Allison Symes's Blog, page 3
May 10, 2025
Magazines
I will admit to being biased here but I do see a good quality magazine as being every bit of a good read as a collection, novella, or a novel.
The fact I write and copy edit for one (Writers' Narrative) is the reason for the bias!
I love good magazines because they're a great, portable read. The very best ones encourage further (book) reading too.
They can also be a fabulous introduction to a topic (and there will always be books on that topic. What reader wouldn't welcome that?
The magazine is a relatively cheap way of working out whether the topic is for you or not but if it is think of all the books you can go on to enjoy).
The fact I write and copy edit for one (Writers' Narrative) is the reason for the bias!
I love good magazines because they're a great, portable read. The very best ones encourage further (book) reading too.
They can also be a fabulous introduction to a topic (and there will always be books on that topic. What reader wouldn't welcome that?
The magazine is a relatively cheap way of working out whether the topic is for you or not but if it is think of all the books you can go on to enjoy).
May 3, 2025
Short Novels
Most of the novels I read come in at around the 80-90,000 words mark.
There are exceptions. The Lord of the Rings is a mammoth of a book but so wonderful.
But I do read under this standard word count. A lot of the anthologies I read/have work in can be under this count but there is a novel too, which stands out for me, and it is always a joy to re-read.
This book has had a huge impact on me (and many others). It comes in at under 60,000 words. It is the magnificent The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, which made me think again about Richard III. It remains the only fictional work to make me change my mind about a known historical figure.
It is a story about Inspector Alan Grant, confined to a hospital bed, who looks into whether there is a case for Richard III being guilty of the murder of the Princes in the Tower. It is thought provoking to say the least.
What is lovely about this novel is it does what it has to, so to speak, without a word wasted. There is no padding. I can learn from that as a writer.
And it does prove short novels can work as well as the much longer ones. Highly recommend checking this one out.
There are exceptions. The Lord of the Rings is a mammoth of a book but so wonderful.
But I do read under this standard word count. A lot of the anthologies I read/have work in can be under this count but there is a novel too, which stands out for me, and it is always a joy to re-read.
This book has had a huge impact on me (and many others). It comes in at under 60,000 words. It is the magnificent The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, which made me think again about Richard III. It remains the only fictional work to make me change my mind about a known historical figure.
It is a story about Inspector Alan Grant, confined to a hospital bed, who looks into whether there is a case for Richard III being guilty of the murder of the Princes in the Tower. It is thought provoking to say the least.
What is lovely about this novel is it does what it has to, so to speak, without a word wasted. There is no padding. I can learn from that as a writer.
And it does prove short novels can work as well as the much longer ones. Highly recommend checking this one out.
April 26, 2025
Family Stories
What do you think about stories based around families? I loved the Little Women series based on the March family from Louisa May Alcott and still have a very soft spot indeed for Jo.
I still have the books (bought from a local newsagent back in the days when they would often stock popular titles. Indeed the Little Women series was part of a “Deans Classic” collection).
I also adored Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series (and again still have a very soft spot for George).
But the novel which always “got” to me was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I loved the whole idea of a story told by the horse and the Gordon family I thought were lovely.
(That idea was explored further in the old Southern TV series which was based on the novel and ran with the basic idea while remaining faithful to the spirit of it, not an easy balance to get right, when it was a popular weekend teatime serial and more stories were wanted once they’d finished with the novel itself!).
I don’t specifically seek out family stories though it is funny how many of my childhood favourites are based on them (another one was Heidi).
Mind you, some of the classic fairytales show families which are far from ideal - check out Snow White and Cinderella to name but two!
I still have the books (bought from a local newsagent back in the days when they would often stock popular titles. Indeed the Little Women series was part of a “Deans Classic” collection).
I also adored Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series (and again still have a very soft spot for George).
But the novel which always “got” to me was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I loved the whole idea of a story told by the horse and the Gordon family I thought were lovely.
(That idea was explored further in the old Southern TV series which was based on the novel and ran with the basic idea while remaining faithful to the spirit of it, not an easy balance to get right, when it was a popular weekend teatime serial and more stories were wanted once they’d finished with the novel itself!).
I don’t specifically seek out family stories though it is funny how many of my childhood favourites are based on them (another one was Heidi).
Mind you, some of the classic fairytales show families which are far from ideal - check out Snow White and Cinderella to name but two!
April 19, 2025
Character and Story Traits I Love
One of the things I love about series novels is watching how the characters develop over several books.
The best for me for this is the development of Sam Vimes in the much missed Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. The transformation in that character is astounding and so well done.
Start with Guards! Guards!, work through Men at Arms (which is also a fabulous detective tale) and wind up with Raising Steam and you will see what I mean.
But thinking about this led me to consider those character traits I love to see in fiction.
I love courage, honesty, working hard etc and Sam Vimes easily embodies all of those. He’s also not afraid to upset his “superiors” when he needs to do that. I have a soft spot for characters doing that. It usually is deserved!
What I’ve always loved about the classic fairytales is characters deserving of help get it. Those who are arrogant etc are usually brought down a peg or two. But with rare exceptions they do learn their lesson. Oh if only that would happen in life, yes?
One huge advantage to reading widely (across genres as well as types of fiction such as short stories, flash as well as novellas and novels) is you get to see so many more character developments and I have always loved this as a reader. It means even more to me now I’m a writer as well.
The best for me for this is the development of Sam Vimes in the much missed Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. The transformation in that character is astounding and so well done.
Start with Guards! Guards!, work through Men at Arms (which is also a fabulous detective tale) and wind up with Raising Steam and you will see what I mean.
But thinking about this led me to consider those character traits I love to see in fiction.
I love courage, honesty, working hard etc and Sam Vimes easily embodies all of those. He’s also not afraid to upset his “superiors” when he needs to do that. I have a soft spot for characters doing that. It usually is deserved!
What I’ve always loved about the classic fairytales is characters deserving of help get it. Those who are arrogant etc are usually brought down a peg or two. But with rare exceptions they do learn their lesson. Oh if only that would happen in life, yes?
One huge advantage to reading widely (across genres as well as types of fiction such as short stories, flash as well as novellas and novels) is you get to see so many more character developments and I have always loved this as a reader. It means even more to me now I’m a writer as well.
April 12, 2025
Changes In Your Reading
What changes in your reading have you noticed over the years?
For me, there have been two major changes.
One is happily reading ebooks on my Kindle. I held out against having one for a long time because I will always love paperbacks but do find the Kindle useful especially when I’m away.
Gives me far more room in my suitcase and I don’t have to fret about only being able to take so many books with me. I can have as many as I want on the Kindle!
The other major change is happily reading non-fiction.
Fiction will always be my first love for too many reasons to say here but I have discovered the joys of non-fiction reading and only wish I’d discovered those sooner than I have done. Still, better late than never!
During lockdown, that dreadful time, I was focusing on reading humorous or other lighter works and found those to be therapeutic.
I still do this when the news is especially grim so am back to the lighter works again now.
Am currently reading a wonderful book of writers’ quotes and a collection of flash stories (though some of those aren’t light in tone but in fiction I have no issues with that. I suppose that is because I know it isn’t real life. What I can’t cope with when life is grim are dystopian works though I do understand the market for them).
For me, there have been two major changes.
One is happily reading ebooks on my Kindle. I held out against having one for a long time because I will always love paperbacks but do find the Kindle useful especially when I’m away.
Gives me far more room in my suitcase and I don’t have to fret about only being able to take so many books with me. I can have as many as I want on the Kindle!
The other major change is happily reading non-fiction.
Fiction will always be my first love for too many reasons to say here but I have discovered the joys of non-fiction reading and only wish I’d discovered those sooner than I have done. Still, better late than never!
During lockdown, that dreadful time, I was focusing on reading humorous or other lighter works and found those to be therapeutic.
I still do this when the news is especially grim so am back to the lighter works again now.
Am currently reading a wonderful book of writers’ quotes and a collection of flash stories (though some of those aren’t light in tone but in fiction I have no issues with that. I suppose that is because I know it isn’t real life. What I can’t cope with when life is grim are dystopian works though I do understand the market for them).
April 5, 2025
Favourite Kinds of Story
I love a whole range of stories and books so it is hard to pick just one overall favourite but we all have those we turn to time and again, especially if life is grim.
Right now I know I can’t bring myself to read dystopian fiction. If I want dystopian I’ll watch the news!
I’m a great believer in books being a wonderful source of entertainment. This doesn’t stop them from being thought provoking as well, far from it, but at the end of the day, I want a rattling good yarn I know I can enjoy again and again if I so wish.
So where do I turn to for these?
My picks are the classic fairytales, anything from Discworld by the much missed Sir Terry Pratchett, anything by Agatha Christie and P.G. Wodehouse. Always worth re-reading!
Then there are the classic works of Jane Austen, crime novels generally, historical fiction geenrally, and The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
What I look for and find in all of these and many others are stories which take me away from my troubles for a while.
Books shouldn’t be underrated for their capacity for this. I do think right now they can be wonderful escape for so many of us.
Right now I know I can’t bring myself to read dystopian fiction. If I want dystopian I’ll watch the news!
I’m a great believer in books being a wonderful source of entertainment. This doesn’t stop them from being thought provoking as well, far from it, but at the end of the day, I want a rattling good yarn I know I can enjoy again and again if I so wish.
So where do I turn to for these?
My picks are the classic fairytales, anything from Discworld by the much missed Sir Terry Pratchett, anything by Agatha Christie and P.G. Wodehouse. Always worth re-reading!
Then there are the classic works of Jane Austen, crime novels generally, historical fiction geenrally, and The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
What I look for and find in all of these and many others are stories which take me away from my troubles for a while.
Books shouldn’t be underrated for their capacity for this. I do think right now they can be wonderful escape for so many of us.
March 29, 2025
Beginnings
While true every story has to have a beginning, a middle, and an end, the beginning is what writers tend to focus on because we know readers won’t get to the middle yet alone the end if the beginning doesn’t grip them enough. No pressure then!
Also many of us study classic opening lines (from say Pride and Prejudice, 1984 and many more) to help us learn our craft here.
I know what I look for in a beginning, when I am reading, is to have a sense of setting and who the lead character is likely to be.
I love stories which start with dialogue as that is like eavesdropping on an interesting conversation (here I can do this legitimately!). You also get a sense of the two or more characters involved in that conversation.
Basically, there has to be something which engages my interest immediately so have that “must know what happens next” moment.
With my own stories, my beginnings are rarely exactly the same as I first drafted them. When I come back and edit I can see how I can strengthen them so I do. Every word matters.
I have to look for maximum impact on a reader. Hopefully that means they go on to have a great beginning with my stories and then discover what else those tales contain.
Every writer in history has had to do this. It is why the classics are the classics. Their beginnings have stood the test of time. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if as you read this, you can think of your own favourite beginnings to stories. I’ve done so in writing this.
Of course, I don't think you can ever beat the classic fairytale opening of Once Upon A Time. That got me into reading fairytales, fantasy, and reading in general so plenty to like there!
Also many of us study classic opening lines (from say Pride and Prejudice, 1984 and many more) to help us learn our craft here.
I know what I look for in a beginning, when I am reading, is to have a sense of setting and who the lead character is likely to be.
I love stories which start with dialogue as that is like eavesdropping on an interesting conversation (here I can do this legitimately!). You also get a sense of the two or more characters involved in that conversation.
Basically, there has to be something which engages my interest immediately so have that “must know what happens next” moment.
With my own stories, my beginnings are rarely exactly the same as I first drafted them. When I come back and edit I can see how I can strengthen them so I do. Every word matters.
I have to look for maximum impact on a reader. Hopefully that means they go on to have a great beginning with my stories and then discover what else those tales contain.
Every writer in history has had to do this. It is why the classics are the classics. Their beginnings have stood the test of time. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if as you read this, you can think of your own favourite beginnings to stories. I’ve done so in writing this.
Of course, I don't think you can ever beat the classic fairytale opening of Once Upon A Time. That got me into reading fairytales, fantasy, and reading in general so plenty to like there!
March 22, 2025
Author Anniversaries - P.G. Wodehouse
Often when we think about author anniversaries, we’re commemorating the birth, sometimes the death, of globally renowned authors such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens etc.
Or it can be the anniversary of when one of their most famous books was first published, you know the kind of thing here.
But 2025 sees a strange author anniversary for one writer and where the events took place within weeks of each other.
In early 1975 the wonderful humorous author, P.G Wodehouse was finally knighted. In February 2025, sadly he died. So this year sees the 50th anniversary of these things and the P.G. Wodehouse Society (UK) has been commemorating these. (I’m a member).
I love Wodehouse’s way with the English language. It is simply brilliant and his characters live on in your head long after you’ve finished reading the stories.
I even like Wodehouse’s golf stories and I hate the game as I do see it as a good walk ruined! There aren’t many writers who could achieve making someone read about a subject they are really not keen on. Even fewer can make them enjoy it!
Wodehouse’s characters live on in the forms of Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth, Uncle Fred, and so many more.
There are some books of letters out written by the great man too and they’re well worth a read as they’re a fascinating insight into the writing life he enjoyed.
You also get to see his wartime controversy from his viewpoint (and I would add had the Nazis got irony at the time Wodehouse would have been in real trouble. Check out the reproductions of his radio speeches which caused so much trouble and you will see what I mean).
But above all check out his stories, Especially when life is grim, and it is right now, they are a tonic and I happily recommend them just on those grounds.
Or it can be the anniversary of when one of their most famous books was first published, you know the kind of thing here.
But 2025 sees a strange author anniversary for one writer and where the events took place within weeks of each other.
In early 1975 the wonderful humorous author, P.G Wodehouse was finally knighted. In February 2025, sadly he died. So this year sees the 50th anniversary of these things and the P.G. Wodehouse Society (UK) has been commemorating these. (I’m a member).
I love Wodehouse’s way with the English language. It is simply brilliant and his characters live on in your head long after you’ve finished reading the stories.
I even like Wodehouse’s golf stories and I hate the game as I do see it as a good walk ruined! There aren’t many writers who could achieve making someone read about a subject they are really not keen on. Even fewer can make them enjoy it!
Wodehouse’s characters live on in the forms of Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth, Uncle Fred, and so many more.
There are some books of letters out written by the great man too and they’re well worth a read as they’re a fascinating insight into the writing life he enjoyed.
You also get to see his wartime controversy from his viewpoint (and I would add had the Nazis got irony at the time Wodehouse would have been in real trouble. Check out the reproductions of his radio speeches which caused so much trouble and you will see what I mean).
But above all check out his stories, Especially when life is grim, and it is right now, they are a tonic and I happily recommend them just on those grounds.
March 15, 2025
Books and Their Moods
Now it’s no secret the books I read often depend on what mood I’m in.
When life is grim (and the news even more so), then I will usually go for humorous reads such as works by Wodehouse, Pratchett, and Austen, something I know will make me smile basically. I see it as having something lighter to counterbalance the darker side of life.
But books too have their moods and certain genres play on this to good effect - horror, crime, and thrillers, all indicate the moods of their stories to name but a few.
Now I’m one of those readers where I don’t want the mood the book to match my mood. I like that counterbalance though there are books I will always read regardless of what mood I’m in.
For example, I will always find time to re-read Agatha Christie or Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time (which is a fabulous book and the only novel to make me change my view on a historical person, in this case Richard III).
So which books do you use to lighten your mood?
Which ones do you read regardless of mood of book or your own mood?
When life is grim (and the news even more so), then I will usually go for humorous reads such as works by Wodehouse, Pratchett, and Austen, something I know will make me smile basically. I see it as having something lighter to counterbalance the darker side of life.
But books too have their moods and certain genres play on this to good effect - horror, crime, and thrillers, all indicate the moods of their stories to name but a few.
Now I’m one of those readers where I don’t want the mood the book to match my mood. I like that counterbalance though there are books I will always read regardless of what mood I’m in.
For example, I will always find time to re-read Agatha Christie or Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time (which is a fabulous book and the only novel to make me change my view on a historical person, in this case Richard III).
So which books do you use to lighten your mood?
Which ones do you read regardless of mood of book or your own mood?
March 8, 2025
Story Competitions and Their Anthologies
I’ve been privileged to have stories of mine win competitions and appear in anthologies as the prize.
Separately, I have had work in other anthologies brought out by independent presses (as these are a great way of highlighting what they publish) .
Why mention that? Simply because I want to commend anthology reading. There is the obvious reason I’m in some of course, but I have found reading these books has introduced me to authors I would not have known about otherwise.
I’ve also found reading some of those authors’ short works has encouraged me to engage with their novellas and novels but all because I discovered their work in an anthology first.
Plus I want to encourage short story reading as part of an overall reading “diet”. We celebrate stories here in all their forms so why not check out the shorter forms in a convenient book form?
Separately, I have had work in other anthologies brought out by independent presses (as these are a great way of highlighting what they publish) .
Why mention that? Simply because I want to commend anthology reading. There is the obvious reason I’m in some of course, but I have found reading these books has introduced me to authors I would not have known about otherwise.
I’ve also found reading some of those authors’ short works has encouraged me to engage with their novellas and novels but all because I discovered their work in an anthology first.
Plus I want to encourage short story reading as part of an overall reading “diet”. We celebrate stories here in all their forms so why not check out the shorter forms in a convenient book form?
