I’m feeling SOOOO Inspired! – Swanwick Day Five

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Yesterday was the third class with Linda Lewis on short story writing. I struggled with my homework so Linda scribbled my “words” on her flip chart and then the rest of the class bombarded me with ideas on a story lol. Thing is, I didn’t realise that I didn’t have to use all the words 😉

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Then it was on to Sharon Kendricks course…..and at this present moment, all I seem capable of saying is wow! Lol *goes off to have a cappuccino and a cigarette to recover*

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Ok, where do I start 😉

Sharon gave us a 12 chapter break down of a Mills & Boon book, so that we would know approximately where things are suppose to/should happen. It made it look easy, but, I know that’s not the case lol. We (as in, the class) came up with a hero, a heroine, back story and established that it was a “secret baby” story set in Rome and London. Brilliant. So interesting and informative, and Sharon is a great tutor. She had us laughing all the way through her classes 🙂

It’s probably been the highlight of my week, and now, I’m determined to try my hand 🙂

Late afternoon was spent in my room, trying to catch up with some writing, whilst outside it was torrential rain 😦

The speaker last night was the highly acclaimed David Nobbs who’s anecdotes and memories had most of the delegates roaring with laughter.

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A quick drink in the bar and then it was time to hand my raffle tickets in….I sold 417 tickets at a quid each, so I’m pleased with that 🙂

And my final news of the day…… I’ve joined Twitter ha ha ha! I blame Della Galton & Peter Jones 😉
My Twitter name is @vikkithomp lol. I did want to use the blog name but decided against it. So if you want to follow me, lol, please 🙂

Are you on Twitter?

All E’ed Out – Swanwick Day Four

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I can’t believe I forgot to tell you who our speaker was yesterday….shocking! Seee, brain dead already and it’s only day four *snigger*

Our speaker was the lovely Alan Samson from Orion Books. His talk was very interesting, and my favourite quote? “The book belongs to the author. An editor should be invisible.” which was said by Max Perkins, who is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest literary editor ever.

So now I’ve got that out the way, what have I been up to?

I spent the early morning, writing, in my usual spot 😉

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Then after breakfast it was a talk from Rebecca Woodhead which was all about E Publishing. Fascinating stuff, in which she told us the secrets of her success, one of which is about building your “tribe” lol. What that actually means is that you need to build up your loyal following.

After a break for tea it was “Ask the E Panel”. A Q and A session with Alan Samson, Rebecca Woodhead, Jan Davison and Jonathan Telfer (both from Writing Magazine).

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One of our delegates asked the question “If you’ve already published an EBook, does that ruin your chances of getting a traditional publisher and agent?” The panel were in full agreement with their response, and the answer was a definite NO and that, in most cases, it actually enhances your chances, especially if the EBook sells well and you have good reviews! OOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 🙂 I kinda thought that would be the case, but it was great to hear from this well respected group. Alan Samson added that he would never take an existing eBook that had been published elsewhere. So remember that people. If you want to go down the traditional route, please don’t post your WIP’s on your blog 🙂

We had the afternoon off, so I spent it catching up with online stuff, reading my book and doing some writing. I had a wander around the beautiful Lakes in the sunshine and actually managed to find a bench in the shade.

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The evening speaker was Sharon Kendrick who is a Mills & Boon writer. She gave a thoroughly entertaining speech and i’ll be attending her course today 🙂

The rest of the evening was spent watching plays that were written by, directed by, and starring my fellow delegates. Great stuff! And Simon Hall as the Song Police got my vote 😉

So my question today, dear reader, is…..will you be going down the EBook route, in the hopes that it will give you a publishing deal? I still can’t make up my mind lol 😉

Being Stewardly – Swanwick Day Three

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I decided yesterday morning, whilst eating breakfast, that I would skip some lessons that day. I really valued everything I learnt here last year, but, I found myself utterly exhausted and completely written out by the end if the week.

Soooooo, I had a fairly lazy morning. When I say lazy, I don’t mean laying on my bed knapping, I mean writing, real writing (fiction from my prompts) oh, and selling raffle tickets….no, that should be attempting to sell raffle tickets lol (one of my Stewardly duties).

Me and Jayne have managed to flog approx 280 tickets! 🙂

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The prize? A free place at the school next year!!!! 🙂

Other Stewardly duties today have been to point a delegate in the direction of the Lake, give another some change, help a lady who was locked out of her accommodation block, and direct people to various classrooms and halls lol

I did go to Linda’s class, and we got some homework *gulp* I’m still trying to come up with a short story based on this lot 😉 Any ideas guys?

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The last “class” of the day was Twitter vs Facebook with Della Galton and Peter Jones which was a lively debate on which social media network is best.

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The result at the end when the audience voted? 16-16 lol….a complete draw!!!!!

We then discussed which was better for authors, and then the vote went 12 to Facebook, 21 to Twitter. What would you vote for?

The evening was spent trying to sell more raffle tickets and attending the Buskers night, arranged by Mark 🙂 Here are our “Buskers”

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Falling into bed at 00.40….Zzzzzzzzzz

Day of Rest? – Swanwick Day Two

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Ha ha ha, yeah right 😉

Up and ready to go at 7am yesterday morning, but it did give me the opportunity to do some writing on a bench outside in the morning sunshine 🙂

After breakfast it was off to my first course, which was Characterisation with Steve Hartley (the children’s author who was the speaker last night). A great session where Steve told us all about the Behaviour Model which is based on Carl Jung. If you follow the system it helps you focus on keeping your characters behaviour consistent throughout your novel. Very useful!!!!
I know this photo is gunna look really confusing but you need to know the whole system for it to make any sense.

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After tea on the lawn it was off to the Short Story writing class with Linda Lewis who was as amusing and interesting as ever 🙂

I had my one to one with Linda where she critiqued a short story for me. She pointed out where I was going wrong and we discussed my thoughts about giving up short story writing. She’s given me a lot to think about, so I’ll wait til I get home before I make a decision and look into some of the advice Linda gave me.

After a roast beef lunch it was off to Show and Tell with Roz Southey which was an excellent workshop, but, I think I came out even more confused than when I went in! Lol. For me, it’s one of the hardest parts of writing 😦

In the evening, our speaker was Stephen Leo Davis the author and screenwriter. A very interesting man who told us about his experiences of writing for the TV and the film industry over the last 38 years. Two things he said that I took away from the talk….

1. There are no professional tips (ie shortcuts)
2. Learn how to control the fear of failure

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My evening was rounded off by watching the closing ceremony of the Olympics in the bar

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Do you struggle with show and tell or is it just me? 😉

And now…..I need sleep lol

Arriving at Swanwick -Day One

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After leaving home at an ungodly hour this morning we made good time up the M1 and arrived bright eyed and bushey tailed (kind of) at The Hayes just before 12….where we were given our badges *snigger*

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Yep, I’ll be acting as a Steward all week, helping the newbies 🙂 So far today I’ve had to sort out 2 people being locked out of their rooms and find a lady a TV….no mean feet I might add in a conference centre where there doesn’t appear to be any TV’s lol

Jayne and I were in charge of allocating rooms to people staying in the main house. It was good fun, but hard work as neither of us had ever stayed in that part of the centre!

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Jayne being very efficient 🙂

Lunch was good, as was dinner, so I’d already had 2 desserts by the end of the day *gulp* 😉

After the Chairmans Welcome and dinner, it was on to the main speaker. Children’s author Steve Hartley who me and Jayne had already met when he arrived just after lunch. We couldn’t find his room number so at one stage we thought he would have to sleep in his car 😉 Nooooo, it wouldn’t have come to that 😉

His talk, entitled “Things I know now that I wish I knew then” was all about how it took him 15 years to get published. He gave us a list of rules:

1. Be professional
2. Polish your MS until it shines so much you need sunglasses to read it
3. Find your voice
4. Get lucky…do everything you can to increase your chances

An interesting exercise he suggested was to try to sum up your “voice” in a sentence. WOAH! I don’t even know where to start with that one, but I will try 🙂

His talk finished with fitting 11 of our audience into a huge pair of knickers….don’t ask! 😉

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After that we found ourselves in the bar with Peter Jones and Della Galton discussing diets lol. Very appropriate after the food we’d put away today 😉

So then, it was room, fluffy slippers and a cup of tea 🙂 Which is exactly how I shall be starting this day 🙂

Could you describe your “voice” in a sentence?

I’m Off Again…..

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This time, to Swanwick 🙂

As you read this I’ll be on my way up the motorway in the direction of Derby.

So the blogging schedule will be out the window for another week lol. Of course, I’ll be doing daily updates, but, yet again, I’ll be a bit behind with your blogs 😦

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So what am I looking forward to?

Keeping Up Appearances with Steve Hartley How to keep your characters in character.

Short Story Success with Linda Lewis The main course I’m enrolled on.

Show Not Tell with Roz Southey

Getting an Agent with Meg Davis

Twitter or Facebook with Peter Jones & Della Galton

How to Write Romance with Sharon Kendrick

Historical Sagas with Tricia Kitchin

Writing Erotica with Della Galton

The evening speaker every night, walking round the lake at 6am in the morning, chatting to the other smokers in the smoking tent, the performances from the scriptwriters, the buskers night and catching up with people I haven’t seen for a year.

Last year, when I got home I had to go straight to bed, I was exhausted! So looking at this years programme I’m sure I’ll have to do the same again lol

Now where did I put that insect repellent?

Writing Workshop With Sue Moorcroft

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I recently attended a Short Story Writing Workshop with Sue Moorcroft

What a great day 🙂 Sue is an excellent teacher!

As per usual, you know me, I made lots of notes 🙂

Sue had lots of interesting tips for writing short stories for magazines, so if that is something you’d like to explore, I can highly recommend Sue’s book. But it’s not just for short stories. Sue has published several full length novels too 🙂

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One of the tips she gave us that I thought was really helpful was the 10 Words/Phrases This really helps with writing description, and if you incorporate those actual words into your story, hopefully, the reader will be more able to picture what you’re describing. Personally, I think it is great for getting to know my characters. I can split it up into 10 personality traits, or 10 physical features. It’s really helping me focus on what my characters look like 🙂

Think of 10 words or phrases that relate to your character or your setting. So, for example, when I picture my heroine, Kate, these are the words that immediately come to mind:

Pale skinned
Plain
Clumsy
Chestnut hair
Single
Smartly dressed (suit)
Stubborn
Dog owner
Believes in romance
Friendly

Sue is teaching a writing course in Italy next year, and I’m so tempted to go, no, more than tempted, I really want to go 🙂 Arte Umbria are doing Creative Writing courses next year, the setting, a country house set in 220 acres of the Umbrian Hills near Tuscany *wistful sigh* 🙂

So, dear reader, should I go to Italy? lol 😉 and anyone fancy joining me? 😉

Introducing The Heroine

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As most of you know (those who have been following me for a while now) I have a thing about characters lol. I do a lot of character sketches. It goes back to my childhood, playing with dolls and dolls houses. I just love making up life stories for people 🙂

Sooooo, back in June I embarked on a Pocket Novel course, and my first step was to come up with a heroine. Please let me introduce you to Kate, the heroine of our story……

Kate has just turned 30. She has shoulder length chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes. A size 12/14 but constantly battling with her weight, she has a mole on her cheek and pale skin that easily burns. Most at home in jeans which she wears with pumps, she can be “girly” when required and enjoys dressing up for nights out with her girlfriend.

Single, she is still looking for Mr Right, but finds it hard to trust men after being hurt badly by an ex (who cheated on her). She works as a secretary in a large office in town (which bores her rigid) and at the weekends enjoys long walks with her dog. She lives with her dog Buster in a large Victorian house that has been converted into flats. Whilst she’s at work, the lady below, Mrs Peel has Buster.

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Kind and thoughtful, she loves animals and has volunteered at the local Shelter. She bites her nails and suffers from confidence issues. An only child to divorced parents she has a good relationship with her mum. She rarely sees her dad, especially now he has a new girlfriend who is her age. She has a best friend Francesca, who she’s known since school, they work in the same company.

During her parents bitter divorce she spent a lot of time with her grandparents. Sadly her grandfather is now dead but she visits her grandmother every week without fail, in the sheltered housing accommodation she now lives in. Her hobbies are reading (mainly romance) and dancing. She likes to go to the local clubs on a Saturday night and goes to Salsa dancing classes when she can be bothered. Her gym membership is rarely used.

Often described as stubborn, she can be reluctant to change her mind after she’s made a decision about something, or assumption about someone. She dreams of one day having a husband who dotes on her and 2 children. She loves children and is beginning to worry that this may never happen.

So that’s Kate. I need her to be likeable, sooooo dear reader Do you like her? and is there anything else you’d like to know about her?

I’m It Again lol

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I’ve been tagged in a game of Blog Tag by the lovely Sandra over at Another 12 Novels in 12 Months 🙂

The rules are:
I must post the rules
I must answer the questions the tagger listed for me
I must create (or reuse) 11 questions for those I tag
I must tag 11 people
I must let them know they’ve been tagged

Sandra’s questions are:

1. If you could re-live a moment in your life when would you choose and why?
Ooooo, ummmmm, there are lots….because I know that if I’d made different decisions about certain things I may have prevented some not so nice things happening, if you know what I mean 😉 if I could relive one moment, just for the pleasure of it (not to change it) it would be my wedding day….I was so happy….I’d love to feel like that again…so many hopes and dreams 🙂

2. What is your first happiest memory?
Bloody hell these questions are deep lol….probably the Christmas I got my first dolls house.

3. If you could have dinner with 3 dead historical figures who would you choose?
Oscar Wilde, Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill…. Now wouldn’t that be a party lol.

4. After a long, difficult day, what is your favourite way to unwind?
A cup of tea and a film 🙂

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5. What is your favourite singer/band to listen to while writing?
I don’t listen to music when I’m writing, in fact, I only tend to listen to music in my car…my faves are Oasis, Lostprophets and Linkin Park, in that order.

6. If you sold your novel for 100,000 (dollar/Euro/Pound/etc.) what would you do with your advance? I would use half to pay off some of my mortgage and the rest I’d use to do the house up.

7. What did you want to be when you were little?
An architect LMAO!

8. What is one thing that you need with you when you write (on your desk, on your body, etc.)? a good selection of pens and my notebook beside me 🙂

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9. Would you rather write using a computer, typewriter or pen and paper and why? Pen and paper definitely. Not sure why, there’s just something magical about having a pen in your hand 🙂

10. What are 3 things that invariably make you smile?
My pets, love letters/notes and a new notebook.

11. What does your favourite colour remind you of?
My fave colours are red and purple. Red reminds me of passion and love and purple kind of feels comforting 🙂

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So as I’m a rule breaker I’m just gunna say that I tag EVERYONE who follows me! I love getting to know you guys, so if you haven’t already taken part, please do 🙂

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On The Pull

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Nooooo, not me, I’m a married women…..but then so is she 😉

This is the piece I wrote that was inspired by the “powder room” photo on Saturday 🙂 In first draft, I’m still experimenting with first person POV.

“Quick, hold the door and keep watch.”

“But Sara, I can’t physically stop people coming in?”

“Yes you can, go on, stand in front of the door.”

I rested my weight against the door and tried to focus my attention on the flock wallpaper rather than my friend, stripping down to her bra and knickers.

“I don’t know why we have to go through this every time. You looked fine.” I muttered under my breath.

Sara laughed as she pulled up the scarlet Lycra mini dress.

“Oh please, you know if Dave saw me going out like this he’d kill me!”

I had to admit she was right. Sara’s husband was possessive. She was only allowed to see me once a month and as far as he was concerned you didn’t need to dress up for Bingo. But then, he didn’t know that we never actually went.

Sara folded her jeans and T shirt and placed them in her bag. She was already wearing high heels, Dave loved her in stilettos.

“Right, all done, just the makeup.” She twirled “How do I look?”

I wanted to say like a whore, but I bit my tongue. It wouldn’t have worried her anyway, that was the look she wanted.

“Great, very sexy.” Well, it was partly true.

She quickly applied some more makeup and pouted her blood red lips.

“Now, just a little something to get me in the mood.” She winked and laid a small mirror on the shelf above the sink. I bowed my head and listened to her snorting.

“Do you have to do that in a place like this?”

“Oh, stop being such an old woman Chlo. Right, let’s go get em.” She shrieked with laughter and as she leaned over my shoulder to the door handle, she paused. “and don’t forget, if I pull, I’ve stayed at yours tonight.”

I smiled, I knew the drill.

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Hmmmmm, not too sure where that one is going. Perhaps tonight, Chloe will tell Dave the truth?

I’m open to suggestions?