I took today’s photo prompt at The Jersey Museum last week. Upstairs in the museum was a sequence of rooms, furnished and decorated as a Victorian family’s home. But, each room is part of an art installation by Karen Le Roy Harris and Vicky Hinault in an exhibition called The Past Unravels.
This particular room is called “Bound To Serve – Elizabeth Mourant’s Bedroom”
I’ll share what it inspired for me on Tuesday 🙂
to follow on from the previous post…..
Since the first of January I have been using The Writers Book Of Days by Judy Reeves to encourage me to write every day. It’s been hard at times, to the point where I’ve wanted to give up, but I haven’t, and I’m determined to see it through until the 31st of December.
As I’m kind of half way in the book (and because Judy provides a checklist), I thought I’d do the exercise How Can I Tell If My Writing Is Improving here on my blog
Soooo, after 6 months of daily prompts, let’s see shall we….. PART 2
You can find Part 1 HERE
11. Do I layer my writing with sensory images, including smells, sounds and textures. Crafting tasted emotions, heard colours and hence, creating mood?
Oh definitely, but I’m not a huge fan of synesthesia. I’d love to fill my work with it, but, I dunno, that just wouldn’t be me lol
12. Have I learnt not to overwrite, or be stingy with words?
Ha ha ha, I don’t think I could ever be accused of overwriting lol
13. Have I expanded my language, learned new words?
Hmmmm, not really. I write as I talk. So, usually, if it’s a word I wouldn’t use in real life, you wouldn’t find it in my writing, unless it’s in dialogue and the character speaks using long words that no one understands 😉
14. Have I found my voice?
Oh, a resounding YES but I’m not sure whether that’s been totally down to the daily prompts. I think it’s helped, but also blogging daily has helped too.
15. Do I save the strongest word for the last sentence without the sentence sounding false?
I’m aware of this tip, but I often forgot it *hits fore head with palm* so I must make more of an effort.
16. Have I stopped rushing through to get to the end and now take my time, lingering and savouring, letting the tension build?
Sometimes, I think, no, oh I dunno, sometimes I have to rush if I haven’t got much time. It really depends on how inspiring I find the prompt lol
17. Do I take more risks?
Ha ha ha, well, I have been writing more 1st person pieces. I was so scared of it a few months ago. I thought that surely, each time I wrote in 1st person it would sound the same. But hubby has said he can tell a difference now….go me! Lol
18. Have I stopped pulling punches?
Not really sure I understand this question lol. If it means what I think it means, I still avoid certain subjects in depth because I find them too emotional to write about.
19. Have I eliminated generalities, write in specifics?
I think so lol
20. Am I willing to experiment, to try out, go to unknown places in my writing?
No, not exactly, but I would like to. I would lie to experiment with other genres but I’m not too sure where to start 😦
Sooooo, the second lot of questions didn’t have as many positive answers as the first lot, but I’m pleased over all 🙂
A HUGE thank you to Judy Reeves for certainly enriching my writing life. The book has been an incredible help, it really has. I can’t wait to start work on her other stuff 🙂
Exciting!!!!! 🙂
Here’s a difficult question for you….. what’s been the most valuable thing you’ve learnt that has improved your writing? For me it has to be the use of all your senses. When I first started writing I didn’t even think about smell or sound *blushes* 😉
Wellll…. I’M BACK 🙂 At home that is. I had a lovely week away, and my sincere apologies for not keeping on top of all your posts, I tried my best, but did a lot of “liking” and not much commenting lol
Normal service will now be resumed….So here’s a strange prompt for you……
Hmmmmm, I’m finding this one hard because I know exactly who’s feet they are and it’s clouding my brain lol.
Look forward to hearing your ideas 🙂 I’ll post mine on Tuesday 🙂
Today’s picture is one I took last year…
So who’s celebrating what?
Looking forward to hearing your ideas….will share mine on Tuesday 🙂
Apologies to my non UK readers who don’t recognise the title of this post. It’s in reference to the TV ads we have here in the UK for Cadburys Cream Eggs. Every different advert asks at the end, “How Do You Eat Yours?” as everyone eats their Cadburys Egg differently….apparently lol.
Anyway, back to the post lol
Writing prompts…..I love them, but I know some people don’t. I know that if I’m struggling, I can always rely on a prompt to get those creative juices flowing. Many of my followers will know that I’ve been doing a prompt a day since the 1st January, and it has turned me into a bit of a preacher lol. I cant help it, it’s something I’m quite passionate about. Even when I’m really not feeling it (regarding my WIP) I still write every day…..and it’s the prompts that have kept me going. Without them, when I’m feeling really down on myself, I could quite easily go weeks without writing a word 😦
Way back in February, I wrote a post Prompts, Good or Bad? because I was beginning to get the distinct impression that most people don’t like them. almost like, if you use them, well, you obviously can’t think for yourself.
So, as I’m a bit anal *coughs* I find myself collecting ideas to use as writing prompts. I recently stumbled across this idea from Amanda Webster on her Write On The World blog. Wow, that’s a goooood one. I’m really loving that idea.
Here are some of my recently used prompts:
From Judy Reeves
The colour of midnight
“That night I was happy”
It shimmers in the distance
What waits at the top of the stairs
I tend to mainly use photos (that I’ve taken or that I’ve stumbled across in magazines) and specific writing prompts. But, I’m interested to hear……tell me what method of writing prompts do you use? That is, if you use them….and if you don’t, to settle my nosey streak, why not?
By the way…..how would you feel about me posting some of my prompts?
Today’s picture is another drawing by Martin Karlsson, currently on display outside The Tate Modern. I’m not sure what this one is called, sorry, but I love it. He’s caught the action so well 🙂
As I’m a huge fan of characters, rather than do a story for this one I’m going to do 2 characterisations….will share tomorrow 🙂
What story would you come up with for this pair? Would love to hear your ideas!
I’m currently guesting over at Virginias blog Poeta Officium so do pop in and read my “One Most Important Piece Of Advice To Writers”
Now, where was I? Lol
I bought this postcard when I went up to the Tate Modern recently, because it intrigued me 🙂
It’s acrylic on canvas by a German artist, Martin Kippenberger and is called “Ohne Titel”. I thought initially it was a photograph!
I wonder what inspired him to paint it?
Would love to hear what story line you can come up with for this one?
I’ll share my ideas tomorrow 🙂
As you know, I don’t usually post twice a day, but this post has been waiting in the wings for such a long time now 😦 My apologies to the lovely Chris xx
Chris over at The Kelworth Files has nominated me for The Kreativ Blogger Award 🙂
Thank you so much Chris!
KREATIV RULZ:
1. Thank and link back to the awarding blog.
2. Answer the seven questions.
3. Provide ten random factoids about yourself.
4. Last but not at all least, hand this on to seven deserving others.
I’m going to use the 7 questions Chris answered, so here goes……
1. What’s your favourite song?
Spooky, I was asked this recently, on my birthday post. The answer is Wonderwall by Oasis followed by All I Want Is You by U2…..I want them both played at my funeral 😉
2. What’s your favourite dessert?
Tiramisu, but it use to be Ben & Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream. They don’t sell it here in the UK anymore 😦
3. What do you do when you’re upset?
Cry lol….I cry very easily. I’m the sort of person who finds it hard to hide how I’m feeling. My face usually gives away exactly how I feel lol.
4. Which is your favourite pet?
That’s really not fair 😦 I’ve had lots of animals over the years and they’ve all been very special to me, in their own way 🙂 I could never pick a favourite.
5. Which do you prefer, black or white?
Black, definitely!!!! I think I should have been a Goth lol
6. What is your biggest fear?
I often have nightmares, and they’re usually about bad things happening to my pets, my kids, or my husband. I’ve often woken up in the middle of the night in a panic, or in tears because I’m convinced something has happened. I never have nice dreams lol
7. What is your attitude mostly?
Lol, ahhhhh, well, I think most people who know me would say I’m friendly, chatty and generally good natured. I have my moments of doom and gloom and I’m sure my hubby would say I’m a stroppy cow sometimes, but, I try to not let the little things get me down too much. I always say, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry, and I try to live by that 🙂
I’m gunna bend the rules a bit because I’ve bored you all a bit too much with facts about me recently lol. So I’ll skip that next part and just plough straight on to who I’m gunna pass this on to 😉
The 7 bloggers who I am going to nominate are all very inspirational….please go and visit their sites, you might just like what you see 🙂
Hunter at Hunters Writings
Rebecca at A Word Or More
Elliott at Brainsplats
Jordanna at journeyofjordannaeast
Shannon at shannonhowell
William at Stadler Style
Love you guys! 🙂
*sighs deeply*
Ok, so I’ve been working on my blurb for “But Not Forgotten” recently, and the current version is below…..See what you think…..
Married to successful accountant Daniel, Laura has it all. A nice house, nice car and money in the bank. But when Daniel kills himself, the events of 1984 re-emerge, threatening everything Laura holds dear, including her daughter Ruby.
Ruby and Laura need to learn how to rebuild their lives. But Daniel’s brother Ronnie tries everything in his power to reek revenge on his brother, and those he loved. Laura finds herself torn between the two brothers. Will she be able to throw everything away, to rekindle her love for Ronnie? And if she can, how will she cope with Daniel still controlling her from beyond the grave?
The Write Inspiration posted an excellent article recently, giving advice for blurb writing. Do have a read if you’re struggling like I am lol
So is it too short? Rubbish? Ok? Your thoughts would be much appreciated 🙂
My orchid is blooming, my blurb, unfortunately, isn’t lol 😉
Last weekend I went up to the Tate Modern which is probably my favourite gallery, as I’m a huge fan of modern art 🙂
As if the art work inside isn’t enough, there is also art outside. Martin Karlsson has a display of drawings outside to enhance the building work that is going on there. I find his work fascinating and soooo inspirational for stories (I will post some more in the coming weeks).
So today’s photo is “The New Zealander” by Karlsson.
So what is the New Zealander doing in a London Cemetery, so far from home?
Can’t wait to hear your ideas, and of course, I have my own theories that I’ll share tomorrow 🙂
The View Outside 