I Like…..

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

No “fiction” post today, as I didn’t post a prompt pic on Saturday.

When Ayesha Schroeder’s blog post hit my inbox recently I was feeling a bit glum lol. Now don’t ask me why, just, I dunno, a bit bleugh if you know what I mean.

Was it because I still have no WIP?

Was it because I can’t seem to focus?

Orrrrrr….was it because the dieting was a complete nightmare? *slumps and reaches for the chocolate*

I dunno, but reading Ayesha’s post made me smile, big time and I am happy to take up the request to follow her lead. That got me thinking. Could I write a book that includes all of my favourite things? Wouldn’t that be cool 🙂 So my list is things I like, that I’d love to incorporate into one of my novels.

I Like…..

Ghost Story type films
Cake
Freshly laundered sheets
Beaches Snap Ayesha

(Brighton)
Cats Snap again lol

(my 2 babies always keep me company when I’m writing)
Christmas, Birthdays, Mothers Day, Valentines Day…..any special event really lol
Eating Out in fancy restaurants
Visiting art galleries and museums
Curling up on the sofa with a latte and a good book
Romantic gestures

The smell the rain leaves when it falls on a summer day
The feel of grass on my bare feet
Flicking through old notebooks

(A page from one of my old journals, including a pic of me when I was 14 lol)
A cool breeze on a hot day
Soft fluffy slippers

Soooo, how am I going to incorporate all that into a novel? Lol….yeah, perhaps not *goes off to make notes*

So….What do you like? 🙂

The To Do List 20th to 26th August

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I should really go back to the last to do list, and see what I managed to achieve….but, what’s the point in beating myself up right? It was 2 weeks ago now lol.

My week at Swanwick taught me lots, but the main thing I came away thinking was that I need to be more focused lol. Yeah yeah, I knew that anyway, but, being surrounded by dedicated published writers made me realise that if I want to achieve my dreams, I really need to pull my finger out 🙂

So…..

1. Finish my current read. That should be easy as I’m really enjoying it.
2. Go through all my Swanwick notes and look up web sites, books, authors etc, who were recommended to me. This will probably take me a couple of days! Lol
3. E mail people I said I would at Swanwick.
4. Catch up with my prompts.
5. Start implementing the desk idea. Ahhhhh, now this is exciting 🙂
6. Start making notes on my M & B novel. 😉

There, that should be pretty achievable ha ha ha!

what are you up to this week?

Being Stewardly – Swanwick Day Three

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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! 🙂

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?

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.

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”

Falling into bed at 00.40….Zzzzzzzzzz

Day of Rest? – Swanwick Day Two

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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.

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

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

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

And now…..I need sleep lol

I’m Off Again…..

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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 😦

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

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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 🙂

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

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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.

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?

The To Do List 6th to 12th August

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Firstly, thank you so much, to everyone who commented, sympathised and generally encouraged on my post last Wednesday for the IWSG Day. I really appreciate it, and it’s given me much to think about over the last few days 🙂

And secondly, my feet are back to normal!!!!! YAY! So no Drs for me today *beams*

Sooooo, how did I do?

1. Sort out the piles of stuff on my table. It’s an absolute mess now that I’ve spread out all the stuff I brought back from Caerleon lol DONE!

2. Go through my Caerleon notes. I made lots of notes in Kate Walkers class, so I need to go through them, see if they actually make sense and follow up on some of the authors she recommended. DONE!

3. Read for at least 1 hour every day. I really need to stick to this. Oh, umm, well I would say I kind of failed, I missed one day! 😉

4. Catch up with my prompts. I’m a couple of days behind, mainly because I’m not feeling too great (the whole feet thing is getting me down). DONE! All up to date 🙂

5. Sort out a short story to send to Linda Lewis and send it. Linda is doing a critique for me at Swanwick next month. DONE!

6. Catch up with Blogs. I’ve fallen a bit behind DONE! But something tells me this is going to be a regular occurrence lol

7. Write my door piece. lol DONE!

Well that wasn’t too bad was it 🙂

A couple of weeks ago I bought I diary. I was using those “things to do lists” but I kept losing them in my piles lol. So now, it’s all in one little book 🙂

As I’m off to Swanwick on Saturday, the to do list will be rather small this week…..

1. Write my “Powder Room” prompt.

2. Finish current read (Kate Walker) and start something else.

3. Start seriously thinking about which ‘novel’ idea I’ll be doing for Nano and make some notes.

4. Sort out all my writing stuff to take to Swanwick. Should I start a new notebook? Keep it all in one place?

5. Catch up with my journal.

Will be doing my prompts every day, naturally, don’t want to end up behind, which I’m sure will happen next week lol and still try to read for an hour every day 🙂

There, that shouldn’t be too taxing!

What are your plans for this week?

The To Do List 30th July to 5th August (the-view-outside.com)

Insecure Writers Support Day August

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

It’s that time of the month again 😉 Nooooo, not that time of the month, this time……

I can safely say that I am fully over deciding to bin the WIP, well, it’s the previous WIP now isn’t it? Lol 😉

So what am I feeling insecure about this month? Everything……

My regular readers will know I was trying to write a pocket novel recently, and it’s because of that that I decided to attend Kate Walkers Introduction to Romance course at Caerleon.

Well, what an eye opener! I don’t really know what I thought a Mills & Boon novel was but, I now know its right up my street 🙂

I love doing characters and I love emotional conflict. And that’s basically what a Mills & Boon Modern romance is. So guess what the plan is? Yep, that’s right, I want to try my hand at writing a Mills & Boon Romance! 😉

Kate was very inspiring. She’s written 60 books and made me feel that yes, I can do it, well, that’s how I felt at the end of every session….that is, until I got home lol.

Now I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, a bit, I dunno, useless? Ha ha ha 🙂 Seriously, I’m doubting that I have even the tiniest ounce of writing talent. At this current moment I’m thinking there’s no way I could ever match Kate Walkers writing abilities.

Caerleon was excellent, being surrounded by all those writers. But, sometimes, when I’m at those events I feel alienated, and that I haven’t got a hope in hell of being published *deep sigh*

So am I just kidding myself? Will I ever have the stamina, determination, and talent to match Kate Walker? This is a major self pity post, I know lol. I’m not looking for sympathy, and I know I’m not alone in feeling like this…..but sometimes, it’s just good to wallow 😉

So what are you feeling insecure about today?

Insecure Writers Day – July (the-view-outside.com)

Behind The Door

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Back to the normal schedule today folks 🙂

I took this picture in Caerleon, it’s actually the door to the flat I shared with 4 other lovely ladies (they know who they are) and I just love the colour 🙂