BBC NEWS | UK | Audio slideshow: Eamonn McCabe – Writer’s Rooms
An insight into Writer’s rooms
December 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The creative returns from the wilderness
October 31, 2008 By Leave a Comment
It would be of interest if I was able to say that the reason for intermittent posts was due to a wayward muse or some life debilitating issue. But the truth will be told, I have been building, decorating and sorting out some deeper life issues, for the past few weeks and months. That isn’t to say they are all acceptable excuses for neglecting you all, but they are all reasonable.
Having said that, most of the building and decorating has been done to enable me to be in a more creative environment. I’ve been decluttering in as many areas as possible and the poor dustmen have been inundated with black sack after black sack. I’ve also recycled so much that I think the UK goverments target for paper recycling has been met twice over.
So the upshot is, I am back and !maginality will be cruising to its creative best over the next few days. And for all you writers out there, don’t forget that NaNoWriMo begins tomorrow. I’ll once again be attempting to complete, but this time I have done the preparation, to allow the inspiration to flow with a little less perspiration. May your creativity shine forth.
How to generate ideas for writing
August 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment
A great post over at Write to Done by Mary Jaksch of GoodlifeZen on generating ideas for writing. Follow the link below for some wonderful tips and ideas.
Zen Power Writing: 15 Tips on How to Generate Ideas and Write with Ease | Write to Done
The top three free creative pieces of software
August 13, 2008 By 1 Comment
Writing, art and music are three staple areas of creativity. There are plenty more but these three will often come out if you ask people what areas of creativity they are involved in. With this in mind I thought what tools are available to help people in these areas. In fact what software is available, and then, taking it a little further, what free software is there?
So I present to you the three pieces of software that IMHO are the three best, free programs for creative writing, digital art and making music. These are all available as Windows programs, and these are the ones I have used and tried, so if anyone want some add some MAC programs then please do.
Free writing software
When it comes to creative writing the best piece of software out there is the wonderful yWriter. A beautiful database that has been pulled together by a writer for his own use and shared with the whole world. The software is currently up to its fourth incarnation and allows you to create characters, scenes, chapters, notes and so on… there is far too much functionality to list here. It is far better than any other writing software package I have seen. if you want to write that novel, then yWriter is for you.
yWriter
Free art software
When it comes to free image software there is only one name to bother with. The open source Gimp project is photoshop on a budget. A budget that is so small it costs nothing. So you may think becasue it is free that it isn’t as good. Well it doesn’t come with all, the bells and whistles, but then that also means you don’t spend a whole day trying to work out why you can’t add a gradient fill to a shape (yeah, okay I used the manual in the end). The point is the Gimp gives you all and more than you may need. It is powerful and extendable. If you want to make some creative computer art then start here.
Gimp
Free music software
Again as above, when it comes to recording some music Audacity is in a world of its own. This is pro powered software. It will let you create loop-based music or record your own from scratch. It is extendable with plug-ins, of which there are many, and is so simple to use it is frightening.
Audacity
I do want to add an almost free package here. Well, it is free although technically you need to buy a magazine to get it. Computer Music magazine has been giving away a free music creation software suite of programs for several years now and it is fantastic. It can handle audio just like audacity but it is also a fully fledged VST (virtual intruments and effects) player and sequencer. In fact it comes with its own drum machine, sampler and effects. You can order a copy of the magazine, enjoy the content and ads and then fire up the superb music software. It even runs from a USB stick if you really want it to.
Computer Music
I hope you enjoy… go and create.
Do exactly as it says on the tin
March 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment
“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.”
George Orwell
NaNoWriMo 2007
October 31, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Just a quick note to wish everyone who has entered NaNoWriMo 2007 the best of luck. I too will be attempting to write at least 1,600+ words each day to complete a 50,000 word novel by the end of November.
And for those who don’t know what it is, you can find out by following the link.
Need a central resource for writing?
August 16, 2007 By 1 Comment
Found this wonderful link via Lifehacker and so if you are in need of writing Links and links for writers then you’d not go far wrong taking a look at this.
Five simple tips on how to get published
July 17, 2007 By 2 Comments
So you have lots of ideas, your creativity has gone into overdrive and you believe you can be a successful writer, and why not. The next stage, unless you are going to publish yourself (and that is not a bad idea, check out www.lulu.com), is to get your ‘book’ into the wide world. With this in mind I thought I’d share a few tips with you.
- Research your publisher. It is no good sending your ideas off to any and every publisher on the list. Find a publisher who has published similar books and also, if possible, ask them what their publishing policy is. What books do they publish, just in case you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
- Grab the publisher’s attention. A plain brown envelope, with a neat resume and outline is very fucntional, but believe me, you need to do a little more in order to get noticed. But remember subtlety works very well too.
- Send in a synopsis and two chapters. A publisher needs to know how you write, what you write and a little about you (only because they are nosey). Send in a couple of chapters but they don’t need to be the first two, perhaps the best chapters are hidden away within your tome.
- If you haven’t finished the book, estimate the time it will take and double it. It is highly likely that you’ll miss your estimated deadline and so build in some time. Then when you send it in ahead you’ll be loved and the you’ll know how long it really takes you to write without any added pressure.
- Write about what you know. It is no good writing about the history of voles if you know nothing about them. So research what you write. There is nothing more annoying to an editor than someone writing about something and getting it all wrong.
And remember, all these tips come from me, a publisher, so get going.
Sometimes it really does feel this way
July 13, 2007 By Leave a Comment
“A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people”
Thomas Mann
Five more top ingredients for compelling writing
July 3, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Seeing as the previous post of ‘Compelling writing ingredients’ was enjoyed by so many, I thought it only fair to return to the creative cookbook and find a few more ingredients you could add to your literary larder.
Remember, a good recipe doesn’t use all the ingredients you have all of the time, and sometimes the subtle flavour is more effective than the one that hits on the first mouthful. But enough of this extended metaphor, let’s get on with the post.
- Conflict – two or more characters, in disagreement, in any shape or form will draw the reader in! ‘No, it won’t.’ ‘yes, it will, your reader wants some kind of resolution… or the sequel.’
- Emotion – love, hate, joy and fear, if you can get the reader to engage with these emotions you’ll have them hanging on every word you write. Why do you think love and horror stories are so well read!
- Progress – a story, should move from A to B, it shouldn’t be static. Even waiting, as in for Godot, is progress; implied progress counts in writing if not in business.
- Variety of language – the use of passive vocabulary, which consists of words people know the meaning of, or understand in context, but don’t use everyday, is something to keep well stocked. Try eating the dictionary.
- Use your voice – all great cooks have a signature dish, or a specialty, as a writer you need to find an ingredient that is your own, unique to you. Sounds daunting but it is an ingredient you already have stocked, you simply need to use it.
So out with the utensils and start cooking. You have a story to write.
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