Inspiration....

People often ask writers where they get their ideas from, how that seed of inspiration is sown.  I think if you are a writer then the answer is easy. From everywhere, from everything.

From the sad girl in the street to the child playing alone.  From the man staring out of the train window, to the girl crying over her coffee. From the couple arguing in the street, to the bride and groom taking their vows.  Everyone has a story,  everything is a story.

Sometimes though just a beautiful place is enough. This incredible restaurant we found on the Amalfi Coast was the perfect place for lovers; wonderful food, nice wine, an idyllic view. How could a writer of romance resist setting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard!).

The Second Campaigner Challenge!

Yes, the second challenge is up on Rachael Harries's blog  Rach Writes.., and I had to grab a dictionary to complete it!

Write a blog post in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should:

• include the word "imago" in the title
• include the following 4 random words: "miasma," "lacuna," "oscitate," "synchronicity,"

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional and included in the word count), make reference to a mirror in your post.

For those who want an even greater challenge (optional), make your post 200 words EXACTLY!

So here is my attempt, 200 words exactly (ignoring the title). Hope you enjoy it!

If you'd like my entry it would be great if you'd 'like' it!  I'm #20 on the list (likey list here!), if you leave a comment please let me know where to find your entry.

'Death of an Imago'

I find you there, sprawled on the couch. My couch. A miasma of stale cigarettes and beer hangs heavy in the air around you.

I fling the window open wide, wanting to clear the stench of your despair.

I can still see so clearly that picture in my head of you, the best father in the world.  The man I wanted to be when I grew up. What happened to him?

What did I miss? In what part of my memory is the lacuna that I never spotted? That fault line. That sliver of space which the evil part of life crept into, spreading all pervading gloom.

Is it coincidence that as I become a father, you become the child? Some weird synchronicity? But our lives always were in step weren’t they?

I look in the mirror and I see a younger you, but I don’t want to be you now. That dream is gone.

Who do you see Dad? A man to love, or a man to hate? A father, or a stranger? Does your future oscitate before you? Does some black chasm of nothing stare back?

You stir. I watch helpless. Oh Dad, I thought you were perfect.



** Click here to see the other great entries!**

Awards.....and New Voices

It has been a busy week.  It kicked off with the launch of Mills & Boon New Voices 2011 competition - much trepidation when I pressed the 'enter' button.  But as I've mention previously, I think it will be a tremendous experience.  I've already had some great comments, with constructive criticism which I am keen to feed back into my writing.  Please check the comments & the chapter out if you have time! It's called 'Her Dangerous Defiance'.

I'm so grateful to everyone who has commented so far, including some published authors; I feel that the writing community is unequalled for generosity of time and encouragement.
I have been snowed under with other work, so writing has taken a back seat... but I am so keen to get on with the rest of the story, especially now some of the weaknesses have been highlighted!

It was a lovely surprise this week to receive not one, but two awards from the lovely K.T. Hanna!  These were The Versatile Blogger and The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award.  Thank you SO MUCH K.T.






Different rules apply to each, so here goes...
Sweet -
1. Thank and link to the person who nominates you
2. Share seven random facts about you
3. Pass this award to five new blogging friends
4. Contact and congratulate the awarded bloggers
Versatile -

1. Thank and link to the person who nominates you
2. Share seven random facts about you
3. Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it!

So here are 7 random facts...
1. I love cats (as you can see from my blog!)
2. My favourite holiday place is Italy
3. I work as a freelance technical author when I'm not writing
4. I studied the piano up to grade 7 but now just have a guitar
5. My first writing submission (a thriller) was when I was 14 years old
6.  I love spending friday evenings cooking with my real life hero
7. I believe you have to follow your dreams, because no-one else is going to do it for you!


I've only recently started blogging, and following others, but here's a few I've found -
1. The Pink Heart Society
2. Lacey Devlin
3. Romance Book Paradise
4. Rach Writes
5. Love and Chocolate
6. Leah Ashton
7. Delicious Tampa
8. Monty and Rosie
9. John Avery Books
10. Help I Need a Publisher
11. John Lavan
12. Independent Author Network
13. Doreen McGettigan
14.Kimberly Van Meter
15. Still Moments Publishing


Phew!  Now I've got to let them all know!
 

New Voices 2011 Entry - 'Her Dangerous Defiance'

Yay, New Voices entry submitted!  It was really difficult to press that button and say goodbye to Chapter 1, but doing it has in itself taught me a lot.

I've spent so long polishing it and worrying about every word. Reading over the submission I recently made in the standard way to Mills & Boon I can now see that the characters just don't shine through as they need to, that there is too much telling and not enough showing.  I think having a month to just hone one single chapter has really made me dig much deeper than before.

So I'm already a winner - and it's only one day in to the competition!  I'm hoping for some constructive criticism, that is the real bonus of this competition for me, the chance to get immediate feedback which can feed into my work. Please have a look at my entry if you have time, and let me know what you think ( the lovely New Voices button on the right designed by Lacey will take you right there!).

Good luck to all the other entrants - if you're undecided I would say go for it. You've nothing to lose and an awful lot to gain.

Productivity...

I've been spending quite a bit of time this week reading about using your time productively as a writer (hmm.. too much reading = not productive).  One of the problems is, that as a writer we need constant input from the world around us, whether it's for inspiration or advice.  Knowing when to stop is the problem.

When I worked in an office, it wasn't non-stop hammering away (sorry, does that sound a bit...!) at the desk.  I had coffee breaks, people wandering in for chats (some work related, some not).  Then there were meetings, progress updates, reviews of work to go through.....  And yet, sometimes now when I work at home I suddenly realise that I have sat for 4 hours typing away with not even a trip to the loo!

Apart from it not being good for my posture or eyesight, is it really the most productive way to work?  Would my work be fresher, better, if I took a regular break away from it?

I think for me there are times when I need to just sit and churn out the ideas, even if half of them turn out to be rubbish.  It's my answer to writers block, once I get started and just type anything then eventually some quality will emerge.  Then there are other times when I just need to edit, to deliberate over every word.  To go through the pain of thinking it's all total garbage... then the joy of uncovering a couple of sentences I can fall in love with.

I need deadlines too - whether self imposed by joining in on twitter with #1k1hr, or entering a competition, or knowing that there are only a couple of hours left before the school day finishes and chaos reigns.

Right now I'm polishing my first chapter for Mills & Boon New Voices 2011.  I got the first draft out relatively quickly and then left it for a week when other work intervened.  I've gone back to it with a fresh eye and revisions have been mightily slow.  But now I've found out a mass of work is heading my way on Monday, and tomorrow I have other obligations.... so today is the day I have to finish.  And you know what?  It's worked.  With a firm deadline my umming and ahhing has turned into something more positive.  Nearly done now... 'though I'm sure massive doubts will set in before I finally press that button to submit it next week!

First Campaigner Writing Challenge

I have just been lucky enough to come across Rachael Harries's blog  Rach Writes.. .  She's just launched the First Campaiger Challenge - and I just can't resist a challenge!

The rules of the challenge:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Why not check out the other entries and vote on your favourite?  Mine is below (I'm #57)... and yes, I managed to hit the 200 words!


'Secrets' by Susie Medwell

The door swung open silently; just far enough for her to see the red stiletto.  New, shiny, with four inch heel.  She edged forward, unable to stop herself.  She didn’t need to see any more, but she had to.

The legs were long.  Longer than hers.  Black stockings stopped short to reveal strong toned thighs.  The straps of the red suspender belt making a vivid statement against the pale flesh.

She realised that she was holding her breath, time frozen for both of them.

Her eyes widened as she took in the satin knickers, her satin knickers stretched taut over strong buttocks.

Something between a gasp of horror and hysterical laughter built up in her throat, threatening to burst out and shatter the brittle air.  She could hear the blood thundering in her ears.  It couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t be true.

The mass of red curls tumbling down the slim back clashed horribly with the scarlet red of the undies and shoes.  That was more of an insult than anything.  Not even matching.  No taste.

The sound of revulsion escaped from her lips.

He spun round in horror;  wig spinning free.

‘Darling! Wait.’

She fled.  The door swung shut.