Andrew Ferguson
Children's/YA Author
Archives
Fantasy Clichés and How to Avoid Them
Posted on May 4, 2021 Leave a Comment
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve done a series of posts on any subject so I decided it was about time for another one: this time focusing on all your favourite genre clichés and how to avoid them.
Get Your Copy of Penstricken: Collected Stories!
Posted on May 1, 2021 Leave a Comment
There are short stories, there are very short stories and then there is flash fiction: the delicate and often tricky art of telling a story in as few words as possible.The stories in this tiny little book (all originally published between 2015 and 2020 on the fiction blog, Penstricken) are deliberate exercises in brevity.
In total, this book contains twelve flash fictions ranging from fifty to 2,000 words apiece, plus six collections of six word stories.
While these stories vary in mood and genre, you will find in many that the author’s tongue was firmly entrenched in his cheek; whether it be in the brief tale of a Martian liberating his ‘kin’ from the deep fat fryer of a Glasgow chip shop or the nightmarish tragedy of Santa Claus’ true genesis, Penstricken: Collected Stories is a brief snapshot of one writer’s meandering imagination.
7 Useful Posts on Fiction and Writing
Posted on April 30, 2021 Leave a Comment
I have scoured WordPress for the last few days, searching out some of the most useful, entertaining or insightful posts on the subject of story writing and have compiled them here for your enjoyment.
How To Write When Time Is Short
Posted on April 24, 2021 Leave a Comment
Good writing takes time. That’s why it’s so important to write frequently and regularly.
5 Basic Star Trek Plots
Posted on April 21, 2021 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.
On Character Traits
Posted on April 20, 2021 Leave a Comment
Let your reader get to know Dave by experiencing Dave, not simply being told about Dave.
Juggling Multiple Writing Projects
Posted on April 19, 2021 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?’
Pants, Plants and Plans: A Beginner’s Guide
Posted on April 17, 2021 Leave a Comment
If you’re struggling with whatever method comes naturally to you, it may be time to try a different approach. And so, what follows is my own concise analysis of each approach, comparing pros and cons as evenly as I can.
Not Sure Where To Begin With Your Story? Try Free Writing.
Posted on April 14, 2021 Leave a Comment
Free writing is a time honoured prewriting technique which works by encouraging the writer to write without fear of criticism or failure for a set period of time.
6 Useful Posts on Fiction and Writing
Posted on April 13, 2021 1 Comment
I couldn’t think of anything clever to write this week, so I decided it was time for another exciting instalment of Useful Posts on Fiction and Writing, where I share other people’s clever fiction-related posts.
Andrew Ferguson 