Category Archives: On writing

Inspired by places, todays choice – Havana, Cuba

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Havana, Cuba. This is my romance town. There were many places in Cuba I loved, not least the hotel right on the Northern tip of the island where they served all-day mojitos by the edge of the swimming pool, but the place that really got my creative juices flowing was Havana.

Before going, I had the classic images of sixties cars on narrow streets lined with sand coloured faded buildings, in my head, but I discovered it was so much more than that. Ancient ladies standing in dark doorways, squinting in the bright sun, with such stories to tell as to set the mind racing.

The casual samba band, jamming in the courtyard behind a café, dreaming of fame, or maybe calling the spirits out, or maybe just playing their story to the ragged streets.

The sweeping beauty of the Malecon, where the kids come to start their own stories, and flirt and sweat in the evening sun. I’ve chosen Havana to talk about, but all of Cuba was a fascinating place, filled with stories and mysteries and I would dearly love to return there one day.

Inspired by places, todays destination – Tunisia

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I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Tunisia, visiting a couple of the big towns, the desert (Tatooine, woohoo!), and various places in-between.

Of all the different countries I have been to, it felt like the biggest jolt, the biggest step away from what I knew, and I’m so glad that I kept a diary whilst I was there. I still return to it and as soon as I open the pages, I can feel the dust and the heat. I‘m transported to the gigantic colosseum, abandoned on the edge of town and crying out for time travelling gladiators.

 

I’m whisked back to camel riding in the desert, lone adventurer (my folks fade into the background at this point) seeking water/princess/treasure/pub.

 

 

I find myself in the market, buried beneath the cries of stall holders, and animals, assailed by a myriad of unfamiliar smells, and seeking the only man with the key to my mysterious fate. A wonderful place, rich, exciting and, as it happens, very friendly!

Inspired by places, todays destination – Soho, London

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I find myself inspired by many things; people; places; images; music, really anything I come across. Whilst most of what I write comes from the voices in my head; the initial spark, or trigger to an idea is normally external. I find travelling, and seeing new, and indeed old, places particularly inspiring.

My wife and I often play a game when we’re driving somewhere, getting one another to create bizarre scenarios or stories based upon what we can see. We do this for people as well, inventing stories for the random folk we pass walking through town.

I thought this week I would take you on a mini tour to some of the places I have found the most inspiring…

 

Soho, London. There are a hundred places in London I could talk about. I love this town and everything about it, and find and have found endless inspiration in many parts of it. I’ve chosen Soho because it’s my favourite place to go and hang out, soaking up the atmosphere and letting the ideas flow.

 

There are endless back streets, ripe for a murder, or random opening of a portal. There are buildings steeped in history, inviting thoughts of dimly-lit gatherings of ages old vampires or dusty magic users. And of course, there are the people. A thousand, thousand stories, all clamouring and jostling to be told, to escape the street and break free of my imagination and into print.

The smell, the noise, the very air enriches and enlivens the dreaming part of me.

 

7 days of soundtracks, getting pumped to write a great action scene

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Justice – Stress

Justice are an electronic music act, creating some fantastic dance music. Their music can be both atmospheric and action filled and they use a great blend of very electronic sounds and some more classical timbres. If I’m writing a fight scene, having music that gets me pumped (beefcake, beeefcaaake!) really helps with putting some adrenaline into the action. I’d recommend the entire ‘A cross the universe’ live album, but the song ‘Stress’ works particularly well for me when building up the tension and getting both myself and hopefully my readers excited about what’s to come. The song leaves me with the same slightly breathless feeling that a really great action scene does.

 

7 days of soundtracks, capturing the city vibe

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John Coltrane – Blue Train

Source: google.com via Eric on Pinterest

There’s something about jazz that just speaks to me of cities. It may be because I was living in London when I learned to play it and enjoy it! For whatever reason, whenever my characters are in the city, this just sets the scene for me perfectly. Conjuring up the dingy clubs, the darkened streets, the thrill of the unexpected and the magic that can be found in walking around a town with your imagination unlocked. It can also slip into the romantic and provide that mysterious liaison soundtrack, when the need arises. I like the slight edge of menace some of the tracks, particularly the title track, have to them. The combination of players on the album, including the fantastic and charismatic Elvin Jones on the drums evokes in me the same sense of discomfort I may feel in a strange place or difficult situation.

 

7 days of soundtracks, for when you need to bring the cool

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Source: imdb.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

The Herbaliser

Writing a cool action scene, or perhaps some kind of heist? Look no further than the Herbaliser. They’re a live dance act, playing funky grooves whilst maintaining that minimalist thing I spoke about with Explosions in the Sky.  Reminiscent of the Ocean’s movies’ soundtracks by David Holmes, I can’t help but nod my head and grin when I listen to them. They work perfectly when I’m trying to bring the cool to whatever I’m writing and have sound-tracked many a character entrance in my head.