Like any sensible writer, I always make sure I have a note pad to hand for those moments when inspiration strikes me unexpectedly. That’s something that happens often, which is very inconvenient because I’m rarely in a position to immediately follow up on any fabulous new idea by adding some flesh to the bare bones.
I recently started reading a huge biography of Benjamin Disraeli, the nineteenth-century British Prime Minister. Although I already knew that he penned a few novels in his time, I hadn’t realised how big a part writing played in his early life and the extent of his output.
I’ve been watching The Peripheral on Amazon. I do love a well-made sci-fi film or TV show and the quality of production and acting on this one are excellent. It’s on a Friday release schedule here in the UK and has thus given me a little something extra to look forward to on the last working day of the week.
There is just one problem, I’d already read the book, written by William Gibson.
I’ve an admission to make. I have too many books. The shelves in the study are bursting at the seams. Double-stacking is common. There are books under the bed, (cook) books in the kitchen, books in the spare bedroom, books in the loft. They’re everywhere. Things have gotten out of hand.
How often do you type a word or words into a search engine then ask the software why it has served up a load of random and irrelevant info, only to then notice you miskeyed?
I thought it might be interesting (for some) to share with you what I’ve actually been doing over the course of the last week with my author’s hat on. For one thing, you might be surprised at how many other things I need to do that don’t involve the delightful activity of writing.
It’s fair to say that not every day in authorland is a fabulous day. Sometimes things go wrong, occasionally completely wrong, and it’s not exactly unusual to find that you arrive at your desk of a morning with very little enthusiasm for putting words on the screen. (Must admit, it does sounds better when I say ‘putting words on paper’).
Although all of the characters in my books and a good many of the locations are made up by moi, I do often get inspiration from real life. With individuals it can sometimes be a particular habit someone has or their way of speaking, for example, and with locations it might be as simple as a particular setting that I like the look of.
Continue reading “Fictional Locations Hiding in the Real World”
I succumbed to temptation not long into the year and shelled out a not inconsequential amount of money on a mechanical keyboard to use with the laptop on which I do most of my writing. There’s a picture attached if you want to check it out.