HORSEBRIDGE CENTRE

I started a new writing course at The Horsebridge Centre, Whitstable in Kent yesterday.

http://www.horsebridge-centre.org.uk/?q=node/5347

It's a vibrant venue with many art exhibitions on the ground floor and workshops and a cafe on the first and second.  Full of buzzy life. Amazingly, the centre is built like an upturned boat!

So interesting to meet students of all ages, from all walks of life and listen to their varied ideas.  I have some returning students who are writing historical and fantasy  books. Another who is concentrating on trying to understand his past through writing about it. And several people who are researching non-fictional stories.

Two other students are writing children's books, geared for different age groups.

I look forward to listening to a fascinating mosaic of words over the coming weeks.

WRITING A NOVEL

People always ask me how long it has taken me to write a book. It depends on many things but the most important for me is the period in which I set a novel. Obviously if I place my characters in a past age, I need to research that period extensively.

I spent six months researching for my WW II novels as they were written before the internet became a great source of information. But not all the information you need to write a story that comes alive can be found on the internet. Diaries and letters from the period open a large gateway into the past. I knew how people felt and all the sensory details they experienced by reading personal letters and diaries at The Imperial War Museum Library. Only then did I know exactly how my characters would think, act and speak. The research took as long as writing my novels - six months each!

NEW WRITING COURSE

I'm starting a new writing course on 6th September at the Horsebridge Centre, Whitstable, Kent.

http://www.horsebridge-centre.org.uk/?q=node/5347

It's a great centre of creativity. People come from all over Kent and the surrounding areas to see art exhibitions and listen to plays, comedy and music. This is on top of all the classes that are run there.

If any of you visit the area, it's well worth a visit.

And perhaps I'll meet some of you in my future courses. I hope so.

  

EVERYMAN

I went to the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury last night to see a live National Theatre production of Everyman; an updated version of the morality play written by Carol Ann Duffy. 
It was a very inventive production with prose and poetry spoken, medieval music played  and actors dancing amazing movements. 
The lead was played by Chiwetel Ejiofor who was excellent and spoke faultlessly for most of the play. I loved the character of Death played by an Irish actor with a wry sense of humour. It must have taken hours and hours of rehearsals to bring the performance up to such a high standard. The only downside for me was its length. I felt that the last half-an-hour could have been tighter. However, a small niggle in an excellent production. The play questions how many good deeds had Everyman done in his life. Sure many people left the theatre thinking how many have I done? 
Much room for thought. 

Here's the trailer for it to give you a taste.

http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/50433-everyman

ADAPTATION

I've been very busy adapting the first of my WWII books into a 5 part TV series during the last few months . Hard work but fascinating.

The reason being: in a short story or novel you can enter into the mind of your character and tell the reader what s/he is thinking; you can linger over the description of a stunning sunset or a magical forest for pages. In contrast, a film is a visual medium, so when you write a screenplay you need to think in pictures; pictures that tell a story through images that linger in the mind; through the use of credible dialogue and concise, creative description. So the lingering [perhaps beautifully written descriptions ] in your novel or short story have to be edited into a few lines, but those lines can be even more powerful than in your story or novel if remember to think visually.

You can also show what the character is feeling through his body language and actions without using any dialogue. And then, if  you're famous enough you can ask the marvellous actor Eddie Redmayne to act in your screenplay and he can show his feelings merely through his eyes.

I can but dream... I'll keep you posted.

www.lindamjames.co.uk

DO WRITERS NEED TO GO TO WRITING CLASSES?

I am a published author/screenwriter who is also a creative writing tutor who knows that the writing techniques I teach my students help improve their writing skills because so many of them have been published after attending my workshops regularly.

[If you would like to learn a few of these techniques, I have a page on my website called Writing Tips which I’ll be updating which I hope will help you.]

Some people believe writing classes are a waste of time and money. They are if you have a teacher who is insecure in her ability to write well, who can’t communicate her expertise effectively, who has no sense of humour and who isn’t emphatic. All these skills are needed to nurture people who write. I realise my students are opening themselves to criticism and as we all know, criticism is hard to take if it is harsh and destructive. I always try to be constructive, but honest with my students.

Of course, there are some people who are naturally better writers than others, just as some people are naturally better pianists. But think about how many hours a day a good writer or pianist has to work to perfect his/her skills. If you have talent it needs stretching regularly.

I believe three factors are vital for a writer to achieve success: talent, tenacity and timing.

Remember what Aldous Huxley said: ‘It is not how we cope with success that makes us strong, but how we cope with failure.’

http://www.lindamjames.co.uk

AMAZON BOOK PRIZE

I've just discovered that my crime thriller has been nominated for the Amazon Book Prize which is great.

http://thebookawards.com/awards/a-fatal-facade/

I do hope you will support me by voting for it and hope you enjoy reading it.

The book explores the idea that we all show different faces to different people; especially the characters in this book.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOOK?

This post is for book lovers and everyone who wants to write creatively.

I gave recently gave a talk in Canterbury, Kent in October about the ingredients that make a good book. Here's a link to it.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liYD-NPOXQQ

I'm sure you'll recognize the reasons why you like or don't like reading a book after watching it.

[Do look out for the charming Italian boy who asks a question about writing at the end of the talk. A future novelist, I think.]

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

 HAPPY NEW YEAR 

I hope 2015 is a great year for you.

It’s that time of year again when you’re going to change your life by making amazing New Year’s Resolutions for 2015.

Here are mine:

1.      Write 5 novels.

2.      Learn 3 languages.

3.      Stay in my current house. [I’ve moved 46 times!]

4.      Contact family and friends every day.

5.      Only drink alcohol on Saturdays.

6.      Travel the world. 

[And lastly, the killer one which shows that I have a little self-awareness.]

7.      Stop making resolutions I know I’ll never keep.

I hope your resolutions are more achievable than mine!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

I've been too busy writing another novel called THE IMAGE OF ELISE and a radio play called KEEPING SILENT to blog, but I intend to do more in 2015. Along with creating a new website.

In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year. I'll be celebrating with my family so it'll be very busy but full of fun. Of course, exhaustion will set in by 30th December!

My next blog will be about New Year's Resolutions. 

How has another year disappeared so quickly?

WRITING A BOOK SYNOPSIS

This entry is written to help writers who wish to write a novel or non-fiction book. If you're a budding writer, I hope it helps you.

Building your book up from your synopsis is important simply because you won’t become side-tracked by too much detail as initially, you don’t know all the details of your plot. This lack of complication means your synopsis will have more clarity.

Writing a synopsis is an organic process which always reminds me of building a house. Imagine building a house when you have no idea what it’s going to look like? The end result is going to look very peculiar with rooms sticking out at odd angles. That’s what your book is going to look like if you have no initial plan. Of course, when you get to know your characters fully, the book will probably take on a life of its own and there is no reason you have to follow your initial synopsis exactly; simply rewrite the synopsis to reflect the changes. However, if you start with a firm foundation, your book is going to be far more structured.  

So What Exactly is a Synopsis?

1) It's a narrative summary of the main ideas in your book.

2) It's written in present tense and should be easy to read.

3) It's written in third person.

4) It's written in the same style your book is written in.  If your book is light-hearted, then your synopsis should be too. If your book is dark, literary, ghostly or comic, your synopsis should reflect this style.

5) The synopsis introduces your main characters and their main conflicts. This is often where writers get weighed down with too much complicated detail. Keep the details clear, interesting and easy to read.  Don’t include every character or every scene, plot point, or subplot in your synopsis.

6. Synopses should a] show a clear idea as to what your book is about, b] introduce the major characters c] show the problems your main characters face and what they stand to lose if they don’t overcome them. [ If no one has any obstacles to overcome, you haven’t created any tension.]

7) Make sure that one paragraph flows logically to the next. If you are switching ideas, you need to make sure you build in a transition to connect your paragraphs.

8) There are conflicting views on whether you should put the conclusion of your book in your synopsis.  Some agents and editors want to know exactly how you conclude your story; however, others like to be ‘teased’. If an agent states clearly on his/her website that they hate ‘teaser’ endings, don’t use them. Give an agent  exactly what s/he wants.

  

9. The only way to improve your synopsis-writing ability is by reading other people’s and constant rewriting your own. One of my students spent four months rewriting his synopsis before it was ready to be sent out to a publisher. The result: his book was published in 2012 because he spent almost as much effort on writing the synopsis as writing his novel.  

10. Make sure that you write your synopsis so it gives an accurate picture of your book. I.e. Be careful you don’t write a scintillating synopsis which bears no relationship to your book!  [I have read a lot like that and understandably, agents hate them.]

11. Synopses are usually (but not always) one page long and single spaced. [Unless an agent specifically asks for everything to be double-spaced.] Make your paragraphs short so that they are easy to read.

12.  Write differing length synopses: a one paragraph ‘blurb’ which hooks the reader immediately; a half pager and a full pager. Write as many versions as you can before the symptoms of insanity start creeping in.

Synopsis Checklist

• Have you used the present tense?

• Does the opening paragraph have a hook to keep the reader reading?

• Are your main characters' conflicts clearly defined?

• Have you ensured that the reader can relate to some characters and worry about their problems?

• Have you resolved the important conflicts?

• Have you avoided grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes?

NB. Writing a good synopsis is as important as writing a good book because it’s a selling tool to agents and publishers. They will want to read the synopsis first and if yours isn’t good, your book will never be read. That’s how important writing a good synopsis is.

© Linda M. James.  2014

NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES

NEGATIVE: Oh dear, I haven't kept all my New Year's Resolutions. I went out and had some wine recently and it was wonderful.

POSITIVE But I have been going to the gym regularly, joined a great Rock Choir and improving my German so I feel good about that.

POSITIVE. Had an interesting interview with a book blogger who reads a lot. Do have a look at her interesting blogs. Here's a link to my interview. She asked very interesting questions, didn't she?http://www.crinacristea.com/blogpost.php?post=9

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lots of New Year Resolutions which I'm determined to keep.

1. No drinking alcohol in January. [ Going to be difficult as I love drinking Chablis with my dinner!]
2. Join a gym. [Joined one two days ago and have been twice already. Wow! I already feel fit.
3. Write my next novel. [ Been plotting it for the last few days.]
4. Contact friends far more and see them. [ Rather than writing copiously.]
5. Enjoy 2014!

I'm going to look back on this blog later in the year to make sure I'm fulfilling all my resolutions. I hope you've made some too.

WHITSTABLE FESTIVAL

On Thursday, 14th November there is a drinks reception and panel discussion between the journalist Val Hennessy, Peggy Riley, Thomas Emson and myself to highlight next year's Whitstable Festival and to talk about the knotty problem of how to plot a book.

Do have a look at this link which highlights Whitstable, the famous writer Somerset Maugham who lived in Whitstable and the forthcoming festival. 

 http://www.whit-lit.co.uk/

Something to look forward to during the dark days of winter.
Linda

EVENTS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Hope you can come to a number of events I'm involved with in Tunbridge Wells.
 

This coming weekend, there's a two day event for book lovers and writers on Friday, and Saturday [8th and 9th November] between 9-6 pm at Royal Victoria Place shopping mall, TN1 2SS. I'll be there on Friday afternoon to answer questions about anything you've ever wanted to know about writing.
 

I'm back again in Tunbridge Wells for a book launch on Tuesday, 12th November at Waterstones at 7.15 pm where I'll be talking about my books and how to break into the publishing world. Here's a link to this lively event: http://www.tunbridgewellsevents.co.uk/index.php?inc=event&eid=9159
 

 Hope if you're in the UK you can come to Tunbridge Wells to meet me.

BOOK LAUNCH CORRECTIONS

Hello

I thought you'd like to know of the time changes to my book launches so here are the details:

Thursday, 3rd October. 7.15 pm. Whitstable, Kent. CT5 1AF

First book launch at the lively Horsebridge Arts Centre, Whitstable on Thursday, 3rd October at 7.15. Tickets can be bought from the centre for £3. Please ring 01227 281174.

Tuesday, 8th October. 7 pm. Waterstones, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2TD

If you can’t come on the 3rd, my second launch is at Waterstones, Tunbridge Wells on 8th October, 2013. Please ring Waterstones on 01892 535446 for tickets, redeemable against purchase of book.

In both launches I'll be talking about what inspired me to write my latest novel, a crime thriller called A FATAL FACADE and why I like writing in different genres; from historical to psychological thrillers.

The talks will be followed by questions from the audience and book signings.

I hope you can come to one of them if you're in the UK. 

OCTOBER BOOK LAUNCHES!

I’m having two book launches for my crime thriller “A FATAL FAÇADE” in the UK in October. I realize that many people who read this blog live in other countries and will find it difficult to come which is a great shame, but for those of you who are living in the UK or who are visiting, here are the dates and venues.

BOOK LAUNCH 1

Thursday, 3^rd October at THE HORSEBRIDGE ARTS CENTRE, 11, Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AF

7.pm – 8.30 pm.

BOOK LAUNCH 2

Tuesday, 8^th October at Waterstones, 40-42 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2TD at 7.30 pm.

At both launches, I’ll be talking about the colourful characters in the novel who are all hiding incredible secrets. Afterwards I’ll be taking questions from the audience, followed by author signing.

I look forward to meeting those of you who can come!

THE READER ORGANISATION

I've just discovered a new website about reading and it's great. The Reader Organisation is an award-winning charitable social enterprise working to connect people with great literature, and each other.

http://www.thereader.org.uk/reading-with-us.aspx

I find it inspirational to discover people who want to help others. I'm trying to find ways of doing the same.

A FATAL FACADE

Only 4 weeks before A FATAL FAÇADE is published. [ 30th August]  I’m very thrilled about it.

It's already on Good Reads website where they are giving away two FREE copies.

Here’s the link to win your free copy.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17951011-a-fatal-facade
 

I’ve just finished another novel so now I can concentrate on adapting the novel into a screenplay. My writing is visual because I have to be able to ‘see’  characters and locations before I can write them. This visualization helps me to discover   what my characters’ emotions are before they act.  

I hope you enjoy reading it. 

CRIME THRILLER OUT SOON

A FATAL FACADE
a crime thriller 

by

Linda M. James

I'm delighted to tell you that my sixth book is being published next month. Here's what one reviewer has written about it so I do hope you read it. I think you'll be hooked by the plot and the colourful characters. 

"A gripping novel which will keep you reading late into the night as you discover all the secrets ex-DCI Jack Bradley uncovers. Some are more deadly than others! Make this the next book you read!"
Peter Owen Jones (TV Broadcaster & Author)

 

A Fatal Facade is a crime thriller focusing on the lives of four people who become involved with Paolo Cellini, a 30-year-old wealthy art dealer who is killed in his marbled bathroom in Chelsea, London.
Each person is linked to Cellini in unusual ways: his lover, Bianca Vella, a Maltese nightclub-singer who worships him; Rico Batas, his Filipino nightclub-manager who hates him; his other lover, Angelica Logan, a woman with too many terrible secrets and Jack Bradley, an ex-DCI, who needs to redeem himself to his family and his colleagues by discovering the truth about the life and death of Cellini.
 Jack’s obsessive search takes him down dark, disturbing avenues into the secret lives of these people who are almost crushed under the weight of Cellini’s narcissistic personality. Jack knows that one of them killed him but even he is stunned by the secrets he unearths.