Through the years there have been a lot of great heroic characters created by a lot of great adventure writers. For me, there are several who stand out. Nelson DeMille created a character named John Corey for his novel 'Plum Island'. Corey is a tough sarcastic cop.. and the kind of guy every reader wishes they were like.
Wilbur Smith created a character named Harry Fletcher for his novel, 'Eye of The Tiger'. Harry was a cool kind of guy and it was one of the few novels Wilbur Wrote in first person.
But for me, the best action adventure character is Richard Sharpe, created by Bernard Cornwell.
Sharpe is the hero of over 20 novels written by Cornwell, all centred around the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is tough, ruthless... a genuine heroic figure.
He's also the kinda guy Todd Kent isn't!
Where Sharpe, or John Corey.. or Harry Fletcher would fight and win, poor Todd is so far out of his depth, he's in danger of drowning.
I've just posted new pages for today. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab and scroll down to the first sentence which I have made bold.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Things Getting Serious For Todd
I've just posted new pages to Chapter One. Poor Todd has suddenly walked into a dangerous situation. You can read the new work by clicking on the 'Chapter 1' tab and scrolling down to the first line I have made bold. Hope you enjoy!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Desmond Bagley; Wonderful Story Teller
There was a fabulous adventure author back in the 1960's and 1970's by the name of Desmond Bagley. Desmond's problem was that he rose to success at the same time as Alistair Maclean... so he ended up being a little overshadowed.
But his novels were wonderful.
Bagley's characters weren't the macho superheroes that seem to populate adventure novels these days. Bagley's characters were the reluctant hero.. the unassuming guy who finds himself in a crisis. In a lot of ways, Todd Kent is drawn from a Bagley-like character.
If you ever venture into a 2nd hand bookstore, I highly recommend the novels by Desmond Bagley. In particular, 'The Vivero Letter' and the 'Golden Keel'
New pages have just been added to Chapter 1. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab (above) and scroll down to the bold first line. That's where we pick up today's action.
But his novels were wonderful.
Bagley's characters weren't the macho superheroes that seem to populate adventure novels these days. Bagley's characters were the reluctant hero.. the unassuming guy who finds himself in a crisis. In a lot of ways, Todd Kent is drawn from a Bagley-like character.
If you ever venture into a 2nd hand bookstore, I highly recommend the novels by Desmond Bagley. In particular, 'The Vivero Letter' and the 'Golden Keel'
New pages have just been added to Chapter 1. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab (above) and scroll down to the bold first line. That's where we pick up today's action.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Confidence And Re-Writes
Writing is excruciatingly painful for me. The words always seem to be a struggle to find... and ultimately, they're not the best words. So I re-write. And re-write some more.
It's all about confidence.
If I'd published a few novels, I'd probably be able to write faster; write better. It's that confidence that seems to come only when you 'feel' accomplished.
Well I don't. So I re-write. And I'm still not sure I've got the best words... but they're the best I can come up with.
I've added todays new pages to Chapter 1. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above and scroll down. The new work begins with a bold first sentence.
It's all about confidence.
If I'd published a few novels, I'd probably be able to write faster; write better. It's that confidence that seems to come only when you 'feel' accomplished.
Well I don't. So I re-write. And I'm still not sure I've got the best words... but they're the best I can come up with.
I've added todays new pages to Chapter 1. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above and scroll down. The new work begins with a bold first sentence.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Why Write In First Person?
This novel is written in first person. That might seem strange.
I think it made the story harder to plot (because I have to tell the story from one person's perspective, rather than as an overview), but I think it also helps the story in other ways.
One thing I wanted to show through this novel was the way Todd Kent would react to the extraordinary circumstances he finds himself in. I want him to be 'out of his depth'. Telling the tale from his perspective helps me make his plight more personal.
It's also reminiscent of the way Desmond Bagley and even Alistair Maclean wrote; that first person tale. In Maclean's case, the hero was often heroic... in Bagley's case that was less often the case.
Anyhow, Todd Kent is soon going to find himself out of his depth and in an adventure he is not prepared for!
I've posted new pages for Chapter One as the story begins to unfold. To find the latest pages click on the 'Chapter 1' tab and scroll down to the bold first sentence. That's where we pick up the action again.
I think it made the story harder to plot (because I have to tell the story from one person's perspective, rather than as an overview), but I think it also helps the story in other ways.
One thing I wanted to show through this novel was the way Todd Kent would react to the extraordinary circumstances he finds himself in. I want him to be 'out of his depth'. Telling the tale from his perspective helps me make his plight more personal.
It's also reminiscent of the way Desmond Bagley and even Alistair Maclean wrote; that first person tale. In Maclean's case, the hero was often heroic... in Bagley's case that was less often the case.
Anyhow, Todd Kent is soon going to find himself out of his depth and in an adventure he is not prepared for!
I've posted new pages for Chapter One as the story begins to unfold. To find the latest pages click on the 'Chapter 1' tab and scroll down to the bold first sentence. That's where we pick up the action again.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wilbur Smith's Influence On My Life
When my father gave me a paperback copy of Wilbur Smith's "When The Lion Feeds", my life changed forever.
I read the adventure novel, and knew instantly I wanted to be an author. Over the next decade I read and re-read everything Wilbur Smith wrote. In fact, from the age of thirteen until I was twenty-three I never read another author. I just re-read every Wilbur Smith book over and over again.
And that was despite getting my first job in a major bookstore!
In 1981, I wrote to Wilbur, and, to my amazement, the man wrote back; two handwritten pages of advice and help for a wannabe writer.
We exchanged other letters in the years that followed.
Then in the 1990's I published a small newspaper and actually managed to do a phone interview with Wilbur. The publicist gave me exactly seven minutes. But Wilbur and I chatted for almost an hour before the interview ended.
I've read lots of great authors since I was first introduced to Wilbur Smith's writing, but the day my father handed me "When the Lion Feeds" remains the most pivotal and influential of my early years.
It was because of that moment I've carried this dream with me for so long.
I've just published more pages as the novel continues. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above.
The opening line of today's work has been made bold so you can see where the action carries on from yesterday. I hope you enjoy!
I read the adventure novel, and knew instantly I wanted to be an author. Over the next decade I read and re-read everything Wilbur Smith wrote. In fact, from the age of thirteen until I was twenty-three I never read another author. I just re-read every Wilbur Smith book over and over again.
And that was despite getting my first job in a major bookstore!
In 1981, I wrote to Wilbur, and, to my amazement, the man wrote back; two handwritten pages of advice and help for a wannabe writer.
We exchanged other letters in the years that followed.
Then in the 1990's I published a small newspaper and actually managed to do a phone interview with Wilbur. The publicist gave me exactly seven minutes. But Wilbur and I chatted for almost an hour before the interview ended.
I've read lots of great authors since I was first introduced to Wilbur Smith's writing, but the day my father handed me "When the Lion Feeds" remains the most pivotal and influential of my early years.
It was because of that moment I've carried this dream with me for so long.
I've just published more pages as the novel continues. Click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above.
The opening line of today's work has been made bold so you can see where the action carries on from yesterday. I hope you enjoy!
Monday, November 22, 2010
This Is My Crazy Attempt To Be Published
So how did I get here?
I don't really know.
All I do know is that since I was thirteen years old I wanted to write adventure novels for a living.
Yeah, right!
Well, like most of us with dreams, reality gets in the way. It did for me. Life went on around me and I ended up chasing other people's dreams for quite a few years. I've done a number of things... but none of them were what I really wanted to do.
I made one attempt at writing this novel. Several years ago I completed a draft and sent it off to a small publisher. And then I waited. And waited.
Ultimately, I missed out. They chose another novel to publish. I was crushed. It was the first time I'd really thrown my heart and soul into a project of my own... and I got rejected.
So 'Die By The Sword' went into a drawer along with that schoolboy dream of being a published author.
Now, many years later, I've decided it's time to dust off the old manuscript and re-work the story... because I'm stupid enough to believe everything deserves a second chance at success (even my little novel).
So here it is.
If you click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above this post, you'll find the first pages of 'Die By The Sword'. Each weekday I'm going to aim to write about 500 words. When 'Chapter 1' is completed, I'll add the Tab for Chapter 2, and the novel will continue.
I really hope you enjoy the story. I'd very much appreciate your comments. This whole process is a daunting adventure (more daunting than the action in the novel).
Ultimately, I'm hoping I can attract enough public support and Followers to this blog that a publisher or literary agent will take notice... and maybe, just maybe, that boyhood dream will become a reality.
Time will tell. But for now, it's on with the show. Click on the 'Chapter 1 Tab'. The first pages of 'Die By The Sword' are waiting for you to read!
Tony Moffitt
I don't really know.
All I do know is that since I was thirteen years old I wanted to write adventure novels for a living.
Yeah, right!
Well, like most of us with dreams, reality gets in the way. It did for me. Life went on around me and I ended up chasing other people's dreams for quite a few years. I've done a number of things... but none of them were what I really wanted to do.
I made one attempt at writing this novel. Several years ago I completed a draft and sent it off to a small publisher. And then I waited. And waited.
Ultimately, I missed out. They chose another novel to publish. I was crushed. It was the first time I'd really thrown my heart and soul into a project of my own... and I got rejected.
So 'Die By The Sword' went into a drawer along with that schoolboy dream of being a published author.
Now, many years later, I've decided it's time to dust off the old manuscript and re-work the story... because I'm stupid enough to believe everything deserves a second chance at success (even my little novel).
So here it is.
If you click on the 'Chapter 1' tab above this post, you'll find the first pages of 'Die By The Sword'. Each weekday I'm going to aim to write about 500 words. When 'Chapter 1' is completed, I'll add the Tab for Chapter 2, and the novel will continue.
I really hope you enjoy the story. I'd very much appreciate your comments. This whole process is a daunting adventure (more daunting than the action in the novel).
Ultimately, I'm hoping I can attract enough public support and Followers to this blog that a publisher or literary agent will take notice... and maybe, just maybe, that boyhood dream will become a reality.
Time will tell. But for now, it's on with the show. Click on the 'Chapter 1 Tab'. The first pages of 'Die By The Sword' are waiting for you to read!
Tony Moffitt
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