Crits and Chocolate Biscuits

Every writer needs feedback. After all, of no-one is going to read your work, why bother writing in the first place? Writers write to be read. Before we unleash our work(which has been a long labour of love, lets face it) to a world full of eager readers (well, wishing doesn't harm anyone) it is best to have a critical eye passed over your writing. Reading aloud to your cat doesn't really cut the mustard,because no matter how clever they are and how attentive, they don't have the skills. Honest, I know.
Receiving feedback can be a very scary time for a writer, we've slaved, slogged and slavered over a page of flash, a short story or even a tome of a novel and we want it to be right. It's an essential part of the process, and without it our writing cannot develop or grow and that goes for the big bang authors as well. 
So writers need to find somewhere safe to obtain feedback whilst providing honest and constructive information about the reading experience. There are many places to go and it's a very individual choice. Here are a few I have used:

• Writing Groups - traditional and online (I'm in debt to my own online writing group, Writers Abroad)
• Online Critique Groups - these can be genre specific e.g. Historical Fiction or very general like Ladies Who Critique and Critique Circle, there are loads
• Beta Reading Groups - again a plethora can be found just googling or searching on Facebook
• Online Writing Communities - groups of writers and readers together in a social community connecting through words, e.g. Wattpad
• Writing Buddies - you may be fortunate to have made friends with another author where you can agree to swap crits

Most of these places require you to participate in providing feedback as well as receiving, which is another fab way to develop your writing. 

And the biscuits? Well every writer needs chocolate, don't they?

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover?

Producing a book is not just about writing a story, as many of you know. That is only a small part of the many processes that take place, albeit a very important one. When you choose to self publish your book, you can add many more 'things to do' to what seems a never ending list. Designing a book cover is one of them. Even if you employ someone with the skills to do this you will still have to think about what you want the cover to convey to a potential reader. 


For me, covers are very important. I will choose a book purely by what I see on the front, without reading the blurb. (I used to read the last line *Shock!Horror!* until my husband convinced me it wasn't a good thing to do). 
For The Duke's Shadow, I did pay someone to produce the end result, because I felt overwhelmed with getting my debut novel out. I spend a long time looking for images and settings which I thought would a) say something about the overall theme of the novel, and b) entice the reader to look inside. And as you can see, it was well worth the money.




I'm planning to release 'The Good[Expat}Life on Wattpad as a serial, as I want to gather some feedback before I publish it in October. I still need a cover and this time I've created a simple cover myself in Publisher using a pencil caricature of Penny and George (the two main characters) played about with colours and fonts and this is the result.

It sounds easy, but actually it has taken me probably two maybe three days in total to get to this stage. But I've enjoyed using a different creative process and, for me anyway, it does what it says on the tin. The jury is out and I still believe that you have to have a good story, however slick the cover may be. What do you think?

Until Later, 

Meet George from The Good{Expat}Life

1. What is your real, birth name?  George Horatio Nelson – I know, my mother thought it would stand me in good stead… how wrong can someone be? Don’t tell Penny that I've revealed my middle name, will you?
2. Do you have a nickname? Well, not really. Penny calls me lots of things, especially when she’s angry. Mostly she refers to me as l’uomochifa the man who does, or who will do as Penny reminds me. She’s very organised.
3. What do you look like? One woman where I worked thought I looked like George Clooney. No, honest she did! Penny said that the resemblance stopped with the name George… but I know she’s teasing me.  
4. How do you dress most of the time? Well, it depends what I’m doing. If I’m strimming (which I do a lot) it’s usually a pair of thin cotton trousers with an elastic waist (cheap buy from the supermarket), an old white t shirt usually with remnants of the last strim, an old cut sock on my arm (the strimmer motor burns it) and a hat (or if I’ve forgotten it, a clean pair of underpants – much to Penny’s disgust.)
5. How do you "dress up?"  Erm, I wear a shirt usually on the top half. Penny likes me in pastels, pink and lilac.
6. How do you "dress down?"  Erm, shorts usually (isn’t that what all men wear “down” or trousers?) too early in the year say our Italian neighbours, they are still in their puffa jackets until mid-July.
7. What do you wear when you go to sleep?  Nothin’ usually, the odd cat around my neck, who doesn’t stay there long. I like ‘skin to skin’ but Penny insists on wearing some kind of nightwear. Just in case. Of intruders or such like. So she says…
8. Do you wear any jewellery?  My wedding ring. I did try an ear stud many years ago, but Penny was not impressed. I thought it was very ‘George Michael’.
9. In your opinion, what is your best feature?  Definitely not my hair. Definitely Penny.
10. What's your real birth date?  I’m 59 years young. I’m sure you can work it out. We have a big double 0 birthday next year. Penny wants to ignore it, but it’s time for a celebration don’t you think? Perhaps I can persuade with a list. She loves lists.
11. Where do you live?  In a very small house with very large grounds. Large enough to hide from Penny and her lists. (I do love her tho’ and she does get things done… with my help of course).
12. Do you own a car?  Yup. But don’t want to talk about the front wing. Penny!
13. What is your most prized mundane possession?  My strimmer of course. Used to use a hand scythe and I still have it. Its handle was made by Pietro, the old guy who lived here. He made all his tools and I have them all.
14. What one word best describes you? Obedient?  

Until Later, 

Birthday Sway Bag - Blog Hop

I've been asked by Pam Burkes, who writes novels together with her sister and are known as The Chicklit Sisters, to take part in this fun blog hop. I can thoroughly recommend their books, they are light, fun and so true to life: How to Survive Your Sisters, was particularly so as I am one of three!

I have to choose a number of favourite or desired items I'd put in a swag bag for a significant birthday including: a book, beauty product, snack food, music album and 'my choice'. So here we go...

Book: I have struggle to name only one book that I would take so I've settle for two. The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, because it is such a fantastic read and Lorna Doone  by R D Blackmore, a book I've read several time since I was about eleven and never tired of the romance.

Beauty Product: As I rarely buy beauty products I would really like a luxury hamper full of luxurious body creams and unctions (to protect me from the results of weather and age), a nail care set (gardening and nails do not live well together) and a large tub of hair gel (I'm wearing my hair very short as it's easy to manage, but need to make it look a bit more 'funky'). As a hamper would be too large to fit in the bag, a voucher for one would do nicely.


Snack Food: I'm a very big fan of Maltesers but can't get them over here in Italy, so definitely a bag (or two). To balance this into a healthy snack food, I'd sneak in a tub of home-made hummus and some veggie sticks.

Music Album: Now, I don't like listening to one album full of songs by the same artist so it would definitely have to be an MP3 player (or whatever modern equivalent) with a bit of: John Legend, Jake Bugg, Caro Emerald, the Puppini Sisters, Paolo Nutini and a bit of classical.

And Finally, my own choice. Now this is not difficult. A new posh journal, preferrably hard backed A4 with a pretty cover and fresh, lined paper. And an instrument to write with, a fountain pen. Perhaps a Mont Blanc? This one is particularly pretty...

So that's my swag bag full to the brim! 

I've tagged a fellow WA member, Angela Williams, to share her swag bag on Monday 7 July. Angela regular blogs over at her site the Amsterdam Oriole.



Until Later,

Meet Penny from The Good{Expat}Life

Last week I introduced one of the projects I’m working on. Today I've interviewed one half of the two characters, Penny.

1. What is your real, birth name? What name do you use? My father was so disappointed that I wasn't a boy he insisted I was called Phyllis and he could shorten it to Phyl. *sigh* I blame my father for a lot of things, my love of lists, my total non-interest in politics and for wanting me to wear the trousers. I've been known as Penny since the day I was teased at school about having a boy’s name.

2. Do you have a nickname? What is it, and where did you get it? George loves to call me poppet. Usually when he’s done something wrong and he’s trying to butter me up, but it never works. He sings this song about being a poppet and wishing I was small enough to put in his pocket. I know, he’s special… well he has special needs anyway.

3. What do you look like? George would say that I look like Goldie Hawn and every time I look in the mirror I close my eyes and picture myself with long blond locks, large eyes and a smile to die for. Instead I probably more resemble Mrs Brown. But George says I put myself down and who am I to argue?

4. How do you dress most of the time? I’m still wearing clothes that we bought in the UK and all of the power shoulder jackets, smart shirts and skirts that are impossible to garden in have been shredded for one use or another. Usually a pair of shorts (an old pair of George’s that are fraying at the edge) and a grubby t-shirt. Italian clothes are made for much more ‘petite’ figures. As George says I have ‘big bones’. 

5. How do you "dress up?" See Answer to Question 4

6. How do you "dress down?" See Answer to Question 4

7. What do you wear when you go to sleep? See Answer to Question 4 but replace the shorts with boxers.

8. Do you wear any jewelry? What is jewelry? I wear a copper bracelet but it usually turns my skin green. Great for aching fingers tho'.

9. In your opinion, what is your best feature? My big feet, they ensure that I don’t topple over. I’m tall and would look stupid if I had small feet. My father, however, used to sing ‘Can’t love ya cos your feets too big’. See what I mean?

10. What's your real birth date? 29 February So I’m at least a quarter of the age I should be. Is that right? Never was good with maths…

11. Where do you live? In a small (very tiny) casa shared with two dogs, nine cats, a couple of chickens and the odd (tailess) lizard, courtesy of the cats.

12. Do you own a car? Erm, I think it’s silver, quite large and has a few dents in the front wing. That was not a good day, George was most cross but how is one supposed to guess where a concrete post that can’t be seen really is?

13. What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much? A very battered Filofax from my days as a proper employed ‘executive’. I know… you wouldn't believe it would you? But it’s handy for keeping lists in. Have I told you I love lists? George on the other hand…

14. What one word best describes you? Tolerant (as long as things are done my way)

Next week we'll talk to George...

The Good (Expat) Life

The Good {expat}Life is one of the projects I'm working on at the moment. It's a humorous contemporary story about Penny and George who have to make a choice between their life in England and their retirement plan in Italy when their business falls flat on its face. They can't afford to keep both and they bravely decide on new beginnings, helped by best friends Daphne and Roger. 

To say that the story is loosely based on the truth is a bit of an understatement, Penny and George live out some of the experiences and situations we may have endured since moving to Italy almost seven years ago. And I can say that I do identify with Penny, though I don't think I'm quite as tough on Simon. He, of course may beg to differ. All the characters are based on a mish-mash of people, a trait here, a habit there and a splash of physical features and abracadabra! So to all the friends (and others) that I have met here, I can put hand on heart and say I defy them to identify with one of the characters. What they may see is a hint of others they know, but one rule of writing is never to use a real person. So apologies, but if you want to audition for a role in the TV sitcom, happy for you to apply.  

Most people, those who don't live abroad, have a very rose tinted vision of people like us who have moved away from our natural home. Mainly they think that we have a swimming pool - ha! First we couldn't afford the maintenance, never mind the installation. And our land slopes downwards, a little tricky unless we were going to install a water ride. And, apparently, we sit on our terraces, sipping Prosecco until the sun goes down after a day at the beach basking in the sun. Well, the odd day may be spent like that, but more often than not we're growing and picking vegetables (cheaper), strimming (initially with two old hand scythes that were left here along with a number of other hand-made tools) the two acres of field-like land that is loosely called our 'garden' and feeding an array of abandoned animali that we've adopted. 
But like Penny and George, we wouldn't swap it for the world.

More about P & G later...

To Tweet or Not To Tweet

As writers, and particularly if we enter the world of self publishing, we are told that a presence on social media sites is essential. We need to market our stuff, bare our souls and shout about how great we are. Not so hard, right? Given the number of social media resources, it should be a breeze.

I find it really difficult. I start of with good intentions; but soon fall from the path of good social media. I start to blog daily, the it falls to weekly, then sporadically. 

I visit Facebook far too often and get distracted by posts wanting a puppy or kitten saving, or reading about jolly jaunts, gaze longingly at pictures of my grandchildren in the UK, keeping up with what to plant in the orto (veggie garden) or how to rid the lettuce of slugs and bugs. Then there are the writing sites, with advice on all areas of writing, books to buy - ever so easy with a kindle, just a click away!- and updates from writing friends. That's half a morning gone in a blink of any eye and I still haven't posted anything. 

I do have a Twitter account and read recently that you can schedule 'tweets' ( and as they are short posts, I thought maybe I could manage that. And there aren't any pictures to distract my eye. So I made a plan of subject areas I can tweet on a daily basis, and  just spent an hour on Tweetdeck, writing tweets for the next few days. That was of course, after my Facebook session. And I can schedule my blog, this one, to be exact.

As to the other social media sites, I haven't even explored them for fear of never lifting my head to write another word. What media sites do you use and do they help your writing? Or are they a bit of distraction and take more time out of your day? 

Meet My Main Character Blog Hop

I've been tagged by Dianne Ascroft to take part in this blog hop about main characters in our latest work in progress. Dianne is a fellow member of Writers Abroad and has self published a novel set in World War II - Hitler and Mars Bars.
I'm currently working on a fantasy novel but do have other historical works in progress, so I shall showcase one of those. However, there is no reason why the characters for the blog hop can't be from any genre as you will discover from my tagged authors below. Makes things a little more interesting...

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
There are two strong female characters in this project, Eve Lacey and Isabella Bloomfield. Neither of them are based on any particular person—more they are a mix of women I have read about in my research around World War II, particularly about the ATA girls. When I lived in the UK, I met and interviewed an old lady, Pat Brandon, who had nursed in London during the war and she also inspired me to write about this time.

2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set during the years of World War II and starts with Eve and Isobel meeting in a field hospital in France. They continue their friendship when Isobel joins the ATA and Eve is posted back to England.

3) What should we know about him/her?
The two friends couldn’t be more different. Eve is from the country and ran away from her cruel aunt after her father died. Isobel is a wealthy debutante who it seems has everything she could wish for. The women, however, share a birthday and from the first time they meet, their lives run along parallel lines.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Eve and Isobel fall in love with the same man, Jack Wallace, an ace fighter pilot. Eve has a brief liaison with him and falls head over heels in love but never sees him again. Isobel is pursued by Jack and eventually agrees to marry him. Soon after, Jack is killed in combat and Eve reveals the consequences of her liaison.

5) What is the personal goal of the character?
Both women want to live life in the moment as dictated by circumstances out of their control. However ultimately they both want to be loved and seek to secure their future. 

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
The working title at the moment is All Will Be Well but it has been known as The Flying Angels as it features quite a bit about the ATA girls.

7) When can we expect the book to be published?
This was the first full length work in progress I penned. Having self-published The Duke’s Shadow, on March 1 this year it has given me the confidence to rewrite all my works in progress. Hopefully, 2015. You can find news updates on my website Louise Charles.

The two authors I have tagged are: 
Vesna McMaster - a fellow member of Writers Abroad and 
Pam Burkes, who writes with her sister as the author, Ellie Campbell. Together they have published four novels, How to Survive Your Sisters, When Friends Go Bad, Looking for La La and To Catch a Creeper.

Following Your Writing Dreams

It is every writer's dream to see their work in print. I don't believe that any writer really wants to keep their work all to themselves. We write so that others can read. But as we all know, writing just isn't about putting words down on paper or tapping them into a PC. There is so much to the writing process that is not about writing.

Marketing is fast becoming the No 1 skill that we writers have to get our heads around. And it's not easy. Generally, writers are not good at selling themselves or their work. It's not what we do best. But we have to learn, whether we are picked up by a publishing house or choose the self publication route, we have to shout out and shout out loud to be heard (and therefore read).

And for me, I learn through my failures. My last marketing plan sort of fizzled out. The promises I made to myself to stand tall and be counted weren't followed through. Most of all I lacked a consistent approach. Next time will be different. It is a hard mountain to climb and sometimes results are slow.

I've had some wonderful comments about The Duke's Shadow. People have taken the time and effort to go out of their way and say constructive things about my book - they've actually read it! So my dream of getting into print and reaching out to readers has been fulfilled in some part. It is these testimonials that I will treasure and return to when I need a confidence boost rather than wallowing in self pity about what I haven't done. 

And in the meantime, I shall continue to follow my writings dreams, by preparing my next publication (more of which to follow).

ReWriting Counts? - Day 23

CampNaNo finishes in 7 days and I've been looking at ways I can catch up. I need to pen over 3000 words a day to reach the 50k target and my four writing prompt challenges are totalling around 2,400 so a bit of a shortfall. So as planned, I'm going to start rewriting my next work in progress, in preparation for self publication. Wolf Moon is a fantasy (not sci fi) and one I have really loved writing as it freed me from the restrictions of historical fact and research and allowed me to create my own world. Red inked fountain pens are at the ready. I'll share more from my website Louise Charles as I progress. 
But for now... on day 22, these were my writing prompts:

1. Keywords: time, mine, bell, celebrate, fun 
2. Random: a marriage that’s run its course: 
3. One-word prompt: trying
4. This picture:  which prompted me to write something set in 3014!

Until Later,

Catching Up - Day 22

I've been away from my writing desk (virtual and real) for a few days. Though to be fair, they weren't wasted days in terms of writing. I've spent time catching up with my fast growing granddaughter and grandson, finding out what makes them tick, enjoying their individualism and making mental notes about characteristics. I also spent some time enriching my research notes for two writing projects. One is set in medieval times and features the old Abbey at Shaftesbury. This wasn't the first time I've visited the Abbey, in fact it was a day that I spent there some years ago that inspired 'The Morning Gift' but it renewed my desired to see the story evolve into print. So lots of notes made. And the second was a visit to Shaftesbury Museum which stands at the top of the very famous Gold Hill. The museum had a feature on World War 1 - topical as you might imagine. But more interestingly on the role of Fovant and the field hospital that was set up there. Fovant is also famous for it's badges, carved into the rocks on the hills by soldiers from various regiments. This is the setting for a project I intend to start this year. 
So even when writers cannot physically be seen to be writing, they are developing ideas, soaking up inspiration and verifying facts for later use.
But now back to my challenge: I've got 37,000 words to scribble before the end of the month.

Distractions - Day Nine

On Day eight, I wrote about competing priorities getting in the way of writing. Yesterday, I allowed myself to fall into the trap of distraction. Now, I'm easily distracted. I like to call it multi-tasking (a bit like plate spinning) but it's not, my 'man that does' calls it the butterfly technique. There are the usual culprits; emails, Facebook, weather reports, reading the BBC page to make sure I'm up to date in a cultural sort of way, putting out the wet washing, collecting in the dry washing (luckily I don't iron), watering the plants, brushing the dogs and playing with the cats. 

On Day Nine, I found myself distracted by a need to play Solitaire (on the PC) until I got it out three times, listening to Adele on the radio whilst writing which totally changed the outcome (I usually write in silence) and answering the telephone (I usually ignore it while writing, but then get distracted by the message being left on the answerphone).
Anyway, whatever the distractions, they didn't stop me from penning 3000 words - yes, I did the extra 15 minute challenge I failed to do on Day 7, so all up to date and feelin' good.
The prompts I wrote to were:

1. Monologue: Your character has suddenly reached a road he/she doesn't recognise
2. Keywords: sudden, cruel, pleases, fool, conviction                
3. Random: throwing shadows
4. Picture: what does this inspire?   (It didn't so I wrote about the senses)       
5. Tuesday Title: The Woman

Until Later,

Spinning Plates - Day 8

We all have to cope with competing priorities on a daily basis and being a writer doesn't mean that you cannot be distracted by other items on the dreaded 'to do list'. I love lists, as my husband will tell you. I have lists about lists and coloured pens to illustrate when something has been done! Ticking items as completed gives me a great sense of pleasure. Sad I know. But I do get (some) things done. As you can probably tell, I'm a bit of spinning plate kind of person. And yesterday on Day 8, a plate fell. I only completed three out of the four writing challenges I planned. But... I finished decorating the bathroom which makes me feel happy. Here are the three challenges I wrote about yesterday with a total word count of around 1800.

1. Keywords: mate, cold, sheath, curve, CD (I didn't manage to include 'sheath', not sure why?)
2. Random: stealing a kiss
3. Picture: (but I changed the fruit and wrote about cherries, not plums...) 

Today, I hope to catch up with my challenges and complete five... the pressure is on as I go away on Friday for a few days.

Until Later, 

Routine and Writing - Day Seven

I know, I hear you ask, what happened to Day Six of CampNaNo? Well it came and went, but on a Sunday and I try to leave this day free from writing, catch up with family on Skype and do some serious reading. Doesn't always work that way but I think it's important to have a break.
So Monday I was back on track at my desk (which by the way could be anywhere: Dining Room table, my lap, outside in the sunshine, lying in bed or at a real desk). These are the prompts that were in my inbox for Day 7.

1. Keywords:closure, sad, jail, grateful, found 
2. Random: An easy complication
3. One-word prompt: vigil
4. Picture: 
   

I completed all four and wrote around 2,400 words which is about 600 words per 15 minute session. The key for me, I think, is a routine. Albeit a very loose routine - for instance yesterday I wrote after breakfast, before and after lunch and the last session before I signed off for the day - today might turn out very different. But I made time to write and to my surprise all pieces were a kind of rough story. And I'm enjoying myself so what could be better?

Until Later,

It's all about Timing - Day Five

On Day Five of my Camp NaNo challenge I decided to change tack. Using the prompts from this writing site which provides Monday to Friday Story Writing Exercises. I wrote in four time chunks and timed myself for 15 minutes per session. The prompts were:

1. A picture prompt: 
   
2. Random: A stubborn child
3. Keywords: successful, stock, tree, prevent, graft
4. One Word prompt: Grow

The first prompt took place in a prison but with a twist, the second about a grieving mother, the third took the form of my 'expat' series as Penny and George (very familiar to my mates over at Writers Abroad) and the third about two old spinster sisters and a lie. 
It was an interesting writing experiment as I found that without looking at the clock I penned around 600 words each 15 minute session and all of them formed a kind of loose 'story'. The first time since the Camp NaNo challenge began. And my writing total for the day was a little more than 2400 words which is good going for some scribbling. So this week I'm going to put this to more testing. Watch this space...

Until Later

Writing Out - Day Four

Day Four of my writing challenge had me feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration. Even though I'd scribbled and computed around 1700 words I didn't feel like I'd written a thing.  I was using another plot prompt that I'd posted on my writing group, Writers Abroad.



A stubborn 22 year old woman
An arrogant 32 year old man
A car crash
A church 
Shame (theme)

At Writers Abroad we post a number of weekly prompts which we call 'Monday Muses'. They are supposed to kickstart our week of writing and help us find inspiration if we're feeling stuck. It's a very popular forum but every now and then everyone finds it difficult to muse. And Day Four was my difficult day. Many WA members have gone on to develop their Monday Muses into fully fledged short stories, flash fiction and poetry and successfully been placed in competitions of all sorts of levels. So they are a great piece of kit for the writing tool box.
Just got to remember that sometimes it just doesn't work and it is okay to say 'I give up.' And that's what I did.

Until Later,

The Hunt - Day Three

On Day Three of my daily creative prompt writing quest, I used a plot generator. These provide two characters, a setting, theme and sometimes other stuff. So here they are: 

A spontaneous 38 year old woman 
An arrogant 38 year old man
A night club
Someone being cheated
The Hunt (theme)

It was the theme that intrigued me to pick this prompt. It conjured up all sorts of dilemma's and ways to portray 'the hunt' with significant undertones of some kind of thriller or crime related story. I didn't quite get a story together but I did explore theories such as stalking, blackmail and tricksters. I wanted the bad guy to be the woman at first but I ended up decided she should be like a female James Bond (well there isn't one is there? Not a true 007 type). So I started looking at spy names - names are quite important for my characters as it helps to shape them in my chaotic head. And would you really have a spy called Dolly? Although I did come across one called Diedre and there were many real and valiant female spies in the two World Wars with names you wouldn't associate with Secret Service type of stuff. Nikita, Matahari and Vesper came up tops in my search. But what did I end up with? Gemima Frost - I know...how did that happen? And where did the male character go? 


I can tell you now, Day Four hasn't been any better, but that's for tomorrows post.

Until Later,

Running In the Rain - Day 2

Day Two's prompt was a mixture. Sometimes this happens, I start off with one and another just naturally falls into my thoughts. My first was this picture, a woman running barefoot in the rain. It's a black and white picture and for me, it created an intriguing atmosphere. I imagined it to be warm as she's wearing a summer dress, but the setting doesn't look particularly tropical.
Then I wondered who she was running from (maybe those bad dreams from Day 1) or to? It was at this point that a piece of dialogue I had recorded as a potential prompt fell onto the page.

'The way you flirt is shameful.'

Now, it's often easy to stereotype characters when you first start writing. I try very hard not to do that, but it's not that easy. Anyway, as I'd seen Sandi Toksvig on the telly, talking about renewing her vows with her partner to celebrate the passing of law for same sex marriages my thoughts and scribblings began to follow this path. My original character still featured and she turned out to be running away from someone (and did so with the help of our happy couple.)

For me, it's not important whether the prompt is followed by the end of the writing session, it's more important to develop some threads and that could lead anywhere...

Until Later,

Dream Catcher - Day One

Thought I'd share the creative writing posts I'm using for Camp NaNoWriMo to exercise my writing muscle during April. As you will come to discover, I use a number of different prompt forms. Some are character based, others plots, maybe a first (or last line), some dialogue or a random word or words and sometimes pictures. I find it useful to keep a note of prompts and then choose one, sit down open my journal and write for fifteen minutes.

Day One: As the dream faded, she chased it, forlorn.
This prompt had me wondering who was chasing the dream and was it here and now, in her past or maybe her future?. The word 'dream' conjures up for me, a happy sort of scenario (well at least something that is happier, more positive) rather than a nightmare. Although, my pessimistic mind did lead me to think that 'she' was maybe trying to escape from her more unhappy demons. I'm fascinated by dreams and their interpretations, though I'm not a big dreamer myself. Not when I'm asleep anyway, much different when I'm supposed to be getting things done :). 

Anyway, I found myself at the end of the writing session with the words 'dreamcatcher' in my head and I couldn't get rid of it. So off I went to Google to find out more. I knew they were a kind of native American symbol and I learnt that the term originates from the word for 'spider'. The dreamcatcher is formed from a willow hoop upon which is woven a kind of web. The idea is that the 'bad' dreams are caught in the web allowing the sleeper (usually children) to only have 'good' dreams.

I wonder where all the bad dreams went? Did they escape and end up in someone else's night time visions?

Wakey, Wakey, it's Camp NaNoWriMo!

I've recently lost my writing mojo. I know, very careless of me but this is not a one off event - if I'm honest. I know what works best for my writing mojo and I constantly let it down, so I'm not surprised they've (can a mojo have a gender, I wonder?) slipped away again. In my defence, I've also had a slight health hiccup - as an ex-nurse being more used to being on the other side of the bed - it was quite a shock. And this happened only days after I'd self published my debut novel, The Duke's Shadow, so not only my writing has suffered but also my marketing plan. (BTW available from Amazon in paperback and ebook format)  

So with the advent of a new month today I've decided it's time for action. Without a doubt I am the only one in charge of capturing my dreams.I always write best with a schedule, a formal time commitment. I'm not the fly by the seat of my pants person that I think I am. I'm a planner and I need to give in to and honour this process as THE only way I can function properly. So a new timetable has been created and I've signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo.

During April, I will free write for at least 15 minutes a day, using a creative writing prompt and I shall blog on the outcome on a daily basis here. Sorry to be such a bore, but it's a way of capturing my achievements and show that I'm sticking to the PLAN. In addition, the projects I've highlighted for Camp are revisions of two pieces of work; Wolf Moon and Flying Angels. 

Until Later...