Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 76

Guest’s Book Tour: Jim Bates

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Today, I’m welcoming Jim Bates to the Clubhouse Tearoom.
First off, thank you so much for having me here, Paula. If you’ve got some English breakfast tea, I’d love some. And, if you’ve got any chocolate laying around, I won’t turn it down!

Thank for joining me here, Jim. Let’s start by asking you When you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I started playing around with writing down stories when I was quite young but, of course, they were awful. My dad told me they’d get better as I got older and had more to write about, his way of telling me that a trombone playing fourth grader should cool it for a while. He was right!

            Fifty years later I realized that life was passing me by and I’d better get on the stick if I wanted to fulfill my life’s ambition.I decided to write a poem a day for a year, which I did, just to get into the writing groove. Then I wrote a haiku a day for a year. Then a series of four-line rhymed and six-line rhymed stanzas for a year each. For those of you counting, that’s over a thousand poems! In 2015 I took an on-line course on short story writing. I loved the genre and have been dedicated to writing short stories since then, including drabbles and flash fiction.

[image error]Wonderful Jim Bates

What writing elements do you think are your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I don’t think I have any strong points. I’m extremely self-critical and, frankly, surprised when I can ever say to myself that a story is completed. That being said, I feel I do a fairly good job writing about feelings, especially those better a husband and wife or adult and child, but, seriously, that’s a reach. I would love to be better at setting a scene and at writing believable dialog. I really struggle with those two elements.

Tell us a little about your latest writing project. Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

The big project I’m working on right now is almost completed. The third and final edits of my collection of stories have been signed off on and sent to Bridge House Publishing for the final stages. The collection is entitled ‘Resilience” and is my first stand-alone published work. I’m very excited!

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How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Right now, I have seven short stories I am working on in various stages of completion. I usually like to have about ten, so I’m a little short, which means I’ll be doing more writing. Hopefully, soon!!

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Getting back to question #1 the answer is a resounding “Yes!” My imagination is very poor, but my memory is still pretty good. Often times I’ll be thinking about my past, reliving situations and the people in those situations, and the seed of a story will appear. I generally run with and see where it takes me. It’s not the people, per se, that are in the stories, but they are as an aspect of the situation that forms the core of the story.

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

Up until a few years ago, I was a leather smith. I designed and made and sold handmade leather goods on my etsy site. I don’t do it so much anymore, but during the early part of this century I had quite a nice little side-line business going.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I write the first thing in the morning before other obligations take over. I will try to carve out some time during the day if I can and try to end the day with some more writing, but the morning is the best because I can focus on whatever writing project I’m working on at the moment and know that I won’t be interrupted.(Generally!)

Do you set yourself a daily word count?

I do not set a daily word count. I will write out the first draft of a story, just to get it down on the page, then I will go back and revise and revise and edit until I feel it’s completed. So, no word count, I just focus on the story and try to make it the best I possibly can.

How many hours a day do you write?

For me, two hours a day is really good, especially in the summer when I’ve got lots of other things going on. In the winter, I can generally carve out up to four hours, which is awesome. I get a lot more writing done in the winter than the summer, that’s for sure!!

How long on average does it take you to write a book and story?

Two nights ago, the idea for a drabble came to me, so I went to my computer and wrote it down. I refined the story and made sure it was 100 words long and then went to bed. The next day, I read it, changed a few things and sent it in. If the process took 30 minutes, I’d be surprised. My final story for the SF piece I’m doing for World of Myth Magazine is 2,300 words long and I know I’ve put at least twenty hours into it and I’m almost, but not quite, ready to send it in. I use those two examples to illustrate that I really don’t want to send a story in until I’m happy with it. Sometimes the process goes fast, sometimes it takes a while. I think that’s why I like having so many stories to work on at one time. I can go from one to another and stay fresh. On the average, though, a 1,500-word story usually takes about three to five hours.

Thank you for joining me in the clubhouse tearoom, Jim

Thank you so much for this opportunity to chat with you Paula! It was lots of fun

Guest’s Book Tour: Jim Aikin

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Today we have Jim Aikin with us in the Clubhouse Tearoom.

Thanks for the invite Paula! Oh, also … people tend (90% of the time) to let their fingers type “Aiken” without noticing. That’s dead wrong. It’s Aikin.

Oh, do they. Yes, I have the same problem with my surname sometimes to Jim. Well, may I start by asking you When you first begun your writing journey and what drew you to your chosen genre?

I didn’t know much about science fiction at that time, but I figured it
was probably a genre where having a good imagination would be a plus. My
first two novels were published (by real New York publishers) as science
fiction, but they weren’t hard SF. These days, when I’m writing
non-real-world fiction, I stick to fantasy. Most of the stock SF
premises are just too unlikely for me to get invested in them.

Also, in 1980 there were magazines that bought short fiction, and that
gave me an incentive. Those magazines are still around, I believe,
though I’m sure they’re struggling. Writing short fiction is, in my
opinion, essential to the learning process. I know some people start out
by writing a novel, but that strikes me as a recipe for disaster.
There’s way too much to learn about fiction technique! Writing a
dreadfully bad novel can take you a year; you can write a dreadfully bad
short story in two weeks. Also, if you join a critique group (which I
highly recommend — I was in a good one), it will be easier for the
group to critique short stories than to wade through a novel.

Tell us a little about latest writing project. Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

I’ve a couple of projects percolating. I seem to be shifting from
fantasy to mysteries. The next thing I self-publish is going to be a
historical mystery set in ancient Rome. Once I have that proofread,
formatted, and uploaded, I have an anti-cozy to work on.

The Rome mystery was first drafted 20 years ago, but I never attempted
to shop it around, and that was just as well. The new version is
considerably better. I hauled out the pile of paper a few months ago,
edited it while retyping it, enlisted a couple of beta readers, and so on.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Do you mean just fiction-writing projects, or should I include music
projects in the count? Either way, I don’t think I could come up with a
number. I have lots of ideas, and I try them out. Sometimes they work,
sometimes they don’t. Often it isn’t apparent for a while whether a
given idea is going to work. I have another novel that’s halfway through
the third draft (!) that may not work.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter?

A story begins with an _idea_. That may be an actual written chapter, a
written scene, or just a file full of notes. I do outline; I’m not a
pantser, and I don’t understand pantsers. The story may diverge from the
outline as it goes along. New ideas come up. But trying to wing it
strikes me as much too likely to lead you into a blind alley.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors, & can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

No, I can’t. Oh, do you want a longer answer? I can certainly name a bunch of writers
whose work I love, but (a) I wouldn’t try to put them in order and (b)
it’s not at all clear how or whether they’ve influenced my own writing.

With one odd exception. My second novel, “The Wall at the Edge of the
World” (published by Ace in 1993, and I’ve just self-published a
reissue) was inspired, to some extent, by a novel by George R. Stewart
called “Earth Abides.” I had read it as a teenager. However, when I
re-read it a few years ago, I discovered that it’s an awful book. What
stayed with me was the vision, not the actual writing.
My faves include, in fantasy, Terry Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold, and
Tim Powers. In mysteries I love a lot of authors — Ross MacDonald,
Donald Westlake, Carl Hiaasen, Sara Paretsky, and so on.

What did you learn when writing your book? In writing it, how much research did you do?

The next book I’m bringing out, the mystery set in ancient Rome,
involved a huge amount of research. At the time I first drafted it I was
living in Menlo Park, so I would drive up to Stanford and buy books from
the campus bookstore. I have a shelf four feet long that’s packed with
Roman history books. For a fantasy that’s not set on Earth, obviously
less research is needed. I don’t remember doing any research at all for
the Leafstone quartet (The Leafstone Shield and its sequels).

[image error]Jim Aikin



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Jim’s writing blog is found here.
You can find the first volume of the Leafstone epic here

Guest’s Book Tour: Gregg Cunningham.

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Daria Obymaha on Pexels.com

Today I’m welcome Gregg to the Clubhouse Tearoom. Welcome Gregg.

Hey Paula, will this be like Mastermind? Do I have to have a specialised subject for the double points round? Okay, my subject is Samantha Fox. Two lumps please! Fire away…

Not at all. I’m sorry but my questions are about your writing only.

Guest’s Book Tour: Azra Syed

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Welcome to the Clubhouse Tearoom, Azra,

I am sorry for a delay, Paula, but I was lost on the way. 

It’s understandable as the clubhouse site is off the beaten track. As you know we like to keep the Clubhouse location secret. Oh yes, what drink would you like, Azra?

Can I have a cup of black coffee please, with less than a pinch of sugar. That will help me to stay awake after a long drive and all that stress of taking a wrong turn, only if it’s no a big hassle, please.

Now our orders are in lets start by asking you, when you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 

Well, I started writing when I was a teen, I can recall when my first article was published in a local newspaper, back in 1992, I literally read it at least 20 times, I liked my byline, but I kept thinking I would have made it better. It was on local environmental issues, amazingly that article received really good feedback. And that encouraged me to write more. Well, I studied journalism because I wanted to be a voice for may women. 

I do not have any set genre, because I do write fiction and non-fiction. But I’m more into non-fiction, it may be because of my journalistic background as non-fiction is based on facts and figures and real-life stories.

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

Ummm, what is my stronger point? The question is do I have one? ‘joking’ my stronger point is research, I love it, and can conduct very thorough research quickly and easily. I mostly spend my days in Cambridge University Library and just read. In fact, I create a mind-map or wire frame first, it’s like creating a jigsaw puzzle and then finding the pieces to complete the picture. This way I can do more research in a short time. I always find it very amusing.

Well, there are many, but one that I am sure is my weakest point reading and editing my own work. I find it very challenge and many times it makes me give-up the whole project. Another equally important weak point is when I am working on a fiction project, I find it hard to name my characters. I get so fussy about how their names should sound. 

I am working on it, and hopefully, I will overcome these very annoying weaknesses.

Tell us a little about the latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Thanks for asking Paula, I just published my book ‘WFH During Pandemic and Beyond, It is a comprehensive guide on working from home. This was an idea because of the present situation we all are facing and in which many people are forced to work from home. Now I am working on another project which is my second book, again non-fiction, and it’s a very unique idea, again relevant to the present conditions and a part of my profession: What is a cyber attack, and how to stay protected- it is on cybersecurity issues and it is a brand new idea.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? (If you only writing nonfiction, short stories, or play or poetry) do you plan your story ( poem, project, play etc), or let the characters lead you.)

It’s a very interesting question, and very vast too. Let me capsule it in a few sentences. When I decide to work on a writing project, I create a linear-map, and wireframe, for example, I write down 20 questions, then I pick best ones and divide them into chapters, and sub-chapters, I research about each question’s answers, and this way each and every chapter progresses to completion.

When I’m writing fiction, I do create a linear map, which is slightly different than the one I create for non-fiction. Instead of writing question and finding their answers, I write down characters, and draw a sketch for each character, and describe in words what that character is like. What he or she will do in the story and that way it progresses to writing chapters and sub-chapters. But there’s always a space for uninvited characters who just appear from nowhere and create loads of vibration or trembling into the smooth sailing of the story.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Yes, its something I can’t avoid, my characters are from the real world or slightly inspired by the real people.

What did you learn when writing your book (story, play or poem, nonfiction)? In writing it, how much research did you do?

Ah, I love research and do intensive research before planning my writing. It’s funny many times I over research and then scrutinize and find it could be for two different projects.

[image error]The Amazing Azra Syed

 Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

I don’t know, but there are a few facts about my life that readers from the west might find very strange, for example, when I wanted to study and my family was against it, ( I was the first girl from my family who studied to a university level- all without my parents’ consent) I was preparing for year 10 exams when my mother burnt my books because she wanted me to fail, but I still pass. 

Another thing was when my family wanted me to marry I was just 18, and I wanted to study, I was made to marry with Quran- the holy book- it is a tradition in the province of Sindh- Pakistan, where a girl is forcefully married with the holy book- it is like taking an oath that she will never marry to a man, or have any relationship in her life. It’s little similar to what nuns were committed to in the olden time. I grow up with that belief that I shouldn’t marry because I have sworn on the holy book. 

Up to the age of 30, I believed that I was married to the Quran and was not allowed to think about marrying a man. Even though, I was very independent back then. However, I was working as a journalist and had visited many countries too. My elder sister who is like a motherly figure to me was the one who changed my mind by calling it a fake tradition and preparing me mentally for having a normal life. 

Well, please allow me to tell you that such Quran marriages are prohibited in Islam, but, it’s just a man-made tradition in many societies, to deprive girls’ from their fundamental rights. I am thankful to my sister who supported me in my education and enabled me to be what I am today. Now every girl from my family is studying freely and is supported by their family.

(You and I, Arza have spoken before about how important it is for girls to be educated.)

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books, whether that be a long-forgotten memory, a positive experience etc?

No, I don’t, because I have a fear that other people, like my family and friends, might not be pleased about it.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I do write in the morning, I find it more creative, and can write for hours, and before going to bed. It’s very therapeutic and helps me to unwind at the end of the long tiring day. 

How long on average does it take you to write a book ? 

Well, my last book ‘WFH during Pandemic and Beyond,’ I wrote in one week, but editing took three weeks. Non-fiction doesn’t take much time, as it’s mostly on facts, but fiction, oh, I haven’t completed my novel yet, and its more than two years.

It has been lovely to be able to sit here and chat with you, Azra. We must do it again soon.

Thank you so much for having me, I really enjoyed it. Also thank you for my black coffee it was just right to my taste. 

Azra Syed’s website is found here

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Editing Old Tales

It’s strange when editing something you’ve written years again. It’s kind of like working with your younger self. You can hear your younger self speaking to you across the years. You find yourself say: Hey Paula, what were you thinking. Gosh, that’s so wordy. Hey, you’re repeating yourself here. You don’t need that, cut, cut, cut.

[image error]My younger self

Wisdom comes with age. It’s the same in life. As children we think our parents and grand parents don’t know what they are talking about. Yet there are moments in our lives when we hear things once said to our younger selves coming back to haunt us. I expect if we could hold up a listening device across the generations we would all hear familiar things being said to our ancestors as children. The echoes coming back across time as our many times-great grandparents tell their children off for things we once did, like making too much noise, or to go to sleep once they were in their beds, not to rush their food, to tidy up their things, that money doesn’t grow on trees etc.

Knowledge and distance helps us when editing our old work to see our faults so much clearer and allows us to give a fresh twist to old stories. In the past I’ve created new works out of old stories and half completed ideas. You know the ones that screamed at you to write them. They bubbled up and spilled out of you in an endless river of words only to dry up on the parched lake of dead end ideas. A spark of an idea wasn’t enough to keep it alive, or maybe you finished the story or book, but it lacked that magic to hook a publisher or agent.

[image error]Distance and Perspective

Distance allows us to view things in a new light. A hectic mother trying to keep house, husband and children clean, fed and safe doesn’t always comes across as caring and loving mum to her little ones. Yet, once those children become adults and they understand the pressure their mother was under especially once they have children of their own. A new perspective changes everything. When rejection comes your way remember this. Set it aside and allow yourself distance.

I’ve found that I can see so much clearer my wordy sentences, my repeated information dumping and clinches. No amount of read-throughs would have revealed the problems to me before. Time really does give us a clearer perspective.

Guest’s Book Tour: Jenni Keer

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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Welcome to the clubhouse tearoom, Jenni.

Hi Paula. Thank you for inviting me over for a cuppa. I’d like a smokey Lapsang Souchong without milk, if you have it?

Of course, we have everything here.

It sounds posh but basically tastes like the mugs of tea I remember having around the campfire with my boys when they were younger. That smokiness brings back great memories, especially now those boys are growing up and becoming young men, and I long for those days back.

What lovely memories to have conjured up by a simple cup of tea. While we waiting for our drinks may I start by asking you When you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

Two factors influenced my choice of genre, and they were what I enjoyed reading and what I thought I was capable of writing. I’ve always enjoyed a good romcom, and reading the Katie Fforde’s and Milly Johnson’s got me through a tough few years when I had four boys under five. They were uplifting and fun, not too heavy for my exhausted brain, and they were familiar. So that’s what I started writing – heart-warming romantic fiction. I do enjoy a dark thriller, but didn’t feel my lighter authorial voice suited this genre. However, as I grow in confidence, my voice has changed, and I have moved to include more historical threads in my novels, so I wouldn’t rule a darker me coming out in the future.

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

As I’ve just said, my writing is evolving, and, ironically, the two romcoms picked up by Harper Collins were the only two books I’ve written that didn’t include an historical element. I have now returned to the dual timelines I was writing when I got my first publishing deal and have written two new books with historical threads. These are currently out on submission and I enjoyed writing them so much I have dared to go a little darker with my current WIP. It’s the story of a bitter man who had a dysfunctional childhood (which we see in flashbacks) who suddenly has a naive young woman drop into his life. She makes him reassess his attitude and learn to move on, as between them they battle to solve an age-old mystery in a very curious house indeed…

[image error]Lovely Jenni Keer

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? Do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you.)

This is pantser/planner question and comes at an interesting time in my writing journey. I’ve hitherto been a pantser all the way – starting with the bare bones of a story and winging it from there. A couple of times I’ve tried to plan, in awe of fellow authors who do, because I see it as a much more efficient way of writing, but have never been able to do so successfully. For this new book, however, I’ve planned my chapters out for the first time ever. I still have my character profiles to sort, and some country house and board game research to do, but hope to start writing the novel in September. I will let you know if it enables me to write faster and if I manage to stick to the plan.

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

I suspect my mood does affect my writing. Sometimes, it means I can’t write at all. I’m too distracted or not in a cheery enough place to write funny scenes. I either plough on regardless, knowing I can tweak in the edits, or I try to influence my mood through music. I choose a cheery playlist for upbeat scenes and a dramatic songs for emotional areas of the book – and it really works.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Most of my characters have elements of real people in them but no one character is an exact replica of a real life person. The only possible exception is in Maisie Meadows – the flamboyant auction house owner was definitely inspired by a friend. In my head, he even looks identical. Other than him, my other characters are purely fictional with various character traits drawn from people I know. I usually find pictures online that resemble the characters in my head, and print them off to give me a visual aid when writing the book.

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What did you learn when writing your book ? In writing it, how much research did you do?

I LOVE RESEARCH and absolutely try to ensure everything I write is as accurate as it can be. Although we are told to write what we know, I read somewhere that the real trick is to know what you write. Consequently, for Lucy Baker I spent a long time researching knitting, to the point that several readers have assumed I can knit – when nothing could be further from the truth. If I’m writing about something I am not an expert in, I always run that scene past someone who is, so I have consulted knitters, auction house owners, solicitors, district nurses, veterinary assistants, and so on, to ensure things read correctly. I also try to get out to see my settings; country houses, auction rooms, old churches, working farms… to help me visualise things better. So, in answer to your questions, I’ve learned an awful lot because I’ve written about things I had very little prior knowledge of. Two of the most interesting things have been Arts and Crafts architecture at the end of the 19th century, and my World War One research. I knew nothing about the Great War, so it really was a thrilling research journey.

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

People who follow me on social media probably know this, but I dance. I do not have the body or energy of a dancer, but I love it and have been going for over ten years, and have passed national dance exams and am part of a formation team. We cover disco, street, rock and roll, slow and a bit of Charleston. We even flash-mobbed a friend’s wedding. All good fun and helps me to work of that writer’s bottom.

Do you set yourself a daily word count? 

Yes I do, because it can be hard to motivate yourself in any self-employed occupation. I’m not a fast writer, largely because I don’t plan, and because I tend to research as I go. Sometimes, I spend a morning researching for just one paragraph. I set myself a target of 1000 words a day, and this is seven days a week. Sometimes that can take a couple of hours and, occasionally, all day. Then I factor in a few days when I won’t get to the laptop and aim for 25k a month.

It takes me between 6-8 months to write a book from scratch. There is the ideas stage, the writing stage, and then the editing stage. I enjoy editing and this can take me several weeks. The finished 100,000 word book then gets sent to my agent, who may have more editorial suggestions. Finally, it goes out on submission – which is where I am now. It will be interesting to see if I am any faster with this current novel, as I have planned it.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?

Character names are important and the first thing I do is check that the name is appropriate for the age of the character and time period they live in. I do a search of the top 100 names for the decade in which they were born. Sometimes a name comes first, like Hester in my WW1 book, and sometimes a name takes ages and I will change it after the book is written.  For example, I wrote Maisie Meadows as Rae, but the publisher changed it. I occasionally find I’ve got several character names beginning with the same initial and have to alter some.

I always have a basic idea of the character but I don’t start to get to know them until I write them. Also, as plot ideas come to me, aspects of their character change or need to be added. For example, it was only halfway through Lucy Baker I realised that giving George allergies would make the book much funnier – especially as he ends up with a cat. I then go back to the start to weave this into the story.

Thank you so very much for join us, Jenni I know you’re a busy lady.

Thanks so much for having me over, Paula. It’s been an absolute delight. And thanks for the smashing cup of tea.

Book links

http://bit.ly/JKHopes

http://bit.ly/MaisieMeadows

Guest’s Book Tour: Jane Isaac

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Today I’m welcoming the crime writer Jane Isaac to the clubhouse tearoom. Welcome Jane.

Hi Paula. Thank you so much for inviting me into your clubhouse, it’s great to chat!

What would you like to drink?

I’ll have an Aperol Spritz, if it isn’t too much trouble. A hearty reminder of Italian holidays in the sun

Guest’s Book Tour: Allison Symes

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

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How lovely to see you again, Allison. Please sit down. Oh, here comes our order. You arrived just at the right time. Let’s start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I fell into flash fiction writing and blogging by accident, Paula. I’d been writing short stories (1500 words +) for Cafelit for a while when they issued a 100-word challenge. My first thought was you have got to be kidding me, how can anyone tell a proper story in that word count? My second thought was go on, see if you can do it. So I did and have not looked back. Flash fiction is addictive! I’ve always loved creating characters and flash has to be character led so it is an ideal format for me.

A writing friend told me about online magazine Chandler’s Ford Today and suggested I send in a piece. It was the first piece of non-fiction I’d written. The editor liked it, I sent in more pieces, and then set myself the target of whether I could write a weekly column. I could and I’ve found it is excellent for making me stick to deadlines. It also always means I have to produce some writing in a week!

What writing elements do you think are your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I love inventing characters. I can create a character and know how they will speak and think, what kind of language they would use, and what their weak points are. Weak points are interesting because other characters can exploit those. Also a character can go to a great deal of trouble in trying to cover those weak points up.

As for what I’d like to do better, I want to keep on improving on what I do for fiction and non-fiction. I can look back at pieces I wrote five years ago and understand why I wrote them the way I did back then but also can see how I’d do it now and again why. That’s fine. It shows I am making progress.

More importantly, it shows I am learning all the time about what works and what doesn’t in writing and I want to always be learning. I don’t think there is ever a point where you can afford to think “I’ve cracked this”. Writing is meant to keep you on your toes I think!

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

My latest writing project is coming soon, as they say! Tripping the Flash Fantastic, due out shortly,is my follow up flash fiction collection to From Light to Dark and Back Again. Both collections took longer than I anticipated to get together. In both cases, some of the stories appeared on Cafelit, others I wrote specifically for the books, and it took a good 18 months to ensure I had enough material to submit the collections to Chapeltown Books. I am working away at a third flash fiction collection but, as with the others, it will take a while to see the light of day!

This is why I like writing a weekly column for Chandler’s Ford Today. I know my stories take time to produce and get into a book but the column is something I do weekly, almost instantly appearing writing if you like.

I’m also working on a much longer term non-fiction project and am making good progress on a first draft of it. I suspect that will probably take me another six months to complete. Do I worry about that? No. Projects take time to develop and you have to allow that time.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Currently two – the non-fiction project and my third flash collection – but this is a tricky question  to answer. Well done, Paula! Why? I’m always fleshing out ideas for future stories for Cafelit, researching possible topics for CFT, drafting competition entries etc., so at any one time I will have something in draft, something “out there”, and something I’m editing. You could argue I have more than two unfinished projects on the go! Finished is finished either when something has been published or I’ve accepted I can’t do any more with the piece and it’s time to move on. Glad to say the latter doesn’t happen often but it does and you get better at accepting it. I have found some of the ideas I might come back to in a different way later on so nothing is wasted if you take the long term view.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? (If you only write short stories, or play do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you.)

I outline my characters. I have to know what their major traits are, what their biggest failing is etc. The latter is interesting as I then look at why the character has that failing. That usually tells me a great deal about them and enough to get on and draft their story.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors, can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

1. Terry Pratchett – for showing humorous fantasy IS a thing and a wonderful one at that.

2. P.G. Wodehouse – for showing that humorous prose, when done well, is sublime. Also it is clear the funny situations he created for his characters were not funny to the characters themselves. That’s important. It means his characters react to the situations as “real people” would.

3. Jane Austen – for introducing me to irony in fiction. Fell in love with that at once and am still in love with it.

4.  J.R.R. Tolkein – for the sheer scope of The Lord of the Rings which for me is the ultimate evil -v- good story.

5.  C.S. Lewis – for his Chronicles of Narnia series. Wonderfully written and entertaining. The killing of Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe scared me when I was a kid (and the film adaptation did the same). Lewis brought the dark into a story and called it out for what it was or so it has always seemed to me.

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

Not really. I’ve often written humorous pieces when I’ve had a rotten day! The writing of those pieces does much to lift my spirits. Sometimes I’ve written sad stories when I’ve had a really good day. I always stay true to my characters. If their mood in the story is black, then that is what I write.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Hmm…! Directly no but I do base my characters on people types that most of us will have come across at some point. Even my fantasy characters will have traits readers will love or loathe but the important thing is they will understand where those characters are coming from.

What did you learn when writing your book (story, play)? In writing it, how much research did you do?

I do more research for non-fiction, especially my Chandler’s Ford Today posts. How  much does depend on the topic I’m writing about. Sometimes I write opinion pieces so no research needed there! Having said that, I did have to check out poisonous flowers you might find in a garden for a story I recently wrote for a competition – as you do!

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

I sometimes write what I call “light” horror. It is about as dark as I go with my writing. Given a lot of my material is on the lighter, more humorous side, that might be a surprise.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books (or stories, play) whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

In my new book, Tripping The Flash Fantastic, one of the stories is about as personal a story as I think I’ll ever write and it was based entirely on memory. The Pink Rose was a tale I felt I had to write and so I did but it is different from what I usually do. I also think it’ll be a one-off. And, yes, the story brought back memories and emotions but the type of tale it is meant that was unavoidable. I did have to stop for a while after I’d got the first draft down and again after the editing. What I hope is if it moved me, it will move others.

[image error]The Wonderful Allison Symes

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

My main writing session is in the late afternoon/evening. I start by posting on my Facebook pages. The work then varies from writing/editing/scheduling my Chandler’s Ford Today post for the week to writing some flash fiction or short stories (to be submitted for competition or for Cafelit/Bridge House Publishing), and some work on my longer projects.

What work I do each night depends on what day of the week it is. For example, on a Friday, my CFT post appears so I will focus on spreading the word about that and updating my blog on my website and sharing that. On a Saturday, I will focus on drafting blog posts for future use and fiction writing. The rest of the week flies by in a haze of working on longer term projects, my CFT post for the following week, the next competition, the next Cafelit submission etc.

When writing stories for a competition, I always take 10 days off the official deadline and submit by that date. It ensures I never miss a deadline and gives me time to do all the editing I need to do. It also means I can plan out when I am going to have my story written by and when the editing must be done by. I love having a varied writing workload. It’s fun and keeps me on my toes. I never get bored!

Do you set yourself a daily word count?

No. I know what I want to achieve by the end of each day and go for that. For example, I start writing my next CFT post over the weekend. I will have that written, edited, and scheduled usually by the Tuesday. I then check it one more time, often on the Thursday night ahead of its appearance on a Friday. I ask myself at the end of each writing session if I’ve achieved what I want to or have made progress so I will complete a task by the day I’ve set myself as a target.

How many hours in a day do you write?

It varies. On a very busy day it can be as little as an hour. But most days it is 3 to 4 spread into two sessions, the main one in the evening is usually the longer one.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

No. I wouldn’t rule it out if I write in a different genre though. I can understand why a writer might want to then.

How do you select the names of your characters? & do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?

Fab question, Paula. I outline my characters so I work out what their major traits are (good and bad) and often the names will come about as a result of what I discover here. Sometimes I know I’ll be writing about an older character so will pick a name suitable for that generation. When writing fairytales/fantasy, I make the names up but I ensure they are easily pronounceable for a reader. No Mffllbbbxxx the Second of the Planet Zarggoracious here! I do make sure if I have more than one character in a story (I don’t always for flash fiction) that their names start with different letters.  I don’t know everything about a character to start with but I do know what drives them and why.

What was your hardest flash fiction story to write?

Probably The Pink Rose which will be out in Tripping the Flash Fantastic. I don’t usually write “emotional” stories and think this will be the nearest I get to that. This story is also a tribute to someone special.

How long on average does it take you to write a book (story or play)?

Difficult to work this one out as it takes a while to build enough material for a collection. I would say a year to 18 months in getting the material together and editing it ready for submission.

Paula, many thanks for such wonderful questions and for having me as your guest.

You’re very welcome, Allison. You’re welcome back anytime.

You can find Allison at these links:

CafeLit:

Chandlersford Today:

Blog:

Guest’s Book Tour: Bethany Camille James.

Welcome to my guest page. Here, every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation, over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, if they are not driving, with a friend about their work in progress, or latest book release. I’ll be talking to all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers.

[image error]Photo by Alexander Mils on Pexels.com

Today we welcome to the clubhouse tearoom, Bethany Camille James. Bethany is a poet. so if I may start by asking you, when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

Thats such a interesting question. What drew me to my chosen genre was the personal connection. Love is something I desire. I think most creatures need love in some aspect. Romance and spirituality are my themes.

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

My strongest writing elements is metaphors. Also, I use imagery and word play. The use of prose and poetry help me use alot of writing elements. I try to research proper writing technique.

Tell us a little about latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

I like this question. I try my hand at accepted ideas. However, I do them in a new fashion or way. For example, daily I try to do inspirational/encouraging edits. The message is usually short hand poetry and the edits are artistic representation of my poems. The actual edit is something I sell and has sentimental value to how I started as a writer. Moreover, it takes me time to produce quality edits.

Do you write a synopsis of poetry first or do you plan your poem and let it lead you ?

I am a outline type of girl. This is such a valid question. It really depends on how well I planned out a writing style/concept. For example, I researched how to write my synopsis after I planned and executed my book. I am into making poetry and writing on the spot or freestyle with lots of notes/structure.

[image error]The Poetess Bethany Camille James

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

Absolutely. A great example of this is how I created a mood board on my blog from art therapy sessions. It is entitled the following; “Art therapy leads to a better me.” My assignment was to craft a book from artistic tools of long term and short term goals. Mood swings can garner how you feel about you and the world around you. It can and will greatly influence your writing.

instagram.com/mymastersministry

What did you learn when writing your book (story, play or poem, nonfiction)? In writing it, how much research did you do?

My book is primarily research and technique. Without research I would not have known how to guide my writing. Have you ever seen someone make a cake? It takes the obvious right? Ingredients and a good recipe. Well, if you make it from scratch you must know technique. Or, you probably won’t be successful or even pleased with the final product. Meaningful research led to the best final product I could produce.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your poem whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc?

One thing I learned is about people in general. This interview has amazing questions right… Well, thats how people are with human interactions.  The more “human and natural” one’s writing is the more people understand. Thats why I go to great lengths to explain my thoughts and mullings. Overall, the entire experience has been unforgettable and enriching.

Do you set yourself a daily word count? 

I do word count based on writing structure or individual project(s). For example, some poetry styles have set word count and other times when doing things in repetition my word count naturally comes to under 100 words. However, with my book I tried alot of different word count/ formatting due to the variety of poetry.

How many hours in a day do you write?

At least 3 to 5 hours daily. However, that includes just thought process. I write quickly. Outside of my daily schedule and everyday responsibilites I run a digital store front, writing/poetry encouragement outlet, and share my poetry collection.

How long on average does it take you to write a book poem?

My only book is a series of revisions and lots of time/effort. I take a series of steps to achieve something valuable. I still am working on my book (The Big Game Volume 1:Spirituality and Love- Remastered Edition. My goal is to be remembered for it and for my words to be cherished.

goodreads.com/mymastersministry

Book links:

Amazon:

amazon.com/author/poetessbethanycamillejames

D2D:

https://books2read.com/b/bx8lXP

Social media links:

1. Pre Audiobook Recitation by God Sounds:

2. The Big Game Poetry Collection- Wedding Night

3. Checkout The Big Game Poetry Collection- Wedding Night

No End In Sight. Just the Beginning.

When I set out on my writing journey, I thought my final goal would be having a novel published, but since being published the the goal posts have shifted over night. Now I’m busy trying to generate reviews for my novel as this seems to be a sign that your novel is doing well.

Reviews aren’t just a sign that your book is being well received by the readers, but a sign to promotional and marketing companies that they are willing to take your novel or book on to market it even further if you decide to pay to promote your work further. All of this costs the writer more time and money as well as piece of mind as you begin to worry about whether your book is good enough.

I can honestly say that I never gave marketing and promoting much thought while I was writing. My only goal post was to find a publisher. Now the penny has dropped, and reality has slapped me hard around the face, I realise that marketing isn’t that simple. You can throw as much money at it as you can afford, but if your product isn’t well received by the buying public and you don’t get enough reviews, the marketing and promotional companies aren’t interested either. Just remember all big companies suffer the same fate with new products and they have bottomless advertising budget pockets.

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I guess we’re back to that old puzzle. What comes first? Chicken or Egg, publisher or agent, and now review or marketing