Must Do’s 11th to 17th Feb

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

Well, last week was a complete mare as you probably know. Much angst about the WIP which is now in it’s 3rd metamorphosis. I think it’s going to work well with the new structure so I’m relieved lol 😉

Last week, the To Do List looked something like this:

1. Go through TLWC and make notes – where I need to add stuff. Well, I did start to do that and it was as I was reading through it, yawning, I realised that there was something missing 😉
2. Keep up with 1000 words a day. Yep, I did 🙂
3. Do some studying. Nope, too stressed lol
4. Read more. Read more this last week than I have for a while, but still not enough really 😦
5. Finish Draft Blog posts. Done!
6. Sort out and finalise guest blog posts. Nearly done, just got to add a couple of links to one of them 🙂

So it didn’t really go according to plan, but I did have a lot on my mind he he he!

This weeks list looks like this:

I’m going out Saturday night, The Hubster is taking me out for a Valentines Day meal. Can you beleive he’s deserting me on Valentines Day and playing chess? Lol…Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he makes it up to me at the weekend 😉

I’ll also be trying to do some character sketches so I’ll post one of those every week 🙂

Have a good week guys….What are your writing plans this week?

Introducing….. Still

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

Thank you to everyone who offered words of support and wisdom to my post on Wednesday for the IWSG Day. It really helped me make a decision. I’ve started again lol. Yep, I’m now on rewrite version 2 which means this is the 3rd form of the novel, and definitely the last! I’ve just got to pull my finger out now and get the 5000 words written for my Faber critique!

I’ve been tagged by Elizabeth at Scribbling In The Storage Room in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop. I did this a few months ago, but now, as things have changed good and proppa it’s a good opportunity to introduce to you the new story 🙂

What is your working title of your book (or story)? Still

Where did the idea come from for the book? Watching an episode of the Jeremy Kyle show and adding the “What if?” question, plus other influences 😉

What genre does your book fall under? I think it’s Women’s Contemporary Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Hmmmm, that’s a hard one because I have 2 different time frames, so the parts would have to be played by relatively unknown teenagers and then the more modern bits by older actors. So the older Ronnie would be Christian Bale and Daniel, Daniel Craig. Laura would be Kate Winslet and Ruby, Emma Watson 🙂

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A story about love, the competition between two friends and the consequences of past decisions.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I would love to go down the traditional route of publication, but, we all now how difficult that can be. I’m not against self publishing.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? The original first draft, one month….Nano 2010. I started rewriting it in January, then again in February. So I’ve just started the 3rd rewrite.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Oooo, difficult! I’d love to be compared to Anne Tyler, Maeve Binchy or Fay Weldon, but I’m probably kidding myself lol

Who or what inspired you to write this book? The Hubster told me years ago I should write a book lol, and when I was about 13 I did start one. I think I wrote one chapter lol…. But it was my friend Jayne who really pushed me to do it.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Its basically the story of two women, mother and daughter. The first part of the book is the mothers story which is written in a notebook then mailed to her daughter. The second part is the daughters response to the scribblings in the notebook, and the two women’s journey there after.

So yes, we have a title change, a structure change, and a POV change. So I guess you can say I found a way round my brick wall 😉 It’s just a shame it took me nearly 30,000 words to realise that the rewrite i was doing was the wrong rewrite lol. Ewan Morrisons words have been echoing in my ears so I can either thank him or blame him lol 😉 But either way I’m in a much better place than I was at the beginning of the week….feeling enthusiastic and passionate again, which is a good place to be right?

Is it just me or is this writing malarkey a complete emotional Rollercoaster? Lol

The Art of Allegory

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

According to Fred White in The Daily Writer “Every aspiring writer should read an allegory now and then because it illustrates, in a vivid way, the essence of storytelling.”

Ok, well you know me, I do like to learn stuff, I’m always up for a challenge and that there statement Mr White, is pure fighting talk! 😉

So what is an allegory? I knew about allegory in paintings, so I kinda knew what it was, but, in fiction? Hmmmm, nope, can’t think that anyone’s every mentioned it to me before now. I hadn’t even considered it.

My first stop, Wikipedia, says “a device in which characters or events represent or symbolise ideas and concepts. As a literary device, an allegory in its most general sense is an extended metaphor.”

Ahhhhh, I see…I think lol

A story where things and people represent something entirely different, ie, an idea or philosophy. The story conveys a deeper meaning (has 2 meanings) and the characters are usually personifications of ideas such as charity, greed, hope and envy.

Image from dtldobsvtn’s Blog post on Allegory

So as far as examples go, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a good one. The farm animals represent Communist Russia. The pigs are the government, the dogs, the police and the rest of the animals symbolise the working class. Another is John Bunyans The Pilgrims Progress

The Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz said “An allegory is not meant to be taken literally. There is a great lack of comprehension on the part of some readers.”

Hmmmmm….ok, it does sound quite fascinating, but bloody hard work! Lol. I’m not sure I would be up to it that’s for sure 😉

So have you ever written an allegory? Is it something you would try?

There’s a great article on the Writerly Life site which tells you how to write one if you fancy giving it a go. Me, I think I’ll just stick to stories with one meaning 😉

IWSG – February – Confronting Writers Block

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

It’s Insecure Writers Support Group Day….and this month I really need a day to wallow 😉

Huge thanks as ever to Alex J Cavanaugh for starting the group.

I’m not a bragger…never have been, never will be…But, I have often said on my blog, and on others, that I don’t suffer from writers block (don’t you just hate writers who say that?) and I’m still of the opinion that it’s true, I don’t. I can always find something to write about. I’m never completely without words. But, I’ve recently discovered that there are several types of writers block (thank you Fred White) which has made me realise that actually, perhaps I do!

1. Procedural Blocks: Where you get to a point in your story and think what do I do now? And can’t figure out where to take the plot next.

2. Creativity Blocks: Lack of ideas (Mr White says this is the hardest to overcome, but I disagree – see above lol).

3. Psychological Blocks: Your inner critic is telling you you’re not good enough, your writing is crap and that you’ll never be published.

4. Distraction Blocks: Chores, friends, commitments, resulting in not being able to focus.

5. Procrastination Blocks: You find every excuse under the sun to put off the writing (probably because of number 3!).

So at the moment I seem to be suffering from number 3 😦 Mr Squiggle is definitely winning (you’ll need to read a previous post to know what I’m on about with Mr Squiggle lol).

The last week of January I was editing like a lunatic (the first 5000 words which will be my next submission for class) and I’ve subsequently discovered that I can’t write and edit at the same time, thats fair enough, lesson learnt. But…then I stopped editing, and I’ve hardly touched the WIP since. It’s like I’ve come up against a brick wall 😦

I have over 25,000 words written now of The Last Word Cafe and I’m stuck! Good and proppa! It’s not that I don’t know where the story’s going, I do. It’s not because I’ve got to a hard bit, I haven’t. So what’s the problem? I have a synopsis, I know exactly where the story needs to go. So why can’t I write the damn thing? Is it because its a rewrite of the Nano 2010 novel that I started working on, then stuck in a drawer, then got out again, so I’m bored with it? Or does there just come a point when working on the same “story” for however many years just makes you worn out? And yes, I’m worn out. I have deadlines looming and need to have it completed by June (edited!).

At the weekend i printed off the whole lot and I’m reading through it. Trying to do a bit of planning, in the hopes that it inspires me. In the meantime, come on guys, I need a kick up the arse….how do I get back into it? It seems that I’ve had such a love/hate relationship with this novel over the last 2.2 years…I need to get it finished and put to bed for my own sanity lol

Writer’s Block – Now What? (kevinpbarker.wordpress.com)
how do you ovecome writer’s block (gearslutz.com)
Diagnosis: Writer’s Block (froodianpseudoanalysis.wordpress.com)
Why I Don’t Believe in Writer’s Block (casyb360.wordpress.com)

Faber Session 19 – Guest Tutor Ewan Morrison

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

I like Mondays 🙂 Have I said that before? Lol

Today, The Hubster came up to London with me and we ended up having lunch in the gorgeous restaurant in The Wallace Collection The beautiful Hertford House is a museum open to the public with a large art collection. Yes, my lunch involved cake…..a Pistachio Fondant served with Mango Sorbet. DELICIOUS! Although, I must admit, not very pretty 😉

A mooch round the museum, admiring the Rembrandt’s, Canaletto’s and Gainsborough’s and then it was off to the book shop where I couldn’t resist these two.

Appropriate, as Rachel Joyce is a Faber graduate.

Tonight’s class was with Ewan Morrison, which I was really looking forward to having read about him and his work. At the moment I’m reading Close Your Eyes which looks promising. He’s the only guest we’ve had so far who I’ve asked to sign a book for me 🙂

Mr Morrison is known for his experimentation with structure. He likes to push boundaries and explore different ways of reinventing the novel.

Some of my notes:

Break free from the narrative novel. Stop thinking about the novel, think about the writing. If a subject interests you, take it to the limit.

He will put in a factual list as opposed to trying to weave in backstory. Do we even need backstory?

He’s a huge fan of writing in 2nd person POV. He feels it gives his writing a sense of panic.

He enjoys a challenge and that is why his novels don’t have a standard structure.

Don’t worry about the publishing industry…write the book that you want to write.

Study the hell out of a book you love. Write a sentence for every chapter. He taught himself how to write by studying Revolutionary Road.

He’s cynical of the idea that a protagonist shapes their own life, because in the real world outside forces that are out of our control are actually what shapes people.

Every book he writes he comes up with a new way of working. The book he’s writing now is being written in cheap exercise books in longhand.

He recommends long hand for all first drafts so that when you type it up, that becomes your 2nd draft and gives you the opportunity to change things.

At this point I’d just like to say I LOVE THIS GUY!

Mr Morrison believes that the standard narrative novel’s time is nearly up. And that in today’s society, where we are bombarded with information from all angles, people are turning more to eBooks because they’re easy to dip in and out of and often, readers only read the first 10 pages of a book anyway. He asked…..How many people who actually bought or downloaded 50 Shades actually read it all the way to the end? What do you think? Is the traditional 300 page chronological structured narrative novel old fashioned?

Must Do’s 4th to 10th February

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

A quick reminder to those of you who enjoyed part 1 of Janet Govers Media Workshop. Part 2 went live yesterday 🙂

So how have I done this week? Not very well (be prepared for a really whiney IWSG post on Wednesday). I’ve discovered what my problem actually is, now I just need to work on overcoming it lol. So yesterday I printed off the whole of the WIP, and now, I just need to read it lol. It kinda feels like editing, but it’s not, I’m not actually gunna touch it. Just work out where I need to add things.

So last week the list looked like this:
1. Go through Mels Critique of TLWC. Done! Thank you honey 🙂
2. Keep up with 1000 words a day. Kept up, as such, but not on the WIP 😦
3. Catch up with e mails and blogs etc. Done! But I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle lol. It’s a bit like when you have kids and tidy up….5 minutes later it’s messy again lol
4. Prep for the weekend (Writing Retreat). Done! Although, I didn’t get as much writing done as I’d hoped.
5. Sort out Blog Awards and prep post. Half way there, still working on them lol.

This weeks looking like this:

Looking forward to Sunday and a trip to the seaside 😉

What are your writing plans for the week?

Do You Smash?

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

Hubby is away at a chess conference this weekend, so hopefully lots of writing will get done, and you wont see me online much. if you do, just shout at me 😉

So just a quick post today to tell you how jealous i am…..You guys in The States are so lucky!

I’m talking about K & Company’s Smash range 🙂

OMFG!

Why did I not know about this? Here’s my purchase from Amazon 🙂

Thanks to Sharon at The Writers Journey for the heads up on this fantastic range 🙂

*Whispers so The Hubster doesn’t hear* I’m going to be spending a fortune!

Do you Smash?

I’m excited!!! 😉

The Secret To Great Characters

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

Well, I discovered that trying to write when you have a hangover is a big no no for me. Never mind, I did however manage to catch up with 300 e mails…only another 100 to go now lol….but anyway…..

I few weeks ago I went to The Victoria & Albert Musuems Hollywood Costume Exhibition

I’d never thought of the idea of costume designers being storytellers. Isn’t that the job of the scriptwriter? But movies are about characters and their costumes play a crucial role in bringing those characters to life.

The costume designer must know who a character is before they can design a costume. One that makes the audience believe that the character had a life before the start of the movie. The clothes then transform a character from being written and two dimensional to a point where an audience will actually believe they are real people.

The exhibition has over 100 iconic costumes from Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garlands Dorothy dress (plus ruby slippers) to what Keanu Reeves wore in the Matrix and Robert Downey Jnrs Sherlock Holmes attire.

It’s a fascinating exhibition in its own right, but, as a writer I found it very interesting *eyes light up*

If that’s all true (I’m not actually doubting it) then surely, it works the same for a writer? We want our characters to be real to our readers. We want them to be believable don’t we? So how important are your characters clothes in a work of fiction? It’s perhaps not important in a 1000 word short story, but in a novel?

Didn’t someone once say “clothes maketh the man.”? You can tell a lot about a person by the clothes they wear 😉

Do you describe in depth what clothes your characters are wearing?

Book Launch – Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

A bonus post for you this week because I just had to tell you what I was up to last night!

Me, The Hubster and our daughter attended the book launch for friend, my Co Nano ML and talented writer Elizabeth Haynes 3rd book, Human Remains.

Elizabeth is a huge inspiration to all aspiring authors, having used Nanowrimo to kick start her writing career.

It was lovely to see so many of the Kent Wrimo’s at the launch party and of course, hubby insisted that he had to have his own copy of the book!

I’m looking forward to the read if Keith B Walters review is anything to go by! (Lovely to meet you last night Keith!).

So this morning I’m feeling slightly worse for wear (too much Champagne!) so if you could all keep it down today it would be much appreciated 😉 I’m off out in a sec for a writing session with a fellow Wrimo….which begs a question that came up last night….. Can you write while you’re drunk?

Do you write whilst you’re under the influence? Can you? Hemingway said “Write drunk; edit sober.” And look at how successful he was 😉 I’ll let you know if writing with a hangover is a good or bad thing later lol

Faber Session 18 – Will Atkinson

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Vikki Thompson

It was a lovely sunny day here in Kent when I got on the train….unfortunately, by the time I got to London it was pissing down lol 😉

But I didn’t let the weather deter me from my cake, cheesecake to be precise…

And a quick stop off in Daunt Books in Marylebone High Street 🙂

So I arrived at class having lost a button on my coat, with a brolley that I stuck in Fabers bin because it had blown inside out so many times and wet feet because my dolly shoes (a totally impractical choice of footwear) sprung a leek! 😉

Today’s class was a session with Faber’s Sales and Marketing Director, Will Atkinson who talked about the changing face of book selling and publishing. Here are some of my notes:

The reasons a book sells (in statistical order)
1. Recommendation
2. You like the author
3. Bookshop display
4. Publicity & Reviews

If someone famous Tweets about a book they’ve recently read a publisher can sell up to 200,000 copies from that one recommendation alone.

More people than ever are reading and writing.

15% of all books bought in the UK last year were self published.

Self publishing via Kindle is not a bad thing to do, but be aware that you are in murky company, lumped in with badly written and unedited work from others.

Publishers notice eBooks that are doing well.

eBooks can be a way to promote yourself even with a traditional publishing deal.

There is a huge element of luck as to whether your published book is a success, but, the quality of the book will out.

The publishing industry is in difficulty, but at the moment, eBooks are making up for that.

The Richard & Judy Bookclub has had a major impact on summer book buying in the UK. Those on their annual list doing very well, the other authors suffering because of it.

Will gave a very positive view on the publishing industry, which was nice to hear. He also said that if a man on the street hears about a book, is he going to get in his car, drive to the local high street, park up, find a Waterstones or WHSmiths, go in and find the book? No, he’s much more likely to get his phone or iPad out and order it on Amazon. A fair point indeed.

Hmmmmm, some stuff to think about…I was convinced that I didn’t want to go down the eBook route, that I wanted a traditional publishing deal, but now I’m not so sure. I’m liking the idea of using the eBook idea as a form of promotion, I can see that working…..perhaps some short stories?

What do you guys think? Tempted? Those of you who have self published on Kindle, what made you decide to do that rather than go to a publisher?