Finally submitted my entry for the Bloody Scotland Short Story competition.
Having written, quite quickly, one version from the murderer's point of view I then wrote a second from the detective's. In third person. Then spent three weeks putting it into first person.
Then realised that the first version had the stronger voice.
And although I could go on editing forever, it really had reached a good point.
So, phew and fingers crossed until the middle of August.
Showing posts with label competiton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label competiton. Show all posts
Monday, 14 July 2014
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Genesis of a story
I read of the Short Story Competition for Bloody Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival three days or so ago. Theme 'Escape'. Three thousand words.
Knew, if I was going (which I am) I really would have to enter.
'Escape' ... hmmm ... nothing sprung immediately to mind, except perhaps to remember that my next novel, third of a trilogy, has to tell Luke Darbyshere's story. But I'd already told myself I fancied trying something in first person. Owed it to myself to write something brand new.
I can, usually, do drabbles. Practise weekly hundred-word shorts which almost inevitably become serials, but I have always found longer stories daunting. And almost never write without a prompt or three. 'Escape' didn't quite do it, on its own.
I began one too-close-to-the-private bone which would turn into a rant if I wasn't careful. Abandoned that. Yesterday picked up Naomi Epel's 'Observation Deck' which was a Christmas present from one of my sons. Selected, not entirely randomly (i.e. discarding what I didn't fancy) three what I thought were prompt cards, before realising that they referred to chapters in the accompanying book.
These were 'change your point of view', which I'd already done, ‘find the music’ which I haven't yet done but will find useful when I need it (it's worked before) and finally, 'observe a ritual' which, although I know it'll be something the MC does, I don't have a clue about at the moment. I also decided to set the scene amidst something I do know something about, so as to better ground the 'voice'.
And this morning got up at 5 a.m. and wrote the first 255 words.
To be sat upon and let to ferment.
Knew, if I was going (which I am) I really would have to enter.
'Escape' ... hmmm ... nothing sprung immediately to mind, except perhaps to remember that my next novel, third of a trilogy, has to tell Luke Darbyshere's story. But I'd already told myself I fancied trying something in first person. Owed it to myself to write something brand new.
I can, usually, do drabbles. Practise weekly hundred-word shorts which almost inevitably become serials, but I have always found longer stories daunting. And almost never write without a prompt or three. 'Escape' didn't quite do it, on its own.
I began one too-close-to-the-private bone which would turn into a rant if I wasn't careful. Abandoned that. Yesterday picked up Naomi Epel's 'Observation Deck' which was a Christmas present from one of my sons. Selected, not entirely randomly (i.e. discarding what I didn't fancy) three what I thought were prompt cards, before realising that they referred to chapters in the accompanying book.
These were 'change your point of view', which I'd already done, ‘find the music’ which I haven't yet done but will find useful when I need it (it's worked before) and finally, 'observe a ritual' which, although I know it'll be something the MC does, I don't have a clue about at the moment. I also decided to set the scene amidst something I do know something about, so as to better ground the 'voice'.
And this morning got up at 5 a.m. and wrote the first 255 words.
To be sat upon and let to ferment.
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