Insecure Writers Support Day – October

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

It’s Alex J Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group day. It seems to have come round so quickly this month lol.

Last month, you may remember, I posted a fairly positive post, still on a huge high from Swanwick. Unfortunately, it’s kinda worn off now lol 😉

This months IWSG post falls 12 days before I attend my first class at The Faber Academy *gulp* I was managing to stay positive, keeping a smile on my face if it was ever mentioned, and have spent the last month trying to convince myself I’m excited. Ok, yes I am excited, but I’m also as nervous as hell…..and as the days pass I just know it’s going to get worse 😦

I’ve never considered myself a confident person, have always struggled when it came to walking into a room of strangers. So Monday the 15th of October is lining up to be my worst nightmare! A room of 26 ~~people~~ writers, who I’ve never met before, who will all be sooooo much more talented than I am…..shit, what have I done! Lol 😦

There’s all that handshaking and remembering people’s names. The fear as to whether the tutor will like me (or take an instant dislike to me!) and bloody hell WHAT DO I WEAR????? I bet a big spot comes up on my nose the night before or I’ll arrive having spilt coffee down my front *sighs* 😦 Oh gawd, I’ll have to put my posh voice on too! Lol

photo courtesy of nokhoog_buchachon/freedigitalphotos.net

I’m feeling well out of my depth here. I don’t want them to think I’m a bored little house wife who thinks she might be able to write a book. I’ve not had anything published, I don’t have this huge long CV of all my “writing” achievements, and let’s face it, my work isn’t exactly what you’d call “literary” lol.

Yes, I know I got onto the course because they saw something in the piece I submitted, but I also have this little voice inside my head that says “they didn’t have many people apply this year” or “the quality of work that was submitted this year was dire” LMAO! I have to laugh or I’ll cry!

So, what to do? I could just curl up in a ball and cry? Shout and scream at the husband (“it’s all your fault, you persuaded me to apply why did I listen to you?”)? Fein an illness on the first day? Or i could just send them an e mail saying its all been a huge mistake?

Any coping strategies would be much appreciated I need help, before I have no finger nails left 😉

Getting into the writing zone [IWSG] (mithrilwisdom.com)
It’s Time For IWSG (writingreadingandlife.wordpress.com)

The Booker Award

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

The lovely Whitney over at A Serendipitous Happenstance and the lovely Anneli at Words From Anneli have both nominated me for The Booker Award 🙂

This is a new one I’ve only started seeing recently so I’ll give it a go 😉

The rules for the booker are to list your 5 favourite books:

1. Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard

2. Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

4. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

5. The Writers Book of Days by Judy Reeves

And then pass it on…..

Liz at Libro Full Time
Rebecca at Novel Girl
Ali at HeavelAli
Nicky Wells
Joanne Phillips

If I didn’t tag you, but you want to take part, please feel free 🙂 Tell me in the comments, what are your favourite books?

The Booker Award #writing #blogging #authors (rebeccahartwriting.wordpress.com)
The Booker Award (maryannemistretta.wordpress.com)
The Booker Award (susandanielseden.wordpress.com)
The Booker Award (magnoliabeginnings.org)
The Booker Award (thejottersjoint.com)

The To Do List 1st to 7th October

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Wow, it’s October, can you believe it!

It was a busy week last week, which culminated in the BookCrossing Uncon on Saturday 🙂

I took 15 books with me and came back with 6, so I consider that a result lol 😉

So last weeks list looked like this:
1. Finish Tim Lotts book. Done! really enjoyed it, and I’ve now started one of the other tutors books.

2. Investigate writing Pod Casts. Done! I can recommend Warwick Writing Challenges by Professor David Morley, although, he’s very English lol

3. Sort out books to take to Bookcrossing Uncon. Done! And been!

4. Place Nano order for ML stuff. Done!

5. Clear inbox! Done!

6. Update Blog Film Fest list. Done!

7. Finish at least 1 of the romance books. failed miserably 😦 I think I only read a couple of chapters. I was so intent on getting Tim Lotts book finished lol

8. Try to come up with Sorrento Sunrises black moment. Hmmmmm, semi done lol. I’m really struggling with this. A reason why she has to go back to England, gawd, it’s hard 😦

So a fairly productive week, although I’ve fallen behind by a couple of days with my prompts, which actually means I haven’t written anything since Friday *sharp intake of breath* so I’m beginning to get agitated lol.

This weeks list:

1. Catch up with prompts.

2. Finish one of the romance books.

3. Continue working on the Black Moment.

4. Finish Sabrina Broadbents book.

5. Outline some ideas I have for Blog Posts.

6. Check Nano forums…gear myself up!

7. Do some more work on outlining Sorrento Sunrise (for the Writing Group).

There, that should be quite manageable 🙂 I try not to pile too much on myself or nothing will get done 😉 But, my priority for today is to work on a little interview thing for Anushka (at Finding My Creature). When I’ve finished that, I can start on the list 🙂

So what are your writing plans for the week?

Six Sentence Sunday 30th September

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

This weeks six sentences come from a prompt I did earlier on in the week 🙂

Stuart had never really liked women, it all went back to his childhood, his mother. The contempt she felt for him was evident in her daily actions. The way she spoke to him, the way she looked at him.

As a young adult he was convinced that women were not to be trusted. That they would lie and cheat to get what they wanted. Numerous relationships he purposely sabotaged, incapable of loving, incapable of accepting love.

image curtesy of chrisroll/freedigitalimages

Awwwww, poor Stuart 😉

Ok, I need a happy ending for this one don’t I 🙂

Six Sentence Sunday (heatherj22.wordpress.com)

Bookcrossing

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

No writing prompt pic this week folks, because, today, I will be attending the Bookcrossing Unconventional in Colchester. I haven’t been to one of these events for about, oooooo, 6 years! Lol….where does the time go eh?

I’ve been a member since 2004, but I’m not as active as I used to be. Here’s my “bookshelf” 🙂

It’s something I feel passionate about, the idea of passing my books on, leaving them somewhere for someone to find. I’ve worked in charity shops, I know what happens to books that are donated, so I’d much rather dispose of my read books this way. Plus, it’s great fun, especially when you find out your book ended up on the other side of the world 🙂

So here are a selection of pics from previous Unconventions….. The highlight of the event is the “book table” lol. The idea is to take books with you for the table, and come home with less books than you took….it rarely happens 😉

I’ll let you know if I manage to come home with less books than I took with me 😉

So what do you do with your books once you’ve read them?

Bookcrossing: Good Book Karma (lucybirdbooks.wordpress.com)
Lost, Found and Read: BookCrossing as a Global Phenomenon (publishingperspectives.com)

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

My Guest post is now live!!!! 🙂

Please go and convince Sue to enrol on a course lol 😉

the long and the short of it

A huge thank you to Sue for inviting me onto her blog today… I don’t think she realised that when I’m enthusiastic about something, I can ramble for hours!

So Sue’s asked me to convince her of the merits of creative writing courses, classes and workshops. I’m hoping that by the time she reads this she’ll be enrolling on everything she comes across.

My first experience of ‘creative writing’ was a baptism of fire. I decided (through madness or stupidity, I still don’t know which) to accompany a friend to a course at our local Adult Education centre. I hadn’t written any fiction since leaving school, although I had been journal writing for several years. That was exactly 2 years ago this month, and it was one of the best decisions of my life! I’ll be honest; the course itself was a little boring. I found myself nodding off in several sessions! But somehow, through all the yawning something clicked. Something happened…

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The Long & The Short Of It – How Learning My Craft Has Changed My Life

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Today, I’m guesting over at Sue Howe’s blog The Long and The Short Of It 🙂

Sue asked me if I could do an article about writing workshops, classes and residential schools. I’m trying to convince her to come along to Swanwick you see 😉

So here’s the start of the article…..to read more you’ll have to nip over to Sue’s gaff 🙂

A huge thank you to Sue for inviting me onto her Blog today….I don’t think she realised that when I’m enthusiastic about something, I can ramble for hours!

So Sue’s asked me to convince her of the merits of creative writing courses, classes and workshops. I’m hoping that by the time she reads this she’ll be enrolling on everything she comes across!

My first experience of “creative writing” was a baptism of fire. I decided (through madness or stupidity, I still don’t know which) to accompany a friend to a course at our local Adult Education centre. I hadn’t written any fiction since leaving school (many, ahem, years ago) although I had been journal writing for several years. That was exactly 2 years ago this month, and it was one of the best decisions of my life! I’ll be honest; the course itself was a little boring. I found myself nodding off in several sessions! But somehow, through all the yawning something clicked. Something happened to me during that short course, and it’s been driving me on ever since.

Please pop over to Sues blog to read the rest of the article, and leave a comment. Tell her Sue, you have to go to Swanwick next year! 😉 Actually, thinking about it, you all have to come! 😉

My Writers Block – I Love It!

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I’ve found it, I’ve found it!

Ok, I guess I better explain 😉

Do any of you remember my post back in May about Writers Block ? Well, the interesting thing about that post was where Laurie commented about her “writers block” 🙂

I fell in love with this idea, and ever since I’ve had an eye out for something similar.

On my recent trip to Hay on Wye, I walked into a shop and there it was! A large piece of Welsh slate engraved with letters of the alphabet. The artist is Caitriona Cartwright who is a trained stone mason.

So I am now the proud owner of a “writers block” my “writers block” and it now sits with pride of place on my desk 🙂

I chose this particular design because I liked the way the letters looked like they were about to fall off the cube. It reminds me of how my mind feels sometimes lol. I have been picking it up and turning it over and over every time I need to think. It’s already become one of my favourite things 🙂

Is there anything you like to have around you when you write?

Top Commentors Award

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I’ve been nominated by Paula Acton for the Top Commentors Award 🙂 Thank you so much honey!

I’ve noticed recently that my top commenters change on a regular basis, at the moment, this is how it stands 🙂

LouAnn at On The Homefront And Beyond (I know you no longer accept awards honey but thank you for being on my list!)
CB at C B Wentworth
Sara atSara Flower
Sam at Him, Her and Us
Patsy Collins
Dianne Gray

So you guys must be my biggest fans? Lol 😉 Does that mean you’ll all buy my book? *flutters eyelashes and adopts puppy dog look*

Who are your biggest fans? Let me know and I’ll check them out 🙂

Priceless Gift

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

This is the piece I wrote in response to the photo prompt of the locket on Saturday 🙂

Hope you like it, and any suggestions, or comments are as always, gratefully received.

Sophia sat with her back pressed firmly against the chair and watched, with a blazing jealousy, the scene in front of her.

Did he know she would be here today? Was that why he’d brought that whore here? To make her jealous?

She lifted her coffee cup and took a sip, her eyes fixed on the table in the corner.

James looked good, but then he always did. He playfully flicked a strand of hair from his companions face. Sophia felt instantly sick. She thought about where that hand had been. The parts of her he had explored with his fingers only last week.

Feeling the anger rising in her chest, pushing hatred into her throat she took another mouthful of coffee. But it was no use, no amount of sweet hot liquid would be able to eradicate the bitter taste that had developed in her mouth.

Clutching the gold locket at her neck she glared at the slim attractive women who was now laughing. Willing her to turn around, but she was too engrossed in James. Too caught up in lust to be aware of anyone else in the cafe.

James fumbled in his jeans pocket as his guest rose to her feet. Sophia grabbed her bag and flung it over her shoulder, shifting to the edge of her seat.

The red head kissed James on the cheek and tottered on her six inch heels in the direction of the ladies. With head down, Sophia stood, and followed her into the toilets.

Oh come on, you know I don’t do happy? Did you really expect anything else? Lol 😉

In my mind I was thinking along the lines that Sophia is one of those women who James can pick up and put down whenever he wants, a shag buddy, but in his eyes, nothing more. She’s not slim and attractive, but she is available. Lets face it, Sophia is in love with him, and in her eyes, its not his fault, its all these gorgeous women who keep throwing themselves at him. James bought her the locket as a gift out of guilt, Sophia thinks that it means they have a future, if only these other women would leave him alone. But the question is……

What does she intend to do in the toilets? 😉