David Swattridge's Blog
September 17, 2017
Ending a Novel
“I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.”
― Robert Frost
I have never agreed with a quote so much as this by Robert Frost. When working in sales and marketing, presentations had a start, middle, and end. I've discovered that when writing a novel, these principles do not apply.
The START
The first line, is an inspiration. The first 100 pages are hard work. As Hemingway wrote - “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
The MIDDLE
The ensemble write this. Their lives direct the story. You are simply their tool.
The END
Is unknown to me until very close to the actual end. It's a bit like a SatNav which takes you up a goat track. It looks like she's gone mad, but you get to where you wanted to go.
NEVER TRY TO PLAN AN END WHEN YOU START
― Robert Frost
I have never agreed with a quote so much as this by Robert Frost. When working in sales and marketing, presentations had a start, middle, and end. I've discovered that when writing a novel, these principles do not apply.
The START
The first line, is an inspiration. The first 100 pages are hard work. As Hemingway wrote - “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
The MIDDLE
The ensemble write this. Their lives direct the story. You are simply their tool.
The END
Is unknown to me until very close to the actual end. It's a bit like a SatNav which takes you up a goat track. It looks like she's gone mad, but you get to where you wanted to go.
NEVER TRY TO PLAN AN END WHEN YOU START
September 15, 2017
Including Friends in the Story?
I've found, that giving characters names, features (Physical), mannerisms, habits (Good & Bad), history, relationships (Good & Bad), illnesses, and anything else which benefits the story, of people I have known in the past, know now, and relatives, can have consequences which are GOOD & BAD. As yet, all have been ok. The key is telling them. If not told, they don't recognise themselves, and if told, seem in the main, to be happy to have their ego a little inflated.
"Do I really do that?" "I remember saying that?" "Thanks for including him, I hated him?" ............
Including everything above from yourself, is much easier to do. Just make sure not to include anything you want to be kept secret.
“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”
― Ernest Hemingway
"Do I really do that?" "I remember saying that?" "Thanks for including him, I hated him?" ............
Including everything above from yourself, is much easier to do. Just make sure not to include anything you want to be kept secret.
“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”
― Ernest Hemingway
September 12, 2017
Grammar & Punctuation ???
Do you need to understand good grammar and punctuation to write a book??
As a new writer, I can assure you that you don't. If you worry about whether it's a comma, semi-colon, or colon that's needed for anyone to understand the story, then you'll never get beyond the first page. Just get down the words on the 'paper'. Thank God publishers have blessed authors with great proof readers.
When I started writing, I worried too much about italics, brackets, ellipsis, commas, and a list a mile long of rules ... and not enough about the story.
Despite everything I've written above, I gave in and bought a book yesterday 'My Grammar and I'???
One thing is for sure. It's NOT going to make me stop writing, but it's probably worth understanding some of the rules of the game.
As a new writer, I can assure you that you don't. If you worry about whether it's a comma, semi-colon, or colon that's needed for anyone to understand the story, then you'll never get beyond the first page. Just get down the words on the 'paper'. Thank God publishers have blessed authors with great proof readers.
When I started writing, I worried too much about italics, brackets, ellipsis, commas, and a list a mile long of rules ... and not enough about the story.
Despite everything I've written above, I gave in and bought a book yesterday 'My Grammar and I'???
One thing is for sure. It's NOT going to make me stop writing, but it's probably worth understanding some of the rules of the game.
September 8, 2017
There's nothing to writing
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
I haven't done much 'bleeding' since I started writing, but starting a book can be painful. Inspiration comes from God knows where, but it will, and does come.
The key for getting started for me, was to stick to the old truths - Write about what you know - For me, this was the single most important thing. Basing the main action of the story in Cardiff, and the WW1 action around battle sites I'd visited, were massive positives.
Writing a 'series' of books has helped writing my 2nd and 3rd novels with the continuity of the characters, and plots.
My final tip is to just listen & look. It's amazing what goes on around you which can be included in your stories. Even listening to my sister-in-law has given me the basis for a new character.
Stick with it.
― Ernest Hemingway
I haven't done much 'bleeding' since I started writing, but starting a book can be painful. Inspiration comes from God knows where, but it will, and does come.
The key for getting started for me, was to stick to the old truths - Write about what you know - For me, this was the single most important thing. Basing the main action of the story in Cardiff, and the WW1 action around battle sites I'd visited, were massive positives.
Writing a 'series' of books has helped writing my 2nd and 3rd novels with the continuity of the characters, and plots.
My final tip is to just listen & look. It's amazing what goes on around you which can be included in your stories. Even listening to my sister-in-law has given me the basis for a new character.
Stick with it.
July 26, 2017
The Revelations of Research
During the writing of my first three novels, I have discovered the unbridled satisfaction of undertaking extensive, and in-depth research. I have been taken into areas which have shocked, broke my heart, incensed, reflected, celebrated, questioned..... The list is endless, and even for those not thinking of writing a book, I can only recommend finding a topic of interest to you, and diving as deep as you can.
Things I have discovered which have had a profound affect on me, I would commend you to research.
1. The tragic story of Oradour-Sur-Glane on June 19th 1944.
2. The Sandakan Death Marches, Burma, 1942 - 1945.
3. The involvement of IG Farben in the financing, and construction of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
4. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France.
There are many others, but I hope you discover your own.
Things I have discovered which have had a profound affect on me, I would commend you to research.
1. The tragic story of Oradour-Sur-Glane on June 19th 1944.
2. The Sandakan Death Marches, Burma, 1942 - 1945.
3. The involvement of IG Farben in the financing, and construction of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
4. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France.
There are many others, but I hope you discover your own.
July 21, 2017
Coming to the end of Book Three
When you start on a new story there isn't and can't be an end date. It determines how far it wants to go, and when it wants to bring it to a conclusion. Today I'm happy to say that I'm working through the second proof of 'The Führer Crypt' - Book Three of Pale Battalions. The story of Sam, Elizabeth, and their strange mixture of friends continues, and doesn't end..........
