Andrew Ferguson
Children's/YA Author
Archives
Throwback Thursday: How to Help Your Audience Suspend Disbelief
Posted on February 27, 2020 Leave a Comment
You as the writer have a responsibility to write a story which makes it easy for the audience to suspend their disbelief…. The issue is not one of what is possible. The issue is of what is likely.
Why Your Fantastic Story Idea Has To Die
Posted on March 3, 2019 Leave a Comment
If you want my advice, you’ll treat your idea as a profane thing from the very moment it’s conceived. It is not sacred. It is not too beautiful to die. Frankly, it’s probably not as clever as you thought.
How to Help Your Audience Suspend Disbelief
Posted on February 3, 2019 Leave a Comment
You as the writer have a responsibility to write a story which makes it easy for the audience to suspend their disbelief…. The issue is not one of what is possible. The issue is of what is likely.
5 Basic Star Trek Plots
Posted on September 2, 2018 Leave a Comment
I have compiled this list of five basic Star Trek plots to help you on your way to writing a traditional, cheesy Star Trek story.
Juggling Multiple Writing Projects
Posted on August 19, 2018 Leave a Comment
You’re committed. Dedicated. Come what may, you’re getting this novel done, just by plodding along one word at a time.
Plod, plod… plod…
But then suddenly:
‘I say! Who’s that smokin’ hot piece of brand new idea?’
Gleaning Ideas from Other Stories
Posted on April 15, 2018 Leave a Comment
But what do you do when the Idea Tree stops putting out its juicy fruit? Easy. Glean ideas from someone else’s story.
Daydreaming: An Essential Exercise for Writers
Posted on April 1, 2018 2 Comments
Daydreaming is a habit you should definitely get back into, especially if you plan on being a story-writer.
6 Mental Cobweb Shakers for Writers
Posted on July 23, 2017 Leave a Comment
Ever sat down to write and found your imagination covered in so many cobwebs that you can’t even remember how to pick up your pen? Ever sat staring at a blank screen for hours without even the faintest idea where to begin? Ever wasted your set writing time reading patronising articles on the internet telling you writers’ block doesn’t exist (when you know better) because you just can’t quite seem to get settled into your day’s work?
No?
Well I have, and whenever that happens to me I need something to quickly shake away the cobwebs to help me get off the starting block. Therefore, I am going to commend a few of my favourite cobweb shakers to you today. I don’t know if these will work for you or not but they work for me so… you might as well give them a go, eh?
Hey Author, Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Posted on June 25, 2017 1 Comment
Okay, so for reasons best known to yourself, you want to know where to find the House of the Magical Idea Wizard and think that perhaps I, or one of my author colleagues (you know, the ones that have actually got a few novels published), might have the answers you seek. I know I’m not alone in having people ask me about this. Writers’ blogs seem to be replete with authors whining and complaining about how often their family, friends and fans (those of you who have fans) ask them this same question.
Well… today, O seeker of insight, I am going to attempt to answer this singularly annoying and misguided question in the only way I can: from my own narrow experience.
Andrew Ferguson 