Celebrate the small things

Thanks to our new host Lexa and her co-hosts L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge

Katie @ TheCyborgMom

How the weeks do slip by! It's Friday again already and time to reflect on the past week. 

I think my main celebration this week has got to centre around my writing. After a couple of weeks of achieving little progress, this week I've managed two really good writing sessions and hopefully there will be the chance for another over the weekend. Consequently, I feel I am really moving forward with the editing on my Cornish Fantasy novel and getting closer to completion. Following some editorial advice, I now feel the story is much stronger and the characters more fleshed out. There is still some work to do, but we are heading in the right direction. If I'm not around so much over the next couple of weeks it probably means I'm still deep in the editing cave. While the words are flowing I'm going to give it all I've got!

Thanks to Deanie for the nomination.

I haven't accepted any of these awards recently but the lovely Deanie over at Thoughts and Ideas nominated me to take part in the Inspiring Blogger Award. This award involves talking about something that has inspired you recently. And something did inspire me this very week, so I thought I would tell you about it.

I went to see the Stephan Hawking film The Theory of Everything. I thought it was simply amazing. The acting was brilliant, particularly Eddie Redmayne and I left the cinema in tears but truly inspired. A lesson for us all in strength and courage through adversity.

Please forgive me not nominating any other blogs at the moment but if you would like to share your inspirational moments please do. Thanks again, Deanie.

Celebrate the small things

It was my birthday this week - another year older not sure about the wiser! Next year will be one of those milestone birthdays, *gulps.* and I'm not really sure I feel grown up enough for it. My two lovely girls gave me this card and I so want to be 'THAT!!' 

Although it was a work day, so no lie-ins or special breakfasts, it was a good day. Eldest daughter cooked dinner and we spoke to the youngest, who is away at University, on Skype. Presents included a new coat (chosen by myself so it is quite purple!), a voucher for a pedicure, a pretty wash bag, various toiletries, scented candles and flowers. I felt quite spoilt.

This post is part of the Celebrate the small things weekly hop. With thanks to our new host Lexa and a co-hosts; L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Katie @ TheCyborgMom

Thanks for stopping by and happy weekend everyone.

  

Celebrate the Small Things

So glad this blog hop is continuing thanks to the lovely Lexa Cain and co-hosts L.G.Keltner and Katie. 

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank Viklit for being a wonderful host for the past two years. It is such a simple way to remind ourselves of all those small celebrations that are so easily forgotten. Why not join in and let the positive thoughts shine through! For full details and to sign up just head over to Lexa's blog.

This week I am celebrating;

* Getting back into exercise after the Christmas break. I have been doing yoga for a few years now and find it really beneficial. I only took up aerobiking last Autumn but it is good for the legs! I went on Wednesday and I can certainly feel it! 

* Central heating and thick jumpers. Brrrrr .....

* I have planned a writing session for this evening. Looking forward to a couple of quiet hours to work on my ms editing. 

Happy weekend everyone.

First IWSG of 2015

Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's lovely co-hosts;

Elizabeth Seckman,Lisa Buie-Collard, Chrys Fey, and Michelle Wallace

As the year stretches out before me I can't help wondering what it holds for my writing.I have been working for a while on my latest project. An MG fantasy adventure set in Cornwall. The first draft was completed last summer. I sent it out to readers and received some encouraging feedback and some helpful suggestions. This last few months I have been editing and rewriting and. I am really happy about the way it is progressing. I am aiming to have a completed ms over the next few weeks and I am excited about that.

But then comes the next scary part ..... the submission process.

And that is where the insecurities and doubts set in. Where should I submit? Agents, publishers or both? There are only a handful of suitable UK publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts, I have a couple in mind, and I may well submit to them, but so many only look at agented work so ideally I would love to find an agent. 

I know rejection is to be expected, I have dealt with it many times as I know most of you have too, but I really, really want to get a yes this time. I love the story and the characters and I think it offers something new, but will it find a home somewhere? It is a tough market out there, so many writers with great stories to share, only a few make it. The odds are stacked against us. We are told time and time again that it's about finding a new angle, having a unique voice and writing the story you would want to read.

My story features characters from Cornish folklore, many of which will be unfamiliar, and so therefore it should be fresh and interesting. But it is not just a traditional fantasy. One of the main characters has lost her father in an accident and so the story shows how she copes with bereavement.The anger and sadness, that not only effects her, but her mother and brother too. Having lost my own father suddenly when I was a similar age I feel well able to 'get inside' the character's head. Whilst it is no way about me, it is a subject I think I can write about well, with compassion and understanding.

I think I have written a well plotted story. One with the right balance between realism and fantasy. But I will only really know when I send it out and see what sort of response, if any, I get! 

So I start the new year in a state of mixed emotion. Swinging from excitement to trepidation. I will finish the ms and write the best story I can. If nothing else I can be proud of that fact.I will put on my armour to protect me from the rejections that are likely to follow whilst holding onto the believe and hope that the good news I long for is around the corner.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you have a successful and productive writing year ahead.