What does the future really hold?

Last night I organised a little party with three friends and a local clairvoyant Sue Winter www.susanwinter.co.uk/. I was intrigued as had read that she had helped author Garth Raynor. According to the Bailgate Independent he says he came away after talking to her 'enlightened'. I did prepare a few questions to ask during the reading but now, the morning after, there are so many other questions I wished I had asked.

I did ask her whether she saw anything to do with 'creativity' but then had to be more specific and say I was writing a book. She saw it as being a children's book. It had a bright yellow cover, and she got the impression of it being 'happy'. Bugger!! When I asked her about the crime book she said; 'I don't think you'll do it'. Double Bugger!!

So, do I believe what she says and just give up, or do I prove fate / her wrong?
Answers on a postcard please.....

HAPPY EASTER!!

It's Easter and it's snowing!

I have done no writing for over a week as I have been full of snotty cold.

Can't even write this blog as I've got a snowman to build!!

Hope to get back to the novel sometime soon.......

Writers Block

Alan Bradley (winner of the Debut Dagger 07) recommended a visit to Louise Penny’s www.louisepenny.com website. She was shortlisted for the 2004 debut dagger. Her site is a treasure trove. She says:
I suffered from writer's block for many years. Terror had taken hold. I was afraid that, once tested, I'd prove my worst fear true - I was a terrible writer. What cured me was a sudden realization I was taking myself way too seriously. And that I was trying to write the best book ever published in the history of the world. And if I didn't, I was a failure.
I decided instead to just have fun with it. To write what I loved to read. And to people the book with characters I'd want as friends. Clearly we all choose our own characters - but make sure you're going to want to spend lots of time with them. They don't have to be attractive, kind, thoughtful. But they do need to be compelling. Look at Scarlet O'Hara. A petty, jealous, willful, vindictive character, almost without redeeming traits, whose tragedy is her failure to change. But she's riveting.
I'm off to have some fun....

The Motivated Mind

Recently read Dr Raj Persaud's book: The Motivated Mind. It was not what I expected but it did have something to say about Perfectionists which I feel is relevant to my writing at the moment. Perfectionists are plagued by self doubt (they dwell on their failures) which is counter productive. Because perfectionists urge themselves to the limits of endurance, they leave no spare capacity to cope with added stress from the environment. This leads to added strain and weariness. The terror of only middling accomplishment means that those who feel tired all the time perhaps avoid too much activity when trying to rest. Feeling tired all the time is a clue to having over pushed yourself for reasons to do with ambitions. Maniacal rushing is down to deep insecurities that will never be appeased by sheer effort, no matter how much is achieved.

Accoring to the good Dr I must:
Stop looking for approval.
Don’t be afraid of failure. The fear of failure stops us succeeding.
Invest your energy in the right things. Prioritize!
Take a break!! Exercise!

Just because someone throws you a ball, doesn’t mean you have to catch it!

FISH at the Drill Hall Lincoln

I have always liked Marillion (been to see them live a few times) and their album Clutching at Straws has always been top of my listening in the bath list! The album is both inspiring and yet at the same time intimidating, as the lyrics are sheer poetry and totally bloody brilliant!! There are too many to choose from, but here are a few of my favourite ones with a writing theme:

And the only sign of life is the ticking of the pen, Introducing characters to memories like old friends, Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines, A fever of confession a catalogue of crime, in happy hour......

So if you want my address it's number one at the end of the bar, Where I sit with the broken angels clutching at straws and nursing our scars.

It's too late, I found, it's too far, I'm in two minds, Both of them are out of it at the bar, When you say I got a problem that's a certainty, But I can put it all right down to eccentricity, It's just for the record it's just a passing phase, Just for the record I can stop any day.

Sheer bloody poetry!! And the gig was fantastic. Thanks to Fish for putting up with Wetherspoons food (just) and the actions of an idiot - that was me, that was - but that's another story.....

Murder Most Famous

For the first time, I had a real excuse this week for not getting down to any writing. I felt sick all day Monday and then about Monday tea time started being physically sick. This lasted all Monday night and through Tuesday; making me tired all through Wednesday. Consequently I spent a lot of time on my back and in bed. However, I managed to use the time to my advantage by firstly reading a Lee Childs novel; Without Fail (more of him next month) and watching Murder Most Famous on BBC every afternoon this week. What I can’t understand is why this was on in an afternoon…..Anyway, short synopsis: Minette Walters and 6 Celebrities; each trying to write a crime novel, and each day one of them must leave. The winner (Sherrie Hewson) will go on to write a crime novel.

Minette gave the celebrities 10 Rules to follow:
1. Devise a Credible Murder
It gets to be a credible murder via:
2. Do your Research
Observe, Experience, ask questions (about the murder you are committing inside your head)
3. Understand Emotion and Psychology
How does it feel to be a murderer / victim? What leads to murder? Motivations and Emotions.
4. Use what you know
Be prepared to ‘go naked’. What makes you angry isn’t so different to what makes a murderer angry – it’s a matter of degree. Dig deep into your own emotions. Face your fears and emotions to write something worth reading. Let yourself go. Use visualisation and imagination. See the person in intricate details. How do they feel? Smell? Get inside the mind of a killer!
5. Get hands on Experience
However, never forget your reader. Too much detail kills your readers imagination.
6. Create Credible Characters
Details bring words to life. Why do people do what they do? Why / how do people become murderers / victims? Think about the web of deceit.
7. Hook your Reader (and maintain suspense)
Action sequences create suspense. Pace depends on the length of sentences.
8. Write Authentic Dialogue
Make sure it moves the plot forward. Think about the rhythms of speech – make it sound natural. Must make murderer sound intimidating / frightening. Can’t just write ‘he said menacingly’. Create a sense of unease.
9. Expect the Unexpected
Keep your readers on their toes. Everything is not always what it seems. Think about twists and turns, cliff-hangers, clues and red herrings – what do you want to show the reader? The smallest clue can change the direction of an investigation. Different witnesses may recall different (and conflicting) details. People are easily deceived when they are frightened. People are easily misled if they don’t know they are being misled… Keep your readers guessing!
10. Bring your book to life
Atmosphere and Feeling!! (Typeface and Lettering!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/murdermostfamous/