Monday 28 February 2011

Extreme acting Christian Bale style




Extreme acting to me is when an actor takes extreme measures in order to play a role. I thought it would be an interesting topic, so I wrote a piece on it for Shadowlocked 

Wondered who I’ve managed to miss out? You see, the trouble with lists as that you ALWAYS manage to leave someone out.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Craving human flesh! Yikes!

Just doing some research for my book, Living Cruelty Free, which I’ve just agreed to write for Greatest Guides. This is a subject I am really passionate about, as I've been a vegetarian for 25 years. The book is scheduled for release in December 30th, 2011.

I came across a page that had ‘craving human flesh. Please help!’ written at the bottom of it.

Did I miss the zombie invasion, or what?

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Should all story loose ends be tied up in your novel?



That’s the quandary I have right now. I am at the stage with my first full length novel, Vile City, where I am doing the final edit before trying to get it published.

My story concerns three women who have been abducted in Glasgow. Whilst the whereabouts of one is well known as it’s her story that makes up about a third of the book, the fate of the other two isn’t.

What have I decided? At the moment I am starting to think that in real life things are not always tied up nicely in a wee bow. Sometimes there is no clear resolution or closure.

But should a novel give readers the closure they might not get in real life? If they don’t, will they be left feeling cheated?

What do I do? My mind keeps going back and forth like a tennis ball hit by an angry Andy Murray.

When I did a quick search on the Internet about this, these are the ones I looked at -

Sunday 13 February 2011

Working on the dreaded synopsis...

and I am slowly going insane. I would rather walk over broken glass than write a synopsis. But they are essential to sell a book to a publisher or agent. They tell them what the book is about and let them know what to expect. 

I posted on the Writers' News Talkback site and other writers have been very helpful with their advice.

Maybe I will master the nightmare that is the synopsis before I tear my hair out.



In the meatime, I have found author Lisa Gardiner's site to be a great help. Visit her Conquering the Dreaded Synopsis series of articles here - http://lisagardner.com/writers-toolbox.

Friday 11 February 2011

Wish I was this bright eyed and bushy tailed...

But, after a night working away into the wee small hours, I am currently lying in a crumpled heap.

Thursday 10 February 2011

Crime Scenes

It's important to get things right when you're writing a novel. That's why crime scene pics can be a good idea.

As Vile City opens, Shelley Craig has just got off the bus with her boyfriend Stuart. He goes down an alleyway to relieve himself and when he hasn't returned minutes later she goes looking for him. That's when she is abducted.





Thanks go to my crime scene snapper.

Here's the video.

Friday 4 February 2011

Is it a UFO?

Today the weather has been pretty wild on our island of the Isle of Cumbrae. Howling gales and sweeping rain.




And we spotted a UFO...




Well, kind of.



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