 What do you mean "No free upgrade" - don't you know who I am? - photo courtesy MGM |  |
I have always enjoyed air travel, and have spent hundreds of hours in the air over the last ten years, mostly traveling between UK and Asia. In that time I have used most of the airlines. On these journeys most airlines stopover somewhere on the way – I used to enjoy stretching my legs in Dubai, or Bahrain, or Singapore (the airport is full of orchids – it’s very beautiful).
I am writing this blog in the UK – it’s bloody freezing – I can’t wait to get back to Hong Kong, but I won’t see my kids now for a year, and that makes me sad. The good news is I WILL see them in a year! (Glass half empty/full – pull yourself together, Arthur!).
My flight here was with New Zealand Airways – my first time with them – A direct flight – 13 hours – I did not dream it would be such a pleasurable experience! The film buffs among you will know that the Lord of the Rings films were made in New Zealand. N Z Airways have capitalized on this. The safety video features the airways staff dressed up as hobbits, orks, elves and wizards – it is very funny.
The food was excellent and the staff very helpful and courteous – but best of all, the seats had extra legroom – I actually managed to get a comfortable sleep for the first time.
Are you asleep yet? No? Good! My point in boring you all with this trivial information is this: I take my hat off to New Zealand Airways for making efforts to keep their customers happy on what could be a long and miserable journey. It made me think.
When we are writing our masterpieces, are we thinking about our readers – the people who will hopefully be with us on the maybe ten hour or more journey through our book? Or are we concentrating on getting ideas and scenes out of our head and straight onto our word processors. How much thought are we giving to how our readers will enjoy their journey?
As usual, here is the disclaimer (lawyering habits die slowly), These ramblings are an account of MY thoughts and My experiences – I am not a best-selling author, or an expert of any sort in writing or selling books – these are my own naive thoughts, but It is reassuring that other more experienced writers say the same thing in different ways.
Before republishing my book I am now going through it and trying to look at it through the eyes of a reader. It takes a little bit of practise, but you soon find yourself looking at your own writings through new eyes and asking yourself questions like ‘does this phrase add anything to the story?’, ‘would a reader really want or need to know this?’ and ‘is there enough (but not too much) detail and info for me to understand what is happening, and want to read more'.
It is actually a refreshing experience, and, believe me (I’m a lawyer) you will end up with a more readable story – my book is now down from 127,000 words to 98,000 words – it is now a lean, mean, reader-capturing machine! (well, I think so, anyway).
I am looking for beta readers/reviewers for my book – please email if you are interested. I am happy to reciprocate. You can email me here – arthurcrandon@yahoo.com – thanks. My website is also developing as fast as time will allow – check out my Amazon bookstore (tab on the left). Please also register to regularly receive this blog (and get a really good freebie!) – there is a box on the right ->
If you want to see the New Zealand Airways safety video – you can see it here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbPFHu3OOc
I am getting a nice collection of cat pics now – please do keep sending them. See you next week – Happy writing! Arthur.
I am writing this blog in the UK – it’s bloody freezing – I can’t wait to get back to Hong Kong, but I won’t see my kids now for a year, and that makes me sad. The good news is I WILL see them in a year! (Glass half empty/full – pull yourself together, Arthur!).
My flight here was with New Zealand Airways – my first time with them – A direct flight – 13 hours – I did not dream it would be such a pleasurable experience! The film buffs among you will know that the Lord of the Rings films were made in New Zealand. N Z Airways have capitalized on this. The safety video features the airways staff dressed up as hobbits, orks, elves and wizards – it is very funny.
The food was excellent and the staff very helpful and courteous – but best of all, the seats had extra legroom – I actually managed to get a comfortable sleep for the first time.
Are you asleep yet? No? Good! My point in boring you all with this trivial information is this: I take my hat off to New Zealand Airways for making efforts to keep their customers happy on what could be a long and miserable journey. It made me think.
When we are writing our masterpieces, are we thinking about our readers – the people who will hopefully be with us on the maybe ten hour or more journey through our book? Or are we concentrating on getting ideas and scenes out of our head and straight onto our word processors. How much thought are we giving to how our readers will enjoy their journey?
As usual, here is the disclaimer (lawyering habits die slowly), These ramblings are an account of MY thoughts and My experiences – I am not a best-selling author, or an expert of any sort in writing or selling books – these are my own naive thoughts, but It is reassuring that other more experienced writers say the same thing in different ways.
Before republishing my book I am now going through it and trying to look at it through the eyes of a reader. It takes a little bit of practise, but you soon find yourself looking at your own writings through new eyes and asking yourself questions like ‘does this phrase add anything to the story?’, ‘would a reader really want or need to know this?’ and ‘is there enough (but not too much) detail and info for me to understand what is happening, and want to read more'.
It is actually a refreshing experience, and, believe me (I’m a lawyer) you will end up with a more readable story – my book is now down from 127,000 words to 98,000 words – it is now a lean, mean, reader-capturing machine! (well, I think so, anyway).
I am looking for beta readers/reviewers for my book – please email if you are interested. I am happy to reciprocate. You can email me here – arthurcrandon@yahoo.com – thanks. My website is also developing as fast as time will allow – check out my Amazon bookstore (tab on the left). Please also register to regularly receive this blog (and get a really good freebie!) – there is a box on the right ->
If you want to see the New Zealand Airways safety video – you can see it here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbPFHu3OOc
I am getting a nice collection of cat pics now – please do keep sending them. See you next week – Happy writing! Arthur.
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