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Is there a special food or drink that makes you think of Christmas?  Have you ever used this idea in a story?  Maybe as a way of using your own experiences or feelings to influence the characters?  I would love to hear what you did and how it worked out. On this subject, are there foods, or types of drink that you would only have over the Christmas season?  I will offer a couple of my favorites.  I love mulled wine, I make it every year and offer it to those who visit.  I love the smell of the spices,...

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OK, a saucy question on the run-up to Christmas. It is just a bit of fun to start the week, based on a funny comment sent to me by a reader over the weekend.  She wrote a private message, saying that her hubby was asking her to come to bed in increasingly odd garments.  It had started with lingerie, silk, and lace with garter belt and stockings, which is not unusual, but his requests became more elaborate.  She said, “Hubby, is a bit of a sci-fi nerd.  He said he had a fantasy about taking, Star Wars, Princess Leia.  So...

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With art with writing, it is my belief that the key factor is observation.  The closer you look at whatever it is that you are doing the finer the detail of the finished work.  With art and writing, it is that fine detail that separated the ok from the really good and just that little more effort to make it great. So where to observe?  Everywhere, surely.  You need to get into the habit of looking all the time, gathering tidbits, mannerisms, little details you can use in your stories. I used a couple of expressions the other day, “pool...

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Further to yesterday about a deepening point of view, using observations of the characters and their clothing.  Incidentally, I received some very interesting letters on that subject.  I wanted to offer a couple of suggestions on the same subject of a deeper point of view, with regard to the description of food.  If you remember my checklist that I keep on my desk when writing there is a section: See it through the character's eyes.   What do they feel?  What do they see?  What do they smell?  What do they taste?  What do they hear?  Use all five senses. Food...

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It is easy to let undergarments become cheche in stories, as they are usually only mentioned just before a sex scene in romance and erotic romance stories.  But they can be used to better effect during a story to get a deeper point of view.   For those not used to a deeper point of view, in a nutshell, it is getting to the inner motivations behind your characters, what they think, what motivates them there innermost feelings and conflicts.    For example, you could have one character see the panty line or bra outline through another character’s clothing.  That might add...

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Is it the same with your books, have you a favorite book to read at Christmas, an author you always read at this time of year?  Mine was always Terry Pratchett; I was always bought a Discworld book for Christmas.  For me, it is as festive as mulled wine.   Have you got a Favorite Christmas book? I wrote the other day about listening to an old Phil Spector record while wrapping Christmas presents and got two very distinct reactions.  Some said that it was all a bit too cheesy and that I should amend my ways.  Others thought it was a...

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In a reflective mood, we have had the first real hit of snow and England comes to a grinding halt.  A real shame as we had a family gathering planned.   On the upside, it looks beautiful outside, and  I have had the opportunity to wrap all our family and friends Christmas presents.  Snow always puts me in a festive mood.  I should have been listening to Bing Crosby but instead, I listened to an old Phil Spector Christmas album.  Really put me in the mood for mulled wine and mince pies. How are your Christmas plans going?  All set?  Or...

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I was reading a post on one of the Facebook writer’s groups; it concerned someone posting a thought only to have someone correct the grammar.  There were a lot of reactions.  I can see both sides of the argument.  We are writers and professionals working in the world of publishing.  Spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes make us look sloppy.  The other side of the coin is we just want to send out a quick message or thought, and we are more concerned with the message than the grammar.  I can really understand why it irks the Grammar Janitors and frustrates...

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Seeing a photograph of me you might wonder why I brought up the topic at all, but you can’t help but see the trends and I was wondering what your thoughts were on the matter.  Historically hair trends have switched from long to short for both men and women, and the great majority seemed to follow the fashion of the day.  We seem to now follow our own paths and adopt a hairstyle that we are comfortable with.  I see that as a largely positive thing.  A trend I have noticed over the last few years is men’s facial hair,...

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