Free Post Thursday – A Thought

Recently I decided to share more positive things on social media, so for today I decided to expand that idea to here.

So here’s a quote from the Dalai Lama, which I particularly like.

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

Isn’t that great? No judgement, no expectation; just an observation that we can have an impact over and above what we expect.  That’s positivity to me: no preaching, just explanation.

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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Free Post Thursday – Left and Right

I utterly failed to write a post on Tuesday, sorry.  I am enjoying my book but have been writing and seeking out writing inspiration more than reading in the last couple of weeks so the book is a little neglected.  It has been left behind, which is the first part of this week’s title!

So what is the right, I hear you ask (humour me here!)?

It’s writing.  Writing is going right.

This week, as a bit of an experiment, I wrote song lyrics.  I was pleased how well they turned out, because I wasn’t expecting much!

I helped one of my writing buddies when they were stuck and couldn’t get their idea to form the verses they wanted.

I got the ad for the open mike night sorted out.

I had a really great writing session today.

I can feel the positivity in me.  That is definitely something going right.

It’s made a difference to have a new writing zone, even if I sometimes run the risk of being sidetracked…

So yes, I am a little slow at reading at the moment, but it’s good to have positive writing outcomes. It’s not a bad compromise, really!

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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Slacking, But Working!

Firstly, sorry for the failure to post.  Internet issues, power cuts and early nights all got in the way.  I have yet to finish the book though, so you didn’t miss anything on Tuesday!

And although I have been slacking off here, I have been achieving in my writing.  Not only have I been working on a poem inspired by a significant anniversary (a poem I intend to pass on in due course) but I actually used my writing group support to improve and develop it.

I also put the pedal to the metal to get myself out and sharing by organising an open mike event.  I say organising, but really I just raised the idea with the right person and now it’s booked!

After a shaky writing time I am really pleased to get back on the right track.  In my writing group today I saw the payoff of a new approach and really feel positive about getting more poetry written.

Which is good, as I will need something to read at the open mike!

I am going to leave it there for today as I need to hit the hay pretty soon. Plus I still don’t trust my internet!

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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Hi/Bye

I have been away from the blog for a week more than intended, for a variety of reasons. Some were positive and joyful and for now I will think only about them.

We are always hearing that we should live life to its fullest – but the possibility for each of us to do so is massively different depending on circumstances. For me, on those days when perhaps I haven’t grabbed every opportunity (and instead sat watching tv and eating biscuits), it’s good to reflect on the more enriching experiences of the week.

So last week I went to a music night for my friend’s birthday, had a family party and separate meal with friends for my own, went shopping, spent time with my husband, and had writing group.  All positives!

I do have quite a bit to share with you and I will start with three books, tomorrow.  I will plan from there!

So hi, and bye, for now.  See you tomorrow,

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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‘Twas the Last Post Before Christmas…

…and all through the house
Were the remnants of wrapping
And bags to fill a warehouse!

I can’t believe it’s only a week until Christmas.

Normally I spend some time around now thinking about the strengths of my writing year and areas I can develop in the next, but this year went way off plan and never got back on track.  I don’t see the point in reviewing a year in which all my intentions went awry!

So I will focus on two specific positives of the year…

The first is the crime writing convention back in April. I found it thought-provoking and it made me want to go to more events like it. We all know that the year didn’t work that way, but I still want to go to more, and I am intending to go to the 2017 Classic Crime event in June 2017.  Hopefully more than just the one, in fact!  I don’t think I realised at the time quite how useful the day would be going forward.

The second is getting back into writing after my rubbish summer.  I may not be where I want to be but it would have been so easy to admit defeat some of those days, and I got back on the horse.  Yes, the horse is a bit of a scraggly old thing but it’s moving, and that is important.  I always say you can’t edit a blank page, and that is particularly relevant when things are going badly.  Any writing, however rough and ready, is better than none.

Two things don’t seem much of an outcome for 12 months, but both represent something important in my year: the first, a change in direction and in perception; the second a challenge I won.  It might not be reflected in word counts or books read but I’m still here, still writing, still being inspired. That’s a major success in my book!

I don’t expect to have any time to pop back before Christmas but I will prepare a suitably cheery post for Thursday, at least.

Whatever you are doing for the next fortnight, I hope it’s a happy, healthy and peaceful time for you all.

And I promise 2017 will be a more energised year on here.  I did ask Father Christmas for my mojo back, after all…!!

Happy Writing,

EJ

🙂

 

 

 

 

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Free Post Thursday – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Writing…

Sorry – Christmas is seeping in everywhere already and the music just popped into my head!

This is a mid-week post rather than a random thoughts post, because it’s turned into quite a good writing day. Not for actual, physical writing – don’t expect too much of a Thursday 😉 – but for engaging with my work again.

It began at my monthly writing group. I don’t always find myself coming home full of writing vim and vigour, but this time it just seemed to click for me.

Firstly, I shared my new plan to the group, explaining that I felt I had lost my way with writing at least since I got ill in June. Maybe before, but definitely then.

I explained that I was going to approach it differently, and how that looked.

I talked about my novel, about the story, the theme and the underlying message, and why I felt I needed to look at it again with clearer eyes and see what weaknesses remain – I had an offer of help with this too.

And last but not least, I chatted with someone not in the group, who was interested in talking about writing once he knew why we were there. It was the kind of conversation that fills me with positivity, because we inspired him to talk about something completely new.  He told me he wrote a journal, about his favourite book, about his interest in literature.  It was a chance conversation but it left a really warm feeling.

So today was a good writing day, even without any writing – and I wanted to celebrate it with you all in the hope it will be just what you need one day, too.

Happy writing,
EJ
🙂

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Every Day in May – 23.05.16

And now for a change, here is a musical interlude…

Rachel Platten – Fight Song

I love this song, because it is the story of a million people, all pushing to make their dreams come true and battling to be noticed.  It is my anthem when I think it’s all going badly!

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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Week 239 – Sending Stuff Off

Yep – it’s submission season once more.

I thought I’d aim for 3 a week but then my real brain came into use and reminded me that I would probably not do that, and would then feel a failure. The reality is that I have to have my husband sit with me and do submissions to read things through together in case I muck it up, which limits the number I can do in a week!

I have sent it out though. And oddly, it felt much less stressful than it did two years ago, when it caused me anxious days and sleepless nights waiting for a response which never came. Now, it’s a bonus if it’s picked up, but not the end of the world if it isn’t.

There’s a lot of great writers who never get published, and a lot of terrible dross that does: it’s probably as much luck as judgement getting anywhere in the literary world!

So now I’ve started, I feel good about that, and can expend some energy on new tasks. Watch this space on that one, I have an idea and I might plan it out a bit with you guys!

You may have noticed it is another very late night – I had drama group today so was out late – and I am trying to get more quality rest so I am leaving it there for tonight with an apology for two rubbish blogging days.

But I’ll be back tomorrow sharing my reading jaunts with you – watch out for a bit of a classic!

Happy writing,
EJ
🙂

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Week 232 – A good week

This week I’ve started working on the second Family Tree story. This has involved starting to plan a timeframe, individual circumstances and storylines, mapping out what has happened in the intervening period between the end of the last story and the beginning of the new.

It is far from a finished plan, but it feels as though it is slotting together quite naturally and I am looking forward to building up the storyline. I need to finish re-reading the original story to make sure I have all details correct but I have a good idea of where I’ll be going and that’s a real pleasure.

I have also arranged to go to a crime writer’s convention with a couple of other members of my writing group. This came about from a twitter post I saw from a recently published crime writer; I thought it was a great opportunity to develop what I have done with the whodunnit and get a feel for a wider writing experience.

My next step with that story is to pick up on the police procedural side and start to get that right. If you like, I have the bones of the story now, and it’s time to make sure those bones form a proper skeleton!

I also think going to a writing convention in and of itself is a great opportunity to hear how other writer approach difficulties, how they plan, what they have learnt in their journey towards publication… As a genre I am still getting to grips with, I am really excited to see what I can learn.

So this has been a good week. I am really buzzing about building contacts and enjoying my writing again; I have a little more time to write over the next few weeks, and I have a plan for what I want, and need, to do.

If only I felt this buoyant every week!

Happy writing,
EJ
🙂

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Week 82.5 – Red text at night, editor’s delight?

I’ve said before that in my first revision of the Woods novel, I have a lot of red writing where I am tracking all my changes.  Although it can feel intimidating and demoralising, I am trying my hardest to put a positive spin on it.

At the moment, the spin goes something like ‘if it’s red, that means I didn’t just delete it, so it must have had some value’.  It’s a hard sell, I’m afraid…

So today I thought I’d explore some of the positives of editing and cheer myself up.  Hopefully these examples will make you feel better when you’re editing and revising too!

1. Your story is being developed.

Whenever you enhance, correct, improve a section, you are helping craft the story you’ve wanted to tell – it won’t be that story at the first attempt.

2. You are enhancing your vocabulary

During editing stages, you become much more specific with your choice of words, and your thesaurus will become a close friend.  Editing gives you a chance to pick the word with the most weight for the image you are creating.

3. You can correct mistakes before anyone else sees them

We all write things down that make no sense, or have words we can never spell, or mix names up sometimes.  Revisions allow you to correct the worst of it before passing the work to a critical friend or professional editor for review.  But don’t worry if there’s a few left – that’s normal too!

4. You can check your characters

When you revise you can pick up on character quirks that don’t fit the personality you want to convey, or you can correct elements when they come across as more or less sympathetic than you want.  You can make sure they work with each other.

5. You can change technical elements

I’ve changed viewpoint character and tense at the revision stage to make a story more effective; sometimes you need to read through a first draft critically to see these changes are needed.

6. You can improve your work

You have to have a first draft to work from, but from there on you can do what you like to make the writing the best you possibly can.  You can make a work to be proud of, that you can happily share with others.

So there you go, a few points to help me work my way through many thousands of words!  I’m going to bear these in mind as I drag myself through the editing.

On Sunday I’ll have the new timetable ready; it’ll be editing-heavy but at least I can look at today’s post and know it’ll be worth it.  One day…

I hope these help you, but if you have your own positive slant to put on editing, please share it in the comments!

Happy writing,

EJ

🙂

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