It's a great feeling to publish a new novel -- somewhere between nirvana and just plain relief that it's finally out. AndroDigm Park 2067 is a project I started over two years ago. The title changed from that original title several times, but the story remains the same. So let me explain the strange title. …
Cover Reveal
I am delighted to reveal the cover of my new book scheduled to be published next month. It's a sci-fi neo noir thriller set in the not too distant future where the large cyber-tech, media and entertainment corporations are introducing a new generation of android worker to replace their human counterparts, while the super rich …
Story pacing
One of my favourite sci-fi movies of all time is Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. For those that haven't seen this 1982 neo-noir movie, it's set in a 2019 dystopian world where synthetic humans known as replicants are bioengineered by a powerful corporation to work on off world colonies. Directed by Ridley Scott and loosely based …
Killing one’s darlings
If you've just finished your first draft of your novel, congratulations. Pour yourself a drink of your favourite tipple and celebrate. You're half-way to completing your project. Yes -- I did say half way. The editing process is just as important as the creation of the first draft. If your first draft reads like c**p. …
Connecting your story’s hero/heroine
Have you ever read a story or watched a movie that brought a lump to your throat and tears to your eyes? Yes, of course you have. Good stories create an emotional experience for their readers or audience. It's the reason why we like them so much. But how do their writers do it? It's …
The importance of the B Story
Recently I was going through some of my old books on screenwriting and story telling and I picked up the 'Save the Cat Goes to the Movies' by the late Blake Snyder. I found the book inspiring the first time I read it some years ago, and as I started to read it again I found …
A Story Blueprint for the Action / Adventure genre
Over the last three blogs I have looked at the five core elements of any story design: The Protagonist's Characterisation The Big Problem or Opportunity that enters their life and acts as the Catalyst for the Central Conflict Opposition - Antagonist forces and obstacles that stand in his/her way A Story World A Satisfying Resolution. …
Continue reading A Story Blueprint for the Action / Adventure genre
Story Design — Characterisation
Some very successful writers claim to produce stories without any apparent planning or preparation. Story design must be built into their DNA. Others, which I suggest is the vast majority of writers like me, struggle to find the stories within them through a variety of different processes. Some write by the seat of their pants …
Story Design – Twenty Key Questions
As a new writer one of the most difficult decisions to make is about what to write about. There is plenty of advice from experienced writers out there who say just sit in the chair and write. And that if you don't write, you can't become a writer. But that doesn't help the newbie author …
The five core elements of story
For a long time I have wondered what distinguishes a great story-teller from the rest. Clearly, great story tellers are blessed with great creative skills and imagination. Many of the basic techniques of writing such as structuring, using dialogue, grammar, point of view, and voice, can be learnt. The creative skills of story telling are …
JMJ Williamson 