The bits and pieces that make a character

Once or twice, people have asked me who I base my characters on. The moment they ask, I know that they are not fiction writers.

What makes me say that?

Simply because character development isn’t about ‘lifting’ a real person you know and dropping them into a book. Let me give you an example of […]

Stage 2….

Image of the back cover of my next book

I’m faced with mixed feelings this week.

In the past few months, my focus has been on getting my business up and running, so work on Age of Oppression took something of a back seat. But, as my coach often says, “passion+discipline are what are needed for achievement,” and, if story telling is what I […]

Pressing on!

Here I am again.

The draft is written and now, all I need to do is review and polish the next bestseller-to-be. And, of course, half way through the second set of revisions, all I can hear in my head is “Oh, this is a really weak story. This is terrible. Everyone is going to […]

Back to it

Image of the back cover of my next book

You may have noticed that I’ve been away for a while. I stopped blogging for a while when I left work to start up my business. Anyone who has done something similar will know what a strange, exciting and challenging experience that is – EVERYTHING changes.

So, caught up in all of that, I decided […]

The power dynamic

Characters develop as you write

I’ve come to the realisation that Age of Oppression – the novel I’m currently writing is all about power.

The sub-plot of the book highlights the political manouvering between the Emperor and his brother as they attempt to gain power over one another. Their political wrangling and reactions to trouble in the south provides some […]

Sub-plots and backstory

Image of the back cover of my next book

The first round of editing one of my books is a slow process (especially when you procrastinate as much as I do!) and usually identifies some big gaps that need to be filled. Occasionally (if I’m really unlucky) they appear in the main plot. More frequently, they show up in the sub-plots and backstory.

Or […]

Un-reality check

Last Tuesday – 2nd May – was my last day as a consultant. My last day as an ’employee.’ I’ve finished with the day job to pursue my dream of being a writer (and of becoming a ‘crazy cat lady’ – see last week’s post).

So, this is my life now. I’m a writer. I […]

Introducing Lola

Essential item in my toolkit...

When I was a child, we had a family cat. She became a part of the family when I was three and lived for 16 years, so I never really knew a time without her. So it is hardly surprising that I have always been a ‘cat person.’

In my adult life, however, a cat […]

Stick to your habits

Image showing an obstacle

Aren’t habits fascinating things?

My habit is to write my blog on a Sunday morning, pretty much my first task of the day. This weekend, though, I’ve been away (on a retreat as it happens) and, as a result, wasn’t in a position to write my blog on Sunday morning.

Now, on Monday morning, when […]

What went well?

Image of tree blossom

I’m currently reading Flourish by Martin Seligman. It is all about positive psychology and its application in a number of places. Scattered throughout the book are various very simple ideas and concepts which translate into every day life and which Seligman and his team have scientifically assessed for effectiveness.

The tool that forms the title […]