The Roman Empire active, 2016? Alternative history in fiction Today’s post features a very successful independent author of historical fiction in an imagined scenario. ALISON MORTON, is the author of INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO and AURELIA, B.R.A.G. Medallion® honorees. Her premise for …
Strong characters capture readers
The US presidential election campaign! How rich a source of strong characters and plot for any writer to capture! Simon Schama didn’t predict it in his 2010 article where he discussed passionately what historical events all school children should learn. Otherwise …
Readers’ Christmas Sav(i)ours
Yes it’s that time again. Christmas Dinner. Marie couldn’t get a cloth to match the curtains and now Cyril’s coming (groan), the rattan chair will need to be squeezed between whoever looks thinnest on arrival. It will ruin the symmetry of …
An eye to writing
This is the camera lucida. I came across it when visiting the Fox Talbot museum at Lacock. Although the museum is about the birth of photography, the link between artistic forms of making images is not ignored. The original design …
A Talent for Short Stories
GOODBYE CROCODILE – Conor Patrick published by The London Magazine The London Magazine has a long-standing reputation for selecting and presenting work of a high literary quality, poetry and prose. They produced this collection of short stories in 2013. …
Starting to write a novel
Are you starting to write a novel? Yes, it’s hard. Really, it’s best just to press on with it rather than tell people about it. There will be time for that when you’re finished. Here are 10 points …
ARABIA – Walter de la Mare
ARABIA. What is left to say? This was the first poem I loved, and it’s still my favourite. Here the country is the character, and like all well-drawn characters it is complex and has its dark side. Far …
Author Litfest talks
Literature Festival speakers. How can they best serve the audience? What makes attendance worthwhile for the writer? For fans, seeing their favourite writer, or one who has fascinated them, is an exciting and uplifting experience. For writers, writing or research …
Reading between the lines
About a holiday taken with others. If you want to choose exactly what/where to visit, go alone or become a dictator. There are some wonderful art galleries in Belgium and the most beautiful riverside areas. No, I didn’t get to many, …
Writing: how to improve your focus
It’s commonly mentioned by writers as a problem: keeping focus on the book you’re currently writing. It isn’t just the intrusion of other writing or everyday chores. More than ever, writers blame the ingress of social media caused by two …