A Novel Game

A Novel Game

There are many types of fiction out there for all to enjoy. The newest of the genres, I think, is Computer Game fiction. Is it a good idea to turn a game into a novel? I know there are many examples of this, one of which is the Assassins Creed series. Where all five possibly six games have been converted into the world of words. Is this just a chance for the games production companies to cash in on their fan-base or do the fans genuinely love to read about a story they’ve already played and completed, therefore knowing the story anyway? I know with films, everyone says that there’s more story and more detail in the book but is it the same case for a game? A feature length film goes on for approximately two hours, where as a computer game can take an enormous amount of time. My brother is playing a game at the moment and has spent over 100 hours playing it. Could you get 100 hours of game-play into a novel or are you cutting out some of the story? If you’re playing for over 100 hours, could the extra stuff all be rather superfluous?

But on the flipside what about the books that were turned into games? Naturally the first that springs to mind is Lord of the Rings. The only problem there is that the books were turned into films, and the games are based on the films and not the books, so it’s not a good example. But still, if a fan enjoyed the novel enough to play the game, surely it should work the other way around? If you’ve already read the book, then you already know what’s going to happen. The difference is that you are the one making it happen. Maybe that’s the fascination with turning games into books? Maybe people want to read about the characters and how they interact without a player guiding them?

I’m not sure about the whole thing. I’ve only read one or two of these books and personally they’re not for me. What does everyone else think? Let me know. Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

Back in the Game

Back In The Game

I have just had a week off from working on my novel. It was planned as I knew there were going to be a lot of things that needed doing, but now I’m finding it difficult getting my head back in the game, as it were.

I don’t normally have this problem as all it takes is an early morning walk and a cup of coffee and I’m raring to go. On this occasion however, possibly due to the clocks changing and the weather behaving badly, I cannot motivate myself to go walking, or do anything else that normally helps get my mind in gear.  I know that writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, if you believe the cliché, but I cannot push myself enough to perspire for my book. I love writing, every aspect of it, all the challenges and the rewards equally, but when Im writing, it’s like I can’t be bothered to do it. Normally if I start to feel this way, I’ll take a break for a day or two then come back fresh faced, but I’ve just come back from a break.

Do any of you come across this? If so, how do you counter-act it? I know this won’t last forever, but I don’t want to continue writing while in this frame of mind otherwise it’ll reflect in my work and read more like an obituary than a entertainment.

Let me know what you think. Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

Provocative Prose

Provocative Prose

Romance novels are one of the most abundant in the literary world and let’s face it; the authors of these novels must have a good grasp of the English language to tell a good romance without constantly clinging to clichés. But these entanglements are not solely relegated to the romantic genre; most novels have at least some form of relationship in them. Whether it is of the eros or agape is up to the author, but they do appear in most novels. They give a human dimension to an otherwise genre specific tale.

But how far do we go to include the human emotion? Do we only show that to characters show an attraction? Do they go on a date? Does one propose to the other? Or do we get far more provocative than that? It is allowed to have a little eroticism to interest the reader no matter what the genre. But how far is too far?

I have read historical comedies by P.G. Wodehouse where the height of romanticism was where an old woman doted upon her pet poodle, and thrillers by James Herbert Where a couple have all their kit off and the author describes the reproductive systems in detail. I enjoyed both, but were both necessary? What do you think, was James Herbert pandering to his audience using smut, or was he giving the same attention to detail to eroticism as to his gore? Therefore pushing the story along without a break in narrative? But P.G. Wodehouse doesn’t mention sex at all, or at least very little. Is this a deliberate attempt to de-sexualize the characters, and keep the mindless drunk playboy image a silly and innocent one?

Then we have all heard of, if not read ‘50 Shades of Grey’. Which I believe is read by women for the sexual thrill, and by men for the sexual tips. But what do you think? Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

Generating Genres

Generating Genres

One question I would like to ask other authors is why they chose their genre? Or Maybe they didn’t, maybe they were asked to write about a particular subject and found that they were good at it? I write murder mysteries, or crime novels, because that’s what interests me. I love to read a mystery and try to figure out ‘Who Dunnit?’ but I love writing them even more. I enjoy the challenge of trying to puzzle the reader and yet conclude the same story with a sense of, “Oh that’s how they did it?”

So I know why I write my chosen genre, it’s a fun and challenging one to attempt. But what about you guys? What do you prefer? Do you like to read the same subject as you write, or do your reading tastes vary from your writing tastes? I have wondered about this for some time, as it also affects artists and musicians. I’ve spoken to members of rock bands who like listening to pop, high profile rappers who listen to Mozart in their spare time and professional portrait painters who only hang landscapes in their home. I find this kind of cross-genre culture liberating. It means we are not bound by what we do; we are what we enjoy. We enjoy painting someone’s family, but enjoy looking at the surrey hills. Performing heavy metal, but listening to R ‘n’ B. Do we do this on purpose, to separate work from pleasure? Or is it that we like doing what we’re good at and enjoying what we’re not?

This thought still puzzles me, but I would love to know other’s ideas on this subject. Please read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

Writing TV

Writing T.V

The differences between writing a novel and writing a script are too numerous to mention in one blog, but it is said that we cannot write one with the hopes that it’ll turn into the other. The obvious fault is when people write a novel with the idea of it becoming a TV show or film; the problem being that when we do this, we inadvertently miss certain details that help set the scene. Of course why would we need to write that the office was dark and dank when people will be able to see that fact on telly? Not only that, but the novel can often be read like stage directions, dull and lifeless. Instead of guiding the imagination in the direction you’d like it to go, you’re directing it to where you want it. Both very similar but with one main difference; guiding influences and entertains whereas directing pushes with little respect or interest for the reader.

This may sound like a lecture, but it’s not, honestly. If you want to write for TV or the big screen, or even the stage, then script writing may be more to your tastes. Don’t let anyone tell you that writing a screenplay is easy, or a cheat’s way of writing. There are many challenges that await the budding scriptwriter including timing and the aforementioned stage directions. In a novel we can paint the picture of the scene using a cacophony of adjectives, but a playwright can only use dialogue. This brings me to the unobvious fault, when people write a script hoping it would be converted to a novel at a later date. If this is done, then the opposite of what I said above could happen. Setting the scene would be in the directions, but the dialogue would suffer. The prose used by actors that should move the story forward would be forgotten or ignored, and what looks good on paper would be dreary and boring with no presence on screen.

If you would like your novel to be adapted at a later date for the screen, then write the novel first without thought for the television. Once the novel is written and edited to your satisfaction,  (and that of the publisher) then you can write the screenplay or script, adapting the story for viewing. These are just my thoughts and you may disagree. I would be very interested to hear what you have to say.

Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

Novel Distractions

Novel Distractions

One thing all writers hate is distractions. Once we get into the flow of things; the ‘Writers Trance’ as it were, we` do not like to be interrupted. But different things distract different people. I am unfortunate that my office is also my bedroom where all my things are kept. Now the things don’t distract me, not at all, but I have two pet bearded dragons whom I love dearly, but every once in a while they get into an agitated mood, and nothing I do can pacify them. When they are like this, they like to scratch their vivarium walls and make an irritating ‘nails on a chalkboard’ noise. It’s very distracting. I stop writing to give them some play time, let them spend their excess energy and then put them back, but they still go at it. I have had them out for hours at a time and it makes no difference. They are just in that mood, so I have to leave them to it. It does mean that I cannot write, because I cannot concentrate, and the ‘Writers Trance’ becomes very elusive.

I live near Heathrow airport and have the planes flying over head constantly. Everybody who lives near an airport will tell you that you just don’t notice the noise, double glazing helps. When I am tired, I notice everything; the planes overhead, the radio down stairs, the scratching of beloved family pets and interruptions from once loved family members. These distractions rarely register and I can continue happily without disruption to my daily routine, but when fatigue sets in for whatever reason; that’s when disturbances can have an impact on your work.

My Tip: Take a break, even if it means taking a break all day. It’s hard for a writer to do that I know. But trust me, if you power through despite the distractions, then the work you produce will not be up to standard.

There is an exception to the rule. That is where the distraction is a welcome one. If you have a hobby or interest, then the odd break from routine can be good for you and you enjoy it more. You feel refreshed and ready to start work again. I love writing, cannot get enough of it. But I must break it up sometimes; otherwise I begin to go potty. (Thats crazy by the way, not toilet.) Tell me what drives you to distraction when you are trying to write.

 Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x

NaNoWriMo

 

NaNoWriMo

“Oh My God NaNoWriMo is just over 2 weeks away and I’ve done no prep!” At the risk of sounding like Michael Winner; calm down, there’s no need to panic. You don’t need to plan anything if you don’t want to. I plan everything ahead of time, but that’s because it’s how I do it. You may have a story in mind that you want to put to paper, so when NaNo-thingy comes around, just start writing it. You may surprise yourself and find the story develops well on its own.

But if you are like me and have to plan everything, you do still have a fortnight to do so. It’s not the end of the world and you don’t have to rush. Relax, put pen to paper and decide on your story, your characters, your setting etc...You’ll be fine. You may realize aspects to the story you haven’t even thought of yet. If you don’t start on the 1^st November, not a problem, just start the next day, or the day after, there’s no rules or regulations to follow. Just write the novel you want to write and enjoy doing it. Because if you don’t enjoy writing it, then what’s the point? I began writing my new novel mid-September and didn’t wait for NaNo-thingy, admittedly because I didn’t know it existed. There’s no time limit, no word count and certainly no deadline, (Unless you’re lucky enough to have a guaranteed publisher before you’ve even started writing.).

I think NaNo-thingy is mainly there to help un-seasoned writers to escape that hideous monster; Procrastination! Having an idea for a story is one thing, but getting the effort to start writing can be very difficult for those who’ve not done it before. It also takes a little courage. There’s always that little voice that says, “What if no-one likes it?” and “How do I start?”, but don’t listen to them. Someone will like your book and someone else won’t. Everyone’s different like that, so don’t be offended if a romantic doesn’t like your tale of horror, or vice versa. Sorry for the heavily over used cliché, but start at the beginning, It’s where most good stories begin.

As for my casual use of ‘NaNo-thingy’ instead of ‘NaNoWriMo’, I’m not trying to belittle it in any way, I think it’s fantastic, I’m just too lazy to type the latter everytime. So tell me what you think.

Read, follow, comment and enjoy. M x