Showing posts with label write anything. Show all posts
Showing posts with label write anything. Show all posts
Friday, 30 July 2010
Friday Flash - Something In The Attic
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This flash has been taken down as it is out for submission - wish me luck!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
The AudioBoo Bug (How I Was Bitten)
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In this hot, sticky summer of mosquitoes and other flying nasties, I have been bitten. Oh yes. By the AudioBoo bug. Ha! Bet you thought I was going to say something else. Well, it's true. And it's all the fault of two very lovely ladies (and very talented writers), Annie Evett and Jodi Cleghorn. I kept seeing their tweets about this AudioBoo thing, and when Jodi suggested I check it out, I duly do so. After all, I like to keep up with what's going on in that vast, and often bewildering landscape we call the Internet.
For those of you who are as yet unaware what this whole thing is about, AudioBoo is basically a website (and iPhone application) which allows you to post short audio files. You can either do as I do, and record them on your computer using a microphone setup, or you can record and post a Boo direct from your iPhone (or Android phone). It's an extremely accessible and simple process, requiring little hardware, and none of the fancy set up required by decent podcasts (though if you want to do a podcast, I suggest you go and follow Emma Newman's blog - she's no stranger to the whole business since she's podcasting her debut novel, Twenty Years Later).
People use AudioBoo to discuss all kinds of things, but as a writer, it's a boon as it allows you to 'discuss' ongoing projects, read snippets of fiction, or simply connect with other writers in a new way. Blogs are all very well and good but there's something almost sterile about them. Sure, they take the format of the written word, our weapon of choice, but so often writers end up missing out on that spoken, vocal spark that comes from talking about projects. Now you can chat about your work to people other than your friends and family!
I also think AudioBoo is also beneficial in that it forces you to use a different part of your brain to articulate your point. Vocalising thoughts is a very different process to articulating them using the written word, and as such it can help you to have all kinds of insights into your own work that you might never have had if you hadn't chosen to actually talk about them out loud. So far, I've done an initial introductory Boo, a second Boo in which I discuss my plans for my Tales from Vertigo City serial, and newest Boo in which I discuss my current projects. None of the Boos are longer than four minutes, so you'll probably be able to listen to them and digest the contents faster than you'd be able to process one of my blog entries!
I certainly won't be abandoning my blog any time soon, but I'm hoping to post Boos fairly regularly from now on...come and have a listen to my odd accent over on my AudioBoo!
For those of you who are as yet unaware what this whole thing is about, AudioBoo is basically a website (and iPhone application) which allows you to post short audio files. You can either do as I do, and record them on your computer using a microphone setup, or you can record and post a Boo direct from your iPhone (or Android phone). It's an extremely accessible and simple process, requiring little hardware, and none of the fancy set up required by decent podcasts (though if you want to do a podcast, I suggest you go and follow Emma Newman's blog - she's no stranger to the whole business since she's podcasting her debut novel, Twenty Years Later).
People use AudioBoo to discuss all kinds of things, but as a writer, it's a boon as it allows you to 'discuss' ongoing projects, read snippets of fiction, or simply connect with other writers in a new way. Blogs are all very well and good but there's something almost sterile about them. Sure, they take the format of the written word, our weapon of choice, but so often writers end up missing out on that spoken, vocal spark that comes from talking about projects. Now you can chat about your work to people other than your friends and family!
I also think AudioBoo is also beneficial in that it forces you to use a different part of your brain to articulate your point. Vocalising thoughts is a very different process to articulating them using the written word, and as such it can help you to have all kinds of insights into your own work that you might never have had if you hadn't chosen to actually talk about them out loud. So far, I've done an initial introductory Boo, a second Boo in which I discuss my plans for my Tales from Vertigo City serial, and newest Boo in which I discuss my current projects. None of the Boos are longer than four minutes, so you'll probably be able to listen to them and digest the contents faster than you'd be able to process one of my blog entries!
I certainly won't be abandoning my blog any time soon, but I'm hoping to post Boos fairly regularly from now on...come and have a listen to my odd accent over on my AudioBoo!
Monday, 26 April 2010
New Writing Schedule
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I read this post on the Write Anything blog (which you should ALL be reading!) by the very lovely Jodi Cleghorn, and it really got me thinking about my writing schedule. I've never really had one, aside from trying to write the next installment of my serial on Wednesdays, so I can post it on Fridays, but I've decided I'm going to give this scheduling lark a go.
On Mondays, I plan to have a bash at one of the many writing exercises lurking in the many books I own on writing fiction. For variety, I might try using the random photo option on Flickr as writing prompts. You may, or may not, end up seeing the results of this experiment.
On Tuesdays, I'll be redrafting my novel. At the moment, I'm doing that "reading through and scribbling on the first draft with red pen" thing, but I need to be more structured in my process. I don't really like the revision process so I tend to find I avoid it (Procrastination, thy name is Nintendo) but if I book in time for it, then I'll find myself getting it done.
Wednesday will still be my visit to Vertigo City to write the next installment. I've already written a post about the advantages of writing a web serial, although I'll also add a further comment that they're handy because sticking to a continuing story helps to eliminate the fear of the blank page.
Thursday will be my brainstorming day. I've got planned collaborations with two very talented artists, and I want to make sure I've got work sorted out at my end!! I've got lots of ideas, but I need to make the time to actually write them down and develop them. Working on my ideas is something I'm very bad at, as I usually just make things up as I go along.
Friday will be, as ever, my Friday Flash day. I like to write them on the day because I often use the Fiction Friday prompts on the Write Anything blog.
Saturday and Sunday will be my days off. After all, I need a break in order to find inspiration...
On Mondays, I plan to have a bash at one of the many writing exercises lurking in the many books I own on writing fiction. For variety, I might try using the random photo option on Flickr as writing prompts. You may, or may not, end up seeing the results of this experiment.
On Tuesdays, I'll be redrafting my novel. At the moment, I'm doing that "reading through and scribbling on the first draft with red pen" thing, but I need to be more structured in my process. I don't really like the revision process so I tend to find I avoid it (Procrastination, thy name is Nintendo) but if I book in time for it, then I'll find myself getting it done.
Wednesday will still be my visit to Vertigo City to write the next installment. I've already written a post about the advantages of writing a web serial, although I'll also add a further comment that they're handy because sticking to a continuing story helps to eliminate the fear of the blank page.
Thursday will be my brainstorming day. I've got planned collaborations with two very talented artists, and I want to make sure I've got work sorted out at my end!! I've got lots of ideas, but I need to make the time to actually write them down and develop them. Working on my ideas is something I'm very bad at, as I usually just make things up as I go along.
Friday will be, as ever, my Friday Flash day. I like to write them on the day because I often use the Fiction Friday prompts on the Write Anything blog.
Saturday and Sunday will be my days off. After all, I need a break in order to find inspiration...
Friday, 12 March 2010
Fiction Friday #4
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Here's my attempt for this week's Fiction Friday challenge on the Write Anything blog. Today's challenge is;
The keys opened every door in the house, except the small wooden door at the end of the hall…
[NOTE] I've actually edited this, following comments from the lovely Kathryn Jankowski!
[NOTE] I've actually edited this, following comments from the lovely Kathryn Jankowski!
Beth flipped through the heavy iron keys one last time, but as before, not one of them fitted the narrow lock. She slapped the rough wood in irritation. The small door rattled in a frame speckled with woodworm.
"Problem?"
Dawes leaned against the wall behind her. Paint streaked his arms and peppered his thinning hair. He gnawed on a raw turnip.
"Yes, there's a problem. The master gave me these keys, and they're meant to open any door in the building," replied Beth. A shiver of disgust skated down her spine as he scraped at the vegetable with his few remaining teeth.
"But they don't open this one," said Dawes. He spoke as he ate, treating Beth to the sight of a mouthful of half-chewed turnip.
"No. Why not?"
"Maybe the master don't want you going in there."
"But I heard something in there. Like...scratching. And crying."
"Probably just the wind. It's an old house, it makes peculiar noises." Dawes picked at his gums with a ragged fingernail.
"All the same, I want to have a look and make sure." Beth shuddered. The noises beyond the door did not sound anything like the wind.
"Probably just the wind. It's an old house, it makes peculiar noises." Dawes picked at his gums with a ragged fingernail.
"All the same, I want to have a look and make sure." Beth shuddered. The noises beyond the door did not sound anything like the wind.
"Look, lovely. You're working for a magician. There are going to be things he's going to want to keep hidden. Secrets, stuff for his act. He'll probably give you the key when you've been working here long enough that he won't think you'll go straight to his competition," said Dawes.
Beth stared at Dawes for several moments, before concluding he had a point. After all, she only got the keys from Mrs Hooper yesterday, and she hadn't even met the elusive magician yet. She hauled herself to her feet, and brushed dust off her knees. She nodded at Dawes, walking as fast as she could away from the handyman without running.
Dawes watched her go. When he heard her hob-nailed boots on the stairs, he knelt beside the door.
"Are you there, my pretty? Don't worry, I'll be coming for you soon." He whispered through the narrow key hole, stroking the door.
The prisoner on the other side of the door whimpered.
Friday, 26 February 2010
Fiction Friday #3
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Here's my attempt for this week's Fiction Friday challenge on the Write Anything blog. Today's challenge is;
The bag was empty except for a smudged slip of paper which said, “Sorry.”
“Bitch!” Casey screwed up the bag and threw it into the bin by her desk.
“Something wrong?” asked Anna.
Casey sat back in her chair. A scowl contorted her face.
“Yes, something is wrong. I asked that useless cow to get me a couple of cinnamon swirls to get me through the afternoon, and instead I get an empty paper bag. How am I supposed to meet my deadline without a sugar fix?”
Spectral pastries danced across her vision; she even thought she could smell the sugary icing. In fact, she realised she could smell the icing. A thought occurred to her and she fished the bag out of her bin.
“Why did she bother giving you the bag if the bakery had run out?” asked Anna. She didn’t even glance up from her computer. Casey wondered if Anna ever really paid attention.
“They hadn’t. She ate them herself. She ate them, and then left the bag for me.” Casey tossed the crumpled bag onto Anna’s desk. “She’ll be more than sorry when she gets back.”
“All of this fuss over cinnamon swirls?”
“It’s the principle of it! I paid for those pastries! And to include a cursory note – that’s not an apology, it’s a slap in the face.”
Casey stormed out of the office, slamming the door.
Anna listened as Casey stomped down the corridor toward the lifts. She sighed deeply, before wiping sugar icing off her hands.
The bag was empty except for a smudged slip of paper which said, “Sorry.”
“Bitch!” Casey screwed up the bag and threw it into the bin by her desk.
“Something wrong?” asked Anna.
Casey sat back in her chair. A scowl contorted her face.
“Yes, something is wrong. I asked that useless cow to get me a couple of cinnamon swirls to get me through the afternoon, and instead I get an empty paper bag. How am I supposed to meet my deadline without a sugar fix?”
Spectral pastries danced across her vision; she even thought she could smell the sugary icing. In fact, she realised she could smell the icing. A thought occurred to her and she fished the bag out of her bin.
“Why did she bother giving you the bag if the bakery had run out?” asked Anna. She didn’t even glance up from her computer. Casey wondered if Anna ever really paid attention.
“They hadn’t. She ate them herself. She ate them, and then left the bag for me.” Casey tossed the crumpled bag onto Anna’s desk. “She’ll be more than sorry when she gets back.”
“All of this fuss over cinnamon swirls?”
“It’s the principle of it! I paid for those pastries! And to include a cursory note – that’s not an apology, it’s a slap in the face.”
Casey stormed out of the office, slamming the door.
Anna listened as Casey stomped down the corridor toward the lifts. She sighed deeply, before wiping sugar icing off her hands.
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