Fi Phillips

Wow, July is almost over and the school summer holidays are in full swing. There's so much going on but I've still managed to find some choice writing advice for you. The first is an article by Rae of Barely Hare Books - What is a Character Arc? And why does your character need one? The 'character arc' topic crops up time and time again in writing advice but Rae's article really breaks the notion down into an easy to follow read. Have a look. Following (a lot of) changes to my novel, I'm struggling to come up with a new book title so I found How to title a book: What do good book titles have in common? by the folks at Reedsy really useful. As you know, I'm taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo this month and as part of their Camp Care Package, they provide some brilliant writing advice videos. Here's one on interviewing your character. And here's another on World Building.

I haven't posted photo inspiration for a few months now (sorry about that) so I thought I'd return to it with a summer shot. This is a seaside telescope, all ready for someone to pop in a coin and have a look. Who do you think might use this? Are they alone? What are they looking for? What do they see through the lens?

I'm on the countdown to the school summer holidays and I know that once my two are at home all day, my writing time will be eaten into by trips out and requests for food, drinks or to watch one of their latest animations or memes. So advice on how to keep writing thoughout those six weeks is always welcome. Julia Munroe Martin's article on Writer unBoxed, Survival Pack or How to Keep Writing No Matter What is ideal. And just as a little extra for you this month, Em Lynas' article Who Is Driving Your Story? is well worth a read. Have a look.

A foreboding entrance or a gothic welcome? What do you think? I found this gateway whilst on holiday with my family. What story could this lead to?

 

It's the second day of July and the sun has returned. Not only that, but it's also Friday. Having drastically reduced my sleeping hours this week to get the Murdering The Text website finished, I think that today I deserve a break. I still have school runs and housework to do but just for an hour this morning, I'll treat myself to a book in the garden. After yesterday's rainy day reading, I feel like something different today. I want something optimistic, upbeat and funny. On my bookshelves, the first book that jumps out at me on this sunny Friday is Julian Clary's Murder Most Fab . Clary's fictional character, Johnny Debonair (TV's Mr Friday Night) reveals his rise to fame and descent into infamy in his revealing memoir, taglined 'You'd kill to be that famous'. It's delightfully wicked, as naughty as Clary's TV persona and very funny. My next purchase will be his second novel, Devil in Disguise Poetry is a skill that evades me but I sti...