I know I could leave this until later, but I write sequentially, whether it's a first or last draft...
So I'm now at that stage where my hero, Hugh, has resolved his conflict, and Sarah has remembered enough to make sense of the past, so getting the pair of them together shouldn't be difficult, should it?
The storm has made it easier to create the opportunity, but why do two confident people then suddenly turn shy!
I know some writers, and readers, prefer the action to stop at the bedroom door. I've no problem with that.
I think it really is about the characters and how they feel. If you know your characters well then you'll know what is right for them.
I've never had any doubts about my current couple in the novella, they've clearly been attracted to one another from the moment they met again; and as their relationship has progressed, on the few occasions they've been able to kiss you could see the lighted fuse slowly heading for the powder keg...
But give them the opportunity to be alone together and for Hugh to propose...
I really can't blame either of them for this temporary hiccup, as they've both got issues that they've had to deal with. And their story is set in a time when there were moral expectations for young women.
When I went back to the scene today they were making progress, but I think they will only let the reader stay for a while before they demand privacy; they'll tell me when enough is enough...
As the final part of tying up the past has still to be finished to reach the happy ever after (HEA) it will only need one more chapter to complete the draft.
I know I said Chapter 16 was going to be the last one, but I was wrong, it will definitely be Chapter 17. :D
I've no doubt that when I begin the second draft and put in the missing scenes, some of the current chapters will change number. I may even end up with a couple more than I have now...
Carol Bevitt's blog on her writing and inspirations, along with occasional literature related news...
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Sunday 2 February 2014
First Novel Award for the Bridport Prize 2014...
Must say a big thank you to Claudia on the Writing Magazine, Talkback Forum, for letting everyone know there were details available of this addition to the competitions on the Bridport Prize website.
This is the Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award for a first novel extract ( first chapter of a novel, minimum 5,000 words, maximum 8,000 words in total, plus a 300 word synopsis), with a £1,000 prize, expert mentoring and possible publication.
This will be a popular competition, so only the best will get through to the longlist and shortlist...
Entrants must be resident in the UK, 16 years old or over. Nor currently represented by a literary agent.
They can either have a completed, or a part-written novel. But do be aware that for the latter case, if you progress through the competition to the longlist stage, you will need to have a minimum of 15,000 words available, and for the shortlist a minimum of 30,000 words.
The longlist will only consist of 20, sifted by the Bridport Prize readers from all entries. Those 20 will go on to The Literary Consultancy and A. M. Heath Literary Agents, who will shortlist to 5.
The winner and runner-up (receives £500, plus other elements) will be chosen by them and the named judge, Alison Moore. There are qualifying criteria for the winner- not agented or previously published a novel (self-published is okay, as is being published in another genre, such as short stories, poetry, non fiction).
(Full details of entry, prizes, terms and conditions can be found via the above link.)
Bridport's entry fees are high, £20 an entry. Entries can be submitted online or by post (see the relevant links in the Entry Format section of the terms and conditions).
Closing date is 31st May 2014.
There is a lot to read on both the main page, and the one with the terms and conditions, but do read them fully.
When you have to pay a high entry fee, it's a shame to waste both your time and money by missing an essential piece of information that could result in your hard work being disqualified.
If you enter, good luck.
This is the Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award for a first novel extract ( first chapter of a novel, minimum 5,000 words, maximum 8,000 words in total, plus a 300 word synopsis), with a £1,000 prize, expert mentoring and possible publication.
This will be a popular competition, so only the best will get through to the longlist and shortlist...
Entrants must be resident in the UK, 16 years old or over. Nor currently represented by a literary agent.
They can either have a completed, or a part-written novel. But do be aware that for the latter case, if you progress through the competition to the longlist stage, you will need to have a minimum of 15,000 words available, and for the shortlist a minimum of 30,000 words.
The longlist will only consist of 20, sifted by the Bridport Prize readers from all entries. Those 20 will go on to The Literary Consultancy and A. M. Heath Literary Agents, who will shortlist to 5.
The winner and runner-up (receives £500, plus other elements) will be chosen by them and the named judge, Alison Moore. There are qualifying criteria for the winner- not agented or previously published a novel (self-published is okay, as is being published in another genre, such as short stories, poetry, non fiction).
(Full details of entry, prizes, terms and conditions can be found via the above link.)
Bridport's entry fees are high, £20 an entry. Entries can be submitted online or by post (see the relevant links in the Entry Format section of the terms and conditions).
Closing date is 31st May 2014.
There is a lot to read on both the main page, and the one with the terms and conditions, but do read them fully.
When you have to pay a high entry fee, it's a shame to waste both your time and money by missing an essential piece of information that could result in your hard work being disqualified.
If you enter, good luck.
Saturday 1 February 2014
Connections and Respect...
Having got back into a steady routine of writing and blogging, my life was thrown upside down last weekend by not only losing my broadband, but my phone line too.
Okay, I know. If my phone line goes then so will my broadband. Unfortunately it happened the other way round for me...
I should add that we suspected our loss of service was 99.9% related to the engineer (from our provider) who was putting a broadband line in for one of our neighbours, as we lost our broadband about the time he would have been connecting up to the box in the pavement.
All the cables run under our pavements where we live, so we don't have any telegraph poles with wires running across.
But the provider's fault system requires you go through the testing routine, and of course their instrumentation said our broadband signal had no drop-out (!!!!) and the problem was our phone line-further tests then went on to blame our house wiring, and warnings that if the engineer came out we'd be liable to pay nearly £130 if it wasn't their equipment at fault.
So from Friday evening until the engineer arrived early Tuesday morning we were stuck. You get a lot of other things done with no phone calls, or Internet to distract you. (I read three e-books on my kindle.) But my desk had to be moved right up against my bookcase!
Very pleased to say that the engineer quickly found that the problem was outside, and as we'd suspected on the Friday when we started losing our service, it was related to what the other engineer had done.
Took about an hour+ to fix and test- even that wasn't trouble-free, but eventually we had a working phone and broadband line.
But it has taken the rest of the week getting the bandwidth back to where it was. And don't mention how many e-mails there were to sort through!
It's only when you lose your broadband that you realise how much of everyday life has moved online.
We communicate with friends and acquaintances from all over the UK, and in other countries, as if they were in another room. We use the Internet to interact with companies and services, even publishers! It's often easier to contact a company online than it is by phone...
The Internet has opened up so many resources that writers, a hundred years ago, would either have had to make a time-consuming trip to access the location, museum, gallery or specialist library and spend hours finding the information needed, or send lots of letters to get the answers.
My loss of broadband for those few days certainly increased my respect for those early writers. Their books may have been shorter word counts than we produce now, but they put as much, if not more effort, into producing their manuscripts.
It also makes you realise how much we take access to information for granted.
If the Internet hadn't been invented how many of those essential services and goods we writers depend on, would not have been invented? How many companies and organisations that employ, and sometimes support, people (including writers) may never have come into existence?
That's slightly scary...
Okay, I know. If my phone line goes then so will my broadband. Unfortunately it happened the other way round for me...
I should add that we suspected our loss of service was 99.9% related to the engineer (from our provider) who was putting a broadband line in for one of our neighbours, as we lost our broadband about the time he would have been connecting up to the box in the pavement.
All the cables run under our pavements where we live, so we don't have any telegraph poles with wires running across.
But the provider's fault system requires you go through the testing routine, and of course their instrumentation said our broadband signal had no drop-out (!!!!) and the problem was our phone line-further tests then went on to blame our house wiring, and warnings that if the engineer came out we'd be liable to pay nearly £130 if it wasn't their equipment at fault.
So from Friday evening until the engineer arrived early Tuesday morning we were stuck. You get a lot of other things done with no phone calls, or Internet to distract you. (I read three e-books on my kindle.) But my desk had to be moved right up against my bookcase!
Very pleased to say that the engineer quickly found that the problem was outside, and as we'd suspected on the Friday when we started losing our service, it was related to what the other engineer had done.
Took about an hour+ to fix and test- even that wasn't trouble-free, but eventually we had a working phone and broadband line.
But it has taken the rest of the week getting the bandwidth back to where it was. And don't mention how many e-mails there were to sort through!
It's only when you lose your broadband that you realise how much of everyday life has moved online.
We communicate with friends and acquaintances from all over the UK, and in other countries, as if they were in another room. We use the Internet to interact with companies and services, even publishers! It's often easier to contact a company online than it is by phone...
The Internet has opened up so many resources that writers, a hundred years ago, would either have had to make a time-consuming trip to access the location, museum, gallery or specialist library and spend hours finding the information needed, or send lots of letters to get the answers.
My loss of broadband for those few days certainly increased my respect for those early writers. Their books may have been shorter word counts than we produce now, but they put as much, if not more effort, into producing their manuscripts.
It also makes you realise how much we take access to information for granted.
If the Internet hadn't been invented how many of those essential services and goods we writers depend on, would not have been invented? How many companies and organisations that employ, and sometimes support, people (including writers) may never have come into existence?
That's slightly scary...
Thursday 16 January 2014
I WON!
If you read any of my blog posts in December, you may know that I was a contender for the Nottingham Writers' Club,Writer of the Year trophy.
Usually it's presented at Awards Night in early December, along with all the other annual competition trophies, before we have the Christmas party.
Unfortunately the external judge wasn't able to get the results to the club until a week or so after the event - unforeseen delays on both sides. But as the first meeting in January was New Year's Day- a public holiday in the UK- it wasn't until yesterday evening (15th) that the trophy was finally handed over.
So here's the trophy being presented to me by Vice President,
Viv Apple.
Hopefully the next time I get presented with a trophy the photo will be able to catch me when I'm not missing a front tooth and can smile! :-)
My winning entry, The Ladies of the G.O.D Club received praise from the judge, a knowledgeable local bookseller.
I'm sure she won't mind me revealing some of what she wrote for the club.
"In a short story, time is precious, and it can be easy to lose readers' interest by adding unnecessary detail, but by selecting just the essential elements, Carol makes the most of her small word count. Her scenes are set wonderfully, ('rattan chairs', 'large metallic coffee pot', 'plump cushioning in cerise' – all add an instant sense of comfort and leisure), and characters' speech is designed to hint at exactly the right traits without being over-prescriptive: it is here particularly that Carol has balanced the 'show/tell' storytelling techniques most proficiently, setting her writing apart from the competition."
There's a bit about the symbolism used too, but I must admit that wasn't an element I was consciously aware of, it just came out of creating Jenny's (my viewpoint character) story...
My other entry was a 500 word flash fiction with an historical romance leaning. Admittedly, hard to do with a limited word count. It is a bigger story, which is probably why the judge said of it, " I feel Carol's imagination could be honed to produce romantic fiction pieces on a much larger scale: this short story has all the wit and personality to take her writing further."
So that was a great way to end 2013; and with the presentation of the trophy, to start 2014.
Sadly I only get to hold onto the trophy (and get my name added to the little plate on the side of the base) until late November, but I will receive a certificate this December to mark my 2013 win...
I have plans for my winning story so won't reveal it, but it will have a home somewhere and when it does I'll let you know where so you can read it.
Likewise the 500 word flash will be made into the longer story it is determined to be.
2014 is going to be a year of hard work...
Usually it's presented at Awards Night in early December, along with all the other annual competition trophies, before we have the Christmas party.
Unfortunately the external judge wasn't able to get the results to the club until a week or so after the event - unforeseen delays on both sides. But as the first meeting in January was New Year's Day- a public holiday in the UK- it wasn't until yesterday evening (15th) that the trophy was finally handed over.
So here's the trophy being presented to me by Vice President,
 |
| Writer of the Year 2013-Carol Bevitt |
Hopefully the next time I get presented with a trophy the photo will be able to catch me when I'm not missing a front tooth and can smile! :-)
My winning entry, The Ladies of the G.O.D Club received praise from the judge, a knowledgeable local bookseller.
I'm sure she won't mind me revealing some of what she wrote for the club.
"In a short story, time is precious, and it can be easy to lose readers' interest by adding unnecessary detail, but by selecting just the essential elements, Carol makes the most of her small word count. Her scenes are set wonderfully, ('rattan chairs', 'large metallic coffee pot', 'plump cushioning in cerise' – all add an instant sense of comfort and leisure), and characters' speech is designed to hint at exactly the right traits without being over-prescriptive: it is here particularly that Carol has balanced the 'show/tell' storytelling techniques most proficiently, setting her writing apart from the competition."
There's a bit about the symbolism used too, but I must admit that wasn't an element I was consciously aware of, it just came out of creating Jenny's (my viewpoint character) story...
My other entry was a 500 word flash fiction with an historical romance leaning. Admittedly, hard to do with a limited word count. It is a bigger story, which is probably why the judge said of it, " I feel Carol's imagination could be honed to produce romantic fiction pieces on a much larger scale: this short story has all the wit and personality to take her writing further."
So that was a great way to end 2013; and with the presentation of the trophy, to start 2014.
Sadly I only get to hold onto the trophy (and get my name added to the little plate on the side of the base) until late November, but I will receive a certificate this December to mark my 2013 win...
I have plans for my winning story so won't reveal it, but it will have a home somewhere and when it does I'll let you know where so you can read it.
Likewise the 500 word flash will be made into the longer story it is determined to be.
2014 is going to be a year of hard work...
Saturday 11 January 2014
TV and Film Adaptations of Novels- How Far Should They Stray?
Normality has just about returned to my writing schedule and I'm now on the last chapter of Draft 1.
I know a few writers who use well known actors and actresses as templates for what their fictional characters look like.
Sometimes an actor in a TV role will have the 'look' I envisage one of my characters as having.
And I'm sure we've all had moments when we've thought, who would we choose to play our characters if a film or TV adaptation was made of our book...?
But we all know the reality.
If the option has been bought, yes it means money for the author, but no guarantee it will ever reach the screen. And for the majority of those few that do, the writer has to accept that their characters and storyline may not fit exactly what is wanted, so will be changed.
We're realistic enough to understand that a lot of the story in a novel will have to go to slot it into a 90 minute film, or a short series. Perhaps characters have to be amalgamated into one to continue to fulfil their roles; or a character who didn't appear in the book is put in to take on those (combined) original parts.
Over the Christmas holidays Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh could be seen in Gone With The Wind. The film is over 3 hours long and doesn't stray too far from the book, even though the script went through various versions to get it to length.
The 2014 TV season is bringing versions of Daphne Du Maurier's 'Jamaica Inn', 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell ' by Susana Clarke, and 'The Musketeers', from Alexander Dumas's 'The Three Musketeers'.
How far they stray from the original text to accommodate the needs of a television production, will be interesting to see.
Meanwhile there was an item in the Bookseller about the ending being changed for the film version of Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl'.
This film adaptations has been written by the author, who has apparently admitted writing a new final scene, a scene that was not in the book.
There is a spoiler in the original article from Variety magazine. So don't click on the link, if you want to wait to find out about the new ending. The film comes out in October this year.
So, do you think it is better to read the book first, then see the TV/film adaptation? Or the reverse, watching the adaptations then discovering how different the original story actually is?
I know a few writers who use well known actors and actresses as templates for what their fictional characters look like.
Sometimes an actor in a TV role will have the 'look' I envisage one of my characters as having.
And I'm sure we've all had moments when we've thought, who would we choose to play our characters if a film or TV adaptation was made of our book...?
But we all know the reality.
If the option has been bought, yes it means money for the author, but no guarantee it will ever reach the screen. And for the majority of those few that do, the writer has to accept that their characters and storyline may not fit exactly what is wanted, so will be changed.
We're realistic enough to understand that a lot of the story in a novel will have to go to slot it into a 90 minute film, or a short series. Perhaps characters have to be amalgamated into one to continue to fulfil their roles; or a character who didn't appear in the book is put in to take on those (combined) original parts.
Over the Christmas holidays Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh could be seen in Gone With The Wind. The film is over 3 hours long and doesn't stray too far from the book, even though the script went through various versions to get it to length.
The 2014 TV season is bringing versions of Daphne Du Maurier's 'Jamaica Inn', 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell ' by Susana Clarke, and 'The Musketeers', from Alexander Dumas's 'The Three Musketeers'.
How far they stray from the original text to accommodate the needs of a television production, will be interesting to see.
Meanwhile there was an item in the Bookseller about the ending being changed for the film version of Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl'.
This film adaptations has been written by the author, who has apparently admitted writing a new final scene, a scene that was not in the book.
There is a spoiler in the original article from Variety magazine. So don't click on the link, if you want to wait to find out about the new ending. The film comes out in October this year.
So, do you think it is better to read the book first, then see the TV/film adaptation? Or the reverse, watching the adaptations then discovering how different the original story actually is?
Friday 3 January 2014
A Workshop in 2014 You Might Like...
 |
| 2014... |
If you've made any resolutions about attending workshops, and you want to write romance, and you can get to Leeds in May, then the following may be a possibility.
Writing Romantic Fiction with Kate Walker 16-18 May at Weetwood Hall, Leeds.
Kate is a very successful Mills and Boon (Modern) author - there are just too many titles to list, but her next book, 'A Question of Honour', is due out this June...
You may remember my blog post about attending Kate's one day workshop at Nottingham Writers' Club a while ago. If you missed it, then catch up here.
Kate kindly sent me the details of her May workshop so I could pass them on, so here they are.
Writing Romantic Fiction with Kate Walker
Dates: 16 - 18 May 2014
Place: Weetwood Hall LEEDS
Cost: £240 (Weekend residential- see the workshop page link below for more information and contact details.)
Romantic Fiction is big business. This course is intended to provide information and advice for anyone who wants to learn how to write romantic fiction. It gives an introduction to all the skills needed for success, from initial research to the final submission of the typescript. The courses are informal and fun.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE PROGRAMME
• Creating realistic characters
• Sustaining pace and conflict
• Packing emotional punch
• Writing sex scenes
• Crafting a satisfactory ending.
If you're just starting out writing romance, or you’ve written a manuscript or two but are not yet published and are interested in honing your skills, this course is for you.
For further information Contact Lois Bird-Maddox ‘Relax & Write’ Course Organiser
Further details: www.malagaworkshops.co.uk
There is a day visitor option, so contact the organiser for details...
I know that many of the writers, who attended Kate's workshop at my local writers' club, found it beneficial, giving them the confidence to start writing a romance, or for those already working on their stories to start submitting them.
Even if you can't go to a workshop like this weekend one, there are lots of one day workshops or courses being run by writers' groups and writing organisations in the UK.
Do look around for what's available, and book early- please don't leave it to the last week or few days - many organisers frequently have to pay room hire charges ahead of the date, and if there aren't enough bookings it can result in cancellation of the workshop.
(I speak from experience of organising workshops last year...)
If you do attend any workshops or courses, enjoy them, and put what you learn into practise; find what works for you and build upon it.
Happy New Year!!! :)
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/ http://freedigitalphotos.net
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