Malcolm’s writing tips

take ideas from your own interests; choose a theme that’s close to your heart; if it’s interesting to you as a writer, you might excite the reader as well
know your subject or, if not, do lots of research
as author, don’t look down on your characters as if you’re playing chess with them (they should feel as if they’re alive, not just tools of the plot); get inside them and see the action from their point of view to make sure they act naturally
allow the plot to develop; don’t stick with the original plan if it doesn’t feel right; maybe the butler didn’t do it after all
jot down good ideas and sentences in a notebook before you forget them
don’t get stuck on the opening scene – if it’s a problem, just carry on; the beginning will be much clearer to you when you get to the end; then, you can go back and redraft the opening
try to excite readers with the opening; make them wonder what’s going to happen because that’s a sign that they’re hooked (lists of facts or characters are rarely exciting – interest first, facts later); maybe try (a) straight into action, or (b) a scary opening scene
give your characters habits (like biting nails, always joking, always saying, “You know”); it helps to make them come alive
use humour (a little humour goes a long way, particularly in horror/crime writing)
don’t be too ambitious with the plot and number of characters (in a short story there is not enough space for a very complicated plot and it’s confusing for the reader to get to grips with a lot of characters at the outset)
try to make your characters speak realistically (often ungrammatical)
leave out any part that you yourself would skip if you were reading your own story
believe your instinct – if you think a passage may not be quite right, it isn’t
check and check again; redrafting is the key; don’t be afraid to admit that a section may not have worked well and needs a bit more effort and rewriting before it’s up to scratch
read your story aloud to a small supportive audience; you will hear any weaknesses, especially in speech and the flow of the story, when it’s said aloud; the critical but constructive comments of friends will also help

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