Almost an Affair – start of chapter one

I want to copy & paste, but it wouldn’t work, not even my teenage daughter could help me, so I am typing the first part to wet your appetite.

Chapter one.

Celia gazed at her alabaster skin that looked even more ethereal than usual in the remorseless light of the stark morning sun. Tentacles of sun crept through chinks of stained glass in the bedroom window, casting multi-coloured droplets on the white ceiling and walls.

The black dress she was obliged to wear over her willowy figure, drained her face of any perceptible colour and the only positive aspect she could perceive in the mirror was that her pearl necklace and matching earrings looked picture perfect against the black chiffon dress.

James would have appreciated the serene demeanour of his wife, and the suitable hush that shrouded the house.

Chapter one continues…..

I would have liked to have given you the whole of chapter one, but it’s rather soul destroying typing it out because it won’t copy and paste.

The first review I got on youwrite.com was excellent – not wishing to sound pompous – it was truly a lovely review and the second one is in the pipeline – may not be as complimentary of course – it’s all personal taste after all.

I wanted to use this blog as a platform to promote myself – but not if I have to type out chapters each time – life’s too short!

I haven’t been on twitter for a few days – been writing and writing reviews on youwrite – there are some amazing authors out there.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Almost an Affair – WIP – taster

Call me impetuous, but I’ve uploaded my current WIP – Almost an Affair – onto youwritecom

Why another novel on the site I hear you cry – well, I thought it might be useful to start ‘working’ with the site whilst I have only written 17, 500. I like to keep a check on my writing this way, so it made sense to me.

Almost an Affair

Her husband James has just died, but his past is resurrected through his mistress, another woman and her son. Celia tries to cope with these revelations whilst she tries to please everyone around her, especially her daughter, Jennifer.
She sometimes forget her own needs.

I’m sorry this is short, not that well today and I have one of the guineapigs on my lap with my laptop – nightmare city!

This is a little taster, but I’ve a long way to go as there are quite a few characters and their paths are winding.

Happy Word Flow One & All

On God’s Front Lawn – 1st review on YW,com

I had eagerly awaited my 1st review on youwrite.com and when it arrived yesterday, I soaked up every word of advise.

The first 3 chapters was given 3 stars out of 5, which thrilled me – phew.

However, the reader had gone to great lengths to point out parts that didn’t work so well, so last night and this morning, I have been changing the parts suggested. Too fast, I hear you cry, why not wait to hear what others have to say.

Yes, I hear what you’re saying, however the reader had literally written thousands of reviews and she clearly understood the craft of writing.

I somehow wish it hadn’t taken me so long to join the site, but as the old adage goes, better late than never.

Anyway, the sun is shining and it’s Mother’s Day so I will bid you all farewell.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Thoughts of the day

I’m enjoying youwrite.com as I’ve reviewed 2 pieces of work, so 2 more to go then I can read what others have said about mine. On reading the works, I realised how well other people write – not that I ever doubted it – and what competition is out there to tempt the agents and publishers.

Does this make me want to turn and run – no – it makes me want to write better and work harder. I think my current WIP is perhaps better written that the previous one – but perhaps all writers feel that way about their work?

I have entered 2 competitions recently but i expect to come nowhere as i made some rudimentary mistakes that I only spotted afterwards – less haste blah blah.

I have finished another comp piece that I need to send off but I must check it before – it’s so annoying that spellcheck doesn’t pick up single letter mistakes ie. p- u -o

I’m finding that my current characters are buzzing around my head during the day even when I’m doing something else – they feel so real – I just hope they feel as real to the readers that will one day fall upon my work in a library or WHSmith or Amazon – it’s good to dream.

Dreaming isn’t enough – I must work, work , work at this dream to make it come true.
Only I have the power and control over my dreams – I need others’ expertise so help the dream become a reality.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Being brave & getting out there

I have often pondered about using the site youwrite.com but I was rather unsure about the site and my own ability in writing.

Through Twitter I follow mutually James K and he’s already on the site – in the Top 10 actually.

So with a bag of minstrels by my side, I start joining the site – although I did need my teenage daughter to copy and paste as my brain had lost its flexibility. Thank God for teenage daughters!

i will do my first review on the site so that someone will read mine – I hope I’m not too shocked by the comments, but lets face it, there’s no point in carrying on if the ability isn’t there, or I need to change direction.

I was anxious that someone would take my words or ideas, but I’m not that conceited to think that someone would find that necessary.

I’ve had a positive day writing my current WIP and I am over the rejection I received yesterday, yes I did feel down yesterday but i bounced back very quickly – one has to in this game n’est pas?

This is brief as it’s late and i need my beauty sleep – tomorrow is another bright day and i want to be a part of it.

Happy Word Flow One & All

The Joys of Twitter

A rejection letter flopped through the letterbox and I was instantaneously transported to failures-ville, thinking that my genre didn’t fit in and that I was unmarketable – poor me syndrome kicking in.

I logged onto Twitter and a fellow writer – Jammer 0501 – James Killick – who’s blog you can connect to via this site, made me laugh as we began talking about my love of Anita Brookner and how I don’t write about vampires.

Anyway, he challenged me to write a short story combining the Brookner – Vampire genres and I’ve already written a page and a half – when finished, I will see if a writers’ mag would publish it.

So out of the gloom, I’m reignited and swilling new words and thoughts around my brain.

I’m now also approaching a couple of publishing houses to see if I would do better there – I can’t give up – I don’ want to and all writers have highs and lows – I could do with more highs though.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably on Twitter – if not, tempt yourself into another dimension – it really can perk you up with the french fries are down.

Happy Word Flow One & All