Rejections: The Staircases to a Better World….. Occasionally you just MISS A STEP :) !!!!

Heya guys 🙂 As you may or may not have seen, my novel ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer’ had its first rejection from a literary agency today – and – it made me think about the term ‘rejection’ and what exactly it means to people.

When I received the email, I wasn’t really expecting the message to be positive. After all, this was my first query to an agent and I knew that the greats have encountered tons of rejections. Actually, I read today that F Scott Fitzgerald was turned away 122 times by agents and publishers. However, the agent who said he couldn’t help me from here was very supportive, telling me and I quote, ‘You have a great imagination’ and he went on to say that he enjoyed Amanda’s character. (The secondary character, Will’s new friend)

Was I disappointed that he turned me down? Well, I wouldn’t be human if I hadn’t been….. but thinking about everything in a positive light, his words were very kind and have actually spurred me on even more to succeed. Not to mention he gave me some personal advice at the end of his email too. The lit agent in question had read my work last year and asked me to restructure. I spent a year re-tweaking things and then recently sent it back. Now? I am now even more determined to get out there with my book.(s) Mine is a trilogy.

I want to mention my writer friend Brett Michael Orr who also has a blog (cough, check it out.) He is someone in the Twitterverse that I very much look up to as he has had rejections for a while, but he never gives up. Speaking with him, he is so positive and smiley and this really motivates me whenever I feel down. (Sorry if I embarrassed you Brett :P)

How do others treat rejections? Well, the very small minority do the unthinkable…. They step away from writing and never turn back, thinking themselves not good enough, believing their work inferior to all that is out there. To these people, I say this: Turn around and walk back the other way. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH, (well unless your writing is REALLY bad and you don’t know it in which case this path might not be for you) but if you’re writing every day, constantly perfecting your work, the likelihood of this is going to be slim!

Note: I feel a little as though I’m ‘calling the kettle black’ tonight because earlier, I admit, I did go through a mini process of doubting myself but I suppose it is understandable after a first rejection. What I must remember though is that all my favourite authors went through exactly the same thing and Rick Riordan actually said that he was rejected countless times, but got there in the end. It’s always inspiring for me to read passages like this. J.K. Rowling was rejected from 14 publishers until Bloomsbury took her under their wing. You just never know when it will happen. There’s no power to control a rejection, but there is something you can do in the meantime: Keep Going. I have always said that if someone wants something badly enough, they will get there because they will have done anything to get it.

My metaphor for rejections is that they are a staircase to a better world, we just occasionally miss a step along the way to the bookstores! I think creating a metaphor like this will really help you when it comes to the rejection process. It’s always good to think positively. I always keep going on about one thing, but it’s because it’s an amazing saying and as of yet, I have not heard better: BELIEVE AND ACT AS THOUGH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL. Yes, I will keep reiterating this over this blog because I honestly feel that it’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard. It doesn’t give you a single moment to doubt yourself – and when we enter the scary world of literary agents, this is exactly what we need:

Belief in ourselves, and belief in our work.

I HATE KINDLES (with a passion. Sorry.)

Heya guys, it’s a shorter one today (well, it would have to be after that gigantic blurt-out last time)

My topic in this entry is a word that makes my flesh not only crawl, but contaminate everything that I love. They hold no emotions in their metallic cases, no adventures in their dull, grey screens. What are they? KINDLES. I apologise in advance if some of my readers own them, but I for one, cannot stand them.

In so many ways, technology has developed in such positive ways, excluding these horrible contraptions. We have the magic of social media, allowing us to market ourselves in the literature universe and connect us with other writers, making friends and sharing our joy of the written word…. but Kindles in my opinion don’t belong to this same world.

They are ugly, boring, and only seem to be there in order for people to show off that they have one, simply because they can be ‘cool.’ However, through my eyes there’s nothing less cool.

Why would you want to read your favourite books off a screen that (if it could speak would probably have a monotone voice and wouldn’t care one iota about any of the words it was possessed by?)

I might lose followers with this post, but I think we should all be allowed to express our views and I have made mine very clear lol. I remember when Dad wanted to buy me a kindle for my Birthday and I went around the shops and absolutely hated them. It’s not a big issue to most I suppose, but personally I enjoy inhaling the smell of a book. I delight in flicking through the pages, even getting a papercut! (At least it’s natural)

The only exception I make for Kindles is when people have to travel all over the globe and need lots of books in order to go places. I can understand why they’re created in this sense but still I would prefer to carry a slightly heavier suitcase than know I have to press buttons and scroll down my favourite book on a flat screen devoid of a soul.

Unfortunately, the publishing world has turned to E-books for the future and some bookshops have been closing down because of technology. The idea that my novel would be turned into an E-book would thrill me a lot less than if it was brought out in paperback. I know a few authors have brought out books ONLY on E-books and I – well – I couldn’t do that (only if the publisher told me it was an E-book or nothing!)

To conclude:

Paperbacks have heart.

Kindles have stone.

And no, I’m probably never going to change my mind 😛

R.E. Brooker’s TOP 32 Writing/Author Tips

Heya guys, apologies for being a day behind with this entry. I had been staying up later than usual the past few nights and it caught up with me, had a really early night yesterday, so am very refreshed now 🙂

Tonight, I wanted to share with you my ‘Top 32 Writing/Author Tips’ as a way of cutting down what I’m going to talk about in this blog (and also, cause it’s a good way to put the most important points in a list)

So, without further ado….. My top 32 writing tips (in no order of importance) are:

1. Carry a notebook wherever you go as you never know when ideas will come. (I take mine on the train, even to dinner with a friend. When they pop to the loo, scribble!)

2. If you need a break, take one. Don’t force yourself to write if you’re tired. (I have a lot of experience with this!) There’s nothing worse than feeling as though you’re being made to do something when you’re not in the mood.

3. Set yourself a daily routine so that you treat your writing as a fun job, but a job nonetheless so you can get into the ‘writing’ routine. (Example: I go to Costa daily at the moment, from around midday to half past six.)

4. Read lots of books in many genres. This one is a big deal for me because I’ve recently expanded my reading material. For years, I was young adult obsessed (still am) but it’s time to spread my literary wings. (I tackled ‘On the Road’ and although didn’t enjoy it, it has made me a stronger writer already.

5. Enjoy recording speech on your phone and or acting out scenes. A long time ago, I did this with Will and Amanda. Much like the notebook method, you’re shaking things up and allowing yourself to be creative another way.

6. Don’t be afraid to use ‘said’ a lot. There’s been many disagreements on this topic, but I genuinely believe that writing ‘said’ for a character isn’t a cop out, it’s more natural than if you were to put an adjective instead. It always sounds too forced like that. Said is your friend 🙂

7. If you haven’t already done so, order a business card! Alright, so not exactly to do with writing, but still really good as a business point of view. I’ve handed out my cards to ‘Waterstones’ for their notice board and many other shops just to get my name out there. It also shows that you’re serious about your work.

8. Buy a few writing books. I am a bad example here, because as I mentioned in my earlier entry, I own forty one writing books. You do not need that many. 😛 However, there are a couple of books I would like to recommend for your writing journey. If you do not have a copy of The Writer’s And Artist’s Yearbook 2015, please get one. I also really enjoy Ready, Set, Novel! as it has everything like a scrapbook, from first ideas to final product.

9. Set up a writing desk. A few weeks ago, I set up a writing desk in my room. Personalise it. My desk has ‘Harry Potter’ bookends, a few writing books, my business cards and a green lamp. Again, you’ll feel more like a professional writer.

10. Keep ‘cliches’ at bay, but they can be used sometimes. By this I mean, when a character is talking, it’s much more beneficial to use a cliché because it’s far more natural. “He’s dead as a doornail,” said John is a thousand times better than ‘John was dead as a doornail.’

11. Motivate yourself with other people’s quotes (and make your own.) The one thing that gets me through my writing sometimes (when the little demon is gnashing its teeth) is being positive and that means finding quotes about writing by writers who have ‘made it.’ I’ll also make my own quotes up, like I did at Uni. “Writing is a breath of fresh air. You need it for living. You love it for life.’ Corny, but spurs me on.

12. Everything around you is material for your work. It could be a story told by a friend, maybe an old lady sneezing in church, perhaps even a cat looking at you funny. Look out for anything that could be used in your book. The most interesting sections will be where you least expect them.

13. When you’re in the middle of a writing flow, plug in headphones, listen to soundtracks. This is something I always do at night especially. If you’ve been working for a good half an hour, play some soundtrack music. Subconsciously, the melody will get you involved further with what you’re doing. It’s also a wise idea to tailor your music not to the mood of the piece necessarily, but to the genre you’re writing in. (I always listen to ‘Percy Jackson’ and my genre is young adult fantasy.)

14. If you’re ever feeling alone and thinking ‘I’ll never get there’, look at what your favourite authors were doing before they brought out their works of art. For example: I’ve often looked at what Anthony Horowitz and Darren Shan did before they were authors. It helps me remember that everyone started out somewhere and that I’ve still got a chance!

15. Good at Photoshop? Make a character banner. Unfortunately, I don’t have Photoshop anymore but when I did, I would often be making my own ‘Black Rainbow’ banners.

16. Don’t think the old rule ‘write what you know’ is mandatory. Personally, I haven’t climbed a tree that branched onto a tropical landscape, fought with pirates or explored a submarine. Did this stop me from writing my book? No way. When it comes to a historical research setting, like Susanna Clarke’s novel, ‘Jonathan Strange and Dr. Norrell’ then absolutely you have to make sure all the facts are right, but otherwise, write what you don’t know and enjoy it.

17. Share your work with friends and strangers (Long as you trust them!) Alright, so if they’re wonderful people, your friends might be a little biased but chances are they will tell you things that jar in your work. I had a friend who said my novel was really good but that I needed to make things a little clearer for the reader in the first three chapters. Strangers wise, I sent my chapters to the barista in Costa. He said it was ‘quite good!’ You never know.

18. Don’t forget smells! Sometimes, when you’re so invested in a scene you’ll get carried away with speech and character, but it’s equally as important to balance this out with smells. You want your reader to think it’s real, don’t you? It’s much better to have a bedroom that reeks of unwashed socks than ‘The bedroom smelt really bad.’ Put yourself in the character’s position.

19. Share little excerpts on Facebook with your friends. You want to whet your friend’s appetites. What better way to lure them towards your book with well chosen sections of your one-day masterpiece?

20. If you have contact with an English/writing teacher, send your work to them. I’m really lucky as I have my English teacher from secondary school on Facebook, so every now and then I will send her some of my work and she recommends books for me.

21. If you’ve done enough writing for the day, break it up with research! I don’t know about you, but when I’m written out, I still have energy to do something productive. This is the time when I research literary agents and publishers, read a writing book or watch a programme about writing.

22. Watch book to film adaptations. Even if they’re not your favourite, it’s still a great exercise to do as it will sharpen up your writing skills when you least expect it.

23. You see something in the shops that could be from your book? Don’t just leave it, buy it. I went into ‘House of Fraser’ the other day and saw a bottle and golden key. The next second I’m jumping about in ecstasy because I realise it reminds me of chapter eight from my novel.

24. KEEP anything you write, even if you don’t think you’ll use it. This is also a big one for me. I was sure (still am) that there are a few scenes I will never use in the series I’m doing but I can’t assume. I’ll never know. Maybe in book two, I’ll need it for – and –

26. BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP. In this modern age, I don’t think there’s ever been anything more important. Every time I add more to my book, I do four things: 1. Send the latest copy to Mum 2. Save the latest copy to my USB 3. Send the latest copy to my email. 4. Save my latest copy to my folder in Word.

27. Create a positive writer’s folder on Facebook. I made a photo album of all my notes, added some pictures and millions of quotes.

28. Don’t feel guilty about how many cups of coffee or hot chocolates you buy! The way I see it, getting these is an investment for your happy book-writing future.

29. Yes, write for your audience but most importantly, write for you. I hear this all the time ‘Write for your audience’ and I get why they say that, but I honestly believe that if it’s your work, you have to write for yourself first. Besides, if you don’t enjoy writing it, who’s going to enjoy reading it?

30. Take a leaf from Sherlock’s book. Observe. The other day I saw a fifteen year old boy in the street, well around that age, and I thought, ‘Will’s about his age. How is the boy walking? How tall does he stand? What does he look at when he walks? Does he seem confident, troubled, quiet, loud?’

31. Become a pen collector and notebook lover. I don’t know how many pens I’ve bought over the years, but it has to be in the hundreds 😛 The thing is, because us writers use them so much, they dry up quickly. I see nothing wrong with collecting pens so you know exactly how many are there and notebooks, well, they’re just fantastic.

32. Set up a Twitter account. In order to market yourself properly, you have to be on Twitter – but as well as the website being a promotional outlet – it’s also a great way to make other writing friends.

I have a confession to make, guys. This was going to be a Top 50 Writing Tips, but my brain ran out of steam tonight. However, I will be adding more tips in my blog soon.

Next time: My Hatred of Kindles……. 😛

Motivation Is The Key To Everything: Persistence, Passion, Punctuality

Heya guys 🙂

‘Motivation’ is the word tonight.

There are so many times when you’re writing a novel, when you just want to stop. Your head is fried. You have no more ideas. You can’t be bothered. I’ve been there – and – it is a horrible event. The little demon adopts a snide voice peering over your shoulder, judging you on every word you’re typing. ‘That doesn’t sound right’, ‘You’re a terrible writer’ and my favourite of all, ‘Why are you even trying?’

It’s during periods like these that we have to be a friend to ourselves. Sometimes, there are days when you can’t write – and that is absolutely fine – but this is not what I want to talk about now. I want to talk about BEATING this demon, taming it, allowing yourself to get on with the art that you love without fears of a grinning monster sitting and jeering. I felt rubbish today. I’d been writing and editing chapters eight to ten for a good five hours, but for once I was not feeling encouraged or motivated and a stream of excuses filled my thoughts. ‘I’m tired’, ‘Do I want to eat something?’ ‘Oh, there’s an email’ – but what I wanted to impress upon you is that I didn’t give up. There were moments, I’m not gonna lie, but I knew that if I just finished the targets I’d set myself I would be able to go home and relax. As it turned out, I completed the tasks and went home, feeling knackered but proud that I had done what I’d aimed.

There are a few writers in the world that I never am able to understand and these are the people that claim to be authors and yet have never written a word, because they, wait for it, ‘are too lazy to sit down and actually write.’ Stephen King has an amazing saying, ‘Some people sit and wait for inspiration to strike . . . the rest of us just get up and go to work.’ He even says that you shouldn’t go to the toilet unless you absolutely need it! (Another tip that I’ve remembered when editing my novel) Anyway, I’m getting off track here.

My point is, if you want to be an author (and I mean, really want to) you will find time to write. In fact, you will want to write so badly most of the time that nothing will stop you from doing it. J.K. Rowling has said that it is a compulsion for her, and this is what it should be if you want this to be a career. This is why I find it difficult to sympathise with people who say “I’d love to be an author, but it takes so much work.’ Well, of course it does – but – that’s the beauty of it. It’s not your average work, it’s world-building, character-making, drama on a page.

I always compare acting with writing and believe there’s really not much difference, although I find writing a lot less stressful than entertainment on stage. (I was once dressed as a squirrel at a theme park. Don’t even.)

I really think that if writing is something you want to do, you’ll know it is. The words will live inside you and the idea that they might never be freed is distressing. You’ll buy writing books (I have 41. Again, don’t even ask.) and whenever you find a spare minute you will be scribbling inside a notebook. I’ve shortened these points to three key words: Persistence, Passion, and Punctuality. If you keep going, if you love the work, and if you keep to a schedule, then you’re a writer.

It’s an easy as that.

My Top 5 Children’s/Young Adult Writers. Inspiration is the word tonight.

Heya guys 🙂 I’m back for blog number five (oh God, is it six actually, I lose count!) and today I’ll be talking about my favourite children’s/young adult writers. Why? Easy….. because without them, I wouldn’t have penned ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer.’

Now, I’m not saying they were round my house, having cups of tea and breaking biscuits while they cheered me on with my novel, (although, spending an afternoon like that would be amazing) I’m saying that I have enjoyed the work of these authors so much that all of them have become role models. It’s not enough to be a talented author in this business. They have taught me that having dreams is not naïve.

They have shown me that with passion, determination and a damn good novel you can reach for the stars and get there. Every day, I think about all these people in a sense because even though they’re really not hanging out drinking tea in my room and spurring me on with their voices, they encourage me – just – for being them.

1. Anthony Horowitz: The ‘Stormbreaker’ series inspired me to write when I was at school. I was reading these books constantly, usually when I was on the bus, waiting for the teacher to come into the classroom or sometimes even walking in the street lol and writing villains, well, he’s got one of the prizes for that. What dialogue. Does anyone remember, ‘Come in, Alex. Sit down. Have a biscuit and let me tell you how I’m going to kill you.’

2. Darren Shan: His vampire series inspired me to write when I was at school and I remember being so engrossed in the library that I never wanted break to end. Me and some friends actually pretended to be Darren, Steve and some Vampaneeze for a drama project! I was obsessed with Darren v Steven, still am, and I’m sure we even made a pretend stake at the time as well.

3. J.K. Rowling: Her ‘Harry Potter’ series has been such an inspiration for me during the writing of ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer.’ Anyone who knows me is aware I am obsessed with Harry Potter and it all began with one woman’s captivating idea of a boy with a lightning shaped scar. I was lucky enough to meet her two years ago on my last day working as a Tour Interactor at ‘The Harry Potter studios, London.’

4. Malcolm Rose: His ‘Traces’ series was always an inspiration, especially book one when the main character Luke was framed! Since reading them, I have been in contact with the author over email and he has been so kind about my book.

5. Lemony Snicket: His ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ has been a real inspiration for me because I was reading this series in secondary school and beyond. The characters were so dark and yet there were comedic moments as well. I like to capture this in my own work.

Through reading their series, through immersing myself inside their words, I have collected something from them all: Motivation. Of course it’s essential for me to like the books in general, but for me, you have to be so much more than an amazing author to get in a top 5, you have to be an inspiring person. Every one of those people ticks these boxes, and you can tell this from their works as they spend an extensive time researching.

Anthony Horowitz goes on various trips and does all the things Alex gets up to in the books so he gets an authentic voice. (I half climbed a little tree for mine, hardly life changing lol) Malcolm Rose and Darren Shan visit schools and do talks, boosting children’s love for books. Lemony Snicket (well, he’s a mysterious one but his series was fantastic, so we’ll let him off) J.K. Rowling went to Scotland and found a little café called ‘The Elephant Cafe’ , also finding certain graves with now-familiar names, ‘Riddle’ and even on a trip to Kew Gardens saw a plant called ‘Hogwarts.’

I’m drying up here, so I’ll say goodbye in a minute but really? I just want to say thanks, guys. If any of you ever read this, thanks for making me inspired enough to be here seven years later with a novel that still has another two books to go after editing the first! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Black Rainbow Slayer: My Lucid Experience “Of course it is happening inside your head…. but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”

Heya guys! I really hope you’re enjoying my blog and that all is well 🙂 It’s going to be a shortish chapter tonight as I want to shake it up a little with blog lengths (who wants the same thing all the time?) but tomorrow’s post will be longer, focusing on my favourite children’s authors and how they have always inspired me…….

Tonight, I racked my brains trying to think about what to write. What would people find interesting? What would make readers think ‘Well, that was something I’ve never read before’….. and then shortly afterwards, I decided that it would be cool to share an experience, one of the best experiences of my life so far.

I’m not sure if you all know what the term ‘lucid dreaming’ means, but in a nutshell it’s when you’re half asleep and half awake meaning you have the ability to control your dreams, (For full reference see ‘Inception’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio!) Ever since I was small, I’ve been able to do this magical act – and – the other month, I decided to ‘meet my characters’ from my novel, ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer.’

This is what I wished to share with you tonight.

“In the dream, I was flying over an ocean and suddenly imagined Amanda Holloway’s ship below me. It materialised, bobbing on the waters and I saw the letters on the flag, the name of the ship. It was amazing.

Then, it was as if I was watching a movie of my novel…. An ominous soundtrack played in the background and that was when my villain, Kazamir was seen, sneering from the window of a tower. I can’t remember now whether I summoned him to be there, or if he simply arrived because I was thinking so much about my book, but it was a truly memorable five minutes.

Landing on a building, my three main characters were there: Will, Amanda and Kazamir. I asked them how they all were and when it got to Kazamir he said (and I quote) “I want to kill Will Worthington” and I remember thinking at the time, ‘Good, that’s what you want to do.'”

So, there you have it, told you it would be short tonight but it has been a long day (cough, been out shopping but every writer needs a day off!)

Note: If anyone is interested in how to achieve the power to control your dreams, please comment and I will direct you to an essay I wrote on the subject! I cannot recommend it enough. 🙂

“We are all born in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Oscar Wilde. Writing Tips Part two: Overcoming Writer’s Block

Heya guys 🙂

Tonight, I am going to talk about 4 ways to overcome writer’s block.

Notebook Magic

Anyone knows that when you’re writing there comes a time when you hit, what us creative folk like to call, ‘writer’s block’ ; that little, terrorising demon sitting on your shoulder, hissing nonsense and spitting horrible words. However, I am pleased to report that there is a way to tame this meddlesome creature, and that is through the power of a notebook.

In this modern age, it’s usual for us to work on our computers, typing away the next bestsellers, but when you reach that second where the little typing icon is flashing at you, (you know the one, the line blinking, an accusatory eye) and nothing is coming out, step away from the laptop and breathe in the wonder of a notebook. Subconsciously, a blank page and a newly bought pen makes you feel liberated.

There have been many times when I’ve become so frustrated with my novel that I have felt the desire to throw it across the room. These are the moments when you get out your notebook, pick out a pen and scribble. It could be anything, maybe the description for a character half way through the book or a passage that had been particularly vexing you.

‘Cutting Out’ The Computer

This is a new one for me, but the principles remain the same. You GET away from the laptop! The other day I went into a travel agent and asked if I could take some brochures for novel research. An hour later, I’m cutting out pictures of Austria, Russia and Italy for architectural research, as I know that the place where my book series is set has lots of European style buildings. It was liberating to be doing something concerning my novel, but at the same time it was freeing.

Now, I have a collection of photographs that will aid me when it comes to writing my descriptions.

Reading, reading, reading

This is an easy tip, and many people will have heard about it, but this applies to me particularly when I’m stuck for words (including in a notebook) When you read a book, you subconsciously collect words, phrases, rhythms, and characters. The other day I was sat with my nose in a book for three hours and then the day after, sentences were flooding out of me, draining the word document. It’s not a magical trick, (although I have jokingly half-suspected there might be more to this method than at first we expect) but it’s simply because you are filing your head with everything it needs to write.

It’s also very, very good to read diversely. I never used to be like this as I knew what I loved, (ironically the same genre I work in, young adult) but now am spreading my literary wings and taking on more classics. At the moment, I have nearly finished Kerouac’s, ‘On The Road’ and am about to read ‘Jonathan Strange and Dr. Norrell.’

Having a Social Life!

When you’re completely psychologically dry, it’s the perfect excuse to go out and subconsciously gain more experiences by meeting your friends. Tomorrow, I’m out to see someone for lunch, not because I’ve got writer’s block, simply because I want to spend time with her lol and it’s good to see the world.

Whether it’s going to see a play for inspiration or just hanging out and watching a movie. All of it is so important. Today, I mixed things up and went to the library for writing instead of the café…. and met some really interesting people. You just never know what life is going to throw at you!

Next time: I talk about my book ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer’ and where the inspirations originated….

Have You Heard Of A Man Called Simon Mayo? Book Recommendations: Part One.

Heya guys 🙂 I’m back for post number three and this account is going to be my first book recommendation page. Tonight, I want to tell you about a series of young adult books that I have recently devoured (munch, munch, munch!) 😛

It is called: The ‘Itch’ Series.

Now, to give you some back story . . .

The main character is a boy called Itch who is obsessed with the periodic table, so much so that he goes out to hunt for every one of the elements, conducting many dangerous experiments in his bedroom! Along the way, he collects a rock with radioactive powers and then loads of bad guys come after him, including (I believe) one of the best people in literature to have ever been written. Sorry. I can’t say who.

My review

Similar in genre to Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Stormbreaker’ series, the books really take you for a ride – and I do mean that literally – you’ll see why 😉 The characters are fantastic, the plot is a twisty-turny car-accelerating adventure, and you can really visualise everything that Simon Mayo describes. The periodic element idea is so original as well that you just think, wow, this man has real talent. (Little fact for you: Simon Mayo is also a radio presenter.) I love how the settings are varied as well: One time they’re on a beach, the next speeding down a road leading to their teacher’s house . . . Won’t spoil anything, but you’ve probably guessed that it’s a thriller in a sense too. I live for a series where you’re that invested. The dialogue is so good, the research that the author has done so extensive.

There are very few times in life where I will become so obsessed with the book I’m reading that I have to sit on the edge of my bed and read aloud, but this was one of them. It was also one of those series that I carried with me – on the train, walking in the road, sitting in the car. I just could not put it down. The scenes near the end of the books are the best simply because they are cliffhangers and I love how ohcan’tsaythatspoiler Luckily, there will be another book soon – Amazon was reporting that it would be coming out circa 2016 but honestly I can’t wait that long.

I am really hoping that some movie production company snap up the rights for this as I would love to see this on screen. If you go to Simon Mayo’s official ‘Itch’ website, there are little trailer videos but the idea that this could be a motion picture . . . that’s much better! Let’s all cross those fingers (and hopefully I’ll get to audition for Itch’s sister!)

What books have you read that need more publicity? Write them in the comments below.

‘Writing isn’t something I DO, it’s something I AM.’ My Writing Tips: Part One

Heya guys 🙂

Before I start, just wanted to say thanks so much for all your supportive comments about the blog. I’m really quite nervous as I have never undertaken a project like this before (though I can already tell it’s going to be so cool to do) I will be checking out your blogs throughout the weekend, in between editing and writing; so chuffed (isn’t that a good word?) 😛

Today, I wanted to share a few writing tips that have worked for me over the years. These aren’t really points I have read, more notes I’ve accumulated through writing my novel. Every week, I’m going to divulge tips and in this first edition, I’m going to talk about what I feel is the best way to find your characters.

It happens all the time. You’re staring at the screen, wondering what characters you should have in your book. You have vague faces, hints of a personality, maybe flashes of where they live but nothing more than that.

When I came up with my main character, I was walking around an arboretum with my university creative writing group, not planning, just walking, hoping inspiration would strike me. Nothing happened for a while and then BAM I imagined two kids lost in the mountains and a stranger tells them they didn’t belong there. As you can see, I didn’t force these ideas and that’s what I wanted to stress tonight. FORCING ideas only stifles your mind. You have to let them breathe.

Once you have a character and a little situation, then you can begin to play with things.

My top ways?

• I like to write questions and interview my characters. Believe it or not, setting yourself an exercise like that opens up your imagination and you end up writing things you never thought about before. As an example, Will really likes Formula One cars, but I never set out purposefully for him to have this passion. Interviewing villains in particular is such a juicy thing to do. You never know what they’re going to come out with. That, I believe, is a kind of magic.
• What I find always really helps me too is visualising actors who are your characters. That way, everything is much more realistic and allows you to imagine them in a movie situation which again adds to the believability. If you compose a word document that has your character’s interviews and their photographs. To give you another example, I have a folder about my novel and in it are words and pictures, and quotes that the character’s say.
• I would also recommend that you create a Facebook account for your main characters. It’s really good to practise your writing and picking out all the interests like their favourite music and favourite films is all character building as well. (It’s also really funny seeing your FB friends go ‘Who the hell is that?’)

I hope you have enjoyed my little nuggets of wisdom lol and please do let me know in the comments if there is anything else you would like me to give advice on.

PS The picture I have attached is what Will Worthington looks and sounds like (Alex Pettyfer in ‘Stormbreaker’)

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.

Introduction

Heya, guys 🙂

As many authors have recommended that a blog is a good idea, I have decided to begin one. Ideally, I would like to update this daily, posting about my book, sharing my views on writing, talking about the books I’ve read and spurring everyone on with a project they’re struggling with.

My writing: I began my children’s fantasy series in September 2007 and since then have been working hard on it, constantly editing and improving. It is now called ‘The Black Rainbow Slayer’ which I feel really fits the book. There will be another two: ‘The White Rainbow Guardian’ and ‘Immortal Fire: The Rainbow War.’ In the meantime, I hope to dabble in more poetry as this is something else I would like to pursue, and I wish to revisit my children’s play, ‘The Fridge’ about a boy who steps inside his fridge and can’t escape until he has destroyed The Mushroom Man!

Tips about writing: Daily, I am going to share with you everything I have learnt about writing a novel, as well as presenting you with a number of books I feel are beneficial for anyone to read about the craft of storytelling. I might post anecdotes and most certainly will share inspiring, motivational quotes as this is always something that makes me want to write if I ever feel low.

Favourite books: There are so many amazing books out there that I would love to share with you – and some – you might not have heard of. (e.g the ‘Itch’ books written by a Radio presenter about a boy who loves periodic elements and gets caught up in dangerous adventures.) I would love to talk about books in general and update you on everything I’m reading, maybe sharing photos so I can keep a record.

Anyway, I hope that what you read sounded interesting and I look forward to starting this blog.