Knowing your Characters (Part 1)

Inspired by the idea of the interior decorator’s best friend, the Mood Board, I began to beg, borrow and steal magazines and leaflets from my family and friends. Well, actually, I didn’t steal them because you never know when you might need that friend or family member so better to not risk offence. I didn’t …

Inspiration for Characters

The sources that inspire characters are as varied as the characters themselves. A lot will depend on the setting you have chosen and the period. A demure young virgin might fit better into a Victorian drama, than into a racy modern rom-com but there is a need for caution in all eras. We have all …

Let’s be SENSE – IBLE

A lot of what we read (and write) is description of what the characters see. We call it ‘setting the scene’ or ‘backdrop to the story’. The other senses are often overlooked or not used in the best way to promote our understanding of the characters. In the next few posts I will be looking …

What I didn’t mean to say…

As we continue to be thwarted in our efforts to meet – we almost made it this week, planning to book a room for the first face-to-face meeting since March before the rule-of-six overtook us – we are trying to keep our spirits up and our brains engaged. We don’t want the ink to dry …

A Helping Hand

I have recently been interviewed by Eva Jordan, local writer and columnist for the Fens magazine (May edition). Eva has kindly followed this up with a review of my book, (The Railway Carriage Child) in the June edition of the Fens magazine. Both editions of the Fens Magazine are avaliable on line. It is encouraging …

Edward Storey Memorial Concert

I was privileged to be invited to a memorial concert today in Peterborough, for Fenland poet and author, Edward Storey. I wrote to Edward for several years while I was working on my book, The Railway Carriage Child, and received much good advice and support from him. This also led me to setting up the …