Still working hard and giving it my all not to be distracted by PRIMEVAL (love it).

I have drafted my third story this year so far.  That's my new habit, to catch the idea and, if possible, draft it before the idea flies away.  That's happened so many times and it doesn't matter how hard you try, the idea never visits you again.  I am trying my hand at humour having read that it's very popular in the world of womag (woman's magazines).  At the moment I have 900 (ish) words and think my story line is credible.  One problem.  I can't decided on the ending.  I know it will come to me, it's just a matter of when.

Choc-Lit Competition entry is going well although I am still changes parts of it - better that than to send out "almost finished" work.

Story for TABFF is finished, edited, corrected and waiting until next week for what I hope will be it's final read.  That will be my first submission for 2013 and I can't wait to get the ball rolling.

Something Sweet

My story for the choclit competition is coming along really well.  I have such a good feeling about it now.  Last night I flicked my notes on writing short stories, notes from last years Swanwick Writers Summer School.  I did because although my story was building - there was something not quite right with it.  I read it a few times over but it wasn't any clearer to me.  After going through my notes, paying special attention to "plot and structure" my problem  was obvious.  My plot was weak and the structure  flimsy, to say the least.

So, today I took a good look and re-write a big chunk of the story, which now looks and reads so much better.  My characters are rounder and my main character is defiantly in control.  Just as it should be.  Now I am on my 6th draft but it has been worth every word and spending today sitting at my desk.  Just goes to show any notes you have taken, are never a waste of time.

The weather is still bad here, in Milton Keynes and we had more snow today.  Thankfully it didn't settle but it's still very cold.  Roll on Spring.

The Cleaners Have Been In

My short story I have written for TABFF is 99% finished so I sent it out to my favourite proof reader.  She really is very good and her rates a wonderfully reasonable (she is my mum-in-law).  I made all the amendments she suggested and the story does look and read much better, so once again a big thank you to Helen.

I heard back from one of the competitions I entered just before Christmas.  The requirement was to include the name "Agatha Christie" at least twice in a 2000 max story.  As far as I can make out my story wasn't placed at all but as they haven't updated their website to show the results, it's hard to say for sure.  They sent me an email revealing who the winner was but I'm sure there should have been 2nd and 3rd place too.  Oh well, time will tell, or not.

I drafted a story last week and today I have been building on that and padding it out a bit.  I have decided to have a bash at  the Choc Lit short story competition and my new story is being written for it.  I have plenty of time as the deadline for entries is 25th February.  So I need to stay focused and keep my bottom glued to this chair.

Too Much Thinking...

I've come to the conclusion that too much thinking is bad for you.  Yesterday I hardly got any writing done at all due to considering Degrees/MA's.  So today I have broken it down.  Before I could consider an MA I would need to finish my degree, I'm looking at 2-3 years for that.  I can do nothing this year as I need to put some money by.  As we all now tuition fees are horrendous.  So, getting bogged down by too much thinking was counteractive for me.

I have decided to make a rough plan of where I want to be and when - nothing concrete mind, I am a woman and may change my mind.  So, in the meantime I will carry on with my fiction writing.  I have drafted a new story this week too - so I am managing to keep to my new regime.

I suppose the big question is - what do I want more?  To learn about creative writing or to be doing it?

The Seed Is Sewn

Oh dear, it's not really happening for me today.  This morning Hubby suggested maybe I should consider doing an MA in creative writing BUT first, I would need a degree.  Wonderful.  We had a brief chat about it all and I insisted I was happy with what I was doing at the moment.

The issue is, now I'm not so sure.  I do have UCAS points as I studied with The Open University a few years ago.  The big question is, do I want to go back into study, or do I want to write and hope for the best.  There is no doubt that gaining a degree to enable me to go to further study would be wonderful.  I'm just not sure it's me.  I have done some research and found places which offer and Degree/MA in creative writing and the courses look great.  Unless I can do it by long distance learning I am stuck.  How can I just up and go to Uni and leave the family behind?  Would that even be necessary?  Do I stick with what I'm doing now, or should I look at fresh alternatives?  I just don't know.  See one of the most annoying things about Carl, my Hubby, is that he's usually right.

Such a muddle and so much to think about.

Feeling Good

Well, my story for TABFF is finished, it just needs a week or so to grow into itself before I do my final checks and send it out.  I am really pleased with it actually hopefully TABFF will be too.

I'm having lunch out today with an old friend I used to work with years ago.  It will be great to catch up and hopefully giggle as much as we did back then.  Who knows, there could be a story there.

I have three competitions on my short list at the moment but I can't resist trawling the net trying to find others, it's no wonder I tie myself up in knots !!  No, I just need to be firm and not juggle so much that nothing is finished in a rush.

I have been on The Swanwick Writers Summer School website and am already getting excited at what's being offered and the program isn't even completed yet.  It's a wonderful week at Swanwick.  If any of you are curious or fancy giving it a go look it up on the web - it's FAB.

Old Habits

...die hard, or so the saying goes.  Oh, how true.  This weekend I found myself writing a memoir for the Fish Short Memoir competition (deadline 31/1).  It suddenly struck me that I had left it much too late, what was I doing?  This is exactly the sort of thing I'd told myself I would stop doing.  I had a word with myself and picked a small short story competition (deadline 22/2) instead.  See how easy it is to revert to bad habits - I could kick myself but onwards and upwards.

I am on draft 5 of the story I started last week and having managed, eventually, to obtain a copy of TABFF (take-a-break fiction feast) feel I am heading in the right direction.  This may sound rather arrogant but many times I have closed my eyes and imagined seeing my name included on their pages.  Imagination is wonderful but there is nothing like hard work and making it happen for yourself.  My day will come.

It's started to snow again here in Milton Keynes.  It looks very peaceful and calm snow don't you think?  It's great when your indoors and warm but come 'school run' time I may well have changed my mind.

We're Off

My new outlook on my writing has started well.  I wrote and completed a brand new story on Tuesday, that's not to say it's finished though.  The English language is a funny one don't you think?  Completed and finished should really mean the same thing, but to me they do not.  Yes, the story is completed, as in the story is there, but it needs fiddling with before I can even consider putting it on the back burner for a week or so.  Are you with me?

There are a few small competitions which I quite fancy entering so at the moment I am trying to narrow it down to just one.  Both deadlines are 31st January, before I would have tried to do both.  But, now I feel it better to enter just one with a good polished story rather than two with 'nearly there' stories.  Oh, this new regime does feel good. 

Yesterday I received a rejection from WWFS (woman's weekly fiction special) which I have to admit I was expecting.  Rather than hiding it away as I usually do I intend to go through it with a thick read pen, be honest with myself to identify why it was rejected.  I may wear a crash helmet to do this as the truth often hurts.

New Year - Fresh Start

What a long absence I have had from writing, not by choice I can assure you.  I will spare you the details as I try not to include personal details on this blog.

Anyhow, here is 2013, a fresh start for us all.  I have decided to take a different stance as regards my writing.  Forget my old work, even re-writing some of it and to make a complete new start.  The manuscript I was fussing over before Christmas has been disregarded and buried away.  I re-read it over the holiday and found it to be flat with far too much narrative.  I wrote it and even I wasn't sure who the story was actually about.  It would be easy to chuck it all in and not to bother at all but deep down inside I know I can produce decent work, it's just a matter of incorporating everything I have learnt, murdering my darlings more frequently and keeping my bottom firmly on this chair!  Luck also plays a part especially where competitions are concerned but that's no excuse - no, when my work gets sent out into the world it will be as polished as it possibly can be.

I won't say wish me luck - my future is in my hands and only I can make it happen, but company along the way is most welcome.