No Excuses

How to make this the year you stick to your resolutions

2012-02-07T07:16:00.005Z

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

2012-02-04T15:50:00.001Z

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

2012-01-28T12:14:00.005Z

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

2012-01-14T09:21:00.005Z

* 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

2012-01-11T09:04:00.015Z

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

2012-01-07T15:44:00.002Z

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.

Exercise Two: What are your Resolutions for 2012 that will take you a step closer to making this happen?

2011-12-30T07:21:00.004Z

(5 maximum)

Develop a House Style for myself by the end of January 2012.

Attend a workshop on writing poetry in 2012.

Enter at least one competition a month in 2012.

Take a new piece of writing to every meeting of The Lindum Scribes in 2012.

Every day write something or do something that moves me towards the writer I want to be.

Exercise One: Imagine yourself as the writer you want to be and write a book blurb on yourself

2011-12-30T07:19:00.003Z

(5 lines maximum)

Joanne Borrill was made Poet Laureate in January this year after a lifetime of achievements. To date she has had 7 poetry collections published and 14 humorous children’s books. She has recently completed a couple of ‘laugh out loud’ chick-lit novels and hopes to use her residency as Poet Laureate to show poetry doesn’t have to be boring.

Kick Start Your Writing Year Workshop

2011-12-30T07:16:00.010Z

As I said in November (http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2011/11/workshop-planning.html) on the 10th January 2012 I have volunteered to run a workshop at The Lindum Scribes (www.lindumscribes.org/) entitled 'Kick Start Your Writing Year'.

Preparing the workshop has been very good for me as it has helped me focus on my plans and resolutions for the new year. I have decided to focus on my poetry this year and as such my resolutions revolve around poetry. While planning the workshop I have re-discovered the many books I have on my shelves and I intend to read and re-read as many as possible this year. I have also treated myself to a book that I have seen on a number of reading lists: 52 Ways of Looking at a Poem by Ruth Padel and a collection of poetry by Carol Ann Duffy: The Bees. I just need to find time to read them all. This is the main focus of my workshop so hopefully all the members - including me - will find more time for writing in 2012!

I have this week sent out the two exercises that I want members to complete before the night.
I have also sent them my attempts!

The Jam Jar Illustration : Part Two

2011-12-27T10:30:00.003Z

I have mentioned the Jam Jar Illustration before
http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2009/05/jam-jar-illustration.html but a few weeks ago I received a forwarded email from my good friend Lucy. I don't usually have time for these emails but I gave this one a few minutes and was glad I did. It takes the Jam Jar Illustration one step further....

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine theory...

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on his desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "YES."

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the good things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend."

It's The Thought That Doesn't Count (Ode to my Mother-In-Law)

2011-12-21T08:53:00.002Z

Your Christmas card arrived today,
You forgot to add a stamp.
I can see it once said ‘Love Brian,’
So I can tell its second hand.

Every year when Christmas comes,
I know what I’m getting from you.
Presents that are worse than shoddy tat,
Is this really the best you can do?

The socks you gave that were full of holes.
The slippers that had two left feet.
Knickers that don’t appear very clean.
Cut price beef, when I don’t eat meat.

I only have a shower at home.
Thanks a lot for the bubble bath.
My bathroom is white with silver fittings.
So I have no use for gold taps.

A knitted toilet roll holder,
Someone else might think it pretty.
An ugly Scunthorpe United scarf,
When I support Lincoln City.

You bought me once a size eighteen,
But you must know I’m a ten.
One year you bought me a glasses case,
I was wearing contacts by then.

A set of whisky miniatures,
When you know that I never drink.
‘Special Offer’ Eau de Toilette,
Gave off a truly toilet stink.

A big bag of seed potatoes,
Won’t fit in my small window box.
Four big tins of BOGOF cat food,
When I have always had a dog.

Stop buying me video tapes,
I no longer have the machine.
Technology moved on I’m afraid,
And ‘Hitler’s War.’ I don’t want to see.

I thank you for my birthday gift.
A sweater. 50% cashmere.
I know it’s good quality. In fact,
That’s the present I gave you last year.

Please take me off your Christmas list.
Don’t bother spending any amount.
Do you think about those that you buy for?
Yours, is the thought, that doesn’t count.

Joanne Borrill
December 2011

An Unopened Present

2011-12-03T10:20:00.005Z

Last year I sent all my writing contacts a poem (see: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/search?q=unopened&updated-max=2010-12-26T12%3A20%3A00Z&max-results=20 This year I have decided to publish it on my blog.

An unopened present.
For many years too painful
to sneak a peek. Now, with your arrival.
Demands to be opened.

Dust the cobwebs off the tree.
Empty the battered boxes.
A few broken ornaments tumble out like tears.
Fragile reminders of Christmas past.

A crisp crunch under our feet.
Wind reddening your cheeks.
A ruby robin arrives. Fresh footprints lead us,
from the past to the future.

Warming ourselves by the fire.
Memory breaks through the ice.
The departed spirit of Christmas no one sees.
Eyes glisten as candles flicker.

A twinkling tree transformed.
Little fingers wrestle.
Wrapping paper does battle. Eyes full of wonder.
Open to the magic.

Turkey. Enough for sharing.
Joy and laughter fill our home.
A Family at Christmas. ‘Just what I wanted’.
My heart unwrapped once more.

Joanne Borrill
December 2010

Nothing quite as satisfying....

2011-11-24T06:51:00.005Z

.....as people laughing at a poem you have written.

Went to the Lindum Scribes (www.lindumscribes.org/) on Tuesday night and read out a poem (And the band played on) which, although I wrote a few years ago, I don't think I have ever read out. I had been carrying it around in my folder for a few months and the more I looked at it the less funny I thought it was.

But then I read it out and had a great reaction!!

Workshop Planning

2011-11-21T15:38:00.004Z

I have volunteered to run a workshop at The Lindum Scribes (www.lindumscribes.org/ ) entitled 'KickStart Your Writing New Year.' It will be based on a workshop that I led in 2004 for the then Determined Writers Group.

As part of the planning, I have just been back and read through all of my posts on this blog. Feeling a bit embarrassed that the great novel has still to be written, but at the same time I am quite impressed with some of the little gems I have collected over the past few years.

Starting on the research for the workshop has already begun to make me think about where my writing will be focused in the coming year. As I intend to set the group a couple of exercises, I am (obviously) having to do them for myself and this is making me seriously think about the direction I am going in.

Love Is....

2011-11-06T08:30:00.000Z

Love.
Can never be.
Permanent.

For a smile,
And a kiss,
One day.
Become.
A tear,
And a goodbye,
The next.

So.
A passionate embrace.
A few stolen kisses.
Means more.
To me.
Than a thousand nights.
Of 'Marital Bliss'.

For.
Love is not eternal.
It is here and now.
In spoken words.
Whispered lies.
'Forever' embraces.

It is never between two.
But between one and many.
Though different people.
At different times.
It is still love.
A feeling of want.
Of needing.
Of care.
Something everyone should share.
All the time!
Altogether.
Forever.
Now.

Not waiting around.
For one true love.
For they will never be found.

Published in Poetry Now Eastern Regional Anthology 1993, edited by Pat Wilson Poetry Now, Peterborough (1993)

The Lincoln Target of October 23rd 1993 wrote; 'Look out for Joanne Borrill's Love Is... '

An MA in Creative Writing?

2011-11-01T11:24:00.005Z

A couple of years ago I enquired about the MA in Creative Writing at Lincoln University. I suppose I thought that if I joined the class it might make me a 'real' writer, as well as provide me with an MA which might shut a few people up!

At the time of enquiring the course fees were £4000 a year (full time) and I thought that was expensive! Since them I am sure the fees have risen and will continue to rise, so I was pleased to read a recent article in Mslexia (www.mslexia.co.uk/) Oct/Nov/Dec 2011 entitled; 'Are You Wasting Your Money?' The conclusion of the article (as I saw it) was a big YES!

Writing can be learned, but that doesn't necessarily mean it can be taught.
The only thing they (students) really need to become better writers is a library card.

So I shall spend my money on something else. Perhaps a specific Arvon course (www.arvonfoundation.org/) would be more suited to me. But first I need to get back to some 'serious' writing....

Quality is.....

2011-10-27T11:45:00.001+01:00

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.

John Ruskin (1819-1900)

Happy 4th Birthday Blog!!

2011-10-22T10:05:00.009+01:00

Today I am still feeling under the weather due to a cold that I seem to have acquired as the temperature outside rapidly drops as winter approaches! I also think this has been brought on as I have been feeling 'run down' lately and trying to do too many things at once. I know I need to be calmer and go with the flow more....

Did I mention that I had joined a book group down the road? Well, I have decided to drop that commitment as I think it is one too many.

And I briefly considered attending to write a novel in a month - 50,000 words in 30 days (see: www.nanowrimo.org/ ) but due to stress levels and time constraints I think I will pass on it this year. While contemplating it however, it did give me an idea for a book, so we shall see!

Since attending the Lindum Scribes in September I have become a member of the group. I feel this is a good thing as the meetings are held locally and the members are a nice bunch. I also continue to attend the Poison Pens who continue to be a great source of inspiration and knowledge. Both groups have a different mix of people so the comments I receive at one regarding a piece may be different from the other group.

I have had a number of ideas lately with regards to themes for poetry and hope to attempt to do some free verse in the near future. Having a toddler means that time has to be found in small amounts and this is more conducive to poetry writing than novel writing (at least for me!).

As I say, time continues to be my main problem. However, I must remember not to push myself so hard, not to try to control everything so much, to use writing as therapy when things get too bad and to Relax!!

The Saddest Thing

2011-09-21T11:58:00.003+01:00

He is everywhere.
He is in my thoughts.
He is everything.
To me.

The reason for existence.
The reason that I breathe.
I need him
Just
To be.

But..

The saddest thing.
Is that I know
He's never noticed
Me.

Published in Winged Words, Edited by Heather Killingray, Poetry Now, Peterborough (2003)

Jude White at Lindum Scribes

2011-09-14T14:51:00.012+01:00

Last night I went to see Jude White http://uk.linkedin.com/in/judecwhite at a meeting of the Lindum Scribes. Jude is a freelance proofreader who has worked with Karen Maitland www.karenmaitland.com/ on her books. She was very nervous but gave us a lot of information with regards to being a proofreader, but also what to expect if we ever get published! Her background is in education and she has had experience with designing publications which gave her an understanding of how things are produced. She set up her proofreading business in 1998 and has had many clients since then; including post grad students wanting their dissertations checking, as well as the NHS and the Police Service; which led to other clients. Most of her commissions now come via word of mouth recommendations. She is a member of The Society for Editors and Proofreaders: http://www.sfep.org.uk/

She does not make changes to the plot as this is the Commissioning Editors job, but it is her responsibility to ensure there are no errors in the text. So she does look at punctuation, spelling, clarity of text, consistency within the document, graphs and diagrams, as well as any references. She must look at every single letter and space in a document. She will often be called upon to flag up any legal issues such as copyright or libel infringements. However, she will check with her clients prior to starting, to ensure she knows exactly how much she needs to check and what is expected of her.

She works to a Style Sheet that the commissioning clients give her. Often, she is not given a Style Guide and here she writes one herself to follow. There is a British Standard for Proofreading which she must follow which stipulates corrections must be done in one of 3 colours. Red- Typesetter error, Blue - Author, Copy editor and Green for other queries on the text.

Cost / Payment is usually based on the client and what she is being asked to proof read. She usually charges per 1000 words but she does sometimes charge an hourly rate; again based on client and the local market.

The two reference books she uses are: New Hart's Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors R M Ritter (Adapter), Oxford University Press and Butcher's Copy-editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Copy-editors and Proofreaders, Judith Butcher (Author). She highlighted that it must be the latest editions of these books, as rules regarding text, spelling, punctuation, and what is acceptable, are changing all the time.

She was good enough to bring a couple of handouts. One was a copy of a test she had been set by the Central Office of Information (I think) to establish how good she was; prior to being given a particular job. It was difficult to say the least! The other handout she was good enough to put together specifically for the Lindum Scribes as they are interested in e-publishing.

250 words....

2011-09-05T07:19:00.001+01:00

......is not as much as you think!

Last week at work, instead of going for a walk, I have been sorting out my 'In Progress' writing file. And then on Friday sat in my car and started what I thought would be a 250 piece for a competition in Writing Magazine. When I typed it up it was nearly 400 words!!

Back to the Lindum Scribes

2011-09-02T07:15:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday I accompanied Pete to my first meeting of the Lindum Scribes since they had Bead Roberts as a speaker in August 2009 See: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2009/08/bead-roberts-at-lindum-scribes.html

I was very impressed with what Julia; the new Chairman, has been doing to re-invigorate the group. There were a few new members and they have been working hard to publicise the group. They have even re-vamped the website at: www.lindumscribes.org/

There is talk of putting on some Christmas entertainment as well as a Christmas meal. The next meeting on the 13th September has a proof reader coming to discuss her work.

I read them my Toddlers Take Over poem which after discussion will probably rename it!

I think they may have acquired another new member....

Drunk on Love

2011-08-17T12:11:00.001+01:00

And another one of mine:

I have no memory
Of things that were said.
How did we part?
On what note did it end?
I so wanted to remain a friend.

All I remember are your kisses.
The way I looked into your eyes.
Forgetting the golden rule;
Never pledge undying love
On the first date.

I'm sorry.
I was intoxicated.
With you.

Published in All Sorts, Edited by Helen McNally, Anchor Books, Peterborough (1993)

Yellow

2011-08-15T12:04:00.002+01:00

This is one of mine:

Once I was a child.
Basking in the warmth of the yellow.
Surrounded by the energy of the yellow,
Spying from within (the yellow).

No one could find us,
Deep in our nest of yellow.
We were not accountable,
As we lay in the life of the yellow.

Only seen from above,
We looked up to the blue.
The birds they fly free.
And that's how we felt; in the yellow.

(pause)

How suddenly the ages shout.
Youth must move on.
No longer to be cocooned;
Within the yellow.

I long to be back, forever there; within the yellow.
But the only reminder, is the straw in my hair,
Now grey, instead of yellow.

Published in Breaking Voices, Edited by Heather Killingray FP 2003 Series...
Poetry Now, Peterborough (2003)

Charmouth's Revenge

2011-08-09T14:00:00.002+01:00

While I was on my holiday I came across a fantastic poem from a local poet.
Here is Charmouth's Revenge by Gordon Judge:

The residents of Charmouth say they’ve seen it all before,
“As soon as chunks of cliff break off and slide down on the shore,
Geologists arrive in hordes. It happens every time,
And all the B&Bs are filled from here along to Lyme.

Our coast erodes at rapid rates each time there’s storms and gales,
But weather’s not the only thing that eats away our shales:
Those rock-hounds come and hack away at landslips that aren’t stable.
We put up signs and cordon off as much as we are able,

And warn ‘em not to risk their lives, but do they listen? No,
They hurry past us to the beach – so we just let ‘em go.
If they get buried, ‘tis their fault; it should be no surprise.
‘Tis not our job to dig ‘em out – we let ‘em fossilise!”

Poem written by Gordon Judge and published in Shoreline (News and Views from Charmouth) Summer 2011 (gordon.judge1@virgin.net) From GeoVerse 2004 and 2009.

I Won a Runner Up Prize for my poem Vision!!

2011-08-05T08:30:00.002+01:00

I recently won a runner up prize in the Lincolnshire Association Of Healers Poetry Competition www.lincolnshirehealers.org/news.html#poetry with my poem Vision, and I am reading September's Writing Magazine and I see my name jump out at me. OK its only small letters, but its a start (WN7). Hope you like.....

Vision

Never sit drowning in your problems
Never let the world push you down
Always keep your dreams as a vision
And never let a nightmare fill your mind

Never let the vision fade away
Never let it die or lose its warmth
Always keep it forward in your being
And always let it be you, one and all

Never let a loved one tell you different
Never let them twist and turn your words
Always keep your vision sharply focused
And never let their words soften yours

Never let a bad thing blur your vision
Never let it stop or slow you down
Always keep looking to the future
Always know your vision is your own

And Don't Forget Writing Postcards......

2011-07-25T21:22:00.002+01:00

Been On Our Holiday-pops

2011-07-24T08:32:00.003+01:00

Had a fantastic week in Dorset and then Somerset with Jamie and Daddy and although the bed could have been less hard, I feel rather rested. I did take my writing 'work in progress' file but didn't have chance to look at it. I did however, fill in a few pages in my (new) notebook. Sat on the beach with my pen and paper while the boys were in the amusements, I initially felt a bit odd surrounded by families who probably wondered what I was doing and where my child was, but once I got over the self consciousness I wrote and wrote.....blog entries, poetry and even the start of a short story or novel. It felt great to just have some blank pages and a pen to fill them. My mind felt 'opened' and I even jotted down a number of ideas that came from somewhere in my forgotten past. Oh, and my 'To Do' list got a few additions as well!!

Book Recommendation

2011-07-05T08:19:00.001+01:00

What with us all being ill – including the car - and then the car needing to have over £400 spent on it, I have been less than creative the last few weeks. Being sick or cleaning up sick can sap all the life out of you….

But I have had time; while lying on my back, to read The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor www.andrew-taylor.co.uk/ It is a beautiful book set in 1786 at Jerusalem College, Cambridge. Was it a ghost he saw or something else? There are some lovely descriptions and even a hint of romance. The only problem was that some of the passages were so well written I had to go back to read them again.

He had become as formless as the fog over the river.

It is strange how soon a life can collapse if the foundations are removed.

Somehow life had to continue. One could not allow the dead to act as a brake on the living.

I do not lightly ignore the ties of friendship. Why should we permit death to sever them?

I can see why it won the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2009.

Apologies to Barbara

2011-07-03T13:23:00.004+01:00

www.barbaracoopercareby.co.uk/

Should have been attending the launch party of Barbara's book; 'Forgotten People' today but we have all been so poorly (including the car) over the last week there is no way any of us had the strength!! All the best for a successful launch and best selling book!!

Swimming about....

2011-06-17T08:46:00.003+01:00

Been full of cold the last week or so and so have not really had the energy to do much, but what has been happening is that ideas have been swimming around in my head about where to go from the first initial pages I wrote a few weeks back. And I like them. And they make a lot of sense. So it does sometimes pay to simply leave a piece for a while. Only trouble is, I have the dentist this morning as I have lost a part of my tooth. This could mean it may be a while before I get chance to do anything with these new ideas. Fingers crossed.....

Regrets Of The Dying

2011-06-06T10:31:00.003+01:00

Someone sent me this link last week www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html - the website of Bronnie Ware. I think it gives us all something to think about.

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. When you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order, but it is not money or status that holds true importance. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

The 4 Lists Poem

2011-06-05T10:35:00.003+01:00

Here is my attempt at a poem based on the workshop we did with Joel last Saturday:

White coats. Waved goodbye.
As my bed pulled out from Platform Three.
Tired eyes failed to focus on the five a day.
Hands on the station clock were a blur.
And they ticked too loud to hear the microwave.

My escape from excess. My blood drained away.
As white as the fluorescent lights against the leeches.
My sleeping subconscious refused to eat all its greens.
Worried about the dream interpretation.
Perhaps it was the anaesthetic.

How did it come to this in the age of steam?
Performing surgery on the sweet and sore.
I began to fall. Down towards the yellow custard.
Being greedy. A needle got stuck in my bleached white teeth.
I waited for the nurse to bring my fork.

Small cuts were a recipe for disaster.
I spotted a lone doctor with a plate.
‘An improbability’ someone screamed.
I awoke to the sound of the station tannoy.
‘Tickets please.’

50 Word Exercise

2011-06-02T09:13:00.001+01:00

The smell of my suitcase is making me cry.
I stare at the road in front. My hands wet on the steering wheel. The gearstick stuck in fifth. My mind spinning. I cannot afford to be distracted by emotions. I did what I had to do and now it’s over. Finally it’s all over. I allow myself a smile.

Lincoln Hay Day

2011-06-01T18:39:00.006+01:00

On Saturday I attended a couple of workshops at The Collection, Lincoln www.thecollectionlincoln.org/ run as part of the Lincoln Hay Day; a 12 hour festival of words.

In the morning Michael Blackburn; poet and writer, and lecturer at Lincoln University (www.artzero.org.uk/ and http://michaelblackburn.posterous.com/ ) ran a workshop entitled 'Creative Writing and the Internet'. It was a refreshing change to be part of a writing workshop where the males outnumbered the females! Michael's workshop was split into two parts. Firstly a creative writing exercise to get us all thinking about the process of writing, and then a tour of the Internet.

For the exercise, we all discussed the line; The Smell Of My Suitcase Is Making Me Cry; what the line made us feel, and what it could mean. We all attempted to write exactly 50 words following on from that first line. This highlighted the need to keep language simple.

If nothing more, the morning started the cogs moving again and I also managed a bit of 'networking'. Following on from the day I have started to think seriously about the direction of my blog....

In the afternoon the Lincolnshire Poet Laureate; Joel Stickley (http://www.joelstickley.com/ and see( http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2011/04/lincolnshire’s-first-poet-laureate-is-named/ ) ran a poetry workshop. Poetry - we learnt - is essentially playing a game with language and rhythm.

In an attempt to produce ideas for a poem, the group agreed 4 very different headings and then produced a list of related words under each. Our 4 words were; Railways, Food, NHS and Dreams. Each attendee then attempted a poem based on the lists. After being moved out of our original room we ended up in a little theatre I had no idea existed - The Collection has some great resources - and this led to an impromptu 'Open Mic' without the mic! What we heard was all of a high standard. I only wish mine had been somewhere near finished!

A fantastic day which left me with a pounding head but loads of ideas...

Making The Most Of Your Time (lessons learnt this week)

2011-05-27T18:40:00.003+01:00

* Book an appointment into your diary and just WRITE!
* Treat your writing as a proper job - with a start time and objectives. (I am hoping to be able to set aside a solid 2 hours every week from now on)
* Put together a list of things to complete prior to the start time and make sure these are completed.
* Prepare your writing space before and ensure you have all information and equipment to hand.
* Do all your displacement activities beforehand. If any 'jobs' pop into your head while you are writing simply jot them down for later.
* Start small. Don't get overwhelmed with the thought of the whole project.
* If you are having trouble writing a particular scene, write something else!
* Don't feel guilty. This is your time.
* Two hours is enough if writing solidly, but be prepared for the time to just disappear.
* Don't forget the occassional break to move about or you will seize up!

A Day for Writing

2011-05-26T18:33:00.009+01:00

As I said, I had set aside yesterday for writing. As the day approached it spurred me on to get everything ready for the day so I could just write. In fact, Tuesday night after Jamie had gone to sleep I cleaned both the bathrooms and the front room, so that I would not be tempted to do them before I started writing! At nursery I was given a letter that could have taken up all my morning, but I simply put it to one side and left it until daddy got back.

Did I accomplish anything? YES. I was very proud of myself as I wrote nearly 2000 words, as well as fleshed out a lot of the plotline of the novel and analysed 'What is Chick Lit?' For the first few minutes at my desk I felt overwhelmed with the task in front of me! I had intended to spend most of the morning plotting and asking questions, but I found this quite difficult to start with, so I started to write one of the key scenes in the book. This made me think differently about things and ideas popped into my head as I wrote. OK, so I did visit Facebook a couple of times, but one was to try and find a name for my hero (didn't get it from FB but had a couple of suggestions). After lunch I had given myself back ache with all that sitting at the table, so I lay on the sofa and finished reading my latest edition of Mslexia. I also started watching a couple of things I had on SkyPlus but decided my writing time was too precious and so deleted them. I did however, reward myself with an evening of TV once Jamie was asleep.

Talking of Jamie, I did feel a bit guilty (and distracted) knowing he was at nursery and I was at home writing, but it also felt good to know I had accomplished something for myself.

Chick Lit Novel Started...

2011-05-23T10:20:00.003+01:00

Saturday I went to a meeting of the Poison Pens. I have had the beginnings of a chick lit novel running through my head for a number of weeks now and attending the meeting gave me a determination to put something onto paper. We were also lucky that Nanna decided she wanted to take Jamie out and picked him up just after 10.30am, thus giving me a few more hours to catch up and prepare something to take to the meeting. Of course there were a number of other jobs that needed doing as well but I have to say that most of them were writing related!!

As usual I am glad I made the effort to get to the meeting. There were 5 of us and the advice I recieved was brilliant. It certainly got me thinking about the next page. Members helped me to identify what type of book I was writing and what I was trying to achieve. Is it a predictable chick-lit book or something different? I hope something different...

Richard kept asking questions: Why did she go? What does she/he look like? Who is chasing her? What happens next? It certainly made me realise that I had not done enough plotting before putting pen to paper, but I felt this time it was important to get something started. Talking through some of my ideas helped push the good ones to the front and the not so sure ideas out of the way.

Since the meeting I have found that the creative process continues as every so often an idea pops into my head. Lets hope I can continue this momentum. I have a spare day tommorrow and hope to plot and plan a little further...

Points from the meeting:
* Sometimes we need to write ourselves into the novel. Your intiail first line might not be your final first line. You may find it starts better later on.
* Questions, Questions, Questions will flush out the real story.
* Names of charcaters are important.
* Writing should be strong enough without the need for explanation marks!

Sometimes I wonder if I am wasting my time with writing, but attending the meeting always inspires me and pushes me forward. I do enjoy the process of writing and all the related activities, and as www.david-hurst.co.uk/ says in June's edition of Writing Magazine (www.writers-online.co.uk/) "Enjoy it. If you are not enjoying the journey, you're on the wrong road". I intend to walk the road for a whole yet at least.

Always carry a notebook

2011-05-18T18:28:00.002+01:00

"Always carry a notebook. And I mean always. The short term memory only retains information for three minutes; unless it is committed to paper you can lose an idea for ever."

Will Self quoted in June's Writers' News www.writers-online.co.uk/

Again this week I did not heed the warnings and just as I was dropping off thought of a fantastic first line for my novel.....too tired to make the effort to grab pen and paper, I told myself I would remember it in the morning. Sadly that line will never make the first draft as (obviously) I forgot by the time morning had arrived!! I shall never know whether it was the incredible opener I imagined at the time or whether I was just dreaming.....

A timely email....

2011-05-14T19:43:00.002+01:00

There is only one reason for stress. We may tell ourselves that there are many reasons: our job, our children, our partner, our lack of partner, health problems, financial difficulties, and more. But underneath all of these is only one thing: fear. Fear creates stress because it involves the perception of being unsafe, being out of control, being a victim of life’s circumstances.

We see ourselves as unsafe rather than safe when we make two assumptions: first, that in order to be safe we must be in control; and second, that we are not. Fear is tied to the need to control, and it will dog us until our dying day unless we give up that need. If we do give up that need, we realize that we have always been safe, and that the only thing keeping us from that awareness is the fear that we are not.

We can’t become safe by establishing control over anything or anybody (including ourselves) because our control can never be more than temporary. We can control a person’s behavior (a child, a family member or friend) for a while, getting them to do what we think is right, but in the end that person will slip out of our grasp, leaving us upset, disappointed, heartbroken or irritated unless we give up control. We can control our career or finances for a while, but chances are something will come along and ruin our best-laid plans.

We put a lot of energy into controlling ourselves. We discipline ourselves, criticize ourselves, set ourselves endless agendas, and more. This has value, but there are repercussions. The more we control ourselves, the more our subconscious rebels and eventually kicks up such a storm (through resentment, illness, accidents, and so on) that our life really spins out of control.

We have negligible control over the big questions in life. If we try to make it otherwise, we get STRESS. We can’t control life because we are part of it. Trying to control it is being a drop of water trying to control the ocean. If we learn how to become part of life’s ocean instead of reacting to it, however, we can feel supported. To do that is to see what is around us as an integral part of ourselves, instead of as something separate, alien and potentially threatening.

We let go of stress when we relax into being part of what is. If we can be fully present, without resistance, with each passing moment, we find that life is going in exactly the direction it was meant to go, and that everything is perfect.

Stress-Relief: Part Six by Ingrid Bacci http://www.ingridbacci.com/

And Relax.....

2011-05-13T19:22:00.006+01:00

This week has been a bit of a nightmare. I have felt quite ill all week; shattered and really not myself at all. Went out with some friends on Wednesday and was so glad I made the effort as they helped put everything into perspective. One commented she thought I was stressed and I had to agree with her. When I thought about it, I have been spending too much time chasing my own tail, and of course doing the extra hours at work has not helped. Jamie is very precious to me and I don't want to neglect him. However, mummy needs to relax and the way I like to relax is to read, and of course write, and writing has always been a great therapy to me. Now, where's that pen? I have a week before the next meeting of the Poison Pens.....

Bank Holidays

2011-05-03T12:20:00.000+01:00

Has been great the last week or so having some extra time to play with. I decided against entering the competition for which I had been writing the New Beginnings poem. Two reasons 1) I thought the prize was a free place at the writing festival but that was only for the winners of the short story or the writing for children competitions, and 2) I felt it had all been written before. I have printed off what I have done and intend to come back to it at a later date. I had wanted to weave the experience of the Psychic Supper into the poem so I might go back to the notes I made that night and see if something else comes out...

Thankfully I have started using my NetBook more, but it is still difficult to use when Jamie is around as he wants to 'play'. Now that Jamie is two I am aware of the need to keep him occupied and stimulated and I do feel a bit guilty if I start writing when he is about. This week I am going to try to write after I have put him to bed. The trouble is, Jamie thinks his bed is the one mummy and daddy share so this may be more difficult than it sounds!!

Christmas Poem

2011-04-30T12:44:00.006+01:00

I mentioned in December that I had entered a poem into the Writing Magazine Christmas Poem competition. The winners were published in the May edition of Writing Magazine. Unfortunately I was not one of them.

I read what the adjudicators had to say about the entries they received and they had some very harsh things to say! One of the problems they listed was that poems entered had nothing new to say. The problem I am conscious of with my New Beginnings poem. The two prize winning entries were certainly original and perhaps mine wasn't as original as it could have been (a new baby bringing life back into Christmas) but I am still proud of it!

Still Struggling....

2011-04-26T14:45:00.003+01:00

After my excitement at getting published and treating myself to a new netbook you would have thought it would have been write, write, write but its all been a bit slow....mainly because I have been working nearly full time due to people being on holiday. This has been exhausting - and don't forget a two year old having to be looked after in the equation as well!

I have been trying to write a poem entitled 'New Beginnings' but everything I write seems to be so old hat and been said before. The closing date is this weekend so I have been typing up ideas on the netbook today while Jamie has his nap. I hope to have time tonight to have another look at it!

Published!!

2011-04-17T14:41:00.007+01:00

I know its been a week or so since I last uploaded an entry. This is mainly because I have been doing more than my extra 20hours at work. I keep thinking of all the money. I have been able - with a little help from daddy and Jamie for Mothers Day - to treat myself to a little netbook to help me in my quest to get more writing done. I still seem to be overwhelmed with paper most of the time but I do feel I am getting there.... As for the good news; the letter that I sent to Writing Magazine regarding my Induction was published in the May edition. It wasn't the Star Letter (which could have won me a prize) but it was published with my name at the bottom so I am over the moon about that!! Just off to try to get my head around a poem I have been writing for a competition for this years: http://www.swanwickwritersschool.co.uk/ Unfortunately it seems riddled with cliches at the moment - help!!

Don't just plan to write...

2011-03-27T15:21:00.003+01:00

'Don't just plan to write - write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.' PD James quoted in www.writersnews.co.uk April 2011

Latest email from Jurgen Wolff

2011-03-22T11:26:00.003Z

Did you know that one simple question can help you stop procrastinating? This method comes from time management expert David Allen. First, decide on the outcome you want; for example, "To have a finished report," or "To have an organized office". Then ask, "What is the one next action I can take to get there?" Not all the stuff you need to do, just the next one. It may be finding a file. Or making one phone call. Or making a list. Then do that one thing. Then figure out the next step, and do that one. I've found it can be very helpful to write all this down. At the top of the page, write the desired outcome. Then write down just the first step and do it. Then write down the next step and do that, and so forth, until you get it done, or run out of time. Use the same page - seeing how many steps you have already taken will help motivate you. See http://www.timetowrite.com/

Letter Written, Competitions Entered...

2011-03-20T10:11:00.004Z

Busy weekend this weekend - not to mention a busy week - but have managed to find a few minutes to send off a letter to Writing Magazine about my induction day (see post 9th March 2011). Have entered a Writing Magazine competition which asked for a poem inspired by an Alarm Clock and have also entered a poem into the Lincolnshire Association of Healers Poetry Competition: www.lincolnshirehealers.org/events.html Phew!!

Friday night I attended a Psychic Supper and although they did not forsee me earning millions from my wriring, one of my freinds brought along a late birthday presemnt in the form of a hard back notebook. I have decided to use it to plan and write the chick lit novel I have been thinking about lately. Hang on.....the psychic did say ' You have been thinking should I or shouldn't I? Well, You should!!' Whether that referred to this novel we shall have to wait and see.....

Clear the Clutter

2011-03-17T14:42:00.000Z

My Cygnus Books www.cygnus-books.co.uk/magazine/ email sent 16th March 2011 had a lovely piece on clearing the clutter:

Spring is here, and with the fresh spring breezes, snatches of sunshine and green shoots in the soil comes the perfect opportunity to spring-clean your own life, brushing away the cobwebs and throwing out the clutter.

If you were de-cluttering your house, you might go through each room and if there’s anything in which you haven’t used or thought of for the last few months, then you can put it in a box, ideally to be thrown away. Do the same with your mind: take a pen and make headings of all the ‘rooms’ in your mind, for example, “Money”, “Family”, “House”, “Things to Do” etc. etc. Write down everything you can think of, then go outside for a few minutes to clear your head. Return to the list: how many things had you remembered? Cross off those points which you have listed unnecessarily until you have reduced the list to the things that really matter. So many of our thoughts are needless worries, it is vital to recognise these thoughts as clutter and either deal with them or throw them out immediately, before they get caught up with the more important considerations.

There’s nothing like the present, so take the opportunity of Spring time, turn over a blank page and only fill it with the things that really matter.

Ideas are everywhere....

2011-03-09T10:47:00.004Z

Monday and Tuesday this week I found myself attending a two day Induction for my new job. I was less than looking forward to it, but took along my notebook and a copy of Writing Magazine in case there was chance for a quick read. As it turned out there were only 9 of us on the course so reading my magazine might have been noticed, but during lunch on the first day I made the effort to speak to some of my fellow attendees and was so glad I did!

Turned out that one of them was training to be an embalmer which, in itself, was fascinating but this lead to a conversation - at times quite humorous - about life and death, funerals and even hamsters testicles! I was so glad I had taken my notebook and in the afternoon session made copious notes - not about issues of Diversity as the instructor probably thought - but rather all the ideas I had collected in my lunch hour!

Just goes to show what a smile and 'Hello' can do!!

Have more than one idea....

2011-02-27T15:00:00.001Z

Have more than one idea on the go at any one time. If it's a choice between writing a book and doing nothing I will always choose the latter. It's only if I have an idea for two books that I choose one rather than the other.

Geoff Dyer - Quoted in Writers' News March 2011 www.writersnews.co.uk/

Fatigue...

2011-02-23T09:33:00.002Z

Fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment. We rarely get tired when we are doing something interesting and exciting.

Dale Carnegie; writer of How to Win Friends and Influence People (1937).

If you don't enjoy it, then Stop!

2011-02-20T08:26:00.011Z

Had a really good afternoon yesterday at the Poison Pens and came away feeling glad I made the effort. I read out 2 poems; a recent one written for a competition and an older poem I wrote a few years ago but have not done anything with. The comments from those present made the trip worthwhile but also I had a really great time. It's always good to meet up with people who share the same interests; not only writing, but also reading, and we also had a good laugh. We have recently lost one of our members due to illness and Keith made the comment that if you don't enjoy writing then stop. Life has taught me that time is precious and I couldn't agree more, but at the moment I do enjoy my writing and I do feel I benefit from it and attending the group.

There were 8 of us there yesterday and 6 of us shared something. It's great to see what other people are writing and I do feel that listening / reading, and then discussing others writing actually helps with my personal writing. It also spurs me on in a perverse way as well. Congrats to Barbara who has just about completed her non fiction book Forgotten People (see:www.barbaracoopercareby.co.uk/) and will be having a launch party in July which we are all looking forward to.

We also discussed the Lincoln Book Festival taking place in about 12weeks time (see:www.visitlincolnshire.com/site/site/events/festivals/lincoln-book-festival)
Another launch party to attend....

When you say Yes, you are saying No...

2011-02-10T07:07:00.003Z

Loved this from Jurgen Wolff's February Brainstorm and Focus e-bulletin (see: www.timetowrite.blogs.com)

If you're a people pleaser, you find it hard to say no. Most of us hate to disappoint others. The result is that we say 'yes' to too many things. But when you say yes, you're also saying no. Whatever time you devote to the new "yes" activity will mean "no" to anything else you could have done in that time. And there will always be more to do than there is time to do it.

ACTION: Look back over how you've used your time the last few months. Did you make time for the things most important to you? If not, what did you say 'yes' to that took time that could have been better-spent? Would it make sense to say 'no' to that from now on--at least sometimes? If someone else is involved, share your reason: "I've enjoyed spending time working on the committee, and now I'm going to take some time to work on my novel."

Literature....

2011-02-06T13:44:00.005Z

"Literature is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none."

Jules Renard

quoted in Writers News www.writersnews.co.uk

November 2010

Show, Don't Tell

2011-01-29T09:33:00.004Z

Lindsay Clarke; quoted in Writers Magazine - December 2009, www.writingmagazine.co.uk asks:

Which would you rather do, go to see a movie with your friends, or listen to them describe it at length afterwards? We don’t read fiction for explanations; we want to have our imaginations stirred. Show, Don’t Tell!!

A kind of order.....

2011-01-27T15:48:00.007Z

"One of the pleasures of fiction is that it imposes a kind of order on the messy randomness of life."

Sarah Harrison quoted in Wanna be a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones, Accent Press (2007)
www.wannabeawriter.co.uk/

The Unsuccessful Writer....

2011-01-25T15:53:00.001Z

‘The unsuccessful writer is the one who stops. Believe in yourself, because it’s a tough business and if you don’t believe in yourself, no-one else will.’

Anthony Horowitz

(Writers News: June 2009)

Poison Pens - January 2011

2011-01-23T11:16:00.007Z

Had a productive meeting with the Poison Pens yesterday. Readings ranged from poems, plays, and short pieces, to extracts from a non-fiction project. We also discussed where members were with regard to their novels, other writing etc.

I took a piece I have been working on for a competition in Writing Magazine and was told I needed to Show Not Tell - obvious when it is pointed out!! I also took a poem I recently wrote about the joys of motherhood. I received some very useful comments on this as well. Not sure if I will do anything with the poem but its all good practice.

Came away with 3 writing books; kindly donated by Bryan as part of a Writers Library for the group, which I hope to read in the next week or so.

I am glad I have returned to the group and am making the effort to attend; even though it takes me nearly 40minutes to get to the Village Hall where we meet. I was shattered last night and was in bed shortly after Jamie, but it was worth it. I have felt invigorated today and have been planning what's next.....

Tanka Competition

2011-01-10T15:39:00.017Z

In September I reported that I had entered 2 competitions in Writing Magazine. The February edition arrived today and it seems I didn't win either of them....

However, I was particularly proud of my entry for the Tanka competition and so I am including it below. The article described; 'most of the non-winners as suffering from one of these 3 problems: content that offered a slight description with no resonance to it; the tackling of a vast theme in general, abstract terms; and poor use of language, including weak, repetitive vocabulary and punctuation and grammar difficulties.'

My entry was:

Words left unspoken
Hang silently. Surrounding.
Waiting. In the wind.
For thunder to bring courage.
But who will make the first move?

The article went onto say; 'few entries were dismissed easily however, and nobody who entered needs to feel despondent.'

The winning entry was by Averil Farrar; Cry

You died so slowly
mosses grew between each crack
cushioning my grief.
Stemmed tears still wait, hang like leaves
having lost their strength to fall.

Tim Wilson at Poison Pens

2011-01-09T08:37:00.003Z

Before all the coughing started and Christmas and the New Year arrived, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a workshop led by Tim Wilson who writes under the names of Jude Morgan and Hannah March. More information to be found at: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/jude-morgan/

According to information from NAWG (for whom he has led workshops) Tim Wilson has an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. His first novel was published when he was 23 and since then he has had 29 novels published which have been translated into 9 languages. He was shortlisted for Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year in 1993, twice shortlisted for the Ellis Peters Crime Writers’ Memorial Dagger, and his novel PASSION was chosen as Book of the Year 2005 by Hilary Mantel, Tracy Chevalier and Joanna Trollope. He has taught Creative Writing for ten years. He lives in Peterborough with his wife and son. www.nawg.co.uk/festival-2010/getting-to-know-your-tutors/

The workshop - entitled MAKE IT VIVID - was fantastic and I spent a few hours yesterday while Jamie was asleep (and when I wasn't preparing for another interview on Wednesday) going over the notes. A lot of the advice I had heard before but he gave his own slant to the workshop which made the concepts easier to grasp. I was particularly proud of a few of my inputs:

Exercises: Locate a significant detail for
- an over-neat living room:
The cushions stood to attention.

- an absent-minded person
Pen etched on the back of her hand: 10.45pm

Next meeting of the writers group is on the 22nd January. I already have a poem to take and am looking at starting something today while Daddy has very kindly given me a couple of hours.....

Summary of 2010 / Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-01T08:31:00.001Z

In 2010 I entered 4 competitions; which does not sound a lot but I only really started getting into writing again in August so its a start and I am proud of what I have sent off.

I started following my http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2010/08/other-ways-to-express-your-creativity.html and have a little brown book which is full of little snippets of my life and ideas for future projects perhaps.

I was lucky enough to go back to work for the library services for 6months and was able to take advantage of the easy access to the books. I read 29 books: 22 non-fiction and 7 fiction. Unfortunately I have since been without a job for a further 6 months.

And I have returned to the Poison Pens - even sharing some of my work with them - and was lucky enough to attend a workshop led by Tim Wilson. I have also met regularly with Liz for a coffee which does wonders for my creativity.

Looking through my blog posts there have been far too many goals I have set myself that I have failed to complete. This year I am going to focus on the positive and simply report on my accomplishments. I am also going to try to reduce the To Do lists in order that I can focus on Writing itself..... This years resolutions therefore are the same as last year: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-resolutions.html

Remember: You only have one life, and you really ought to live life as if you only had a few months left. Make time to do things that will add real value to your life - things that will make you feel like the person you want to be, the person you would like to be remembered when you die.

Happy Writing Christmas

2010-12-26T12:20:00.001Z

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!

Every year I send an email to all those writing friends I have collected over the years, and this year was no different. This year I attached a copy of my Christmas poem (An Unopened Present) and a photograph of Jamie and me in the recent snow.

It was nice to get replies from many of my fellow writers and to catch up - if only with a few lines. One even said my poem had 'undertones of T S Elliot in parts'. I have entered it into a competition so can't 'publish' on my blog just yet....

I intend to get 'out there' a bit more this year and hopefully see more of my writing friends and be able to share some more of my writing with them!!

I have joined an online reading group and our first book is The Snowman by Jo Nesbo. I don't intend to start it for a few days yet as I have a lot of things to do this week and once I start a book I find it hard to do anything else!!

Writing as Therapy: Part Three

2010-12-19T14:30:00.000Z

Pain is part of life, but one of the great gifts of creativity is to use to turn that pain alchemically into wisdom and healing through the act of writing.

Catalyst Newsfrom AnnA Issue 83- December 10, 2010
www.creativecatalyst.co.uk

Saturdays Meeting Cancelled

2010-12-17T08:05:00.004Z

So have given you an arty photo of the current weather instead.

Competition Entry Completed...

2010-12-09T15:00:00.000Z

......and sent off. My entry to the Christmas Poem competition in www.writingmagazine.co.uk/ A little bit of tweaking of the first verse and a change of title at the last minute and its on its way......

I am glad I left it a few more days and didn't send it off straight away. Coming back to it after a few days 'rest' always gives a poem a new perspective. The poem has actually been through 9 incarnations - including the title change - so I am hoping it is the best it can be.

The.........

2010-12-06T10:32:00.000Z

According to John Dugdale in The Guardian, quoted in January's Writing Magazine http://www.writingmagazine.co.uk/ book titles beginning with The are generally more successful than those which begin with A.

It's been a long time....

2010-12-03T07:44:00.003Z

Todays Stars: A technical breakdown makes life miserable. You'll have to learn to live without the convenience of a kitchen appliance, car, computer, or mobile. This disaster could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe it's time to enjoy more contemplative pursuits, like reading or writing. Spend a few hours curled up with a good book or making a blog entry. It's been a long time since you've listened to your own thoughts.

www.asdamagazine.com/horoscopes/ from Russell Grant

Ten Secret Laws Of Good Writing

2010-12-01T10:21:00.009Z

Thanks to Anna from: www.creativecatalyst.co.uk who highligted Petruska Clarkson’s (therapist and writer) Ten Secret Laws of Good Writing.

She was much mourned, says Anna, but her work through her books is still available and I hope she would have approved of my passing on her list to you. By its very tongue in cheek nature, I think she would have!

1 It will always take at least twice as long as you anticipated.

2 70% of your efforts and resources will be wasted.

3 Cultural and personal demons in your head will attack it.

4 As soon as you really get going you will be interrupted.

5 You will think it is the worst thing you ever did.

6 You will reach a sdtuck point where you feel despair.

7 You will feel misunderstood.

8 You will be judged and criticised.

9 There will always be people who do better and worse than you for no clear reason.

10 If only for a moment you will think it the best thing you ever did.

See: http://petruskaclarkson.blogspot.com/

Writing as Therapy: Part Two

2010-11-23T07:17:00.003Z

'I feel that being morbid is a part of being a novelist. People who feel life is fragile and tenuous, that's what sends people into the writing business.'

Howard Jacobson
quoted in Writers News: January 2011 www.writersnews.co.uk

Writing as Therapy

2010-11-20T17:41:00.001Z

Graham Greene wrote: "Sometimes I wonder, how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation."

According to Writing Magazine: December 2010 www.writingmagazine.co.uk he wrote to a daily target of 500 words and stopped as soon as that was reached. He kept up the discipline of daily writing into his early eighties.

Cough, Cough, Cough.....

2010-11-13T16:54:00.001Z

........(and a son to be looked after who is the same) unfortunately means I have failed in my NaNoWri quest this year.

Write a Novel in a Month / NaNoWriMo

2010-10-31T10:51:00.000Z

As you can see by the badge at the side of my blog I have at least signed up to NaNoWriMo this year. In November 2007 I attempted to write a novel in a month and failed. http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2007/12/excuses-excuses.html and in the intervening years I have had a few excuses as to why I have not even started. This year I am going to have another go....

The aim is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That's about 1,700 words a day!!

One of the founders of NaNoWriMo - Chris Baty - wrote the book No Plot? No Problem! A High-velocity, Low-stress Way to Write a Novel in 30 Days. There's a phrase that he uses, especially if you are trying to get the first draft down, which is 'exuberant imperfection'. He talks about how the words on the page that you've written should be like wild beasts and that you're trying to run away from them as fast as possible and getting to the next ones.

This is discussed in Writing Magazine November 2010 www.writingmagazine.co.uk/ The article (by Sally Jenkins) goes onto say; 'Forward planning is key. Try briefly sketching out your novel. Think about how it might start, who the characters are, any major plot twists and where the story is going.'

I have been thinking about a Chick-lit, positive, feel-good book, because that's what I feel people need and (hopefully) want in the current climate. I have read a teenage girly novel and an older love story / chick lit and I think I have the start of an idea.....

The trouble is I need to start writing TOMORROW!!

Goodbye Steph

2010-10-29T13:38:00.002+01:00

Today we said goodbye to a dear friend who always had a smile on his face. Not yet 40, he had had a heart problem all his life and suffered a fatal heart attack. He didn't really do much to help himself. He smoked and drank and hardly ate at all. But he was like a little boy; always up to mischief with that cheeky grin on his face.... God Bless.

They played a couple of songs at his funeral I now won't be able to hear without filling up; Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon, and The Beautiful South - One Last Love Song, and the following poem was read out:

Remember by Christina Rosetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Six Word Competition

2010-10-22T07:40:00.006+01:00

In August I entered the Arvon Six Word Competition http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

And the winner is...

We Buried the Whale at Night.
Sarah Hymas

The shortlist
Sneakers. Stilettos. Courts. Brogues. Wellies. Slippers.
Jackie Juno

Caribbean recipe. Broken plates. Dessicated coconut.
Marie J Maurer

Aliens landed, singeing granddad’s tended lawn.
Jane Osis

Detention again. Alone with Mr Brown.
Laurie Porter

Imaginary boyfriend. He came and stayed.
Martha Routen

www.arvonfoundation.org/p225.html

A Writer Returns....

2010-10-17T07:02:00.008+01:00

......to the group I refer to as the 'Poison Pens'. Not actually sure of when it was I last attended the group but I think it must have been over a year ago. Was glad I finally made the effort. There were 3 people I knew and 2 new members. All members at Saturdays group seem to attend other groups outside the PP. At the moment one a month is all I have time for.

But I have been finding time for my writing and took along a 'work in progress' - my Christmas poem which I started for a competition in www.writingmagazine.co.uk/. Was very pleased / impressed with the comments made by members, and intend to do something with it in the next few days. Closing date not til December but first it is the National Novel Writing Month starting on the 1st November: www.nanowrimo.org/

Mental Agility...

2010-10-10T08:48:00.001+01:00

Since having Jamie I often worry that I have 'Baby Brain' and sometimes even worry I have early onset Alzheimer's! I think (this is my theory) its just the strain of having to remember to do so many things - not just for Jamie but for me, daddy and the house as well!

Recently however, I was really interested to see the experiment run by the BBC where six celebrities took part in an experiment to explore the prevention of ageing. www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/theyoungones/

What the programme showed was that - once again - it is all in our minds. How we see ourselves has an effect on how we act and how we age. If we think we are younger, our bodies and our brains will act younger. We just must believe we can do things! It was sad to see that people making the assumption that an older person needed help, actually led to them becoming dependent; they began to expect help and did not try! Its all about having a youthful mindset and taking control of your own life. As Liz Smith put it; 'We need moments in our life where we can come alive'. In other words as M.Scott Peck says in The Road Less Travelled 'Your destiny is in your own hands.' www.mscottpeck.com/

Just read...

2010-10-06T06:49:00.004+01:00

Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy www.cathycassidy.com/ A book written for girly teenagers and if I was 13 again I would have gone and read all her others! As I am a few years older than this I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I don't think I will be attempting to write a 'teenage' book myself. I don't think I would be able to emulate Cathy's style. And I was more of a tom boy than a girly girl so my life experience isn't quite what I feel is required. However, I still feel I may have a 'Chick-lit' book bobbing about in my head and so we shall see. Off to start another book (reading not writing) that is written more for my age group!

Grab a book...

2010-10-02T07:23:00.002+01:00

Its a wet weekend, so I am going to follow the advice of Sophie Heawood, The Independent, quoted in Writers’ News www.writersnews.co.uk December 2009

‘Grab a book, get reading and get the rhythms of somebody else’s words running through your head like a marching band. The drumbeat of another story, another life, another cast of characters, another sky.’

Tanka Poetry Competition

2010-09-29T14:20:00.002+01:00

My latest project has been to write 3 poems for the Tanka poem competition in Septembers writing magazine www.writingmagazine.co.uk/ A tanka is the next stage on from a Haiku.

A Haiku consists if the form 5-7-5 (17 syllables), a Tanka is 5-7-5-7-7 (31 syllables). "At the heart of the tanka is its imagery," says Alison Chisholm.
An example (from writing magazine) would be:

In the space between
waking and kettle filling
sluggish thoughts grow dark.
Listen for the blackbird's trill;
it paints rainbows, welcomes day

The winner of the 2007 Writing Magazine competition as published in the October 2007 magazine was:

Deep in the mind’s soil
a seed of thought is planted,
a poem is born.

Be kind and nurture it well,
That it may grow to be loved

I had a lovely lunch with Liz (my long time writing friend and some time editor) this week and she said which of my 3 Tanka's she thought was the best and I was inclined to agree with her. So, another competition entered this year. Well Done me!!!

Capricorn - 24th September 2010

2010-09-24T08:09:00.004+01:00

You're unusually restless now, yearning to leave familiar surroundings for greener pastures. Instead of leaving your job or dumping your lover, take a challenging class instead. Learning a new language or mastering a musical instrument will provide you with the intellectual stimulation you crave. You've been blessed with a great brain. Exercising it on a regular basis will stave off your anxiety. There's a difference between studying something because you have to and researching something that genuinely interests you.

Russell Grant
http://www.asdamagazine.com/horoscopes/

A Quote for Friday....

2010-09-24T07:44:00.003+01:00

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
T. S. Elliot

From: SEPTEMBER 2010 BRAINSTORM & FOCUS E-BULLETIN Written by Jurgen Wolff www.timetowrite.blogs.com/

Blogging for a Living??

2010-09-16T14:04:00.002+01:00

In Octobers Writers' News www.writersnews.co.uk there is a quote from Perez Hilton, Celebrity Gossip Blogger, who says:

"If you want to blog for a living, you need to be aware that it is going to take a lot of work - I blog 16 hours a day".

The Case for Chaos!

2010-09-14T08:39:00.003+01:00

Further to my entry: http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2010/07/pram-in-hallway.html I recently came across a brilliant article in the Guardian where Frank Cottrell Boyce makes the case for chaos!! www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/aug/01/art-children-pram-hallway

There's a belief that to do great work you need tranquility and control, that the pram is cluttering up the hallway; life needs to be neat and tidy. This isn't the case. Tranquility and control provide the best conditions for completing the work you imagined. But surely the real trick is to produce the work that you never imagined. The great creative moments in our history are almost all stories of distraction and daydreaming – Archimedes in the bath, Einstein dreaming of riding a sunbeam – of alert minds open to the grace of chaos.

This is also discussed on British Mummy Bloggers http://britishmummybloggers.ning.com/forum/topics/does-having-children-hinder?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Just entered another competition...

2010-09-10T08:20:00.002+01:00

www.writersnews.co.uk are running a competition to win a copy of How to Write your First Novel by Sophie King. To enter you have to write a fictional scene (max 250words) which starts with the words: The girl in the park was clearly upset......

I feel so pleased with myself for starting and actually finishing and actually sending off the entry. Still thinking about ideas for a Mills and Boon or Chick Lit novel. Hoping for inspiration on Saturday night when I go out with the Yummy Mummy's and the other one. Now that might just be the start of an idea.....

What a nice lady!!

2010-09-06T07:53:00.003+01:00

I sent Veronica Henry an email about the Beach Hut and she sent me 2 emails:

Thanks you for your lovely email and I am delighted to have made a conversion! So pleased you enjoyed the Beach Hut - it's so great when people get in touch, especially when it's not their usual genre. Hope you enjoy the others if you get round to them - do let me know. Yes, Boon was great fun to work on - longer ago than I like to think about now, with Neil Morrissey before Men Behaving Badly ... Keep in touch With Best wishes Veronica

Hello again Just read your lovely blog too - thank you so much. And tons of luck with the writing - I'm glad I've spurred you on. Didn't know about not starting a book with the weather - I quite often do weather. But then rules are there to be broken I guess ...! Best Veronica

Book Recommendation

2010-09-04T09:53:00.008+01:00

Still proud of myself as I have continued to be creative all week. And I have just finished reading a wonderful feel good book: The Beach Hut by Veronica Henrywww.veronicahenry.co.uk/

I once read that you should never start a novel with a description of the weather
(www.nytimes.com/2001/07/16/arts/writers-writing-easy-adverbs-exclamation-points-especially-hooptedoodle.html) but it works here. I can honestly say I was hooked from the start. And finished it within the week; still finding time for a small bit of writing and I even cleaned the fridge and microwave! Fingers crossed my commitment continues.

I bought the book following my first real interview in about 10 years. I gave myself a 7 out of 10 (but someone else got an 8!) and then went off to Waitrose for something to celebrate with - a few bottles, a pressie for Jamie and a quick scan over the bookshelf. I look into my basket and find I have bought something other than my usual crime. I think it is since having Jamie; I don't want to hear about all the nasty things people do to each other. I hardly watch the news now and I don't often buy a paper - unless its job day!

So, what does this all mean in terms of my writing? Now that the juices are flowing again, I am going to seriously think about planning / writing a feel good (fiction) book of my own. I hope this doesn't sound like I think it will be easy. As I read The Beach Hut I was aware of how good a writer Veronica must be; to enchant her readers so they can't put it down. Now, where to start? Perhaps re-read the book with a more critical eye?

But first, I have this months issues of Writers Magazine and Writers News....and a few competitions to enter in the next week or so!

I am so proud of myself...

2010-08-28T09:45:00.007+01:00

So proud, I even made an announcement on FaceBook; Joanne is is proud of herself. She has started writing again. I have followed the advice given in the last entry and yesterday wrote 5(yes 5) 10 word stories to describe things that happened in my day. I also wrote 2 Tanka's; which are longer Haiku's with a pattern of 5 7 5 7 7 syllables as opposed to 5 7 5 for a Writing Magazine www.writingmagazine.co.uk competition and I have just entered 3 stories into the Arvon Foundation Six Word Story competition www.arvonfoundation.org/p225.html. The competition is based on the literary fact that Ernest Hemingway said that his best piece of writing was a six word story - 'For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.' Lets see if I can keep the momentum going....

Other ways to express your creativity

2010-08-26T19:36:00.006+01:00

Just been having a quick look through www.timetowrite.blogs.com/ which is always full of good stuff and came across some ideas for keeping your creativity flowing - even when you don't have time to write. See http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/2010/08/keep-your-writing-chops-alive-even-when-you-dont-have-time-to-write.html

Find other ways to express your creativity. For example, you could:
* write a haiku every day.
* write a short short short story--set a word maximum like 25 words or even ten words. Remember Hemingway's shortest short (sad) story: "For sale: baby shoes. Never used." If you draw a blank, pick three words at random from a magazine and build your story around those.
* Write a ten-words-maximum portrait of someone you saw on the street that day: "Dapper businessman with umbrella and scowl."

I think I might keep this in my diary in an attempt to prompt me into some creativity....

How Grass (or reverting back to our childhood) Helps Creativity

2010-08-22T14:02:00.001+01:00

From AUGUST 2010 BRAINSTORM & FOCUS E-BULLETIN http://www.jurgenwolff.com/

The Belfast Telegraph reports: "A hotel chain is installing grass floors into some of its conference rooms in a bid to boost the creativity of workers. The living turf floors will become de rigueur in a number of Crowne Plaza hotels across the UK. It is hoped the wacky idea will inspire mental flights of fancy during normally dull conferences... Angela Whitlock, author of Walk on the Grass, said: 'Research has shown that by the age of 25, as much as 98% of our creativity has vanished. The look and feel of the grass is said to remind guests of their childhood and therefore free them of societal barriers that restrict creativity. Crowne Plaza's initiative is perfect because it breaks down the self-imposed rules that prevent us from achieving our full potential.'"

ACTION: You don't need to put turf or even Astroturf on your office floor, but do consider making some changes from time to time that wake you up to surroundings that you barely notice anymore. You could use posters or pictures, big plants, flowers, sounds of nature, or anything else that wakes your brain.

Been a bit sickly....

2010-08-17T11:40:00.001+01:00

Where has August gone already? I have a spare 5 minutes while Jamie is (hopefully) having a long nap. Unfortunately, I have been neglecting my blog. Chiefly this is because both me and Jamie got a terrible cough /cold, and then I had just about recovered and I decided it would be a good idea to eat something with mould on!! I remember thinking; 'It will be alright' but unfortunately it wasn't!!

Today and yesterday I have been trying to get to grips with all the jobs that I have neglected and are now screaming to be done. And then there is the small matter of an interview to prepare for on Thursday....

Normal Service will be Resumed Shortly (I promise!)....

Not enough time??

2010-08-05T06:51:00.002+01:00

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."

Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Quoted at: www.timetowrite.blogs.com/

Do you find writing tiring?

2010-07-28T07:51:00.002+01:00

Thought I would share this letter and advice I re-discovered in Writers News - October 2009 http://www.writersnews.co.uk/

Q: I have begun to find sitting down at my computer and writing more and more tiring ......the more I stayed at my desk, the less I did ......I want to write. Why should this be? Any tips on this?

A: You need variety. It's much easier to be productive if
a) you have a definite routine (maybe 3 hours at your desk in the morning every day, then stop) and
b) you have a variety of activities during the day. These should include writing, walking, something creative and different (perhaps drawing, painting, photography, cookery) and reading or watching. It's important to use all your senses every day. If you begin to do this, you will not find writing tiring. In fact its not the writing that's tiring you, but the 'monotony' of it. If you include more experiences in your day - one of which should include something physical - you will be longing to get to your computer instead of finding it a chore.

Ideal Conditions...

2010-07-23T07:11:00.003+01:00

"A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper." - E.B. White (1899-1965).

Elwyn Brooks was an American writer. A long-time contributor to The New Yorker magazine, he also wrote many famous books for both adults and children, such as the popular Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, and co-authored a widely used writing guide, The Elements of Style, popularly known by its authors' names, as "Strunk & White."

The Prerequisite...

2010-07-20T07:20:00.001+01:00

‘The prerequisite for me is to keep my well of ideas full. This means living as full and varied a life as possible, to have my antennae out all the time.’

Michael Murpurgo

Michael Morpurgo, author of more than fifty books, has an unparalleled reputation in the world of children's books. 'Wombat Goes Walkabout' (Collins) was shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Awards. 'The Butterfly Lion' (Collins) won the 1996 Smarties Book Prize and the Writers' Guild Children's Book Award 1996. It was shortlisted for the Young Telegraph / Fully Booked Children's Paperback of the Year Award 1996 and The Children's Book Award 1996. 'The Dancing Bear' (Collins) was shortlisted for the Writers Guild Children's Book Award 1994 and the Young Telegraph Children's Paperback of the Year Award 1994. He won the 1995 Whitbread Children's Book Award for 'Wreck Of The Zanzibar' (Reed).

The Pram in the Hallway

2010-07-10T15:03:00.002+01:00

Jamie is out this afternoon with Nanna and since I am no longer employed I am trying to use the time productively. Today started with having to sort out all the Child Tax Credit stuff and then trying to make sense of all the paperwork I seem to have accumulated recently. It is hard not to spend precious time 'fire fighting' i.e. having to do things that need to be done or else i.e. paying bills, shopping, filling in Child Tax Credit forms, but I feel I have begun to focus more when time allows.

I recently watched Maggie O'Farrell on The Book Show (SkyArts) see: http://thebookshow.skyarts.co.uk/authors/463188/maggie_ofarrell.html

She gave me inspiration as she discussed the quote from Cyril Connolly "There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall." Firstly, children deepen your connection with the world and cause you to feel emotion.

And secondly, however difficult it is to find the artistic impulse through the fog of motherhood, children are great editors. She highlights the danger of having too much time. With children you know you have a certain amount of time (usually while they are asleep) and so you must focus on writing in that time.

Is this what women really want?

2010-07-03T07:13:00.001+01:00

Since I had that strike of inspiration and have started thinking about writing a Chick-Lit novel I have been amazed at how life accommodates you with possible ideas, events happening in mine (and others) lives, and of course the need to read more books.

A few weeks ago I spied a 'bestselling' Chick Lit novel being sold for 50p, and so I thought I had better use some of the nice weather - and Jamie's nap times - to do a bit of research into the genre.

Perhaps the 50p price tag should have warned me, but it was total tosh! I gave up at page 38; just as Chapter 5 started. I felt that the story was quite ordinary and I didn't really care about what happened next. I suppose I am used to crime novels, and a series of questions being posed in the first few pages which always get me hooked and reading. There was nothing to cling to in this novel and I am sad to say I gave up!

I think it was the characters themselves that bored me. And therefore I didn't care what happened to them next. I know this novel got published, but it wasn't the authors first. Perhaps it might have been their last.....

Spend Less.....Live More??

2010-06-23T06:34:00.001+01:00

I have mentioned this before http://theonlyconsequence.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-recommendation.html but felt I wanted to emphasis to myself again the key points from; The Spend Less Handbook: 365 Tips for a Better Quality of Life While Actually Spending Less by Rebecca Ash, Capstone Publishing (2008) :

Why are our lives so hectic? Because there is so much stuff in them.

Even when we are not working, there are a thousand and one chores to occupy our lives and millions of bright images and hectic making technology that flick through our consciousness and turn our lives into a living nightmare.

The more we shop, the more we own, the more chores, hassles and complications are created in our lives.

Your unconscious mind is weighed down by everything you own. Clutter impairs your development, because things that are piled up are frequently associated with memories, so they bind you to the past.

Ask Yourself: Do I really, really need this? Remember that what you actually want is less stuff in your life, not more.

Remember that you only have one life, and you really ought to live life as if you only had a few months left of it. Make time to do things that will add real value to your life – things that will make you feel like the person you want to be, the person you would like to be remembered as when you die.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." – Henry David Thoreau

Making Time Matter

2010-06-21T08:12:00.002+01:00

In an attempt to answer all my woes in my last entry I read; The Time Paradox: Using the New Psychology of Time to Your Advantage by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd, Ebury Publishing (2008) http://www.thetimeparadox.com/

The main points I must focus on are:

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. Paradise Lost, Milton.

Your attitudes to time have a profound impact on your life. By changing the way you think about your past you change your future.

Ask yourself what you want to do today. Don’t ask what tasks you have to do today or what obligation you must meet before you can take time to enjoy yourself. Continually ask the big questions: What do I really want out of my life? What am I doing to get what I want? What is the best way to get from here to there?

‘We choose to rush and be busy. We can choose to slow down and cut back. This is in our power. But making such a choice is not easy.’ Ralph Keyes, Timelock. You need to do less, not more. Slim down your obligations. Eliminate as much as you can until you are in a comfort zone. Throw out the trash. Clean your closets of worn-out clothes. Stop going to events you don’t like. ‘Trying to increase one’s menu of possibilities contributes to overchoice, a key source of timelock. Reducing the range of options makes it possible to narrow ones focus and concentrate better.’ Ralph Keyes.

Only keep things from your past which make you happy. That includes thoughts / memories….. Reconstruct past negative experiences and either neutralize them or discover some hidden positive elements in them. Whenever you find yourself replaying the familiar old slides of past negative experiences, make yourself take out those slides and insert new slides into your memory tray. Practice viewing your new positive-only personal slide show to flood the dreary old past with a bright light of optimism. Forget about whether you had less love, success and good fortune than others in your life. That’s over and done with. Decide to become positive about your past and start afresh.

Life is what you make of it. You can make your time matter. Now is not the time to wait. Now is the time to act. Three days are all we have in which to live our lives. Yesterday was too early. Tomorrow will be too late. Today is the day of reckoning for each of us.

No man ever steps into the same river twice, for its not the same river and he’s not the same man. Heraclitus

Grumpy....

2010-06-16T09:00:00.002+01:00

Went to see the Physio yesterday about my back that continues to give me trouble; along with the rest of my body. I feel like an old lady a lot of the time; aches and pains all over. Grumble, Grumble... This was my 4th visit on the NHS and it looks like I will be discharged next time to 'self-medicate' or whatever the phrase is. I left the session - which was quite painful but I am sure good for me at the same time - rather upset after he suggested; 'You need to be more active'.

I came home and had a bit of a cry and a moan. I felt like such a fat, old woman. But I know he is right. I know I should be doing my physio exercises as well as some 'proper' exercises (he suggested swimming) and I know I should think more about my posture, and god knows sitting at my laptop probably isn't doing me any good either, but its just one more thing amongst a sea of 'things to do'. And once I get in a spiral of misery I then begin to worry about the effect on Jamie. Am I a good enough mother? Am I spending enough quality time with him? Am I doing everything right? And where in all this sea of moaning and misery is any time for writing?

I know I have unrealistic expectations of both myself and others in terms of what I want / need to do / finish / start but how to stop myself from getting so worked up about it? Or indeed how to stop all those things meaning so much when in reality they shouldn't!?

Answers please....