I choose the music from difotofattesuimuri.
To drown out the machinations spouted by Dragon’s Den, I’ve decided to write a sample list of the music I love to listen to whilst writing.
I find music can be inspirational , can help drown out the humming rubbish that goes with life and, if I match it with my mood, can provide the stimulation my daydreaming cells require to keep fired up.
The following are my current favourites and are in no particular order:

Adele: Someone like You; One an Only.

The Pierces: You & Yours (album), especially Glorious.

Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More (album).

Green Day: American Idiot (album).

Billy Joel: She’s Always a Woman.

The Mamas & The Papas: especially Mama Cass Elliot singing It’s Getting Better; Make Your Own Kind of Music.

Bach Violin Concertos.

Elliot Minor: Elliot Minor (album).

Manic Street Preachers: (It’s Not War) Just The End Of Love.

James Blunt: Somekind of Trouble (album) – (I can hear some of you screaming).

The Who: Then And Now (album)

Barbra Streisand: Send in the Clowns; The Way We Were.

Yehudi Menuhin: especially Paganini violin concerto #2; Vivaldi The Four Seasons.

These songs are suiting the commercial women’s fiction I’m currently writing – but there’s always room for more choices – so if you have favourites, let me know and I’ll give them a audition.

Welcome to Michael, Diana, Glenn & Robbi.

Happy Word Flow One & All.

Picture by Hagerstenguy.

The summer holidays with children puts a lot more pressure on the parenting role. I feel at times that I’m being selfish if I want to write instead of being thrashed at bananagrams, boggle or the dreaded Monopoly.
I also find that my best writing time is mid-afternoon and evening – which is a nightmare with a family that insist on being fed. We always eat around the table which offers quality time and conversation – and we always watch some TV together – even if it is The Gadget Show – which makes my eyes bleed.

I find my brain really kicks into gear when I go to bed – so I sit next to my long-suffering hubs and write – finding myself a tad annoyed if he speaks to me – poor man. However, my time is curtailed by hubs who wishes to sleep so he’s not tired for work in the morning.

I don’t want you to think I’m an ungrateful woman – I have a wonderful hubs, and two daughters who bring more joy into the house than disruption. I love them dearly, but I’m also exceedingly passionate about writing – in fact, it feels more like an addiction – and not one I wish to be weaned off.

So, I do acknowledge that managing writing with a family can have its drawbacks – but it can also add fodder to thoughts and actions for characters in the WP – unless of course one is writing about a blood-thirsty psychopath – one definitely hope not to have one of those around the dining table.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Photograph of  ‘Thinking’  by RFID from @boetter

I was sitting in my garden when I began thinking about where I find inspiration for my novels, and I wondered whether there were other avenues i could explore.

When I wrote a psychological thriller, I used my knowledge from my nursing years. I used the hospital I trained in as the model for the one in the book. I remembered the sights, sounds and smells of the place – which sometimes evoked dark memories.

Whilst writing the crime novel, I watched many true crime and police programmes, and I read true crime books and magazines. Sometimes I found the crimes too dark – even for me.

I’m currently writing a commercial women’s novel where the protagonist is a forensic mental health nurse – which was last post in my career. I’m able to use the language, terminology and emotions for the part. I use snippets from each offender I worked with – although none are recognisable. An anecdote that makes me smile is that a serial female offender gave me a nickname which she told a social worker – she called me f**k**g Mary Poppins – if you knew me you’d understand!

I find inspiration in watching nature – I’m a huge fan of the blackbird – watching my teenage daughters, people watching wherever I go – for which I use as a template for my characters. I read writing magazines and blogs such as @jammer0150 (hope I’ve got your number right James Killick) and @dirtywhitecandy for example. You will find many wonderful blogs I follow listed here – go on, treat yourself!

Happy Word Flow One & All

I attended this masterclass in London on Saturday, and I had a fabulous time listening to the speakers and meeting more aspiring authors – hi Race and Keith.
The speakers were Luigi Bonomi (agent), Peter James (author), Lesley Pearce (author), Jon Wood (editor Orion), and hosted by Fiona Lindsay.

What was really hammered home  is that we should view our novels as a product – see the whole process as a business and career. By viewing the novel as a product, we then seek out the market value of it rather than just the artistic value.
Luigi informed us that his agency receives about 6000 ms a year and only takes on 4 or 5 – but perseverance is a key to an author getting published – so don’t be put off by the stats.

Top tips the ensemble gave us were: believe in yourself; be aware of what the market wants, but write what you are passionate about; writing is a craft; read successful books in your chosen genre, but most of all, keep writing and always start again after rejection.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Before I begin plotting the path of my novel, I write the characters’ names on index cards and start describing their physical appearance. As the plot develops within my mind, I then add personality traits, quirks, habits and words often used by the character onto the cards.
I do bear in mind that in the thriller genre, characters are often described more by their actions, which in turn illustrates the concept of the novel.

However, I do enjoy reading and writing psychological thrillers, and I believe for this purpose, it’s important to have a more in depth knowledge of the characters. This more rounded vision enables the reader to feel the characters presence and connect with them on an emotional level. The reader can travel with the characters and appreciate any changes the character makes.

The plot is generated and moved along by the characters’ interactions and actions within the novel community. Like the proverbial onion, more of the character’s traits are exposed, which can add tension to the plot, especially as the reader discovers a darker side to a character, who had otherwise appeared benign.

I enjoy writing darker characters, but I am aware that the reader needs to care for the protagonist, so that their life matters within the plot. However, perfection is not sought, otherwise the character would feel false. There is no such thing as a perfect character or perfect crime – to do this would not engage the reader into believing the novel – you want to leave them wanting more.

When the reader has finished the novel, you want them to miss the characters and feel like they have lost a friend – if you are writing a series, this would leave the door open for the protagonist to once again live in the reader’s mind, until the enforced ‘rest’ came along.

Happy Word Flow One & All

If I had an agent and a publishing deal, I would like to be featured as a debut novelist in a writing magazine. The article would read something like this:

Remember that the struggle was there at the beginning and it can rear its ugly head at anytime. Not only does one have to learn the craft of writing well, one also has to learn to write a synopsis and a query or cover letter. It is something every writer has to deal with – so deal with it the best you can.

Low moods and positive thoughts: everyone has a down day – that’s called being human – accept the lows and move on. Be aware of your mind set and don’t punish yourself if you can’t see the good in anything you do – it will pass and the positive vibes will come swimming back.

Thinking time: don’t think that thinking time is a waste of time – it’s a time to reflect on the WIP to think of new twists and plots and to listen to what the characters are saying to you. Agatha Christie would get new ideas whilst washing the dishes – I do enough of that to have ideas for the next fifty novels!

Read: don’t always criticise your own work when reading that of others – embrace the difference and challenge your perceptions about style and format.

Believe in yourself: if you can’t, why should anyone else – but don’t sound cocky – no one likes a bulbous head.

Perseverance: don’t let rejections bring your writing crashing to a halt. To embrace the concept of being a writer, one has to embrace the rejections. If you feel your plot line is off beam, study your mind map or take some thinking time to consider the options. Don’t give up a WIP if you feel stuck, work through it – embrace the challenge.

One day I hope to become a published novelist. I would always remember these days and I would hope to inspire and encourage other hopefuls. I am aware that all the above points would still be relevant even if published, but it doesn’t stop me desiring to write write write.

Welcome Rob, thanks for the follow.

Happy Word Flow One & All