This is a Blog written by myself, Ian Fenwick, the founder of Write Time Freelance Writers. I want to make this site a valuable resource, not only for my customers old and new, but for all budding writers out there in their lonely realms. I will try to offer any advice or free fiction tips that i find interesting, and I welcome comments and feedback. Please do feel free to contact me about the blog or anything else pertaining to the website. I like to network with people, in particular other writers.
I may also post previously unpublished articles and review on here from time to time. This can sometimes be because i couldn't find a market for them, but usually they're just my own ramblings that were probably never meant to see the light of day!
I've redesigned my website to a certain degree. I've changed around text in order to increase SEO (that strange and mystical force no-one really understands), and i've also added some examples of my work. There are two essays available to read, and they will be published in harback very soon.
I've also provided an example of a small article so that if you're considering hiring me you'll get the idea of what i can do. This was a very cheap article to write; didn't take long at all, and you can get one like it yourself for as little as £15.
Anyway, take a look around and let me know if you want me for anything.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate another writer and promote his book Nothing Without a Woman.
Les Hansom is a writer of Literary Erotica, and for anyone interested in this genre, he has a wonderful website, with free XXX Stories and an excellent blog.
This isn't my thing really, but i admire the man's strengths; and he also gave me a little feature on his blog (what are friends for?) Cheers Les! He is an excellent writer, and like myself he also offers his services for hire.
Check out Les Hansom's website for a great erotic story writer!
Samuel L. Jackson returns to the movies with Jumper, another rather disappointing choice of script; as if Snake on a Plane wasn’t bad enough for him. He co-stars alongside Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen, who unfortunately seems to have developed poorly as an actor, and continues to deliver unconvincing, rather confused looking acting throughout the movie.
The concept is good, it has all the Sci-Fi elements needed to keep an audience marvelling at the superhuman protagonist, what he can do and how he came to be. However, we are a 21st century audience and sadly do not need to be impressed every 30 seconds or so. Once we have identified with the fact that this protagonist can jump in and out of bank vaults, shoot off to: Egypt, Tokyo, London, Rome, or wherever else takes his fancy, then the idea gets a little boring. I think the word on everyone’s lips will be overkill.
Weak acting, script and plot, left this movie with little else other than the special effects, which to be fair are very good indeed. Although sadly, the balance between script, plot and effects is something that the 21st century filmmaker needs to work on considerably. It is no longer enough to dazzle the audience and sacrifice the logical development of character. I was left unconcerned about what was going to happen, what had already happened, or any of the main characters, least of all the dreadfully pathetic female protagonist played by Diane Lane.
I see this movie as a missed opportunity. It could have been made much more interesting with around half the amount of special effects. This time would have been better used to develop the characters and plot, and given the actors much more to work with. The movie needed time to evolve on the screen. This could be the launch of a host of spin offs, but if so it has fallen short of the mark in setting a standard. I remain really quite unimpressed and do not await a sequel, TV show or anything else for that matter. Jumper left me restless and in want of something more. The fact that Jumper was classified as a 12A is not an excuse to fill it full of unnecessary action that just patronises, and insults the intelligence of 12 year-olds. I have a daughter who would have been equally as dissatisfied as me.
My local postman Collin Rothwell lost his son before Christmas. Grant died in his sleep quite suddenly as a result of an epileptic fit.
There is a charity called Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and it was formed around ten years ago to help research for those at risk, to raise awareness, and to ease the suffering of those bereaved by events as sad as this.
Collin Rothwell is a fit man, he has to be to be a postman these days, and he is going to run the London Marathon in his son's memory.
He is very brave, and deserves as much support as we can give him. Please take the time to sponsor Collin's run and donate some money to SUDEP. It really will count!
This article is the second of two parts detailing some tips for beginners on starting to write a novel/story.
Voice/Viewpoint
It's time to move on from characters, plot and setting. Now you need to make some decisions about the narrator(s).
There is a difference between focalizers and narrators.
Decide which characters you want to focalize your story thought
whose thoughts are we going to access?
Whose head are we going in?
Whose eyes are we going to see the story through (this can be one or more characters?
Decide on the narrator. This will be related to your focalizer but will not necessarliy be the same.
You could have a 3rd person omniscient narrator, focalized through one or two characters.
You could have a 1st person adult narrator, focalized through the eyes of themself as a child.
Opening
Think about a good opening. Consider your favourite novels/stories.
Make a plan for how your narrative will open.
What will be the first event?
What will be the first image you want to show the reader?
Do you want to start at the end and then use analepsis to return to the beginning later on?
Now write approximately the first 300 words. Don't think too much about it, don't edit it, just do it.
Read it over and make any necessary changes which strike you immediately.
Now show it to someone else. If you want to write good fiction then you need to be receptive to criticism, and able to act on. Find someone honest and preferably ruthless!
