June 2016 – Heidi James

Thoughts on Editing…

I’m still editing my next novel, So the Doves… of course.

Editing is the writing, all writing is rewriting. Right?

And you think it would be easier than writing the first draft. Shouldn’t it? The material is already there, you aren’t having to create a new world, new characters with complexities and drives and frailties and strengths. You’re not navigating the plot or wondering how to finish.

By now you’re polishing and smoothing, getting rid of excess, honing the language, teasing out the key dynamics of the scenes… aren’t you?

Except I’m not. I’m tinkering. I’m wrangling sentences till they dry and crumble. I’m beginning to hate my novel. I can’t see it clearly, and I feel lost in all the words. I’m too close. I read other authors and hold their work up as mirror against my own… and the reflection isn’t pretty. At all.

I want to give up.

Talking to other writers, my students and academics, I know I’m not alone here.

So what to do?

Take a break from it. Put it away, for at least a month.
Read, walk, walk TV, think, laugh. Live.
Don’t panic!
Share your work with trusted peers (even if you have a wonderful editor, like I have, I still like to get thoughts and constructive feedback from readers I trust and respect)
Print it out and read it through from start to finish. Don’t be tempted to start picking at it piecemeal.
Does it work as a whole? Any plot/structure problems to work on? Fix those first.
Read your feedback from peers/editor. Does it resonate? What will you incorporate into your edit?
Now open the doc, and start the edit – start on the big stuff (copy editing comes last)
Don’t compare your work to anyone else’s, you’ll feel miserable (or the opposite, cocky, which is worse) and it’s of no use to you now. This is your work, so it should be different.
Put it away again. Follow point 2. Let it rest.
Re-read..
How is it? I’m willing to bet it’s much better than you think…
But don’t be disheartened if you need to edit again, and again.
Writing is re-writing…
DON’T GIVE UP!

Onwards! Let me know how you get on…

Thoughts please…

So, the flash fiction challenge has finished having had some amazing (and I don’t say that lightly) stories shared with us all.

My questions are – was it helpful sparking inspiration? Did you enjoy it? Did enjoy reading the pieces?

And the main one – Shall we do it again soon? Different prompts etc?

Look out for the final pieces from the flash fiction challenge over the next few days. I’ll be featuring a chosen story and author from each of the challenges. You won’t be disappointed!

Have a good’un x

Flash Fiction Challenge #5

You’ve made it to the end of our challenge… How are you doing? Nailed it? Let’s see…

25 words please. TWENTY FIVE words only.

Your prompt? Four words you should never say…

Points to remember –

Make every word count. Carefully chosen details can convey more than long descriptions. Make your title pull its weight!

Post your piece with title and your name/pen name in the comments section

If you would like to offer feedback to other writer’s – do so respectfully.

Make sure I can contact you at the end of the challenge if you’d like your work promoted here.

Deadline for posts is the 28th of June

Flash Fiction Challenge #4

Now we’re really cooking on gas…

50 words please. FIFTY words only.

Your prompt? I only had one pair of …

Points to remember –

Make every word count. Carefully chosen details can convey more than long descriptions. Make your title pull its weight!

Post your piece with title and your name/pen name in the comments section

If you would like to offer feedback to other writer’s – do so respectfully.

Make sure I can contact you at the end of the challenge if you’d like your work promoted here.

Deadline for posts is the 26th of JUNE

Flash Fiction Challenge #3

Getting good at this, huh? Come on then…

Let’s make this a real challenge… 100 words please. ONE HUNDRED words only.

Your prompt? He/She/They couldn’t remember the last thing said, but….

Points to remember –

Make every word count. Carefully chosen details can convey more than long descriptions. Make your title pull its weight!

Post your piece with title and your name/pen name in the comments section

If you would like to offer feedback to other writer’s – do so respectfully.

Make sure I can contact you at the end of the challenge if you’d like your work promoted here.

Deadline for posts is the 24th of JUNE

Flash Fiction Challenge #2

Shall we go again? Feeling warmed up, limber and ready for action?

OK, 250 words please. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY words only.

Your prompt? No one should feel this happy…

Points to remember –

Make every word count. Carefully chosen details can convey more than long descriptions. Make your title pull its weight!

Post your piece with title and your name/pen name in the comments section

If you would like to offer feedback to other writer’s – do so respectfully.

Make sure I can contact you at the end of the challenge if you’d like your work promoted here.

Deadline for posts is the 21st of JUNE

Flash Fiction Challenge #1

Ready?

OK, 500 words please. FIVE HUNDRED words only.

Your prompt? A stranger came to town….

Points to remember –

Make every word count. Carefully chosen details can convey more than long descriptions. Make your title pull its weight!

Post your piece with title and your name/pen name in the comments section

If you would like to offer feedback to other writer’s – do so respectfully.

Make sure I can contact you at the end of the challenge if you’d like your work promoted here.

Deadline for posts is the 18th of JUNE

Flash Fiction Challenge…

All right then! Just back from teaching a course in Flash Fiction and it was so productive and interesting as a tool in developing as a writer that I thought it might be fun (and helpful) to run a challenge..

Here’s how it works –

The challenge is open to all

I’ll post a prompt and a word limit every two days, participants can then post their stories (1 per person per prompt!) in the comments section

Feel free to comment on the stories and offer CONSTRUCTIVE and helpful feedback

At the end, I’ll choose 5 writers to publish their pieces here on my site (and will promote them like crazy!)

You in??

Athens!

Just back from the glorious heat of Athens… a city dense with history and current political strife… In contrast, I was teaching a Flash Fiction course for KWS and the British Council, a style of literature that relies on brevity, and a light touch. I was spoilt by a week of great students, visits to the Acropolis, Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio and Aegina. I feasted, I read, I wrote, I walked… more to come from the writing… and discussed Flash Fiction.

Here are my top tips for writing Flash or Micro Fiction –

Every word counts.. so choose carefully, make every word pull its weight, either by suggestion, connotation or by cutting qualifiers or excessive adjectives/descriptors.

Begin mid-scene, in media res, with action or dialogue. Hit the ground running.

Don’t end on a punchline or revelation, unless you’re writing a joke… let the story unfold, meander and reveal itself in the mind of your reader…

Your title should add to the narrative.

Details are key; reveal character, place, emotional dynamics etc by using carefully chosen details that are evocative, remember it’s all about connotation.

All the above also applies to longer fiction!