Now the Real Work Begins.

I’ve spent the best part of the last 12 months engaged in research for the new novel I’m now writing. I’ve ended up with three documents totalling 83 pages and 54,468 words, many including links to some of the research sites used for the information. Add to that the 604 pages from the Chronicle of …

Continue reading Now the Real Work Begins.

After the Research

The research (see the post from 9th July), apart from those unexpected oddities that make you check the occasional detail, is done. I began the re-write at the beginning of the week. It quickly became clear that merely editing the first draft would not create the book I first envisaged. So, I have started again …

Continue reading After the Research

When Research Rules the Roost

Presumably all writers of fiction start with research for their chosen themes, subjects, periods, and locations. I know I always do. For my latest WIP I decided to set the story within the period around the first part of my own life. This was, after all, a time I knew well. Or so I thought.On …

Continue reading When Research Rules the Roost

An Excess of…Religion?

Word cloud via Word Art. Some questions for the faithful: This post is a search for answers to questions that have long bothered me. This is a genuine quest for information. I’m interested in the views of everyone, but especially those who espouse a faith. Assuming your deity is considered both omnipotent (supremely powerful in …

Continue reading An Excess of…Religion?

An Excess of…Population

A crowd in Rome. One aspect of the modern world that contributed to my urge to write the latest novel was the issue of population. It doesn’t feature much in the story, more of an aside, but was definitely an underlying stimulus to the idea of the book. In common with many people, my major …

Continue reading An Excess of…Population

Researching for the Novel.

When I was first struck by the idea for my latest novel ‘An Excess Of…’, I understood I’d need to do a good deal of research. Most topics touched on in the story were already familiar, but I felt I should deepen my knowledge in as many areas as possible. Underlying subjects explored in the …

Continue reading Researching for the Novel.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 17; All the Rest.

Word cloud created via Wordart.com This series began as a way to suggest possible topics for research for those writing fiction set in the future on Earth. The list runs to 100, and so far, I’ve covered 16 in detail. However, it strikes me it might be more productive for writers to tackle those subjects …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 17; All the Rest.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 16, Climate.

The introduction to this series is here. This post looks at Climate. For most writers of future fiction, this is a no-brainer. We’ve made ourselves familiar with the science, understand the realities, know the world is utterly unprepared to deal with what is now correctly termed a ‘climate emergency’. We know governments, Big Business, led …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 16, Climate.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 15, Celebrity.

Taken in the centre of Kos Town. The introduction to this series is here. This post looks at Celebrity. What is a celebrity? The SOED defines it thus: A celebrated person; a (popular) public figure. Everybody from the latest moronic fool in some dreadful ‘reality’ TV show to the most well-known and talented performer in …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 15, Celebrity.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 14, Cars.

Image derived via clipart. You’ll find the introduction to this series here. This post looks at Cars. Globally, we humans are wedded to cars, see them as almost a right. As a means of transport, they combine convenience, privacy, flexibility, and some degree of freedom, no matter how artificial that may be. But they come …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 14, Cars.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 13, Capitalism.

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:G20_capitalism_banner.jpg The introduction to this series is here. This post looks at Capitalism. Okay, so what is capitalism? My go-to dictionary (SOED) defines it thus: ‘The possession of capital or wealth; a system in which private capital or wealth is used in the production or distribution of goods; the dominance of private owners of capital …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 13, Capitalism.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 12, Business.

Photo by Marko Milivojevic on Pixnio You’ll find the introduction to this series here. This post looks at Business. What do we understand by the term ‘business’? In fact, it encompasses a wide range of activities and philosophies. Some people are in business to make improvements to life, some to help others, but most business …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 12, Business.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 11, Blasphemy.

You’ll find the introduction to this series here. This post looks at Blasphemy. Ancient and often arbitrary laws of blasphemy are gradually losing ground throughout most of the civilised world. They remain a threat to free speech in too many countries at present, however. After all, blasphemy, as a matter of law, can only occur …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 11, Blasphemy.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 10, Beauty.

You’ll find the introduction to this series here. This post looks at Beauty. Beauty, according to an ancient aphorism, lies in the eye of the beholder. Experience suggests this is so, most of the time. But will our future produce different standards of beauty? We know fashions, trends, local traditions, and beliefs all impact on …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 10, Beauty.

Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 9, Banking.

You’ll find the introduction to this series here. This post looks at Banking. Money, cash that is, will probably disappear in time. Currencies may also become a thing of the past when most transactions are completed online. What effect would such changes have on the banking industry and the customer’s need and experience of it? …

Continue reading Futuristic Fiction: #Research for #Writers, Part 9, Banking.