Tag Archives: Writing Wednesday

#WritingWednesday with Helen Christmas: Character inspiration.

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How chatting to people helps character inspiration, by Helen Christmas.

My up-and-coming novel is a psychological suspense thriller set in Sussex. In the early days of drafting this story though, my enthusiasm dried up. I lost all focus. Had the plot sketched out, a climatic ending… but couldn’t seem to drive the story forward. Gradually it occurred to me that I hadn’t quite got into the minds of my characters. It took a while to coax them out of hiding and shape them into the amazing people they needed to be.

Talking to professionals really helped to get the inspirational juices flowing, starting with my main protagonist, Maisie, (a girl who is fostered and ends up working in a fostering department herself). So one approach was to contact WSCC and it paid off. I was put in touch with Rosemary Conroy-Smith, who not only advised me on processes and procedures, but invited me to one of their information events. This was a really enlightening evening and I could sense people’s enthusiasm; the valuable service they provide for families and children so fulfilling, I was able to reflect this through my own character.

But also interwoven into the story are Maisie’s memories of a children’s home she lived in, a hostile place where she befriended Joe. He too, is a complex character, a runaway who ends up in all sorts of trouble, before she finds him homeless on Bognor Beach. Writing Joe’s story was fun, but it took a chance meeting with a local man (with a similar background) to gain some insights into his character. I have author, Dan Jones, to thank for introducing me to his friend, Graham, and describing his work in children’s homes.

Furthermore there is a police investigation at the heart of this book, and when I started to lose momentum I spoke to two senior officers, (one from the Metropolitan police who handled similar cases to the one I was writing about). Two conversations later, I had all the inspiration I needed to finish this; from interviewing suspects to home searches and gathering evidence. Later down the line, as I was nearing the climatic finale of my story, I spoke to former Sussex Police Ops Controller, Andy Kille, who offered some great tips on procedures and helped me to visualise that all-important ending.

 Writing a thriller, it is essential to get police procedures right, so everything came together and by October 2020 I had completed the first draft. Deep in my heart, I knew I had a good story – but the people I interviewed were the driving force behind my characters and their motivation. I have written more in depth stuff about my characters on my blog, articles that not only discuss the story, but hope to raise awareness of some of the complex emotional issues that affect people today.

Lethal Ties will be published April 18th 2021 and is available to preorder on Amazon:

The Blurb:

A haunting vision. A spine-chilling nightmare. A missing boy.

When Joe, Maisie and Sam met in a residential children’s home, they pledged to look out for each other; three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing…

Twenty years later, Maisie suffers flashbacks, unable to understand what lies at the root of her recurring nightmares. Shocked to find Joe, homeless on Bognor seafront, she helps him turn his life around, but it doesn’t seem long before their past comes back to haunt them.

 What really went on at Orchard Grange all those years ago?

Where did Sam go?

Only he can provide the answers but they need to find him.

Within weeks of Maisie and Joe being reunited, however, a series of eerie events rips the fabric of their world. A mysterious black car is tailing them. A campaign of online abuse makes Joe wonder if his enemies are still around. He has never forgotten Mr Mortimer from the children’s home, but a shocking attempt on his life launches a police investigation.

Lethal Ties is a tense psychological thriller, an untangling of secrets with an utterly chilling twist. Purchase here.

About the Author:

I am creative, ambitious, and enjoy working from home with my husband, running our web design business. I love where we live and with a passion for walking and photography, found inspiration to base my novel in West Sussex. I am also active on social media, I write a blog and like networking with other authors. In 2017 I completed a mystery thriller series (Same Face Different Place), but have many ideas for books in the psychological suspense genre. LETHAL TIES is my first psychological thriller, a standalone novel and there is even a little romance woven into the pages.

Discover more about Helen Christmas and her work here:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

#WritingWednesday with Angela Barton: Processing Emotions through Fiction.

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Processing Emotions through Fiction.

Writing, like reading, is a means of escape. I strongly believe that creative writing is a curative pathway, an instrument of healing. It’s a safe outlet for negative emotions such as grief, anger, jealousy or anxiety. It safely helps us to explore our emotions, the reasons behind them and hopefully, find a solution through role-play using the written word. By sharing negative emotions with my fictional characters, I’m distancing myself from my own heightened feelings. I was able to express anger through writing towards the end of You’ve Got My Number. I have a calm personality and very rarely get angry so I would have found it difficult in reality. I’d been deeply hurt by a loved one and my trust had been broken. I simply gave my problem to Tess, my protagonist in YGMN, and while I sought a solution and helped her to regulate her emotions, by default, I was doing the same for myself.

For me, writing helps to organize my thoughts and gives meaning to difficult experiences. In Magnolia House and Arlette’s Story, I expressed grief following the death of my father. Having a mild obsessive compulsion, writing helped me to process why I focus on the number three and why it makes me feel safe. So once again, I gave the same obsession to my hero, Daniel, in You’ve Got My Number. He and Tess spoke about the problem and in talking about it and facing it head on, Daniel began to manage his fears. I no longer have that mild obsession, although number three is my favourite number!

Creative writing helps to release anger in a healthy, productive way that utilises our mental capabilities, rather than draining us physically. Novel writing is a typically longer way of negotiating your emotions. I’ve found that filtering my emotions on to a page has been a positive experience for me. The efficacy of using the written word as a mode of coping with suffering is wholly dependent on how you prefer to process grief. Many subconsciously bottle up their emotions and release them in one explosion of anger and sadness when they reach the climax of a story, while others slowly uncover their emotions through using their characters to discuss them between themselves.

If you prefer to eradicate negative emotions as quickly as possible and don’t like to linger on the bad feelings associated with them, then choosing to write out your feelings over weeks or months may make you uncomfortable, in which case, a diary entry or journal may be a better option for you. On the other hand, if taking your emotions and implementing them in a long piece of work is more your style, then perhaps applying them to a narrative will be more cathartic for you.

Whatever way you choose as a coping strategy when things go wrong, please don’t choose to bottle up your emotions and pretend they don’t exist. Like the genie in the bottle, they have a way of sneaking up on you later. Talk, write, compose, paint… but let it out. X

Books by Angela Barton:

Click below to find out more:

You’ve Got My Number | Arlette’s Story | Magnolia House 

Author bio:

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She has three grown up children and adorable six-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching for her novels. In 2018 Angela signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction.

In addition to writing, Angela also relaxes by making landscapes using free motion sewing on a machine. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a reader for their New Writers’ Scheme. Angela is also a member of Nottingham Writers’ Studio, the Society of Authors and Ellipses and Ampersands’ fiction critique group.

Discover more about Angela Barton and her novels here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Pinterest | Amazon | Angela is also a member of Apricot Plots.

#WritingWednesday with Claire Sheldon: Selecting a Writing Course.

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I am delighted to announce the return of #WritingWednesday, with a post from fellow Ruby Fiction author, Claire Sheldon, who shares her experience of selecting a writing course.

Over to you, Claire …

With so many ‘how to’ courses and books out there, it can be difficult to decide where to seek advice when it comes to writing. I bookmarked many websites, downloaded every bit of software that promised to help, and joined multiple forums hoping to find that magic formula that would kick start my journey to publication.

While bigger, well-known courses offered the advantage of making contacts, they charged hundreds of pounds, with no guarantee of a book deal at the end.

Authors run many courses. For example, in my genre, there are good courses run by Roz Watkins (DI Meg Dalton series) and Alex Davis (Derby Quad), to name two. During lockdown, Alex even ran courses allowing attendees to pay what they could afford. But with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know what to do and which to attend.

There are promises of help everywhere, but ultimately it is down to you to find what works for you and then to work hard it!

For me, attending an adult education course run by my local council’s education department provided the help, support and encouragement I needed. The course wasn’t rigid in its structure, and I enjoyed being joined by other adults, some of whom had come from book groups, while others, like me, were just keen writers.

On the course, I met John Gibson, my tutor, who, after working together for over a year, I credited in my debut novel, Perfect Lie – thanking him for his time and inspiration. This novel was published in 2020 by Ruby Fiction. Achieving my goal of being published proved that the right course, hard work and dedication can pay off.

Here are some of the benefits I found, taking an adult education class:

  • Run in termly “blocks”, there was no upfront year-long financial commitment. If I wanted to continue when I reached the end of each term, I could.
  • There was no homework – though this may not be true of every course.
  • I was given access to a variety of different tasks to inspire and encourage my writing style.
  • Reading my work aloud became easier as confidence in my ability and trust in my classmates grew.
  • Working hard led to a writing deal!

My experience proves that you don’t need to go on an expensive course as viable alternatives are available.

Finally, while sharing writing tips, I would also recommend being active on social media:

  • Make contact with authors you aspire to.
  • Follow agents and publishers you wish to submit to.
  • And take chances!

If you want it badly enough and are willing to work for it, that publishing deal will happen. Just beware that the journey can take years, not months.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and sharing your experience and tips.

Claire writes gripping crime thrillers with twists you won’t see coming and is currently celebrating the release of her second novel with Ruby Fiction – out this week. 

The blurb:

The streets are no place for a child …

After a traumatic event that almost ripped Jen Garner’s family apart, life is finally starting to get back to normal.

Then a woman’s body is found in the river. Shortly afterwards, a young boy is discovered wandering the streets. He refuses to speak to anyone, just repeats one name over and over, to the confusion of most of the local authorities –but Jen knows exactly who he’s asking for, and it’s enough to make her blood run cold …

Available in ebook and paperback: Amazon UK | Kobo |

About the author:

Claire lives in Nottingham with her family, a cat called Whiskers and a dog called Podrick.
She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and as a result of the disease had to reduce her hours working in insurance for an Insolvency Insurer. This spare time enabled her to study a creative writing course which inspired her to write her debut, Perfect Lie.

When Claire isn’t working she enjoys reading crime novels and listening to music – the band Jimmy Eat World is her biggest muse! Claire is also an avid reader and book blogger. The inspiration for her novels comes from the hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and auntie; then later, Spooks and other detective programmes like Morse, A Touch of Frost and Midsummer Murders.

 Discover more about Claire Sheldon here: Twitter | Facebook

#WritingWednesday with Angela Petch: Structural Edits.

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I am delighted to welcome my final (for now) #WritingWednesday guest, Angela Petch, as she talks about structural edits. Over to you, Angela …

You’ve typed The End after several months of creating your story. But “it ain’t over”. Now comes the structural editing.

“A novel is a game for two players. The book may get written in solitude but it kicks into life only when a reader’s imagination collaborates with that of the writer…” (Lindsay Clarke from The UEA’s “The Creative Writing Coursebook”).

Here are a few ideas I’ve used over the years.

  • If you have Beta readers who look through your work, be careful that they’re not friends who will only be kind. Ask them to be honest (but not brutal). Negativity bruises. Pay for a professional editor if you can afford it. It is worth it in the end.
  • If are lucky enough to be with a publisher, then start something new while you wait for your editor’s responses, because:
  • You need to distance yourself from your work to turn yourself into a reader. Schedule at last two weeks to put away your manuscript and come back to it as if you are not the author. That way, you have more perspective and it will be easier to take on board revisions and comments.
  • Divide an A4 sheet in two, vertically. Type your chapter summaries on the left and leave the right hand blank to insert your editor’s comments. This is far easier than trawling through your manuscript when you need to refer.
  • Ideally you will have created a timeline beforehand. (Use an old diary). I’m not a spreadsheet person, so I use a strip of paper and pin it to my noticeboard). Plus, a family tree, especially if you write historical novels in dual time. And have your character sketches handy, so you don’t muddle character descriptions and traits. I pin photos of places and characters up and look at them frequently. (They speak to me sometimes).
  • Always make a copy of your manuscript with the editor’s comments and work on that copy. Use the comments box (under review on your bar) and insert reminders to yourself as you work. (They can be deleted eventually).
  • I have listened to Julie Cohen’s excellent talk on using coloured post-its (listen here). It is a brilliant way to see the imbalances in your story: where you need to break a long sequence and bring in another so that your reader does not lose their way; where one character’s story might be too dominant etc. Remember that you know everything that happens and everyone it happens to in your story (hopefully 😉), but it has to be absolutely clear to your reader too. Once you allow your book to be published, it does not only belong to you.
  • Finally, take breaks. I use a timer so that I don’t hunch over my laptop for hours. And do stretching exercises for your neck and shoulders. Be kind to yourself and set rewards. (But not always chocolate. A walk is perfect for untangling thoughts and ideas).

About the author:

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping, WWII, Tuscan novels are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

Discover more about Angela Petch and her writing here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Amazon | Apricot Plots

#WritingWednesday with Vicki Beeby: Point of View.

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Today’s #WritingWednesday tips come from historical fiction author Vicki Beeby as she talks about point of view. Thanks so much for stopping by Vicki, over to you …

Point of View

As someone who does only the most rudimentary planning before starting a novel, my first drafts are a big old mess and need several rounds of edits before they’re ready to send out. Once I’ve edited for consistency and character arcs, one of the aspects I examine more closely when on the polishing phase is viewpoint. In each scene I check that the writing is consistent with the character whose point of view (POV) the action is seen through. Below are the main things I look out for.

Think about the character whose eyes we’re seeing a scene through when writing a description. For example, one person might describe a car as old, sporty looking and white, another would say it was a Mark III Ford Capris 3.0S and someone else might say it looked like the car from the TV series The Professionals. They’re all descriptions of the same car, but different characters will perceive it differently. If they don’t know much about cars, they would probably use the first description; a car enthusiast the second. A younger person probably wouldn’t think of The Professionals, so the age of your character could also be a big factor in the associations they make when describing something. How you describe something depends upon your POV character’s perception, not your own.

Think about whose point of view you are in before describing emotion or sensation. The POV character will know probably how they are feeling, so you could just state if they are sad, cold, etc. However, you need to find another way to get emotion and physical feelings across for any character being observed by the POV character. Take this example: Jack walked into the pub and saw Kate standing by the bar. Kate was angry.We’re in Jack’s POV here, so how does he know Kate was angry? Rather than saying she was angry, I should have described what makes Jack come to that conclusion. She could be scowling, kicking the legs of her bar stool or perhaps he can hear what she’s saying that gives it away.

This is similar to the above point about emotion, but taking it a step further. How intuitive is your character? You can give the reader the clues about how a non-POV character feels, but does the POV character interpret them correctly? Again, that will depend on the character. Taking the example of Jack and Kate again, maybe Jack sees Kate slam her money down on the bar so hard it makes the drinks rattle. However, he’s so obtuse he doesn’t work out that she’s angry. Maybe he just thinks she’s a bit clumsy, even though the reader will have worked out Kate is fuming. How accurately a character interprets a situation depends upon their personality.

Don’t forget that imagery is also filtered through the POV character. For example the hero of my current WIP is a musician, so I’ve used musical imagery at times when writing from his viewpoint. It’s fine to describe him watching the heroine’s fingers tapping out arpeggios on the table top, whereas someone who wasn’t musical wouldn’t think that way. If a particular metaphor or simile isn’t right for the character thinking it, it has to go, however much you might like it.

I can’t write about point of view without mentioning head-hopping. If you’re not familiar with the term, it means skipping from one point of view to another in the same scene. While this isn’t necessarily wrong, you should always have a reason for doing so. When editing do check you haven’t unintentionally slipped into another viewpoint. The example with Jack and Kate in point 2 is an example of unintentional head-hopping. Always ask yourself whose eyes you are watching the scene through and check the point of view doesn’t suddenly switch unless you mean it to.

Thank you for the great tips, Vicki. xx

Don’t miss Vicki’s new release, Christmas with the Ops Room Girls:

When there’s so much to be afraid of, can May help bring festive cheer to the Ops Room?

After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help – but is held back by her own insecurities.

With her low self-esteem also affecting her relationship with Squadron Leader Peter Travis, May is fed up with being her own worst enemy and decides to take charge of her destiny. But the past she ran from plus a crisis with one of the evacuees throw May into the midst of a drama that will test all of her newfound confidence.

May, Jess and Evie must work together once again to help each other through the challenges of war and of their own hearts.

This heartwarming WAAF saga is perfect for fans of Daisy Styles, Kate Thompson and Rosie Clarke.

Book Links: Amazon | Apple | Kobo

Discover more about Vicki and the Ops Room Girls series here.

About the author:

Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War.

Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write.

In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.

Discover more about Vicki Beeby (who also writes as Tora Williams) and her work here: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Apricot Plots