So what! It's raining!

I know this dreadful weather is getting on every one's nerves, but today it really worked for me. I had originally booked this day off work in January in the hope that I would get a day pottering about in the garden and sunbathing with the chickens, but it was not to be. When I saw the pelting raindrops beating against my window first thing this morning, I decided I would turn it into writing day.

I started by re-working a children's story and getting it ready for submission next week.

I have also had a go at my first 'Writers CV'.

Working in a Jobcentre, I am looking at CV's all the time, but to produce a 'Writers CV' of my own was so hard. It's so different to a work CV but with the much appreciated help of Simon Whaley, I have now come up with something that I hope to use in the future when sending off a submission that requires one.

Most places don't even ask for a CV but I was thrown the other day when I wanted to send an idea to them and they asked for one.

I am quite pleased with my result ( it even went over two pages!) and hope that it will get longer in time if I enjoy more writing success.

So, I guess this post is about using the weather to help our writing. If you enjoy sunshine,snow,wind or even rain - let it inspire you to come up with ideas - on the other hand it may keep you inside to get those ideas onto paper!

Stepping back to get a wider picture

I want to begin this post by thanking Julie Phillips who has really inspired me to work in a different way with my writing.

She started a forum where writers can analyse a piece of writing and give comments such as title, word length, structure, main character, pace etc, whatever you want to comment on really.

I read several short stories and found one that I particularly liked so had a go and found that I really enjoyed the exercise. Julie then posted my feed back onto her new private blog called 'Analyse this'. (see 'Julie's Quest' for details.)

The wonderful thing is that it made me take a step back and look at my own writing by using the same method. I now feel inspired to dig out some of my rejected stories, re-work them and send them off again.