Authors Electric

My first picture book - first published 2007 At the beginning of the year I decided to set myself some goals. A few of these goals are linked to my writing. The first one was to get at least one picture book traditionally published or at least a contract signed. So, in order to set the ball rolling I decided to go through my computer files and put all my half written stories and story ideas in one place. A few hours later I'd rediscovered: 10 picture books - written to first or second draft stage 25 picture book ideas - some sketched out whilst others are just a few bullet points 4 fantasy stories for young confident readers - two have chapters sketched out whilst the other two are just a jumble of ideas. 1 young adult story - jumbled ideas only 3 steam punk stories for confident readers - one has each chapter sketched out 1 kids TV show - ideas for the first five episodes are sketched out 3 short stories for adults - the type you get in magazines 4 novel ideas for ...

I know the skills of researching have been discussed on Authors Electric before, for example: Research: How much is enough? And how much do you use? written by Chris Longmuir It's Research: But Not as we Know it written by Wendy H. Jones and You can't throw that away; it's research! written by Jane Adams Sings or chirps by rubbing its wings together  But in this post I wanted to share some of the research I've recently undertaken. I've carried out this research for two reasons: One Last summer I took part in a workshop that explored how to include the five senses in your writing. Two Not wanting to waste what I'd learned I decided I'd attempt to include the five senses more in my latest work in progress. This current project is a set of short stories that take place on on my favourite, but fictional place Moon Meadow Farm. For this first round of research I decided I'd focus on one sense, this being sound. Now, being January there ...

My first traditionally published picture book featuring a hedgehog and mouse I started writing non-fiction 20 years ago and I continue to write non-fiction magazine features to this day.   I've always strived to write features that are as accurate as possible. Even though I know (I heard it on the TV programme QI, so it must be true) that facts normally have a shelf life of five years. This desire to get facts correct crosses over into my picture book and short story writing. I've had many a discussion with editors on getting the 'facts' right. I understand in my picture and short story collections we're dealing with talking animals or creatures that don't exist. However, having studied environmental geography at university I prefer to try to ensure the life science elements of a story are as real as possible. For example in my first picture book ( A Book For Bramble ) Bramble the hedgehog is hibernating under an upturned wheel barrow. This is ba...

I've just been tagged in a Blog Hop meme by Susie Kelly via Victoria Corby called The Next Big Thing - French Twist. A Q&A about current work in progress. It looks great  and I want to participate, I will participate. But it's a long time since I wrote about writing. Problem is, it's a long time since I wrote at all despite all recent good intentions. I have 3 WIPs to complete, selecting one to revisit will, I'm sure, help in the mission to get back to writing. It brings it all back, in a good way, as to what it's all about. My happiest writing times were the pre-publishing hoo ha years of creative writing classes, mostly short stories, a bit of poetry. No pressure beyond getting the words right enough to read out loud, listening to others and entering a few competitions. Like many of those who were to become my friends on the courses, I dreamt of one day being able to write what I wanted to write, publish how I wanted to publish - .....oh hang on? So what...