Monthly Archives: November 2012

Writing Retreat Day 2

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An early start this morning, as breakfast was at 8…..but I found myself outside at 7.45 having my first cigarette of the day with the security guard. A lovely man who told me all about the wildlife on the estate….seee, I’m learning stuff too! Lol

It’s now 3pm and I’ve just crossed the 20,000 threshold. 20,172 to be exact! Sorrento Sunrise still stands at just over 18,000 and the new words are on a couple of short stories using my writing prompts that I do every day. I’m kind of looking at this years Nano as being a disaster, but I guess it isn’t really. I’m still gunna hit the 50,000, but I’ll probably have lots of unfinished stuff lol. And there was me saying I didn’t want to be one of those writers who had a drawer full of unfinished manuscripts! Whoops! 😉

So what excuse do I have? Well, apart from the fact that the “T” has rubbed off my netbook key (this is it’s 3rd Nano), none what so ever! I don’t regret going for the Mills & Boon….the object of the exercise was to see if I could write one. Perhaps the answer to that question is…..I can’t *snigger*

I had a wander around the grounds today….wow!

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And this is the view from my bedroom window.

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And this is the room where the magic happens.

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All 14 of us were sitting at this table last night tapping away at laptops/netbooks….I wish I’d taken a photo! 🙂

Right, better get back to it….think I’ll have a reading break first though 😉

How are my fellow Wrimo’s doing?

Writing Retreat Day 1

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Hi people 🙂

Have you missed me? He he he!

Well, I have 226 e mails in my inbox that need sorting, but, I’ve managed To get my word count up to 18,163 for Nano! (That’s a lie actually, I’ve managed to get my e mails down to 101 by taking full advantage of the WordPress “like” button).

I’m sorry I’m so behind with all your blogs, will catch up on Sunday I promise 🙂

I was told this place is lovely, and it is! Must be fantastic in the summer that’s for sure!

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This place would be ideal for inspiration for a gothic novel 😉

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My room is very nice, and I’m going to enjoy walking round the gardens tomorrow 🙂

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The only problem is that I’ve finished Sorrento Sunrise, yep, it’s done, at 18,000 words….Oh, dear lol. The question now is whether I try to pad it out with 30,000 words or move onto something else? I can’t believe it! Where have I gone wrong! Lol

So what should I do….add loads of waffle, or start working on something else?

Tales From A Notebook – Part 2

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Some more notebook pages 🙂

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Hope you enjoy! 🙂

ps….tomorrows post will be a little late, as I’m off to a Nano Writing Retreat 🙂

I Am Thankful For…..Plus Insecure Writers Support Day

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MY READERS!

Yes, that means you, I see you, even if you never comment 🙂

Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author and Tara at Tara Tyler Talks are hosting this wonderful Blog Hop, that I just couldn’t resist 🙂

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This has actually come at a really good time for me as this blog was created in November 2010, so it is kinda my Blogiversary this month, although, I didn’t start blogging daily until the end of December last year. So I feel a bit like the Queen, The View Outside has two birthdays!

Just for my own curiosity, I had a look back at those first few posts:
November 2010 3 posts
April 2011 1 post (very sad looking blog at this stage!)
November 2011 3 posts (still no comments and I’m not surprised!)
December 2011 10 posts and 3 commentors!!!!!
Ha ha ha….my poor little blog was much neglected in those days 😉

It’s also Insecure Writers Support Day (see the tab above) so I am thankful for that too 🙂 It’s been great being able to moan about my fears on one day every month and I am so grateful for all the IWSG Members who have taken the time to come give me a virtual hug 🙂

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I’m doing ok this month, feeling a little bit out of my depth at Faber. My class mates work is sooooo much better than mine, truly…..I have a lot to learn. But I’m enjoying it, and it’s a challenge I’m definitely up for 🙂

Sooooo, as I can’t thank you all individually (and this includes IWSG Members who take the time to offer their support by visiting my blog on the first Wednesday of every month), I hope you’ll accept my thanks via this note…..
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Hopefully, one day, I’ll meet up with some of you, at my book launch perhaps? *sniggers* 😉 But until then, you will remain, my wonderful blogging friends, who keep me going.

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Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos

p.s if you are one of my readers who has never commented, please come and say hello, I won’t bite and I’d love to chat 🙂 I’m off now to offer support to my fellow Insecure Writers 🙂

Faber Session 5 – Starting A Story….And Ending It

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Went up to Bloomsbury a little bit earlier today as I wanted to buy a present. So it was nice to be able to walk through Bloomsbury Square in the day light! 🙂

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A quick stop off in the BM to make my purchase and spotted this…..

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There’s a Shakespeare exhibition on at the moment and this display of cut out houses is on the floor in the main court of the museum.

Anyway, back to class 🙂

Tonight’s session was about beginnings and endings. We talked about starting being the hardest part and one of the other students mentioned the “toxic 10” for runners. If you’re into running you’ll know exactly what this means. It’s that first 10 minutes where you’re cussing and cursing and wondering what the hell you’re doing….once you get past that it gets easier. It’s exactly the same for writers, and knowing where to start in your story can be tricky. I don’t think I’m that bad at starting, I just kind of jump in lol. Tim suggested that we play on our writing strengths in the first chapter, whatever aspect of writing we’re good at, make sure we include a lot of it 🙂

But endings….woah! That’s a whole different ball game for me. Endings should be emotionally satisfying, regardless of whether there’s a happy ending or not. Yeah, I’d agree with that! I’m forever moaning about the Anne Tyler book I read earlier this year, where a down trodden woman who’s husband, quite frankly, is a git, walks away, builds a new happy life. But at the end of the book she goes back to her boring mundane life with the husband who treats her like a skivvy….WTF?

I don’t want my book to be the type of book the reader throws across the room at the end. I want them to feel satisfied. So I guess I’ve really got my work cut out. The last chapter is my chance to tie up the loose ends. To have a resolution to the story. My biggest decision is whether to have that ending a happy one, or just a satisfying one. Should the villain turn over a new leaf? Or does the heroine walk off into the sunset, alone, but happy? Decisions decisions *bites finger nails*

Do you prefer a happy ending or don’t you mind as long as its satisfying?

The To Do List 5th to 11th November

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It’s been a busy week, and set to get busier! 😉

I came down with a stinking cold last Tuesday, I haven’t felt back to my normal self since 😦 Trying to muddle through though, as you do, but trying to keep inside as much as possible….which is probably why the list suffered.

1. Faber homework etc. Yep! All up to date!

2. Look at But Not Forgotten and decide which 5,000 words to submit. Well, I cut and pasted a section into another Word document 😉

3. Start Christmas shopping. Pass!

4. Stock freezer for bad weather. Pass!

Oh dear, that didn’t go well did it? *slump* but, onwards and upwards! This week looks like this *gulp*

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1. Faber homework (inc reading fellow students work).

2. Keep up with daily Nano word count.

3. Catch up with prompts…..3 days behind *groan*

4. Write article for Faber *EXCITING*

5. Print out and read But Not Forgotten extract (Faber sub) and take to Westdean for editing/fiddling.

Gawd, that’s quite a bit isn’t it! And the Nano word count is 1667 words a day. Think I’m really gunna need the retreat by the end of the week lol…..which reminds me….I also need to make a list of stuff I need to buy for the retreat lol

what are your plans for the week?

Who’s Afraid Of Copyright?

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Sorry, no Six Sentence Sunday again this week….I’ve just got so much I want to say! Lol

So where was i? oh yes…..I am, and probably more so after reading Debi Gilori’s story. I was alerted to it by Nicola Morgan on Facebook recently. If you have time, please go and read Debi’s story.

If not, I’ll try to give you the gist…..

Basically a publisher approached her asking her to do a children’s book about the Tobermory Cat. But, a guy who created a Facebook page for the cat, wasn’t happy about that, and she has subsequently become the victim of cyber bullying by what appears to be members of the Facebook group.

The cat is a stray, so not owned by anyone and a huge argument has ensued on who actually owns the copyright to The Tobermory Cat. The guy who set up the Facebook page is claiming that his “idea” has been stolen and is taking legal action (according to the Facebook page).

Nicola has recently blogged about this, Copyright, Words & Images so please do go and read it. It’s very important, that you, as a writer, or a blogger, know what you can and can’t do 🙂

I just had to ask Nicola a question that’s been bugging me for a while, regarding all the workshops and classes I attend. Her response was interesting and I will be printing it all off and sticking it on my wall that’s for sure!

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Do you worry about what you write on your blog sometimes?

ps – the photo above is not The Tobermory Cat, I wouldn’t dare! It’s my Treacle, who could quite easily be known as The Rochester Cat 😉

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My First Nano “Write In” As An ML

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Sorry about the lateness of todays post, its been a busy day. I hosted my first Nano Write In this morning as a Co ML 🙂

There were 11 Wrimo’s all told including me, most of which were newbies so it was great! I cracked the whip and we did 3 sprints and chatted. I enjoyed it, and i hope they did too 🙂

There were quite a few people who were writing by hand in notebooks which was great to see. I love writing by hand, but it’s all that transferring it onto the netbook that I can’t face lol

Do you prefer writing by hand or tapping away at the keyboard?

Today was the day of the sex scene *sharp intake of breath* but there was just something wrong about writing a sex scene sitting in Caffe Nero with a group of Wrimo’s so I chickened out lol

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Deciding to just write the words and then I’ll go back to it when I’m more in the mood *snigger* 😉

So today’s word count was 1879 which takes me up to the grand total of 5644 at the end of day three. So I’m slightly ahead of schedule, for now 🙂

so how are my fellow Wrimo’s doing?

How To Turn eBay Into A Writing Tool

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You Can Get Almost Anything on eBay a post recently on Writer Unboxed, got me thinking….. As soon as I saw the title I was inspired lol.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on eBay? Come on, there must be something? I once saw an old piece of rope. Well used, a bit manky to be honest, but, it actually sold.

I don’t know about you, but I’m conscious of the fact that every single item on eBay has a story behind it. Like the Wedding Dress – New/Never Worn or, more sadly, a selection of newborn baby clothes, with their tags still attached (ok, let’s not be too morbid there, and pressume the baby grew too quickly….but you get my point).

As I was mulling this idea over, and having a look on eBay (for research of course) I came across an article on List Verse about Bizarre eBay Auctions. Ha ha ha, wow! 😉

The following is an example from the List Verse list, written by Cedric Mandanas.

In 2005, during a live interview with Jodie Marsh, Kerrang’s Tim Shaw told the glamor model he was prepared to leave his wife and their two children for her. His wife Hayley was listening and said her husband’s flirtation was the “last straw” in their relationship. After having a few drinks and while her husband was still live on the radio, she listed his Lotus Espirit Turbo for sale on eBay with a “Buy It Now” option of 77 cents. The description read: “I need to get rid of this car in the next two to three hours before my husband gets home to find it gone and all his belongings in the street.”

The car sold in five minutes. Mrs. Shaw said: ‘When he said he would leave me and the kids for Jodie Marsh, that was it for me. I am sick of him disrespecting this family for the sake of his act. The car is his pride and joy but the idiot put my name on the log book so I just sold it. I didn’t care about the money; I just wanted to get him back. There is no hope for reconciliation.’ A Kerrang spokesperson said the DJ was ‘absolutely gutted.’

I’m asking myself was he gutted about his wife, or the car? Lol

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Courtesy of M-Pics/freedigitalphotos.net

Wow! What a story *sniggers* 🙂

Have you ever been inspired by an item for sale on eBay?

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Let The Donkey See The Carrot!

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The donkey…..is me…..the carrot? 50,000 words! (Or rather a nice pretty winners certificate) 😉

It’s the 1st of November!!!!!! And you know what that means don’t you?

NANOWRIMO!!!!!

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Yep, today’s the day we all started writing…..and I’ve started Nano 2012 with a stinking cold (all say awwwww….I need sympathy lol) so I feel like complete shit, or rather, an old decrepit donkey that’s on it’s last legs *snigger* 😉

TYPICAL!

I’m going to try not to make every single post this month Nano orientated, so bear with me 🙂

So, I’ve done ok, managed to write 1695 words, so I’m pleased 🙂

Now, I bet you’re wondering what choice I made. Which WIP did I choose to use for Nano? Well, if you want to find out you’ll have to go visit Anushka’s blog Finding My Creature, where i am “Nano Creature Number 1” and will be revealing ALL!

How has Nano Day One been for you?

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