Archive for March, 2008

March 16, 2008 | 2 Comments

I’m er …very busy. Writing on a Sunday afternoon but accidentally came across this wonderfully funny, wise and witty site - Andrea Semple.

It has lots of tips - not of the ‘ this is how you should write’ variety which sternly rap you on the knuckles for every non-essential adjective and POV crime. I always find they scare the hell out of me and make writing seem like a chore when it should be fun. They also make me feel wrong.

This is a ’stuff everyone else, write what you like’ type of site.

Yes, I’m in a bad girl, kick-ass mood but I’ve also enjoyed a very civilised lunch with my parents in law, so maybe the two cancel each other out. Hurrah!

March 14, 2008 | 4 Comments

Bit of a b**** of a week. Lots of work, out of the office a few days and some sad news about a family member. A couple of spanners in works that have caused disruption too. Today and next week, I need to escape into my book and try to stop endlessly tinkering with it. I feel I’m spending so much time on it, yet it’s not growing at the rate I want, but maybe that’s just the way I work.

I’m so used to deadlines for my day job that I don’t even think about them. But I couldn’t bear to work this way with the fiction. I’d hate it if I was trying to rush. Writing novels is a completely different aspect of my life and I like to be organised, get well ahead and build in lots of thinking time so I can enjoy it.

I think it’s especially important to have this space because my normal job is writing.

March 11, 2008 | Comments

I’m chatting about writing fiction and how to get published at Cannock Library on May 19 for Adult Learners Week. More details soon.

March 9, 2008 | 4 Comments

1. The Feeling were awesome. At the end they walked through the auidence, playing drums. There’s some You Tube footage of the gig here. No. I didn’t film it.

2. Stratford was beautiful in the sun - we had a tour of the RSC Courtyard Theatre. I am so dense. As the tour guide began to gave us insight into what it was like to be a Shakespearean actor, I suddenly thought: oh er, my current wip opens with an actress playing Juliet. I had never connected the visit and book. Doh…

Here’s a picture from ‘a friend’.

3. The postman smiled ‘wryly’ at me on Saturday as he pulled seven more books from his bulging mailbag.

4. My book has taken an unexpected twist as a minor character has revealed something about herself that has surprised me, not to mention the heroine.

March 7, 2008 | 6 Comments

I’ve got that Friday feeling because:

1. My daughter’s coming home for Easter.

2. We’re off to see The Feeling tonight.

3. I’m going to Stratford on Sunday with my N&S friends.

4. Signed books keep arriving for the charity auction.

5. I’ve discovered Cappuccino Kit Kats