Tag: Books & Fiction
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Myths About Writing a Novel I Dispelled While Writing A Novel
We’ve all heard them, those little myths we get from the internet or someone who knows someone who heard that it’s the proper way to do things and you couldn’t possibly get it right or become a better writer if you don’t follow the rules. But what rules? And who set them? Here’s some I…
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Yes, The Romans Had Street Food!
It’s amazing the sort of questions I have had to think about working on my Roman period novel. I’ve said before that I don’t want to be a stickler for every little detail, but I want to make sure I have the basics right. Food is so important in defining and presenting a culture, and…
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So You’ve Decided to Write a Sequel
Last week, Roz Morris posted this article on when you should or shouldn’t write a sequel. I agree that we have become far too sequel minded as Hollywood churns out guaranteed moneyspinners and fails to take risks on new projects in these financially difficult times. I have created only two sequels to my work. The…
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Writing the Seasons: Winter
Post-Christmas winter is bleak in every conceivable way. Where the pre-Christmas period is one of jollity and hope for snow, the white frozen stuff post-New Year’s Day comes as a warning. We are now entering the coldest, wettest and most miserable months of the year.
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Writing the Seasons: It’s Christmaaaaas!
Welcome to the year’s first Christmas special! Perhaps not as hotly anticipated as this year’s slice of Doctor Who but I’m sure you’ve all been dying to know what I think of how we portray the season in our writing. I’m sure some of you are about to start or are currently writing festive-themed short…
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Writing the seasons: Autumn
Autumn is the slow decline of the year toward the winter, a slow lingering death from the height of summer into the cold and dark. Yet autumn is far from miserable. I love the unexpected warm days. I love the colours of the season and the wind and rain feels quite energetic and powerful. It has…
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Writing Love/Sex scenes – Some Thoughts
With the world currently going crazy over Fifty Shades of Grey and its quickly published sequels, I’ve been having a surf around the internet today to figure out what all the fuss was about. I’ve come up against very polarised views about the books with criticisms usually centring on a dumbed down writing style, the…
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Writing the seasons: Summer
Summer is the pinnacle of the life of the seasons. I love the warmth that (should) be everywhere. In southern England the sun rises something like 4am and by 5am it is usually already warm. If you are ever awake at this time, I can recommend going for a walk and listening to the silence.
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The Power of Words #1: Advertising
This is the first of a series of discussion pieces that I want to do this year on how we use and manipulate, or are manipulated by words. Language is a powerful tool and in the wrong hands can be a strong weapon. Despite the old saying words can hurt and do cause damage. Commercial…
MG Mason Creative 