Exotic words and places
Two weeks ago, I turned 30 – Boo. I don’t know why exactly I wrote ‘boo’, it just so happened that I could not have had a better day if I tried, having spent it in Ho Chi Minh City. …
Author: Lara Russell
From novel to screen
I was in the middle of another blog post, when I stumbled across a film, based on a book that I absolutely loved. I was very excited (as I always am) to watch the characters I imagined in a certain …
The top 10 reasons why I write
When I started writing this list, I aimed for ten reasons. I stopped at 20. Luckily, I’ve only listed the first ten, and in no particular order. I tend to view the world in a certain way. A romantic view …
To wed or not to wed
What does it mean when a flight attendant is wearing a wedding ring at the start of a flight, but for some reason he isn’t wearing one as the plane is about to land? I noticed this on a recent …
A female writing from a male character’s point of view
Writing from a male’s perspective can be challenging, especially as a female writer. But whether you choose to write from within the head of a female character, a male character or both (within different scenes, of course), the amount of …
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Change and conflict
Without change in Fiction, there would be no conflict. Without change in life, there would be nothing. When I think about my life, I am reminded of a particular time when change was waiting and how incredibly frightening it was. …
The role music plays in writing
The absence of music in writing, especially fiction, is as unimaginable to me as the absence of music in life. This might sound a little bizarre, but the first thing I typically hear when I listen to a new sound …
A glimpse of domestic travel
The first thought that usually enters my mind after I board a domestic plane, especially if I’m travelling alone on a work trip and sitting in the aisle seat is: I hope there’s a free seat next to me. I …
Of course you should
In writing, as in any craft, people like to use the word ‘should’ fairly often. Your novel should be at least x amount of words in length to meet the requirements of most publishing houses, you should attend at least …
Those types of scenes
A few days ago, someone asked whether my novel contained any love scenes. Naturally the blood raced to my face straight away as I struggled to imagine a question more awkward. I already knew the answer, of course. I had …