Allison Symes's Blog, page 30
March 7, 2020
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!😊
February 29, 2020
Story Openings
What is it about a story opening that makes you want to read on?
For me, either the character has to be "hitting the ground running" in such a way, I've got to find out what happens to them, or the set up is intriguing enough to make me want to read on.
Mind you, I don't think I'll ever tire of the classic fairytale opening of "once upon a time".
There is the wonderful association with happy childhood reading of those great stories. That opening just, for me, sets the tone for what is to follow.
I know to expect fairy godmothers turning up at surprisingly convenient moments. (I've always wondered why Cinderella didn't berate hers for not coming to her aid a lot sooner but that's another story).
I know to expect talking animals (and I should imagine the Three Bears had quite a bit to say about Goldilocks that was best kept off the page. I know how I'd feel if someone destroyed my chair and bed - though they'd be welcome to the porridge. I've never liked the stuff!).
I know to expect the villains to get their comeuppance. It's just a question of finding out how and when.
And there is something wonderfully poetical about Charles Dickens's opening to A Tale of Two Cities (which I confess I've not read but is on my To Be Read list), but even I love the sound of "It was the best of time, it was the worst of times" and the rest that follows. The rhythm of that opening paragraph is amazing.
So what I'm saying here is I want a story opening to take my breath away so I have to read on. Now there's a challenge for any writer (including me!).
For me, either the character has to be "hitting the ground running" in such a way, I've got to find out what happens to them, or the set up is intriguing enough to make me want to read on.
Mind you, I don't think I'll ever tire of the classic fairytale opening of "once upon a time".
There is the wonderful association with happy childhood reading of those great stories. That opening just, for me, sets the tone for what is to follow.
I know to expect fairy godmothers turning up at surprisingly convenient moments. (I've always wondered why Cinderella didn't berate hers for not coming to her aid a lot sooner but that's another story).
I know to expect talking animals (and I should imagine the Three Bears had quite a bit to say about Goldilocks that was best kept off the page. I know how I'd feel if someone destroyed my chair and bed - though they'd be welcome to the porridge. I've never liked the stuff!).
I know to expect the villains to get their comeuppance. It's just a question of finding out how and when.
And there is something wonderfully poetical about Charles Dickens's opening to A Tale of Two Cities (which I confess I've not read but is on my To Be Read list), but even I love the sound of "It was the best of time, it was the worst of times" and the rest that follows. The rhythm of that opening paragraph is amazing.
So what I'm saying here is I want a story opening to take my breath away so I have to read on. Now there's a challenge for any writer (including me!).
February 22, 2020
Sneaking In Reading Time
My main reading time is in bed but the snag with that, of course, is if you’re really tired, you’re going to be lucky to get to the end of a page before your head hits the pillow and the book drops to the floor!
Having said that, there is nothing to beat being nicely cosy and comfortable and settling down for a chapter or so before sleeping. (To my mind this is not the time to read Stephen King though, especially if you dislike clowns!).
So I’ve managed to find little pockets of time during the day when I can sneak in some extra reading time. Five minutes here, five minutes there, and it’s lovely.
At the moment I’m using these pockets of time to catch up with my magazine reading but that’s great. Reading is reading when all is said and done, whether you read magazines, books, graphic novels etc.
When I use the train, I tend to focus on writing. I will occasionally read but I do feel the need to be “doing” something so out comes the smartphone, Evernote, and my stylus and I either draft some flash fiction or blog posts like this one.
So how do you sneak in extra reading time? I realised long ago there is never enough time in the world to do all the reading you would like to do so it’s a question of compromise.
What must I read next? What must I read now? How can I break the book I’ve chosen into manageable reading chunks?
I am grateful for the time I have though and it is a question of trying to make the most of what you can do here. (Same applies for creative writing). Any thoughts and comments on how to sneak in even more reading time are welcomed!
Having said that, there is nothing to beat being nicely cosy and comfortable and settling down for a chapter or so before sleeping. (To my mind this is not the time to read Stephen King though, especially if you dislike clowns!).
So I’ve managed to find little pockets of time during the day when I can sneak in some extra reading time. Five minutes here, five minutes there, and it’s lovely.
At the moment I’m using these pockets of time to catch up with my magazine reading but that’s great. Reading is reading when all is said and done, whether you read magazines, books, graphic novels etc.
When I use the train, I tend to focus on writing. I will occasionally read but I do feel the need to be “doing” something so out comes the smartphone, Evernote, and my stylus and I either draft some flash fiction or blog posts like this one.
So how do you sneak in extra reading time? I realised long ago there is never enough time in the world to do all the reading you would like to do so it’s a question of compromise.
What must I read next? What must I read now? How can I break the book I’ve chosen into manageable reading chunks?
I am grateful for the time I have though and it is a question of trying to make the most of what you can do here. (Same applies for creative writing). Any thoughts and comments on how to sneak in even more reading time are welcomed!
February 15, 2020
Reading Piles
How many reading piles do you have? Mine include:-
1. My book pile.
2. My magazine pile.
3. Everything on my Kindle!
It's probably enough to be going on with though I suppose I could split my book pile into two categories: novels and short story/flash fiction collections.
Note I said probably just now. I've just seen a lovely post on Facebook where someone has come up with a new idea for an escape room - you have an hour to get out of a well stocked book shop!
I don't know about you but that's me well and truly stuck then. One hour would just about give me enough time to have a good look around and work out what was where. I might get to decide where I would be starting first if I was efficient with my time!
I've mentioned before I like to mix up my reading. There are some evenings where I just HAVE to read magazines, rather than books, and the other way round. I don't really know why that is but I love reading both overall so that's okay. So therefore it is absolutely necessary for me to have reading piles that suit all my reading moods.
How do you organise YOUR reading?
1. My book pile.
2. My magazine pile.
3. Everything on my Kindle!
It's probably enough to be going on with though I suppose I could split my book pile into two categories: novels and short story/flash fiction collections.
Note I said probably just now. I've just seen a lovely post on Facebook where someone has come up with a new idea for an escape room - you have an hour to get out of a well stocked book shop!
I don't know about you but that's me well and truly stuck then. One hour would just about give me enough time to have a good look around and work out what was where. I might get to decide where I would be starting first if I was efficient with my time!
I've mentioned before I like to mix up my reading. There are some evenings where I just HAVE to read magazines, rather than books, and the other way round. I don't really know why that is but I love reading both overall so that's okay. So therefore it is absolutely necessary for me to have reading piles that suit all my reading moods.
How do you organise YOUR reading?
February 8, 2020
Why Read Then?
Strange question to put on Goodreads, isn't it? We all love books and stories. Reading is a way of life.
Celebrating books at literary festivals and/or writing conferences is a lovely part of life too!
But it is easy to forget reading isn't a way of life for everyone. Books have to compete with other forms of entertainment for people's attention. Sadly, books don't always win.
I was deeply saddened once, when on a book stall with some other local authors, I heard someone walk by and loudly exclaim "I don't do books". Hmm... I wonder why that is? Nervousness about reading? Too many associations with bad experiences at school? I thought the comment was so sad, and I still think that.
I read to:-
1. Escape the world for a bit. (It is beyond me people don't latch on to this more. The great thing books are legal, they won't make you put on weight, or give you a hangover).
2. Be entertained in a way that suits me. I don't have to commit to reading for three hours at a time (though chance would be a fine thing!). If you're in the cinema and it's a long film, you really do have to love it otherwise you're in for a dull evening.
3. Discover different worlds in a way that I choose. I vary my reading. I'll read crime books for a while, then historical fiction, then short story collections etc. But I choose which worlds to explore and when and I like that.
What I don't want to see is books being seen as "elitist" or anything like that.
Happy reading, everyone!
Celebrating books at literary festivals and/or writing conferences is a lovely part of life too!
But it is easy to forget reading isn't a way of life for everyone. Books have to compete with other forms of entertainment for people's attention. Sadly, books don't always win.
I was deeply saddened once, when on a book stall with some other local authors, I heard someone walk by and loudly exclaim "I don't do books". Hmm... I wonder why that is? Nervousness about reading? Too many associations with bad experiences at school? I thought the comment was so sad, and I still think that.
I read to:-
1. Escape the world for a bit. (It is beyond me people don't latch on to this more. The great thing books are legal, they won't make you put on weight, or give you a hangover).
2. Be entertained in a way that suits me. I don't have to commit to reading for three hours at a time (though chance would be a fine thing!). If you're in the cinema and it's a long film, you really do have to love it otherwise you're in for a dull evening.
3. Discover different worlds in a way that I choose. I vary my reading. I'll read crime books for a while, then historical fiction, then short story collections etc. But I choose which worlds to explore and when and I like that.
What I don't want to see is books being seen as "elitist" or anything like that.
Happy reading, everyone!
February 1, 2020
First Books
Do you remember the first books you read or had read to you?
I can't honestly say I do though the Reader's Digest Collection of Classic Fairytales does rank very highly in this list. I still have this two volume set, though the spines are "taped up" thanks to years of use!
The illustrations in these books are lovely and I spent many a happy hour poring over them as a kid. The stories are the originals from Grimm, Perrault, Andersen etc.
I do remember collecting the Famous Five series. Southern TV, as it was then in our ITV region, had adapted the series and paperbacks were reissued to link in with this. Have no idea what happened to those books. Do know they're not with me now. I recall going to our local newsagent to buy the paperbacks (in the days when you did have independent newsagents!).
The first books I chose for my home after getting married came to me via the old Odhams collections. You paid a subscription and received one new book every month. I collected Agatha Christie novels (and collections of short stories), which I still have.
What is important though is those first books were never last books!!
I can't honestly say I do though the Reader's Digest Collection of Classic Fairytales does rank very highly in this list. I still have this two volume set, though the spines are "taped up" thanks to years of use!
The illustrations in these books are lovely and I spent many a happy hour poring over them as a kid. The stories are the originals from Grimm, Perrault, Andersen etc.
I do remember collecting the Famous Five series. Southern TV, as it was then in our ITV region, had adapted the series and paperbacks were reissued to link in with this. Have no idea what happened to those books. Do know they're not with me now. I recall going to our local newsagent to buy the paperbacks (in the days when you did have independent newsagents!).
The first books I chose for my home after getting married came to me via the old Odhams collections. You paid a subscription and received one new book every month. I collected Agatha Christie novels (and collections of short stories), which I still have.
What is important though is those first books were never last books!!
January 25, 2020
Books with Meaning
All good books have meaning (especially to their writers!) but some are so special.
I inherited my mother's hardback Charles Dickens collection and, while I confess I have not read them all, every time I see them, I smile and think of Mum.
I also have an old edition of Pride and Prejudice, which I read ahead of reading it officially at school.
Did I regret having to read it again? Oh no. I picked up on points directly, and thanks to the guidance of my excellent English teacher, Miss Makenzie, thanks to that second read.
And Pride and Prejudice can withstand multiple readings, which is always a sign of a good book!
I inherited my mother's hardback Charles Dickens collection and, while I confess I have not read them all, every time I see them, I smile and think of Mum.
I also have an old edition of Pride and Prejudice, which I read ahead of reading it officially at school.
Did I regret having to read it again? Oh no. I picked up on points directly, and thanks to the guidance of my excellent English teacher, Miss Makenzie, thanks to that second read.
And Pride and Prejudice can withstand multiple readings, which is always a sign of a good book!
January 18, 2020
Books and Their Accompaniments
Is it possible to have too many book shelves?
No! Okay so you can run out of room to put up said book shelves, which is another reason I think to have at least some reading material on a Kindle.
End of problem (until your "shelves" on there fill up and you realise you're not going to be short of things to read much before 2050 but hey it's a lovely problem to have!).
The other book accompaniment I love is the good old book mark. Some of them are lovely and I enjoy collecting those issued by writer friends. Yes, I do put the book marks to good use too. You won't find turned down book pages in THIS household (shudders at the thought...!).
I was delighted to find out thanks to a writer friend that a picture framing shop in our area, which has been around for years, is now displaying books by local authors. Naturally I popped along to put a copy of mine (From Light to Dark and Back Again) in there and a copy of The Best of Cafelit 8 where I have two flash fiction pieces.
The cafe area where this display is situated is lovely and the people behind this are keen to bring together local writers, artists etc. The idea of art as an accompaniment to books is one I love. After all, book covers are often works of art in their own right, are they not?
Oh and finally I do love pens with a book logo on. I hope to get some more done when my second flash fiction collection, Tripping the Flash Fantastic, comes out.
But the best accompaniment of all to a book is a comfy chair and a cup of whatever drink you fancy!
No! Okay so you can run out of room to put up said book shelves, which is another reason I think to have at least some reading material on a Kindle.
End of problem (until your "shelves" on there fill up and you realise you're not going to be short of things to read much before 2050 but hey it's a lovely problem to have!).
The other book accompaniment I love is the good old book mark. Some of them are lovely and I enjoy collecting those issued by writer friends. Yes, I do put the book marks to good use too. You won't find turned down book pages in THIS household (shudders at the thought...!).
I was delighted to find out thanks to a writer friend that a picture framing shop in our area, which has been around for years, is now displaying books by local authors. Naturally I popped along to put a copy of mine (From Light to Dark and Back Again) in there and a copy of The Best of Cafelit 8 where I have two flash fiction pieces.
The cafe area where this display is situated is lovely and the people behind this are keen to bring together local writers, artists etc. The idea of art as an accompaniment to books is one I love. After all, book covers are often works of art in their own right, are they not?
Oh and finally I do love pens with a book logo on. I hope to get some more done when my second flash fiction collection, Tripping the Flash Fantastic, comes out.
But the best accompaniment of all to a book is a comfy chair and a cup of whatever drink you fancy!
January 11, 2020
Reading Preferences
My reading preferences depend on what mood I'm in. I will go through a spate of only wanting to read humorous prose, then go through another where I'm on a diet of crime stories, before moving on again.
I often find the spark for moving on to a different genre for a while will come from something I've read in a writing magazine. An interview with an author can lead me to checking their work out but also going on to read more in their genre once I've read their book.
One thing I will try and do better on during this year is posting reviews. I do appreciate receiving reviews myself. It's remembering to post them that's the issue and not just for me I suspect.
As for where I prefer to read, that's easy enough - in bed at the end of the day. It's the perfect way to relax before sleeping.
Do I ever dream about what I've read? Not usually though I occasionally get strange dreams where it's clear something of what I've read has seeped in. The problem with those kind of dreams is they are disjointed and I'm not sorry I can't remember them!
My overall reading preference is to keep on reading widely and well. I'd like to read more non-fiction this year too. Have you set any reading goals this year?
I often find the spark for moving on to a different genre for a while will come from something I've read in a writing magazine. An interview with an author can lead me to checking their work out but also going on to read more in their genre once I've read their book.
One thing I will try and do better on during this year is posting reviews. I do appreciate receiving reviews myself. It's remembering to post them that's the issue and not just for me I suspect.
As for where I prefer to read, that's easy enough - in bed at the end of the day. It's the perfect way to relax before sleeping.
Do I ever dream about what I've read? Not usually though I occasionally get strange dreams where it's clear something of what I've read has seeped in. The problem with those kind of dreams is they are disjointed and I'm not sorry I can't remember them!
My overall reading preference is to keep on reading widely and well. I'd like to read more non-fiction this year too. Have you set any reading goals this year?
January 4, 2020
Happy New (Reading) Year!
Happy New Year!
I'm looking forward to discovering authors new to me this year and getting plenty of reading done. The TBR pile, unlike my ironing pile, is one where I'm not that sorry if it stays pretty much at its high level!
I'd like to read more non-fiction this year too and expand my range of subjects.
The biggest problem, of course, is time. I always mean to read more over the Christmas break and, yes, I did catch up a bit. However, I'm usually too tired to read for long so I never get as much done as I was hoping for.
Am trying to read more (particularly magazines) at lunch time and am enjoying that.
I'd also like to get back to more humorous reading and suspect it will soon be time to resume the works of P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett, both of whose books bring me much joy.
Whatever your reading plans are this year, I hope you have a fabulous time with them. I intend to!
I'm looking forward to discovering authors new to me this year and getting plenty of reading done. The TBR pile, unlike my ironing pile, is one where I'm not that sorry if it stays pretty much at its high level!
I'd like to read more non-fiction this year too and expand my range of subjects.
The biggest problem, of course, is time. I always mean to read more over the Christmas break and, yes, I did catch up a bit. However, I'm usually too tired to read for long so I never get as much done as I was hoping for.
Am trying to read more (particularly magazines) at lunch time and am enjoying that.
I'd also like to get back to more humorous reading and suspect it will soon be time to resume the works of P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett, both of whose books bring me much joy.
Whatever your reading plans are this year, I hope you have a fabulous time with them. I intend to!
