writing Archives - Page 9 of 9

Wicked

What a Wicked Weekend. And what a Wicked show.

As a special birthday treat for my Newly Teenaged Daughter (NTD), I offered to take her to London to see a West End show. She chose Wicked, at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and what a great time we had. She is a fan of The Wizard of Oz, and The Return to Oz, able to explain the plots inside -out and back-to-front, so she was keen to see, as she put it, the backstory to the witch.

I watched the show as a fan of musicals, a singer, and a writer.

The way the threads of the story weaved throughout, connecting with the original film, and the skilful way in which they were tied at the end, was ingenious; the singing was amazing, and the lyrics were flowing and very clever.

There was a buzz and a chemistry between the cast, and both NTD and I enjoyed the scenes between Glinda and Elphaba in particular; there was great wit and classic timing.

It was a thrill to see Harriet Thorpe in the role of Madame Morrible. Since first seeing her as Carole Parkinson, the receptionist who kept her baby in her desk draw, in The Brittas Empire, I’ve been a fan. NTD stared at me in bemusement when I said, ‘Morning, Mr Brittas. Yes, Mr Brittas.’

And let’s not forget the music and the orchestra. It was wonderful to hear live music, and watch the conductor, who more than once had a smile on his face.

Wicked is about to go on tour, and NTD and I highly recommend a viewing.

With the following morning spent at the Science Museum, pressing buttons and checking our personality traits, and the afternoon at the Victoria and Albert Museum, we caught the teatime train home, our heads full of colours, songs, the future, and sculptures.

I think our dreams must have been pretty special last night – we’re just too tired to remember them.

What a Wicked way to turn thirteen.

Take care.

Laura x

Disney and Dreams

When I attended the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference last summer, Julie Cohen ran an excellent workshop on the skills and techniques Disney Pixar employ when writing the stories for their films. I am moved by animated films. I cry when I watch Cars, and just last week, Toy Story 3, no matter how hard I fought, turned me into a blubbering wreck, much to the amusement of my son. My daughter consoled me by advising she cried upon first viewing.

We were watching it on the Disney Channel, in Orlando. We were having a holiday of a lifetime – my first ever with my children, my last trip abroad being my honeymoon to Italy in 1996.

Since I was a child, I dreamed of visiting DisneyWorld. I still have a 1973 Disney annual – actually, my daughter is now it’s owner, but I love that book.

I remember seeing images of Epcot on Blue Peter, hearing about friends who had dined with Mickey Mouse, and falling in love with the magic and beauty of the fairy castle that opened and completed every Disney film. I’ve had such a great time watching all the old movies with my children over the years. ‘Pete Pan, Pete Pan!’ my daughter would squeal. Fifteen times in one week we watched Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys defeat Cap’n Hook. Even my son tells me if I don’t believe in fairies, one will die. Tink’s real in this house.

The funny thing is that at the 2012 RNA Conference, after Julie’s workshop, I collected a complimentary fortune cookie. I ate the biscuit, then unfolded the thin, white strip of paper, to reveal my fate. This is what it read: ‘All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.’ Walt Disney. Coincidence that the man himself made a virtual appearance after I’d taken a workshop on story structure, with positive examples from Disney Pixar?

I’ve kept that slip of paper. It sits with my Romaniac business cards.

My dream to take my family to DisneyWorld came true.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing your knowledge, and thank you, Walt Disney, for showing me the strength of belief and commitment.

Now to continue pursuing my writing dream…

Take care.

Laura x

Embrace the Pen

A couple of weeks ago on Facebook, Harper Impulse asked if we writers prefer the pen or the keyboard.

My day had been spent with a notebook and biro, first at my local writing group, Off The Cuff, and then later, during a quiet half an hour sitting in the car. I had things I wanted to get down on paper, thoughts, ideas, a moment in time, for a 500 word story I’d been formulating the night before. The most immediate way for me to do this was to write it down.

This was my reply to the question from Harper Impulse:

“I mix and match, depending on my mood. Today has been a notebook and pen day – it’s a more intimate means of writing. It reminds me of something a musician, possibly Sir Paul McCartney, said regarding the difference between creating a song with a guitar and producing one using a piano. A guitar is hugged to the body, creating an intimate song, whereas he feels he is pushing away the piano, producing a distant feel to the music.”

Harper Impulse asked if I found using a computer to write, a more distant exercise. Giving it more thought, I replied I did.

Typing, at my slow speed, and with my errant fingers, is a stilted affair, and can have the effect of clipping my thought process. With the immediacy of writing, regardless of the illegibility, I can get my thoughts down as they appear, ready for later editing. That’s not to say I’m incapable of this when at the PC, but my words are more considered then.

Subject matter makes a difference too. I’m more likely to hand write an intense, emotional scene, allowing the thoughts and the pen to flow. The words are raw and straight from the heart of the character. In some respects, it’s similar to writing a diary, which for most, is a private and personal activity, not often emblazoned across the household PC monitor.

Having said all that, I edit at the PC. Perhaps that’s because I need perspective, and the distance a keyboard provides allows for that.

Pen or keyboard? Both methods complement my way of working.

What an interesting question posed by Harper Impulse. Thank you.

So, what are you using to write with this minute?

Laura x

Laura Gets Flash

Last week I blogged about my local writing group and the skills I’ve learned through attending Off The Cuff. It was this group that introduced and explained Flash Fiction to me. Wikipedia defines it as “…a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity.”

I have written stories as short as 25 words, and entered competitions with tales of 500 words. I’ve tried a 6 word story, but am not yet skilled enough to produce anything of value in this range.

As an over-writer who loves to hack and slash scripts down, flash fiction satisfies my desire for concision. It focuses the mind, and helps develop the ability to identify the relevant points of the story.

The following is a 10 minute, 100 word story, written at Off The Cuff. It’s not been tweaked – this is how it was presented.

From Hero to Zero

Handsome and rich. I had everything; Hollywood ranch, private jet, two Oscars. I had glacial white, virginal girls pleading to be walked on the red carpet.

My days were full of action. My nights too.

My face appeared on billboards, my palm prints on the Walk of Fame. My life was documented in magazines, news clippings, movies. “The greatest action hero of all time”, the tag line to my name.

And then I met her.

She taught me there’s no value to property, fame, or notches on a bedpost.

I’d rather possess nothing, and have her love.

Zero.

Not hero.

It’s not perfect, it possibly breaks all sorts of rules, and it’s not award-winning stuff, but that’s not why I wrote it.

I wrote it because I love to write.

Take care.

Laura x

It’s all Off The Cuff

What would I do without my lovely, local writing group, Off The Cuff?

We quite literally write off the cuff. We enter the library with no clue as to what the task will be and settle down to twenty minutes of writing. This may be inspiration taken from a line in a book, or ideas gathered from the roll of a set of story dice, or one person’s suggestion, prepared especially for the session.

Our meetings are split into two, refuelling with coffee at the break. The second half is shorter than the first and can consist of flash fiction, or poetry, amongst other styles, and this is when I experiment with different forms of expression. We’ve even tried writing a twenty-six line story, each sentence, or each word beginning with the next letter of the alphabet, but an observation was made today that, whilst this certainly stretches the creative muscle, most stories end with someone having an x-ray or playing a xylophone in yonder zoo.

Andrew Began Counting Daffodils. Each Flower Grew Higher…Whilst X-raying Yonder Zoo.

See?

I love Off The Cuff for many reasons, the first being the wonderful friendship offered. I am looked after and nurtured by writers with greater knowledge and understanding than I, and I am in awe of these wonderful friends and their skills. And how different we all are. Give seven of us the same title, the same subject, and we will produce seven different projects.

It’s a fantastic way to get the brain kick-started, and with a notebook full of OTC tasks, I have a collection of ideas and stories waiting to be developed.

At our latest gathering, we were given the title ‘Speak of the Devil’.

This was my twenty minute offering.

Speak of the Devil

Say my name, and I’ll cock an ear

Speak it twice, and a mist appears

A third time now, you’ll see my head

My tail you’ll see, a fourth time said.

Say my name, and I’ll come to you

We’ll whirl a dance in devil’s shoes

But take my hand and a deal we’ll make:

Your soul turns black, it’s mine to take.

Say my name and I’ll show you how

With worldly riches you can endow

Your lust for life will see no end

If I remain your one true friend.

But turn your back on all I’ve done

The gift I’ve wrapped will come undone

Betray me once and you will see

My living hell: Immortality.

Speak of the devil, and you will see his tail

Best to stay silent, if your soul’s not for sale.

Which writing tasks flex your creative muscle?

Laura x

Diva Days

I owe you an apology. Sorry.

On Friday, I removed my birthday notification from my Facebook page. It was a selfish act, I realise that now, but at the time, I was facing my very first birthday without my mother, having lost her at the end of March last year. The week leading up to my birthday was tough, as the corresponding days twelve months ago were when I took Mum to hospital for the operation from which she did not return. I wanted my birthday to pass by unnoticed.

At least, that’s what I thought until, on Saturday morning, a long-standing and very good friend posted birthday wishes on my timeline. Other notifications followed, and I also received texts and private messages. I was touched and teary, but most of all, moved by the warmth and kindness of friends and family. I give you my heart-felt thanks for your wishes and support, and I promise not to be so difficult next year.

And, as all writers know, one day, I might use the experience in a book.

It was a busy day, and a hectic weekend. Here’s my birthday, and Mother’s Day in pictures.

Take care.

Laura x

Carol Hedges and Laura meet... — Carol Hedges and Laura meet…

Carol Hedges signing my daughter's copies of 'Spy Girl' books — Carol Hedges signing my daughter’s copies of Carol’s ‘Spy Girl’ books

Wonderful Mother's Day gifts and cards — Wonderful Mother’s Day gifts and cards

Robert DeNiro’s Waiting…

I have a sudden urge to learn Italian. Now, I don’t know if this is a ‘start of a new year’ thing, or a result of a comment I made to a friend I’ve met online, who runs Arte Umbria. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ll be spending a week here in the summer, improving my writing skills, and, although Italian is not required, I keep thinking how lovely it would be to converse in, or at the very least understand the language.

Surely learning a second language, particularly one from which many of our english words stem, can only improve my use of the written word. What do you think?

Take care.

Laura x

Exposed!

If nudity offends, you best avert your eyes…

SPLINTED FINGER IS NAKED!

This week I attended my six week orthopaedic appointment following finger fusion. The rather lovely doctor showed me the x-ray- there are three pins of varying length along the finger and a metal ring around the joint – and advised the bone had fused well. Despite my concern the finger is still swollen and red, the doctor told me it’s looking good, but recommended I retain the splint for a further six weeks.

In hindsight, I think my reaction matched Tony Hancock’s in his famous sketch in which he expresses surprise at how much blood he’s expected to donate.

The rather lovely doctor and I entered into negotiations, which included my admission I had spent the day before without the splint, apart from when I went out, and the promise not to take up ten-pin bowling. We reached a satisfactory compromise of allowing Splinted Finger to roam naked around the home, but cover up when out and about.

Splinted Finger is also allowed to write.

Nude.

And with joyous abandon.

Take care.

Laura x

Review: The Summer Of Living Dangerously. Julie Cohen.

In an attempt to leave her past behind, avid romance reader and technical journalist, Alice Woodstock spends the summer as a Historical Interpreter at Eversley Hall, a Regency stately home.

As past lives play into present day, Alice must decide on her future.

I loved this book. It is clever, witty, escapist and touching. I went to bed early so I could have quality time with the characters. I used the excuse of a bandaged finger to avoid housework so I could sit and read for an entire afternoon or two, and I consumed far too much chocolate whilst absorbed in the moment. The era.

Not only did I enjoy the romance, I learned historical facts without realising. The description of the Regency house is brilliant and I swear I’ve actually been living there for the last few days.

I know this tells you nothing of the story, but if you enjoy being moved in all directions, this is a must-read.

A beautiful tale told with warmth and affection.

In less than two weeks, I shall be attending a day’s writing course with author/tutor Julie Cohen. I am so excited. I have already set the journey on my satnav, gathered the correct stationery and printed out the first five pages of Follow Me for critiquing.

My recently fused index finger still has five weeks in its new splint, but this will not deter me from making notes or participating in the workshops.

I am ready to learn.

Laura x

You can find Julie on Facebook

The Summer Of Living Dangerously can be purchased at Amazon in paperback or downloaded for the Kindle

To Submit or not to Submit?

To submit or not submit? That is the question I asked myself thirty times.

I am a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. It is a fantastic organisation which offers friendship, advice, the chance to meet other writers, agents and publishers and once a year, have one’s manuscript critiqued. The deadline for the critique is August 31st. Well done to everyone who submitted.

At the beginning of this year I had a plan; By July I was going to have a second story written and submitted to the NWS. It started well as I joined in with a challenge set by author Sally Quilford entitled 100k in a 100 Days. The aim was to write 1000 words each day for 100 days, starting on January 1st and ending on April 9th.

By March, I had 60,000 words written, most of which belonged to the work in progress (WIP). My writing came to an abrupt halt late March, when I lost my mum. Everything that followed knocked writing off the agenda.

I could not get back into the work in progress. The last scene I’d written concentrated on the hero’s grief having lost his family. It was not a place I wished to visit. With that in mind, I decided not to submit to the NWS. I emailed the organiser explaining my situation and received a lovely reply which left the door open for me to send in a partial (a non-completed story) and a synopsis if I felt able.

As time progressed and life settled into a new groove, I turned to writing short stories. They were perfect for fulfilling the desire to write without draining my emotional reserves. With aspects of my life hanging in the balance, I derived satisfaction from starting and completing a project within a short time span, and it appeased the guilt of not tackling the WIP knowing I was keeping my hand in.

There’s the telling word – appeased.

In hindsight I think those who know me well realised I was struggling with the idea of not submitting. I had 60,000 words saved in Drive C. I had neglected them. My poor, desperate hero, like me, had to start dealing with his grief. I could not leave him in his state of disbelief.

I began to think about the story once more. I mentioned one or two ideas to my wonderful Romaniac chums, who as ever, were supportive, funny and pillars of rock and again the suggestion was made that I should consider sending in a partial. I then received the same advice from two established members of the RNA.

Have you ever had that feeling someone is trying to tell you something?

At the beginning of July, struck by a bolt of insanity, I declared to my family and friends I would be submitting to the NWS and I would work for as long and as hard as I could to finish and polish the manuscript. I had six weeks, after all.

This Tuesday I didn’t go to bed. I stayed up reading through a revised and rewritten 52,000 words, replacing over-used phrases, correcting chronology mistakes and fixing typos and cut and paste errors.

I went to bed at 07:00, Wednesday, rose at 09:00, and at 11:00, handed the NEW padded envelope, fattened with my partial, to the post office assistant.

It was the first time I’d been out of the house in days.

Okay. So I didn’t manage to write the whole story, but I reached a point about a week before when I knew it was not going to happen. Perhaps I should have written the entire book before editing, but I wanted to submit more than a first draft. I appreciate it is not a final version, but I have presented my work to the best of my ability.

What have I learned? Support, advice and encouragement from family, friends and writing chums are invaluable assets when faced with the impossible, and I thank you for providing all three in lorry loads.

Scrap that. Make it juggernaut loads.

No. Container loads.

And what of my hero? He is out of his disbelief phase and he’s through with the guilt, but he is sinking lower than the Titanic. I wonder if like the sun, he will rise and see the dawning of happier times?

Laura x

Laura E. James

Truth in Fiction

Tag: writing

Wicked

Disney and Dreams

Embrace the Pen

Laura Gets Flash

It’s all Off The Cuff

Diva Days

Robert DeNiro’s Waiting…

Exposed!

Review: The Summer Of Living Dangerously. Julie Cohen.

To Submit or not to Submit?