Consistency in the novel

Hello again,

Consistency is important in writing a novel. Some authors complete an entry on a reference card every time they make an observation about a character. This can be something as basic as the hair style or colour, or the mention of physical features. It is also worth making a note of a repeated action, or response that a character makes.

For example, DC Tony Hampton is a member of Callum’s investigating team who appears in all the novels. He has military tattoos and a turn of phrase that reinforces his prior life. He consistently uses the twenty-four-hour clock, ‘he arrived at 0-800 hours, guv’ and often responds to a request with ‘Wilco.’ This, without fanfare, informs the more observant reader about both Bird’s character and his past life without the need to put it in the text.

To some extent it also allows the writer to avoid adding ‘he,’ and ‘she said’ after every sentence of dialogue. Bird’s favourite adjective is ‘bleedin’,’ and if a character in the office says, ‘that’s just bleedin’ stupid’, we know it is Bird speaking.

But readers have excellent memories, especially when they have formed, in their own mind, an image of a character. If the eyes of that character change from brown to blue without any explanation – they will notice.

Another area where consistency is important is the setting. I always use an existing setting. If Callum’s team drive out of Fordingbridge along Roger Penny Way towards Bramshaw, Godshill cricket pitch is on the right of the road and that is where it has to stay. One of the drawbacks in using a real location, is that I can’t bend the facts to suit my narrative. If it takes ten minutes to travel from a point in Hale to a point in Woodgreen then that is how long it will take my characters to complete the journey. The plot and action have to be adapted to suit the geography – not the other way around.

Book 4

No update on that, although it is still scheduled for publication at the beginning of October.

Book 5

As with the other four books in the series, all the action is viewed with Callum ‘in the shot’ so to speak. If he doesn’t see it happen, then a report of the action is delivered to him by a team member, a witness or other means, such as CCTV coverage, or a phone call or message.  This is both a blessing and a curse. On a positive, it means that the reader gets all the clues that Callum gets exactly when he receives them. On a negative, it means that the writer cannot show you something that might be pertinent but that happens out of ‘eye-shot’.

As a result of choosing this structure, I have ended up writing scenes that will never see the printed page as they happen ‘off-camera.’ But I needed to commit them to paper so that, when a character relates that information to the team, it has to be consistent with the reports from other witnesses. (Unless of course a character is deliberately telling lies to manipulate or influence the investigation.)

Fairs and Events

August is looking very busy.

• August 9^th I have a stall at a charity event at Sandy Balls in Godshill  and am really looking forward to that.
• August 15^th I am in Salisbury with a craft hut in the Old George Mall outside M&S.
• August 22^nd we are at the town hall in Romsey.
• August 29^th from 11 – 1.30 I am doing a book signing at the Mysterious Bookcase in 6 Westbourne Arcade, Bournemouth, BH4 9AY. If you are in the area come along and say hello.
• August 24^th – 30^th is the Fisherton History Society in Salisbury and 30^th is Crime Novel Day. Along with two other crime writers I will be presenting a talk followed by a Q&A session and a panel event.

If you are entertaining younger members of your family then there is a wonderful event that has been organised with them in mind at the Rocketship Bookshop in Salisbury – Tales of Pooh and Paddington.

https://www.fishertonhistorysociety.org/ will find all the information about events and tickets.