Writing – Lee Child - dubious advice

‘We’re not story showers, we’re story tellers.’

That catchy little snippet comes from the latest issue (November) of Writing Magazine, a quotation from bestselling author Lee Child. According to the article by Tony Rossiter, Child ‘believes that reading is the only essential training for a writer.’ Apparently, Child eschews the ‘show, don’t tell’ principle, adding, ‘There is nothing wrong with just telling the story. So liberate yourself from that rule.’

Who am I to disagree with someone whose books sell in their millions?

However, if this quotation is accurate, then it’s nonsense.

Whether he knows it or not, he ‘shows’ in his writing – through character point of view, description and emotional content.

‘Show’ puts the reader into the scene and into the protagonist’s mind. That, to a large extent, is what makes the Jack Reacher books popular: character. You can’t have ‘character’ without ‘show’.

There is a place for ‘tell’ in narrative – to move the story forward a little faster, to skim over some boring life bits. But if you want reader involvement, you need to ‘show.’

As for reading, I totally agree if you want to be a writer then you must read – ideally, widely, both fiction and non-fiction; a little poetry wouldn’t go amiss, either.

So, if you want to try the hard way to find a publisher, follow his advice... but don't hold your breath.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

Writing – research – Writing Magazine

It often surprises me that beginning writers fail to master the basics of writing fiction.

Their enthusiasm for storytelling cannot be faulted. But really they should study published books to see ‘how it’s done’ before sending off any manuscript.

A long time ago – last century – when I was about fifteen, I did just that: I analysed published books (those in my own library and those borrowed from the public library) within my favourite genre.

·       How did the author begin the story?

·       How did the author end a chapter?

·       How long are the paragraphs?

·       What percentage of the book is dialogue as opposed to description?

·       What was the average length of the books?

·       How did the author convey suspense?

·       How did the author create exciting scenes?

… and so on.

Naturally, there was no intention of slavishly copying any particular author. But while analysing I was absorbing, almost like osmosis, the form and style of a typical thriller.

I spent time on the analysis.

In those days, there were very few ‘how to’ books on writing fiction, genre or any other type.

I did sign up for a writing correspondence course, which helped me successfully aim articles and short stories at particular markets. Additionally, by dint of writing a lot for this course’s targets and assignments, I improved my style and output. Sales didn’t happen overnight, but they started and after a while became quite regular.

That was then. Now, the budding writer is blessed with more than enough advice and guidance, whether from blogs, books, or magazines. So there is little excuse for any aspiring writer getting the basics wrong.

‘My writing will appeal no matter what form I deliver it in.’

‘I’m an original, I won’t conform.’

‘I don’t want to write in a straitjacket.’

‘Talent can’t be smothered by rules!’

‘Rules are meant to be broken.’

I’ve heard it all. Any excuse not to conform shouts out something: maybe he’s a tyro, perhaps she’s just arrogant or most likely they’re purely lazy.  

Time and again I and others spell it out: if you can’t be bothered to follow the guidelines – whether that’s for a writing competition or a publisher or an editor – then why should they bother with your submission? Yes, they may be at risk of losing something remarkable (though in need of judicious editing), but they can live with that; there are sufficient writers with talent who deliver as required.

This brings me on to sources of writing guidance.

There are two main writing magazines in the UK – Writers’ Forum and Writing Magazine.

Today, I’ll look at the latter.

Writing Magazine

For the cost of £4.10 per month (less if you subscribe), you get a 108-page full-colour magazine full of advice, markets, competitions, and advice, poetry, encouragement, and advice. (The repetition is deliberate). With the October issue there is also a 28-page special supplement listing national and international writing competitions, prizes adding up to £391,205 – not that any single person would be able to enter all of them!
 

 

There are articles about 'finding your voice', improving your humorous writing, a Rosie Thomas interview, moving to Windows 10, beating self-doubt as a writer, an author profile of David Nicholls, editing tips, short story and poetry winning entries, competition tips, creating characters, children's stories, news on competitions and events, and a regular back page column from Lorraine Mace, a successful Crooked Cat crime author.

If you’re writing genre fiction, then you could always read my Write a Western in 30 Days – with plenty of bullet points! I know; you’ve no intention of writing a western! Much of the book is applicable to any genre fiction writing – as reviewers have been good enough to point out. I used the western as it is a shorter book form to illustrate various aspects of writing – dialogue, characterisation, flora and fauna, conflict etc.
 
Or search Amazon or other online bookstores for ‘writing guides’ or even Google the same – and get swamped with useful tips.

The main thing is, do that research so you improve your chances of selling your work.

Good luck.

Writing – competitions – resources

Today, I’m writing about writing for competitions! Why bother?

Improving as a writer is an ongoing process. There’s never a time when the learning stops. There’s a lot of truth in the saying, the more you write, the better you become. Providing you keep honing the craft. None of us has achieved perfection – otherwise editors would be out of a job! – so we must persist in writing regularly, often and be critical in our self-editing phase.

That’s all very well if the work runs smoothly and comes to an end. What if you’re stuck for ideas? Or can’t move forward on a particular piece?

One way to recharge the writing machine in you is to leave the current problematic work and try something fresh. An ideal choice is a competition; particularly if the competition has a theme. Competitions have deadlines: that also proves helpful to the writing soul – instilling in us discipline to finish to a deadline.

Throughout the year there are plenty of competitions for writers of short fiction, poetry, and even novels. Some have modest entry fees (about £5 or equivalent), while others are free to enter. Useful resources for being notified about these are the magazines Writers’ Forum and Writing Magazine (revamped to now contain a Writers’ News section).

In addition there are a good number of online sites that alert you.

Here’s a very comprehensive site, definitely worth subscribing to:

http://compsandcalls.com/wp/

Good luck with your writing – and your competition entries!

PS - http://completelynovel.com/articles/how-to-win-a-short-story-competition

 

David St John Thomas – R.I.P.

The latest issue of the UK magazine Writers’ News has announced the death of David St John Thomas, a few weeks short of his 85^th birthday.

He was the founder of Writers’ News and the publisher David & Charles.

Years ago, I’d been in touch by letter a couple of times and of course kept up to date with his regular monthly column in Writers’ News. He was a true professional, courteous and always helpful to aspiring writers, happy to pass on his considerable experience.

Writers’ News began life as one of his projects in retirement after he sold David & Charles. He set up the David St Thomas Charitable Trust which offers a wide range of prizes for writers.

In his penultimate article in the magazine (October 2014), he talks about his writing factual articles and regales us with his experience and his links with Southampton, from where he would board Cunard liners and give lectures. I specifically wrote ‘talk’ because that’s how he always came across in his DT Column – a chat between him and you, the reader.

He sold many a book during his lecture sessions – and he was indeed prolific. Perhaps a moral can be gleaned from the fact that he always seemed to carry a copy of his latest book – ‘the other day I made a sale on Bath station waiting for a train to Plymouth to an American who asked what I did, and said that they were avid book readers.’

He died quietly in his sleep on 18 August while on one of his P&O cruises.

I’m sure I won’t be alone in offering commiserations to his wife Sheila and his family, as his life touched so many writers.

The editor, Jonathan Telfer, will publish a full tribute in the next issue of Writing Magazine. (Writers' News is a separate magazine found inside this one.)

 

https://www.writers-online.co.uk/Writing-Magazine/

 

 

The 'Dark Side' - Interview with crimewriter Frances di Plino

I’m pleased to have Frances di Plino as my guest today. She is the author of the crime thrillers Bad Moon Rising and (just launched) Someday Never Comes, published by Crooked Cat Publishing. Both books feature DI Paolo Storey [I’ve got them on my Kindle and I’m looking forward to reading them - Nik] Frances di Plino is the pseudonym of columnist, editor, non-fiction author and writing tutor, Lorraine Mace. Writing as Frances di Plino gives her the opportunity to allow the dark side of her personality to surface and take control. As Lorraine Mace, she is a gentler creature, being humour columnist for Writing Magazine and a deputy editor of Words with JAM. She writes fiction for the women's magazine market, features and photo-features for monthly glossy magazines and is a writing competition judge for Writers' Forum. She is a fiction and non-fiction tutor for the Writers’ Bureau, and is the author of the Writers’ Bureau course, Marketing Your Book. She is also co-author, with Maureen Vincent-Northam, of The Writer's ABC Checklist (Accent Press).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Moon-Rising-Frances-Plino/dp/1908910402/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

NM. Tell me a little about DI Paolo Storey. It’s an interesting name. What’s his background?

FDP. Detective Inspector Paolo Storey owes his roots to my own Italian ancestry. My great-grandfather was an Italian immigrant to Britain in the late 1890s. He settled and married an English woman, but that Italian blood lives on in his descendants. So, when it came time to create my main character, I decided to give him a similar background to mine. His mother was Italian, but his father Scottish. He’s tenacious and uncompromising when it comes to his own conduct, but compassionate and understanding when dealing with others.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Someday-Never-Comes-Frances-Plino/dp/1909841137/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377522242&sr=1-1

NM.  The release of Someday Never Comes just occurred. Is this another Storey thriller to follow Bad Moon Rising?

FDP. It is. It’s the second in the series. The blurb on the cover reads as follows:
Has Detective Inspector Paolo Storey come up against a criminal he cannot defeat? Paolo is determined to shut down the syndicate flooding Bradchester’s streets with young prostitutes. When a child is murdered, Paolo becomes aware of a sinister network of abusers spread across Europe, and spanning all levels of society. But Joey, the shadowy leader of the gang, always seems to be one step ahead in the chase.
                   “dark and uncomfortably believable.” JJ Marsh, author of the Beatrice Stubbs Series

NM. What are you currently working on?

FDP. The third in the Detective Inspector Paolo Storey series, Call it Pretending. After the harrowing crimes in Someday Never Comes, Paolo is once again dealing with murder. This time it is a murderer with an agenda. He isn’t killing to feed any dark desires, as in Bad Moon Rising, but to get revenge on those he feels wronged him in the past.

NM. How long have you been writing?  What influenced you to start?

FDP. I had my first short story published when I was twelve and then didn’t write another thing for (cough, cough number of) years. I started again in 2002 and had a short story published in a women’s magazine. That was enough to get me fired up and I decided to take the Writers Bureau comprehensive course. I’m glad I did because I learned how to write non-fiction and I’ve been a columnist and regular contributor to glossy magazines for over a decade. In 2007, I was appointed as a Writers Bureau tutor. I now run my own critique and mentoring service for writers.

NM.     How do your family/friends feel about your writing?

FDP. My husband is ridiculously proud and a bit of a bore at social gatherings. If he’s on the other side of the room and I find people staring at me, I know he’s been leading with the line: did you know my wife is an author? My children just seem to accept that it’s what Mum does for a living. My sister amuses me. She reads my books and loves them, but won’t tell anyone I’m her sister. She sent me an email after reading Bad Moon Rising saying I need to wash my mind out with soap and water. So far, she’s only read the blurb for Someday Never Comes, but her response to that was that I needed therapy – followed by the question: when can I get my copy?

Frances/Lorraine

 

NM.     Where do you hope to be in 5 years?

FDP. Doing exactly what I’m doing now, which is writing part of the day and providing writing services the rest of the time (critiques, author mentoring and teaching creative writing). I love my working life and wouldn’t change it. Well, maybe a small change. I’d love to see Paolo on television. A number of readers have said they think Bad Moon Rising would be perfect for the small screen.

NM.    I believe you’re also writing outside the crime genre. Do you want to tell me about that?

FDP. Under my own name of Lorraine Mace, as mentioned above, I write mainly non-fiction, but I have my first children’s novel coming out in the USA next April. It was accepted by an American publisher and I’m really excited about it. I’d love to tell you more about it, but the publishers have asked me to keep the title and plot to myself for now as they want to make a big splash with it pre-launch. Maybe I could come back nearer the time? [Of course you can! – Nik]

NM.     A tall order, I know, but what is your favourite book? And why?

FDP. Wow, only one? That’s so hard. If I’m pushed into a corner and have to choose, it would be Terry Pratchett’s The Night Watch. It is clever and funny, as well as showing every aspect of human nature. It has a cracking plot, the pace never lets up and the circular nature of the tale succeeds in a way few time travel stories actually do. Most of them leave unanswered questions or unresolved issues, but not this one.

NM.    How do you cope with writing under two names? Is the division of work easy?

FDP. It’s interesting, to say the least. I find I sign off emails under the wrong name, which is fine with those who know I’m Frances di Plino and Lorraine Mace, but I have had a few replies from bewildered people wondering who this Frances person was and how she’d come to intercept a personal email addressed to Lorraine.

When sitting at my computer, it doesn’t matter which persona I am writing under. I get completely immersed in whatever I’m doing. Online, it’s a different matter. I confuse myself sometimes and once nearly thanked myself for retweeting one of my other persona’s tweets! That way madness lies.

NM.  Where can readers find you?

FDP. Here are my websites
Frances di Plino Website
Frances di Plino Blog
Frances di Plino Twitter

Frances di Plino Facebook

Lorraine Mace Website

Lorraine Mace Blog

Lorraine Mace Twitter

Lorraine Mace Facebook

Many thanks, Frances/Lorraine!