Creative, curious writing
Choosing character names is complex. They shape our perceptions and expectations. Would Geoff have been as iconic as Frodo? Names paint a picture of age, personality, and even the era. So, yes, names matter, but maybe not in the way we obsess over them.
The author faces a dilemma of balancing fact and fiction in their sci-fi writing. They acknowledge the importance of scientific accuracy but realize it shouldn't overshadow the storytelling. By heeding advice to reduce factual overload, they strive to create a more engaging and balanced fictional world while trusting readers' imagination.
A friend of mine once asked how I came up with the ideas for my stories. That's a hard question to answer because at least for me, I am always thinking about how the 'thing I am doing now' might work in a story. Take my visit to the Cute exhibition earlier this year. This... Continue Reading →
World building is a double-edged sword. You need to make it believable but don't want to get lost in the detail. You also need to make it a place that your reader wants to explore without losing them in the darkened alleyways. Recently, as my work has progressed, I have found myself lost in the... Continue Reading →
This is the last one about the dreaded intimate scenes. For now at least. I have talked about how to build intimacy and keep that door open, now let's get down to the mechanics of it all. Remember, the AAR Sensuality Rating System suggests 'warm' is where you will find moderately explicit sex scenes but... Continue Reading →
In my last post, I talked about building intimacy between characters but inevitably we have arrived at the point of no return. It is time, dear Reader, to let them get naked. Most book reviews sites helpfully allow you to denote the level of spice found in your selected novel but as Sally Glover explains... Continue Reading →
Ugh! It's here. The moment that can no longer be avoided. Yes, the dreaded 'intimacy scenes'. I'm relatively good at locations, actions, plot points and explaining how time-travel through a wormhole in your cupboard works but anything more than a furtive glance sends me into an analysis paralysis of endless rewrites until whole weekends have... Continue Reading →
Hello. It's been a while but I am trying to get back to doing what I love so bear with me as I resharpen my pencils. In my previous post, I talked about talking to myself. Now let's talk about you. Or at least 'you', if you were me, talking to you. Patterns, rhythms, accents... Continue Reading →
It's been a tough couple of weeks; well, OK a month and a bit. I had an overload and then couldn't restart in any meaningful way. Everything I wrote, I scrapped and then for a few weeks couldn't write anything at all. I had so much to write. The next assignment for my MA, the... Continue Reading →
Derived from Greek, dia(through) + logos(words), the spoken word within your story is critical if readers are to engage in a meaningful way. It somehow has to be true to the tone and style of your story, completely authentic for your character but also move the story along without screaming "Hey look at me, I'm... Continue Reading →
The Curious Wordsmith 