Image by The Thinking Doll.

I was inspired by an article by Helen Yendall in a writing magazine, to try ‘hot penning’, otherwise known as ‘flow writing’ or ‘free’ writing.

 One of the suggested uses was to overcome writer’s block, but also useful to get ones brain into gear. Dorothea Brande suggests that a writer commences the day with some ‘hot penning’, before doing anything else. Personally, I’m hopeless without two mugs of coffee to get myself into gear, and then I have a family to deal with – need I say more…?

Anyway, I thought I’d give this a go – so I requested that no one speak to me for five minutes ( the suggested time) – which in my household is usually impossible – but they managed it – bless their hearts.

Trying to clear my mind so that I could let a free-flowing stream of consciousness pour onto the page, began by me writing how I couldn’t switch my brain off – a constant list of things to do that comes with having a family. But once I had that down, I allowed the pen to stay connected with the paper, and I wrote single words, phrases and sentences – not worrying about spelling, grammar or punctuation – which let’s face it, we worry about all the time.

By the end of the five minutes, my hand and wrist ached, and I was presented with a page full of incoherent words and phrases. But as I took a breather and looked at the page again, I saw that I had a few sentences which I could use – such as descriptive phrases about emotions and environment. It is suggested that one keeps the page to dip into if requiring inspiration – although I only had two useful ones – which must mean my brain is cluttered with rubbish unless I think before I write or speak – which I should do more of with the latter at times!

                                                 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