Fi Phillips

2013 is almost here, bringing with it the chance to start something new. How do you feel about that? Excited? Worried? Brimming over with ideas? Or are you simply carrying on as before? A lot of people will and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll still be making the weekly trips to school with my children, cooking, cleaning, paying bills and writing (of course). Some things never change. And yet, to take this opportunity of a new year as an inspiration to start at least some things afresh seems to me to be a gift that we should prize. Call it new year resolutions or turning a page, but the act of re-creating something, anything can be just what we need in the middle of the winter. The Words on my Blank Page 1. On 1st January, I start a new diary, literally a new blank page to be filled with the multitude of words in my head. 2. Once my husband has returned to work and the children to school, I'll start work on the third draft of my novel. I've spent the fest

No Tuesday Choice Words for you today. Instead I have a wonderful quote from the film, The Christmas Nutcracker, that I think sums up the life of a writer perfectly. "My work is merely showbusiness. You supply all the magic." Have a wonderful festive season.

Years ago (decades actually), I attended a writing class run by a local poet, Pat Borthwick. I was the youngest attendant by far. Pat's classes centred around using our life experience and memories as a subject and basis for our writing. Homework would often require us to tap into our life - one Sunday morning, a poem using symbols to describe a loved one, a holiday memory. The others in the class, including Pat herself, had a wealth of experiences to call on and I quickly came to realise how describing what some might consider to be a mundane act could often lead to a fascinating read. By comparison, my own life experience seemed, if not boring, then limited and pale. I felt I had few memories to offer up that would make for an entertaining tale. Move on around ten years and I started to write murder mystery plays for the am dram group I was part of. Based around a known cast and a familiar stage, what started as a way to fund a hobby quickly turned into a business I loved (an

Altering the Quality of Time in Your Novel from Live Write Thrive talks about the use of time in your writing. Why Stories Should Never Begin At The Beginning from Terrible Minds discusses where to start your story. Too Much of a Good Thing: Over Plotting Your Novel from The Other Side of the Story talks about striking a balance when plotting your novel. The Not-So-Long Goodbye from Live Write Thrive discusses how to write the ending of your novel. Writing Rewards from diy MFA is just what we need at this time of year.

When I studied business studies at college (seemed like a good idea at the time), my least favourite subject was economics. I got it. I understood the theory. That wasn't the problem. It bored me. I appreciated the relevance of the subject on my course and the importance of economics in the running of the world. It just wasn't my kind of thing. Our lecturer was a serious, young woman who was obviously very knowledgeable on her subject. She and I never really hit it off. During one class, she asked us to write down what our three favourite television programmes were. I think she hoped that we would exhibit our maturity by making choices such as the news or Question  Time (political discussion), or other such, sensible and serious viewing options.My list included Robin of Sherwood (hence the image above), the cartoon He-Man and some other fantastical programme that I can't recall at this time. She read through our choices and upon reaching mine uttered the words that I

Worldbuilding Revisited, part 1   and part 2  are the latest posts in David B Coe's On Writing and Creativity series on the Magical Words site. How to Write a Killer Logline from diy MFA explains how to dig down to the core of your story. Write the book you would want to read, not the one you believe you should write is a post on Galleycat by Mona Zhang. #Hashtags GALORE! from Stacy Green discusses the use of hashtags on Twitter and some useful, related services.

And finally, Angry Birds 'and' Christmas lights.

Prolificness and why we should never say should is the latest podcast from Iain Broome in discussion with novelist, Emma Newman. Letting Creative Ideas Percolate by Geoff Hoff, the Creativity Expert, outlines a creative method that I use all the time. The Opposite of Eavesdropping from diy MFA is a writing prompt that suits me fine as a people watcher. The Info-Dump Scene from Magical Words discusses how to reveal information in a way that doesn't drown the text of your novel. How to Escalate Conflict in Your Novel by guest author C J Redwine on The Other Side of the Story discusses the different factors of and approaches to conflict in your writing.