A GOOD WRITING WEEK

Is One of the Best Feelings Ever
I've had a good week and I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself (now there's the northern girl in me).
I'd made a promise to myself to start balancing out the time I spend writing fiction and non-fiction, with the hidden agenda of tipping it more towards fiction. March I have dedicated to that alone. But this week spurred on by the fast approaching end to a very short month, I have almost... almost met all my targets. By the 28th I hope I will have.
So what can I be proud of this week?

• Submitted three short stories for competitions and anthologies (total word count of around 9k words)
• Submitted a short descriptive piece of prose to a competition - (200 words)
• Submitted two non-fiction articles to the New Writer (accepted!) and Writers Forum (4k words)

And I've been rejigginig my websites/blogs. Both of my website stylers have not lived up to their promises so I've switched to good old faithful blogger. Easy to use and create a good web presence and have a virtual witter with any one who happens to drop by. So check them out below:

Writing Pad

Louise Charles

Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

PUBLISH AND BE DAMNED

Having the Courage of your Convictions
As writers we are constantly told to edit, proofread and polish. And good advice it is too. I've been working on a short story submission for an anthology. I buddied up with one of the gang on Writers Abroad - have I told you what a great place ithat is to be? Yes? Oh well, you've been reminded again. Anyway, Alyson and I swapped stories and provided feedback and comments a couple of times. It is so useful having someone else look at your work. Writers get too close to their projects sometimes they can't see even the very blatant errors. Like moving from past into present tense half way through the story, or writing 'would' instead of 'wood' or changing a characters name without realising it. You know the kind of thing I mean. But it could be the difference between acceptance and rejection. With the many thousands of entries that are submitted to anthologies, competitions and magazines, they have to employ some way of sifting through the pile. And this kind of thing is essential. But there also comes a time when you've done all the polishing that you can, when you have to take a deep breath  and either press the 'send' button or let go of the envelope. I did just that eventually today, after I'd asked my Man Friday to do 'one last check'. Good job too, the wily little proofreader picked up another couple of errors. But now it's gone and I can't do any more apart from forget about it and move onto the next project. 
Thanks Alyson (and my Man Friday)!


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

WRITERS ABROAD SEEKS MALES

Writers Abroad 
We had one of our on-line chats this week and we're on the hunt for men. Our membership currently stands at ten, one of which is a man. So if you know any writers who are a)male and b)an ex pat and c) looking for a friendly writing community to find support, advice and inspiration, point them in our direction...SEE LINK AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

Must Do's This Week
I don't know about you but there never seems enough time for writing. And I spend a lot of time thinking that I am writing. Having looked at my 'must do' list this week had me in a panic. 
I have three short stories I need to polish, amend and submit to competitions by the end of this month; one short, description piece to submit, two non-fiction articles to finalise and submit; new stories to think about for March (and really I should be planning April); queries to plan (I've been a bit lax lately); continue second draft of novel no 2 and complete first draft of novel no 1 and.... I don't think I'll go on. Not sure whatever happened to February and there's only six days left. So what am I doing here then?


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

TECHNOLOGY GRUMPS

And All That Jazz

I love and hate it with a passion. I've spent my week trying to sort out my blogs and domain names but I must admit that the process has beaten me. I've had very nice emails from my web support but you can hear a certain amount of patronisation in their reply. I've decided that the KISS principle is the best way for me to manage this beast that threatens to overtake me. Keep It Simple Stupid. And spend less time worrying about it. Use whatever makes my life simple and allows me the time to write. Which isn't I've discovered, messing about with CNames, A lists and HTML. It just leaves me cold.

And to top it all, I amended a story to submit to My Weekly following a recent blog posts where they were asking for submissions. I had to cut the original down by around 150 words, spent a lot of time making sure it reflected their style requirements, hummed and aarghed and pressed the sent button. And five minutes later had a response saying that due to the volume of submissions they weren't accepting any more! Never mind, all in the weeks work of a jobbing writer.

Check out my latest recipe on Suite 101, Chickpea and Mushroom Curry, even if you're not a veggie (and I am not) it's a great alternative to its meaty cousin.

Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

WRITING SYSTEMS

Organising Writing Projects
When I first started writing I didn't think I needed a system. Going out to work every day seemed systematic enough and I wanted to just write. Which is fine. But if you are like me you may suddenly remember something you wrote aeons ago but have an idea about how you can develop it, or you need to find that particular bit of information that is critical to a particular place in your novel, or you have a deadline approaching (last minute of course) and can't remember where you 'filed' your ideas - it all becomes a bit stressful. 
After I had completed my first novel (an achievement in itself) I wrote an article which was published in Writers Forum about the 7 (and a half) things I would do differently. Organising my information, sources, ideas, notes, thoughts, links and  anything else that related to the story, was one of those things. Having finished my second novel (well the first draft) I have put some of that into practice through a simple system of manual filing in one place. It still took me time to sift through the info to find what I wanted, so now I have made sections for particular pieces of information so I can access it quickly. It speeds the process up but better than that, it reminds me of things that I'd forgotten to include and prompts me to ask if they were important. For example, I made pages of notes about Red Cross parcels when researching prisoner of war camps. There is a significant part in the story which highlights the importance of these deliveries for my main character but I have skipped through it. But now I have the information at my fingertips (more or less) I can re-write that section and improve that particular scene for the reader - well that's the theory. 
I know , like the best time for writing, that there isn't a 'right' answer. We writers have to test out what works for us. That might be an index card system, or a dedicated journal or a box of paper napkins with scribbles on (it would have been a fag packet not so long ago) but whatever your preference, however loose it may be, I'm willing to bet that it works for you.


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

WRITING BOOKSHELF

Current Work: My main aim this week is to get a Faerie story out of my head and onto paper (and if I have to on the screen)
On My Bedside Table: Assegai By Wilbur Smith - his latest, just finished it...
Listening to: The ice starting to form around my ears - my office is freezing!


What's On Yours?
Bookshelf that is. And I mean books on writing. I can't tell you how many I've got. I'm just putting together an inventory out of pure interest. I can tell you how many I've read. Very few. So one of my 'goals' this year is to work my way through them. Last week I read Stephen King's On Writing and I've just skipped through one on 'Novel Writing' - skip being the operative word. I'm not going to go into any in-depth reviews here as I'm planning to start a new blog just dedicated to book reviews but today it really struck me. Whilst these books are interesting, informative, even educative, they only tell us about one writers way of going about 'their writing'. Whilst, I know that there isn't anywhere on this great earth that holds the 'writing secret' I do believe that we can always improve our craft and I suppose what better way than to read how other writers 'do it'. Some writers are very technical, with gadgets, widgets and all sorts of techy little programs which help them to get the words down somewhere. Others are more organic, more freestyle and allow themselves to be taken along on the shirt tails of their characters. Others are very organised, methodical and pedantic with their rituals, their lucky charms and their routines. I'm a blend of the last two. Which ever way a writer writes - it's the right way for them and in that way it is unique. I enjoy reading about the 'how to' but am always reminded of the dog eared familiar words that ' a writer has to write...' So I'm going to keep on flicking through my bookshelf, but I've made another promise, that every book I read, I'll write about it. Hence the new blog, so watch this space.


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

WHEN DO YOU WRITE BEST?

Morning, Afternoon or Evening?
This is a question often asked of writers. Its a strange question I think. Not one asked in a job interview for instance. Who would own up to only being effective or at their best at one particular time of the day? It just wouldn't earn any brownie points would it? But on the other hand, it's common knowledge that we all have our 'dips' where we don't do certain things well. I'm not into all that right brain, left brain stuff - too intellectual for me. I do believe however, in making my day work for me. And, I do get frustrated if I haven't had my daily dose of writing, real writing, the making it up kind of stuff. I have lived most of my life thinking I was an evening person - or a best an afternoon one. Never good at getting up in the morning, particularly in the winter. Then I found the wonders of a light box (I suffered from SAD syndrome) and since moving to Italy haven't even needed that to get me going. So now I try to do all my creative writing in the morning, if I leave it later it won't get done. That often means trying to ignore the strange magnetic pull I have to fire up the PC, check emails and the sites I like to just in case the world has changed overnight. I can do editing stuff in the afternoon and even type up drafts (those of you who know me will know I'm a longhand girl) but the making it up is more difficult post pranzo. And evening, well I find it difficult to keep my eyes open after 10pm and if I do its because I've got my nose stuck in a boom.So what's your best time? This isn't just a writer thing surely, but some of us are lucky enough to have the ability to work to our strengths and preference easier than others maybe...mustn't take if for granted.


Three Cheers For! - The ups and downs of my writing life
It's been a slow week, it's February and some lurgy thing has been hanging around so I've felt a little washed out this week. But some highlights.

• Finally finished the first edit of The Promise and now hope to tidy it up and get it critiqued
• Have almost reached the end of the first draft of The Good Life - hoorah!
• Published one article on Suite 101 another recipe, Italian Baked Sea Bass
• Sold another article on Constant Content.
• Have drafted, editied and played about with three short stories I'm hoping to get submitted by the end of the month
• Have submitted four queries, one of which relates turning my first novel into a serial for a women's magazine. 
• Successfully achieved the copy deadline for the current issue of Leadership in Health Services. Although we have more articles than we ever had, it was still all of a rush to get them reviewed and ready for publication.

Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

A WRITERS CHOICE

As many of you know I have been contributing to a content site, Suite 101, for some time now. This has benefited my writing in many ways. Firstly, it gave me a goal to work towards - submit one article a month, then one a week and for the last few months, two a week. So - something I could tick of my action list. Very satisfying. Secondly, it taught me how to write 'tight' articles suitable to be read on-line in a maximum of 600 words. That isn't a lot of words but it was a good lesson in how to cut out all the unnecessary ones. Thirdly, but less importantly (she says very nonchalantly - eeks an adjective!) I got paid for the articles I submitted. Not pounds (well dollars as the site is based in Canada) but every cent adds up and it has paid for things like competition entries and other non-writing based luxuries. I have to date published over 100 articles and made...not a fortune. So eighteen months later I've developed my craft, regularly submitted articles and been published (and paid). Not a bad choice then. But it does take time and I want to do other things, so I'm thinking of letting go and choosing something else.
Ideas on a postcard please...


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

MY WRITING SPACE

Is great in the summer..
It's large and cool but bright and with easy access to the garden where I can wander about for a bit of inspiration. But in the winter it is freezing and despite the many layers I put on, I just cannot keep myself warm. I have a tiny radiator under the desk but it's my hands that suffer, not good for a writer! So with a little skip to my step, I'm just going to have to retire to the fireside with pen and paper. Glorious! 
Roll on Spring...




Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

SUBMITTING QUERIES

Is Like Going for an Audition
Every week, I try and submit three non-fiction queries. Some of these are new, some have been rejected elsewhere and some have been accepted, article published and I'm looking for a new home (copyright allowing that is).
Writing a query letter for me, is a bit like going for an audition. Well, what I think an audition would be like having never been for one, but you get my drift? I take quite a lot of time thinking about the market I'm pitching to, taking care to create a good catchy title and putting together just enough information to wet the editors appetite and then I 'perform' virtually when I press the send button. Of course mostly  my performance is never seen it hits the trash can as quick as you can say 'query' and rarely I get a 'thanks but no thanks' and once in a blue moon I get a 'yes!'. Its not a great return on investment in quantitative terms (though you know I'm not good at maths) but this week I've had two blue moons and it feels great. So the time spent pays off in some kind of way and it is confirmation that I hit the right buttons for someone.


Three Cheers for...The ups and downs of my writing life
I didn't manage to blog last Friday, so this week is a fortnights worth.

• Submitted four articles to Suite 101 - two book reviews on The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore and The Ice House by Minette Walters and two delicious Italian recipes - Italian Sausage Stew and Vincisgrassi a speciality of Le Marche region
• Submitted and had accepted two articles on Constant Content,
• Submitted a short story to 100 Short Stories for Haiti but alas not short-listed
• Finalised and published the Writers Abroad website (see link below)
• Wrote around 3 thousand words on WIP The Good Life only to discover that my co-writer (My Man Friday) had written about the same scene!
• Still struggle on with edit for WIP The Promise - its the last little bit which is taking the time... 
• Put together a new website for Writing Pad using WordPress (a long story)
• Submitted an Expat piece to the Oldie and got a rejection back by return (though spurred on by one of my Writer Abroad buddies have submitted this elsewhere, thanks Paola!)
• Revised a short story for submission to the Brit Awards, still very unpolished
• Submitted a short story for the Writers Abroad challenge and the feedback has encouraged me to submit it
• Had two queries accepted for writing articles - watch this space!

I'm sure that there's more but I've run out of breath!

Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

A WRITING COMMUNITY

Is A Good Place To Go
As you will know if you regularly visit this site, I am part of a new writing community called Writers Abroad. (See link at the end of this post). It's not so much of a new community, some of us have actually been in contact for at least 12 months now, but that's not the point of this post. We agreed that we, as a group of writers and as individuals needed to promote our on-line presence. Some of us already have blogs and/or websites but it feels good to be part of a community. It is this community, this group of people who I have never met face-to-face, who provide me with the support and motivation to keep on writing. So when I've had yet another rejection, these are the people who pick me up, dust me down and make suggestions of where else to pitch the piece. These are the people who suggest how I might enliven a character a bit more, where my point of view is becoming a bit schizophrenic and where I have not dotted my i's or crossed my t's. So this blog post is dedicated to this group and our continued future on Writers Abroad! 


Don't Think Just Write


Visit Writers Abroad

WRITERS ABROAD GOES LIVE!

New Website Launched!

Visit Writers Abroad

This blog post is dedicated to the launch of our new website 'Writers Abroad ' a community which connects writers around the world. As a writer living in the UK I found the support of a local writing group invaluable and it is the one thing I missed most when I moved here to Italy (families and friends apart that is!). So I decided to find out if there was anyone else out in the writing wilderness feeling like me - and that is how Writers Abroad was born. We meet every fortnight on Windows Live Messenger and are a diverse bunch with members in  Europe, America, Thailand and Australia. Despite the obvious time difficulties this provides we manage to get together and talk about writing. The site is has been developed to shout about our work, provide the group and individual members with a presence and hopefully be an interesting and informative place to be. Check it out... and let me know what you think.
Don't Think Just Write