Trevor's Writing

Writers and discouragement

No Comments »15th May, 2009; Category: General

Writing can be a very discouraging occupation at times. Much of the time actually. I went through a period of many months a few years ago when I had a string of rejections – 30 of them in a row. It almost brought me to the point of quitting.

But like my need to breathe, I need to write.

So I kept on writing and submitting stories, poems and articles. I kept posting on my blogs. Soon the income from my blogs increased and soon I started getting my writing accepted again. I’m pleased I didn’t give up. The most recent 30 submissions have seen 18 acceptances. Now that’s a better acceptance/rejection ratio.

My most recent publication success came this week with the arrival of a complementary copy of a magazine which included a suite of five sonnets I had written. That’s more encouragement, and I really needed that because I’m going through a few tough health issues at present.

Never quit.

Keep on writing.

Good writing.

What I am reading: Iqbal: a novel

No Comments »3rd May, 2009; Category: Books, Fiction, Novels, Reviews, Writing a novel

My supervising lecturer let me borrow several novels to read which she thought might give me some ideas and insights about writing a novel set in a troubled country. The first of these was set in Pakistan.

Iqbal: a novel written by Francesco D’Adamo is based on the real life story of Iqbal Masih. Iqbal was sold into slavery at an early age, along with many other young children. They were put to work in appalling conditions in factories. This story follows the experiences of a hardworking group of children in a carpet factory. Iqbal inspires the other children to believe that they can be free of their slavery one day, despite the harshness and cunning of their master.

I found this book to be both inspiring and disturbing. It is disturbing because it is based on a true story. It is a fictionalized account of what actually happened. Child abuse and slavery continues today in many countries. I also found it inspiring to think that totally disempowered children can still be taught to dream – and then act upon their dreams.

While this story has no direct bearing on what I will be writing about in my thesis novel, it was still a valuable piece of background reading. My protagonist, a twelve year old boy caught in the civil war in Nepal, must dare to dream of a country where freedom and peace exist, despite the evidence of conflict all around. I need to let him dream of that place. Then I will need to engineer the plot to allow that to happen.

Reference:

D’Adamo, Francesco, 2001: Iqbal: a novel. Aladdin Paperbacks, New York.

Writing a novel – a writer’s journal part 8

No Comments »1st May, 2009; Category: Writing a novel

Writing Hannah: on writing for children by Libby Gleeson

This is an unusual writing book. It is not your usual run-of-the-mill writing book. While the Australian author Libby Gleeson does deal in passing with various aspects of writing – structure, style, dialogue, rewriting and so on – her prime focus is on the actual process of writing a short novel for young children; a bit like I am attempting to do in this series of articles. One major focus was how her novel fitted into being the third in a series featuring Hannah, the main character. My focus is purely on a stand alone book – or will I turn it into a series too? Mmmm – food for thought!

In a very real sense, her book is very similar to what I am attempting to do on this blog, documenting the process of writing a novel. In part she is also teaching other writers how to write a novel. She includes discussions (with herself) on the many decisions a writer needs to make along the way. She explains why she did certain things with her novel and these are elements other writers can be well advised to follow.

On the other hand, it is more than an instruction and teaching book about writing: it takes the reader on a journey of discovery with the author. We are taken along the pathway which highlights the author’s thinking and writing process.

Fascinating reading.

Reference:

Gleeson, L, 1999: Writing Hannah: on writing for children. Hale and Ironmonger, Alexandria, N.S.W.

Further reading in this series:

Writing a novel – a series of articles about how I went about writing a novel.

Writing a Novel – a writer’s journal part 7

2 Comments »29th April, 2009; Category: Fiction, Novels, Writing a novel

Present Tense – or Past Tense

One of the important considerations I have encountered while writing my novel is that of tense. Stories and novels are written in either past tense or present tense. (As an aside, there is also future tense but very little fiction is written this way because of the inherent technical difficulties it presents.)

I most often write in the past tense. Much fiction is written in this way. Past tense is probably the easiest – and safest – tense in which to write a story or novel.

Example: Frank walked casually along the path and rang the door bell.

I also use present tense in my writing. Many other writers also use this tense. This tense is more challenging to write, but it can bring to the story an immediacy and an urgency which heightens the tension or adds to the dramatic effect.

Example: Frank walks casually along the path and rings the door bell.

I started my novel in the past tense, third person (see my article on point of view here). On the suggestion of one of my lecturers and a fellow student, I rewrote the entire first chapter in the first person, changing it also to the present tense. I was quite pleased with the result – but not convinced that this is the way I will go for the whole novel.

In fact, subsequent chapters have been written in the third person, past tense. I keep telling myself that it would not be a huge job to rewrite the whole story in another tense or point-of-view. If I did decide to go down this track, however, I would have to guard against accidental changes in POV or tense. Whatever path I choose, I must be consistent. That’s where meticulous editing will come into play.

Related articles:

Writing a novel – a writer’s journal

Good writing.

Poem #42: Anzac Cove

15 Comments »25th April, 2009; Category: Poetry

Anzac Cove

And then –

Young hearts and heads adventure filled
Were drawn to other lands by those
Whose fear, concern or hatred fueled
Through actions – bold, aggressive foes.

On ships they came upon that shore
With brave anticipation high.
A storm of lead hit to the core
And took young men without a sigh.

That stain of blood spread o’er the beach
As brave young lives cut short and lost
So far from home, in senseless reach
For peace – elusive, at what cost?

And now –

At Anzac Cove, a company
Of young Australians out to seek
And fashion their own destiny –
A solemn, silent, vigil keep.

The people of Australia and New Zealand celebrate their war heroes on this day, April 25th. The date commemorates the landing of our soldiers at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It is now known as Anzac Cove. Tens of thousands of pilgrims – many of them young people – gather for the dawn service there every year. It has become a sacred, significant and moving ceremony for those who make the journey. The dawn service is also a feature of celebrations throughout both nations, together with marches through towns and cities everywhere.

Mt Macedon War Memorial

Note: this poem was originally posted on ANZAC Day 2008. I am republishing it on ANZAC Day 2009.

LEST WE FORGET.