Adam Croft's Blog, page 15

Reasons to read

If you are already a reader, you will know already that there is nothing better than sitting down with a book and losing yourself in a well-written, engaging story. If, however, you don’t already have the reading bug, here are some reasons you should definitely catch it ASAP.

It develops your imagination. By broadening your experiences and introducing you to new things, reading opens you up to a whole new world of imagination. This can be useful not just for entertaining yourself by daydreaming through boring meetings, but also for your thought processes and decision-making.
Learn new things. I think most people who read regularly will have a good stash of interesting facts they wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for the fact they read them in a book. Good for pub quizzes and impressing people at parties.
Create your own worlds. Hardly anyone ever admits to it, but I suspect the art of developing your own little worlds and stories in your head is a fairly common thing. It allows us to think about things differently and… other people do this, right?
Learn different styles of writing. Reading is one of the big ways in which we learn to write; it teaches us about different types of story and ways of writing, which is essential for those of us with ambitions to write books of our very own.
Explore ideas. Reading is a great way of exploring ideas that perhaps haven’t been put into practise. For instance, utopian literature has a tradition of exploring different social ideals and ways of living, allowing us to explore ideas in the safe yet expansive realm of a novel.
It passes the time. Everyone needs a way to pass the time on a boring commute or a long afternoon with nothing to do. Reading is an affordable, engaging option.
It’s fun.

What are your top reasons to read?

The best writing quotes

Well, some of them.

As a writer, one of the few things as great as actually writing something is talking about the art and process of writing. We find it endlessly fascinating, and it seems great and famous writers from times gone by thought so too.

There are enough quotes about writing in the world to fill, I imagine, quite a lot of volumes. Here is but a selection of writing quotes to inspire you and offer an insight into what these writers think and feel about their craft. I’d love to know your favourite writing quotes, so do feel free to share them in the comments.

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. 

Ernest Hemingway

Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.

Graham Greene

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

W. Somerset Maugham

Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.

Francis Bacon

You fail only if you stop writing.

Ray Bradbury

Two hours of writing fiction leaves this writer completely drained. For those two hours he has been in a different place with totally different people.

Roald Dahl

3 weekend writing challenges

If you’re planning to spend Sunday writing but are finding it hard to get any words on the page, here are a few ideas to get those writing juices flowing. Feel free to add your own favourite writing challenges in the comments box.

Find a photo that interests you. It could be a photo of a family from 50 years ago or a picture of a cat photobombing a dog – the important thing is that it catches your attention. Write the story behind the photo.
Turn on the TV and watch for ten minutes. Choose an extra character in the background. Write about what they’re thinking.
Think of the most mundane thing you have to do on Sundays. The laundry, perhaps? (Boooooring.)Write about whatever it is as though it is the most interesting thing you have ever had to do. If nothing else, the futility of trying to make vacuuming the stairs exciting will inspire you to write something – anything – else.

Be different in your crime fiction

After yesterday’s look at reasons to self-publish your crime fiction, today let’s take a look at one of the biggest, most important reasons to do it.

It keeps the genre interesting.

In the world of traditional publishing, there can be something of a danger in publishers looking for the next big thing – it isn’t always the case, but often the ‘next big thing’ replicates something that has gone before. It doesn’t always add any originality or difference to the genre. It often just gives us something similar to what we’ve already got, dressed up a bit and repackaged.

Traditional publishers are often afraid to take a risk because they’re worried about reputations and profit margins and, while it makes sense on some levels to be cautious, on others it really doesn’t. You can’t find an author who is truly exciting, who readers love, without taking a risk from time to time.

This is where self-publishing comes in. If you’re self-publishing your crime fiction, you can afford to take a risk and write something different. Maybe the risk will pay off, maybe it won’t, but at least you will have tried and added something new to the genre in the process.

I’m sure we can all identify a raft of crime fiction clichés that are all too familiar. The detective with a messed-up personal life and a drink problem and a connection to the case he/she is currently trying to solve. Criminals with troubled childhoods. Formulaic police procedurals. In failing to take risks, we often end up with more of the same.

If you are thinking of self-publishing your crime fiction, make sure you do the genre justice. There is a time and a place for all those familiar things about crime novels, but there is also room to be bold and different. Don’t be afraid to make your detective a teenager bunking off from school rather than a traditional police detective if you think it will fit the story. Don’t be afraid to be unconventional.

What do you think?

5 reasons to self-publish your crime fiction

If you’re currently on the fence as to whether or not you should self-publish your crime novel, read on. Self-publishing is an adaptable, creative option for authors who would love to see their work published, and it can be particularly beneficial for crime writers. Here are some of the best reasons to self-publish your crime fiction.

E-books are overtaking print books, and crime works really well as an e-book. Crime is a genre that lends itself well to the growth in e-reading; crime novels often have short chapters that are ideal for reading on the go, and the accessibility of e-books makes this a great option for authors
Your brand as an author is what matters. When they’re looking for books, readers tend not to make their choices based on the publisher. They make the based on the author. This means you don’t need to worry about having the backing of a big-name publisher behind you; you just need to worry about writing good crime novels that people want to read.
Success story numbers are rising. More and more authors are doing well through self-publishing their crime novels, and more readers are starting to read them. It’s a good time to get in on the game.
The tools are there to help you do it. Even if you’ve never thought about self-publishing before and are slightly daunted by all that it involves, the tools are there to help you. There are plenty of professionals and others you can ask for help or hire to undertake bits of the process for you, ensuring your crime novel is as professional as it can be before it hits the shelves.
You can be as creative as you want to be. You don’t have to write your crime novels according to what you think traditional publishers are looking for.  You can just write the crime novel you want to write, safe in the knowledge that you’ll be able to publish it at the end of the process.

How the right setting can improve your novel

The setting of your novel – the time and place in which you choose to set it – can sometimes seem like a bit of a background issue, while the plot and characters are in the fore. This isn’t the case. The setting you choose for your novel is crucial.

Depending on what you’re writing, it might not play a huge role in the novel, but it will still have an influence on the story that you tell. And in many cases, the setting can be an important role to play in the story.

For instance, setting a novel in a large city that’s full of life and feels electric will lend a different air to the story than if it was set in a sleepy little village somewhere. Setting a story in the present day will have an impact on your characters that is different to if you chose to set it fifty years ago.

It can also add to the tension and drama of the story. Setting a high-stakes plot in a small, confined town could, for example, heighten the feeling of claustrophobia and suspense in the story. Setting a story somewhere with perilous weather conditions can add an extra layer of tension and challenge for your characters to overcome.

The right setting will give your characters somewhere to react to and live in, not just exist against the backdrop of. Whether or not your choice of setting plays a big part in the story, whatever and wherever you choose matters for the outcome of your book.

6 ways to improve your crime fiction

Crime fiction is the biggest genre out there. It’s hugely – and, if I do say so, justifiably – popular with writers and readers alike. This is undoubtedly a great thing, but it also means there’s a huge amount of competition when it comes to getting your book noticed. While luck will always play a part in success, there are things you can do to improve your work and, with any luck, your sales too.

Tell the story you want to tell

Don’t write a story you think readers want to read or that publishers want to publish, what write what you want to write. It’s all too easy to tell when a novel has been written as something of a formulaic exercise. It sounds cheesy, but being passionate about what you’re writing can make all the difference.

Find where the suspense comes from

Very often, the suspense comes from the characters, as they’re the ones moving the plot forward. This focus on character is key: no one wants to read a crime novel where the characters are flat and lifeless and there merely to facilitate the plot. They want to read about characters who are multi-layered and interesting and who make things happen themselves.

Work very hard

There’s no two ways about it: if you want to improve your crime fiction, work hard at it. Write more of it. Edit it. Rewrite it and edit it again. Put the hours in. It’s the only way books get written.

Be organised about planning it

One of the main mistakes new crime writers make is to fail to properly plan. There is a certain amount of organisation that is required in planning; you need to take the time to lay the groundwork of your story in the early days so that it will stand up to the test of time. Don’t just plough in and end up writing something that falls to pieces when you go to read it back.

Make sure it’s a good novel…

… not just a good genre novel. A good crime fiction novel should be well-written, well-paced, and have a good plot and good characters. Just like any other novel.

Don’t copy what’s come before

If you’re serious about succeeding with your crime fiction, you can’t be afraid to think outside the box. The kind of crime stories that are popular now might not be so big in a year’s time; people are always looking for something new. Be prepared to take a risk and do something different.

Creating a crime fiction protagonist

Following on from yesterday’s post about creating a protagonist for your story who is interesting and believable, today we turn our attention to a slightly more specific issue: creating a crime fiction protagonist. What are the particular things authors need to think about when developing a central character for a crime novel?

I think one thing that matters for characters in crime fiction in particular is a certain brand of curiosity that drives them to investigate. Even if you have chosen to portray them as somewhat apathetic and laidback about things, there is still something about crime fiction protagonists that makes them get on and uncover what’s going on – however reluctant they might initially be.

Another interesting idea to explore with protagonists in crime fiction is their beliefs and how they are challenged throughout the course of the story. Of course, this is something that applies to all protagonists, no matter what the genre, but it is particularly interesting in relation to crime fiction as it is a genre that deals so starkly with issues of right and wrong. How does your protagonist react when the lines are blurred, or what makes them start to blur the lines themselves?

How the character reacts to conflict is another key component to consider with your protagonist. Will they go along the lines of the slightly laidback, shambolic detective who seems to amble along but can think quickly when required? Or will they pounce on conflict, ramping up the tension and the risk factor with their own rash actions? This can be one of the key sources of suspense in crime fiction, so it’s an area worth giving some serious thought to.

One of the things many crime fiction protagonists have in common is that they fight for what is right – but how do they fight for it? And what do they think is right? Will they be the ‘by any means’ necessary sort or a ‘by the book’ kind of character?

Getting the protagonist right is one of the most important things you need to do as a crime writer. Putting the work in to get them just how you want them is definitely worth the effort.

6 tips for creating a protagonist

We all know that much of the interest and tension in stories comes not from an elaborately constructed plot, but from an exciting, well-developed character. Even the most brilliant plot in the world will fail to properly shine without a good character to drive it; in fact, we could argue that without good characters, plots wouldn’t happen at all as there would be no one around to make them happen.

Clearly, your choice of protagonist matters. While there is no set way to create your protagonist, there are some things you might like to keep in mind while you’re deciding exactly who they are…

What makes them unique? Everyone is different, and your protagonist should be no exception. This all boils down to what it is about them that we find interesting. In short, why should we care about them?
They should drive the story, not the other way around. Your protagonist shouldn’t be someone who things just happen to. Of course, things will inevitably happen to them, often things beyond their control, but they should also be a driving force. Intentionally or not, they should make things happen. Which brings me on to…
Their actions should have consequences. And not always good consequences. They exist in a world that is bigger than themselves, and it’s important to reflect that. How do they impact on other people? How do other people impact on them?
Don’t make them perfect because no one is. Besides, everyone’s idea of perfect is different. Making the character interesting and human is much more important.
Give them a life outside of the story. We might not get to see much of their life outside of the plot of your novel, depending on what genre you’re writing in, but it’s important to know that your character is not just there as a plot device.
Do they fit the story they’re in? Are they the right character for the story you want to tell?

What are your tips for creating a protagonist?

Should you keep a writing journal?

There is something a little bit romantic in the thought of keeping a writing journal. The idea of it conjures up visions of sitting at a desk, relaxed, calmly writing wondrous prose while sipping at a glass of something cold.

The reality might more closely resemble frantic scribbling while drinking coffee at 3am, and be mostly along the lines of “my novel is horrible, why am I a writer? Aaaaah”, but it’s still a nice idea – and a journal can be a beneficial undertaking.

For one, it can be a good way to de-stress. It’s a place where you can reflect on your day – writing or otherwise – and get all your frustrations out onto the page rather than holding onto them and letting them build up to the point where the only option is to delete your entire novel draft in a fit of frustration.

It’s also a good place to practice writing but without the pressure of a deadline or any particular project to write for. You can try out little scenes and exercises and if they don’t work, it doesn’t matter. It’s just for fun. This can be particularly good if you’re someone who suffers from writers’ block from time to time – a casual writing journal takes the pressure off and can be a good way to get you back into writing before you try again on that novel.

Of course, on the other hand, a writing journal can end up taking time away from your other writing, so whether or not you decide to keep one will ultimately depend on what you feel you get out of it. It might not be essential to have a diary/journal as such, but some form of recording your thoughts and ideas is essential, lest you forget them when it comes to using them. Whether it’s a few quick notes or a more leisurely exploration of your ideas, the concept of a journal – of some description – is definitely an important one for writers.