Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Cast List…..Reviewed

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Well, that’s it, I did it…..I achieved a whole month of characters for the A-Z Challenge! Pleased is an understatement lol 😉

It’s funny, so many people asked me if these characters were real. It didn’t even enter my head to base them on real people, consciously, and anyway, I don’t know 26 people lol. But reading them back, I can see little parts if myself in some of them, and a couple are probably too close for comfort for a couple of friends. I think the one who is most like me is Scarlet so she’s the one I have a soft spot for. She has my personality, and most of my physical attributes. I didn’t mean her to be me it was an accident lol

My favourite? Ooooo, I think it would have to be Queenie and the one I’d most like as a friend is Gloria as I’m sure she would be fun to be around.

If I was single (and if he was real of course), I would definitely go on a date with Harry as in my head I think he looks like a younger Hugh Grant *swoon* lol.

So now what? What to do with all these people crying out for my attention? Begging me to write their stories 🙂

I have a plan……I had already decided what I was going to do for Nano 2012, but now, I’m thinking that can wait until 2013, this project will be my novel this year 🙂 I am excited, but apprehensive, as I know how much work will be involved.

I’m going to try to connect all the characters stories into one story, a daisy chain so to speak 🙂 So in theory, 26 short stories of about 4,000 words each, which means I’ll have to do one a day *gulp* I’ve done 65,000 words in a month, so I know what a struggle this will be. I guess I’ll have to start thinking about my ending (remember Adele Parks? Lol) and how they can all be pulled together 😉

So thank you readers, for taking an interest, your comments have been brilliant, and definitely stirred up some ideas I can use….if it ever gets published you will all get a thank you in the back of the book, I promise 🙂

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I can see some natural connections already….. Like Queenie & Fred or perhaps Harry & Scarlet (ah, see, I will get Hugh Grant! Lol)…..is Gloria the single mum who lives next door to Ella? And I think Ivy definitely gets her hair cut by Benjamin. Could they all be linked together via Zac in some way, or is that too naff? Or how about they all live in the same street? Turn it into a soap opera? Lol

So my question today dear reader, is, should I actually bother? lol 🙂

And if my husbands reading this, I’ll apologise in advance…..November 2012 will be a stressful month, I hope you have lots of chess matches booked *snigger* 🙂

Two More Awards

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Sorry, 2 posts today…… I dont like doing it, but sometimes, needs must en all that lol

My sincere apologies for not dealing with these awards sooner, but what with the A-Z Challenge, I’ve been up to my eyeballs lol

Sooooo, thank you thank you thank you 🙂

Virginia over at poetaofficium nominated me for the Creative Chaos Award 🙂 For this one, you have to answer a set of questions:

NAME 3 STRANGE THINGS YOU DO:
I only have one e mail address.
I have to have 4 sugars in my first cup of tea of the day.
I often sleep wearing gloves 😉

YOU MUST TELL WHY YOU LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL AND ASK, ‘WHAT? NO COFFEE?’
Ok, I don’t really understand the question lol. I’m a Pepsi addict, but I do like a Costa Latte. Other than that I have 1 Nescafé Cappuccino a day. I’m a tea girl at all other times 🙂

YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN IN A DESOLATE PLACE. NO PHONE SERVICE, NO NEARBY SHOPS AND THE NEAREST TOWN IS 150 MILES AWAY. YOU ONLY HAVE A CHOCOLATE BAR FOR FOOD. WHAT DO YOU DO?
Ha ha ha…..ok, well if it’s dark, I’d stay put, lock the doors and try to sleep, have the chocolate bar for breakfast. If I was daylight, I’d take the chocolate bar and start walking 😉

I nominate the following brilliant blogs for the Creative Chaos Award:

Chris @ The Kelworth Files
Daniel @ wordsfromwindows
Rebecca @ rebeccaatdickinson
Kathryn @ 4am Writer
Janet @ Postcard Fiction

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And Brigitte at brigittebanter nominated me for The Sunshine Award

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I’m going to have to bend the rules a bit here, so will only pass these awards on to 5 other bloggers for each one, and I’ll give you 3 facts about me 🙂

I’m a member of a gym.

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This is my favourite pen.

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I once had my hair dyed red and black stripes (about 5 years ago) lol.

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I nominate the following brilliant blogs for The Sunshine Award:

Joanne @ joannegphillips
Elliott @ Brainsplats
Stuart @ Tale Spinning
Bridget @ bridgetstraub
Kirsten @ Write A Book With Me

Please do check out these excellent blogs, go on, you know you want to 😉

I still can’t understand why my blog award pics come out squiggly lol

Z is for…..

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Zac, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

Well, that’s Zac, and yep, he’s a dog 🙂 I never said all my characters would be people did I 😉 The obvious thing that springs to mind is that Zac gets lost, or stolen, but don’t worry, he will be reunited with his family, I’m sure of it 🙂

So that’s it, 26 days of characters! Wow, it’s been hard work, but I’ve enjoyed it 🙂 the question is, did you? 🙂

Y is for…..

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Yasmin, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

Ok, so that’s Yasmin……I’m thinking that something could definitely happen with the boyfriend, or, she gets so addicted to the money she’s making at the club that she decides to give up on uni? Choices choices lol

Yesterday’s prompt, about daddy’s pride didn’t really inspire anything so I’ll have a go at it tomorrow, when I do saying goodbye 🙂

X is for…..

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Xavier, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

So that’s Xav 😉 I like him (not too sure about the political views, so we’ll gloss over that aspect), he seems like a fairly nice bloke. So how can we introduce a bit of conflict? perhaps he finds himself arrested, because one of the girls he turns down decides to get revenge and tells the police he assaulted her? Or is that too cruel? Lol….. Or perhaps his perfect little family world is about to come crashing down round his ear ‘oles because his wife leaves him?

Yesterday’s prompt was “the idea inside the morning” which I found quite difficult 😦 I ended up writing about a guy who’s eyebrows had all be shaved off…..don’t ask lol. Today’s prompt is your daddy’s pride which should be pretty easy 😉

I Am A Writer

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I’ve been following Jeff Goins excellent blog for a few months now. So when I received an e mail update asking for people to review his new book I jumped at the chance 🙂

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I received the eBook a few days ago, and I read the whole thing that same day! WOW! I guess being a fan of Jeffs blog means that it was inevitable that I would love the book. So am I biased? Probably lol 😉 No, seriously, it’s thoroughly enjoyable, with some great advice to us “aspiring” writers. Lots of info on Platform Building, connecting with other writers and what to do before you even get published.

But it was the first part of the book that hit me straight in the face, because it talks about the one thing that plagues me….. The whole idea of calling myself a writer. I’ve talked before on my blog about not being able to bring myself to say that. I feel a fraud, like, if I say, “Hi, my names Vikki and I’m a writer.” someone will jump up and say “No you’re not, you haven’t had anything published.” I even had a brief discussion about it recently with Chris on Write To Perfect (see the comments for an excellent article Chris recommends).

Jeff’s book wagged its finger at me lol….. He asked Steven Pressfield what he meant by “turning pro in your head before you can do it on paper.” (from Pressfield’s book The War of Art). He asked Mr Pressfield “When do you really become a writer? Is it when you get an agent? When you sign your first book contract? When you sell 10,000 copies?”

The response from Mr Pressfield was…… “When you say you are.”

So Jeff started making public declarations of his identity as a writer, and actually started believing it. And because he believed it, he started acting like one. Jeff learnt that before others will believe you’re a writer, you have to believe it yourself 🙂

So is it time for me to submit, surrender to something I’ve been resisting as Jeff says? Ok, I’m going to give this a go…..ready……

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Oh, that felt good, uncomfortable, but good lol 🙂

Jeff suggests that I write I Am A Writer everyday….”affirming something deep inside of you that you’ve been resisting.” And hell, have I been resisting!!!!!!

There’s a web site You Are A Writer to accompany the book so I hope you check it out.

So thanks Jeff, for the opportunity to read your book, and the pep talk 😉 I’m going to give it a go….I’ll start with my FaceBook profile *gulp* 🙂

Do you struggle telling people you’re a “writer”?

W is for…..

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Wendy, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

So Wendy seems happy enough, but is she? Really? I’m thinking that she could start her own business, selling her berets? Orrrr….. She starts seeing her boss again and Clare finds out and turns psycho? Or perhaps she does enter one of those talent shows and completely changes her life? So many options with this one 🙂

I spent most of yesterday getting up to date with my prompts. The one I liked the most was That Sunday afternoon which ended up being about a guy who bumped into a girl in a coffee shop. She then gets her boyfriend to beat him up 😦 I know, I know, but that’s how easily it can happen. You only need to be in the wrong place at the wrong time *shivers*

V is for…..

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Vincent, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

Hmmmmm…..I can only begin to imagine the pain of losing a child in those circumstances 😦 and the need for revenge would be overwhelming…. But how do you deal with that when you have a strong faith? Perhaps he takes it upon himself to find the killer? Perhaps he finds out that the lad at the cemetery is his daughters killer?

Bit behind with my prompts, it’s been a busy few days lol

U is for…..

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Before I tell you about today’s character I want to give a shout out to Melena at PrefacMe who has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you so much honey, I’m honoured 🙂 That’s now 2 awards I’ve got to catch up with once the A-Z Challenge is complete 🙂

Una, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

Poor Una 😦 What a nightmare! Ok, perhaps she could plot to kill her husband? Or, less drastic, just walk out? Something, or someone needs to give her hubby a kick up the arse don’t you think?

No prompt news today as I’m away, so this post has been scheduled 😉 Normal service is resumed tomorrow 🙂

T is for…..

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Timothy, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

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A-Z Challenge

Hmmmmm, so does Tim find out that Cameron is having an affair? Or, is Cameron up to something else? 😉

I haven’t talked much about my prompts have I? Lol….I’m still keeping up with them, just. Yesterday’s one was write about what happens and today’s is That Sunday afternoon….. Both will get done today, but I’m in Birmingham for the next 24 hours and it’s World Book Night lol. Busy, busy, busy…..