All Things M4tt

Hey all,

I am going to try this series of blog posts about the writing tips and tricks that I use in my journey towards being published.

Maybe something you read will help you if not you'll get a taste of the whirling mess that I call 'my mind'.

This week I'm going to look at 5 basics that help the writing process for me.

1. Music

My brother got me into Spotify nearly two years ago and I'm a massive fan. I really enjoy the choice that it gives you at the click of a button. The type of scene I'm writing has an affect on my playlist. One massive thing for me when I'm writing is I struggle to listen to music with lyrics. I'm a massive lyric devourer and it becomes too much of a distraction for me. Film soundtracks, instrumentals, jazz or acoustic rehashes of popular music is usually the way for me.

If the scene I'm writing is aggressive I sometimes try to listen to rock instrumentals or other upbeat guitar laden tracks. I've recently started to listen to The 37th Chamber by El Michels Affair. It is a Jazz album but the entire album is a homage to the Wu-Tang clan, so the beats still have that 'kick off your front door' vibe to them. For those aggressive moments I also love playing some Buddy Rich. His drum solos really hit the spot and help me add pace to scenes.

For everything else I usually play some Chet Baker or Charlie Parker.

In terms of soundtracks John Williams or Hans Zimmer are always a good shout. I do get a bit caught up in the music though, so I have to be careful or before long I'm air violining to 'Binary Sunset'

Weirdly, for any writing I do that focusses on love, as a precursor, I always seem to play "As the world Falls Down" by David Bowie, from the labyrinth. It just seems to take me into the timeless love mood.

Click Here for the video and to get in the mood :P

2. Reading other books in my genre

I'm a fantasy fiction writer and I always find that when I'm reading another fantasy themed book, it really ignites the fires in me to write. If I see an interesting way a scene is described or the way a character is introduced it makes me feel like competing.

At the moment I'm reading everything I can find by Morgan Rice. She loves to write about Kings, Queens, magic and war, which is right up my street. With every page I read it makes me re-think about my own book and it really pushes me to write the best escapism I can. That's what I see fiction books as, escapism. Moving the reader far away from reality and

dropping them in a place that is completely different and yet eerily similar.

3. Watching fantasy fiction

If I'm feeling a little lethargic about writing, I watch a film that involves magic and fantasy. When I do this it really makes me remember why I want to write. The visuals make me think about making sure the world I am creating is just as vivid and other worldly.

Fantasy fiction is what I love. It takes you far away from reality and I want my writing to do the same for my readers. My favourite films to shake away the lethargy are Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Hook. Many chapters have been written off the backs of one of those films.

4. Reading the blogs of other fiction authors

For me, this gives me that belief I sometimes need. Reading a blog and seeing the humanity in other authors makes this writing lark seem possibly.

A big thing, when writing a novel, is the daunting nature of the task. It's very personal, time consuming and scary. I am regularly faced with the thoughts of Why am I doing this? or You aren't good enough! Seeing these thoughts shared by other authors really makes that light at the end of the tunnel seem closer. Also seeing that they have lives and are just normal makes me believe that I can achieve my goal of becoming published.

I'm going to throw Instagram under the 'blog' label and say this is a great place to be involved in the writing community. The positivity amongst like-minded people has really been a great driver for me in this process.

(Hook Soundtrack is playing as I'm writing this, I've literally stopped for the last two minutes and jigged around my room. Gift and curse of music when writing :P)

5. Understanding procrastination

I always find that once my manuscript is up and open I can usually get the ball rolling. My previous four life defining bits of info are usually aids for when I can't find the desire to click open. I am lucky that I have never had writers block or sat at the screen unable to write. It might be slow going sometimes but I am never harsh on myself for only writing two sentences or procrastinating. I see it all as a part of the process. That does sound really Zen, but I think the task is hard enough without you fighting yourself because you have decided to take your lightsabre out, from your cupboard, and re-enact the entire fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin set to the exact music.

Thanks for reading guys. I hope someone can find some guidance from this. Until next time.

"Hey everyone,"

Thought I'd comment on the Captain America trailer because well... It was that amazing.

Out of all the individual Avenger films I have enjoyed Captain America's efforts the most. However, with the oscar season and impending Kent vs Wayne battle, I'd kind of forgotten about Caps (Captain America for the uninitiated) latest effort. This morning completely changed that!

Captain America vs Iron Man, heroes vs heroes, good vs good? I can't wait to see why they are against each other. The trailer does hint at reasons but I have far too a riotous imagination to start clutching a hints.

If the thought of two Avengers going against each other wasn't enough the trailer ends with the type of surprise that left my jaw on the floor and my tongue not too far behind.

After repeating the end of the trailer more times than my Iphone battery could afford I had a moment of clarity and then started sharing the link with EVERYONE!

SPIDEY is back!

Sadly, not in the form of Andrew Garfield, who I think nailed his time in the red and blue but suffered from company pressure (I still can't understand why Hobgoblin was there). However, SPIDEY is BACK and he's younger and a part of the Avengers universe. Just think of the possibilities, he could be part of the next Avengers film, he could sling into the next Guardians of the Galaxy Film, we might finally see a decent shot at a Venom film (Can you see what I said about my imagination and hint clutching).

Anyway I will leave you with the link to indulge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKrVegVI0Us

Until next time

Hey world!

I'm back posting again (finally, I hear you whisper). I will be more frequent and attempting to give you an insight in the sprawling mess that is my mind.

Just a short one this evening, saying this seems to make them doubly as long but hey. I watch all kinds of documentaries on Netflix and last night I stumbled across 'All This Mayhem'. It's a two hour rollercoaster looking at the rise and fall of the Pappas brothers, who were two kids from Melbourne who became the number 1 and 2 ranked skateboarders in the world. They got caught up heavily in drugs and their own egos and the documentary doesn't sugarcoat anything.

Check it out! Until next time.

Click here for the trailer

Much has occurred since my last blog. I've seen TDKR several times, I've quoted Bane quotes until my family threatened to disown me, then I saw LOOPER.

Everything in between is boring and doesn't require a mention.

After enduring the roller coaster that was TDKR I didn't think I would see a better film this year. Then a few weeks back I saw the Looper trailer for the first time. My heart fluttered, air intake became difficult and my brain switched off, all of this just because of Jospeh Gordon Levitt.

Once I recovered from the thought of two JGL films in three months I watched the trailer again and was completely awe struck again.

Long story short, Looper is incredible! The acting is impressive and the script is mind blowing. I would hate to wonder the type of 'River Phoenix super drugs' being injected to come up with an idea that intense. Where Looper succeeds is its ability to stay brilliant, fresh and unique but also simple and believable.

Bruce Willis and JGL fight for their lives throughout but also for the right to say, 'I'm the coolest'. It was a close battle but I reckon the younger A lister won (those who know me understand the level of bias my decision comes from).

If you haven't seen it yet, what is wrong with you? Honestly?

Until next time loopers!

"The blogger must return"

"What if he doesn't exist anymore?"

"He must"

And on that note I say hello. After months of slaving away I am back! Did you miss me? Your silence speaks a thousand words. Well i've missed this! The freedom to write mindless drivel without worrying about lessons. The school year has finished and left me with 7 weeks of free time to occupy with anything I may fancy. Thus far that has included drink and sleep, but as of today I have started writing AGAIN :) hence the long overdue blog. I would divulge into all that is new in my life but it all kind of pales in comparison to the gift the world is about to receive.

"What gift?"

"Gotham's reckoning"

For those who have realised what my random quotes are about, kudos, for those that haven't, shame on you!

DARK KNIGHT RISES - THIS FRIDAY - CAN'T CONTAIN MY JOY - AHHHHH

"Why can't this film be released now?"

"Your punishment must be more severe!"

Yes, i've seen every piece of footage available to the unlucky majority (Unlucky cause the minority have seen it), yes, I am going to see it on Friday morning at 10 am, no, i'm not 14 years old, yes, I do have batman underwear, what's your point? This film is going to be amazing! Chris Nolan, Tom Hardy, JGL, Anne Hathaway!!!! COME ON! I will let you know of my opinion after I have seen it.

"You have my permission to comment once Gotham falls!"

5 Things That Help Me Write

1. Music

2. Reading other books in my genre

3. Watching fantasy fiction

4. Reading the blogs of other fiction authors

5. Understanding procrastination

Why was the Civil War trailer that good?

Back from the nether regions

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Things I did and things I think I did

Best Of The Best

Hordes of Hell (Love you really)

Books that have tickled my fancy

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