Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

October 16, 2008 | 5 Comments

Gratuitous hot bloke news

(Pic from richardarmitageonline.com)

The BBC Spooks trailer featuring Rupert Penry Jones and Richard Armitage, is on You Tube.

This episode airs on BBC 1 at 9pm over October 27 and 28th.

What is interesting is that RA’s character, Lucas North, has some spectacular tattoos - as does Matt, the doctor hero of my next LBD. I know not everyone likes tatts on a guy - let’s face it I wouldn’t really want to see a unicorn rampaging over Mr Bennet’s torso - but Matt’s (like Lucas’s I suspect) aren’t the usual variety and he has them for a very special reason.

Writing news: There’s an excellent - and very funny - post here on Christina Jones’ blog about how royalties are paid. Or, rather - often aren’t! If you’ve ever wondered how authors are paid - or not - this will tell you all you need to know.

Update #2 : Julie’s talking about Revisions today - self-imposed ones. How lovely they are! I’ve added my bit FWIW.

October 15, 2008 | 5 Comments

Since I read Julie’s great post about conflict, I’ve been ramping up the tension in every scene of my new book. It’s not difficult as I’ve got intense emotions bubbling under the surface of each encounter at this point. All the major players have just ended up ‘on stage’ together and I’m building up the tension ready for an explosion then a revelation.

I’m also trying to avoid the ubiquitous tea/coffee drinking scenario - which in Britain, happens a lot. Revelations are often poured out with the tea!

The revelation could have happened during a tea scene but I decided to have it take place while the heroine and friend are decorating a room. This will require research. I rarely decorate…

October 14, 2008 | 3 Comments

Writing can send you slightly loopy. I’ve had a week where all I’ve done is write my novel. I’ve now got some work so that will stop. But for a week, largely, I’ve been inside, alone, just writing about an imaginary world.

I don’t know about other writers, but I start to lose touch with reality. I mean, all I do is sit here making up stories! I can see why some authors take themselves off to the coffee shop to work. However, I live in a quiet village. We have no pub or coffee house. I’d have to drive 3 miles to find one. I often do.

Then comes publication day, and you’re thrust into the spotlight (if you’re lucky.) It’s weird. It’s not a proper job and I need to get out more. Which reminds me, I’m going to order my ticket for the RNA Winter Party. Anyone else going?

Now, a tenuous link to another person who’s been suffering from being locked away for several years. Richard Armitage makes his debut on BBC 1 next week in Spooks as Lucas North. just an excuse for a piccy really!

October 11, 2008 | Comments

No, sadly, not that film but…

I’m doing some research at the moment into filmmaking - no, I’m not changing career, it’s for my current wip. I keep bribing a friend with dinner to tell me about his experiences as an extra which is great fun. He’s worked on The Forsyte Saga, Sons & Lovers and Life on Mars among others and is always queueing up at catering vans next to famous actors - but not having a clue who they are until afterwards!

Last week I had a visit from an old friend, Paul Dolmen, a journalist, who is also a talented new screenwriter and filmmaker. I’m trying to get some insight into the work and mindset of directors and producers and he’ s taking me to a Young Filmmakers evening next week. I can’t wait. It’s fascinating to talk about writing for different media. Here’s his site if you want to have a look at ways of getting into screenwriting.

Here’s a still from his current film-in-progress - The Last Human.

Sometimes, this job is a whole lot of fun - makes up spending most of life hunched over a keyboard.

October 9, 2008 | 3 Comments

Update: Julie’s started a discussion on ‘voice’ over on her blog so post here or pop over and say hello.

This is probably breaking her copyright (sorry) but Julie makes an excellent point here:

I’ve written enough now to know I’m a competent writer even when I suck. My crappy first drafts actually read okay on a page-by-page level, because I can put words together in a way that makes sense, I have a very good grasp of sentence structure, scene structure and grammar, and I’ve got a voice that’s easy to read. However, though voice and raw writing skill can get me through a page, they can’t sustain a whole book. Voice will never make up for weak characterisation, lack of conflict, stupid plots, meandering narration, lazy storytelling, and a tendency to put really lame jokes everywhere. This is why I revise so hard.

I could barely manage the competent part when I first started writing. My first novel, Decent Exposure, may have made it to publication first time, but believe me, it went through so many drafts you wouldn’t believe - I rewrote every line over and over until I thought it sounded right. if I could get it back now, I’d probably rewrite it again (and I’d like to revisit Will, I must admit).

Like Julie, I feel I’ve got those basic skills now but there are still all the other issues to take care of. I feel that I have just about passed my driving test, in the technical sense. Now I can handle the car safely but I want to drive faster, more stylishly and tackle trickier courses, push things further. Without crashing of course.

That may be why there are three ’stories’ in my current wip and three points of view. I’m in new territory and wrestling with the steering wheel!