David Burrows's Blog, page 4
January 9, 2018
Improving Fiction Writing Using Life Experiences. Part 1.
Many articles advise authors to write about what they know, and I am a firm believer in this. However, writing fantasy books can make this challenging. For example, how many of us have ever ridden a dragon or fought in a shield wall? So how does writing from life experiences help the tale? It is because of the realism this adds. This is very important especially in fantasy writing. Imagination is also hugely important, but by adding a sense of realism, wherever you can, this makes the fantasy aspects seem less surreal.
So what aspects of life did I pick, to aid my writing? I have been very fortunate to have had lots of hobbies, including mountaineering, camping, the territorial army, ice climbing, rock climbing, scuba diving, Saxon/Viking re-enactment, gliding and some I have probably forgotten about. So how do these help my writing? In part 1 I focus on how mountaineering has helped my writing.
I have spent many a weekend on snow-capped mountains, freezing half to death. I have been tired, wet and hungry after a long day's march. I have been in a cloud of midges where everyone was choking as the midges were so thick around us that we breathed them in. I have climbed mountains where each false summit was supposed to have been the last and felt the overwhelming despair this creates. However, I have also known the joys of reaching a campsite and washing from a billycan of lukewarm water with a sponge; the feel of grass under tired feet, having removed my boots; reaching a mountain top and seeing the glorious panorama below. It is amazing how much your spirits revive once you are fed and bedded down for the night.
These are the feelings that I tried to impart to my character. The agony of boots chaffing, blisters bursting and blood seeping through the leather. Wet clothes clinging to the body, sucking heat away from my legs. The impossibility of walking on marshland, sinking with every step and the sucking and tugging on boots to escape.
I once camped in the Peak District when it was -30 degrees Celsius - and to make matters worse I forgot my sleeping mat. We spent the evening in a pub, sitting before a roaring fire and drinking pints of ale. Having to go out into the frigid cold was one of the hardiest things I have ever done. I even had to dig snow around the sides of the tent to prevent the wind howling under the fly sheet. To compensate for the lack of a ground mat I took several newspapers from the pub and laid them on the ground. It was still so cold that I struggled to sleep. The following day, despite low spirits and being tired, we still managed to carry on and walk our intended route.
So, when Kaplyn and his friends find themselves climbing Ban Kildor in Legacy of the Eldric, my heart goes out to them. At least I could pack it in and go home to a bath and central heating, but my poor characters were banished to night after night in the wild with only wolves for company and often little to eat.
Authors are very hard on their characters and I sometimes wonder whether we create the world and the characters in which we write. If that is true, then I have a lot of apologising to do.
A View in the Peak DistrictProphecy of the Kings - Believable Fantasy by David Burrows
http://davidburrows.org.uk/
For tips on writing a book http://www.writingabook.ninja/2014/06/writing-book-part-1.html
So what aspects of life did I pick, to aid my writing? I have been very fortunate to have had lots of hobbies, including mountaineering, camping, the territorial army, ice climbing, rock climbing, scuba diving, Saxon/Viking re-enactment, gliding and some I have probably forgotten about. So how do these help my writing? In part 1 I focus on how mountaineering has helped my writing.
I have spent many a weekend on snow-capped mountains, freezing half to death. I have been tired, wet and hungry after a long day's march. I have been in a cloud of midges where everyone was choking as the midges were so thick around us that we breathed them in. I have climbed mountains where each false summit was supposed to have been the last and felt the overwhelming despair this creates. However, I have also known the joys of reaching a campsite and washing from a billycan of lukewarm water with a sponge; the feel of grass under tired feet, having removed my boots; reaching a mountain top and seeing the glorious panorama below. It is amazing how much your spirits revive once you are fed and bedded down for the night.
These are the feelings that I tried to impart to my character. The agony of boots chaffing, blisters bursting and blood seeping through the leather. Wet clothes clinging to the body, sucking heat away from my legs. The impossibility of walking on marshland, sinking with every step and the sucking and tugging on boots to escape.
I once camped in the Peak District when it was -30 degrees Celsius - and to make matters worse I forgot my sleeping mat. We spent the evening in a pub, sitting before a roaring fire and drinking pints of ale. Having to go out into the frigid cold was one of the hardiest things I have ever done. I even had to dig snow around the sides of the tent to prevent the wind howling under the fly sheet. To compensate for the lack of a ground mat I took several newspapers from the pub and laid them on the ground. It was still so cold that I struggled to sleep. The following day, despite low spirits and being tired, we still managed to carry on and walk our intended route.
So, when Kaplyn and his friends find themselves climbing Ban Kildor in Legacy of the Eldric, my heart goes out to them. At least I could pack it in and go home to a bath and central heating, but my poor characters were banished to night after night in the wild with only wolves for company and often little to eat.
Authors are very hard on their characters and I sometimes wonder whether we create the world and the characters in which we write. If that is true, then I have a lot of apologising to do.
A View in the Peak DistrictProphecy of the Kings - Believable Fantasy by David Burrows http://davidburrows.org.uk/
For tips on writing a book http://www.writingabook.ninja/2014/06/writing-book-part-1.html
December 8, 2017
Writing a Book: The Importance of a Web Banner
It is useful having a web banner and this can double up as a banner on Facebook. Mine is 900x250 pixels, approximately. A web banner is an image so all the text is converted to an image. You can play around with lots of different fonts this way and these are displayed correctly as it is an image. Some fonts are not converted very well otherwise.
My final attempt was helped along by a colleague and I think he helped me create a much more atmospheric banner. As you can see we added atmosphere by having a woodland background and also by changing the font. I got the mage from an excellent free website http://www.everystockphoto.com/
As opposed to the original
I hope you agree that the first is a definite improvement
My final attempt was helped along by a colleague and I think he helped me create a much more atmospheric banner. As you can see we added atmosphere by having a woodland background and also by changing the font. I got the mage from an excellent free website http://www.everystockphoto.com/
As opposed to the original
I hope you agree that the first is a definite improvement
November 11, 2017
FREE for Christmas - Drachar's Demons. A fantasy tale. Yule love it!
Treat yourself or a friend to a FREE e book for Christmas.
Click here to go to the free download page.
https://tinyurl.com/yd8mpf6m
Click here to go to the free download page.
https://tinyurl.com/yd8mpf6m
November 10, 2017
Are Men Doomed?
Dr Who -- a woman!! There goes my childhood. She doesn't even have that quirky dress sense that most Drs had.
To me Dr Who will always be William Hartnell. I didn't remember him very well as I was a bit too young, but it was his series that introduced the Daleks and they scared the begeebers out of me. The way people turned into skeletons when EXTERMINATED was awesome. It worked oddly well in black and white and perhaps less so in colour.
Anyway, if the world no longer needs a male Dr Who then are men doomed? Perhaps the Daleks weren't needed after all to destroy mankind. Love the boots though.
To me Dr Who will always be William Hartnell. I didn't remember him very well as I was a bit too young, but it was his series that introduced the Daleks and they scared the begeebers out of me. The way people turned into skeletons when EXTERMINATED was awesome. It worked oddly well in black and white and perhaps less so in colour.
Anyway, if the world no longer needs a male Dr Who then are men doomed? Perhaps the Daleks weren't needed after all to destroy mankind. Love the boots though.
Wanton Destruction - Never Give a Man an Axe
Wow. I feel guilty. The axe was in my hand and what could I do? The shed had to go!
There's something strangely liberating about destruction. Is this a man thing? Is it because I may have Viking genes? The moment I started tearing into the shed, ripping it apart with a crow bar and smashing rotten planks with an axe, I felt like a marauding Mongol in one of Genghis Khan's armies. I should do this more often. The only problem is - there is only 1 shed left in my garden. Strangely, I sense that tremor each time I walk past. That didn't save the last shed though!
Shed murderer, I hear you say. Bring it on!
October 28, 2017
Penny Dreadful. Oh Dear!
Season 1 for me was well...dreadful. It was long winded and dull. However Season 2 is far better. The tale of witchcraft has brought the series alive. This programme had all the hallmarks to be great with vampires, witches, monsters etc. However, Series 1 seemed to lack for a story line. It was as if the produces had thought, as an example -- let's do an episode on possession and the story line was pinched from The Omen. There were dull moments where too much emphasis was placed on convincing the audience about the passage of time.
However, in Season 2 there is much more action. I was worried though, that Frankenstein's female monster would be a rehash of previous tales but so far the tale is developing nicely along its own path. I like the way Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and other notary characters flit in and out of the tale. It's like meeting a long lost friend...or at east an unfriend, as these characters are so mixed up and likely to do you harm.
OK I am well behind most people on these Seasons but if you are like me and uncertain whether it is worth watching, it is worth a try.
However, in Season 2 there is much more action. I was worried though, that Frankenstein's female monster would be a rehash of previous tales but so far the tale is developing nicely along its own path. I like the way Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and other notary characters flit in and out of the tale. It's like meeting a long lost friend...or at east an unfriend, as these characters are so mixed up and likely to do you harm.
OK I am well behind most people on these Seasons but if you are like me and uncertain whether it is worth watching, it is worth a try.
FREE ebook: Drachar's Demons. A fantasy tale available from iTunes, NOOK and KOBO.
Drachar's Demons is available FREE from Nook, KOBO and iTunes. Click on the links below
ItunesKOBONOOK
There are some great reviews:I enjoyed reading Drachar's Demons. It's one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I've read this year. Drachar's Demons is excellent and fast paced entertainment for fans of traditional fantasy books. If you like well written traditional fantasy with plenty of magic and action, you'll enjoy this book very much. RisingShadow.net
ItunesKOBONOOK
There are some great reviews:I enjoyed reading Drachar's Demons. It's one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I've read this year. Drachar's Demons is excellent and fast paced entertainment for fans of traditional fantasy books. If you like well written traditional fantasy with plenty of magic and action, you'll enjoy this book very much. RisingShadow.net
October 23, 2017
Jack The Giant Slayer
OK, as far as Fantasy films out there this is a bit of hokum, but actually a good fun. The giants are definitely the best bit and quite a bunch of characters there are too. With their manners, you certainly wouldn't want one cooking your dinner; a little too like the trolls in the Hobbit.
It is the usual tale of Jack and the Beanstalk but with some twists. The cast is good on the whole although Ewan McGregor gets a bit annoying after a while with his plum-accent. Eleanor Tomlinson simpers through the role nicely, but her co-star, Jack - Nicholas Hoult, could have been better cast as he comes across too nerdy/whimpy.
As I say, the best bits belong to the giants and it is worth watching just for these. It's a bit like the Minions in steroids and with attitude. Good fun, especially how Jack deals with the giant chieftain. Awesome.
It is the usual tale of Jack and the Beanstalk but with some twists. The cast is good on the whole although Ewan McGregor gets a bit annoying after a while with his plum-accent. Eleanor Tomlinson simpers through the role nicely, but her co-star, Jack - Nicholas Hoult, could have been better cast as he comes across too nerdy/whimpy.
As I say, the best bits belong to the giants and it is worth watching just for these. It's a bit like the Minions in steroids and with attitude. Good fun, especially how Jack deals with the giant chieftain. Awesome.
October 9, 2017
For All Those Detectorists Out There.
“Why are you crying, Guthrum?” Alfrec asked.Guthrum was a picture of misery, sitting amongst the hedgerow, his knees to his chest. His threadbare tunic damp from his tears.“Dad is going to kill me,” Guthrum snivelled, wiping his nose with his sleeve.“I won’t let him,” Alfrec replied and Guthrum choked on a half-sob, half-laugh.“You are two years younger than me. If Dad beats me half to death how can you help?”Alfrec looked down, his well-meant intent shining in his eyes. Guthrum regretted his reply and said, “You are brave to offer, but I have to face him myself.”“What have you done?” Alfrec asked, sitting alongside his brother. The day was warm and the sky clear. It was almost pleasant sitting in the dappled shade. “He gave me a penny to buy a chicken, but I lost the penny.”“Where did you lose it?” Alfrec asked. Guthrum snorted. “If I knew that I wouldn’t be sitting here.” Alfrec cast Guthrum a glance that suggested the reply was unhelpful. “I had it in my pouch,” Guthrum said. “I stopped when I saw a hare and took out my sling, but the time I had my sling ready the hare had gone.”“Empty your pouch and let’s check,” Alfrec offered.Guthrum upended his pouch and his worldly belonging spilled out onto the damp grass. “What’s that,” Alfrec asked pointing at one object.“That’s a bat’s wing,” Guthrum said picking it up. “It brings me luck.”“Well I would get rid of that. It clearly hasn’t helped.” Alfrec said. “No sign of the coin then. Can we steal a chicken?” he suggested hopefully. “What and have my hand cut off? No thanks. There’s nothing for it, but to face Dad and take a beating as well as I can.”Alfrec looked down, “You are braver than me. I’d run away before facing him.”The two boys sat in silence, neither wanting to hurry toward the dreaded encounter.
Jack grinned. “Bloody hell,” he said with a whoop. His detector had given him a faint signal and now a glimmer of silver stood out in stark contrast with the black loamy soil. His fingers scratched at the dirt revealing more of the object.“What u got,” Kev asked, coming over and laying his own detector down before removing his headphones. “A hammered, I think.”“Bloody hell, is right,” Kev said reaching out to take the object which now sat in Jack’s hand. “That’s a Saxon penny.”Jack stood and promptly started his hammie-dance. “Oh yes! Oh yes!” he chortled as he circled round his friend. Kev grinned, “Great find, mate. This’ll be find of the month.” Neither men gave a thought to the lad who had lost it and the beating he took from his irate father ad if Guthrum had been alive to see Jack’s hammie-dance, he would have groaned to see such peculiar cavorting by a grown man.
Jack grinned. “Bloody hell,” he said with a whoop. His detector had given him a faint signal and now a glimmer of silver stood out in stark contrast with the black loamy soil. His fingers scratched at the dirt revealing more of the object.“What u got,” Kev asked, coming over and laying his own detector down before removing his headphones. “A hammered, I think.”“Bloody hell, is right,” Kev said reaching out to take the object which now sat in Jack’s hand. “That’s a Saxon penny.”Jack stood and promptly started his hammie-dance. “Oh yes! Oh yes!” he chortled as he circled round his friend. Kev grinned, “Great find, mate. This’ll be find of the month.” Neither men gave a thought to the lad who had lost it and the beating he took from his irate father ad if Guthrum had been alive to see Jack’s hammie-dance, he would have groaned to see such peculiar cavorting by a grown man.
For All Those Metal Detectorists Out There.
“Why are you crying, Guthrum?” Alfrec asked.Guthrum was a picture of misery, sitting amongst the hedgerow, his knees to his chest. His threadbare tunic damp from his tears.“Dad is going to kill me,” Guthrum snivelled, wiping his nose with his sleeve.“I won’t let him,” Alfrec replied and Guthrum choked on a half-sob, half-laugh.“You are two years younger than me. If Dad beats me half to death how can you help?”Alfrec looked down, his well-meant intent shining in his eyes. Guthrum regretted his reply and said, “You are brave to offer, but I have to face him myself.”“What have you done?” Alfrec asked, sitting alongside his brother. The day was warm and the sky clear. It was almost pleasant sitting in the dappled shade. “He gave me a penny to buy a chicken, but I lost the penny.”“Where did you lose it?” Alfrec asked. Guthrum snorted. “If I knew that I wouldn’t be sitting here.” Alfrec cast Guthrum a glance that suggested the reply was unhelpful. “I had it in my pouch,” Guthrum said. “I stopped when I saw a hare and took out my sling, but the time I had my sling ready the hare had gone.”“Empty your pouch and let’s check,” Alfrec offered.Guthrum upended his pouch and his worldly belonging spilled out onto the damp grass. “What’s that,” Alfrec asked pointing at one object.“That’s a bat’s wing,” Guthrum said picking it up. “It brings me luck.”“Well I would get rid of that. It clearly hasn’t helped.” Alfrec said. “No sign of the coin then. Can we steal a chicken?” he suggested hopefully. “What and have my hand cut off? No thanks. There’s nothing for it, but to face Dad and take a beating as well as I can.”Alfrec looked down, “You are braver than me. I’d run away before facing him.”The two boys sat in silence, neither wanting to hurry toward the dreaded encounter.
Jack grinned. “Bloody hell,” he said with a whoop. His detector had given him a faint signal and now a glimmer of silver stood out in stark contrast with the black loamy soil. His fingers scratched at the dirt revealing more of the object.“What u got,” Kev asked, coming over and laying his own detector down before removing his headphones. “A hammered, I think.”“Bloody hell, is right,” Kev said reaching out to take the object which now sat in Jack’s hand. “That’s a Saxon penny.”Jack stood and promptly started his hammie-dance. “Oh yes! Oh yes!” he chortled as he circled round his friend. Kev grinned, “Great find, mate. This’ll be find of the month.” Neither men gave a thought to the lad who had lost it and the beating he took from his irate father ad if Guthrum had been alive to see Jack’s hammie-dance, he would have groaned to see such peculiar cavorting by a grown man.
Jack grinned. “Bloody hell,” he said with a whoop. His detector had given him a faint signal and now a glimmer of silver stood out in stark contrast with the black loamy soil. His fingers scratched at the dirt revealing more of the object.“What u got,” Kev asked, coming over and laying his own detector down before removing his headphones. “A hammered, I think.”“Bloody hell, is right,” Kev said reaching out to take the object which now sat in Jack’s hand. “That’s a Saxon penny.”Jack stood and promptly started his hammie-dance. “Oh yes! Oh yes!” he chortled as he circled round his friend. Kev grinned, “Great find, mate. This’ll be find of the month.” Neither men gave a thought to the lad who had lost it and the beating he took from his irate father ad if Guthrum had been alive to see Jack’s hammie-dance, he would have groaned to see such peculiar cavorting by a grown man.
