~PEN TO PAPER ~

Moving ~ everything must go

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:07:00 +0000

I'm moving
Pen to Paper here

All the good stuff is coming with me. All the old stuff is getting chucked out.
this blog will self destruct in 2 weeks.

ABC open project.

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:56:00 +0000

My contribution to the ABC project.

ABC OPEN. opportunity.

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:08:00 +0000

This link
is to a fab submission from the project ABC open.
you have to submit a photo and talk/write/video about it and it will be posted online via the ABC.
A good opportunity

QUEENSLAND WRITERS WEEK

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:08:00 +0000

Queensland Writers Week
This is the link ABOVE to Townsville writers and Publishers Centre inc.
There is a whole week in October where writing will be the focus.
I'm on a panel on Wednesday and on Friday I will be sharing my experiences about self publishing and making a splash in the Big pond aka world wide web.

Manuscript competition. Writing Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:03:00 +0000

Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript award this is the link.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get your M/S out there. I know I'm giving it a go.

it is open until the 13th October 2011. GET CRACKING!

Unpublished Manuscript Award

$10,000 + $2,000 for a mentor of your choice

The Award, to aid in the development of the next stage of an unpublished manuscript, is for a work of adult literary or genre fiction. It will be granted to the work that shows the greatest promise and likely to benefit most from this opportunity.
Over the next three years this Award will become one of Australia’s major prizes for an unpublished manuscript.

Mslexia Novel competition

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:52:00 +0000

Mslexia this is the link to a fab complete novel competition

with a decent amount of prize money

1ST PRIZE: £5,000

for the entry fee of 25 UK Pounds it is a good one to enter.
This is their blurb.
Thanks Mslexia

WHO IS THE COMPETITION AIMED AT?

"It doesn't have to be the truth, just your vision of it, written down." Virginia Woolf

Women with an unfinished manuscript languishing in a bottom drawer. (Could this be the impetus you need to finish it?)
Women who took up the write-a-novel-in-a-month challenge with NaNoWriMo and have a rough first draft. (Why not polish it up and send it to Mslexia?)
Women who’ve submitted their completed novels over and over, and have despaired of finding an agent. (If you reach our shortlist, they’ll all sit up and take notice.)
Women who’ve always wanted to write a novel, but could never find the time.

Writing a novel - in 80 days.

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:54:00 +0000

How to...
How I did it.
First and for most I had a premise.

Dictionary meaning -: premise: base something on something. To base something on the foundation of a proposition or idea stated or assumed to be true.

The book has to have an idea. Try to make that idea into a short sharp phrase.

Literary Licence, my humorous novel . ..The ego will always win.

The Crowing of the beast, my thriller. ..Justice will prevail.

The Mask of Deceit, my speculative fiction....knowledge is power

Having this set in stone is a good way to focus your writing. When you finish a chapter, is it true to the premise and does it follow the idea?

Never lose sight of the idea. Pin it up in front of your work station. Keep it in your mind as you write.

The premise will help you write your synopsis because it will focus the words and explain the why?

Why does the character do that

Why would he choose that path...etc.

Selling a novel

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:05:00 +0000

I have been selling my new novel to anyone and everyone. The Butcher bought one, the pilot bought 2, the yacht charter, the tourist, the neighbours and just about any one I come across.
It is harder than writing the darn thing and I feel morally responsible for every read. A shocking burden on my shoulders.
Perhaps ...I'm not cut out for writing or is it just the selling. I think I would rather poke out my eye with a pointed stick than stop writing.

But to sell on the internet get a heads up at Google AdWords. It will help you pick the right words for your blogs.

Writing a gem in one afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:28:00 +0000

Sometimes it all comes together and I write something almost in one go.I was cooking tea when the thought struck me and I jotted the thing down.then with a little tweak here and there it almost fell into the computer word perfect.I submitted it and it was taken up.All while cooking the dinner!The 'it' is a short humour article/column piece.

Allen & Unwin Friday Pitch

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:06:00 +0000

This is the best place for a Friday. It's quick pick up or instant death. Click here to take you to the the page. Follow the instructions and get a ye or nay in a fortnight. It gives you a hint on whether you are in for the long haul with your manuscript or you don't take rejection well. I know which one I am, do you?

The Age short story competition

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:56:00 +0000

this is a great competition as it is FREE I'm in it and maybe win it! It is especially good because you can email your entry. It doesn't get any better than thatThe Age Short Story Competition is now accepting entries.Entries must be no longer than 3000 words and should not have been previously published. No more than three stories per person should be submitted.Stories for children are not eligible for this competition. Manuscripts must be typed: double-spaced and on A4 paper.Advertisement: Story continues belowA separate page should be submitted with the author’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. No entry form is required and there is no fee.Faxes or hand written submissions will not be accepted and manuscripts will not be returned.Send entries to: The Age Short Story CompetitionThe AgeLevel 2655 Collins StreetDOCKLANDS 3008 or email shortstory@theage.com.auClosing date September 23, 2011 - 5pm (late entries will not be accepted)

Duo Magazine September issue

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:44:00 +0000

My new column is out. Yippee!
Click on the title to take you to the magazine and I'm on page 61.

Thanks Duo.

second person narration

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:55:00 +0000

I was reading Jane Austin Northanger Abbey 1817. She talks to the reader.
I read P. G. Wodehouse 1923. He talks to the reader.
I am reading A Dumas 1844. He talks to the reader.
It seems to me that it was a common way to engage with the audience back in the early days. I have read many old books that use the technique and I think I like it.

e.g. Now dear reader if I were to describe the fellow on the bus in such glowing terms that you might think him the salt of the earth, then you would be wrong.

In Literary Licence, my recently published books I give three words to the reader.
But the question is: Is it acceptable in today's modern world. Can we as readers be engaged by the author or do we just have to be entertained.
Plenty of movies have asides where the actor will give a look or a wink to the camera/audience. Why not in a book. After all, if you are writing it, who better to tell the reader about the character, place, time, emotion.

One book =80 days The Crowing of the Beast/ Synopsis

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:49:00 +0000

Well today 25/8/11 my 80 days are over. I have finished it at 73k. Didn't make it to 80k but the book is written. Whew.
Now comes the hard part. Edit, cut, edit, add, test read, edit, cut, edit and so it goes.

I have my synopsis now. THE CROWING OF THE BEAST.

In a world where justice is often denied two Jewish lawyers defend the rights of one man.
Set in Paris, The Crowing of the Beast follows the course set by Nozette and Simeoni as they are thrust into a high profile case to defend Heinz Tag, a Neo-Nazi supporter, of the murder of a Jewish protester. With a backdrop of riots in Paris, Tag has unwittingly become a pawn in a deadly game and he is left to run in the hope of leading the National Anti terrorist Agency (NATA) to the brains behind the brawn.

Amid this set up, Nozette and Simeoni must protect their client and his right to justice. As the stakes are raised by the Neo Nazis and their threats to George and Bernard's families, Tag is duped into becoming the mouthpiece for his mentors. Thrown into the mix are the FFZ, the Freedom Fighters for Zion, who want to stop Tag at any price. That price may include Bernard Simeoni and George Nozette.

George and Bernard race through the streets of Paris in car chases, get interrogated in Israel, miss an assassination attempt in the French alps, bomb an army patrol in Morocco, sail across the Straits of Gibraltar and battle for their lives in this fast paced action thriller.

Just when they think they are safe their client is shot on the steps of the court house, not by the suspected enemy, but by a lone disaffected racist policeman. Now with Tag dead the men must fight for their families before it is too late. The Crowing of the Beast ends only when George Nozette and Bernard Simeoni think the last Neo-Nazi is dead. But is he?

Weekend Australian Review

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:20:00 +0000

Another excellent article in the Review of the Weekend Australian.
The feature titled Paging all authors,
Quote: Bookshops are having to change with the times, which means so are writers and publishers.
The article cites Author from Queensland, John Birmingham and describes him as a technophile (he blogs, he tweets) as embracing the new technology.
As I have said many times.
If it is good enough for the Jetsons it is good enough for for me.

John Howard, Lazarus Rising, Weekend Australian

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:11:00 +0000

John Howard was interviewed by Stephen Romei for the Weekend Australian magazine. A really interesting interview, but one small phrase stuck out concerning writing.

Romei: When I mention that a lot of authors consider promotional tours hell on Earth and dislike talking about their books at all, Howard has a mild rant: "How do they hope to sell them? What on Earth do they expect?"

He may be an ex PM but as a writer he has the mindset we all should follow if we want to get our work out there.

Meet the Shameless self promoter...If you don't sell your work and stand by what you have written, who will.
My book can be purchased at the published books tag above or from Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc.

wrting the end 1 book = 80 days

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:13:00 +0000

The end is in sight. I have written the last line and now need to flesh out the action a bit more and get rid of the dreaded passive voice. Also have to put the clues in to add a bit of spice for the reader. Everthing is there you just have to know what to read and keep and what to read and discard.

Riots in London 1book = 80 days

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:41:00 +0000

The Riots in London are good research for The Crowing of the Beast. The adjectives are a writers dream and the sound bites (bytes)? fantastic.
How is it that real life is following my story. I write it and it happens; from the riots, the Neo-Nazis in Russia, Politicians acting badly and the list goes on.

Definition of thriller

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:31:00 +0000

If you were ever thinking of writing a thriller, these boxes should be ticked.

Thriller novels have villains, suspense, and action in settings such as espionage, medicine, crime, politics, and high tech, to name a few. They often involve life and death situations and have high stakes, like the control of the world or the possibility of widespread death or destruction. Many times innocent people are victimized, stalked, or caught in situations that are beyond their control. They have to overcome obstacles, either alone or with a small group of people, and stop some catastrophe from happening. Usually, thrillers have a happy ending.

What makes a novel a thriller is not just the situations and the things that can or may happen to the characters, but the way the plot is written. A skillful author can excite, surprise, worry, and influence your emotions in many ways. He can keep you on your toes and engaged with nonstop action, plot twists, and a fast pace.

Thank you yourdictionary.com

Hiatus OMG : one book + 80 days

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:51:00 +0000

I have fallen off the wagon. Life just seems to get in the way and I'm a three days behind my schedule. OMG But I have been editing so that counts for something.
Stopping and re reading the story brings the whole shebang into perspective and I have a clearer idea where I am heading so it wasn't really a waste of time.
Now back to the slog.
zzzzz......

New Title; The Crowing of the Beast 1 book =80 days

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:39:00 +0000

I have found my title to my thriller.

THE CROWING OF THE BEAST so now I can ditch the working title 'the tilt of justice'.

I think the title of a book is very important. It is all in the name. The picture it conjures up even before the book is opened.
So far we have
a bomb, a shooting, a killing, a sex scene, a bad guy monologue, a ski chase, a car chase,threats, questions, assassinations, a clandestine meeting, a beating and we still have 40% to go. Whew.

Amazon gets it right

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:24:00 +0000

click on the title of the post or here
Amazon have ammended the price and now it is $19.95

Dr. ZHIVAGO & Somerset Maugham 1 book +80 days

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:56:00 +0000

How can I work when one of my favorite movies is on the DVD player.
I am one day behind because of the Doctor, but oh, what an excuse.
I promise to work tonight, honest I do.

And while I was having the day off I finished "Of Human Bondage" by Somerset Maugham.
A fabulous book. I hadn't read it for ages.
Now to Northanger Abbey by J. Austen. Another oldie but goodie. It must be 20 years since I read Jane Austen.

1 book +80days The bad guy monologue

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Every thriller has the bad guy monologue. You know when Gold finger says to Bond,
But Mr Bond you won't see me blow up Fort Knox with my ray gun and paralyze the army or when Lex Luther says he is bad and is going to take over the world. Well...I have just written a bit of a monologue at half way in the novel. Now the object for the protagonist is to thwart (don't ya just love thwart)the plan.
And the clock is ticking of course, what else in a thriller.

Strunk and White ~The elements of Style

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry Ashwin) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:25:00 +0000

I have at long last purchased "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.
Now I have my commas in the right place. I think I have got the gist of
rule 11:
when a participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to a grammatical subject.
A small book, but a good one. Notice the comma before the conjunction introducing an independent clause.

I think I love grammar; although I'm not very good at it just yet. rule 5 Do not join independent clauses with a comma.