About Me

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A fiction writer and mum to three great kids, also lucky enough to be married to the man of my dreams. In spite of that mushy comment I do not write flowery romance - I like a nice helping of real life grit in my work. I have a Diploma in Literature & Creative Writing from The Open University and remain a member of the wonderful Watford Writers, despite moving on several times. I am a big fan of Swanwick Writers Summer School which has taught me a great deal and where I have made many great friends. I have yet to reach the dizzy heights of becoming a published superstar but will continue to send my work out into the world.

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Sun, Editing and Housework

Phew - what a scorching few days we've had - not that I am complaining.  The housework has suffered a bit as it has been much too hot to dance around with the hoover or hyperventilate over the iron press.  On the plus side it has given me a lot of time to sit and edit a short story I intend to send of to WWFS.  It surprised me just how much I have enjoyed the task.  Obviously parts of the dialogue and imagery have been revised/rewritten too but as I say, seriously I have enjoyed seeing my work take on a better shape than I could have ever imagined.

 The only slightly negative thing is that it takes up quite a lot of time.  Yes, I know that it is well worthwhile, especially if I do manage to get a sale from it.  But as this is a craft I am new to I am inwardly cringing at some of my earlier work that I sent out to a few unsuspecting Fiction Editors - hope I am not the only one.

Monday 21 May 2012

Weekend Away

I was away at the weekend at my Mum's.  Some of you may remember that she had a bad fall in January.  I'm pleased to say she is now 90% recovered so much so she dragged me around Teddington on Saturday afternoon.  So, no writing done at the weekend but plenty of time spent with Mum.

Im off to Watford Writers tonight, again, I have not been for a few weeks and missed them all dreadfully.  I will also be happy to tell them that our proposed move to Leeds is now off and we will be staying in Watford.


Thursday 17 May 2012

Short But Sweet

I haven't got down to much writing this week but what I have done I am very pleased with.  I have been playing around with a short story which was rejected by TWN.  I sat down and had a real hard look at it before I began to edit it.  It never fails to amaze me how much a good stern editing/revision session can make to a story.  Obviously, at some time I thought the story was ready but on reflection I can see the flaws loud and clear.  A strange admission I know but I find editing and revising a piece of work quite therapeutic at times.  It goes to show that we can always improve our writing however brilliant we thought it once was.

It needs a little more work then my aim is to send it out into the world of WOMAG once more, wish me luck.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

These Things We Do...

Well, it's been a funny few days.  Suddenly I have become the clumsiest person in the world together with the silliest.  Yesterday I somehow managed to add myself as a follower of my own blog, after I'd already trodden on and scared the life out of the cat.  Also, don't tell Carl, but I reversed (at 5mph) into a stationary van today too.  Fortunately the driver was around to check for any damage of which there was none but I cannot understand how I managed to do something so silly.  Somebody has suggested I need to wear glasses all the time but it's not that I can't see it's more like I look but don't see.  Does that make any sense?  I hope so.  I am really distracted, walking across the supermarket car park I realised I had walked past the car because I was editing my latest story in my head!  Please tell me I am not alone in these odd episodes.

On the other hand I got a good couple of hours work done today, I feel I made real progress on my story.  I have two on the go at the moment.  The first is intended for magazine submission and the other for a competition which deadline is 31st May, a few weeks yet but I determined NOT to miss the deadline !!

Friday 4 May 2012

A Good Day

Another good day today.  I posted off a short story to Woman's Weekly which obviously I am excited about.  I keep a record of my submission and was momentarily shocked to see that I had sent nothing off since late January - now that is naughty!!  But enough of looking back from now on I am going to focus on the future.  I have also sent out 'a readers tip' to Take-a-Break so this week (well two days of it) have been quite fruitful.  I am getting back on target which is a good feeling.

I have scheduled work for next week which includes research for stories, competition entries and a play list of music to lift my spirits and keep me tapping away on my laptop.

Thursday 3 May 2012

Good Start

Well straight after the school runs I sat down and got to work.  I really enjoyed myself actually.  I put the finishing touches to a half written story and revised another two which I intend to submit.  I was also able to squeeze in a bit of research on up and coming competitions.  I have missed three deadlines of comps I intended to enter but rather than beat myself up about it I concentrated on what I could plan to enter.

I took a tip from a friend of mine and used music to evoke inspiration and emotion.  Eventually this lead to me singing so loudly that Carl discreetly closed the dining room door.  Writing I am confident about, Britain's Got Talent, I'm not so sure.

Cannot wait to get stuck in again on Friday morning.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Time to pull my socks up

What a weird few weeks I have had.  There have been a few personal issues which have been dominating most of my time.  I have been feeling very low and lethargic.  I suppose that hasn't been helped  by the fact that I fell last week and smashed my nose.  This resulted in a possible hair-line fracture and me looking like I'd been in the ring with Frank Bruno.  Today my face is back to normal as the swelling has gone altogether but despite any grand plans I may have had I have still managed a big fat zero on the writing front!

As a result of the above I have not been following my usual blogs and have a back-log of emails to answer/attend to.  BUT I know I can't continue on this downward spiral and have made up my mind to pull my socks up.  Worrying and over analysing has got me nowhere and I have wasted so much time and energy whittling over issues I have no control over.

I can promise that my next blog will be full of what progress I have made in my writing.  There is plenty to catch up on as it has all been neglected.  Watch this space and bear with me if I have neglected any of you.