As author‘s, we spend our days roaming around imaginary worlds and directing imaginary characters through an imaginary story. Nothing is real, and yet, sometimes you may come across a character so lifelike in personality and behaviour that they almost jump off the page. But what makes a fascinating, believable and relatable character? How do weContinue reading “Character creation”
Category Archives: Plotting
How many words do I need?
When I first started on this journey, it never really occurred to me to wonder how long my book should be. As a school librarian I had a clear understanding of the difference between a lower middle grade (MG) and upper MG book, but still no real concept of chapter length or word count orContinue reading “How many words do I need?”
The Fantasy Series and the Middle-grade Reader
In a previous post, I discussed how fantasy fiction holds a strong draw for the middle-grade (MG) reader. As a school librarian, I always try to find the right book for every student, but sometimes finding the perfect book is easier said than done – especially when dealing with ambivalent readers or those that haveContinue reading “The Fantasy Series and the Middle-grade Reader”
Worldbuilding a fantasy series
Following on from my last post about getting your facts straight in an imaginary world, this post is all about building that world! So, what is worldbuilding? Well, in short, worldbuilding is the process of designing a fictional world that feels realistic and multidimensional. Every facet of a world, from its geography and landscape toContinue reading “Worldbuilding a fantasy series”
The Fantasy Setting
When writing a fantasy story – for kids and adults alike – the setting is key. Get it right and your story will spread its wings and transport your readers to a place they will never want to leave. So how do you create the perfect setting for your story?
The fantasy villain in children’s fiction
Sauron. Lord Voldemort. Need I say more? Every great hero needs a truly evil villain. Without them there’s no danger, nothing to lose, nothing to gain and no conflict the hero must overcome. Your story falls flat and your hero remains the slightly nerdy kid no one believes will amount to much.
The fantasy hero in children’s fiction
Harry. Matilda. Bilbo. Tris. Katniss. Unless you’ve been off planet or hiding under a rock for the last 20+ years, you will undoubtedly recognise at least a couple of these fantasy heroes and heroines. In children’s literature, the fantasy heroes and heroines are many and varied – each with their own personalities and back storyContinue reading “The fantasy hero in children’s fiction”
The Puuuuuuuurfect Literary Pet
Have you ever fallen hopelessly in love with a literary pet and wished they were yours? I have! Countless times! Why? Because, I’ve always loved animals, of all kinds. Cats top the list for me though. Yes, I am the crazy cat-lady! I have 4 cats – Harry, Nymeria Nymphadora, Brave and Oreo. The firstContinue reading “The Puuuuuuuurfect Literary Pet”
S.Veelo - Author 