tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75217542505836239092024-02-19T15:11:11.690+00:00The Word Is...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger351125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-76114134967401257022020-09-02T13:56:00.002+01:002020-09-02T13:58:55.177+01:00IWSG (SEPT 20)<p><br /></p><p><img height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdr2G3VG0oSbryddVQf8UxMOVT9EiIoE4wexYbtVKL7ywk4HnZx9iI7bxVj8tcHfnSbx-OArkrBGur7moTCBPJ1gwRxyMuqOokvtexCSdm45yNhNZJEGqrzO3B5lDOKbzkeWW3hrpD5CU/w256-h252/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" width="256" /> </p><p>Happy IWSG and thanks as always to <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2020/09/insecure-writers-support-group-contest.html">Alex</a> and his co-hosts this month.</p><p>What times we live in. My energy levels and creativity have been up and down for months. I find writing comes in little surges, sometimes just 2 or 3 hundred words at a time. I never used to be like that. I used to enjoy sitting for hours getting lost in my stories, now my concentration is much less. I guess it has happened to lots of us. Things may well change again, life is far from certain these days.</p><p>But I will celebrate my small writing achievements and try not to get too stressed by my seeming lack of productive. I will remember that small steps lead to bigger ones.</p><p>How is everyone else doing?</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-32471721970564620882020-07-01T16:05:00.000+01:002020-07-01T16:05:01.979+01:00IWSG (July)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and his co-hosts <b><a href="https://jennienzor.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jenni Enzor,</a> <a href="https://bethandwriting.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Beth Camp,</a> <a href="https://www.roamingabout.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Liesbet @ Roaming About,</a> </b><a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Tyrean Martinson</b>,</a> and<b> <a href="http://sandracox.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sandra Cox</a></b></span><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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Well, we have been living through strange and unprecedented times of late. How is everyone coping?<br />
I am still struggling to create many new words, but I have been enjoying editing my own work and reading through a friends manuscript too.<br />
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Everything still seems so uncertain and planning anything is really hard. In a few short months life has changed for most of us in so many ways. But I think it has shown that we have to find joy in the little things in life.<br />
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So, in the spirit of this I am posting a couple of pictures from my walk on Sunday. <img alt="Image" height="240" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ebm_cikX0AEVHPa?format=jpg&name=large" width="320" /></div>
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I hope you have found something to make you smile recently.<br />
Sorry this is a short post this month, but I send you all good wishes.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-35309370456651973162020-05-06T11:34:00.001+01:002020-05-06T11:34:30.448+01:00IWSG (MAY 2020)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KCwce0DsxRi20s8DNB0Fzdh0-Q3XJYxwQ5lsqCdkUlIqoeaK0-SvYppIgLsou7NT99UFESkVfWoyE5NpS5u6xmw9krmvVlSJOkitWkM-s03A2s6UwH0VxrfFbKm1BEkVWzdkJuiBejs/s1600/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="320" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KCwce0DsxRi20s8DNB0Fzdh0-Q3XJYxwQ5lsqCdkUlIqoeaK0-SvYppIgLsou7NT99UFESkVfWoyE5NpS5u6xmw9krmvVlSJOkitWkM-s03A2s6UwH0VxrfFbKm1BEkVWzdkJuiBejs/s200/InsecureWritersSupportGroup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to host <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=1d656c22d3&e=f2223a7005" target="_blank">Feather Stone,</a></span> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ed2d3b2292&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Beverly Stowe
McClure,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=854f24c139&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Mary Aalgaard,</span></a>
<a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=f61b17685e&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Kim Lajevardi,</span></a>
and <span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=5cb00a5376&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Chemist Ken</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This month's question is - Do you have any rituals you use to help get you in the zone to write?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a good one for these times I think. Like many I have been struggling to write, to create new words has seemed like the last thing I should be doing, or indeed the last thing I want to do. There is so much going on around us right now and my mind has been pinging around and unable to focus on any one thing for long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did think maybe I shouldn't even try to write. In the last few weeks everything has changed. I can't work as normal, I can't see my children as they are grown up and live in their own homes. I can't meet my friends for a walk or a chat. Even popping to the shops requires planning. And this is happening all over the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, writing of any sort for me was on hold for several weeks. It is only very recently that I have been able to dive back in. I started with some editing and in the last couple of days have managed to write a new chapter. New words, it feels good. A nice escape from reality so I am hoping my creative muse agrees to keep me company moving forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't necessary have rituals. I like peace and quiet. No playlists for me. A mug of chamomile or ginger tea. Sometimes a bit of chocolate or a biscuit to nipple. If I have the choice I prefer to write in the mornings, I've never been that productive later in the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So for now, I will celebrate the fact that my muse seems to have returned and I am getting enjoyment and comfort from writing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How about you? Any rituals? Are you able to write at the moment at all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stay well and thank you for visiting.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-66262184785810336812020-03-04T17:47:00.003+00:002020-03-04T17:47:59.693+00:00IWSG (March 2020)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="IWSG Badge" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVfcREDZDDdahryTp8wQgRn28s0EjecuiUBNG1JdyaYQuxonAKSpGNM4LcZQegx-LuJrajm0TOSeykfBfMU2xd485ChKbRnEhR83TsFbUu9qfjP9ka9zN8Dte_wcftlACOm_bh-YkXMA/s1600-r/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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sign up <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html">here</a> </div>
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Thanks to Alex and this month's fabulous co-hosts; -<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: #f4f2f8; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jacqui Murray,</a><span style="background-color: #f4f2f8;"> </span><a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" style="background-color: #f4f2f8; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lisa Buie-Collard,</a><span style="background-color: #f4f2f8;"> </span><a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: #f4f2f8; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sarah Foster,</a><span style="background-color: #f4f2f8;"> </span><a _blank="" href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/%E2%80%9Dtarget=" style="background-color: #f4f2f8; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;">Natalie Aguirre,</a><span style="background-color: #f4f2f8;"> and </span><a href="http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: #f4f2f8; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Shannon Lawrence</a></span></div>
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I've been trying to add words to my WIP this month. I've added some but not as many as I'd hoped for one reason or another. Ah well, progress is progress I guess however small.</div>
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In other writing news I was very excited to have a manuscript longlisted in the WriteMentor Children's novel. Will have to wait and see if it goes any further in the competition but it certainly gives a nice boost.</div>
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I have been looking for a writing group to join for some time. I live in quite a rural area and opportunities are not abundant. However, I spotted a few lines about a new group starting the following week in the local paper and so decided to go along. First meeting was on Monday. It's nice to meet some like minded people so hopefully the group will be a success. I was brave and read out some of my work and we have a writing exercise to complete for the next session in a couple of weeks time. I will look forward to it.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">March 4 question - Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">After having given this question some thought I can't really think of any family traditions that have made their way into my writing. Not consciously anyway, maybe some small details have slipped in somewhere over the years!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thank you for stopping by and reading my post. I will hop around some blogs and see what you have all been up to.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-3846314028242856412020-02-05T16:21:00.000+00:002020-02-05T16:21:10.480+00:00IWSG (FEB 2020)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Top Site for Writers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR5eQEq7Xxi18fR7HjkdFHinAT-kKPK-2JhW3RaL40g_s-2cMrWocemUyVJ3L6nxosOzbJzQN6P3FcySb9hUezfiNrErvhI17GEahZg8UhZVMQBYzzvEUaQtPL71eqNT4LEwdwr7vo8hx/s175/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" /></div>
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Hi and thanks for visiting I appreciate it. Sorry, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be unable to participate in this month's IWSG. I hope to check back in next month. I hope the year is treating you well so far and your insecurities are few. </div>
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Best wishes</div>
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Suzanne</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-21679897868943009302020-01-06T20:05:00.004+00:002020-01-08T17:06:05.698+00:00IWSG (January 2020)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Top Site for Writers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR5eQEq7Xxi18fR7HjkdFHinAT-kKPK-2JhW3RaL40g_s-2cMrWocemUyVJ3L6nxosOzbJzQN6P3FcySb9hUezfiNrErvhI17GEahZg8UhZVMQBYzzvEUaQtPL71eqNT4LEwdwr7vo8hx/s175/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"> Thanks as ever to </span><a href="https://mailchi.mp/96655f5a6d32/november-iwsg-2469525?e=f2223a7005" style="background-color: white; color: #aa33cc; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;">Alex</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"> and this month's co-hosts</span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=d4b0ae015f&e=f2223a7005" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">T. Powell Coltrin,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=e32e659f04&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Victoria Marie Lees,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=171ff03b9a&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Stephen Tremp,</span></a> <a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=83c16194db&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">Renee Scattergood,</span></a> and <span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ab185df869&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">J.H. Moncrieff</a></span></span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Happy New Year to you all!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for stopping by today. I hope the new year is bringing you peace and positivity for the month's ahead. I plan to work on a new idea. It's one I started last year and I'm part way through a first draft. Procrastination has been a problem for me recently but I know I need to pick myself up and get on with it! I hope that by the time the next IWSG posting I will be able to report progress on this project. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What started your writing journey?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I had always wanted to write. I remember as a child writing poetry and making story book ideas up whilst lying in bed but I didn't actually try writing properly till I was in my early forties. Yes, quite late to the party! Although, for several years prior to that I probably fulfilled my writing needs by taking a couple of courses that required me to write essays and then volunteering on a committee where I undertook the writing of various policies and prospectus'. Dry writing a lot of the time, but writing non-the-less! The first piece of fiction writing was a short story that I entered into a competition and from then on I had the writing bug! The short stories led to a 80k woman's fiction story and then I finally found my home in children's writing. I sometimes wish I had started writing fiction earlier but I guess the time just wasn't right.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-42683242556211653692019-12-04T16:23:00.000+00:002019-12-04T16:23:16.430+00:00IWSG (December 2019)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Top Site for Writers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR5eQEq7Xxi18fR7HjkdFHinAT-kKPK-2JhW3RaL40g_s-2cMrWocemUyVJ3L6nxosOzbJzQN6P3FcySb9hUezfiNrErvhI17GEahZg8UhZVMQBYzzvEUaQtPL71eqNT4LEwdwr7vo8hx/s175/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks as ever to <a href="https://mailchi.mp/96655f5a6d32/november-iwsg-2469525?e=f2223a7005">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://tonjadrecker.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Tonja Drecker,</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Beverly Stowe McClure,</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://nickielson.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Nicki Elson,</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a _blank="" href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/%E2%80%9Dtarget=" style="background-color: white; color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Fundy Blue,</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Tyrean Martinson</a></span></div>
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It's that time of year again when we all get reflective about the things we have achieved and the things that really didn't work out as we hoped. The people we have meet on the way and those we have sadly said goodbye to.<br />
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Life seldom goes exactly to plan and is forever evolving and sending us in different directions. There have been good times and bad and I guess that is probably true for most of us.</div>
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Writing wise I seem to have been treading water. Writing, editing, submitting but I don't feel I have really moved forward. Although, of course, we are always learning and improving our craft so I guess that is progress!<br />
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My writing has garnered interest from a handful of agents/small publishers but it looks like I will be closing the year without any concrete news. Although, as I write this, there are still a couple of weeks left so never say never! We never know what might be around the corner.<br />
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Looking ahead, I plan to keep on writing and trying. I am working on a first draft of another story so hopefully I will complete that over the coming months. I will also keep submitting my completed works as opportunities appear.<br />
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I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for your visits and comments to this little blog over the last year. I haven't always been actively blogging but I enjoy the monthly round up of IWSG.<br />
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If you celebrate, I wish you all good wishes for the coming holiday season.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-72531384718509971202019-10-02T16:18:00.000+01:002019-10-02T16:18:24.889+01:00IWSG (OCTOBER)I've had an interesting and busy writing month. I took part in the first online writing conference #WOWCON. The brilliant initiative of Stuart White and #Writementor. If you write for children or YA you should definitely check the group out on Twitter. I learned lots and connected with writers at all stages of their writing journey and many industrial professionals. I had my first agent 1-2-1 which was really insightful. It's helped me polish my Cornish fantasy manuscript and I will soon be in a position to start a round of submissions.<br />
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My previous manuscript which is already out on submission has received some interest from an agent and a small publisher. YAY! Time will tell if anything will progress but it is all great for giving a much needed boost of confidence.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OPTIONAL QUESTION</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think it is important to read extensively, especially in the genre you are writing. I guess there is always the chance that your writing will pick up influences from other books and writers but as long as you aren't trying to become a copy of their work I think it is useful to see how other writers approach things. It is great to help you understand what works or doesn't work for you. It is also a good idea to know what the current market is like. But most importantly of all, I love reading and can't imagine my life without books in it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to </span><a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.com/" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Alex</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> for hosting the IWSG and this months fabulous co-hosts </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=a4ca772181&e=f2223a7005" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Ronel Janse van Vuuren,</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=321dc3effe&e=f2223a7005" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Mary Aalgaard,</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=a7c41f2c1c&e=f2223a7005" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Madeline Mora-Summonte,</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=b1bd5352b2&e=f2223a7005" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor</span></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-7207395857080411112019-09-04T16:41:00.000+01:002019-09-04T16:41:26.022+01:00IWSG (Sept 2019)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="IWSG Badge" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVfcREDZDDdahryTp8wQgRn28s0EjecuiUBNG1JdyaYQuxonAKSpGNM4LcZQegx-LuJrajm0TOSeykfBfMU2xd485ChKbRnEhR83TsFbUu9qfjP9ka9zN8Dte_wcftlACOm_bh-YkXMA/s1600-r/Insecure+Writers+Support+Group+Badge.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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Thanks to <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=9b9b0226c2&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Gwen Gardner,</a></span>
<a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=184ccf4207&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Doreen
McGettigan,</span></a> <a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=73094d297e&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Tyrean
Martinson,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=be8bb5602c&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Chemist Ken,</span></a>
and <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=e876bd9ec1&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Cathrina
Constantine</span></a></span></div>
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September is upon us already and here in the UK the days are getting shorter and the temperatures have dropped. It's also back to the day job for me today!<br />
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Working in school means that August is my time for a change of pace and the chance to explore new things. And this year in particular I was certainly in need of some downtime!<br />
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I've been lucky enough to have some time away, which was great. Uninterrupted time to read, write and relax. Perfect. Consequently, I have managed to finish polishing a manuscript and this is now ready to send out. Fingers crossed it is well received. I also started a new story which I am trying to plan and research. I am normally a real pantser so I am desperately trying to become better at planning! Any tips gratefully received . . .<br />
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This month's IWSG question is:<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why? </b></div>
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For me it would probably be in a small cottage on Dartmoor. I try and visit a couple of times a year for a day or two. I love the expanse of countryside, walking on the moors, the air tinged with heather and bracken and cows, sheep and ponies to pass the time of day with! It can be bleak and foggy but that can be atmospheric in it's own right. I enjoy the quiet, I always work best without distraction, and the fresh air and views are inspiring.<br />
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Where would you choose?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-25764084710381390552019-07-27T09:21:00.000+01:002019-07-27T09:21:05.084+01:00Chill time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone, Just a quick post to say I'm taking a short hiatus. Plans to write, read and generally take some time away are the order of the day. I should be back for September IWSG, until then, good wishes to you all and hope you are enjoying your summer.<br />
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<i>Please note; comments are switched off for now.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-18956384669540255322019-07-03T07:33:00.001+01:002019-07-03T07:33:21.893+01:00IWSG (July)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left; width: 100%px;">
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<span style="background: rgb(255 , 255 , 255); color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=8df5c85971&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Erika Beebe,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=c2890e1a92&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;">Natalie Aguirre,</span></a> <a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ac5a180c47&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #007c89;">Jennifer Lane,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=8d0a720102&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;">MJ Fifield,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=dbaa75ed43&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89;">Lisa Buie-Collard,</span></a> and <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=2a15056a2f&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm running scared this month. Scared I won't be able to write anymore. Scared that a part of me is lost. Dramatic? Well, yes, maybe a little, but it is a fear that is increasingly niggling away at me. Due to a variety of reasons; illness, work, daughter getting married(!) I haven't added any words to my current WIP or worked on the edits on a previous project, for several weeks and I guess I'm worried that I won't be able to write anymore. That somehow my writing muscles will have ceased up through non-use. And I am aware that I am sort of procrastinating a bit now too, even though I really want to get back into it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the plus side, the summer is usually my most productive time as I have several weeks off from my school job. In three weeks I will hopefully have time to dedicate to my writing and I am looking forward to that. However, much like any form of exercise, I feel my writing muscles need a little warm up rather than dive straight back into hours of writing at a time. I think I'm going to set myself some small targets over the next couple of weeks to break me back in gently. Perhaps start with some editing, just a page or so to begin and build up, I should be able to manage that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has anyone else suffered with this kind of fear? Any advice or reassurance greatly received!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you for stopping by to read my IWSG post, I look forward to visiting your blogs and hearing what you have all been up to lately or your latest writing achievements or struggles.</span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-20483887221327526682019-06-04T20:29:00.001+01:002019-06-04T20:29:18.018+01:00IWSG (June)Sorry, I won't be able to participate in the IWSG this month. My daughter is getting married on Saturday and things are a little hectic here!<br />
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All the best everyone. Will catch you next month. (Please note I have turned off comments for this post)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-21498982707412827092019-05-01T18:48:00.000+01:002019-05-01T18:48:21.036+01:00IWSG (May 2019)<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's team of co-hosts: <strong style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=236c4f3ce6&e=f2223a7005" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; font-weight: normal;">Lee Lowery,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7290f98f50&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; font-weight: normal;">Juneta Key,</span></a> <a _blank="" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=913d7ce4c6&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; font-weight: normal;">Yvonne Ventresca,</span></a></span></strong><span style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"> and </span><strong style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=d4f49de413&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">T. Powell Coltrin</a></span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Writing is hard - s</span><span style="text-align: center;">ome days I wonder why I do it! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box !important;">-Thomas Mann</span><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box !important;">Essays of Three Decades</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Trouble is, I can't really imagine my life without doing it! I feel like I am truly me when I write and when it is going well it is the best feeling in the world. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">"I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn."</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box !important;">-Anne Frank</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">But I am suffering with some self-doubt right now. Can I plot a new story idea and find the words to bring the idea to life? I've actually got two ideas in the early stages, I've done a few thousands words on each of them. Right now I'm not sure which one to focus on and with both of them the plot is feeling quite fragile. I know I'm a pantser but I am trying to change and map out the plot.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.012em; text-indent: -0.32em;"><span style="color: purple;">“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">― Sylvia Plath</span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-42961381728978845902019-03-06T07:38:00.001+00:002019-03-06T07:38:24.936+00:00IWSG (March 2019)<br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts: </span><strong style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7248865442&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Fundy Blue,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=6e6ad3f7c8&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Beverly Stowe McClure,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=302e58fde2&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Erika Beebe,</span></a> </span></strong><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">and<strong> <span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=60117a6865&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Lisa Buie-Collard</a></span></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">OPTIONAL</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> IWSG Day Question: </span></strong><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What an interesting question this month, it will be fun to read the answers! I write from the protagonist's view. This point of view seems to be the natural way for me to tell the stories I write. I have written single POV and once did a triple POV. I've even written as a ghost and an imaginary friend but I can't think of an occasion I went for the antagonist. It might be fun to have a go sometime though!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This last month I have added some words to a new project and done some editing on another. I was delighted to be long listed in the Write Mentor Children's Novel. The wait is on to see if my manuscript gets any further in the competition which would be lovely. However, just making a long list is a big achievement and it is always nice to get some validation for our writing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by today, I look forward to reading all your writing news and thoughts this month.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-75620515741397767482019-02-06T07:38:00.002+00:002019-02-06T07:38:31.943+00:00IWSG (Feb 2019)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><strong style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=1bfbadccaf&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Raimey Gallant,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7688808a39&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Natalie Aguirre,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=088d5c1bf5&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">CV Grehan,</span></a> </span></strong><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">and<strong> <span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=35079dfee7&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Michelle Wallace</a></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I last posted I have finished reworking a manuscript and I'm nearly ready to start sending it out into the world. This will be the fifth full length MG manuscript I have subbed and I'm starting to wonder if I will ever get any further along the road to finding an agent. I have had several 'near misses' and a good dollop of positive feedback and competition placements in the past but I just don't seem to be get to that next step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The good thing about having several polished manuscripts is that I can have something out on submission all the time, meaning I could <i>potentially</i> hear good news at any time. More chances has to be a good thing, right? However, as any writer out on submission knows, the waiting is HARD. It can consume your thoughts and occasionally actually zaps your creativity making it tough to write anything new. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have started drafting a new project and I want to be able to continue working on this whilst on submission, I just hope the creative juices will flow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're in a similar position, how do you cope with being on submission long term? And have you ever felt like giving up your writing dreams?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">WSG Day Questio</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">n: </span></strong><span style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Besides writing, what other creative outlets do you have? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I'm not sure I really have any other creative outlets. Writing is number one for me between work, family and other commitments I don't really have time for anything else at the moment.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-5293471404322980692018-12-05T19:02:00.000+00:002018-12-05T19:02:40.190+00:00IWSG (DEC 18)<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and </span></strong></span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Co-Hosts:</strong></span></span><strong style="text-align: center;"> <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=aa940bb745&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">J.H. Moncrieff,</a> <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=1a176b58d3&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Tonja Drecker ,</a> <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=5b8de2c537&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Patsy Collins,</a> </strong><span style="text-align: center;">and</span><strong style="text-align: center;"> <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=603df171e5&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Chrys Fey</a></strong></span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">So, we find ourselves at the last IWSG of 2018 - can you believe it?! I certainly can't, the months have just galloped by and I feel like I haven't really been on top of things with my blog for a while. Alongside work and family commitments I have been writing and editing as much as I can and I check in with Twitter almost daily, but finding the time to put together a proper post has slipped down my 'to do' list of late. If I haven't managed to visit your blog recently, please accept my apologies.</span></span></span></div>
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There's been some chat around Twitter recently about writing spaces/rooms. I love seeing other writers' special places. As my family has grown-up a spare bedroom became available and I tried to create a special writing space. I set up my laptop, pens and pads, post-its, inspiring pictures and a scented candle. All went well for a while, till daughter returned and reclaimed the room as a study for her own ongoing studies! Ah well, nice while it lasted!</div>
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At the moment I have set up at the dining room table. It isn't too bad as we also have a table in the kitchen so only use the 'best room' when we have visitors so I can leave my things out most of the time - I expect I'll be vacating it over the Christmas period though!</div>
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As to what I like to have around me apart from my laptop. There will be notepads and several coloured pens and highlighters. Index cards which I use for keeping track of characters and places. Folklore books and sheets of online research. A mug of tea or chamomile tea. Snack of choice is usually chocolate. At the moment there is also a basket of ironing and some Christmas baubles! One thing I really like is peace and quiet. I'm not a writer who works well with music or lots of noise around me.</div>
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I'm interested to hear what other writers like to have around them when they write. I bet there's a lot of you who disagree with me on the music front!</div>
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Thank you for stopping by today.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-8022015721089476522018-11-07T19:51:00.001+00:002018-11-07T19:52:36.208+00:00IWSG (November)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;">Co-Hosts:</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=b0efc011d5&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=324213a140&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Ann V. Friend,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=e736140ce1&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">JQ Rose,</span></a> </span></strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;">and<strong> <span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=91739e1331&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Elizabeth Seckman</a></span></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"><strong>Sorry, I'm unable to take part in IWSG this month. Have fun all, hopefully back next month. </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"><strong>Thank you for stopping by, I have disabled comments for this post today. </strong></span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-54688221450510992262018-10-03T16:33:00.000+01:002018-10-03T16:33:12.561+01:00IWSG (October)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks as ever to <a href="http://alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;">Co-Hosts this month: </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=f1248f7b0d&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Dolorah @ Book Lover,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=c24f4a58c3&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Christopher D. Votey,</span></a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=c9785de67e&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Tanya Miranda,</span></a> and<a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=edf12d6b91&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;">Chemist Ken</span></a></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Question: </span></span></strong><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll answer the second part of this question first - Yes, writing has helped me hugely over the years when dealing with some painful experiences. From the rather awkward and naive attempts at poetry as a teenager trying to make sense of relationships and the sudden loss of my father, to the MG manuscript I wrote five years ago after losing my mother following a long illness. There is no doubt that having that manuscript to escape to was much needed and although I haven't really done much with it, I have recently been thinking about it and wondering whether I should revisit it and work on it some more. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a non-fiction note, I find that writing down my thoughts and feelings is a good way to process things - usually, this writing is for my eyes only!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, on the flip-side, I have experienced periods of stress that have smothered my creativity and the words have dried up for a while. When this happens I try not to panic as this only makes me more stressed! At times like this I allow myself a break from writing to re-charge that side of me until the urge to write overtakes me again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif;">I am definitely thankful to have writing in my life!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-13459635711637468742018-09-05T07:39:00.003+01:002018-09-05T07:39:36.387+01:00IWSG (Sept) & other news<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hi everyone, September arrives and with it the reflections of summer and all the things I have done (and not done) over the year so far! Blogging for me has taken a bit of a back-seat this year, although I visit others more than I post myself, carving out the time to sit and put together even a shortish post worth reading, has proved more challenging. Not only in respect of the time but also the inspiration!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been writing, reading, researching, plotting, submitting and waiting and I think there are only so many ways to talk about this here without boring you all! I can often be found around Twitter though so feel free to join me there @SuzanneFurness if you don't already. That said, I do like to try and join in with the Insecure Writer's Support Group so thanks as ever to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and the other administrators for hosting this wonderful group. It's good to share and support each other because, as we all know, writing can be a lonely business if you don't connect with others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In non-writing news, I took a weeks holiday to Croatia recently which was great. A chance to unwind and relax. Swim, read, eat and all the usual holiday things! It is a beautiful country and we met some lovely people. I am missing my breakfast table view! (pictured below). We swam in waterfalls, swimming pools and the warmest, clearest sea. Oh yes, and for those Game of Thrones fans among you . . . you might recognise a couple of these places! I don't watch it myself, but the view from there was amazing so well worth a visit! And more for movie fans - did you know that Mammia Mia Here We Go Again was filmed on the Croatia island of Vis? We took a boat trip around several of the islands which are really beautiful and saw Vis from a distance but didn't get to stop there this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">School started back yesterday, so after six weeks off, it is back to the day job for me. I'm ready to see what the Autumn term will bring. Thanks for visiting . . . </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Co-Hosts: </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=899106c2c4&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Toi Thomas,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=d4f8f230ba&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">T. Powell Coltrin,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ceaac5286b&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">M.J. Fifield,</a> and <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=433b4ac3e8&e=f2223a7005" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Tara Tyler</a></span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-51886799004997783112018-08-01T07:40:00.000+01:002018-08-01T07:40:38.008+01:00IWSG (August)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 150%;">Thanks as ever to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex </a> and this month's co-hosts: </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=56bf93ebda&e=f2223a7005" style="color: #202020; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf;">Erika Beebe,</span></a><span style="color: #202020;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=a764be3b7e&e=f2223a7005" style="color: #202020; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf;">Sandra Hoover,</span></a><span style="color: #202020;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=543d9185d8&e=f2223a7005" style="color: #202020; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2baadf;">Susan Gourley,</span></a><span style="color: #202020;"> and </span><span style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=57ae3add88&e=f2223a7005" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lee Lowery</span></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer with plenty of opportunities for writing and catching up with reading. It has been very hot in the UK (apologies to those who normally live in warmer climes but we are not so used to it here!) I do like it, it is so lovely to wake up to the sun shining and not to have to think about taking a coat everywhere but I know a lot of folks are finding it harder to cope with and our once green lands are looking decidedly brown at the moment. And of course, we cannot fail to have heard about the terrible fires that have resulted around the globe. We did have a rainy weekend here though, for which the plants and wildlife are grateful.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My summer didn't start so well this year when my husband was taken into hospital for an emergency operation, but thankfully he is well on the mend now. Life knocks you sideways sometimes.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am delighted to report that my latest MG manuscript is now finished, edited and ready to query to agents! I'm so happy to have got here again as there have been times when I doubted myself. This is the fourth MG manuscript I have completed and tried to find an agent for. I am really hoping that the odds are in my favour this time. My writing has improved and I have learnt so much over the last few years. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this is a positive post today. A little celebration of the end of another story. What comes next, well, I'll just have to wait and see. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't really give any specific advice as I am still on this particular journey myself, but I can say that one of the biggest things to find is the persistence and resilience to keep getting up and carrying on when all you seem to hear are doors slamming in front of you. Anyone who's been there knows how hard it can be. Prepare yourself for a long haul flight! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by today and reading. Just to let you know it will probably be Friday or over the weekend before I get to return comments and visits. I am off to do some walking today and tomorrow, so computer access is likely to be limited!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-62182990408756392922018-06-06T07:38:00.001+01:002018-06-06T07:38:39.058+01:00IWSG (June)<div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts <strong style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=77be43c278&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Beverly Stowe McClure,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=0a7ee52bed&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Tyrean Martinson,</a> and <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a348484d5&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor</a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>IWSG Day Question: What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interesting question and one I don't really have an answer for! I have had names and book titles pop right up fully formed and I've had times when I've changed both during the course of writing the story. I do like names to have a connection to the story and I will research the meaning of different names. Sometimes the name generator sites are good for sparking ideas for names and places when writing about a fantasy setting. In my current ms my female protagonist's name came to me before I wrote a word of the story or had any real idea of any plot! In case anyone is interested, that name is Esme Starling. It's magical realism meets fantasy. Not sure if that is a particular genre!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've not been around the blogosphere much of late. I've been struggling to feel inspired to write long posts, choosing instead to focus all my creative energies on my ms. I'm deep into edits with it at the moment and it is taking shape which probably means much of my available writing time will be focused on that. Between the day job, volunteering and the general stuff of life finding time for everything can be challenging sometimes! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would love to have the ms polished and submission ready by the end of the summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I check in on Twitter more regularly so feel free to catch me there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other non-writing news, I am helping my eldest daughter plan a wedding. It's for next June but amazing what needs to be booked and sorted well in advance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've been doing some decorating at home and updating the floor in our hall and kitchen. We are really pleased with it so far. And yes there is a hint of purple in there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by, I will hop around over the next day or two and catch up with folks. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-28850472826579255852018-04-04T08:49:00.000+01:002018-04-04T08:49:14.543+01:00IWSG (April 2018)<div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="http://www.alexjcavangh.com/">Alex</a> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and this month's co-hosts:</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=66ce675bc6&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olga Godim,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=747f05f5b5&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chemist Ken,</a> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ca1eec3749&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Renee Scattergood,</a> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ac16cefebf&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="outline: none;" target="_blank">Tamara Narayan</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First off this month, I am pleased to report that I have completed the draft I have been working on! Yay! At times, over the last few months it has been hard to imagine getting to this point but my confidence in myself feels renewed and I am eager to start working on the draft now. To give myself a push in the right direction, next week I am going away for a few days peace and quiet on Dartmoor so hopefully I will have less distractions and the luxury of some dedicated writing time. I can't wait!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also hope to get in some walks on the moors soaking up some atmosphere and, of course, fresh air.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore, this month, I am feeling a little less insecure than of late. Long may the feeling continue!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of which leads nicely on to this month's optional question . . . </span><br />
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<b style="color: #202020;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It can be hard sometimes to keep on pushing yourself to find the words and commit them to paper or screen. This is exactly how I have felt for the last six months or so. Despondency set in and the little voice in my head kept taunting me with self-doubt . . . the one that yells; </span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>You'll never be good enough. You're deluding yourself if you think you can succeed. See, another rejection, which just proves what we've been telling you . . . </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It wasn't just a bit of drizzle either, some days it felt like I was in the middle of a raging storm!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BUT, I did dig deep and push on and now the sun is starting to poke its head through the rain clouds. I'm not sure I've got any magic secret to pass on, except the total and unwavering desire to succeed one day. I knew I had to finish this draft if I had any hope of having a new manuscript to sub. I did take a break, life and other issues got in the way anyway for a while, but as soon as I was able, I sent the partially written draft to my kindle (I find this a great way to read as it gives me a different perspective) and read through what I'd got. And guess what? It wasn't nearly as awful as I thought! There was definitely something there and slowly I started to make some notes and then it gathered pace. I won't lie, it was hard work, but if you want something badly enough you got to keep going. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst all this was going on, I was still sending out other completed work and, hidden within the rejections was some really positive comments and feedback which also gave my confidence a much needed boast. Sometimes, just knowing you have been close to an offer is huge. It really made me think, I can't give up now! So, I would say, if you can send out work, whether that's short stories, poems, or novel length pieces, do it. . . because you never know what may just lie around the corner.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wishing you all a happy writing month.</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-72241409727766984242018-03-07T07:29:00.001+00:002018-03-07T07:29:54.164+00:00IWSG (March 2018)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="196" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854/images/95b9ebd3-8554-4452-9f57-589b52f17b94.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks as ever to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex</a> and this month's co-hosts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=a6f9d75ce0&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Mary Aalgaard,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=08866cd8f6&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Bish Denham,</a><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=201b0573d3&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Jennifer Hawes,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=087630661b&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Diane Burton,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ce42a4a551&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; color: #2baadf; outline: none; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Gwen Gardner</a></span><br />
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First an update on last month's post! I have managed to write this month and it feels good. I know where the story is going so I feel more positive. Not quite finished the first draft but soo close now - maybe about three thousand words so should easily be achievable before our next posting!<br />
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I'm feeling a bit insecure about my blogging presence of late though. I seem to have slipped to posting only once or twice a month. I still enjoy interacting and visiting other blogs but coming up with my own posts has been trickier. I want to write a post because I feel inspired to do so rather than just produce something because I feel I have to. So, for now, I will probably continue in the same way. Does anyone else ever feel like this? Is it OK to just post when you feel like it or should I try for a better schedule? I would be interested to read your thoughts.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal / finish a story?</span></b></span><br />
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I can't say I do any one thing in particular but a bit of chocolate or glass of wine is always a nice little reward.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-83491167029188341732018-02-06T20:03:00.000+00:002018-02-06T20:03:33.643+00:00IWSG (February 2018)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="196" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854/images/95b9ebd3-8554-4452-9f57-589b52f17b94.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex J. Cavanugh</a> and this month's co-hosts: <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=99f4511702&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Stephen Tremp,</a><span style="color: #202020; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=29f7281e9d&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Pat Garcia,</a><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=9df59540e3&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Angela Wooldridge,</a><span style="color: #202020; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=c824bb6764&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Victoria Marie Lees,</a><span style="color: #202020; text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=e7548fb1b6&e=f2223a7005" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #2baadf; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Madeline Mora-Summonte</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am so insecure this month! I haven't been able to get myself into a writing groove this year. My WIP lies dormant on my computer and my protagonist has been desperately trying to escape the clutches of an owl witch since December! (Sorry Esme I will come back to you really soon, hang in there and don't give up on me!) I am only probably about 10,000 words from the end of the first draft, which is so close. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've been feeling down on myself and my writing I suppose - berating myself for my lack of success, thinking I'll never quite be good enough to get there. I need to reconnect and get to the end of the draft. I enjoy the editing and re-writing process so if I can push through the rest of the first draft I'm sure I will feel better about myself and my writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Onwards and upwards . . . </span><br />
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<strong style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: start;">IWSG Day Question: </strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><b>What do you love about the genre you write in most often?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;">I mainly write middle grade (8-12). I love writing for this age group as they are open to so many ideas and the themes in MG books are increasing wide and varied. I have read and admired so many fantastic authors of MG over the last year, it is definitely alive and well! Most of my stories include a fantasy element or magical realism. I am also a huge fan of myth and folklore and a lot weaves its way into my writing. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521754250583623909.post-34864376811334904892018-01-18T19:30:00.000+00:002018-01-18T19:30:27.068+00:00New Year UpdateI know I've been sorely lacking in my blogging of late. The new year is already nearly three weeks old and I am still trying to get myself into a routine that works for me and my commitments. I've been struggling with a few things and I have felt mentally exhausted and somewhat overwhelmed by life. I need to take a bit of 'me time' so I may continue to be a little sporadic over the next week or two.<br />
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Writing wise I am still working on a first draft. Progress has been slow over the last month but every sentence counts and I am determined to complete it as soon as practical. I enjoy the editing process so I am sure I will feel energised when I get to that stage! I have also subbed a couple of finished stories so projects still out in the big wide world!<br />
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It's my birthday tomorrow, so hopefully a nice meal out with the family will be in order this weekend.<br />
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I hope the new year has started well for you all and that 2018 brings you lots of happiness.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13