It's Nano time again

I wasn't going to take part in NaNoWrimo this year. Although I found the crazy challenge of writing a novel in 30 days exciting and even enjoyable last year, this time I felt that I didn't have another novel in me.

I am so glad that has changed and it was all due to me attending the Wrekin Writers workshop which was part of the Wellington literary festival.

Kate Long, bestselling author of 'The Bad Mother's Handbook', ran an excellent work shop on creating characters at speed which I found so useful but it was the warm up exercise that got me inspired and gave me the thirst to keep on writing without stopping. The exercise was simply to start with the line ' I remember' and when I started writing, my pen didn't leave the page. It was a great feeling as I scribbled down everything 'I could remember' and the words just seemed to flow out of me.

I chose a personal topic that has been a part of my life since I was a child and so I was able to write without even thinking about it, I loved the feeling of putting pen to paper and not even questioning what I was writing down - because it was real.

During the break I talked to Bryan Vaughan, a very successful Nano participant and very talented writer. His enthusiasm got to me while we were talking but again, I still didn't have the desire to enter.

But then a few days later something happened to change my mind when inspiration struck.  I love those days when something literally does pop into your head. I got that feeling the moment I woke up. An idea came to me and so I had the urge to enter NanoWrimo again and write another story.  The difference with this one is it will be a true story.  The story of 'Chad' my beatufiul horse that has been a friend to me since I was aged 14.  We have grown up together and shared a lifetime of experiences, most of them wonderful and some of them dreadful.  He has seen me go from a horse mad teenager with plaits to a horse mad middle aged woman with a bob and I have seen a true gentleman grow old while still having a passion for chocolate and polo mints.   

I have never until now thought about 'true life' stories so this is very different for me, I am not a famous person and Chad is only a part of my own familiy life, to me that doesn't matter. It may not be a best selling novel but I do know that I can certainly write 50,000 words over 30 days about it.

So here goes, roll on the 1st November, I can't wait to start.

Glowing with inspiration

I have just spent the most wonderful weekend at our Wrekin Writers annual retreat. This year it was in the most magical setting near the sea at a beautiful cove called Cwmtydu. The house pictured below was incredible and I had to be firm with myself to get some writing done in between walks to the beach and enjoying the splendid grounds. The company was excellent too and I have to thank my fellow retreaters who have helped and advised me over the last few days. I always learn so much from them just through conversations while working or over the dinner table in the evening.

It was such an inspiring time, even the journey there made me change my plans as to what I wanted to do with my time. I was going to write some short stories but as as we were travelling close to Aberystwyth we saw a Red Kite. It immediately felt like it was sign for me to do something with my novel 'Red Kite' which I had left for months after receiving yet another rejection from a publisher. I realise now that this was not the best thing to do and I am determined to keep on this time, however many hurdles I have to encounter. The good thing about leaving it for a while was having a fresh approach so at least this was a positive side to my self-imposed defeatist attitude.

It was so great to read it with fresh eyes and start working on it again. I managed to go through the whole manuscript and make some important changes to hopefully improve its prospects in the future.

My big plan is to release it on Kindle in 2012 just to give it a chance and feel like I am doing something positive with it. I think by doing so I can move on, perhaps even start writing a sequel.

Who knows where it will take me but I am going to give it a go.

Local Author Event - W H Smith

I attended a local author event recently at W H Smith in Wellington. These events are a great way of meeting other writers as well has hopefully getting a sale or two!

I was very lucky to be sat right next to my own Mom, Phylis Blakemore who wrote 'Gentlemen of the River - The last Coracle men of the Severn Gorge' We had a lovely time chatting to customers and although we didn't sell loads of books, it was a lovely experience.

Pictured below is local author, Catherine Cooper. She was launching her new book 'Silver Hill' and has already enjoyed enormous success with her Jack Brennin series which will be turned into a film very soon.

It was so inspiring talking to her and this was the only chance I had to get a photograph as she had a constant stream of customers queuing to buy her books.




I didn't have to fight any queues off but I did make one sale which was lovely and I always appreciate the fact that a person is willing to pick up a copy and pay me for it. But that's not what it's all about. It gave me a great opportunity to spend several hours browsing the shelves and taking note on which writers are popular at the moment and which publishers they are using. This is so useful when preparing for my own future projects as I even found a new publisher that I may try submitting to.

I came away with a mind full of inspiration, a notebook crammed with information and enough money to buy a copy of the December issue of Writers Forum which has an article by Wrekin Writers very own Julie Phillips.

To me that's a sucess!

A Write Christmas!

The above two pictures may look like the typical antics of any Christmas party but this was NOT any party - it was the Wrekin Writers Christmas party!

Angeline and Sue are certainly getting into the mood while they attempt their gurning impression!





I had great pleasure in attending The Buckatree Hall hotel last weekend for our Writers Christmas dinner.

As well as the lovely company, it's a wonderful time to reflect over dinner what we have achieved and what we want to do next year. I felt so positive by talking with everyone about what our writing goals were for 2011

In the photo above (I'm the one with the antlers) I am with Julie Phillips who is a very talented writer and will be our new vice chair next year.

Below is Sue Horder-Mason - Chairperson giving an end of year speech. Sue has decided to step down next year and we all want to thank her for her wonderful contribution as Chairperson, she has done a brilliant job in her role. She has motivated us, inspired us, made us laugh and kept us all in order during our monthly meetings which can get a bit chaotic at times.




The group - after we had scoffed a three course lunch.




Simon Whaley was discussing the length of his novel here with Mike White - Well I guess that was what they were talking about!


I left feeling so happy after spending time with like-minded people. I love being part of this group and feel positive and determined to keep on writing through 2011.

Another door opens

I attended the Attingham book fair yesterday and met up with some of the most wonderful writers in Shropshire.

The fairy door above was given to me by Catherine Cooper, author of 'The Golden Acorn'. Her next book 'Glasruhen Gate' will be out very soon, and well worth a read if you are into magical,fantasy type novels.

I am sure her little pixie door will bring me more luck as it when I attended this this event




Above , Me trying to sell my books, I bought more than I sold, but that is the fun of event like this, just meeting other writers who are doing the same.

The second hand book sale was amazing too, so I had to spoil myself a little by purchasing a few items. It's an excellent and very cheap way of doing research. I found five children's books at 50 pence each, and as that's the genre I am trying to get into, I found it a real bargain to give me some material to study.




Molly and Bev above and Sue below with Fee behind on our Wrekin Writers stand. Our anthology was on sale. These were the previous years issues, but we have a new one every year and is so worth buying, we have a wonderful diversity of writing styles in the group. See the Wrekin Writers website for more details




Simon Whaley, below, fellow member of Wrekin Writers and Author of nine books! I think he was willing all the Dog lovers to walk past his stand and buy one of his books especially 'One Hundred Ways For A Dog To Train Its Human'



My Mom, Phyllis Blakemore, author of Gentlemen of the River - Last Coracle men of the Severn Gorge.




This is what it is all about. A handful of writers getting together to sell their work and talk to each other.

But as I said in the opening of this post, I had another door opened by just attending an event such as, and shows even if you do not sell any books on the day, it is still worth attending these venues.

On our way out, me and Mum asked if we could leave our marketing cards with the shop manager, as we wanted to ask if they would consider stocking our books on a permanent basis in the shop.

We had a wonderful discussion with the Manager who took our details and will be hopefully doing just that in the near future.

Well worth attending and very pleased to have yet another open door.

Drumming up some inspiration

Our monthly Wrekin Writers meeting was very different today. We had a drum workshop where we all got to play these incredible instruments. (I forgot the name of the drums we used so if anyone can remember, please do make a comment)

It's amazing just how inspiring it is to create such a sound. None of us had done it before, but as you can see from the video, the result is quite mesmerising. It really stirred my emotions and inspired me so much to write something. This will be our challenge for next month so I am already jotting ideas down.

I found it fascinating to learn some of the African songs and a little bit of the history of how the people would make these sounds for all sorts of occasions as they still do today. How wonderful it is to embrace different cultures by gathering together and making a sound that is so primeval all over the world.

Wrekin Writers fix it

I wanted to send a few flowers to say thank you to my fellow bloggers and Wrekin Writers who helped me yesterday. I had a horrible problem with my blog which had been taken over by horrible spam! I was so upset as I really thought everything had gone forever. I had been working on a post for ages when all of a sudden a load of adverts kept flashing onto the screen and would not let anyone access it.

But you came to my rescue via facebook and email with a fix that worked
( Bryan and Carole you are brilliant!)but thanks to everyone for giving me support. It was so lovely this morning to see people responding and I fixed it before even getting out of bed for work!

I had added a few gadgets to my blog. This seems to be quite a problem so beware of adding anything. I had a fish tank, a pet bat and a nature machine, I know that sound a bit excessive, but it apparently happens with all sorts of things, including those counter things so just be careful.

Thanks so much everyone
Di
xx

Two Shropshire Lasses

What a lovely end to my week off. The Shropshire Star came out last Friday and took this photo of me and Mom with our books. I am really pleased as it was in today's version of the Shropshire Star. It was so much fun, we got a fit of the giggles when the photographer was there.

It's been a real boost, and although my book was published ages ago, there is no harm in giving it a bit of a re-launch, and I am so proud of Mom with her lovely book that is doing really well.

I was back at work today, but had an email from a publisher when I got home who is prepared to read one of my children's stories. I am feeling on cloud nine tonight, so rather than the Monday blues, I think I will re-name it the Monday 'Whoo hoos!'

Di
x

A Fairy Tale

At our Christmas meeting of Wrekin Writers, Sue our Chairperson set us a fun challenge. We all had to write down what we would like in our Christmas Stocking. She then read them out and everyone had to guess who had said what. Some were easier than others, most people guessed mine correctly - a fairy inside a snow globe.

It was a great way of learning about someone's personality and I will use it in the future when trying to develop a fictional character.

But sometimes real life is even more magical than fiction.

My mom is always giving me tesco carrier bags full of things! I say things because in the past she has given me several pairs of large and very sensible knickers, dusters, dish cloths, bin bags, scissors, postage stamps, apples and carrots for the horses and chocolate.

Today was no exception. When I got home and unpacked the carrier bag, I found a large rope (this was in case I needed towing out of a hedge in the snow again which is another story that I will not go into now),carrots,apples,chocolate and something else. I unwrapped the tiny ball from the bubble wrap to find a fairy inside a snow globe!

Mom had been looking since the meeting to get me one and hoped to give it to me for Christmas but couldn't find one. The one that appeared magically inside the miscellany of goodies was the one I had given her years ago, she just thought that it was time this little fairy came back to me.

How magical is that?

Snowed under

Well here I am again. This morning the snow was very bad in South Shropshire. Most of the main roads were blocked due to accidents and heavy snow, making it impossible to get to work. However, I have used the time at home well.

I was really becoming snowed under with several years worth of writing magazines. I hate throwing any of them away, so decided to go through each issue and pick out the bits I need. I was amazed how useful this was. I divided them up into subjects such as dialogue, pitching, writing for children and general hints and tips. I also kept the letters to the editor as these provide a quick source of help and advice.

It was wonderful to see how many times members of Wrekin Writers have contributed in some way or another in Writing Magazine, Writers Forum, Link Magazine and Writers News, with numerous articles and letters from Simon Whaley, Julie Phillips, Sue Ross and Fee Smith. I also found an excellent leaflet on dialogue that Mike White had produced for a workshop he presented a few years ago, and Simon's booklet on article writing.

These items are a wonderful source of information, so thank you all for adding to my now bursting file which is packed with the information I need in a place I can find it.

On looking through all the copies of the writing mags, I also found how often the same topics were published over time, which is great as it means as long as we do our research, there is no reason that we can't submit similar articles after a suitable period, even if the subject has been tackled before.

Still snowing here, but at least my house is de-cluttered and I have room to collect even more writing stuff!