A Good Motivator

Well, it's been a funny old week. I've had a couple of rejections from the womags which is always a bit deflating. But, on the plus side it was great to see my Easter short story in Fiction Feast this week!

The Egg Hunt was a fun story to write, and I seem to be doing well with 'seasonal' stories, so perhaps I'll just stick to them!

No, no I won't really - I will keep trying to write more and sell more, I think I should make it my aim to sell at least four this year! (Although could do with that every month...) I see the same names in the mags, those real hard core short story writers and I do have some thoughts of "Oh I wish that were me." 

Yes dear, I tell myself - but then you have to WRITE them first. 

I have been busy in other areas of writing though. Having decided to enter the Criminal Lines competition I got busy clicking away at my laptop spewing out thousands of words to get to the 15,000 word goal. It's amazing what a motivator a deadline is (and a shot at winning a prize) and I did well even if I do say so myself. Of course I have misgivings - is my novel idea good enough? Will my writing be to a high enough standard? What will happen at the end of the competition if I'm not short-listed - will I be demoralised and give up? 

What I have learned though is to WRITE DAILY. Yes, that old chestnut that many a 'real' author advises. It is amazing how quickly the word count mounts - and whilst I realise those words have to be good words, not utter crap, that first draft can be worked on. Again and again if necessary, but you have to have the words to work on in the first place.

I am really enjoying writing more than a few thousand words, although I admit the learning curve is fairly steep. 

The most difficult thing I am finding is to take time with description, character building and plot. Short stories are excellent in terms of a tight plot, no extras, getting to the point, and although characterisation is still important, the confines of space mean they are not fully developed.

So, am I expecting much from entering this competition? I guess the answer is yes and no. Of course I hope that those judging my entry will jump up and down shouting "eureka we have found the next bestseller" and that I will see my name in the short-list.

But if not, then that's fine - I have a lot to learn and I will get there. The experience has already changed the way I approach my writing and so I can rest assured I will have somehow developed because of it. 

Meanwhile, while I await the June 2nd announcement, I will keep on tapping at these keys, and progress as a writer. 

AND just so that you know, and so I have my own deadline - I intend to finish my first draft by July 1st.

Writing...Bad for your health?

It has become apparent that my writing habits have 'encouraged' me to become unhealthy.

I am overweight. I don't move enough.

My bum is the shape of my chair. I either forget to eat, or eat rubbish - anything that is quick and close to hand! I drink too much in the evenings - although to be fair I'm not sure I can blame my writing habits for that...

I read this post and realised I am doing myself no favours. Not only am I unhealthy, but more than likely I'm not an efficient writer either. I tend to agree, as the last few days I have really struggled, whilst chained to my laptop, to produce anything worthwhile.

I have taken some action against the ever increasing likelihood of illness, disease and depression. I have gone back to Slimming World. Now, this wasn't an easy thing to do, mainly because I worked REALLY hard at getting to my target weight and have now ruined all that hard work.

But, I was welcomed back into the group
with open arms, and no judgements made. Phew!





So, a new writing routine is needed. Regular breaks, more dog walks - which Riley will be very pleased about, 

healthy snacks...a bit of housework (note: a 'bit') and less wine. Hmmm...hang on...one thing at a time.
I'll let you know if I succeed in any of my new aims.

How do you incorporate healthy habits into your writing day? Would love it if you left a comment! 

Mary interviews me!

With thanks to Mary Papas for interviewing me - some great questions!

You can find all of Mary's interviews  HERE - scroll to the bottom of the page for mine :)

I really enjoyed answering these questions, they certainly got the old brain ticking. 

BUT - I have yet to interview anyone, which I think is out of fear.

If I asked someone - would they accept, being that my blog doesn't have a big following? Would they think it was a waste of their time?
You have to start somewhere, but when is the right time to invite a guest?

I would love your thoughts please seasoned bloggers!

What Does 'Success' Mean to You?

I was thinking about a friend of my Mum's the other day. She is sadly no longer with us, but I remember her as a keen writer, often to be found in her 'writing shed' in the garden. 

We are talking some 20 years ago now, and she unfortunately never got her work 'out there.' So, this got me thinking about how different it may have been if she had lived long enough to benefit from today's opportunities to self-publish.

Things have changed so much, no longer do you have to send out your manuscript countless times in the hopes of ensnaring an agent.

 I read with much interest Carol Hedge's blog post regarding whether an agent is even needed/wanted these days. On further searching I found  THIS really interesting article by Hugh Howey, which definitely shows some good reasons to self-publish! 

Having only written short stories, I for one am extremely unlikely to to have ever had my work see the light of day if it wasn't for 'Indie' publishing (sounds so much better than self-publishing doesn't it?)

Back to 'what does success mean to you?' I am thinking that I have successfully placed a piece of my work out in the big wide world, on Amazon (which was both scary and exhilarating!) I have had three short stories published in women's magazines. I have had one published on-line with Alfie Dog Fiction. Now, these are not BIG successes by any stretch. But, I am further on than I was last year. As for the novel...

Having read the article and blog, (plus loads of others) and thinking about my Mum's friend - I can safely say that when my novel is finished (I hope Indie Publishing is still going by then...haha) I know I will be able to publish it. Having people read it will mean it IS a success, even if only three people read it, because at least it made it out of my imagination. I know that I won't be one of those people spending all hours sending out a manuscript again and again in the hope of gaining an agent and traditional publishing deal. I haven't got that kind of patience!

So for me, success is growing and developing my writing, seeing my short stories in print (and getting paid for them) and Indie-publishing the stories that I want to write that don't fit nicely into a market, AND when the time comes I will publish my own novel. 

What does

mean to you?

FREE this weekend!

I hope everyone has a great weekend planned, the sun is out! Clear blue skies here - a rarity for sure.

To celebrate the joyous occasion (well, perhaps it was coincidence - but hey) I am offering my collection of short stories "Love Potion" for FREE this weekend.

Find it HERE

I would love it if you downloaded it (of course) and would love it even more if anyone felt like reviewing it! 

All support gratefully received :)

Have a fabulous weekend all! 

No more procrastination

This is it folks! I have the gear...

I WILL fill that cork board.

It's very exciting to be beginning 'The Novel' by actually putting words onto paper - rather than have them whizzing around in my head. I read with interest this morning a great blog post by Carol Hedges, you can read it here, which spurred me on to the next stage! So, thank you Carol, you have helped me get to 'sketching.' 

And sketch I have done. I have quite detailed sketching, as this is how I roll. But it has enabled me to begin to 'live' the characters lives a bit today and make them more three dimensional.  I also have an opening scene and although I have a feeling this may need to change at a later date, I feel more positive having made a start.

If I'm honest, I only have a vague idea of an ending, which is bothering me a bit. I have read many, many different viewpoints on this, some saying you must know the ending. However, I know my story  is a complicated one, and I think that as I write and get further into the process, the ending will become evident. I hope!

There is research to be done. But for now I think that if I begin that, it will take me away from my current progress. I am pretty sure I can get a fair way without in-depth research as yet because I can use my own knowledge for a chunk of it. 

So, no excuses now. Are there?

My New Writing Place

I have been doing a lot of 'messing about' in my house, moving stuff around, then moving it back, dragging the table from room to room, re-piling my books and magazines from one corner to the other. That sort of thing. 

Just where is the best place to sit and write for hours and hours? I had been in the kitchen/diner, but found I was getting way too cold with inactivity and the radiator in there just didn't quite cut it.

So, in to the lounge - sat on top of the radiator. However, this is also right in front of the window, and although that is good for those 'I'm lost' moments where I can gaze longingly outside for inspiration - the neighbours were beginning to give me funny looks.

During the many moves, I had also been thinking about how I work. I read with interest Wendy's blog about using Scrivener - I had downloaded a trial a while ago, so thought I should give it another look. 


But, no. I think I am more of a physical writer. I like the snippets from newspapers, articles and magazines. I enjoy cutting things out and moving them around on the table (or floor) and filing things away in folders. I have come to the conclusion that using software would take away the fun for me. 

So, off I went to purchase cork board, pins, string and index cards. Yes. That felt better. Now I have a blank cork board positioned above the table (well, apart from the working title of my novel). I can still see the window and peek outside, I am near the radiator, but the neighbours can no longer see me. Perfect.

Now all I have to do is use the cork board. I am envisaging being a bit like Ryan Hardy from The Following - his boards are fab - I only have the one at the moment! 

That will do for starters. Here is my new place...

Now, to fill that cork board! :)