Andrew Barrett - Oddments and Musings

[Andrew]

I use my author thread to update people on a new blog, but crikey, this is obviously the place to come - some wonderful things here.

So here are a few of my latest blogs featuring everything from Goths in Whitby to Dreaming Stories.

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?page_id=8

[Andrew]

Moving right along...

Here's a blog about my work in progress, Sword of Damocles. It's part of the wonderful Blog Tour, and I was invited to take part by our Kath Middleton.

I hope you enjoy it. http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=635

[Andrew]

I seem to have neglected this thread of late...

Hey ho. I've written a blog today on what it feels like to launch a book. I know, it's a shock, right?

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?page_id=8

[Kath]

Scary! Lots of us here know it!

[David]

I know exactly where you're coming from. My launch day, tomorrow, hopefully.

Looking forward to reading it, when I've read Black by Rose.

[Andrew]

You'll be getting used it by now, Kath ;)

Thanks, David, and best of luck for tomorrow.

[Kath]

Not done as many as you, dear!

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh good.

Nice I can find the links here if I miss them on Facebook.

Well done Andy.

[Andrew]

Cheers Patti :)

[Andrew]

I've penned a rather long-ish blog about how I write. It's so long, in fact, that I've had to offer it up in smaller, easy to digest pieces. The first of which, you'll find here...

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=706

[Andrew]

Well here's another easy-to-digest piece - the second instalment of how I write. It's bursting with good advice and how to install a machine gun nest on your roof. Sort of...

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=747

[Andrew]

I hate going over old ground, especially 12 year-old old ground.

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=759

[Andrew]

Here's the third instalment of how I write.

Use a red Bic!

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=762

[Kath]

And I 'edit' with a mental red bic!
That business of self-editing is interesting. It's good to leave a gap in time but practically, many people can't.

[Tim]

I also edit much better on paper - I guess it's the ability to scribble notes in the margin (and write an extra half-scene on the back!)

[Tim]

Also, even reading the first draft immediately after finishing, there's still an awful lot of "gosh, I didn't remember that happened, I better write some follow-up in the next draft!"

[Andrew]

I honestly can't think of a better editing tip, Kath, than leaving a month gap before you start. I will enforce that rule the next time I finish a book.

Ha, I know what you mean, Tim. All the white space around the text is full of notes, with lines to 'A' and to 'B' scribbled all over - looks very busy.

[Andrew]

Here's the final instalment in my light-hearted way I look at writing.

http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/?p=780

[Jim]

makes sense

Actually I rather like passive sentences at times, they have their uses. I think they can be useful to slow the pace or to give a feeling that they're in a somewhat old fashioned environment.
They can also flag up that this isn't an action scene. But yes, be aware.

Cliches are very useful, but only really in the mouths of characters, as a way of showing the sort of person the character is :-)

[Andrew]

I agree, Jim. Everything is allowed in moderation.