Notes In The Margin #10: You Can Never Have Too Many Ideas

It never ceases to amaze me how the human mind can create, visualise and manifest complete ideas and concepts from the imagination.

Especially when that imagination is my own.  It's been a fertile ground for stories and ideas for as long as I can remember.  I wrote my first stab at a novel before I was ten.  The product of childhood games, dreams and a prolonged stay in hospital.  It was nine pages long and got published in my junior school library.

When I was fourteen I corralled my ideas into my second attempt.  It was a thriller.  I got eight chapters in before I ran out of confidence and patience with my poor typing skills despite ideas aplenty.

I had another go at sixteen, this time at writing a sci-fi epic.  That one took three years and actually got finished, despite being a thousand page monolith.  It wasn't good enough to get published though. The writing's poor, the plot's confused and it's bloated with complexity, but many of the ideas I had for it are still brilliant and full of potential.  Maybe I'll rewrite it one day...

Then I got serious.  Tried my hand at a thriller again when I started working, The Wickedest War.  I wrote it on the commute to and from London each day.  I was inspired by the city, by the people, by events going on around me.  The ideas flowed and the first draft was finished in just over a year.  I submitted it to several agents ("You submitted a first draft?  What were you thinking?", you cry).

It got rejected.  But the ideas kept coming.

Sequels, fragments of ideas, revisions to old ideas and the novels, they just wouldn't stop.  I've still got notebooks brimming with observations, research, doodles and what-if scenarios from those days.

The Wickedest War got a long overdue second draft and benefited from an injection of fresh material.  That made it better, but it still wasn't right.  The third draft consumed more ideas, new scenes, new depths to the characters and the plot.  Then the fourth draft, then the fifth draft.  It changed constantly as I swung between the fresh material and those that formed the foundations of the plot.

Then the big one struck and 360 was born.  A story that demanded I create a new world without the limitations of the real world!  I went crazy with the first draft.  Too much freedom.  The imagination was let off the leash and like an errant dog, it wouldn't come to heel.

I retreated back to The Wickedest War.  Back to the real world, back to researching my ideas, testing their mettle, validating their credibility.  I took it apart and rebuilt it from the ground up.

But still the other ideas continued to flow, like turning that never completed sequel to The Wickedest War into a standalone story with new characters.  It's all there now.  It just needs writing.  But I had to finish 360. So I focused on that.

And Kiraran's Crucible.  That's simmered in a back corner of my my mind for a good three, or four years now and it's gone from one book, to three.  Ideas breeding others ideas.  Characters, settings, scenes and plot threads.

And still they keep springing from that mysterious area of my mind called my imagination.  A thousand jigsaw pieces from a hundred puzzles seeping from my head and I can't stop them.  All I know is that if I can piece them together I can make stories out of some of them.

Some of them are daft.  Some of them are really cool.  I don't think I suffer from Writer's Block.  It's more like Writer's Constipation.  I get anxious.  I worry that the ideas aren't good enough and I get all tense and the ideas stop.  Except the don't stop.  I'm just not letting them out.

Not every idea I have for a my writing will be good.  Not every idea will find its way into a story.  I have to accept that work with it.  The ideas will come.  I mustn't stop them.

The trick is keeping my eye out for the corkers and weaving them into wonderful tales!

Muse News #10: I'm Sorry, I Haven't A Clue (and not much else is happening...)

I'm sorry that this Muse News didn't get posted yesterday.

I haven't settled fully into the routine of writing my posts in the days before they're due and scheduling them to post rather than manually posting them.

Consequently, when I spent the whole of yesterday evening out there wasn't any time, or anyone to write this post, or indeed post it had there been anyone to write it.

What kind of rash frippery could possibly have attracted me away from such an important matter, you ask?  Well, I was attending a recording of a radio show.  Before you get excited, the radio show didn't actually feature me.  Well, it did, but only in the distance and as part of a large audience.

The radio show in question was the BBC Radio 4 show, I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue.  For those of you who don't live in the UK, or are unfamiliar with it, it's a long-running show that is described as the "antidote to panel games".  It's clever, funny, sometimes downright silly, never to be taken too seriously and one of my favourite radio shows.  It features such legendary rounds as The Uxbridge English Dictionary, One Song to the Tune of Another and Mornington Crescent.

The show's recorded in theatres around the country before a live audience and a very good friend of mine managed to get tickets to last night's recording in Southend.  They recorded two shows (due for airing in a couple of weeks) and I actually left the theatre with a pulled stomach muscle through laughing too much.

The current series (series 65) is well under way, but if you live in the UK you'll be able to catch-up with past episodes via BBC iPlayer, or listen live on BBC Radio 4 on Monday nights at 6:30pm (BST).

If you like a healthy dose of insanity, I can't recommend it highly enough!

Other News

Not much else has happened this week, I'm afraid to say.  I've been a bit bunged-up (not sure if that's down to hayfever, or other summer-spread lurgy), so I've had to take a break from recording the audio beta of 360 until I sound less infected.  You'll be surprised how much it comes across on a microphone!  Hopefully it won't be too long before I can restart recording again.

However, I've not wasted the time and instead spent it migrating my notes from Evernote to OneNote.  There is a handy app that will transfer everything automatically, but I'm taking the opportunity to sort through my notes and revise my filing and tagging systems in the process.  I've discovered a few notes I'd forgotten I'd made, so it is proving to be a useful exercise!

Well, it's very nearly Wednesday here, so I'd best sign-off and post this before it's two days late!

Notes in the Margin #9: Never Forget (Your Loyal Customers)

I hoped I'd never write a ranty blog post, but I'm afraid I'm straying into that unfortunate territory today,

I'm upset.  Upset and disappointed.  In the overall scheme of things it's really an utterly insignificant matter and there are far worse things in the world over which I should get all worked-up about, but I'm going to share it with you because you might have experienced the same thing and feel the same as I do.

In which case we can feel upset and disappointed together.

There's a cloud hanging over me today.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Evernote, the note-taking are changing their charging model. (I did say that in the overall scheme of things it wasn't that major a matter).  I've been a eager user and a evangelical fan of it for several years.  I've even mentioned that it was my note-taking app of choice in a previous NITM post.

But I received an email from them yesterday (as well as reading the news in the tech press) telling me that in 30 days Evernote will limit the number of devices on which I can install and access the app to two.  If I wish to use their apps on more than two devices after that I will have to upgrade to either their Plus Plan ($3.99 a month, or £34.99 a year), or the Premium Plan ($7.99 a month, or $69.99 a year).

This may sound like a small price to pay for what is generally regarded as possibly the best note-taking app on the market, but it's not when you consider that they're reducing the access that those on the (currently) free Basic Plan previously had.

I'm not a power user.  I don't get anywhere the 60MB monthly upload limit of the existing Basic Plan (I think my record is 8MB), but I do have Evernote on a small number of devices.  I have it on my mobile phone, two tablets (a 7" and a 10") and my laptop.  That's four devices for different kinds of use ranging from information gathering on the mobile when I'm on-the-go through review on the tablets, to organizing and referencing my notes when I'm in "office mode" when I'm back home.  I don't think that's an extortionate number of devices in the current digital climate.

Being able to access my notes across different platforms was one of the reasons I liked Evernote in the first place.  Their Cross-platform access is front-and-centre on the Basic Plan's page on Evernote's  own website. "Stay Organized across platforms" they say.  Just so long as that's only two platforms if you want to install the app (they don't mention that bit).  Users will still be able to use the web version as well as that won't count towards your two devices, but the apps are more convenient to use.

So, I'm upset and disappointed that they've decided to make something that was really easy, accessible and useful unusable (for my needs) and start charging for basic and existing features.

I understand that they're a business and they have to make money, but hamstringing existing users with device limits rather than data limits, railroading them into paying for features that have previously been free and also introducing 40% price increases on the existing plans of those who do already pay isn't the way to behave to users who helped make them the widely-known brand name and company they are now.  The numerous negative comments left by users in the tech press, on Android Play and iTunes stores, as well as Evernote's own forum is testament that they've seriously hacked-off a large number of the users they purport to value.

The Evernote logo is an elephant, because - of-course - elephants never forget.  I don't think many of their users will forget this either, or go back even if things change.  Which is a shame because it really is the best of the bunch in terms of features and usability.

The apps are great and many people will continue to use them around the world for years to come despite the limitations and price hikes.  However, I'm migrating my notes to Microsoft OneNote.  It's free and I can use it freely on all four of my devices, or more if needs be.

It's a different beast to Evernote, but it just means getting my head around a different way of recording my thoughts, ideas and other random snippets of information that I gather.  Perhaps the change of digital scenery will do my creativity good!  I may even do a post about getting the best from OneNote once I've worked out how I do that.

The moral that I shall take away from all this is that you should never hack-off your customers/readers/audience.  I'm going to remember that.

OK, rant over.  I'm sorry you had to read that, but I had to share it.  I don't feel so upset now.

There...that's better!  The cloud has lifted!
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Muse News #9: More Audio Beta Recording & Kiranan's Crucible Ideas

After my week away, I'm settling back into the old twin-track routine of recording the audio beta edition of 360 and brainstorming ideas for Kiranan's Crucible.

It hurts my head a little, trying to think about two different projects at the same time, but it does seem to be working.  Here are the highlights of both.

Audio Beta

[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Progress on the audio beta continues at a steady pace.  I'm getting used to the different character voices now and I'm making mistakes far less frequently than I did when I started.  It's still not all plain sailing, but I'm getting into the rhythm of recording a couple of scenes each day and I'm enjoying it.

I'm still not sure what the neighbours think!

I'm about a third of the way through, so it looks like it's going to take a bit longer than I first expected (sorry, neighbours).  But then, I'm not rushing it.  When it's done right, it's sounding really good (even if I do say so myself...), so I think it's worth taking a bit of care to get the quality.

Kiranan's Crucible Ideas

A mountain of ideas!  Well, a mountain
to represent a mountain of ideas!
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

The rush of ideas for the new project didn't stop when I got home from the trip to Scotland.  If anything, it's gathering pace, which is really encouraging.  I must have hit a veritable vein of creativity!

And any ideas I do have are very welcome.  I have an entire world to build and three (and maybe four) books to tell the story the stories of that world.  

The notebook is starting to fill up nicely and I don't think I can have too many ideas.  I won't use them all, but it's always better to have more than you need than have a half complete world.

So, there you go.  It's not been a majorly busy week, but it has been a week of progress.  Hopefully this week will be more of the same.

I hope you have a productive week too!  

Notes In The Margin #8: Inspiration Everywhere!

One of the lessons I learnt during my recent trip to Scotland was that even the smallest, most mundane things could provide the inspiration for my writing.

I'd expected to be inspired by the big things like the mountain vistas, the sweeping glens and the majestic waterfalls, but I was utterly surprised to find small details in the most unlikely of situations triggering my writers' sense for a good idea.

This gave me the idea of the "Lightning Tree"
which will be a totem that my intrepid
heroes will come across in their travels.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Like crossing a car park and dodging through a coach party of tourists.  I've channeled the frustration that created into an idea for a scene set in a busy market where a character is trying to follow someone through the throng.

Like crossing a bridge across a wide river.  Despite being a sturdy metal bridge, the structure flexed and bounced with each step.  That set me thinking about the kinds of primitive bridges my characters would cross in their journey.  One of them may not like how the bridge moves under them, especially if the river beneath is wide and fast flowing and they can't swim.  That might add to their anxiety about what lies on the opposite bank.

Like setting down heavy bags upon finally arriving at a destination and feeling muscles complain and celebrate simultaneously.

Like a weary traveler feeling the cool, soothing relief provided by a trusty family recipe ointment when its been applied to numerous and immensely irritating insect bites.

Those are just a few examples of the ideas that struck me last week.

Then there were the not-so-mundane situations that have obvious connections to my current work in progress.

The sense of utter fear that I felt as I navigated my way along a ridiculously narrow section of mountainside path on the climb up to the waterfalls overlooking Glen Coe has been given to the naive Prince in Kiranan's Crucible.  He too will feel that gut-churning sensation as he drag his royal backside through the dirt in an attempt to stay as far away from the perilous drop as possible.

A nice spot to stop for lunch.  Such a Relief!
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

The relief at stopping for a welcome rest and refreshment during a lengthy walk along a rocky path on a hot summer's day and the resignation at having to set off again afterwards will also feature as my characters make a daring escape into the mountains.

I could go on.  My notebook - I took an actual notebook with me on my trip because pen and paper don't need recharging via a USB cable half way up a mountain - is full of little snippets of ideas that were inspired by many moments during the course of my holiday.

But the good news is that you don't have to go on holiday to get inspiration!  It's still happening to me now that I'm back home and back in the old routine.  There was a stale and inhuman smell in the subway passage down town today.  Whenever I need to describe a foul stench, I will recall that to mind (and there will be plenty of those in medieval Kiranan).

I could go on, but you get the idea.  Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time.  People interacting, the world around us, the things that you and others do and the feelings those actions generate.  Record those sparks of awareness.  Record them all because they will help you and your writing either directly, or later with further development.

Oh, sparks of awareness.  That's given me an idea!

See, you never know when inspiration will strike...

Muse News #8: Rest Of The Holiday & Back To Reality

Well, I'm back home again after a fantastic week away in the Scottish Highlands.

This time last week I was looking forward to four more days of adventuring.  It seems like much longer and those little adventures now feel like dreams.  I won't bore you with all of the details, but I will give you the edited highlights for now (Trust me, I can bore you - I took over 1500 photos and can tell you at length about each one).

So, the edited highlights from Tuesday onwards:

Tuesday

Last year my best mate and I explored a little bit of Glen Coe, a place that is usually known for the infamous massacre of 1692. It's also a place of outstanding beauty with towering mountains that line the winding glen below.

Our amazing destination, the falls of Coire nan Lochan.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

The view from the falls back down to the road far below.
It's the pale line in the glen below...yeah, that far!
[Photo: Jack Gilbert] 

Last year we didn't really get a chance to walk very far up one of the craggy paths that climb the mountains, so we decided to put it front and centre of this year's itinerary.  I'm glad we did even though it meant facing my fear of heights again in order to reach a waterfall high up on the valley side.  This place and the walk up gave me plenty of inspiration (More of that in Thursday's NITM).

Wednesday

Another development of last year's trip was my second ride in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). Last year I agreed to a ride up Loch Ness.  I thought if you're going to see somewhere as magical as Loch Ness, do it in a memorable way.  So we saw it from one of the fast boat tours that ply its waters.

This year, we took an equally exciting and fascinating wildlife tour around the waters of Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven.  The ride was choppier than I'd expected out on Loch Linnhe, but again really worthwhile as we saw seals, wild goats, geese, cormorants as well as the lodge in which we stayed for the week from the great loch.

I really loved it.  I want to do another boat ride next year! The question is, where?

Yours truly sporting this summer's maritime look.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

I have no idea what the seal on the left was trying to tell us.
I think it was giving us its seal of approval...
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Thursday

Another place we visited last year was the Isle of Skye.  On that occasion it pelted it down with rain all day, so we only got limited glimpses of the fantastic scenery that lines the route up to the Kyle of Lochalsh and the isle itself.

So that too made it onto the "visit again" list and to make it all the more worthwhile we dropped in on the Talisker whisky distillery for a tour while we were there.

The weather wasn't perfect, but clear enough for us to finally see the full beautiful scenery that surrounded us.

Sea and Skye.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Friday

For me, Friday was the highlight of the week.  It was the day that we returned to one of the places that started my whole love affair with the West Highlands.  Glen Gour is the place in which I set part of The Wickedest War and it was on our first visit in 2014 that we first walked along part of this wonderful glen.  We walked it again last year, getting further than before on account of not stopping to take photos every twenty yards (I still took over a hundred photos the second time round).

This year we walked for just over six hours (there and back) and still didn't traverse the entire length of the glen.  However, we did discover a new delight in the form of another (small) waterfall.  Each time we've visited Glen Gour the weather has been glorious and this year was no exception.  It just adds to the attraction of the place.

It started as a name on a map and now this place is very special to me.  Don't be surprised if it doesn't end up featuring in all of my novels in one for or another!

One of many, many photos I took of Glen Gour this time round.
It's hard to choose just one.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Oh, OK. Just one more photo. The falls where we had lunch.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

Home Again

So, that was the holiday.  I'm home again and pining for...well, not the fjords, but the lochs.  I was hoping to get the feel of what it's like to be in a more natural, less urban environment for my fantasy series, Kiranan's Crucible, and I've certainly achieved that.

Now, it's back to reality and back to turning all that inspiration into stories!

Notes In The Margin #7: No Notes Tonight

There's no NITM as such this week, I'm afraid (well, not a proper one - sorry)

I was hoping to compose something based around the subject of inspiration.  However, while I have plenty of inspiration this week, I've been lacking in time and space (not to mention internet connectvitiy) to actually form that inspiration into a coherant post.

I'll do better next week (I promise) once I'm back south.

In the meantime, here's a picture some waterfalls  (along with the walk to get to them) that provided me with lots of inspiration on Tuesday.  I'll tell you more about them next week!

Some waterfalls in Glen Coe.
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]