Just received this from the publisher - a book trailer for Vlad the Inhaler!
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
Thursday 31 July 2014
Wednesday 30 July 2014
Getting to know … Vanessa Couchman
What genre would you
say your novels fall into, or do they defy classification?
My debut– and, so far, only – novel, The House at Zaronza, is a historical novel.
What made you choose
that genre?
I’ve always been passionate about history, having taken a
degree in the subject. Since moving to France in 1997, I’ve become increasingly
fascinated by French history. I am also very attached to Corsica, where The House at Zaronza is mostly set. The
island has a turbulent history and enthralling culture that sets it apart from
the rest of Europe. I find it more appealing to write about the past than the
present.
How long does it take
you to write a book?
I wrote The House at Zaronza during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2012. However, I
spent some time planning it beforehand. I wouldn’t have been able just to sit
down and write it without that. Also, I wasn’t happy with the beginning, so I
changed it later on and added another 10,000 words or so.
What is your work
schedule like when you're writing?
I wish I were organised enough to have a schedule! During
NaNoWriMo, I wrote about 2,000 words per day and I did it in the morning, so
that I got it off my plate early on in the day. I also write non-fiction for a
living, so my fiction has to fit around that. It’s not uncommon for me to be
scribbling at midnight, long after my long-suffering husband has gone to bed.
Where do you get your
ideas for your books?
Largely from historical events. A true story was the
inspiration behind The House at Zaronza.
We went on holiday to Corsica and found framed love letters on the walls of our
B&B. The owner told us the story and I adapted it for the novel. I am
particularly interested in the stories of “ordinary” people who are caught up
in historical events.
When did you write
your first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first magnum opus at the age of six – but I’m not
admitting how long ago that was. It was entitled The Kind Little Imp. I blush to recall it now, but it featured an
imp who finds an injured butterfly and nurses it back to health. I illustrated
it, too.
What do you like to
do when you're not writing?
I sing in a couple of choirs, which I find relaxing. It’s
good to do things with a team of people, since writing is a solitary,
anti-social occupation. I am also fond of walking, yoga and food and drink
(what else, in France?). We are also helping to restore a ruined 15th-century
chapel nearby – also a team activity.
What was one of the
most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That I could do it! Previously, I had written only short
stories. A much more extended piece of work is a different undertaking,
especially at a certain age. Now I’m hooked on novel-length writing.
If you count the one when I was six, then two.
Which is your
favourite and why?
The favourite so far is The House at Zaronza, naturally. As a writer, you want to develop constantly,
though, and if I continue to write and publish novels then it’s possible that a
later one will overtake it. However, as my first novel, The House at Zaronza will always occupy a special place in my
thoughts. I actually shed a little tear when I typed “The End”!
As a child, what did
you want to do when you grew up?
I was going to be the UK’s first woman prime minister, but
someone pipped me to the post. At another time, I wanted to be a doctor, but my
maths wasn’t good enough. I never thought of being a full-time writer, although
that is what I have become after a varied career.
What are you working
on now?
Novel number two, set in France during World War II. It is
beginning to develop into a sequel to The House at Zaronza, although it didn’t start out like that. But you know how
it is: your characters take you over.
Bio
Vanessa Couchman is passionate about French and Corsican
history, from which she derives the inspiration for much of her fiction. She
has lived in France since 1997, where she runs a copywriting business and also
writes magazine articles. Her short stories have won and been placed in
creative writing competitions. The House at Zaronza is her debut novel.
Blog: Life on La Lune – http://vanessafrance.wordpress.com
Writing site: http://vanessacouchmanwriter.wordpress.com
Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/vanessacouchman
or http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vanessa-Couchman/
Twitter: @Vanessainfrance
Facebook: vanessa.couchman.3
Published works:
The House at Zaronza,
Crooked Cat Publishing, 29th July 2014
Foreign and Far Away:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2013 (Contributor)
Foreign Encounters:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2012 (Contributor)
Foreign Flavours:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2011 (Contributor)
Fifty Stories for
Pakistan, 2010 (Contributor)
Yesterday, ed.
Marit Meredith, 2011 (Contributor)
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
Monday 28 July 2014
Getting to know who Bob might be #writetip
Regardless of genre, characters can make or break a novel.
How many times have you read something that could have been (should have been)
a great story, but the characters were so lacking in credibility that you lost
interest long before the end? I would bet my reputation as a writer that
everyone has read at least one novel fitting that description at some point in
their lives.
Developing characters so real our readers fall in love with
them, or despise them, is an art – one we have to learn if we want our novels
to satisfy our readers. We all know characters have to have a past that has
shaped them, a future they are striving towards, and a present they are dealing
with in order to get from one to the other. But how we use that information is
crucial. Readers don’t want a whole load of information dumped on them. They
want to get to know the character as the book progresses, in exactly the same
way as they would with a real life friend.
As Frances di Plino I run a book review site and, as the
real me, Lorraine Mace, I am a creative writing tutor and also critique fiction
for Writers’ Forum. In both guises, I
get to read a lot of novel openings and short stories. One thing that stops me
dead every time is a massive chunk of back-story explaining everything the
author thinks the reader needs to
know about a character. This effectively kills the pace and bores the pants off
the reader (me).
It is our job to know our characters so well the type of
person they are is apparent in every action and piece of dialogue uttered. When
we get to that stage no back-story is needed.
There are various ways of getting inside the heads of
characters and finding the right method for you is as important as any other
aspect of writing. I use a mix and match of several techniques. As my
characters often have heated discussions in my head, I sometimes feel they’ve
developed just a little bit too much,
but that’s another issue altogether.
I rarely describe my characters, but that doesn’t mean I
don’t have a full description of them ready to hand should I need to refer to
it. As a reader, I prefer my own imagination to conjure up images. I don’t want
an item by item shopping list of the person’s features and colouring. For this reason,
I only describe anyone’s looks when it is important to the story. For example, when
I write crime, if my villain has dark hair then all my red herring people also
need to have dark hair.
I think it’s more important for my readers to see my
characters as people, than be able to picture their looks exactly as I do. So,
how do I develop my characters?
Let’s take someone called Bob. When I put him into a story I
may not describe him, but I know
exactly what he looks like, even down to a slight cast in one eye. I know how
he got on with his parents and siblings, what makes him angry, what makes him
cry. I know what tickles his funny bone, what he does in his spare time that
he’s happy for everyone to know about – and what he does in his secret time
that he hopes no one will ever discover. I know what makes him blush, what type
of woman he dreams about, and also the type of woman he’ll end up with. I know
his hopes, his dreams and his fears. I know where he’d like to go on holiday if
he had enough money – and where he’ll go instead because that’s all he can
afford.
In other words, I know everything I need to know about Bob
at this stage. But now I want to develop him into a real person. To do that I
need to find out how he would react in certain situations.
I put Bob in a house on fire – what would he do? Would he
panic? Save himself without thought for anyone else? Would he be a hero even if
it meant his own life was in danger?
I put temptation in his way – financial and sexual. Would he
skim funds off if he thought no one would ever know, or is he rigidly honest?
Would he have an affair if he was convinced his wife would never find out, or
is he faithful enough to resist?
I put him in the path of a group of yobs picking on someone.
Would Bob step in to help the victim, or would he look the other way rather
than get involved?
I put him in a restaurant where he is given poor service and
bad food. Would he pay up and leave a tip, even though the waiter was surly, or
would he complain and demand the substandard food is replaced?
I put him on a train where it is clearly signposted no
mobile phones, and then I put someone in the carriage who ignores the notice.
Would Bob draw attention to it? If yes, how? Would he be diffident? Angry?
Forceful? Apologetic? How would he deal with someone who carries on making
calls?
I put him near the back of a long queue at the airport and
have someone queue jump. Does he get angry but do nothing, or does he confront
the queue jumper?
By the time I’ve answered all these question I will know Bob
better than I know my own husband. In fact, I might swap him for Bob, depending
on the answers.
As with everything writing related, this method won’t work
for everyone, but it does the trick for me, so why not try it with one or two
of your characters?
I wrote this post originally for the blog of Nancy Jardine, where it appeared in June 2012.
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
Friday 25 July 2014
Writing for Children - Tip 6 #writetip
Tip 6 – Themes and Ideas
With Vlad the Inhaler
I tackled various themes. If you read the book, you’ll find I dealt with:
- Being a child of mixed parentage (Vlad’s mother is human, his father is a vampire)
- Bullying (his vampire cousins’ best games all involve hurting and/or frightening Vlad)
- Being misunderstood (most of the villagers fear Vlad even though he isn’t a full vampire and would never hurt anyone)
- Dealing with illness or being seen to be different to other children (Vlad is asthmatic and a vegetarian)
- Being scared (Vlad is extremely timid at the start of the book and has to learn how to be brave)
- Learning to love yourself (by the end of the book Vlad knows he is an example of the best of both species)
When thinking about the basic plot idea for your children’s
book, it is a good idea to decide which theme you are going to explore. Then
think about the best vehicle to carry that theme.
What is it that children like? Obviously every child is
unique and will enjoy different aspects of stories, but there are certain ideas
that seem to appeal across the spectrum.
Kids enjoy being frightened, but not too much. The fear
factor has to be controlled so that they reach the stage of peeping from behind
a pillow at the scary bits, but not get so frightened that they fear going to
bed, or need a nightlight in case a creepy villain comes to life while they
sleep.
They also love being made to laugh, both at themselves and
at funny situations. Their humour levels are different and far more down to
earth than most adults. Give your own childlike humour free rein and chuckle along
with your readers.
Some Idea to Consider:
- Gadgets that work – kids love gadgets and enjoy reading about inventions, the more outlandish the better.
- Gadgets that don’t – gadgets that malfunction and cause mayhem are always enjoyed.
- Things that go bump in the night – witches, warlocks, vampires, ghouls, ghosts and goblins have a timeless appeal.
- Time travel forward – finding new life forms and visiting distant stars in the future opens endless doors to explore.
- Time travel back – an opportunity to rewrite history, or simply to have adventures in the past.
- New worlds to conquer – writing fantasy gives you the freedom to create new planets and countries, as well as generating new beings to inhabit them.
- Computers on the outside – most children today are computer literate and might enjoy a tale about a computer boffin or hacker, particularly if he is evil and defeated by your heroes.
- Computers on the inside – computer games that swallow the players, forcing them to play for their lives inside the machine, could have your young readers on the edge of their seats.
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
Thursday 24 July 2014
Flash 500 Competition News #contest
Long Lists
The long lists are now up for the second quarter of 2014. You can find the titles of the flash fiction long list here and the titles of the humour verse long list here.
New Judges
I’m delighted to announce that award-winning novelist Louise Phillips will be judging the third quarter of the flash fiction competition.
The humour verse
entries for the third quarter will be judged by someone who has been
writing funny rhymes for many years and has won hundreds of prizes as a
result, Michael Shenton.
Although this
competition only closes on 31st October, entries are already coming
in. Once again, the judges for this competition will be the senior
editors at Crooked Cat Publishing.
Prizes: £500 first prize, plus a runner’s up prize of £200
More details can be found here.
Resources Page
Our page of useful
sites for writers attracts hundreds of visitors each month. There are
many links listed which could be of benefit, regardless of whether you
write prose or poetry. If you know of a site you feel should be
included, please let us know. Don't forget to share this page with your writing friends: Writers' Resources
For all of you who have made the second quarter 2014 long lists, congratulations and good luck with the next stage of judging.
For more information on all three of our competition categories, visit the Flash 500 Homepage.
Kind regards,
Lorraine
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
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