tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post7519672903706392526..comments2024-03-28T04:57:14.057+00:00Comments on Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: Interview with Alex BeecroftAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679564568712601070noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-16489041747975706782011-11-08T09:50:14.954+00:002011-11-08T09:50:14.954+00:00Great interview, Alex. You're definitely much ...Great interview, Alex. You're definitely much more of a plotter than I am. I feel I should take a leaf out of your book...Josephine Myleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04469455529741307720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-89560826833248247152011-11-08T09:02:46.495+00:002011-11-08T09:02:46.495+00:00Totally off-piste, but as a member of the Ely and ...Totally off-piste, but as a member of the Ely and Littleport Riot, have you ever come across the Mepal Molly Men? Founded by my late DH in the 70s. Love the sound off the ghostbusters sharing the village hall with the flower arrangers.Lesley Cookmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699182779296799170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-25007160231559898612011-11-06T18:29:08.443+00:002011-11-06T18:29:08.443+00:00*g* Thanks, Jennifer :) Yes, UtH is a bit more ser...*g* Thanks, Jennifer :) Yes, UtH is a bit more serious than Wallace and Gromit, but on the other hand it's a bit less serious than Torchwood: Children of Earth. <br /><br />There should definitely be some bits where you laugh at the ridiculousness of my amateur ghostbusters (who share their 'offices' with the Matlock Ladies' Flower Arranging club.) But they're in over their heads in a quite serious Faerie related incident, so it can get a bit tense too, I hope.Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-52346486582538474992011-11-06T18:10:20.279+00:002011-11-06T18:10:20.279+00:00I'm looking forward to reading both 'By Ho...I'm looking forward to reading both 'By Honor Betrayed' and 'Under the Hill'. Torchwood meets Wallace and Grommit is so very appealing that it makes me smile. Although, you do say that it is more serious than that.<br /><br />Yay for more books to read!Jennifer Thornehttp://www.jenniferthorne.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-57727193828209393242011-11-05T16:58:23.915+00:002011-11-05T16:58:23.915+00:00Thanks Becky! Yes, I can't approach structure...Thanks Becky! Yes, I can't approach structure from the outside - it has to arise from whatever would be most likely to happen to the characters given what they've already done. It feels too artificial working from the structure inwards. I agree that things tend to naturally come to a climax anyway.<br /><br />And yes, the thing about plans is that they can be changed any time you like. They're more of a guideline than a rule, and there's always space for everything to be swept away by a moment of inspiration. (Then you just re-write the plan and carry on.)Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-74991973067281097612011-11-05T16:53:29.106+00:002011-11-05T16:53:29.106+00:00Thanks Charlie! I should have mentioned that I hav...Thanks Charlie! I should have mentioned that I have a tendency to start with a plot plan for a novella and end up writing an epic. That's how it happened with UtH, and seems to be happening again with Pilgrims' Tale. My planning is greatly subject to change ;)Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-21308966715301278602011-11-05T13:33:37.211+00:002011-11-05T13:33:37.211+00:00I like your planing process. Mine's definitely...I like your planing process. Mine's definitely similar. I worked out my average scene length, so now I know if I've got X number of scenes I've got a story X thousands of words long.<br /><br />I've read plenty about structure, but don't tend to build the plot up on a skeleton of that structure. I look at the character's emotional journey through the story and see what scenes fit best to illustrate where they are one that journey. The structure, three acts and so on just seems to come naturally when I'm doing that.<br /><br />I think some people fear outlining too much, thinking it's mechanical and stifling. But I find it to be a very creative time, where everything is in flux and up for grabs. It's great fun,BeeCyclinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03112685054452735536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-83422789173810568942011-11-05T11:45:54.384+00:002011-11-05T11:45:54.384+00:00Smashing interview, Alex. It's been such fun f...Smashing interview, Alex. It's been such fun following the history of Under the Hill from those first tentative beginnings...<br /><br />More power to your creative elbow!Charlie Cochranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08930334089100649849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-13615519318612272622011-11-04T19:37:44.731+00:002011-11-04T19:37:44.731+00:00Thanks, Jo! Perhaps I've been reading too many...Thanks, Jo! Perhaps I've been reading too many 'how to plot' books, where people make charts of rising tension, plot threads and the percentage of attention each character gets. My process seems quite basic after all of that!Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-81176846139784396952011-11-04T19:35:13.655+00:002011-11-04T19:35:13.655+00:00Thanks, Veronica! Yes, there's a scene in Und...Thanks, Veronica! Yes, there's a scene in Under the Hill that owes its life entirely to my morris dancing experience. And the reenactment is superb for helping you get the feel of the physicality of a historical setting (and fun on its own, of course :) )<br /><br />It used to be that all Fantasy was 'rural' on the model of Tolkien, but these days I'm taking a gamble that 'Miss Marple meets Torchwood' is different enough to amuse.<br />Thank you!Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-69107370215414823732011-11-04T14:39:34.369+00:002011-11-04T14:39:34.369+00:00I really envy the fact that you get to spend so mu...I really envy the fact that you get to spend so much time in the re-enactments and the dancing, which must both feed the creativity nicely! Liked the idea of using a small town setting for a paranormal vs. the big city. Enjoyed the post very much!Veronica Scotthttp://veronicascott.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611561027305931377.post-16628142595846530692011-11-04T08:51:05.187+00:002011-11-04T08:51:05.187+00:00Great interview - thanks.
And I'd have siad p...Great interview - thanks.<br /><br />And I'd have siad plotting each 1000 words of a novel is serious planning. But good for her - it works!JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.com