Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts

Monday, 17 February 2014

My Writing Process Blog Tour

So when Laura James over at Office Mango invited me to the Writing Process Blog Tour, I automatically said ‘yes’ not actually thinking about what I would have to produce about writing. Gulp! It’s hard enough thinking of the next line in a story let alone thinking how you go about it.
But Laura did  and her entertaining entry. And thanks Laura for the invite. xxx 



My Writing Process


What Am I Working On?


   I wish the answer to this was a simple “I’m working on X” but the reality is, I’m also working on Y and Z too. Writing is like reading. I have three books on the go that I am reading and like wise with my writing. Last year’s Nano novel, which suddenly came to a halt due to a dead laptop, has now found new love/life and a few late nights which is great considering this week is half term. It’s a paranormal romance with a kick ass heroine. That is all I’m going to say on that one.
   Some lovely friends Beta read my Chick lit which I am also in the process of editing. One day, when I feel confident about sharing it with the big, wide, world, I will publish on Amazon.
   My very first attempt of a novel is also being revisited on occasion when I can face it due to the many errors I can’t believe I made!
    And of course there’s my blog I am working on with flash fiction. Often, a short story is the spark to something bigger.


How Does My Work Differ from Others of its  Genre?   


   That’s tricky. I can only go by what I have read. And there is not enough time in the world to have read every book in the genres I write. I guess it’s unusual to write in different genres and not stick to one. Whether this is a decision that will hinder me or enhance my writing, I do not yet know. But I do know I write because I enjoy it, love the characters and know there is a story there. I also know my female protagonists are not just there to be eye candy or fluff. They have purpose, are fun and can definitely look after themselves no matter the genre.


Why Do I Write What I do?


I would like to say ‘because the fairies in the bottom of the garden told me to.’ But it’s a lot less boring than that. Like I said, I always wanted to write but didn’t know how to start. Then, two years ago, a funny thing happened that I just had to share and on Feb 18th (two years tomorrow) my blog was born. It was then I stumbled into flash fiction and this is where ideas grow for feature length pieces of work. Flash enables you to experiment and go places I never thought possible. Only last week, due to the prompt, I wrote my first piece of erotica (very tame). It was well received so I may (when brave enough) expand on it. If I love the characters and there’s a story, I will write it. My venture into the  paranormal was inspired by my son wanting me to write for him, not sure I have fulfilled that though as it’s gone bit gushy. So I will be culling very soon.


How Does Your Writing Process Work?   


Sometimes it doesn’t! It completely leaves me with a blank page for days. So I walk away and enjoy life (usually a walk along the beach, or baking) until something hits me and I can’t wait to get back and write it, noting it down in case I forget (which does happen).  But I tend to be a rather chaotic writer. Too many things going on, notes everywhere. If it comes into my head, I write it. So where my story goes depends on the mood I’m in, the music I’m listening to and something I may have heard either on TV or spoken to me. I have a main plot written down in various places (too many notebooks) but any sub plots are victim to the time, mood and place. I make it up as I go along I guess. If I’m really excited, I will talk it out with close friends which inspires me even more. Often, ideas come into my head during the night. But can I remember them in the morning? I can't be the only one that happens to. There's probably loads of best sellers that have been born and died during the night somewhere in the world.



Thank you for reading and thanks again Laura for the tag. Now I have some people who would like to share their writing process with you. Here’s a little tease until next week ( Monday 24th Feb) for their story. . .



Rebecca Fyfe


An author with stories in several anthologies and collections, is a mother of seven children and, having lost 145 lbs. of excess weight, blogs about health and fitness at skinnydreaming.com. In keeping with her lifetime love of stories, she graduated with a degree in English Literature. She is a Californian who married an Englishman and now resides in Great Britain. Rebecca created and runs the chapter book challenge which runs every March, and, when not writing short stories or children’s stories, she’s busy creating urban fantasy novels, full of her own special blend of magic. She gets her inspiration from her five daughters and two sons. She is the founder of Melusine Muse Press and owns several online gift shops, one of which can be found online at moondusters.com. You can find her on facebook, Twitter and through her blog at Rebecca Fyfe.blogspot.co.uk/ and at maginecreatewrite.blogspot.com




M L Gammella 

M L Gammella has been writing on and off since hight school, where she was often found scribbling in her notebook instead of following along in class. Who knew you had to pay attention in Pre-Cal to understand it? To this day, she still doesn't. 
She put down her pen for several years as she got caught up with college and work, but finally found her muse again after graduating with a bachelors in business in 2010. Her day job as a mortgage laan processor pays the bills while she pursues her love of writing. M L Gammella is currently trying to finish her Nano novels from 2012 and 2013 (she won in 2012). She also participates i several flash fiction contests throughout the week, runs the Daily Picspiration blogspot., and freelances in content marketing. When not writing, M L enjoys travelling, football, cooking, reading and spending time with her husband and three pets.

http://mlgammella.blogspot.co.uk/





Sunday, 2 February 2014

2014 Books, Books and More Books


One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more as for 2013 I read about eight books which for a writer is shocking. And that includes a holiday in the sun where you’d think I’d have read a book or two. But no. I read nothing, not even a magazine. It was too darn hot.
It’s not as if I haven’t anything to read. My Kindle is choc full of books downloaded but not read. My paperbacks are building up, gathering dust as they wait to be opened. Imagine all those journeys waiting to be travelled just by opening a book.
Already my reading journey for 2014 has started well, having finished two novels and half way through a third at the start of Feb.
I hope to at least triple last year's pathetic total and then some.

The first book I read was given to me by a friend.


If ever there was a character that needed a slap around the face, she was in this book. Spoilt, fickle and annoying, creating situations and drama out of nothing. And you could see what was coming up a mile off; sooooo predictable. But it was a light, fluffy piece of escapism with a cute ending.






The second book I read in Jan was for teens, based on the experiences of a teenage Jewish girl escaping Hitler’s Germany.




Written by Judith Kerr, it explores the life of Anna as she moves from country to country to find safety and an identity.It’s a captivating read and I’m already halfway through the second book.




  


A strong start to the year for sticking to my resolution. Of course, my reading isn’t limited to books. I spend a great proportion of my time reading short stories on blogs as well as writing them myself. And I am currently reading my own novel for the purposes of editing in the hope of self publishing.


One month down, eleven to go. I wonder if I can keep it up? I have books from Christmas (2012) I haven’t even read as well as 2013. There’s no shortage of material. I just have to organise my time better when it comes to reading and become engrossed in the story so it’s hard to put down.  

I've also started another book, a classic that I've never read and some of you may be shocked to hear that I've never it. I'll leave that admission for the end of the month when I hope to have finished it.

Do you have recommendations for my reading journey of 2014? And what's on your reading list for 2014? I would love to hear and expand my reading lists too. xxx



  

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

The Good, The Bad and The Catasphrophic



I have been pondering this blog post for a few days now; should I write it, would people find it interesting, am I wasting my time, no one is bothered about the the ups and downs of a writer. But the urge to write and celebrate a wonderful year took over and here I am.

It has been an amazing year where my writing is concerned and that's thanks to the fantastic writers I have 'met' on facebook who have become wonderful friends. Firstly, there was the Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower. Who can forget the crazy goings on in the process of a fairy wedding? Who can forget the excitement of creating a gorgeous story for the anthology? 





Two more anthologies followed (see above pic), both raising money for good charities and my stories were included. I'm in print! Yay!!! (I still look at my name in print and can't quite believe it). Both available on Amazon. 

It was on this high that I went full steam ahead into this years NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with the support of the crazy community of writers. I was a Nano Rebel as my story had already started but I still had 50,000 in me as did the story. And that's when the catastrophe happened; my laptop just stopped working. I couldn't access any of my work as the little hole where the cable goes was broken or something like that. There wasn't even any power in the battery to boot it up. And do you know the worst of this sorry tale? Despite months of nagging from Hubby about backing up my work, I hadn't. So over 35k of words for my novel was locked along with all my other work. 
I cried.
I spat my dummy.

My writing career had only just started and had come to abrupt halt. Until Hubby's friend rescued my work which is now stored in various places; external hard drives, sky drive and now google cloud. I think my bases are covered. I just need to learn to use them properly.  

And the writing is back as Hubby bought me a Samsung Chromebook for Christmas/Birthday so happy, happy, happy although very different to what I am used to.  No excuses now for writing and joining in more on the flash fiction circuit. 



 That's where the bad comes in. I have been away for so long, I think I've forgotten how to write! I look at flash fiction prompts and have absolutely no clue. My Daily Picspiration pieces are so difficult and don't flow at all. I apologise for that and will up my game for 2014 especially as the calibre of writing is absolutely wonderful.

Looking to 2014, I am full of optimism. I intend to blog more, write more, share authors more. I also intend to publish my own novel. It's not going to happen unless I make it happen and I have wonderful friends who are helping me make it happen (Lisa ShambrookLaura James and Ruth Long who are now thinking oh darn, forgot about that!) as well as friends who always love my work (Jan, Clare, Toni, Angela, Charlotte, Char, Shelley to name but few). So look out for The Adventures of Katie Button coming soon. 

I have other projects in my head that must escape. So watch out!  

2014 is going to be epic. . . . just saying. xxxx 

Happy New Year folks and to nick/adapt a famous Brucie phrase. . . Keep writing/reading. xx