Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Ten Favourite Things about Reading
1. Books can take you into worlds beyond anything we know here. This is especially true for science fiction and fantasy.
2. Books can shed light on history both in non-fiction accounts and historical novels. The latter also has the advantage of being able to show what a historical figure could've been like as an individual, based on what is known about them. The author is not saying they are definitely like this, just that they could've been.
3. Reading a book encourages you to keep reading others. Not only is this relaxing, this improves your own appreciation of the written word by reading different authors and types of book.
4. You learn so much about characterisation by reading widely, in and out of your own genre.
5. Reading across non-fiction and fiction will help feed your own imagination. What can you do in your stories the authors you've read have not etc? (Also different writers have sparks for story ideas from varying sources. Where you get your sparks from will almost inevitably not be the same as where I get mine. At best there MIGHT be some overlap but we are all inspired by different genres and styles, What we do with what inspires us is unique to us too).
6. If you want to try out an author new to you, but are not sure about committing to the cost of a hardback etc, you can always borrow from the libraries and support them while you indulge in a good read!
7. Short story collections, including flash fiction, are increasingly popular so if the thought of a full length novel is not for you at this stage, why not try shorter fiction? There is something out there that will suit you! I love the fact there is a book out (and usually several) for anyone and everyone.
8. I suppose I am particularly conscious of this being a woman, but literacy is not something that has always been available to so many of us. So therefore I want to make the most of being able to read and write. There is a whole world of stories out there to explore.
9. Especially reading non-fiction, you can increase your own education significantly. Above all, it should be fun to find out things you didn't know.
10. Last but not least, as a writer, by reading as well you are supporting the industry you hope to join or have become part of. Whether you are self or traditionally published, I can't help but feel this is a good thing to do. I also can't see how you can write without reading well. You have to know what you like and dislike to come up with your own stories and how can you do that, other than by reading?
Comments welcome!
2. Books can shed light on history both in non-fiction accounts and historical novels. The latter also has the advantage of being able to show what a historical figure could've been like as an individual, based on what is known about them. The author is not saying they are definitely like this, just that they could've been.
3. Reading a book encourages you to keep reading others. Not only is this relaxing, this improves your own appreciation of the written word by reading different authors and types of book.
4. You learn so much about characterisation by reading widely, in and out of your own genre.
5. Reading across non-fiction and fiction will help feed your own imagination. What can you do in your stories the authors you've read have not etc? (Also different writers have sparks for story ideas from varying sources. Where you get your sparks from will almost inevitably not be the same as where I get mine. At best there MIGHT be some overlap but we are all inspired by different genres and styles, What we do with what inspires us is unique to us too).
6. If you want to try out an author new to you, but are not sure about committing to the cost of a hardback etc, you can always borrow from the libraries and support them while you indulge in a good read!
7. Short story collections, including flash fiction, are increasingly popular so if the thought of a full length novel is not for you at this stage, why not try shorter fiction? There is something out there that will suit you! I love the fact there is a book out (and usually several) for anyone and everyone.
8. I suppose I am particularly conscious of this being a woman, but literacy is not something that has always been available to so many of us. So therefore I want to make the most of being able to read and write. There is a whole world of stories out there to explore.
9. Especially reading non-fiction, you can increase your own education significantly. Above all, it should be fun to find out things you didn't know.
10. Last but not least, as a writer, by reading as well you are supporting the industry you hope to join or have become part of. Whether you are self or traditionally published, I can't help but feel this is a good thing to do. I also can't see how you can write without reading well. You have to know what you like and dislike to come up with your own stories and how can you do that, other than by reading?
Comments welcome!
Fairytales Ancient and Modern
This post has been inspired by the Royal Wedding (which I loved). I suspect there will be a book about it before long! There was a lot of talk during the commentaries about modern fairytales, which is fine with me. I'm all for fairytales, ancient and modern. My first reading love was the classic fairytales.
Thinking about it further, maybe children are drawn to the classic fairytales because they know they are honestly written?
Your average fairytale does not pull any punches about exposing what is wrong. There is no pretence Snow White didn't face an awful fate at the hands of the Wicked Queen. There is no "acceptance of her situation" by Cinderella! Change has to happen, injustices need to be righted, but in this world some magic is needed to make that happen.
Now if we could only make it happen in this one! Mind, if I could bring my fictional fairy godmothers and the like to life, they'd have a huge shopping list of things to put right, so it is probably just as well I can't.
Back to the reading and writing of books then!
Thinking about it further, maybe children are drawn to the classic fairytales because they know they are honestly written?
Your average fairytale does not pull any punches about exposing what is wrong. There is no pretence Snow White didn't face an awful fate at the hands of the Wicked Queen. There is no "acceptance of her situation" by Cinderella! Change has to happen, injustices need to be righted, but in this world some magic is needed to make that happen.
Now if we could only make it happen in this one! Mind, if I could bring my fictional fairy godmothers and the like to life, they'd have a huge shopping list of things to put right, so it is probably just as well I can't.
Back to the reading and writing of books then!
Coming Back To Earth
Have just got back from my annual highlight - the
Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Had a wonderful time discussing and learning about all things connected to the worlds of books and stories. What's not to like about that?
But, as ever with these things, you come back home again and you feel shattered and a bit flat. (You take in far more than you know you are when you are there and then I think the physical/mental tiredness of that hits you later).
So what can help you perk up again?
Why, nothing but a good book of course!
And the lovely thing about being a writer? You need to read widely, in and out of genre, to help feed your own imagination in any case, but you also get to write the books and with a lot of hard work, and some luck, get them out there.
So happy reading and writing!
Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Had a wonderful time discussing and learning about all things connected to the worlds of books and stories. What's not to like about that?
But, as ever with these things, you come back home again and you feel shattered and a bit flat. (You take in far more than you know you are when you are there and then I think the physical/mental tiredness of that hits you later).
So what can help you perk up again?
Why, nothing but a good book of course!
And the lovely thing about being a writer? You need to read widely, in and out of genre, to help feed your own imagination in any case, but you also get to write the books and with a lot of hard work, and some luck, get them out there.
So happy reading and writing!
Impact of Writing
The impact of writing on the world in general cannot be underestimated.
As well as the Bible, Shakespeare, Dickens etc., all of which have contributed so much to our language and whose stories have been the inspiration for so many others, there are things like the Domesday Book and Magna Carta.
Historical documents which colour so much else in life and law. Nobody could have foreseen at the time of writing just how much impact these would have (though there would have been many hopes about the Magna Carta. Not least that King John was hoping to get rid of it again as soon as he possibly could! An early recognition of dangerous writing perhaps?).
What makes us love our favourite books and stories the way we do? It is also down to impact. The impact of them stays with us. We want to be like the heroic lead characters perhaps. We feel fear for the characters we love as they face dangers. We feel relief, joy etc when our favourites survive.
So do writers' play with their readers' emotions then? Yes but it is always best done subtly. The reader has to be willing to go along with the writer here. The writer has to deliver on the promise of his/her opening lines. We have got to be able to identify with those in the story to want to find out whether they make it through to the end or not.
So the impact of writing is everything then. As readers then we need to decide what impact we want to experience.
As well as the Bible, Shakespeare, Dickens etc., all of which have contributed so much to our language and whose stories have been the inspiration for so many others, there are things like the Domesday Book and Magna Carta.
Historical documents which colour so much else in life and law. Nobody could have foreseen at the time of writing just how much impact these would have (though there would have been many hopes about the Magna Carta. Not least that King John was hoping to get rid of it again as soon as he possibly could! An early recognition of dangerous writing perhaps?).
What makes us love our favourite books and stories the way we do? It is also down to impact. The impact of them stays with us. We want to be like the heroic lead characters perhaps. We feel fear for the characters we love as they face dangers. We feel relief, joy etc when our favourites survive.
So do writers' play with their readers' emotions then? Yes but it is always best done subtly. The reader has to be willing to go along with the writer here. The writer has to deliver on the promise of his/her opening lines. We have got to be able to identify with those in the story to want to find out whether they make it through to the end or not.
So the impact of writing is everything then. As readers then we need to decide what impact we want to experience.
Titles
How important is a story title to you?
I have mixed feelings on this one. With my reader's hat on, a good title will draw me in but it generally isn't what makes me buy the book. That is down to whether I like the blurb and opening paragraph.
Sometimes it's down to whether I've read the author before and know I am likely to enjoy the new one (though I always check the blurb and opening paragraph out.).
With my writer's hat on, I'm looking for titles which will convey the mood of my story and draw readers in. This is particularly useful for my genre, flash fiction, where every word has to "punch its weight". A good title here can save a lot of words in the overall count and let your readers know what to expect.
When writing, I usually start with the title as I need a peg to hang the story from but I have changed titles as and when I need to, given sometimes a better one comes to me as I write. I just need a starting point.
When reading, if a title is really good, by the end of the story it will be apparent as to how well it suits the tale. You won't be able to imagine a better or different one. When a writer feels like that about their title, they've got the job done!
Oh and this applies to non-fiction books and articles just as much as fiction.
I have mixed feelings on this one. With my reader's hat on, a good title will draw me in but it generally isn't what makes me buy the book. That is down to whether I like the blurb and opening paragraph.
Sometimes it's down to whether I've read the author before and know I am likely to enjoy the new one (though I always check the blurb and opening paragraph out.).
With my writer's hat on, I'm looking for titles which will convey the mood of my story and draw readers in. This is particularly useful for my genre, flash fiction, where every word has to "punch its weight". A good title here can save a lot of words in the overall count and let your readers know what to expect.
When writing, I usually start with the title as I need a peg to hang the story from but I have changed titles as and when I need to, given sometimes a better one comes to me as I write. I just need a starting point.
When reading, if a title is really good, by the end of the story it will be apparent as to how well it suits the tale. You won't be able to imagine a better or different one. When a writer feels like that about their title, they've got the job done!
Oh and this applies to non-fiction books and articles just as much as fiction.
Book Stalls at Writing Events
I love writing events anyway but I particularly enjoy having a good nose around book stalls/book rooms at these things. Wild horses wouldn't keep me away and all that...
It's always a joy to see works by friends, as well as my own, on these stalls too. But they also prove to be good opportunities to have a look at works and authors new to you.
So go on, at the next event you go to as a writer, put your reader's hat on too and see what you can find. Explore reading avenues new to you as well as enjoying favourite genres.
And for non-writers, one of the best ways to support author friends is to go to their events. The great thing is you are likely to come back with your next good read too! And that is always a good thing!😊
It's always a joy to see works by friends, as well as my own, on these stalls too. But they also prove to be good opportunities to have a look at works and authors new to you.
So go on, at the next event you go to as a writer, put your reader's hat on too and see what you can find. Explore reading avenues new to you as well as enjoying favourite genres.
And for non-writers, one of the best ways to support author friends is to go to their events. The great thing is you are likely to come back with your next good read too! And that is always a good thing!😊
Book Events
One of the things I miss most as a writer at the moment is the ability to go to book events.
Much as I do deeply appreciate what is available online, and it is a lifeline, I miss going into libraries and bookshops.
I also miss going to author events and I look forward to being able to do all of these things again in due course.
The Waterloo Arts Festival is going to be online this year. I’ll be taking part in that as one of the winners of their writing competition and I made a video for this.
It was good fun to do but oh I shall miss meeting up in person with my fellow writers. (We will all miss the pub lunch beforehand too!).
But the good news is books can still be celebrated and they should be. Of all the times to need books for escapism, it is now, isn’t it?
Whatever you’re reading, I hope you have a wonderful time “between the covers” and, whoever it is you’re reading, do consider leaving a review in the usual places including here. It really does help.
Much as I do deeply appreciate what is available online, and it is a lifeline, I miss going into libraries and bookshops.
I also miss going to author events and I look forward to being able to do all of these things again in due course.
The Waterloo Arts Festival is going to be online this year. I’ll be taking part in that as one of the winners of their writing competition and I made a video for this.
It was good fun to do but oh I shall miss meeting up in person with my fellow writers. (We will all miss the pub lunch beforehand too!).
But the good news is books can still be celebrated and they should be. Of all the times to need books for escapism, it is now, isn’t it?
Whatever you’re reading, I hope you have a wonderful time “between the covers” and, whoever it is you’re reading, do consider leaving a review in the usual places including here. It really does help.
