Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Too Much of a Good Thing


I can appreciate the beauty of this...



and the peacefulness of this...



and the relaxation of this...


and the romance of this...


and the cuddliness of this...



If that's all there is in your plot, it's going to be dull.



So, remember to add a bit of this...



or a flash of this...



or even...this!


and then your readers will appreciate this.

Monday, November 28, 2011

First Drafts

There's something thrilling about starting a first draft, isn't there?

You've got a shiny new plot filled with shiny new characters. You start your computer, open a new document and...

Wow.

That is one empty page.

Many writers will have just finished editing their last project and so the sight of that blank page can be rather unsettling. After all, you're used to seeing pages filled with words - yes, words that you're changing, rearranging or deleting - but dammit, there were words there!

Yep, that is one empty page.

Here's an image that was given to me by a writer far more gifted than myself: think of your first draft as an ice-covered pond. Your beginning is on this side and your ending is way over there. The pond is safe to skate on - just. The faster you get to the other side, the better. Stay in one place for too long and you'll start to hear the ice crack.

And look - that empty page looks just like it's covered with ice.

What do you do to get through that first draft?

Friday, November 25, 2011

Fun Friday

As many of us start to reluctantly begin to think about holiday shopping, I thought a few parking pictures would not come amiss this Friday. I've got a selection of parking signs to be aware of and a few pictures of (I would suggest) parking-don'ts.

Have a great weekend - see you on Monday!


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

And That's The Way It Is...

Hark! What's that I...



It's an...

QUICK!!!


I've got to act like this...


and find a...






Oh dear....



I know...

I'll look in the kitchen...



Oh dear....


First, I'll just do this...


and I'll quickly do this...


and...just how long has it been since I've done this?





And...why am I getting accusing looks from the...



oh dear....



Which reminds me...

Oh dear...
I'd better go and do a quick this...

But before I go, I'll throw in a load of this...



WAIT!!!!

What was I doing?


Right! My...


What was it again?

Oh dear....

Monday, November 21, 2011

Wee Writing Whoops



Last week, I started a new feature here on It's a Mystery, Wee Writing Wisdoms. Of course, if you're going to have Wisdoms, then you have to be honest and have Whoops.

Therefore, welcome to Wee Writing Whoops - wherein we can confess a writing mistake. Here's one of mine (and I've got a million at least)

I once wrote the same scene three times. No, not three times trying to perfect the gosh-darned thing, the same scene in three different places in the manuscript. Discovering this scene the second time was bad; the third time was...shall I say....colourful.

Now, 'fess up! Share one of your writing whoops.

Please don't leave me standing here all alone.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Fun Friday

Here's a clip I was sent of a wonderful ventriloquist at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Enjoy the wee Scottish Granny!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Decisions We Make

When we do this...


We need to spend a great deal of time doing this...






We need to decide...




Out of all of our these...




Who is going to be our main character?


Which way will our plot go?



How much of this do we need?



There are days we feel like this...



And days we feel like this....




But...

Always keep in mind....

There will be the day when you do this.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Wee Writing Wisdoms

I'm trying out a new feature here at It's a Mystery - Wee Writing Wisdoms. It's a chance for each of us to leave a wee bit of writing wisdom for everyone else who cares to stop by.  I'm a firm believer that anything which makes any of us feel less isolated in what can be a very isolating path is a very good thing.

So...

What's my inaugural Wee Writing Wisdom?

Hmmmm.....

Don't Begin with Backstory.

Now, I'm not talking about Prefaces because that's a beast of a completely different colour. I'm referring to those first crucial 50 pages or so, when you're trying to entice your reader to read on. It took me some time before I realized readers don't need to know a character's background the first time they meet them. Yes, that incident is important, but readers don't need to know it now. You've got a whole book to shade and contour your characters' portraits - take your time. Let your readers be introduced to each character in the here and now and learn about their past in the future.


Please leave your own Wee Writing Wisdom in the comment section. I look forward to reading and learning from all of you.

Remember. You're not alone.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Remembrance Day

I write mysteries that take place before and during the second World War. I have spent countless hours learning about life back then and the many sacrifices that were made both by those in battle and those left at home.

So today, which is Remembrance Day here in Canada, I'd like to share this clip with you. I actually used this iconic song back when I was directing theatre, as the opening for a play taking place in 1942.

Take a moment and remember not only those who fought in past wars, but those who are fighting now. May they all 'come safe home'.



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

And in the End...*


Sooner or later we all get to write our version of this...

or (if you're like me) it's probably more like this...

Sorry. That was shameless self-promotion of my highest-selling game.
But, here's a link to the game if you're interested.
Oops...Sorry again.


BACK TO OUR POST....



Sooner or later we all get to write our version of this...



Some stories end like this....
or like this...

maybe there might be a this...


with plenty of this...



Your main character might be doing this...


But you must know (hidden in the backseat) is a small this...


In my case, however...

No matter how I end any of my projects...


I know...

in my heart...


Somewhere...



a sheep is doing this.


*Taking a page from the marvy Margot Kinberg, this blog title is from the Beatles' song The End.