Pre-writing is a thing for me. I have pages and pages of 'stuff' that relates to some aspect of the story. Snippets of conversation, an overheard argument between unknown characters, sounds, places, objects. I particularly like rambling about the history of the place they're in. How it started, why it started, when it grew beyond … Continue reading What Happens Before the Writing?
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Who Writes History?
Another question first: Why are there so many stories with the same cultural background? That's the question that relates to the main question. It may not appear to make sense, but think about it. As an example: The Romans travelled the world, conquering and spreading their stories, adapting the local cultural stories to include Roman … Continue reading Who Writes History?
Chuck it All in?
There are times when it's too hard to go on, too much effort for no reward, or even acknowledgement. That's what happens with writing. Years and years of work and practice while forever engaging in learning the skills required. Asking for help, desperate to hear some honest feedback to know what others think and feel … Continue reading Chuck it All in?
FFF … Again
It's not being rude, honest. In fact, I've talked about it before. It? The human reaction cycle: Freeze, Flight, Fight. Freeze is always first: Stand still and the danger won't see me. It also gives time to assess the situation, to decide whether to slowly sink down or sidle across to the darker shadows and … Continue reading FFF … Again
The Creation of a Story
This little story idea was outlined for submission to a children's anthology (later cancelled). I haven't gone beyond the idea and basic outline, and animal-protagonist stories seem to have hit a dull patch so I haven't gone further with it, but tell me what you think ... story array Image: Bilby (an Australian animal), digging … Continue reading The Creation of a Story
Dreams of Light
A short story, under 500 words, fiction with a different perspective. From the deepest bowels of the well within the basement, Illustro strove upward. His six legs worked mud and wood fibre into a tunnel to lead him from the darkness of below to the lights from above. More than anything, Illustro wanted to see … Continue reading Dreams of Light
Pop-Ups on Litopia – It’s Today!
Yes, it really is today, at 5pm (or 1700 hrs) London time (you need to check the time for your zone, because for me, it's sometime after zero-dark-hundred and before sparrow-fart (around 0130 in the blessed apres midis)). Your Chance to see what professional writers, editors, publishers, agents have to say about submissions from authors. … Continue reading Pop-Ups on Litopia – It’s Today!
Who is the Story for?
The writer gets the characters together, puts them in situations, shows their backbone - or lack of - and pushes them through plots and troubles until the lesson is learned, the question is answered, the world is set right - or the consequences are clear for all to see. That's how a writer does it, … Continue reading Who is the Story for?
Where to start?
It's a story thing. When does the story start? Is it with a big bang moment, or an introduction to the normal life? None of the above, is what I'd say. Why? I read a lot of stories that open with a big moment, or a deep character moment, and after a page or two, … Continue reading Where to start?
An Element of Change
A short story, 500 words. Dark. Brown grass. Who needs to mow brown grass? Not Ted. He had a beer, a bit of tree stump to sit on, and distance from the house. All he’d done was mention the new neighbour, and the list of jobs fell from her mouth like a shovel-load of shit. … Continue reading An Element of Change
Cage Dunn - Fibber, Fabricator, Teller-of-Tall-Tales 