Allison Symes's Blog, page 19
April 16, 2022
Odd Books
I suspect, like me, you have a good range of books on your shelves and most of them you can put into categories.
I have a significant amount of crime novels, a whole section of humour (Wodehouse and Pratchett), and many others besides.
With my writing guides, those have their own sub-categories as some cover short story writing while others look at novels etc.
But I do have odd books I can’t put into a section. Some of these are reference books as some stand alone because they cover a particular topic. So I group these in my “odd corner”.
These are the kind of books which would have gone out of print long ago but which are a fascinating read and great for dipping into.
My odd books tend to be non-fiction and I have found that many a fiction story idea is inspired by something I’ve read in a non-fiction book. So this is another good reason to ensure I know where to find my odd books!
I’ve not yet got back to going to charity markets etc where you will often find odd but interesting books on offer. It is something I hope to resume but what I would say is even if you are the most die-hard fiction writer, do have a good selection of non-fiction books in. They are great reads in and of themselves and do use them to inspire your own story ideas.
When you are at charity markets have a good rummage and see what you can find. You may end up being glad you got those odd books in!
I have a significant amount of crime novels, a whole section of humour (Wodehouse and Pratchett), and many others besides.
With my writing guides, those have their own sub-categories as some cover short story writing while others look at novels etc.
But I do have odd books I can’t put into a section. Some of these are reference books as some stand alone because they cover a particular topic. So I group these in my “odd corner”.
These are the kind of books which would have gone out of print long ago but which are a fascinating read and great for dipping into.
My odd books tend to be non-fiction and I have found that many a fiction story idea is inspired by something I’ve read in a non-fiction book. So this is another good reason to ensure I know where to find my odd books!
I’ve not yet got back to going to charity markets etc where you will often find odd but interesting books on offer. It is something I hope to resume but what I would say is even if you are the most die-hard fiction writer, do have a good selection of non-fiction books in. They are great reads in and of themselves and do use them to inspire your own story ideas.
When you are at charity markets have a good rummage and see what you can find. You may end up being glad you got those odd books in!
April 9, 2022
The Joy of Short Fiction
Hands up time. I write short stories and flash fiction so I am bound to be biased here. Regardless of that, I have always loved short stories (and discovering flash fiction was a revelation to my reading diet as well as my writing one).
I will read flash and short story collections in between reading novels or longer non-fiction books. I kind of see them as an appetiser for the next “big book”.
But I love the impact of short fiction. You do get the pay-off that much more quickly and I enjoy reading that s well as writing it. I’ve always loved inventing people and thought that the best bit of storytelling. So with my short form work, I get to do that all of the time so win-win there!
And short stories have gone on to be turned into films. The most famous example has to be The Birds by Daphne du Maurier, famously turned into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock.
I also see reading short story and flash collections as a chance to try out an author’s style before I commit to reading their longer work.
From a reader’s viewpoint, this is lovely because in an anthology you can get to try out a dozen or so different authors and if some really strike you, then you’ve discovered more authors to try out. What’s not to like about that?
And of course, many an author gets into print via the short fiction route in the first place. I am just one of them!
I will read flash and short story collections in between reading novels or longer non-fiction books. I kind of see them as an appetiser for the next “big book”.
But I love the impact of short fiction. You do get the pay-off that much more quickly and I enjoy reading that s well as writing it. I’ve always loved inventing people and thought that the best bit of storytelling. So with my short form work, I get to do that all of the time so win-win there!
And short stories have gone on to be turned into films. The most famous example has to be The Birds by Daphne du Maurier, famously turned into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock.
I also see reading short story and flash collections as a chance to try out an author’s style before I commit to reading their longer work.
From a reader’s viewpoint, this is lovely because in an anthology you can get to try out a dozen or so different authors and if some really strike you, then you’ve discovered more authors to try out. What’s not to like about that?
And of course, many an author gets into print via the short fiction route in the first place. I am just one of them!
April 2, 2022
Character Attitudes
What hooks you into following a character’s story though to those magic words The End?
Something about the character has to draw you in and, for me, it is usually to do with their attitudes towards other characters, themselves, and life in general.
One of my favourite characters is Sam Vimes from Terry Pratchett’s wonderful Discworld series. Not only do I like following Sam through one novel I have loved watching that character develop over the series of Discworld novels he stars in - and boy does he develop.
That is a sign of a truly great character. They’re never static! And his attitude varies depending on who is dealing with but there’s never any doubt about him wanting to see justice done. (And doing his level best to ensure it is).
I also like characters who acknowledge their own shortcomings but overcome them. (Pride and Prejudice, anyone?).
A character who isn’t willing to change when it is clear change would bring them (a) happiness and (b) make them an all round better person is not a character that’s going to hold my interest for long.
Characters reflect us and what we know about life so a character’s attitude generally is something we will need to have understanding of, even if we don’t entirely agree with it.
Something about the character has to draw you in and, for me, it is usually to do with their attitudes towards other characters, themselves, and life in general.
One of my favourite characters is Sam Vimes from Terry Pratchett’s wonderful Discworld series. Not only do I like following Sam through one novel I have loved watching that character develop over the series of Discworld novels he stars in - and boy does he develop.
That is a sign of a truly great character. They’re never static! And his attitude varies depending on who is dealing with but there’s never any doubt about him wanting to see justice done. (And doing his level best to ensure it is).
I also like characters who acknowledge their own shortcomings but overcome them. (Pride and Prejudice, anyone?).
A character who isn’t willing to change when it is clear change would bring them (a) happiness and (b) make them an all round better person is not a character that’s going to hold my interest for long.
Characters reflect us and what we know about life so a character’s attitude generally is something we will need to have understanding of, even if we don’t entirely agree with it.
March 26, 2022
Celebrating the Booksellers
We should celebrate the booksellers, yes? If you’re lucky enough to have an independent book store near you, make the most of it! Even where you have a known chain, still support them.
Where I am, we were lucky enough to have a lovely independent book shop as part of our main shopping centre but the owner retired (understandably) and now the nearest bookshops are at least five miles away.
One of the joys of going to a writing event, such as the one I’ve recently returned from, is there is usually a book stall connected to it. These are often run by a local independent bookseller so, as well as supporting the authors whose works you buy, you support these good people too. And it does make sense to support the industry you want to be part of!
Although online ordering can be convenient, I don’t want the physical bookshops to disappear. I think we would lose something important. Browsing through bookshop shelves is a far more pleasurable experience than trying to browse online!
So go and support your local bookseller. You know it makes sense.
Where I am, we were lucky enough to have a lovely independent book shop as part of our main shopping centre but the owner retired (understandably) and now the nearest bookshops are at least five miles away.
One of the joys of going to a writing event, such as the one I’ve recently returned from, is there is usually a book stall connected to it. These are often run by a local independent bookseller so, as well as supporting the authors whose works you buy, you support these good people too. And it does make sense to support the industry you want to be part of!
Although online ordering can be convenient, I don’t want the physical bookshops to disappear. I think we would lose something important. Browsing through bookshop shelves is a far more pleasurable experience than trying to browse online!
So go and support your local bookseller. You know it makes sense.
March 19, 2022
Books and Journeys
This is an apt title given I am currently away at the Scottish Association of Writers conference and we are all busy celebrating books - reading them and writing them!
Books are great companions on journeys, of course. What holiday suitcase would be complete without them? These days I rely on my Kindle - no more worries about how many books I can fit in!😊
And each book is itself a journey. We follow the characters through their stories. For non-fiction the journey is in increasing your knowledge on a topic by the time you finish reading.
What matters is enjoying the trip!
Books are great companions on journeys, of course. What holiday suitcase would be complete without them? These days I rely on my Kindle - no more worries about how many books I can fit in!😊
And each book is itself a journey. We follow the characters through their stories. For non-fiction the journey is in increasing your knowledge on a topic by the time you finish reading.
What matters is enjoying the trip!
March 12, 2022
Drawing In The Readers
If there was a simple way to guarantee drawing in the readers, then someone somewhere would be a very wealthy person for selling the secret to that!
Speaking with my reader hat on, I am drawn to a book by (a) its cover, (b) its blurb, and (c) if I have already read the author’s work. If it is someone whose work I know and love, then it is pretty much guaranteed I will go for their next one.
Out of the cover and the blurb, I have to say I think the latter is the most important. That has got to get me wanting to read more.
Yes, sometimes, a good book cover will catch my eye and I will want to check it out but if the blurb isn’t up to scratch, I’m not biting!
Once I’ve got the book though I want the characters to keep me reading. I have got to want to find out what happens to them and to care about the outcome.
I think you can only do that with realistically portrayed characters whose goal you can understand.
I also want my characters to be “worthy” of winning through in the end. I don’t want it just to fall into their lap, so to speak. I want them to contribute significantly to their success, even with the help of others.
I think you should also be able to see why the others would help the lead character with their goal rather than just leave them to it.
Speaking with my reader hat on, I am drawn to a book by (a) its cover, (b) its blurb, and (c) if I have already read the author’s work. If it is someone whose work I know and love, then it is pretty much guaranteed I will go for their next one.
Out of the cover and the blurb, I have to say I think the latter is the most important. That has got to get me wanting to read more.
Yes, sometimes, a good book cover will catch my eye and I will want to check it out but if the blurb isn’t up to scratch, I’m not biting!
Once I’ve got the book though I want the characters to keep me reading. I have got to want to find out what happens to them and to care about the outcome.
I think you can only do that with realistically portrayed characters whose goal you can understand.
I also want my characters to be “worthy” of winning through in the end. I don’t want it just to fall into their lap, so to speak. I want them to contribute significantly to their success, even with the help of others.
I think you should also be able to see why the others would help the lead character with their goal rather than just leave them to it.
March 5, 2022
Realistic Characters
I’ve never been fond of characters who seem too good to be true. I love the characters with flaws and who change for the better.
For any fiction, regardless of genre or length, I’ve got to be able to “get” where the character is coming from and why. I don’t necessarily have to agree with them though!
For my own writing, I like to work out my character’s major trait as all sorts of things can come from that. If a character is brave, are they reckless with it? If they like a laugh, what will they do to get that laugh from others? Plenty of story ideas there - and you can explore the idea of when things go wrong too.
So I like characters to resonate with me in some way. While I will always root for the hero/heroine to win, I want to see that the villain does have reasons to behave the way they are. Their objective has got to make sense.
There is never any room for the pointless character. I suppose writing flash fiction with its restricted word count of 1000 words maximum has made me more aware of that.
For any fiction, regardless of genre or length, I’ve got to be able to “get” where the character is coming from and why. I don’t necessarily have to agree with them though!
For my own writing, I like to work out my character’s major trait as all sorts of things can come from that. If a character is brave, are they reckless with it? If they like a laugh, what will they do to get that laugh from others? Plenty of story ideas there - and you can explore the idea of when things go wrong too.
So I like characters to resonate with me in some way. While I will always root for the hero/heroine to win, I want to see that the villain does have reasons to behave the way they are. Their objective has got to make sense.
There is never any room for the pointless character. I suppose writing flash fiction with its restricted word count of 1000 words maximum has made me more aware of that.
February 26, 2022
Making an Impact with Words
One of the joys of stories and books is when the words flow, you have to keep turning the pages, and the language just hits you “right there” as it is so appropriate for the character or what have you.
And the very best authors add words to the language too, Shakespeare being the obvious one there. There is more than one way to make an impact with words then - have some of your invented ones make it into the dictionaries!
As a flash fiction writer, with a maximum word count of 1000 words per story, I have to make an impact with words quickly. So anything that doesn’t add to my characterisation or moves the plot along gets cut out.
The joy of the novel is having a wonderful reading experience and looking back at that - reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time was a fantastic experience once I had finished the book. It was only by finishing it I could really appreciate the depth and scale of the work.
For the short story and flash fiction formats, you get the “pay back” of impact that much quicker.
But the joy of reading widely, in whatever form or genre, is you take in words and their impact and you can learn from how other authors do this to improve your own works so other readers get the impact from your stories, your words.
And the very best authors add words to the language too, Shakespeare being the obvious one there. There is more than one way to make an impact with words then - have some of your invented ones make it into the dictionaries!
As a flash fiction writer, with a maximum word count of 1000 words per story, I have to make an impact with words quickly. So anything that doesn’t add to my characterisation or moves the plot along gets cut out.
The joy of the novel is having a wonderful reading experience and looking back at that - reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time was a fantastic experience once I had finished the book. It was only by finishing it I could really appreciate the depth and scale of the work.
For the short story and flash fiction formats, you get the “pay back” of impact that much quicker.
But the joy of reading widely, in whatever form or genre, is you take in words and their impact and you can learn from how other authors do this to improve your own works so other readers get the impact from your stories, your words.
February 19, 2022
Why Stories Matter
The problem with a post like this one is keeping it short! Where do you start on this one?
Well, stories matter for me because I can escape into other worlds for a little while. I’ve always loved that aspect.
I also love following what the characters do and say and figuring out whether or not I would do and say as they have in the books and stories I read.
Stories can take me to places I cannot get to physically either because right now I can’t commit to the length of time to say, going to New Zealand would take (and that is on my list of things to do) or because they’re invented worlds and unless someone invents a portal which takes you to fictional places, I’m not getting to go there! Mind you, it could be argued the book is the portal here!
Stories can convey important truths without preaching and I find the theme of a story is far easier to remember.
And I love the way stories come in different formats - books, film, audio etc. There is something to suit everyone here.
Stories can pass down tradition and build communities and show you truths about yourself/the human condition.
Last but definitely not least, they are entertaining.
Let’s hear it for the stories!
Well, stories matter for me because I can escape into other worlds for a little while. I’ve always loved that aspect.
I also love following what the characters do and say and figuring out whether or not I would do and say as they have in the books and stories I read.
Stories can take me to places I cannot get to physically either because right now I can’t commit to the length of time to say, going to New Zealand would take (and that is on my list of things to do) or because they’re invented worlds and unless someone invents a portal which takes you to fictional places, I’m not getting to go there! Mind you, it could be argued the book is the portal here!
Stories can convey important truths without preaching and I find the theme of a story is far easier to remember.
And I love the way stories come in different formats - books, film, audio etc. There is something to suit everyone here.
Stories can pass down tradition and build communities and show you truths about yourself/the human condition.
Last but definitely not least, they are entertaining.
Let’s hear it for the stories!
February 12, 2022
Visualising Characters
I started reading Dickens as a result of watching Oliver Twist on TV. The film version being shown starred Sir Alec Guinness and Oliver Reed (Fagan and Sykes). Both were brilliant and I absolutely had to read the book after seeing this.
And, again with Dickens, I loved The Muppet Christmas Carol (and still do, it’s a must see at Christmas) with Sir Michael Caine as Scrooge.
What I loved best, with my reader’s and writer’s hats on, is where Gonzo acting as Dickens the narrator tells us all to go and read the original book. Quite right too!
I don’t need a film or TV adaptation to visualise a well portrayed character but where adaptations are thoughtfully done, those TV and film portrayals add something special to the book when I then go on to re-read it again.
I do visualise the well cast actors. I can’t read a Poirot novel now without visualising Sir David Suchet in the role or a Miss Marple without seeing in my mind’s eye the wonderfully cast Joan HIckson.
So are there any adaptations that bring a book more to life for you? Or will you always prefer the book over any adaptation?
And, again with Dickens, I loved The Muppet Christmas Carol (and still do, it’s a must see at Christmas) with Sir Michael Caine as Scrooge.
What I loved best, with my reader’s and writer’s hats on, is where Gonzo acting as Dickens the narrator tells us all to go and read the original book. Quite right too!
I don’t need a film or TV adaptation to visualise a well portrayed character but where adaptations are thoughtfully done, those TV and film portrayals add something special to the book when I then go on to re-read it again.
I do visualise the well cast actors. I can’t read a Poirot novel now without visualising Sir David Suchet in the role or a Miss Marple without seeing in my mind’s eye the wonderfully cast Joan HIckson.
So are there any adaptations that bring a book more to life for you? Or will you always prefer the book over any adaptation?
