Harry Potter Returns

J. K. Rowling has announced that Harry Potter will be making a grand return into our lives... through the forum of theatre.

The play will be co-produced by the infamous author who is collaborating with the playwright, and will focus on Harry's childhood as an orphan living with the Dursleys. So far, a theatre has yet to be decided on - but we know it will take place in the West End.

Read more here: Daily Mail

Kickstart Your Writing: 'Lollipops' and 'Shop-Lifting Grannies'.

There are those great moments where a plot will unveil itself to you when you're looking for a bus ticket, or a character will hop into your head whilst you're browsing at the supermarket. Hopefully, you've got your notebook to hand, and within a couple minutes there's a brief sketch of an idea that makes you want to run home and explore it further.

But those moments don't always come, and for some, they rarely make an appearance. That's completely normal - and please don't suddenly decide that you are obviously not destined to be a writer. Sometimes, ideas just need that little bit of encouragement.

So here's the tip, and exercise in one:

Observe.

We create world with people in. We tell stories of everyday life. We explore relationships. We investigate careers. We study how far a person can emotionally go.

And all that is right outside your front door. In every single minute, there's a new story to be told - and you just need to find it.

So, to start you off. Pick a colour.

Just one.

And now take a twenty minute walk.

When you return, write down every single thing you saw whilst walking that was that colour. Right in detail. Was there a blue lollipop in that little girl's hand? Where did she get it? Did she drop it? Were her parents threatening to take it away? Was the blue anorak on that crippled Grannie at the bus-stop needed in the heat? Why was she wearing it? Was it baggy enough to hide things under? Are we now writing about a shop-lifting Grannie in a blue anaorak?

See where you go... and post below!

Good Luck! :)

The Dragon Tattoo Bites Back

The Swedish Publishing House, Norstedts, have signed a contract with a new author, David Lagercrantz, to finish writing the fourth book of the 'Millennium' series. The series is well-known through the first book, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which was published eight-and-a-half years ago. 

The series' author, Steig Larsson, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2004 - when he was roughly 75% of the way through the fourth book of his then unpublished series.

The manuscript, which was 75 per cent complete, was set in Ireland, Sweden and America and featured Salander's twin Camilla.

Read more here: The Telegraph 

If You Want To Idolise An Author... Don't Pick A Dead One.

Tip #2

 Do not place a photograph of your ­favourite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide. -Roddy Doyle

 This is one of my favourite quotes when it comes to writing tips. Every writer chose to embark on this path after falling in love with another's work - and you will soon find that it's essentially our job to re-write what has already been written. Whether it be plots (there's only seven basic plots), characters (the stock characters will always reappear) or setting (there's only so many ways an author can make the London Underground unique).

Writing is like a jigsaw - all the pieces have been chewed, spat out and trodden on... but those lucky few can put all the pieces back together and create something that was never there before.

Similarly, it's great to idolise an author, but you must remember that they achieved their success through a means of luck, talent and a unique view of the world - and your pathway to published will be completely different... and so will your writing.

It's also worth mentioning that many authors, whose work is read all over the world, published their stories in a completely different time with different rules and readership. We live in an intensely competitive society, and even if it took Beatrix Potter less than a year to see her idea on a bookshop shelf... we don't live like that anymore. 

On average, it will take six months for an agent to take you on and approach different publishers. If a publishing house agree, they have to look at editing, marketing and figure out the best way to sell your book - roughly around 15 months. Realistically, you're looking at close to two years from having a completed manuscript to it being ready to go on sale.

And taking it back to the quote - there is an extraordinary amount of authors/poets who have let the stress get to them. Writing is supposed to be fun. It's an escape from everyday life and allows you to explore the adventures that you've been quietly playing in your mind. 

Remember, have fun.

The Booker Prize Extends It's Eligibility, Prize... and Judges.

The 2014 Man Booker Prize is set to be the most competitive yet. The recent decision to allow American writers to enter the competition has been met with much controversy - and in addition the new rules have effected others parts of the competition too. The judging panel has been extended in recognition of the expected increase in applicants, and is being led by 2003 judge, AC Grayling.

He added the rule change meant the prize would be “even bigger” for authors, saying the decision-making process would be “fascinating”.

 Read more here: Telegraph

Malala Claims Non-Fiction Prize of the Year

The National Book Awards took place over the last couple days, and there were a few surprising winners on the night. 

David Jason, known for his Only Fools and Horses fame, beat Jennifer Saunders, Mary Berry and Rick Stein to be awarded Autobiography of the Year. Robert Harris took home the award for 'Popular Fiction' with his book 'An Officer and a Spy'. And, unsurprisingly, 'I am Malala' was given the title of 'Best Non-Fiction'.

Read more about it here: BBC News

The Successful Writer's Golden Rule

Tip #1

You've decided you want to be a writer. 

But wait. 

Before you even take one more step. 

Before your fingers tap open that word document.

Before you choose that perfect 'hand-writing' font that's 'perfect' for your diary-themed novel.

(Please, please don't even consider it)

And before you email your vaguely interested relatives and your facebook friends (who have likely already hidden your posts) that you're going to become a best-selling author.

Learn this one simple rule.

The bread-and-butter of writing.

Show, Don't Tell.

It's quite simple really; leave the 'telling' for an essay and 'show' your readers what you want them to see.

For example, instead of stating:

Linda was nervous about giving Jeremy the china, due to his reputation of being very clumsy.

Try instead:

"Sorry, sorry." Jeremy muttered as he handed Mrs Jones her feathered hat back. There was really no need for her to look so unimpressed; it had only flown a couple metres and he hadn't meant to knock it flying. Jeremy coughed, and stepped onto the platform - only slightly losing his balance - before holding out his hands. "I can carry the rest of it to the truck."

Linda visibly clutched the china teapot that little bit tighter.

Do you see the difference? By adding 'show', you're adding the butter to the dry piece of bread. 'Showing' is a way to add colour to your story and make it much more interesting to the average reader.

Remember: Show, don't Tell.

How To Stop Your Characters Becoming Clones

It can be so easy to feel like you know your characters. Every time you sit down to write, you find yourself writing inside their heads - you know which characters they like and dislike, you know their family history, you know where they live and (hopefully) you know where they're going.

But sometimes, this isn't enough. 

The more you know about your characters, the more three-dimensional your world will become. Readers thrive off characters - they like to know what makes Fagin tick, what Katniss fears, and why Ronald Weasley loves the colour orange. Even if you never include the extra information in your story, it helps you to form rounded characters on the page.

In fact, when Chris Columbus began casting for the film adaption of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', J. K Rowling remarked that the director was 'slightly taken aback' with the amount of background information she gave him for Dean Thomas, since he was such a minor character.

Exercise

So, to start you off, I want you to go buy something for your character. A gift. As cheap or expensive as you like. And then I want you to write how your character really feels about receiving this gift.

Are they happy? Annoyed? Looking hopefully in the direction of your bag to see if a diamond ring will come next? What do they secretly think? Does the cat-rubber give them bad memories of being clawed as a child? Is the tomato peeler essentially useless since they hate tomatoes? Is the extra-large jumper completely insulting because they're only a large... and a bit... but it doesn't matter since the diet starts tomorrow..?

Post your thoughts below!

Bridget Jones Claws Her Way Back Up For Christmas

Helen Fielding released her third novel in the Bridget Jones series, Mad About the Boy, in October and it immediately flew to the top of the charts. After a three-week lull, and many mixed reviews, the book is clawing its way back up the charts in time for Christmas.

Bridget Jones is tipped to top the Christmas hardback fiction chart after selling 23,000 copies this week.

Read more about it here: The Guardian