Allison Symes's Blog, page 13
June 10, 2023
Books To Dip Into
I love books you can dip into but what do I mean by that? Well, short story anthologies and flash fiction collections are ideal for this, of course. I will admit to being biased here given I have work in anthologies and two flash collections of my own out there.
But I also love the reference books to dip into as and when.
A great one for this is Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable which goes into the origins of well known fables and phrases. Fascinating book to dip into. It’s a massive one as well - another one to avoid dropping on your foot.
I also love books like the Agatha Christie short story collections. Her novels I will read from cover to cover, naturally, but for the collections I can pick a story at random and then come back to another at random later if I wish. I find this to be a refreshing way to read from time to time.
I have a number of writing advice books on my shelves and I can dip into those to refer to specific topics now I know what it is I need to know.
When you start out as a writer, you generally don’t know. You find out what you do need to know about the writing world as you go along.
But I am at that point now where I can just refer back to selected chapters as and when I need it. (This frees up more time to read other things so win-win there and proves there is value to dipping into books at times).
But I also love the reference books to dip into as and when.
A great one for this is Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable which goes into the origins of well known fables and phrases. Fascinating book to dip into. It’s a massive one as well - another one to avoid dropping on your foot.
I also love books like the Agatha Christie short story collections. Her novels I will read from cover to cover, naturally, but for the collections I can pick a story at random and then come back to another at random later if I wish. I find this to be a refreshing way to read from time to time.
I have a number of writing advice books on my shelves and I can dip into those to refer to specific topics now I know what it is I need to know.
When you start out as a writer, you generally don’t know. You find out what you do need to know about the writing world as you go along.
But I am at that point now where I can just refer back to selected chapters as and when I need it. (This frees up more time to read other things so win-win there and proves there is value to dipping into books at times).
June 3, 2023
Book "Flops"
What do you consider makes a book “flop” for you?
Thankfully, I’ve not had too much experience of this but if a character doesn’t grip me quickly, I’m unlikely to read much further.
I have to care about the character. I have to care about what happens to them and what they do or don’t do to help themselves. There has to be the hook to draw me into reading more and then more etc.
For non-fiction, firstly the topic has to grip me. Secondly, the narrative has to be interesting.
I don’t want a list of dates. I want a good read which helps me take in useful information as I go.
This is where I welcome creative non-fiction which uses techniques in fiction writing to great effect in presenting non-fiction material in a more engaging manner.
I’ve mentioned before I love the works of Ben Mcintyre. His books read as novels though they are all non-fiction. Case in point here I think.
The biggest killer of a book is dullness. Dull presentation. Dull characters. Funnily enough, you can learn from books you didn’t enjoy and work out what it was that failed for you to help you avoid doing the same in your own work.
Thankfully, I’ve not had too much experience of this but if a character doesn’t grip me quickly, I’m unlikely to read much further.
I have to care about the character. I have to care about what happens to them and what they do or don’t do to help themselves. There has to be the hook to draw me into reading more and then more etc.
For non-fiction, firstly the topic has to grip me. Secondly, the narrative has to be interesting.
I don’t want a list of dates. I want a good read which helps me take in useful information as I go.
This is where I welcome creative non-fiction which uses techniques in fiction writing to great effect in presenting non-fiction material in a more engaging manner.
I’ve mentioned before I love the works of Ben Mcintyre. His books read as novels though they are all non-fiction. Case in point here I think.
The biggest killer of a book is dullness. Dull presentation. Dull characters. Funnily enough, you can learn from books you didn’t enjoy and work out what it was that failed for you to help you avoid doing the same in your own work.
May 27, 2023
Do You Change Your Favourite Book List?
I suspect you may well have a favourite book list. I do. But do you ever change what is on it?
I do so every now and then but it is mainly to add things to it! The nice thing about favourites is nobody has the right to specify you can only have so many. Even if they did, I’d ignore them!
What is nice is trying to keep a balance on my list of funny books, crime books, fiction, and non-fiction, and it is always a joy to discover a new favourite. Doesn’t mean you cherish the old favourites any the less either.
What is nice is having favourites to pick in the first place.
Of course if you read ebooks as well, you could have two favourite book lists - one for the Kindle as well as your print versions!
I do so every now and then but it is mainly to add things to it! The nice thing about favourites is nobody has the right to specify you can only have so many. Even if they did, I’d ignore them!
What is nice is trying to keep a balance on my list of funny books, crime books, fiction, and non-fiction, and it is always a joy to discover a new favourite. Doesn’t mean you cherish the old favourites any the less either.
What is nice is having favourites to pick in the first place.
Of course if you read ebooks as well, you could have two favourite book lists - one for the Kindle as well as your print versions!
May 20, 2023
Non-Fiction
I have got into non-fiction a lot over the last few years and am glad to have discovered it. Sometimes ideas for stories spark from a non-fiction book so I am glad about this for that reason too!
Reading non-fiction has increased my knowledge of certain time periods which is great in and of itself and I suspect will fuel ideas for further stories later on.
I’ve known that happen before. You suddenly find something out and it triggers an idea. Sometimes it can be finding out what you thought was true might not be or at the very least there is another side to things which is also worthy of exploring in my fiction work.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is a case in point here as it made me think again about Richard III.
I love the way non-fiction has finally shaken off its “worthy but dull” image. Well at least that was the image I had for it.
The likes of the Ben Macintyre books on various aspects of World War Two history read like novels. I like that.
Reading non-fiction has increased my knowledge of certain time periods which is great in and of itself and I suspect will fuel ideas for further stories later on.
I’ve known that happen before. You suddenly find something out and it triggers an idea. Sometimes it can be finding out what you thought was true might not be or at the very least there is another side to things which is also worthy of exploring in my fiction work.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is a case in point here as it made me think again about Richard III.
I love the way non-fiction has finally shaken off its “worthy but dull” image. Well at least that was the image I had for it.
The likes of the Ben Macintyre books on various aspects of World War Two history read like novels. I like that.
May 13, 2023
The Joy of Reading
As a writer, I’m well aware of the advice that to write well, you need to read well. This is true. We are all inspired by our own love of reading as well as by ideas that come to us as we read something else. (I’ve known that happen when I’m reading non-fiction).
But the joy of reading goes beyond that. The reason I write is I love stories. How do I know I do? Because I read loads of them!
I love reading in my genre (flash fiction/short stories) and outside of that. I like reading contemporary as well as classic fiction and non-fiction.
Reading takes you outside of this world for a while. I can forget my problems, pressures etc for a while. I find joy in knowing I’m supporting the industry I am part of (even though it is in a small way). I want to be entertained by someone else’s words while hoping mine may entertain someone else in turn.
As life is so short, I won’t waste time on a story or book that doesn’t grip me fairly quickly but I will read across genres and love doing so.
As a writer, I can also learn, subconsciously by reading, how stories are set out, what the balance of dialogue to narrative usually is and so on.
But even without the help for my own writing, I would read anyway.
I just love stories. It is that simple.
But the joy of reading goes beyond that. The reason I write is I love stories. How do I know I do? Because I read loads of them!
I love reading in my genre (flash fiction/short stories) and outside of that. I like reading contemporary as well as classic fiction and non-fiction.
Reading takes you outside of this world for a while. I can forget my problems, pressures etc for a while. I find joy in knowing I’m supporting the industry I am part of (even though it is in a small way). I want to be entertained by someone else’s words while hoping mine may entertain someone else in turn.
As life is so short, I won’t waste time on a story or book that doesn’t grip me fairly quickly but I will read across genres and love doing so.
As a writer, I can also learn, subconsciously by reading, how stories are set out, what the balance of dialogue to narrative usually is and so on.
But even without the help for my own writing, I would read anyway.
I just love stories. It is that simple.
May 6, 2023
Commemorative Reading
I thought this was an apt topic for the week of the Coronation of King Charles III. I read commemorative reading every now and then.
For example, I enjoyed Andrew Marr’s book Diamond Queen, which was brought out to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth.
I enjoyed the commemorative programme for the Coronation of King Charles. Lots of interesting historical pieces in there but then I am a fan of historical works, fiction and non-fiction.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is the only novel that has ever made me change my mind about a real historical figure - in this case Richard III. It’s a short volume. The narrative is based on a detective confined to hospital and he does a “theoretical investigation”. Well worth checking out. Triggered my reading more about Richard III too.
Commemorative reading places you in time and can act as research material. I can use this for inventing characters for my own stories.
I can set them against a particular time period and have some of the reading material to hand to help me flesh out details my readers would need to know.
For example, I enjoyed Andrew Marr’s book Diamond Queen, which was brought out to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth.
I enjoyed the commemorative programme for the Coronation of King Charles. Lots of interesting historical pieces in there but then I am a fan of historical works, fiction and non-fiction.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is the only novel that has ever made me change my mind about a real historical figure - in this case Richard III. It’s a short volume. The narrative is based on a detective confined to hospital and he does a “theoretical investigation”. Well worth checking out. Triggered my reading more about Richard III too.
Commemorative reading places you in time and can act as research material. I can use this for inventing characters for my own stories.
I can set them against a particular time period and have some of the reading material to hand to help me flesh out details my readers would need to know.
April 29, 2023
Reading Moods
Does your mood change what you were planning on reading?
When life is especially grim, I will often turn to humorous works for sheer escapism. Indeed, I think humorous writing has a major role to play here. Funnily enough, the cosier end of the crime market can have a similar effect.
I have to be in a reasonably upbeat mood to begin with to cope with anything grim reading wise. That decision is backed by the fact I only have so much time in which to read so I want to make sure I enjoy what I do read!
For non-fiction, if I’m reading history (as I currently am with 1000 Years of Annoying the French by Stephen Clark), I find mood matters less.
Regardless of mood, whatever I read, I want to “zip” along and finish my reading session feeling I could have carried on reading all night if it wasn’t for the need to get some sleep!
So over to you then. Do you find you have to be in the right mood to read at all? (Not a problem with me - I will read, it is just a question of what I read).
Do you find your mood dictates what you read (as it can do for me)? Or is it a question of working your way through your To Be Read pile methodically?
When life is especially grim, I will often turn to humorous works for sheer escapism. Indeed, I think humorous writing has a major role to play here. Funnily enough, the cosier end of the crime market can have a similar effect.
I have to be in a reasonably upbeat mood to begin with to cope with anything grim reading wise. That decision is backed by the fact I only have so much time in which to read so I want to make sure I enjoy what I do read!
For non-fiction, if I’m reading history (as I currently am with 1000 Years of Annoying the French by Stephen Clark), I find mood matters less.
Regardless of mood, whatever I read, I want to “zip” along and finish my reading session feeling I could have carried on reading all night if it wasn’t for the need to get some sleep!
So over to you then. Do you find you have to be in the right mood to read at all? (Not a problem with me - I will read, it is just a question of what I read).
Do you find your mood dictates what you read (as it can do for me)? Or is it a question of working your way through your To Be Read pile methodically?
April 22, 2023
What I Like about Reviews
All authors would like reviews, ideally good ones of course. What I like about reviews I read is when they give me information and a sense of what a book is about without giving away too much of it. These are the kind of reviews I try to write as well.
Other than buying a writer’s book, giving them an honest review is the second best thing you can do to help the authors in your life.
We can share the fact we have had reviews in (which encourages people to take a look at those and hopefully our books too). It gives us a much needed morale boost. Bear in mind we are at our desks alone for a lot of the time. It is also a form of validation and most writers appreciate getting that every now and again.
So if you’ve read books you love, do review them.
Reviews don’t have to be long. They don’t take much time to do and they really do help writers. And where better than to spread the word about the usefulness of well thought out reviews than here at Goodreads?!
Other than buying a writer’s book, giving them an honest review is the second best thing you can do to help the authors in your life.
We can share the fact we have had reviews in (which encourages people to take a look at those and hopefully our books too). It gives us a much needed morale boost. Bear in mind we are at our desks alone for a lot of the time. It is also a form of validation and most writers appreciate getting that every now and again.
So if you’ve read books you love, do review them.
Reviews don’t have to be long. They don’t take much time to do and they really do help writers. And where better than to spread the word about the usefulness of well thought out reviews than here at Goodreads?!
April 15, 2023
Reading Away From Home
I usually take my Kindle with me for trips. Gives me choice. Saves weight. Gives me packing room for other things too.
But for my trip to the Commitee Retreat for the Association of Christian Writers, where I am as this goes out, I left my reader at home. Why?
Because I'm currently engrossed with two different paperbacks I couldn't bear to leave behind.
One is 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which is funny and informative (written by Stephen Clarke).
The other is The Continuing Times of Isabella M Smugge (written by Ruth Leigh). This is funny and moving.
Plan to continue to make progress on these while away.
Do think two decent sized paperbacks is a good limit for books in a case though!
But for my trip to the Commitee Retreat for the Association of Christian Writers, where I am as this goes out, I left my reader at home. Why?
Because I'm currently engrossed with two different paperbacks I couldn't bear to leave behind.
One is 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which is funny and informative (written by Stephen Clarke).
The other is The Continuing Times of Isabella M Smugge (written by Ruth Leigh). This is funny and moving.
Plan to continue to make progress on these while away.
Do think two decent sized paperbacks is a good limit for books in a case though!
April 8, 2023
Humorous Books and Stories
I love humorous books and stories. As well as treasuring the works of Wodehouse, Austen, and Pratchett (now there’s a trio for you!), one of my favourite books is The Oxford Book of Humorous Prose compiled by the much missed humorist and all round good person, Frank Muir.
(I remember him from the TV show Call My Bluff and he was an early pioneer of BBC radio comedy with his writing partner, the equally missed Denis Norden).
The book is huge (and not to be dropped on your foot if, like me, you have the hardback edition) but it is a riveting read. Also perfect for dipping into when you need a quick “humour fix”. Can’t recommend highly enough.
The reason I mention it is because my late mother taught me to read at an early age and I inherit my love of books and stories from her.
The one thing she never really got though was humorous writing. No idea why. Just didn’t work for her at all. The nearest she got to it was with Jane Austen.
Yet she read sci-fi, crime, thrillers, Du Maurier, Dickens, all sorts, and fantasy. She loved the Terry Brooks series of fantasy books. Me? It was Terry Pratchett all the way here!
Which humorous books would you recommend? Do you have any “blind spots” with regard to reading?
(I remember him from the TV show Call My Bluff and he was an early pioneer of BBC radio comedy with his writing partner, the equally missed Denis Norden).
The book is huge (and not to be dropped on your foot if, like me, you have the hardback edition) but it is a riveting read. Also perfect for dipping into when you need a quick “humour fix”. Can’t recommend highly enough.
The reason I mention it is because my late mother taught me to read at an early age and I inherit my love of books and stories from her.
The one thing she never really got though was humorous writing. No idea why. Just didn’t work for her at all. The nearest she got to it was with Jane Austen.
Yet she read sci-fi, crime, thrillers, Du Maurier, Dickens, all sorts, and fantasy. She loved the Terry Brooks series of fantasy books. Me? It was Terry Pratchett all the way here!
Which humorous books would you recommend? Do you have any “blind spots” with regard to reading?
