I have been pondering about genre these last few days. Since commencing the competition WIP that is more like a thriller, I’m not sure where I stand anymore.

I thought women’s fiction was my niche, but I do like crime novels & programmes.

I feel that to write crime, one has to have a certain way of problem solving with the brain function. Hence, I’m not sure that I have that skill – but how do I know unless I try?
However, should I waste time trying, or is the time spent writing whatever genre empowering & skill developing – I would tend to say “yes”.

Some writers friends i communicate with tend to have more of a hook to their novel – perhaps the supernatural and fantasy genre already have a hook in their name – women’s fiction can sound bland & a bit non descript.

I’m concentrating on the competition WIP as it has a date for submission, whereas my novel WIP is only there for me currently – oh how my heart -and of many others – longs for an agent to take note & throw me hurtling towards a publisher.

Tomorrow brings the beginning of the week for email checking – Heaven help me!

I was feeling jaded the other day – hence no post – however, I have started another WIP, for a competition, that contains violence and tension and I’m loving it.

It’s an outlet for different emotions and it feels liberating to use words that wouldn’t normally feature in my other works. It may lead me nowhere but I’m so enthusiastic about it, that normal life is getting in the way. I want to be glued to my laptop all day, but with a family expecting a meal in the evening, the kitchen often beckons. Tonight we’re having Jewish chicken soup – recipe given to me by our Jewish neighbour – it’s now a family favourite.

I have left it until now to say that I got another rejection email sent at 7.10pm the other evening. I didn’t notice the email until about 10 at night, so it didn’t offer me the sweet dreams I had hoped for. Anyway, there are still more irons in the proverbial fire, so fingers crossed that someone will recognise that my work has potential – sell it girl.

Next week is half term, so I won’t have all the time in the world to ponder over scenes and character flaws – but I can still daydream about their world and plot lines.

Enjoy your writing experiences One & All

Whilst reading another blog, it reminded me of a time when I tested the waters with my first novel The Art of Rolling.

Granted, it wasn’t a cheery novel – it followed only three characters, one who suffered with MS, one who suffered with bi-polar and the last character suffered with self perpetuating depression and a destructive streak within his personality.
The denouement finds one character pregnant but unable to secure the relationship she wanted, she commits suicide. That leaves the other two feeling somewhat responsible for her demise.

What I am trying to say is that I tried this novel ‘out there’ with only three agents and the resounding feedback was that it was too depressing – when the world needed joy and hope because of the recession.

Although I am a sociable person, up to a point, I am drawn to writing about flawed characters with some emotional distress – lets face it, my all time favourite novel is Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar.

I am currently working on a piece that may or may not have a rose-tinted ending – perhaps I’ll wait and see if we’re still in a recession and choose my ending accordingly.

I have that irritating twitch that keeps pressing the check my e-mail button.

I am acting irrationally, as I can’t expect a reply for at least another week from the agents, and all by email except for one.

Another irrational thought is that someone will read my work and think – just what I’m looking for! I am laughing aloud as I write this – is this blog for the fantasy world or what!

Seriously though, I received a fabulous direct message from a 16yr old published author, encouraging me to keep trying to get my work published. There are sometimes snippets of cheer and strength that filter through the murky waters on the net – we just have to keep looking for them.

The word count for my current WIP is 10,775 – and although I say it myself, I think my writing is improving the more I do it. The enjoyment never fails, I love the world I create though not always the characters within that world. It’s boring to be nice all the time, a little but of naughtiness and mischief always adds to a spicy and interesting interlude between the characters.

It’s time for a coffee break and to ponder the next scene in Almost a Affair , things are beginning to hot up in that world and I’m keen to see what the characters think they should do.

Take care One & All

A big fat envelope dropped through the letterbox and my handwriting was on the front. I stopped for a minute to compose myself, but then I thought an agent wouldn’t return my synopsis etc if they wanted to see more would they?

Anyway, the letter thanked me, rejected me and then wished me luck elsewhere.

I’m now left with forcing myself to be upbeat but inside I am wilting; I mean, I’m writing another novel – each time I feel my writing gets better – but if On God’s Front Lawn fails, should I stop altogether, or should I keep improving and keep trying. Personally, I like the latter, but is there a time to stop, I wonder?

As I mentioned on Twitter, apparently, JK Rowling received 9 rejections for the first Harry Potter, persistence is the key.

Hello to new followers & welcome – please feel free to leave comments if you have the urge.

I have 5 more agents to reject me – so watch this space & hope that a joyous blog is coming in the near future.

Have a fruitful time One & All

Today was enlightening in that words flowed into my notepad, I started to edit onto laptop and I finally realised that thinking about hearing from an agent too often could only damage my health and sanity.

So, I read novels and I read blogs and posts on how to write about believable protagonists who aren’t perfect and aren’t always beautiful.

Having said that, early all my protagonists have an Aga because in essence, I don’t and I really want one. Two of my aunts had them so since early childhood, I have enjoyed the warmth and homeliness that an Aga emits.

Maybe one day my dreams will come true – I’ll be a published author & I’ll have an Aga.