Merry Christmas!

My non-competition winning Haiku

Two old ladies chat

“After he died", she whispered

“I had gas put in”. 

 

In August I entered the Writing Magazine Haiku contest http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/haiku-competition.html

In the January edition of Writing Magazine (www.writers-online.co.uk ) Judge Alison Chisholm writes attempts at humour are not always successful in a haiku, but as my content did not include a traditional Zen moment and nature reference I can see why my Haiku did not even make the shortlist!

That really doesn't matter in the long run.  Fellow poets liked it when I asked for feedback on the Pimento Poets forum and, as its based on a real conversation I overhead one day while shopping, it always makes me smile.

Underappreciated Poets

Poets are supposed to be under appreciated, don't you know?  There is always a strange reaction to those who become successful in their own lifetime, and so I always felt lucky that I made the living I did out of it.  I was convinced I'd be rumbled, and would have to go out and get a proper job.

John Cooper Clarke, quoted in January 2013 Writers' News www.writers-online.co.uk

Pain is inevitable

Quote from Marian Keyes:

For feel-good fiction to work there has to be an element of darkness. 

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Looking for the Secret Life

Yiyun Li http://yiyunli.com/index.php

I think....everybody lives a secret life....And for me, the writer's job is to look at those places where they don't tell you the stories right away and you explore those secrets and see how people feel lonely or isolated or disappointed in certain ways.

It's Called Research!!

Following the wonderful non fiction workshop with Caroline, See: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/non-fiction-workshop.html I have really been fired up with regards to writing some non fiction. 

As I said in that post, its all about the market, and for that reason on a recent shopping trip, I bought a few magazines.  Two of the magazines, I have previously had a subscription to - though admittedly it was a long time ago - but at least I have started my 'research'.

I also sent an email around work and put a message on facebook with regards to friends 'old' magazines.  This produced a small pile under the table which I have been steadily ploughing through.  As a lot of those magazines were homes and interiors magazines, they probably won't be the 'market' I will focus on just yet, but it is still interesting to look at what goes into these magazines.

What I have also discovered is, that while looking through some of the magazines, I have found inspiration for another of my planned goals this year - that of photography.  All the magazines devoted to a women's audience have lovely glossy adverts, and I have torn out a lot of these to use as 'inspiration' with my photography.

My plan now is to let Christmas come and go, and during this time concentrate on my photography, but also read, read, read these magazines and collect more wherever possible.

Then, after Christmas, think of a topic and a possible market - but this begs the question - which comes first - Topic or Market?

Non Fiction Workshop

I can honestly say it was worth the wait!!   Last Saturday Caroline High www.carolinehigh.co.uk/ led a wonderful workshop on Writing Non Fiction.  There were only 5 attendees which was enough for a lively discussion, but small enough for it to feel very personal.

As I said at
http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/non-fiction-workshop-cancelled.html  I had already put together a list of topics, but the workshop made me realise there are so many other subjects that I can write about. 

The use of our own lives and our memories from days gone by was a subject I had not even considered, but once you start to think about, and chat about, events / objects that you remember, the stories come flooding back.  It also happens when asking others about their memories.  I may need to invest in a digital recorder to capture all the information / research that is 'out there.'

The course also made me realise that there is more to magazines than just articles to be written.  There are readers letters, quizzes, reviews, interviews, profiles, top tips, etc. etc.

Following the course, I have started to ask all myfriends to give me thier old magazines so I can check out possible markets.  I got a huge pile from work this week.  I am hoping to ger a few more from people over the weekend, and this morning I invested in a few magazines myself - purely for research purposes you understand!  I have just got to think about the topic to initially focus on.

Topics that immediately spring to mind for me are: Motherhood, Organising Children's Parties, Psychology, Parapsychology, Mental Health Issues, Time Management, Home Renovation.  I have personal experience with all of these topics that could be woven into an article, but where to start?

It's all about the market. Who would want to read an article written by me?  What do I have that is different from  other writers submitting articles?

The attendees from Caroline's course mentioned meeting up again in February / March next year, when (hopefully) we will all have been published,  but for the time being, its back to my research.....

The 7 Step Method to Find Focus for Writing

“I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o’clock every morning.” William Faulkner

Received an email this morning from http://zenhabits.net/resistance/ in which Leo Babauta discusses the 7 Step Method to Find Focus.

He says; 'Writers procrastinate on writing so much that the term “writer” is probably a misnomer. We should be called “putting things off-ists”.  Why is it so hard to focus on writing for most people? Or other creative work, for that matter?  It seems no matter our best intentions, it’s our lot in life to put off writing by checking email or Facebook or Twitter, doing other busy-work, chatting with someone, anything but the actual writing. I’ve figured out a few things that work. It’s my writer’s rehabilitation program, and I offer it here to all of you in hopes that it will help:

1. Set a writing block. It’s not enough to say, “I’m going to write a blog post or book chapter today”. You have to set a block of time. Even just 10-30 minutes. Let’s say 8-8:30 a.m. — this is blocked off on your calendar, and you make sure nothing gets in the way of that.

2. Create accountability. Tell someone else you’re going to start writing at 8am., and will do nothing else at that time but start writing. Promise to pay them $50 if you don’t.

3. Clear distractions. Just before your writing block, turn off the Internet. Use an Internet blocker. Close all programs.

4. Notice your resistance to starting. Let it go, and focus on just getting started. All you need to do is write the first few words — don’t worry about writing more than that.

5. Imagine you’re talking to a specific friend when you start writing — what would you say to that friend about this blog topic or book chapter?

6.Notice the tightness you feel as you start. It’s tension, not wanting to do this, wanting to do something else. Let it go, relax, enjoy the writing.

7.Watch the urge to go do something else. Watch, don’t act. Let it arise, then go away. Now go back to writing.

These are small steps, but they work. Now get to writing.'

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”
Margaret Atwood

Modern Memoirs....

I dislike modern memoirs.  They are generally written by people who have entirely lost their memories, or have never done anything worth remembering.

I wish I had written that, but unfortunately it was Oscar Wilde, quoted in December's Writers' News www.writers-online.co.uk

Well Done Moon!!

Moonyeen Blakey www.MoonyeenBlakey.com
author of 'The Assassin's Wife' www.fireshippress.com




Photo taken at Moon's launch at Cleethorpes Library on May 9th 2012.   Author Karen Maitland came along from Lincoln to support, and the photo shows Karen and Moon chatting together about 'what to do next'.

Many years ago (it was 2003) myself and fellow Lindum Scribes member Marjory went on a Plotting and Coursing the Novel (weekend workshop) with Suzanne Ruthven; editor of The New Writer.  Here we met members of another local(ish) writers group called The Yarburgh Writers.  One of these writers was Moonyeen Blakey who has just had her first novel published; 'The Assassin's Wife'.  See Moon's website for details at www.MoonyeenBlakey.com.

 

If you like historical fiction with a supernatural twist then you'll like Moon's books.  If you like authors like Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir then you'll definately like her too!!

Lincoln Inspired

http://www.lincolninspired.co.uk/

Lincoln Inspired - arts, music, books, theatre, comedy and conversation come together in an exciting new festival for the city.

Lincoln Inspired will showcase the very best local and national talent in five days of fun and celebration in May 2013.

Lincoln Inspired has the community at its heart and is funded through public donations and sponsorship. Click here http://www.lincolninspired.co.uk/donate/ to find out how you can help make it happen by pledging as little as £5. Inspirational!

Be Inspired.. and be part of it

Check out their TEAM page and you'll find my name (no photo as yet) and the Lindum Scribes are listed on the SUPPORTERS page!!

Loved This!!

Reported in Writing Magazine (August 2012) was a piece from Telegraph columnist Oliver Pritchett who has coined a few words to describe the difficulties of everyday life, including:

Fatastrophe: Your new diet was going really well until you accidentally ate a doughnut.

Chatastrophe: Occurred when you made a horribly inappropriate remark at a party.

Fiascolour: That shade of blue looked great on the colour chart, but its awful now its on the wall of the living room.

Chaostrich: A mother with her head in the sand who carries on sipping coffee, chatting to a friend or texting while her children run amok in Starbucks.

Chavoc: Ugly scenes outside a dodgy nightclub late on Saturday night.

Fizzaster: The predictable result of drinking too many glasses of champagne at your best friend’s wedding reception. This could also lead to a Kisshap when, to your horror, you find yourself smooching with the wrong person.

www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9245329/Pritchett-Its-chavoc-out-there.html

Happy 5 Years

On the 22nd October 2007 I began this blog.  Then the aim was to write a novel while I wasn't working.  I never did finish that novel, but 5 years later and my life and priorities have changed beyond recognition from that day. 

My resolutions continue, see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-years-resolutions-at-6-ish-months.html 

Now I have a son who is nearly 4 and I have continued to write my other blog regarding being a mother at: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/  I still wonder how women writers who are mothers get anything done, although I must admit to loving every minute of it!  

My son has just started pre-school which has given me a second morning to myself which is invaluable.  I often think I should start a children's novel.  Unfortunately he still continues to sleep in our bed which negates much writing in the evenings!  This time next year he will start school full time.   I have no idea what I will be doing in a year but I do feel that my writing has found its own place within the rest of my chaotic life and I have learnt to live with the fact that my time is no longer my own!!

Has much changed in a year? http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2011_10_01_archive.html
I have a different job now, which is less hours (and money) but I do have Wednesday morning to myself. Well, I am no longer a member of the book club mentioned as - although I would have loved to be a member - I just don't have that extra time.  I still continue to attend The Lindum Scribes but have recently made the decision to resign from the group I refer to as The Poison Pens.  The main reason being the time it takes to get there, and don't forget the fact that Saturdays are always full of other stuff that needs to be done!   I did attend one meeting of the Pimento poets, but due to time constraints and the issue of babysitting I have not been able to make another meeting.   

I am quite proud that I have managed to write a number of poems this year, enter a number of competitions, and of course I am hoping to have an article published in the next few months.  This has motivated me to think about writing non fiction more seriously.  Unfortunately the course I was hoping to attend had to be cancelled, but I have spoken to the tutor and she hopes to run another in the near future.  Hopefully, this workshop should help me decide where I should focus in the coming months.

This time next year Jamie will have started school.  What will I be doing?  Watch this space!!

John Cooper Clarke and Mike Garry

Last night was our evening with John Cooper Clarke, see: www.johncooperclarke.com/.  Although he is a legend and there were many people who had come to see him - The Drill Hall was a sell out - he seemed firstly very nervous, then very tired, and could even have been very drunk!  For me, he didn't read enough of his fantastic punk poetry and he told too many (though very funny) old jokes!   He finished on I've Fallen In Love With My Wife and did the classic Evidently Chicken Town (http://www.johncooperclarke.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:evidently-chickentown&catid=36:poems&Itemid=56) as his encore! 

We weren't expecting one, but his support was Mike Garry, see:  http://godisamanc.wordpress.com/ and  http://www.manchestersalon.org.uk/mancunian-meander-poetry-mike-garry.html  He was definitely scouting to be JCC's replacement!  A bit dark at times but very good.  I even bought one of his books which he signed for me for a small fee of £10.  It was worth that just for his poem St. Anthony (A Tribute to Tony Wilson) which took me back to my days in Leeds living with Caroline and her 'Madchester' scene music and clothes.  Not to mention the visits to Greater Manchester and our little shopping trips!

Non Fiction Workshop Cancelled

So, after all that I am afraid to say the course was cancelled due to there not being enough people to attend.  This has not deterred me however.  I just need some time to seriously sit down and look at non fiction writing and where I might fit in.   I already have a list of 'topics' I have an interest in - put together following the workshop with Bead Roberts and added to prior to the now cancelled workshop.  I just need to think seriously about markets and opportunity!

Non Fiction Workshop Booked!

Following my (almost) success with the article submitted to Writing Magazine, I have booked myself onto a one-day Non Fiction Writing Course taking place about half an hours drive away.  Details as follows:

Fiction Writing Workshop on Thursday October 25^th 2012 taking place in Martin, Nr Lincoln (LN4) and being run by www.carolinehigh.co.uk/ 

For further information, see:  www.manorhousestables.co.uk/courses-and-workshops.html

Looking forward to it. 

 

The Coffin Was Empty....

Had a really good meeting of the Lindum Scribes last night, which (just about) made up for missing the Pimento Poets meeting on Monday.

It was a shame that two of the committee were unable to make it because of illness, but Fred did a grand job keeping the meeting running smoothly.  I was only mildly wound up by the usual (older) member deviating from the subject (of writing) and managed to hold my own when she jumped to a rather large conclusion that was far from reality!!

I was also happy that the group agreed to cut back on the number of guest speakers in the coming year and to simply concentrate on writing meetings.  I had previously sent an email to the effect that if we are a writing group, shouldn't we be writing? And it seems I was not the only one with this thought.  The group did agreed that in the months where we do have a speaker, we will have an extra 'writing' meeting.

For those that had not come with anything to share, the Chairman had sent a list of Halloween related writing prompts for people to use during the coffee break.  I had taken a 'work in progress' poem, which seemed to go down well and we were all surprised at the amount of 'empty coffins' lying around...

Professional Writer At Last?

As readers of this blog know, in January I ran a workshop for The Lindum Scribes entitled  Kickstart Your Writing Year, see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/kickstart-your-writing-year-workshop.html).

In April I sent a short email to the Editor of Writers' News and Writing Magazine asking if he would be interested in an article based on this workshop.  He replied a week later asking for me to flesh out the idea a bit - just a couple of sentences about what each section would cover.  Four days later I sent a breakdown of the 5 sections of the workshop / article as requested.

I never heard anything back, so in August I sent an email requesting feedback on why I didn't get the gig.  I didn't hear anything back and was about to write a blog entry entitled; Polite Rejection? when I received the following email:   Hello Jo, Apologies that I've left you languishing in the slushpile so long. I would like to go ahead with this piece please, if you're still up for it. Around 1,800 words?  and then he mentioned money!!

 

I received this email last Tuesday while on holiday at Butlins.  We came back on Friday night and I have spent all weekend trying to write a decent article.  As I had initially written everything down prior to the workshop, and had written up all the information following the workshop for this blog, I did feel I had enough information to work with and was pleased with the result which I sent this morning.  Although he asked for 1800 words, I submitted just over 1900.  This was because I had also added a strap line and information about myself.  I wasn't sure of any guidelines to follow but I did have the latest edition of Writing Magazine so I analysed a couple of articles for style.

 

Wish me luck!!

Nothing is too far fetched...

....when you are a child.  And perhaps - as adults - we need to re-visit our childhood.  In the Sep/Oct/Nov 12 (issue 55) of Mslexia www.mslexia.co.uk/blog  Sara Hawthorn writes; ...The group of 8-13 year olds I work with has given me a sharp reminder of the freedom we have before our minds become clogged up with work, life and general tedious Grown-Up problems.  They've told me about haunted shoes, a bunny whose face is really funny, and a fight between a tummy and junk food.  Virtually nothing is too far-fatched for them - and why should it be?

In the same edition of Mslexia, Sarah Salway www.sarahsalway.net argues that play is a vital part of our creative lives.  She quotes psychiatrist Stuart Brown who says; Play can become a doorway to a new self, one much more in tune with the world, because play is all about trying on new behaviours and thoughts, it frees us from established patterns.  In other words Sarah writes, the more we play, the better our writing will be.

What is important with play she goes onto say, is that you choose what you want to do.  Write down the activities you loved as a child; blowing bubbles, drawing, growing seeds, cycling, comics, day dreaming, dressing up etc.  The problem isn't that we don't make time to have fun, says writer Catherine Smith. Most of us do things that waste time and aren't really fun at all, like watching boring TV or getting sucked into pointmless internet-related activites.  Fun doesn't need to be all ha-ha-ha.  It can be, as Catherine says odd, eccentric, and solitary - and we should all be honest and happy about that.

Play is risky and daring, Sam Holdsworth says. Far from being frivolous or silly, it requires committment, openness, flexibility and often results in a changed physical and emotional state.

Sarah concludes; So the next time your writing feels stuck, ring the bell for playtime.  Write your own play history or just spend an hour daydreaming, and see what happens.

And if we play with our own children then this is even better.  Am off now to see Bob The Builder at his yard while on my holiday at Butlins Skegness.  After that we are going swimming at Splash Waterworld and then going to see Norman and Fireman Sam.  Might get some Messy Play in while we are out or even get to dig in the sand on the beach!!

Well Done Alana

Well done to Alana - a fellow poet and member of the Lindum Scribes.  She is also the person who introduced me to the Pimento Poets for which I am very grateful (and I hope to make the next meeting!)

She sent all the Pimento Poets the following email this morning: Thanks for the good feedback you gave me with this poem. I had such trouble with it I remember.  Anyway it's just been shortlisted for the Judith Wright comp in Australia so I thought I'd give you the link.

http://overland.org.au/blogs/description/2012/09/overland-emerging-poets-series-alana-kelsall/   Its a very beautiful poem and as I said to Alana, since becoming a mother I seem to be touched more by poetry such as this....   Well Done Alana!

I don't know how we do it!

The latest issue of Mslexia (SEP/OCT/NOV12) www.mslexia.co.uk is in part devoted to the relationship between motherhood and creativity.

In the article from Danuta Kean - I don't know how we do it! - she highlights the benefits of multi tasking.  Dr Kamal Birdi of Sheffield University says; 'There is a phenomenon called "incubation", where you leave a problem you have been working on for a long time and then come back to it, finding a solution suddenly pops into your head.'  Ironically, then, our other responsibilities can actually help with problems such as writers block.  'By going off and doing something else, you get a new insight on how to deal with your original problem,' he adds.

Later in the article Danuta discusses the importance of time to think.  She quotes Rachel Hore who has written 5 novels, who says; 'The challenge for anyone doing any writing is to make enough mental space for deep thought.  It's not just about creativity; its mulling over what you're doing and being able to concentrate.'  Danuta also quotes occupational psychologist Angela Carter who says; 'Start the day with writing and when you have achieved something you are happy with, then have a look at your emails.'

Danuta sums up her article with the words of Louisa Young, whose novel was chosen for this years Richard and Judy Book Club, 'I don't see male writers saying, "Oh my god, I'm not going to finish my great work of art on time!" Women writers need to be less hard on themselves.'

She's right says Danuta, I have never heard a man apologise for the state of his house or for not being perfect.  But I hear women writers doing this all the time.  So right now stop and celebrate how much we achieve, including short stories, poems, plays, blogs and books.  I look at that and think we are miracle workers.  So do as (JoJo) Moyes says; 'We should all take a step back and give ourselves a big pat on the back.'

Achieving Happiness

I recently saw an article by Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, called Achieving Happiness Despite Everyday Challenges, see: 

www.huffingtonpost.com/shawn-achor/happiness-tips-research-chronic-illness_b_1798183.html

Part of the article was entitled: Never Give Up On the Good Times and I thought it was brilliant as it gave me another reason to write everyday.  He says:

Take two minutes every day to write down every detail you can remember about one positive experience that occurred over the past 24 hours.  As our brains can't tell much difference between visualization and actual experience, by rehashing a high point in the day you double the effect of that positive experience.  Overall, this leads to greater life satisfaction and meaning.  Studies have shown that women who wrote about positive experiences were 40 percent more likely to live to age 94 than their negative peers.

Writing Muscle....

Loved a piece written by Diana Cambridge  www.dianacambridge.co.uk  in October's Writing Magazine.  This was written in response to a readers query with regards to keeping a writers diary.  She says:

If you are just thinking of ideas for your writing, you're merely day dreaming.  Once you actually write things down, you are building up that writing muscle.  Your writing improves all the time because you are practising....a bit like music.  Writing's a craft that has to be practised - the writers notebook is your practice.

Apologies (again)

Once again I feel really bad as I had to send apologies to the Pimento Poets who met this morning. Mondays and Tuesdays are my day with Jamie and although daddy works shifts, so every other week I can (theoretically) have a morning to myself, this proves quite difficult in practise as these are also the days when we can get things done!  This morning it was cousin Noah's birthday and so I felt really guilty even contemplating not visiting him with Jamie on his birthday.  We did have a 'creative' morning, but it just wasn't poetry!!

I really enjoyed the first meeting of the Pimento Poets I attended and had hoped to become a permanent part of the group, so I hope they understand.  I did send an email to try to explain about 'The Pram In the Hallway' and I attached a copy of my poem - A Mothers Lament, see: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/mothers-lament.html which I hope will help to explain my predicament, but also highlight that even through the fog of motherhood I am still serious about my poetry!

Believe In Yourself!!

In the Writing Magazine Competition Special (October 2012) there is plenty of information - as well as competitions - to get my teeth into and juices flowing!!    In an article by Linda Dunscombe www.linda-dunscombe.co.uk/ entitled 'Competition  Challenge' she discusses the challenge of entering a writing competition every month.

In her 'Tips to make 2013 a winning year for your writing' she concludes; Being a writer means we live through the joys and traumas of our character's.  It's a life often littered with rejection but its also a life that's rich with adventure.

Believe in Yourself (she says) Writers seem to be particularly prone to the demons of negativity.  Banish them!   Have faith and belief in yourself.  The best way to build confidence and destroy the demons is to be productive.  Work hard, learn the craft, and write or be creative every day.

Lindum Scribes here!!

A few months ago, at a meeting of the Lindum Scribes, it was decided that there would not be an August meeting as there would be so few members to attend and it would not be worthwhile paying the venue.  At this time I volunteered my garden; saying we had a lot of space and, as long as there weren't too many people, I would be able to accomodate.  I was expecting 7 of us but in the end there was a nice 6 to sit around my dining table.

The meeting went ahead as usual, with the usual Chairman and each attendee reading out their work.  One of the attendees was an original member (as she likes to tell anyone who will listen) had just returned after a spell in hospital.  It was really nice to see her fit and well again.  However, this feeling was short lived as she totally dominated the evening.  I read one of my poems and, rather than the members discussing what they thought, she jumped in on an entitrely different subject and I sat there quite deflated.

After the evening I am afraid to say I felt very upset.  This was (one of) the reasons I left last time.  I remember going to meetings and spending far too long discussing TV programs etc.  My time is so precious now and I attend groups for feedback on my writing!  I know this has been discussed at Poison Pens and it was felt there was too much gossip there, but at least that is writing related.  I had expected an intellectual evening, sat around my dining table, but the reality turned out to be far from that!!

I did write an email to the Chairman expressing my views, who said she would discuss this with the other committee membners.  She had noticed what had been going on but she herself was feeling less than well.  The member in question can be a very difficult character.  She complained during the meeting that the committee did not have her correct email address.  I suspect she had not actually sent it around.  But the group cannot continue to let her get away with her interruptions or there will not be any time left for anything else.

Fingers crossed, this does not happen again.  If it does, I am afraid I may have to think seriously about my membership.  It costs me £24 a year and I need to ensure that it is a valuable use of my money and my time. 

Apologies

It was a meeting of the Pimento Poets on Monday and I found (once again) there were too many things in the diary and so I had to send my apologies.  Along with my apologies I attached a copy of my poem 'New Job' and was pleased to receive replies and useful comments from three of the members.   In return I sent comments on a poem that had been sent to me. 

It has also been useful to use the forum that Ash set up for the group, where we can swap comments and poems.  So far I have only shared three of my haiku's on the site, but comments from members helped me to decide which one to enter into a recent competition.

I really do hope I can make the next meeting - family commitments willing!!

More Competitions

Have today entered a couple of competitions.

Firstly, I sent my poem All The Shades Of Black to the Nottingham Open Poetry Competition, run by the Nottingham Poetry Society.  The entry form states the sole adjudicator is Neil Astley.  When I looked him up on the Internet I found that he is editor at Bloodaxe Books and edited one of the books that I have on my book shelf - Staying Alive (2002) which was a present from my poetry friend Liz.

Not really sure if I have any chance with this competition.  In the Introduction to Staying Alive, Neil says; 'The best contemporary poetry is life affirming and directly relevant to all our lives.'  He goes on to discuss 'important personal connections.'

The second competition I have entered is the Hysteria 2012 Poetry Writing Competition.  This is a competition open to women only.  Poems are to be 15 lines maximum.  Luckily they accept entries which have been previously published.  I therefore decided to enter Drunk on Love http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/drunk-on-love.html

Judges for this competition are Meaghan Delahunt and Anne Orchard.

Haiku Competition

Have continued to try to write a Haiku a day (see http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/other-ways-to-express-your-creativity.html) and have today entered one into the Writing Magazine 'Write a Haiku' competition - closing date 15th August.  I was lucky enough to receive some encouragement from the Pimento Poets and the haiku that I entered is not a traditional haiku, so we shall see what they were looking for in a few months when the winners are announced.....

In the meantime, here's one that got away (and didn't get entered):

A quiet morning

The glass jar hit the floor fast

Simple life. Shattered.

New Years Resolutions at 6 (ish) months....

In December, as part of my KickStart Workshop I wrote some resolutions that would take me a step nearer to becoming the writer I wanted to be (and for whom I had written a book blurb)  see:  http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=50

Ok, so I don't appear to be the Poet Laureate, but I do seem to have written quite a bit of poetry this year.  I also think that the poetry I have written is an improvement on the poetry I have written previously.   I haven't as yet started on my chick lit novel (as stated in my blurb) but I haven't ruled out starting it sometime soon. 

However, my son means the world to me and I am conscious that the time I spend with him at the moment is time that I won't have back.  I have learnt over the last year or so that it is important to fill your life with only the things that really matter; things that bring you enjoyment and pleasure!  Writing and sharing my poetry with others does give me pleasure.  It also acts as therapy! 

I feel that easing the pressure off myself to succeed as a writer has certainly helped.  Whereas previously I found myself getting more and more stressed at having not written, I do feel that now I am more likely to feel happy when I do write something and just shrug off when I don't.  This attitude actually makes writing easier!!
Although I have yet to 'Attend a Workshop on Writing Poetry' I don't feel the need so much at the moment.  I am happy writing my own style.  What I do aim to do in the second half of the year however, is to actually read more poetry.  To this aim I am glad I have become a member of the Pimento Poets, which gives me chance to hear other poetry being read aloud.

I did resolve to enter at least one competition a month in 2012.  This has not happened. I don't see this as really being an indicator of whether or not I am a good poet; rather whether or not I feel the competition is any good.  I have stuck to the resolution of taking a new piece of writing to every meeting though and have not bored members with renditions of old poems (as other members are sometimes found doing).

I did plan to 'Develop a House Style for Myself'.   This resolution remains on the 'To Do' list.  Unfortunately I am still struggling to allocate time to my writing.  Time needs to be grabbed when it can.  It's a lovely sunny afternoon outside but I know I need to spend the time while Jamie sleeps to catch up on my writing tasks and sort through the huge piles of paper that quickly accumulate, or I may go mental!!

My fifth resolution was to Everyday write something or do something that moves me towards the writer I want to be.  I continue to write both my blogs on at least a weekly basis, I try to read as much as I can - fiction, non-fiction as well as bedtime stories,  I subscribe to two writing magazines, I attend three writing groups on a regular basis, I am still inspired to write the odd Haiku and / or poem to describe my day, and I do feel that everyday I am moving towards a better writer - if only in my head.  And all of this while working part time and raising a three year old!!

John Cooper Clarke

Recently saw a fascinating documentary on BBC4 called Evidently John Cooper Clarke.  For anyone not familiar with him he has always been known as a 'Punk Poet' as he supported a lot of the punk bands in the 70's.  His poetry is full on and very fast, but it somehow works.  Following the documentary I searched for his website  www.johncooperclarke.com/ and discovered he is coming to Lincoln Drill Hall in October.   His name was brought up at the Pimento Poets and I hope I was able to enlighten them when I sent them all a link to the following poem, which was actually on the GCSE syllabus in 2000/02:

I Wanna Be Yours

I wanna be your vacuum cleaner
Breathing in your dust
I wanna be your Ford Cortina
I will never rust
If you like your coffee hot
Let me be your coffee pot
You call the shots
I wanna be yours

I wanna be your raincoat
For those frequent rainy days
I wanna be your dreamboat
When you want to sail away
Let me be your teddy bear
Take me with you anywhere
I don’t care
I wanna be yours

I wanna be your electric meter
I will not run out
I wanna be the electric heater
You’ll get cold without
I wanna be your setting lotion
Hold your hair in deep devotion
Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean
That’s how deep is my devotion

Pimento Poets

Today I went to my first meeting of the Pimento Poets who meet at the Pimento Cafe on Steep Hill in Lincoln.  As well as a stimulating meeting with some interesting people, I got a lovely cup of Strawberry tea as well! 

I was dreading a room full of familiar faces.  Those faces that are members of every writing group and yet don't actually seem to write anything new.  The talkers!   But I was pleasantly surprised that I only recognised one person (other than Alana who had suggested the group to me)  and that was because he had attended a poetry workshop that I had also been on.

The group meet in a little room at the top of the cafe.  There were 9 attendees (including me) with at least 2 missing.  I was glad to see I was not the youngest - nor the oldest!  I wondered afterwards what the other members thought of me.   Where did I fit in amongst such a group?  I gave little away in the 'introduction' other than to say I had started writing again after having my son.  Still feel a little worried that this has somehow pigeonholed me as some kind of mad mother, but I hope my poem (All The Shades of Black) spoke for itself.

The poetry shared during the couple of hours I was there, was well written and thought provoking, but the themes were many and varied!!  Passion, Relationships, Death, American Culture, War and Religion, Photographs and memories, Lighthouses, and a type of poetry (Sketchetry I think he called it) from John which required two readers.

It was nice that there was time for chat between members.  We discussed many things; including punctuation, inspiration, and the effect our physical and mental health has on our writing.  I loved the idea of 'Shock You Backs' within poems; a phrase (thank you John) I had never heard before, but now want to analyse if I have any of these within my poems and whether they might add something.

A great first meeting and I hope to be able to attend many more!

Observation, Observation, Observation

Over the past six months I have returned to my old passion of photography.  After attending a course in December I (we) purchased a Digital SLR camera.  A few weeks ago I attended another - more advanced - workshop.

I feel that photography has a lot in common with the writing process.  It's all about composition and finding something that readers will love as much as you do.  Its also about observation...

I found an article in an old edition (November 2011) of Writing Magazine (www.writers-online.co.uk) by Tarja Moles, called Take A Good Look.  She starts off with; 'Paying attention to your surroundings can help you find new ideas.  Exploring places or watching how people behave can reveal information that you can't find in books.  Sensory details, in particular, become uncovered during observation.'

She goes onto say; 'Observation is more than just looking at things.  Using all of your senses and combining sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch can give you a deeper understanding of a place, culture and society.'

So, am off now with my notebook, pen and my camera.

A Mother's Lament (Poem)

My spare room is now a nursery
Nappies and toys everywhere
A funny smell; which just won’t go
I’m pretending not to care

Little finger prints tell a story
There’s a very nice hand print in curry
I dread to think what’s under the sofa
I’m pretending not to worry

There’s pasta sauce on the carpet
The sofa is sticky with jam
My once pretty cushions are no longer cream
I’m pretending I don’t give a damn

All my cupboards have been emptied out
Will my house ever again be clean?
Nothing stays put for more than a minute
I’m trying not to scream

A mummy’s work is never done
My washing machine wants to die
My bloody back is killing me
I’m trying not to cry

I don’t own anything fashionable
Something to wear; without a stain, I can’t find
Nothing really fits me anyway
I’m pretending not to mind

It’s been a long time since I went out
But if I did it would just add to my debt
I seem to have aged 20 years very quickly
I’m trying not to be upset

I’ve no idea who’s at Number One
I‘m not ever sure what’s the day
But I can name all the characters ‘In the Night Garden’
I’m pretending that’s OK

I can no longer have a pee on my own
Or read a book, or have a good nights sleep
My time belongs to someone else now
I’m trying not to weep

I’m constantly interrupted
Or having something thrown at me
Always a noise. It’s never quiet.
At least I’m never lonely.

Perhaps I shouldn’t try to be Mary Poppins
Just be the best mum I can, everyday
I’ve been given the most wonderful gift
(Honestly) I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Joanne Borrill

Published to celebrate the fact I have been writing my mummy blog at: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/ for 5 years this weekend!!

A Week of Haiku's

We have had an exciting week this week as I have had a hearing aid fitted, the Olympic torch came through Lincoln - just outside where I work, my exhaust fell off and we were rescued by a fire fighter, not to mention the Trust (very long and very boring) Induction and a play date at the park with friends from the Toddler Signing group.

For some reason I had a desire to capture these moments in Haiku - spurred on by a competition in Writing Magazine.  

As I have said a million times before, inspiration comes from many places!!

Mr Grey?!

All this talk about Mr Grey! 

I am happy with Mr Tickle, Mr Bounce, Mr Daydream and Mr Perfect thank you!!

Reaffirm why I blog

1. To keep a diary / record of both my journey as a writer as well as my journey as a mother (see: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/). 

2. Keep me writing.  Knowing I have two blogs - with perhaps someone somewhere being interested enough to read my entries - ensures that I put pen to paper (or the computer equivalent) at least once a week.  This keeps the cogs moving and stops my brain from totally turning to mush.

3. My blogs provide a place to keep useful (and not so useful) information, quotes and inspiration I have collected over the years.

4. Perhaps even provide an inspiration to others in their own personal quests to become published writers and / or contented mothers with happy offspring?

5. Have Fun!

Blogging without Burnout

Following on from my previous post...

Have realistic expectations. Building up a substantial readership is difficult, and the blogosphere is overcrowded; its highly unlikely that blogging will bring you fame and fortune. Blog because you want to blog, not for what it might do for your writing career or your bank balance.

Set Sensible Targets. A regular posting schedule can be very helpful, but don't make it punitive! Daily blogging will eat up an enormous amount of your time and precious creative energy.

So, don't sweat too much over your blogging habits. Use your blog(s) for the purpose you created them i.e. keeping a diary / keep writing, but don't allow them to take over and ruin the enjoyment.....

Better Blogging??

I have, for a while, been wondering about the process, pressures and benefits of writing my two blogs.  Am I getting anything out of them?  Is the time invested worth it? 

I have realised that writing both blogs helps to keep my cogs turning and as long as I don't get too stressed out when I have not posted for a week or so, I think the benefits outweigh the negatives.  Both blogs serve as diaries for future generations (if they so wish to read this stuff) and if nothing more keep me writing.

I have been worried about my 'style' and my content and have found a number of interesting articles that have helped to focus the future of both my blogs.

Rebecca Woodhead in April 2012's Writing Magazine www.writers-online.co.uk says; 'Decide whether you will blog every day, or once every week or month.  Once you have a plan, stick to it.  Your subscribers and followers will invest more of their time in your story if they know what to expect.  Just to be clear, the story I'm talking about here is not your book.  The story is your story.  When people follow writers online its because they want to be part of the story of those writers 'making it big' or triumphing over challenges to reach their dreams.  Your own story is at least as big as any book you will ever write.  The place you tell that story is your blog.'

But how much to tell? Recovering blogaholic (it says here) Kona Macphee; writing  in Mar/Apr/May 2012 Mslexia discusses the amount of content required. Her blog: www.thatelusiveclarity.com/ has the strapline 'stumbling towards a simpler life'.

Like many bloggers, Kona says; 'I began with ridiculous expectations of how much content I could / should be able to produce while still maintaining my core creative life as a poet (not to mention my everyday life as a parent, spouse, small business owner etc).  Given my own character flaws, perhaps this was inevitable: susceptibility to challenge (Can I blog everyday?) quickly led to perfectionism (I must blog every day).  If  you're a career blogger, making a living your blog, then blogging every day to 'retain and grow your audience' makes sense.  If you're a writer with a non-commercial blog that's secondary to your main creative outlet, then it really (really) doesn't.'

For most of us, the article goes onto say, creative oomph and self-discipline seem to be finite resources, which get drained by creative activity and willed self-motivation - both of which are required for daily blogging.  What suffers are the artist's process of  'filling the well'; all those 'inessential' enjoyable-but-effortful leisure activities, like playing or writing music, drawing, visiting somewhere inspiring - or simply chilling out with a book or a DVD.

Old Poems

A few months ago; while looking through my poetry collection on my book shelf, I came across a couple of my old note books.  In these I had written out in long hand some of my poems.  These must date back nearly 25 years and, though I say so myself, some of them aren't that bad.  I actually felt quite overwhelmed with the amount I have written. There was also a few poems from other friends as well as poems and quotations I had collected over the years.  I have spent a wet bank holiday typing some of them up, but now also feel stressed that I need to really go through both books; thus giving myself more stuff to do!!

Key Emotion

Find the key emotion; this may be all you need to know to find your short story
F Scott Fitzgerald

Quoted in Writers News: July 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk

Published. But at what cost?

Alma - a member of The Poison Pens - has been lucky enough to make money from her writing this month as her story You Naughty Dog! appears in My Weekly (15th-21st May).

At the group meeting on Saturday,  we had a lively discussion about the amount of changes that get made to your precious writing, and the fact that when you are a new writer you need to accept this in order to be published!  Only later can you perhaps insist on no changes.

The story that appeared in My Weekly is quite far removed from the original one which Alma had submitted; having been asked to do 10 rewrites and then the editorial staff still changing the story. 

Also, the picture that they put with the story was of a scruffy terrier when the original story was written about a Labrador!

She did get paid £80 but at what cost?

Confused? You will be!

Poetry! You either love it or hate it or don't understand it!

On Saturday I took a couple of re-worked poems to the (group I call) The Poison Pens.  Comments made were insightful but my head is still spinning as I don't know which way to turn with them.  I have rewritten both poems a couple of times and at each reading (Poison Pens and Lindum Scribes) different comments have been made.

I suppose I felt that some members were taking my poems too literally.  When I did poetry as part of my A Level English we read and re-read many famous poets - looking for the 'hidden' and 'double' meanings.  I like to think that my poems have many layers and can mean different things to different readers.  But do they?

I think the best course of action is to have a week or so away from these poems and come back with a fresh outlook.  Perhaps I will then see what everyone means, or perhaps decide that my own meanings are the only ones that matter.....

What I don't intend to do however, is take them back to the group.  I think they have had enough of them and anyway I promised something a bit more upbeat next time. 

The beginning is one half of the deed

Lewis was back on our screens this week and with it was a piece in The Radio Times on Colin Dexter.  I was very impressed when he said:

"The only thing I ever learnt in life, my saving grace, is initium est dimidium facti - the beginning is one half of the deed.  Most people leave everything until tomorrow, but I just write, forget how bloody awful it is, and next day it doesn't seem half bad."

I also love his best crossword puzzle clue: Bar of Soap?  Answer: Rovers Return!!

Use Your Experience: Bead Roberts at the Lindum Scribes 2012

In August 2009 I was lucky enough to attend a workshop run by Bead Roberts,  see my write up at:  http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/bead-roberts-at-lindum-scribes.html  so jumped at the chance to attend another workshop run by her.

This workshop - organised by The Lindum Scribes - was great for getting attendees to think of ideas for their writing. 

Bead started with the premise that all stories / novels require: Experience / Observation / Imagination and she asked us all to delve into our personal lives / memories and come up with tales to tell, which can then be used as the basis for a wider story.

The wealth of experience / imagination within The Lindum Scribes was, as usual, amazing.  We heard stories of 'Mattress Alley', beloved childhoods, wealthy upbringings and not so rich home lives.  We were treated to some wonderful images of the houses that people had lived in and the stories behind them.  It was great to have a variety of ages in attendance as it showed how things have changed over the last few decades.  We went from post war living right up to the present day.

As usual we were reminded of the need to include all 5 senses; which was good as this is something I do need to be reminded about!

Previous to the workshop I had already put together a list of 'Resources'; a breakdown of items that could be used to spark off ideas.  This includes all information stored in the loft; which includes most of the letters that anyone has ever sent me (still hoping an ex will become mega famous so I can spill the beans!), diaries I wrote while at college, information collected from previous jobs and studies, books on a million subjects, scrap books, not to mention my collection of 'writing' resources, as well as a mountain of photograph albums which always bring back old memories!!

Recently I saw a competition for a 400 word story.  The workshop certainly sparked off a number of ideas and I hope to have time to put together something to take to the next meeting of the Scribes in June.

The Lindum Scribes website also has a write up of the evening at: http://www.lindumscribes.org/EVENTS.htm

Planned Neglect

Came across this via the Action for Happiness FaceBook status / page:
http://ranchobernardo.patch.com/articles/five-ways-to-stay-present-and-appreciate-your-kids and I have reprinted the article by Abi Cotler O'Roarty on my other blog at: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/5-ways-to-stay-present-and-appreciate.html

However, the article mentions Planned Neglect: I once asked an octogenarian artist Abi Cotler O'Roarty says, how he managed to produce so much art over the years. He told me about something he called “planned neglect.” He said that he had to force himself to ignore some of the household chores that needed to get done every single day in order to prioritize his art. All these years later, nothing bad has happened to him as a result of letting laundry and dishes pile — and the work he had to show for this seemed stunningly fulfilling.

As a stay-at-home mom (the article goes onto say) I find one of the biggest challenges to staying present with my kids are of the demands of the home. But lately I’ve been trying to lower the standard of what I need to have done each day in order to feel that I’m taking care of my home. Sometimes breakfast dishes don’t get done until I am cooking dinner. Sometimes the house is not all the way picked up at the end of the day. Becoming more relaxed about domesticity has really helped me not feel like I need to constantly pull away from the present moment, whatever it holds.

I think Planned Neglect is something; that as a writer and a mother, I could really get used to!!

If you start with a bang....

If you start with a bang, you won't end with a whimper.'
T.S.Eliot

Quoted in Writers News (www.writers-online.co.uk) June 2012

Crazy English

Have been sorting through some old Writing Magazines and found an interesting article on Richard Lederer's Crazy English (see:www.verbivore.com/arc_ceng.htm).  Richard's book argues that English is a Crazy Language - in case you didn't know - and Writing Magazine: July 2009 (www.writingmagazine.co.uk) reproduce the list 'Reasons why the English language is hard to learn'.  I have highlighted some of my favourites below:

• The bandage was wound around the wound.
• The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
• We must polish the polish furniture.
• I did not object to the object.
• The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
• The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
• Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
• They were too close to the door to close it. 

Poetry and Motherhood

Was interested in a recent interview in Mslexia (Mar/Apr/May 2012) with Alice Oswald.

Part of the article reads; It's clear to me that being a wife and mother as well as a poet is an incredibly important aspect of Oswald's writing practice. She describes being 'determined from the start that motherhood would help my writing, and that I wasn't going to resent childcare. I thought: I've chosen to do this and I'm going to make it a positive contribution to poetry, by bringing that kind of unusual world into it.'

I could not have agreed more when she said; 'One of the main features of motherhood is interruption'. Her solution? 'I incorporate interruption into the structure of a poem. Poems are all about intermittency and interruptions, so that became a kind of aesthetic for me.'

'If I'm beginning a new poem, my best way of attacking it at the moment is to get up at around 4 or 5am and go to my shed with an extremely strong cup of coffee. My life is so scattered with children, that is the only time I know I will not be interrupted.' I know what she means, but working as well, I think 4am is far too early - even for an early bird like me!!

She does say that 'Every task - cleaning, cooking, walking the dog - is exercise for the non-literary side of my mind', which she hopes feeds into how she writes.

Poetry....Part 2

Took the poem (revamped) which I had taken to the Lindum Scribes (http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/poetry.html) to the Poison Pens group on Saturday. This week Richard was in the chair and he was good enough to give me enough time to share three of my poems. I read 'New Job', 'Funeral Poem' and the revamped poem which is currently called 'New Beginnings'. The group were a lot more poetry friendly and made some useful comments; including asking what New Beginnings was actually about! Following the first reading I had gone back and changed it considerably. This meant I had lost sight of the original meaning of the poem. One more go I think!!

Reaction was mixed to all three poems and, as usual, there was a lot of discussion with regards to punctuation etc. Everyone there agreed that 'New Job' was the best poem - except Barbara who liked 'Funeral Poem' the best. All three still have work to be done on them but I am happy with the reactions so far!

But it just goes to show; in the words of the poet John Lydgate (see: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-lydgate), later adapted by President Lincoln - and appearing in various permutations: “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.

Job Applications as Creative Writing

Must have done a good job on the application I spent so long completing, as not only did I get an interview but I also got the job!!

Yesterday was my last day working within Payroll. Am off to the bright lights of Choose and Book next week - also within the NHS. Although I am nervous about moving jobs I feel it is the right thing to do. Payroll have only been able to offer me contracts of 3 and 4 months. The new job has a contract of 12 months. I am hoping this will calm my worries about money; while at the same time giving me a few more hours to concentrate on my writing. The old job was 20hrs and the new one is 18.5hrs. This means I will have a Wednesday morning to myself; as Jamie will be in nursery, before starting work at 12.30pm

McKenna on Procrastination

Most people who procrastinate aren't lazy - they're afraid of failing. You can mitigate your fear of failing by always calculating the upside and downside of any decision.

One of the keys to making good decisions is being in a good state. If you are upset, nervous, angry or frightened, its not a good time to make a decision.

Paul Mckenna www.paulmckenna.com
I Can make You Smarter, Bantam Press (2012) www.rbooks.co.uk/

I can make you smarter....??

Have just skim-red 'I can make you smarter' by Paul McKenna. I am afraid that, at the moment, I don't really have the time to practice what he preaches but I can see where he is coming from.

Intelligence is not something we are simply born with, it is more about how we view our own intelligence and of course practice, practice, practice.

He says; We have all been programmed to believe certain things about how smart we are, how smart it is good to be, and what we are and aren't capable of learning. These unconscious programs are like hypnotic suggestions, limiting our behaviour until they become self-fulfilling prophecies.

There are only 3 reasons people fail to learn new things - they are in an unproductive state of mind, they are using an ineffective strategy, or they give up too soon.

Poetry...

'Poetry is the music of being human. A good poem is a gift to the world.'

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate quoted in Writers' News: April 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk/

Unfortunately, not everyone understands poetry. I took a 'work in progress' to the Lindum Scribes on Tuesday night and a number of the members commented that they did not see it as a poem but rather as prose as it did not rhyme. Luckily some of the others members made a few constructive comments and I know what I need to do - cut it back and tighten the images.

I still feel I am loosing out by attending a mixed writers group. I mean mixed in the sense of all types of writing accepted. One of the members read out a piece of over 2000 words and mine - including the title - was 144 words. I got to read out one poem and had all of about 10 minutes in the spotlight compared to a lot longer for some of the others.....

Nothing that happens...

Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other people. Nothing that happens to a writer - however happy, however tragic - is ever wasted.

PD James quoted in Writers' News: April 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk/

If you were to die...

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

PJ O'Rourke

quoted in Writers' News: April 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk/

www.pjorourke.com/

Blow to the head....?

If the book we're reading doesn't wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for?'

Franz Kafka

quoted in Writers' News: April 2012 http://www.writers-online.co.uk/

If you get stuck....

If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people's words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.

Hilary Mantel quoted in Writers' News: February 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk/

Words are Sacred

Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

Tom Stoppard quoted in Writers' News: March 2012 www.writers-online.co.uk/

Do Job Applications Count As Writing?

There has certainly been some form of Creative Writing going on this week!!

How to make this the year you stick to your resolutions

According to Januaery's Brainstorm & Focus e-bulletin, written by Jurgen Wolff (www.timetowrite.com) if you apply three key ideas that come from the scientific study of effective change, you have a very good chance of succeeding.

One of the first places I encountered these ideas (Jurgen says) was in Bill O'Hanlon's book, "Do One Thing Different." He considers himself the world's laziest successful person because he's learned to let reality guide him to success. This is a great, if sometimes difficult thing to do at first. Let's say somebody cuts you off in traffic. How much energy will you expend on rage or resentment? How many minutes or hours later will you still be seething? Does that serve you? Does it punish him?

The following three points are a PhD in dealing with what is, and turning it to your advantage:
1. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
2. One way to solve a problem is not to analyze why the problem arose, but to change what you are doing to respond to it. (The exception is when figuring out why it arose can help you prevent it from happening again.)
3. The secret of getting better results is a two-step process: One, pay attention to repetitive patterns you are caught up in or that others are caught up in with you, and change anything you can about those patterns. Two, notice what you are doing when things are going better, and do more of that.

Recognize this? It's evolution. Darwin's idea wasn't survival of the fittest, it was survival of the most flexible in responding to changing conditions. And if there ever was a time when conditions were changing, it's now! This is not to say that we should accept things as they are, just that we should choose our battles wisely.

ACTION: Do this interesting experiment: for one day notice and jot down everything that upsets you or annoys you in any way. At the end of the day, count how many of those you can control or influence and the how many just reflect the reality of a world that isn't likely to declare you emperor anytime soon. If there are a lot of the latter, it may be time to look into meditation or relaxation techniques so you can change your response so you have energy to change the things you can.

National Libraries Day

Everyone is welcome to walk through the door.
It really doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor.
There are books in boxes and books on shelves.
They’re free for you to borrow, so help yourselves.

Come and meet your heroes, old and new,
From William the Conqueror to Winnie the Pooh.
You can look into the Mirror or read The Times,
Or bring along a toddler to chant some rhymes.

The librarian’s a friend who loves to lend,
So see if there’s a book that she can recommend.
Read that book, and if you’re bitten
You can borrow all the other ones the author’s written.

Are you into battles or biography?
Are you keen on gerbils or geography?
Gardening or ghosts? Sharks or science fiction?
There’s something here for everyone, whatever your addiction.

There are students revising, deep in concentration,
And school kids doing projects, finding inspiration.
Over in the corner there’s a table with seating,
So come along and join in the Book Club meeting.

Yes, come to the library! Browse and borrow,
And help make sure it’ll still be here tomorrow.

Julia Donaldson

http://www.nationallibrariesday.org.uk/2012/02/library-poem-by-julia-donaldson/

Post Christmas / Birthday Flu

As is usual around this time of year I catch some form of cold. This year there was a cough attached to it. It arrived on my birthday and is still here. I have this week been given antibiotics for it. so hopefully it won't be around much longer. Jamie has also been suffering and while I had a days sick leave, Jamie had to be taken out of Nursery for two days. This has meant a lot of juggling and of course has meant no time for writing......

I am still glad I did the workshop for the Lindum Scribes as this has focused my mind on what I want to achieve in the coming year. Unfortunately, January is nearly over and there are two resolutions that have already failed!!

Fingers crossed that this week I am feeling better and can concentrate once more on giving time to my writing. I have at least booked in a number of annual leave days for the next couple of months so will have the luxury of a few days to myself....

Summary of the Key Points from Kickstart

* Time is precious. We all have a tight budget of just 24 hours.
* Prioritise the things in your life that are important and getting rid of things that are not.
* If writing is truly important to you as a hobby or career, then you will FIND time for it.
* Book an appointment with yourself into your diary and just WRITE!
* Record it as an appointment like you would any other important commitment.
* Don't feel guilty. This is your time.
* Treat your writing as a proper job - with a start time, production goals and deadlines.
* Start small. Don't get overwhelmed with the thought of the whole project.
* Break your project up into bite sized chunks and it will seem more manageable.
* Just because someone throws you a ball, doesn't mean you have to catch it!

Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.

KickStart Your Writing Year Workshop

Led my KickStart Workshop at the Lindum Scribes last night (see previous posts) and was very pleased with how it went. Members had completed the exercises in very different ways; including one member who had written that she 'never wrote resolutions' but then did give us a few anyway.

As I have said previously the majority of the workshop was based on quotes and articles that I have collected in the 4 years I have been writing this blog, so it would be daft to reproduce my workshop notes here. If however, anyone would like to see all the materials I produced I am more than happy to send them to you.

I split the workshop into 4 sections: Focus / Enthusiasm / Prioritise and Allocating Time, and gave out two handouts. The Jam Jar Illustration - to emphasise the need to allocate time to our writing (see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2009/05/jam-jar-illustration.html) and another entitled; Setting Goals, which asked members to assess whether or not their resolutions were SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Targeted.

My main aim was to get members to really think about what they wanted from their writing and to look at how important it was to them; compared with the other 'stuff' in their lives. Therefore I used a few shock tactics including reading out Regrets of the Dying http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2011/06/regrets-of-dying.html This led to a lively discussion about why we feel the need to do so many other things before we allow ourselves time for what we really want to do i.e. upbringing, guilt, wanting to be 'nice', not wanting to appear 'selfish' etc.

As I said in the workshop; Just because someone throws you a ball, doesn't mean you have to catch it!

One of the members resolutions was 'To get rid of this Writers Block'. This led to a very interesting discussion regarding possible reasons for the blockage and possible solutions i.e. setting realistic goals, breaking his work down into chunks and Jon suggested 'morning pages'. The need to always have a notepad handy was re-emphasised as was the need for writers to think positive about one's work.

Another member discussed his desire to read, read, read this year, to which another member agreed and added he would like to see more plays and attend the theatre this year; as that was something he was interested in writing. There was talk of editing, writing, reading and more writing so I foresee a busy year for members of the Lindum Scribes.

A number of members were missing which was a shame and I suspect the reason for this may be that they had not written their resolutions. I for one see it as a good exercise if only to reassess what we want to achieve with regards to out writing in the coming year and give us a signpost.

Local Poetry Group

Obviously I have been working hard on my new years resolutions for the workshop I am running on Tuesday. The main resolution I have is to concentrate on my poetry this year. To this end I have contacted a number of local poets and groups to ask about poetry meetings.

Although I love attending the Lindum Scribes and the Poison Pens, I find it a bit unfair that while someone who has written a chapter gets (shall we say) 20 minutes to read and discuss their piece, a poet only gets perhaps a third of that time. And it seems somehow rude to then ask to share another poem!! I am now aware of another writers group that meet in Newark and three poetry groups; two that meet in Lincoln and one that meets in Newark. I have pencilled in a couple of dates and hope to attend one or more meetings very soon.