I didn’t realise how time consuming having a blog was. Life outside of writing eats into precious time like a ravaging tornado.

I have been focusing on current WIP – psychological thriller – Dark Edges – working title. I am sometimes so consumed by the characters, their secrets and their dark deeds that real life pales into insignificance.

i have been avidly reading books & articles on Showing & Telling as it was mentioned to me on youwrite.com that I sometimes do both at once. For example, I show that someone is anxious by actions of chewing fingernails or bottom lip; but then I spoil it by pointing out that they are feeling anxious.

It seems to be a sin to Tell but then i read an article in Writers’ Forum by Hugh Scott saying that “To advise writers to avoid Tell …is advising them to avoid simplicity.”

When reading novels I notice that authors use Tell, but perhaps they can because they’re published authors or a big name. I can’t always fathom out the rules, but I like the idea of writing as a free form that sucks the reader into another world – nothing wrong with that I say.

Happy Word Flow One & All

I keep reading in articles and text books to “never give up” “persistence is the key” and “it took me 10yrs but I made it”.

Yes, yes I say to myself with a knowing nod; and yes I do believe. I live in hope and faith that I will one day be a published author.

I remember when my professional articles were published – the elation I felt at seeing my name in print and by the same token how weird it felt.

When one of my articles was used as a heading on the front cover of The Nursing Times, and I could see it on the shelf in WHSmith, I finally felt I’d achieved something.

I want to feel that high again, I want to see a book cover with my name emblazoned across the cover and I want to keep writing novel after novel as that’s what keeps me sane.

There is a saying, “I want never gets” so I should abide by the rule I told my daughters (and which worked by the way), and request, ask politely – but steer away from begging – and wish that someone would notice the raw talent in me – I’m far from polished, but rawness has its qualities if one were to look hard enough.

I am still living in hope that the literary agent who requested the first 3 chapters after i sent her a query letter, will request to see all of On God’s Front Lawn and will then fall in love with it. This is the furthest I have got and if this fails, I think I will hit a very dark low – but will survive as we all do – it’s part of the life we have chosen.

The sun has appeared and I have rambled long enough – I hope that some of you managed to stay with me until the end – and if you’re new to this blog, please follow me as I have quality followers, not quantity. I’m trying not to beg for more followers, but I’m asking nicely 🙂

Happy Word Flow One & All

I picked up an old copy (2009) of Writing Magazine and read a article on the debut novelist Hilary Dixon.

Apparently, she read in the Guardian about the dearth of love stories in the literary world. So, she wrote a novel, When Rooks Speak of Love which is more about love being seen as the primal element rather than as a romantic sentiment.

However, her style of writing meant that it was a struggle for her to get published – 18 rejections later – she was successful with Solidus publishing.

If a novel isn’t easily pigeon-holed, then mainstream publishers may not find the book interesting as it isn’t easily marketable.

Against my views, I wrote a more people friendly ending – but somehow it grates with me – I like the darkness of life to be reflected – and let’s face it , endings are often grim, painful and dark.

With my current WIP ,there is one death in the pipe line – but the death serves a purpose to the plot.

I liked this quote from Hilary Dixon (2009) –

“Try to define yourself as a writer. It’s the act of writing, not the fact of being published, that makes you a writer.”

So cool 🙂

Ian Rankin (2009) advises- “To become a writer, you have to believe in yourself and in your work.”

Oh yes, I hear you 🙂

I’m re-writing first 3 chapters of current WIP after feedback from youwrite. The last one was harsh to start with but then gave me 5 out of 5 for characters & plot – but the harshness has made me read over & over again with a red pen in hand.

I am avidly reading books & articles on dialogue, character and so forth which makes me return to my work with a critical eye – I am either enthused or sinking in the pool of ‘is it worth it?’

I think I write in the genre of Black Romance – does that exist?
If not, it should, & I name it now, as that is what I write.

Happy Word Flow One & All

I have sadly been struck by the ‘I am a pants writer’ disease. It has nibbled away at me for a few days before erupting into the full blown disease.

I have hidden away from this blog, I have hardly tweeted and i have only had short bursts of writing interjected with taking one daughter or the other to the GP, parents evenings and general household necessities.

Why is it that some days I feel I have a story to tell, emotions to explore and characters to create, and other days, I feel an empty darkness pervading my soul that prevents me from putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

It’s not writers block – the characters live and play in my head most days – and I’m not clinically depressed, I just find waiting for agents to say yes or no hard at times. The longer the time goes on the easier it gets I suppose, but even ease can fluctuate.

The odd tweet about this has seen me receive sweet words from people on Twitter so I know I’m not alone in suffering from this malicious syndrome – but malady in numbers doesn’t feel less painful.

I went to a comedy club last weekend and Arthur Smith said that I was too kind, hence I’ll not always get what I want – does he know something I don’t?

I have a couple of competition pieces in the pipeline if I can put words to quill.

Fellow writers and bloggers – what do you do in times like these? I had a hot cross bun with jam and clotted cream which I suppose helped as I’ve written this!

Happy Word Flow One & All