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About Me

I'm an author and freelance journalist, venturing into the world of 'blogs' for the first time. Although I usually write from dreams, these are purely formed from my own opinions, observations and general silliness. If you're feeling brave, why not read a couple? Or if you want to go back to the safety of nice, familiar books, venture back to the main site.


TRANSITION - Posted on 6/18/2009


Now, ladies and gentleman, for something a little bit different.

Before I've only made brief comments about the progress of Grassmarket Blood, but now I feel I'm at a point where I really want to speak out.

I feel like I'm at a kind of transitional level with my writing; when I wrote Nightswallow, it was all very dreamlike. Thinking about dreams recently, it's taken me back to the sort of emotional depth I was able to achieve while I was still writing it.

Nightswallow was a dream – a very deep and disturbing one, beginning with when I woke up dead and felt the terrible coldness in my heart. Staring coldly, centimetres from a wall, staring into nothingness as slowly some sort of feeling came back to me. I was numb.

After that point in the dream, I experienced what it was like to be Night. I felt her fear, her dreams, her desires, her inner struggle. And yes, the latter part of the book was more based on imagination than that dream, but the strong feelings I had propelled me forward until the story was finished, and I wrote with my heart. I built upon what I'd already felt, and I didn't let it go. In a way, part of it's still with me now.

But I've moved on; with the kind of methods I'm using for Grassmarket Blood, I find it an entirely different experience, a new level. I'm more using my brain, and really thinking about the connections between the characters instead of blindly feeling my way with my emotions only.

I don't know how it's even possible to write a book purely on emotion alone, but that's the only way I can think of to describe what I did with Nightswallow – I was in another world every time I sat in front of the screen and did my typey types.

The characters in Grassmarket Blood are progressing especially well. The relationships I'm able to build between them really help the story come to life, and I'd say this story is perhaps more about the characters than the actual plot, if that makes sense.

A method I'm aware of is to ask what is driving these people forward, always forward, move the story on before it goes stale etc. but for this particular set of characters, it's mostly each other. It's almost kind of cute, if I wasn't so attached to them.

I'm also certain this is the most light-hearted of anything I've ever written in my life. Certainly the most mainstream; I actually dare to have quite high hopes for this novel. I have a good feeling about it.

I was actually quite surprised when I went back to read through everything from the very beginning, and found myself enjoying my own work. It barely needed correcting, at least in my opinion. Still a lot of work to go, though.

Now I'm somewhere in the middle of the thick soup of the plot, but I find myself using a plethora of different angles to compliment the story. It's refreshing, and also quite enjoyable. Hopefully it will be to read, as well.

~B


Add a comment

Comment from Marina
As you know I enjoyed Nightswollow and I think Grassmarket blood sounds a little different.. but in a good way :) so i'll be waiting for this one on the bookshelf so to speak
Posted 6/18/2009



Comment from Lucy
The way you write sounds fascinating, I can't wait for Grassmarket Blood! lucy.
Posted 6/18/2009



Comment from Mark
You're very talented, wish I could write the way you do.
Posted 6/18/2009



Comment from claire
keep us updated :-) xx
Posted 6/18/2009



Comment from Bobby
Nice!
Posted 6/19/2009



Comment from James
That is the real question isn't it...do you stand at the edge of the cliff and fall...and pray like fuck and hope to hell that you can do something co-herent, imaginative and relevant and not seem too arty farty
Posted 6/19/2009



Comment from B.
I don't think Grassmarket Blood is at all 'arty farty' but whether it can be as engaging as I hope it is, well that's another story. It's not an incredibly serious book, either. I'm not going to try too hard, I think that's why I had a dream about exploding people last night. I'll take that as a warning sign!
Posted 6/19/2009



Comment from Liam
Great book title, 'Grassmarket Blood'... makes me feel right at home!
Posted 6/19/2009



Comment from Aaron
like the sound of this one, sorry I must admit I'm slightly behind as in only reading book one, but will read this too when it comes out.
Posted 6/21/2009



Comment from Red101
You've become one of my favourite new writers, keep up the good work!
Posted 6/24/2009



Comment from B.
Thank you, I'll try not to!
Posted 6/24/2009



Comment from Marina
As you know I enjoyed Nightswollow and I think Grassmarket blood sounds a little different.. but in a good way :) so i'll be waiting for this one on the bookshelf so to speak
Posted 6/30/2009