Plots and Patterns

Plots and Patterns

Design Patterns In my IT degree course, we learned about Design Patterns. A design pattern for coding is like a template, evolved and shaped to solve a commonly recurring problem. Why reinvent the wheel? Clever software designers provide patterns for these, upon which...
In The Observatory

In The Observatory

Day 4 This is where you look at the stars. In the observatory, it doesn’t get much more romantic than this. Actually, I think Saffron and Nate might have had a romantic moment. Dreams, Wishes and Star-Gazing He put his arm round her again and together they...
The Final Frontier — Over the Hedge

The Final Frontier — Over the Hedge

Not sure where those web strands attach. Not sure I want to know. via The Final Frontier — Over the Hedge  Since discovering the movie, Over The Hedge, I’ve become addicted to the ongoing tales for R. J. and his patient reptilian – sorry amphibian –...

Crushing Scrivener

This is a shout-out to K. M. Weiland, author and writing coach, and Joseph Michael, Scrivener ninja, for hosting their live webinar, Learn Scrivener Fast, on July 13. They presented an amazing tutorial to help writers master Scrivener without tears. Are you  a writer...
Blogger Summer Circus Giveaway Hop

Blogger Summer Circus Giveaway Hop

Star-Gazing Tent The idea of the Summer Circus was to pitch up with your tent. To represent Far Out, Nate and Saffron decided to run a star-gazing tent, since Cosmology is one of the themes of the book. During the day we’re running videos of sky-watching in...
In The Observatory

In the Planetarium

Day 3 What is a planetarium? It’s a building with a domed roof onto which we can project a simulated display of the night sky, study the stars and learn the positions of the constellations. It’s a bit like a cinema, with comfy seats, but instead of looking...
Point Of View

Point Of View

Weaving the Strands of Plot I shouldn’t have relaxed so soon, thinking strands of plot were coming together, like barely visible wisps of moisture gathering into a cloud. I’m having a rethink about the point of view. I had thought my MC (main character)...
In The Observatory

Blogger Summer Blog Hop Giveaway Riddle

A Visit To The Circus When I launched Far Out, I wrote the Blogger Summer Blog Hop Giveaway Riddle to launch the series of posts. As a project it was great fun. I kicked off with the riddle. The giveaway has expired but I wanted to revive the series of posts because...
By jingo, it’s hot!

By jingo, it’s hot!

Here in Blighty We’re not used to these tropical temperatures. They make our sang froid simmer, and we sizzle like spit-roasted lizards. Must be a bit like that where you are, right? But there you are, stuck in your sweaty swivel chair, rockin’ the ole...
Power Crazy

Power Crazy

A Story Of Fairy Lights And Power Failures Once upon a time, there was a green and pleasant island, in which people knew the law, and by and large, they obeyed it. They took their children to school, went to work, and lived by the unspoken contract whereby, in...