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Raine posted an update 5 years, 10 months ago
For those of us in the North – Harper have opened their ‘northern’ (Manchester, still quite south from where I’m standing 😀 ) office & are doing an open submissions to northerly writers. I don’t know how long they’ll be doing that & imagine they’ll switch to agented only fairly quickly so if you’ve got something ready, might be worth a punt?
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Seagreen replied to the topic The ultimate story/narrative arc in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoWhat about ‘Save the Cat’ by Blake Snyder, Sandra? It was one of the recommended reading books when I started Golden Egg.
Regarding plotting, I use the 7 Cs as a framework:
Connection to character – introduction to the character as he is now. Forging a connection i.e. why the reader should care about this person.
Catalyst – Inciting incident.…[Read more]-
Thank you, Seagreen. The 7 Cs is the most useful and memorable framework I’ve seen – and one comes across a lot of them. Definitely the 7 Cs is a mnemonic to save for next time I need to think about plots.
Many plotting techniques remind me of ‘My Way’. Techniques, I’ve seen a few/many/umpteen, but then again too few to mention.
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Squidge replied to the topic The ultimate story/narrative arc in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoI always sit in on these ‘story arc’ kinds of sessions in the hope I’ll find one that works for me. I never have…
I do have two that help remind me of the essentials though.
The triangle…I learnt it on the self edit course (now run by Jericho Writers) and blogged about it here:…[Read more]
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Squidge posted an update 5 years, 10 months ago
Any more takers for the July comp? We’re halfway through the month…
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Go on! You know you want to. It’s only 400 words. Don’t let me be the winner by default – I want my brilliant words to do it!
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I’m half way through an entry.
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JaneShuff posted an update 5 years, 10 months ago
i amtrying to write a synopsis for a novel with multiple timelines and viewpoints. I cannot write the synopsis so that each time and POV shift is noted because it will be too long. Do you think it is OK to say something along the lines of….. Meanwhile, told from the POV’s of X, Y and Z, in 1957, this happens, that happens and catstrophe e…[Read more]
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I think your approach is fine, though in the interest of saving words I would not bother referring to POV in the synopsis. You could mention the book is seen from multiple POVs in the covering letter, perhaps?
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This might be a candidate for starting with a single sentence stating the basic premise of the story, then adding a second sentence and then a third. etc. mentioning time span only insofar as there are several. Good luck!
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In a word, yes. You can definitely sum in up in that tell-y sort of way in a synopsis.
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Or as Bella says, just mention that it’s from several POVs at the start and then just talk about the events without mentioning the POV it’s from as you go.
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Thanks @kazg. And thank @bellam and @sandradavies. I’ve had a another go just concentrating on telling what happens and ignoring the POV and it is falling into place.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Planning vs Winging it. in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoThis is about as not stupid a question as I can think of. In essence it’s ‘how do you write’. The supposed divide (classically) is between pantsers and plotters. Plotters, apparently, plan every detail, before they begin. Every chapter and plot point is set out. if a chapter should end with a challenging hook, then it’s there in the plan. Once the…[Read more]
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I think most of us are probably ‘Plantsers’ in reality. And yeah, it means you do end up on the wrong path sometimes. Lots of times, actually… I’m trying to sort one out at the mo in Tilda #3, and it’s hard to back-track and find the point where you actually first stepped off the path.
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I’m convinced that you need to be both a planner and a pantser – yes, a planster. The planning and pantsing parts of your brain need to find a way not to just to give each other space but to support each other.
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Planning vs Winging it. in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoThe starting point for every book has been different for me and my process has changed as well. I used to plan very little but now I do try and start with the main thrust of the plot clear in my head otherwise I risk wandering too far down interesting paths that lead nowhere. But I need the actual process of writing words and sentences to…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Planning vs Winging it. in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoI start with a name – a character who rattles a stick along the boundaries of my subconscious. Someone who, when I am not looking, will sneak through a gap in the railings and broadcast snippets of conversation to pique my interest. If this character stalks me when I am waling the dog, or when I’m driving, then I might allow him/her free-write…[Read more]
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Seagreen joined the group
A place for Stupid Questions 5 years, 10 months ago -
Squidge replied to the topic Planning vs Winging it. in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 10 months agoI normally have a character and and end in sight when I start. Apart from that, I don’t do much planning at all – my brain simply doesn’t work like that. I’d love to be more organised, but personally it’s stifling. I am full of admiration for peeps who do the whole character file/in depth plot/post-it scene arrangements etc!
I do a lot of…[Read more]
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Squidge posted an update 5 years, 10 months ago
In case Denizens are interested… I’m doing a digital zoom launch for Tilda#2 next Friday – details here: https://squidgesscribbles.blogspot.com/2020/07/you-are-invited-totilda-2s-book-launch.html
If you can’t make it, there’ll be a recording which I’ll post at some point in the future.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Richard's Literary Byways: The Beginning Place, by Ursula K Le Guin in the forum Blogs 5 years, 10 months ago
Aha, this was the first Ursula K Le Guin book that I read and it made quite an impression on me.
I think you’ve put your finger on why a mixture of normality and fantasy is so effective. The magic becomes a metaphor for the way that changes happen in our lives. As well as providing entertainment for those of us who like a bit of magic in our…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp: July 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 10 months ago
Month of the Cat
To be clear, although Gus didn’t get on with the cat, he was never cruel to it. When his wife, Mildred, died he didn’t want to go on taking care of it.
‘It’s vindictive,’ he said, ‘it kills half a dozen birds every day. It craps on the decking, wrecks my flower borders, and last week it scratched up the wallpaper.’…[Read more]
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Squidge posted an update 5 years, 10 months ago
@knickylaurelle – Hi Knicks…sorry but I can see your question but can’t find a way to reply to it! Glad to hear you’re doing OK in spite of everything…having littlies around while studying is HARD! Well done you for getting through it all x
I’m good, ta… writing is much slower going, cos my head’s not always in the right place to…[Read more]
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Hey Squidge! I’m glad I can see your reply and post one of my own. I just finished posting a reply to Kaz and can’t seem to find my way back to it. The Forest of Vanishing Posts is simply marvellous 😌 I’m so glad you’re good, and I absolutely understand the headspace. Socks make life worth living, don’t even @ me on this haha. Comfy feet are the b…[Read more]
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Should be available on Amazon, but also available via the publisher direct http://bbp.bedazzledink.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6&zenid=961f25f4969463b72b3509e3392cd593
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 10 months ago
Congratulations, Squidge. Great story.
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Thanks, Ath. Dare I say it was something I rushed off? Not sure why, but they seem to be the better of my short pieces. Perhaps because I didn’t examine it too much?
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Squidge started the topic Monthly comp: July 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 10 months ago
Don’t know how many of you support the Big Issue, but you might well have heard of Street Cat Bob, who adopted a young homeless man and saved his life. Sadly, James Bowen’s feline saviour died in June after being hit by a car. Many people have been moved by their story, and Bob was quite the poster-cat for the Big Issue.
I loved the film – A…[Read more]
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Squidge replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 10 months ago
Wowser – thanks, Jill! There were some great interpretations of the theme, so well done to everyone who entered…especially as I think it was Andrew’s first time?
I’ll have a think about a theme and post a bit later this morning…
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 10 months ago
Midsummer Magic
Frankie wiggles his shoulders in a figure of eight and exhales. He flicks his hat back and mops his brow with a handkerchief. Then he loosens his tie another quarter inch and Matzo slaps his hand down on the table, making all three of us jump.
“For Christ’s sake, Frankie. Yeah – it’s hot. I’m hot. Eddie’s hot. It’s the longest…[Read more]
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Squidge replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago
The Midsummer Madness
“Are ye well prepared?”
Aliz nods, her eyes wide and dark in her face. “I soaked the rope in rosemary water like ye said, an’ the pegs were whittled fresh from holly.”
“Good. And the other?”
“I have it.”
No tremor in her voice. Will she remain as unaffected if she is forced to use it?
“Good.” I tap my finger on my t…[Read more]
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sorry – forgot to add: Harpernorth.co.uk
Coming from the Manchester area myself I’m pleased one of the big publishing companies thinks this very populous, diverse and influential area is worth direct support. (If I knew how to add an emoji signalling a combination of weariness, irony, relief and some kind of optimism, I’d put it here.) I have to agree, Raine, that Manchester is hardly…[Read more]