I Am A Writer

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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 🙂

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……

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”?

Adele Parks Envy

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Sorry, no characterisation for the A-Z Challenge today, I have a day off lol

I went to a talk given by Adele Parks recently and I am now, officially suffering “Adele Parks Envy” lol. Yep, she’s tall, slim, attractive, finds it easy to engage an audience, funny and has written 11 books, all of which have been best sellers! What’s not to envy? Lol *pouts* 😉

Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed her talk 🙂

Someone in the audience asked her if she plans her novels. She replied by saying yes, but that she knew plenty of successful writers who don’t. She went on to say that when she is reading a novel she can actually tell if it’s been planned or not, because the middle tends to lose its way a bit. Things happen that often don’t fit in with the rest of the story.

Hmmmmm, I’m not sure that’s entirely true, but, I see her point.

Talking about her working day, she said that she looks on being a writer like any other job. Every morning, she goes to her office, sits at her desk, and works. Even if she’s not in the mood. If the words don’t come for the novel she’ll do some characterisation, or catch up with work related e mails. But no matter how she feels, she’ll still show up to that desk. (Ohhhh, if only I had a desk, let alone an office!).

She talked a lot about characterisation (at this stage my ears pricked up) and about how much work she will do on the characters. Their star signs, their background, their likes and dislikes, tiny little details that will never make it into the book, but allow her to know her characters inside and out. Yep, I know that one, and it’s what I try to do with all my characters (I found myself nodding lol).

The one piece of advice I will definitely be taking away with me is that she said when she starts to “plan” the next novel she comes up with the characters first, then she comes up with a dilemma, then she comes up with the ending, how it’s all going to pan out…..only then will she start writing the story.

This is where I completely fall down *slump*……endings *shudders* and is why my novel (65,000 words done in November 2010 for Nano) is still unfinished.

I guess we all have something we don’t feel confident about, something that we don’t think we’re good at or dread doing when it comes to writing. Mine is definitely endings. I love dialogue (and have been told I’m good at it) and I love characterisation (you can all be the judge as to whether I’m any good at that) but endings and tying it all up so that it’s satisfactory? 😦

So what do you struggle with? What do you feel you fall down on? Or are you confident with all aspects of your writing? 🙂

So what did I learn?
(A) I need a desk and an office lol.
(B) I need to plan a bit more, especially my endings.
and
(C) I will never be Adele Parks…..but there’s no harm in dreaming 😉

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

A feature on my writing tutor, sorry for 2 posts today, but it just had to be done….. 🙂

the long and the short of it

If someone had told me that one day I’d be writing for a living and running a very successful writing school I’d have laughed in their face. It had taken redundancy and then the death of my father for me to realise I had to do something about my dream of being a writer. Up until then I had scribbled short stories for my own enjoyment and written copy for my breed club magazine. I wasn’t even sure I had it in me to be a published writer and was frightened that my dream would fail. It was a very nervous me that ventured into an adult education class in 1998 after first checking that I wouldn’t have to stand up and read my work out loud. Within one term I was eager to learn more, I was devouring writing magazines, sending off submissions and entering competitions. I even started…

View original post 1,006 more words

M is for…..

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Oh dear, poor Megan really needs some help. Should her aunt step in? Or her mum come back? Perhaps her father should finally get a grip and actually actively help her, or am I being too preachy? You can’t save someone unless they want to be saved…..

I’m sorry if the last couple of characters have been a bit depressing, unfortunately that’s real life 😦 But I promise they’ll be a happier one tomorrow 🙂

I didn’t manage to get the sorrow prompt done yesterday. I’ve been in a funny mood, just wanted to chill, so I’ll catch up today when I do write about “a history of whispers” (after Paul Simon).

L is for…..

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

I think Liam’s story is so sad, and probably true of so many of the homeless in London.So where do we go from here? Do I give him a happy ending? I’d like to think that his girlfriend and parents are looking for him. He wasn’t speeding, it was a horrible accident and in his absence he has been exonerated of all charges. A witness came forward to say there was nothing he could have done. But even knowing that, would the guilt still be too much to live with?

I had a writing session this morning with Elizabeth Haynes which resulted in the completion of a 2600 word short story and I got the last 2 prompts done that I’d got behind with. Todays prompt is write about a passing sorrow so that’s more doom and gloom lol

K is for…..

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Awwwww, I just want to give Kimberly a huge hug 🙂 any ideas on where Kimberley could be going in life? Perhaps she wins the Turner Prize? Or ends up having panic attacks? And will the boyfriend ever get a blooming job!!!!!

I didn’t manage yesterday’s prompt and I apologise if there are any spelling mistakes in this post, the last 24 hours have been manic! Lol Today’s prompt is “After the final no…..” after Wallace Stevens who I’d never heard of til today 😦

J is for…..

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

So that’s Jackson 🙂 what can his partner do to make him believe he’s loved and wanted?

Today’s prompt about someone losing their memory ended up as the start of a story about a woman who was pulled from the ocean and she can only remember her 5th birthday. Tomorrows prompt is write about a place on a map but gawd knows when I’ll get it done, I’m going out for the day 🙂

I is for…..

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Boy, I do feel sorry for poor Ivy, and I can definitely relate to how she feels. do you think if she gets a job it will boost her confidence and make her feel stronger?

Yesterdays prompt about arriving on a Saturday was very inspiring. I ended up writing 6 pages of a story set in the offices of a film agent. One of his clients is found dead in the lift! Lol. Today’s prompt is she lost all memory. I hope I’m as inspired today 😉

H is for…..

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Before I tell you all about Harry, let me point you in the direction of a great resource 🙂 Some of my more observant regular readers will have noticed a new little box/picture/link thing on the right. You haven’t? Why, go look then!!!! The Bookshelf Muse is a great place for character junkies like myself…I shall be using their site, a lot….and I’m highly recommending it 🙂

Ok, so back to…..

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

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Awwww, poor Harry, seems like a nice bloke…..so what can he do to get himself a girlfriend?

Today’s prompt about small regrets turned into a full 500 word story about a woman and her grandmothers rug 😉 Today’s prompt is arriving on Saturday which could be interesting 🙂

Creativity Kick Up The…..

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

A break from the A-Z Challenge lol. I’m enjoying it, but, at the same time I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself for this month, especially as I have a million and one other writing things that need doing 😉

I’m wondering what I will do with these 26 people at the end of April. So my May challenge may be to connect them all (daisy chain style) a bit like Jonathan Kemp’s 26 or 253 by Geoff Ryman 🙂

I attended a Writing Workshop with Vanessa Gebbie recently where we played a game called “Writing Cricket” which was so much fun!

You’ll need to do it in a group or with at least one other person (who isn’t writing). We started writing with an initial prompt, then, Vanessa called out random words which we had to use in our story.

We began with out of the shadows then every 2 or 3 minutes, she called out the following list of words:

vitamins
leathery
Spanish
crowds
elderly
rust
lemon
partial
jealous
marshmallow
pebble
solid
moth
gift

You can use variations on those words, ie leather, partially or jealousy. The whole exercise took 20 minutes and although I ended up with pins and needles in my hand, I also ended up with a pretty good scene of a story, about a guy having a argument with his girlfriend.

Trying to fit the word “lemon” suddenly thrown at me when my character was sitting on a beach at midnight was a challenge I can tell you lol

This is definitely an exercise I will be trying to convince my writing group to adopt 🙂

Vanessa was lovely, so i just had to buy her books 🙂

I’m attending another one if her Workshops on the 21st of April, so I’m looking forward to that 🙂

Soooo, today’s prompt about a candlelight vigil turned into the start of a story about a woman who’s husband died by a tree and there are people there holding a vigil. I’ve not quite decided yet what happened to him, but whatever it is, his wife holds the community responsible. Today’s prompt is write about small regrets which shouldn’t be too hard now should it 😉