Get Snapping

I recently attended an excellent work shop run by Simon Whaley (pictured above) about how you can make money by taking even the most basic photographs. Magazines such as TAB and That's Life pay good money for just a photograph with very few words, so it's a great market to get into as well as producing pictures to accompany a full length article.

I have had some success in this area and on some occasions have been paid more for the photograph than I have the article.  I have a decent camera, though not an expensive SLR, it does have a few features on it that can produce a decent looking photograph.  I took the photo above of Simon photographing a random otter on Aberdovey beach last November.  It was a pure chance encounter of what is usually a very elusive creature and thank goodness we both had our cameras with us.  This has made me realise that it is a good idea to always have a camera to hand even if it is a phone one as you never know when these opportunities are going to present themselves.

Simon's workshop really made me want to try even harder. I love photography but have not pushed myself to develop my skills. For years I have been using the automatic setting on my camera instead of playing around and changing the various settings to get different effects.  His book Photography for Writers is an excellent tool to get anyone started on making money from a simple snapshot.

So, now I have read it cover to cover,  I have set myself a challenge that I am going to try and send a photograph to somewhere every week and see what happens.  

Blog Chain

I would like to thank Simon Whaley , bestselling Author, Writer and Photographer for making me part of this blog chain and Tracey Fells who started this particular blog chain off.  I like the idea of us all having a link in the chain and show what we are doing at a particular time of the year. I always get inspiration from other Writers so this is a great way of sharing what we are up to.

The idea is that we all asked a set of the same questions.  So here goes!

1) What am I working on?

At the moment I am writing a series of children's stories.  I think the way to go sometimes is to show a publisher that you have more than one book in you, so that is what I am trying to do.  I am just about to send the first one off but I have ideas for several stories using the same character.

I am also working on a lot of non-fiction ideas in the magazine market as I enjoy writing articles too.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I feel  that in my fiction writing, I  like to write magical stories set in real time and the real world ( though that may change one day) I like to have ordinary characters living a normal life where sometimes magical things happen to them. When I say to people I like to write children's stories I often get the answer ' So are you the next J K Rowling?' Well, as much as I would love to have her success, I know it will not happen as I do not write like her and could not even begin to try. I want to go my own way with my own work and hope that one day, my stories will reach a wider audience.

3)Why do I write what I do?

I am inspired by nature and animals, so that is always the starting point for me.  When I am in a particular place, I may see something - an animal, a landscape or perhaps a building, then I work my characters around it to develop a story.  

4) How does my writing process work?

This varies from day to day. I would love to say I have a set routine but I haven't.  I do always have a notebook to hand and have often had to pull in to a lay by while I have been driving if I have an idea that I don't want to forget. I love to scribble, even it it's one word or a sentence that makes me want to build on it and create a story or an article later on.

Most of the time I start writing notes by hand then transfer them to the computer. Yet with blogging I prefer to get stuck in straight away.

So that is where I pass this blog chain over and I would like to nominate Carrole Anne Carr, a very successful author and writer of Children's stories.  This includes 'First Wolf'  a wonderful Children's novel which has been a great success   http://caroleannecarr.blogspot.co.uk/

For once I am feeling SMART

I attended a wonderful workshop yesterday run by Simon Whaley. http://www.simonwhaley.co.uk/ . Simon was launching his tenth book - The Positively Productive Writer and so the work shop was based around being positive in your writing goals.

The 'S.M.A.R.T' tool he was using on the flip chart is one I am very familiar with as I have to use this every day with my work but it was so refreshing to apply it to my writing goals.

Simon mentioned that we should see our goals as a journey with several stops on the way. This means it never seems so daunting when we set a goal for the future as by taking little steps it makes it a more comfortable and achievable ride.

I have mentioned in previous posts that I have set myself a few goals this year, mainly of trying to publish two of my books onto kindle. When I first said that I would do this I was a little scared but by applying the SMART technique to both of my goals below, I feel a lot more confident in starting off and working towards them.

S. Are my goals specific? Yes - I want to publish two books on kindle.

M. Are they measurable? Yes, I use my year planner and check list to see where I am.

A. Are they achievable? Yes, if I focus on these two things and research what I need to do.

The only stumbling block is that I have to try and illustrate the non-fiction book myself. This feels a bit daunting but I want to give it a go.

R. Are they realistic? Yes, It is possible to publish a book onto kindle fairly easily. I have left enough time in between each project so feel it is possible.

T. Are they timely? Yes, I need to get one out before the summer Olympics and the novel out by mid autumn. The books have strict time bound subjects, especially the non-fiction book.

So there you have it, for once I do feel smart. I will give both of these goals a go. I do not expect them to be a massive success but I will feel that I have been positive for aiming for them in the first place.

The Book Nook makes space for Shropshire Writers

I attended the Local Authors Book Fair on the 27th March. The Book Nook in Newport, Shropshire arranged for 19 local authors to gather and sell books and give talks about publishing and writing. Alison, owner of the shop arranged for some writers to give talks up on stage or huddle for an informal gathering to talk about what we love doing most - Writing!

I shared a table with my Mom, which was wonderful, and it was close to Simon Whaley, who will probably need more than one table next time as he has written so many books.

It was so wonderful to have time to chat. Simon is always willing to give so much advice at these events. I felt like I had been on a mini workshop with my head crammed full of brilliant advice after talking to him.

Then a first experience for me and Mom too! We got a few people asking for our advice on writing! I was a bit daunted to start with - who am I to give advice? But I think we got through it in the end and set them on the right path.



I enjoy these events because I love mingling and talking to other writers. I was so excited when I met Karen Lowe (the lady in the red jacket) I bought her book 'Witches and Warriors' nearly ten years ago, it's all about local folk lore in Shropshire, and to meet her was wonderful. I couldn't believe it, but now feel a little embarrassed at my excitement when I said 'Oh my god - you wrote that?' She is a lovely lady and I was very pleased to meet her.

Helen Leathers is the lady on her right, I met her through the WIRE network group. Women in rural enterprise is a wonderful networking group for any women who are in business. I felt a bit odd to start with as I did not feel that writing was a business, but I did get a lot of useful advice.

Helen has written many books about the spiritual outlook, and getting the most out of our life. I enjoyed chatting to her so much as this is a subject I am interested in too.



I got goose pimples talking to the the next lady and her husband.

Catherine Cooper writes what I want to read! OK, so I am not a child, but I love the sort of stories she writes. Magical stories, set in our magical Shropshire. Her display was wonderful. She told me the plot of her novel 'The Golden Acorn' set around the Wrekin in Wellington, and within a few minutes, she brought it to life by using her hand made props including a model of a raven, a cauldron, and a golden acorn. I was captivated by just listening to her and had to buy her book before the end of the event.



I could not leave out my own Mom on this post. Author of Gentlemen of the River.
She said she enjoyed this event more than her own personal book signing event last December. She loved chatting to people too. She made this sale as shown above, then went off for a while into Newport to get a sandwich. On her return, she delighted in telling me that she had gone to another book shop in town and sold three copies of her book to the owner!



It was a lovely event and though I only sold two copies of my book, it was a wonderful experience. To sit next to my Mom selling our books and talking to some of the most interesting people in Shropshire about our passion for writing is something that every writer should do.