Allison Symes's Blog, page 27
October 3, 2020
Book Buying
Book buying is a habit. It's a very good one!
I like to buy online and, of course from physical bookshops when I can get to them.
I like to buy at book launches (online or otherwise) and I usually ask for books for presents for Christmas and my birthday.
So nothing unusual there then. True but it's getting into the book buying habit to begin with that matters, I think.
I've heard people moan about the price of books but what they forget is the hard work that goes into producing them.
They also forget that you can read a book you own as many times as you like. The same people often think nothing of spending much more on a meal out etc. (So I am puzzled as to why they moan about a book but they do and I've heard them - at a Book Fair too - argh!).
So I guess it is down to what you prioritise. Books are high up on my list and always will be!
I like to buy online and, of course from physical bookshops when I can get to them.
I like to buy at book launches (online or otherwise) and I usually ask for books for presents for Christmas and my birthday.
So nothing unusual there then. True but it's getting into the book buying habit to begin with that matters, I think.
I've heard people moan about the price of books but what they forget is the hard work that goes into producing them.
They also forget that you can read a book you own as many times as you like. The same people often think nothing of spending much more on a meal out etc. (So I am puzzled as to why they moan about a book but they do and I've heard them - at a Book Fair too - argh!).
So I guess it is down to what you prioritise. Books are high up on my list and always will be!
September 26, 2020
Reading Aloud
I had the great joy of reading two stories from my new book, Tripping the Flash Fantastic, today. I chose The Pink Rose and Enough Is Enough. One is a moving tribute to someone special to me and the other is a wry tale about someone who changes her life and gets her own back on those who humilated her.
I love listening to stories and it was great to hear stories from Dawn Knox and Gill James too at this online event.
There is something so soothing, I think, in being read to like this. And, of course, from a writer's viewpoint, you get to hear the rhythm of dialogue from other people's stories and you can of course learn from that for your own work.
I loved being read to when I was a kid and later, on becoming a mum, loved reading to my son. The first novel I read to him was Kenneth Graeme's The Wind in the Willows. Yes, it went down very well with all of us!
Do you remember which book you cherished having read to you when you were a kid? Equally, what was your favourite book to read out loud to your children?
I see storytime like this (and this afternoon's event was kind of like a storytime for adults I thought) as so important. In our current situation with the pandemic, the joy of stories and books and being read to cannot be lauded loud enough I feel.
I love listening to stories and it was great to hear stories from Dawn Knox and Gill James too at this online event.
There is something so soothing, I think, in being read to like this. And, of course, from a writer's viewpoint, you get to hear the rhythm of dialogue from other people's stories and you can of course learn from that for your own work.
I loved being read to when I was a kid and later, on becoming a mum, loved reading to my son. The first novel I read to him was Kenneth Graeme's The Wind in the Willows. Yes, it went down very well with all of us!
Do you remember which book you cherished having read to you when you were a kid? Equally, what was your favourite book to read out loud to your children?
I see storytime like this (and this afternoon's event was kind of like a storytime for adults I thought) as so important. In our current situation with the pandemic, the joy of stories and books and being read to cannot be lauded loud enough I feel.
September 19, 2020
Reading While Travelling
Can you read while you travel?
I never used to be able to do so when a kid. I was lucky enough never to feel travel sick but reading while a car was moving just felt odd and so I didn't bother! Why make myself feel odd when I could just look out of the window and play I-Spy or Pub Cricket? Also, we tended to listen to music a lot while going to see family etc and, while I can write with classical on, I prefer to read in silence and always have done.
These days, reading while travelling (when possible!) is less of a problem but I tend to stick to using the Kindle for this. That is partly convenience - one device, loads of books to choose from! I've always liked that about the Kindle.
I tend to read light works when out and about. I like to save the murder stories etc for when I've got to my destination. Oh and magazines. I can manage the odd one of those while travelling. I often catch up on Writing Magazine articles this way.
So what do you read when you travel and why?
I never used to be able to do so when a kid. I was lucky enough never to feel travel sick but reading while a car was moving just felt odd and so I didn't bother! Why make myself feel odd when I could just look out of the window and play I-Spy or Pub Cricket? Also, we tended to listen to music a lot while going to see family etc and, while I can write with classical on, I prefer to read in silence and always have done.
These days, reading while travelling (when possible!) is less of a problem but I tend to stick to using the Kindle for this. That is partly convenience - one device, loads of books to choose from! I've always liked that about the Kindle.
I tend to read light works when out and about. I like to save the murder stories etc for when I've got to my destination. Oh and magazines. I can manage the odd one of those while travelling. I often catch up on Writing Magazine articles this way.
So what do you read when you travel and why?
September 12, 2020
Audio Books
Audio books come into their own for long car journeys. It has been a joy to re-listen to Raising Steam and Snuff from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series on my way home from Scotland. Hope to listen to his Reaper Man later too.
And it is lovely to be read to as well. From a writing viewpoint, I get to hear how dialogue works. And I can always learn from that.
What are your favourite audio books? Do you prefer the book in audio or in print? What makes a book work for you in audio?
For me it has to be the way the narrator brings the characters to life. A good narrator makes all the difference.
And it is lovely to be read to as well. From a writing viewpoint, I get to hear how dialogue works. And I can always learn from that.
What are your favourite audio books? Do you prefer the book in audio or in print? What makes a book work for you in audio?
For me it has to be the way the narrator brings the characters to life. A good narrator makes all the difference.
September 5, 2020
Holiday Reading
Do you make promises to youraelf to do so much reading while on a break? I do! Most of them I do achieve.
This time, while I'm in Scotland, I've promised myself to catch up with one paperback and three books on Kindle. Can't wait to "tuck in"! I hope to catch up on reviewing too.
And the positive thing about heading into autumn with the nights drawing in, it does encourage more reading!
This time, while I'm in Scotland, I've promised myself to catch up with one paperback and three books on Kindle. Can't wait to "tuck in"! I hope to catch up on reviewing too.
And the positive thing about heading into autumn with the nights drawing in, it does encourage more reading!
August 29, 2020
Book Dilemmas
What book dilemmas, I hear you ask?
Well, there is the obvious one of which book you are going to read next from your naturally huge TBR pile.
I refuse to believe that doesn’t give you pause for thought from time to time! (I get a little annoyed with myself for doing this. I realise the half hour I spent deciding what I’ll read next could have been spent on reading!).
Then there is the dilemma of whether you’ll reduce the TBR paperback pile or the one on your Kindle.
Then there is the dilemma of whether you’ll read short stories or another novel or non-fiction.
There is no one right answer to how you answer these.
I find I read a load of things on my Kindle for a while, then switch back to paperbacks for a bit, and that’s fine with me.
I just need to stop wasting half hours every now and again making up my mind and just get on with what matters - the reading!
Well, there is the obvious one of which book you are going to read next from your naturally huge TBR pile.
I refuse to believe that doesn’t give you pause for thought from time to time! (I get a little annoyed with myself for doing this. I realise the half hour I spent deciding what I’ll read next could have been spent on reading!).
Then there is the dilemma of whether you’ll reduce the TBR paperback pile or the one on your Kindle.
Then there is the dilemma of whether you’ll read short stories or another novel or non-fiction.
There is no one right answer to how you answer these.
I find I read a load of things on my Kindle for a while, then switch back to paperbacks for a bit, and that’s fine with me.
I just need to stop wasting half hours every now and again making up my mind and just get on with what matters - the reading!
August 22, 2020
The Wonders of Non-Fiction
The majority of my reading, whether in paperback or on my trusty Kindle, is fiction to be honest. But I’m a fiction writer so you would expect that.
However, my non-fiction “reading diet” has increased over the last couple of years, partly because I also blog for an online community magazine and a good general knowledge, as well as good sources of research, are useful for that.
But I have found I wanted to read more factual work in between the escape from it all in fiction kind of books.
I’ve enjoyed a few of Ben Macintyre’s books and have developed a greater appreciation for what is known as creative non-fiction.
Gone are the days of worthy tomes gathering dust on shelves somewhere and rightly so. You want books to be in the hands of eager readers and that goes for non-fiction too.
And non-fiction writers still have to know their audience and draw their readers in every bit as much as fiction writers must do.
So what do I look for in a good non-fiction work?
1. I still want to be entertained and often that is with a narrative that grips and is telling me an exciting “story”. The only difference with fiction is that here the story is a true one.
2. I want to learn something new and/or back up the knowledge I already have on a topic. (Ideally I’d do both).
3. I want the non-fiction book I’ve picked to encourage further reading on the topic and give me a source of ideas as to where to turn next.
So what are your favourite non-fiction books? Have you made any great discoveries this year?
However, my non-fiction “reading diet” has increased over the last couple of years, partly because I also blog for an online community magazine and a good general knowledge, as well as good sources of research, are useful for that.
But I have found I wanted to read more factual work in between the escape from it all in fiction kind of books.
I’ve enjoyed a few of Ben Macintyre’s books and have developed a greater appreciation for what is known as creative non-fiction.
Gone are the days of worthy tomes gathering dust on shelves somewhere and rightly so. You want books to be in the hands of eager readers and that goes for non-fiction too.
And non-fiction writers still have to know their audience and draw their readers in every bit as much as fiction writers must do.
So what do I look for in a good non-fiction work?
1. I still want to be entertained and often that is with a narrative that grips and is telling me an exciting “story”. The only difference with fiction is that here the story is a true one.
2. I want to learn something new and/or back up the knowledge I already have on a topic. (Ideally I’d do both).
3. I want the non-fiction book I’ve picked to encourage further reading on the topic and give me a source of ideas as to where to turn next.
So what are your favourite non-fiction books? Have you made any great discoveries this year?
August 15, 2020
Reading Acrostics
R = Riveting
E = Entertaining
A = Alternative Worlds
D = Drama and Dialogue
I = Imagination
N = Narrative
G = Genre Fulfilling/Crossing
All of the above are what I look for in a good read.
Regardless of genre (and I have a soft spot for those books which cross genres), I want the book to be riveting, entertaining, and for the drama and dialogue to keep me gripped until I reach The End.
I want to be amazed (in a good way!) by the author's imagination. There can't be a dull moment in the narrative either.
And yet some people still think writing is easy!!
G = Gripping
E = Educational
N = Nuanced
R = Readability
E = Enchanting
And again, regardless of genres, I want whatever I read to be capable of the above. Yes, fiction can be educational. You can learn from the mistakes the characters make for a start!
For me, nuanced means the characters have to be balanced. Nobody is all evil or all good. The only over the top characters I accept are Mr Toad in The Wind of The Willows and Cruella de Ville in 101 Dalmatians but they are written specifically that way and their characters wouldn't work any other way. But those are rare exceptions to the general rule. Characters should be balanced.
At the end of a book I want to have experienced an enchanting time reading said book. I want something about it to transport me to its setting and to regret leaving it at the end.
Happy reading!
E = Entertaining
A = Alternative Worlds
D = Drama and Dialogue
I = Imagination
N = Narrative
G = Genre Fulfilling/Crossing
All of the above are what I look for in a good read.
Regardless of genre (and I have a soft spot for those books which cross genres), I want the book to be riveting, entertaining, and for the drama and dialogue to keep me gripped until I reach The End.
I want to be amazed (in a good way!) by the author's imagination. There can't be a dull moment in the narrative either.
And yet some people still think writing is easy!!
G = Gripping
E = Educational
N = Nuanced
R = Readability
E = Enchanting
And again, regardless of genres, I want whatever I read to be capable of the above. Yes, fiction can be educational. You can learn from the mistakes the characters make for a start!
For me, nuanced means the characters have to be balanced. Nobody is all evil or all good. The only over the top characters I accept are Mr Toad in The Wind of The Willows and Cruella de Ville in 101 Dalmatians but they are written specifically that way and their characters wouldn't work any other way. But those are rare exceptions to the general rule. Characters should be balanced.
At the end of a book I want to have experienced an enchanting time reading said book. I want something about it to transport me to its setting and to regret leaving it at the end.
Happy reading!
August 8, 2020
Reading in Hot Weather
Currently in the UK as I write this (8th August 2020), most of the country is experiencing a heatwave (30+degrees C.
Yes, yes, I know! I can think of several places where that would be considered to be on the cold side!).
But give me the fact most of us here are finding it hot!
So do you find it easier to read in hot weather, given most of us are not going to feel like doing that much?
Or do you find it harder to read because what you really want is to cool off and reading in itself isn't going to do that?
Or do you welcome reading because it's a great distraction from feeling too hot?
I find it easier to read magazines and the shorter form of fiction when I'm finding the weather a bit much. Now is not the time to tackle War and Peace I think!
So over to you then! What do you prefer to read when the thermometer is on the crazy side? What would you recommend?
Yes, yes, I know! I can think of several places where that would be considered to be on the cold side!).
But give me the fact most of us here are finding it hot!
So do you find it easier to read in hot weather, given most of us are not going to feel like doing that much?
Or do you find it harder to read because what you really want is to cool off and reading in itself isn't going to do that?
Or do you welcome reading because it's a great distraction from feeling too hot?
I find it easier to read magazines and the shorter form of fiction when I'm finding the weather a bit much. Now is not the time to tackle War and Peace I think!
So over to you then! What do you prefer to read when the thermometer is on the crazy side? What would you recommend?
August 1, 2020
Stories You Wish Would Never End
Have you any stories you love so much you wish they would never end?
I remember when I first finished reading The Lord of the Rings being just stunned by the sheer scope of it and wanting to dive back into that world immediately.
On a very different front, the same applied to The Wind in the Willows!
Of course, it is good the stories end. A lot of the time it IS the ending that makes the book stand out. An incomplete story is NOT a story. A story has to have an ending.
So I guess it is the entertainment and enjoyment we have had from these favourite stories that we really wish would not end,
The good news is they don't have to - you simply pick up your favourite book and re-read it!
I remember when I first finished reading The Lord of the Rings being just stunned by the sheer scope of it and wanting to dive back into that world immediately.
On a very different front, the same applied to The Wind in the Willows!
Of course, it is good the stories end. A lot of the time it IS the ending that makes the book stand out. An incomplete story is NOT a story. A story has to have an ending.
So I guess it is the entertainment and enjoyment we have had from these favourite stories that we really wish would not end,
The good news is they don't have to - you simply pick up your favourite book and re-read it!
