive to aspiring authors and accepting that there are oceans of experienced, seasoned authors out there who act as mentors and are deserving …
August 17, 2019
Short Stories – Imagined or True Life?
As writers, it goes with the territory that autobiographical bits of ourselves will slip into our writing. A creative project, the creative process is emotion-driven, its passion on a page — bleeding… My collection of short stories, out this week, Seasons Of Life into the digital and print worlds is a diverse collection that …
July 27, 2019
Word Rhythm – some time… somehow
People ask, ‘so how does one complete a novel?’ The simple response is, ‘write every day.’ Fifty words on a page are better than a blank page. Consistency is key and if for whatever reason writing is impossible on a day, double up the output in the next writing session. Perhaps not all …
July 13, 2019
Whenever Wherever
As writer’s, we have our unique quirks on what works for us and what is not good for our creative energy. Time: The alarm screams, reluctant eyes peer at the bedside clock, it’s an icy Sydney winter morning – characters whisper, ‘let me out, I need some fun, you left me in a …
June 29, 2019
Tripartite Character Connection
Quick access and the desire to know more, allow novel/film/ trilogies and series to thrive. Writing a trilogy is planned either before Book 1 is written or while the first book is being written, but in my case, it emerged as the first book ended. Films such as ‘Mission Impossible,’ ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ …
June 15, 2019
Writing: Historical Memories Recalled
Historical fiction entertains and feeds memory. I remember teaching, Jackie French’s Hitler’s Daughter, and noted students’ curiosity on whether Hitler did indeed have a daughter. Research flourished and wonderful creative writing emerged. Some of my favourite historical reads are, Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities with London and Paris during the French Revolution, Margaret …
May 25, 2019
Adorable Ghost on Australian Shores
In this segment on Literary Voices, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to the selfless founder of a rapidly growing global author community, Motivational Strips, which supportively encourages aspiring and established writers from a worldwide audience of 105 countries. Shiju H Pallithazheth’s debut novel, Katashi Tales was a sensational release in April 2019. …
