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Hi all,

I started reading 'The Quickening' a couple of weeks ago, became hooked by the simplicity of the read and the emotional ups and downs the books took me through.

Now, It's Trinity and I'm enjoying this series just as much. , I've only read the first book so far but hope to get the others soon.

Thanks Fiona for excellent stories which fed my need for escapism ,-)

Bye for now!

Jabbs

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Hi Jabbs

Thank you for reading my books. You know, simplicity is the key to much of life. The more complex you make something, the less accessible it is to everyone. I watched a documentary by the director of Pan's Labyrinth recently and he said he strived so hard to keep the storyline exquisitely simple because that's how all the original fantasy tales from centuries ago were structured. They had a very direct storyline that everyone, child to senior, could grasp, follow and love. I felt elated when he said this because it's precisely how I feel about my fantasy writing and always have. I like a very clear pathway that the reader is following and no matter what obstacles appear in the way of subplots or characters I never want the reader to lose sight of whose story we're sharing and their pathway. So thank you, I am delighted that you're enjoying the simplicity of Wyl's story and thrilled that The Quickening has led you onto Trinity. Perhaps you'll give Percheron a go to sometime - yet more escape for you!

Welcome by the way - hope you'll visit again, indeed often. Where are you writing from by the way?

Talk soon. F

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Hi Fiona

I'm writing from Plymouth England

They say there's a novel in all of us and I have wanted to write for a long time.  I have read so many fantasy and sci-fi books in my time I have lost count!  But reading as much as I do I guess I doubted that I have the skills and the stickabilty to see it through. 

Many books are so well written and interspersed with words I recognise but don't fully understand.  You possibly know the feeling when you see a word and you sort of know what it means, but you are sure there is much more to the word than meets the eye.  It has been this way with me for many many years. This alone has put me off writing as I felt I had to be 'this good' to do it.

I often wonder what is the best approach and I'm sure any writer could offer me tons of advice.  I don't know if there is a 'right' way of writing a novel.  I work in IT and when I'm troubleshooting techie stuff, I tend to zoom out and zoom in once I am happy with certain aspects.  If (or should I say when) I start my novel I will probably take this approach.  Looking at the whole story and how the characters fit in and what they will learn.  For me also, there has to be a spiritual element to the whole thing.

So, of course I will read Percheron when I'm done with Trinity and I look forward to any future work you produce.

Many thanks once again.

Kind regards

Jonathan

 

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Ya know Jabbs, when I was a young'un, and asked my mother what a word meant, her reply was short and simple,"Look it up in the dictionary." I learned to do that and, as time went on, I found I needed the dictionary less and less. I still use it occasionally, because I figure the author had a reason to use that word, and I ought to know what it means. As far as writing advice, I can't give you any. I can write, but don't have the "fire in the belly" to pursue it. All I can offer is this...if you want to write, then write! Take a course, read a book on writing, but write. You'll figure out if it's in you, but only if you pick up the pen, or rattle the keyboard. Oh, and welcome aboard Fiona's madcap forums. Phil

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Phil's right, Jabbs, and although perhaps this conversation should move into the Scribes forum I think it's important to say to you that I felt daunted to. But at some point you have to take the plunge and have a go - why risk the regret? What's the worst that can happen - I'll tell you...a publisher says no thank you. But even so you can try again. If you've always wanted to write, then give a go. You'll be surprised how much you learn from the simple process of focusing your mind to the task of unfolding a story. It's a bit of a double edged sword too - i.e. you have no real idea how hard it truly is to turn blank pages and nothing into half a million words and a story that can captivate thousands and thousands of people. But more importantly, the flip side is that you have no real idea of how this is the same for every sf writer, even the ones you most admire. And in understanding that everyone's in the same boat you begin to appreciate that it is actually easier than you think to craft that half million word trilogy. Does that makes sense? I think what I'm trying to say is that all of us who are successful at writing these great tales had to start somewhere and we all began at the same point as you.....wanting to, nervous to, wondering if we're good enough or capable, daunted by those who have gone before us and yet also inspired by those same writers. But at some point those whose work you enjoy and look forward to have simply held faith with themselves and leapt off the cliff (in other words, given it a go). You should too and as for the elegant language you refer to, that comes. The main thing is that you always aim to write for everyone - take your cue from a newspaper. Newspapers all over the world use language that everyone from the not so educated to the highly educated, from the factory workers to farmers to lawyers to nurses to neurosurgeons to middle school students can understand. They use universal language that is accessible to everyone from every demographic and all age groups from reading age onwards. If you sick by that creed alone and you show talent in crafting a story then trust me, you can't go wrong. Some writers have that amazing ability to write with a special elegance and that's a gift, particularly if the elegance doesn't mean you need a dictionary at your side constantly as a reader. But that said, simplicity will always be the key and the eventual winner for readers. Just write what's in your heart and how you hear the story unfolding in your mind and you can't go wrong.

Good luck! Fx p.s. Oh and definitely follow your natural inclination to zoom in and out. Don't let teachers or writing courses persuade you to work against your natural instincts. p.p.s. Just back from England...as always, loved it.

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Thanks for the replies If I were to write, I would hope that my writing style will be easy to read and without the need for a dictionary by the readers' side. Easier said than done of course, but your books seem to do that Fiona. I'm definately going to spend some time planning and thinking about the story I have in my mind. Whether it makes it to teh paper is another matter - let's see Thanks again for your books which I will continue to read with pleasure. Bye for now! Jonathan

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sorry for all the typos - I was writing so fast!