NATURE KNOWS BEST

But it's a hard lesson to learn. We live in a rural lane occupied by a number of semi-feral cats and every year a litter or two arrive at my door. Luckily I've managed to find all of the kittens - around 10 in all - homes with lovely cat-loving people. However, some litters have been whisked away by the wretched tomcats wanting to have their 'conjugal rights' back - they come in the middle of the night and carry the babies to the woods where they can't be found. Two large guards in the form of white Italian sheepdog have almost put paid to that. 
But this time one wee kitten just lost the will to live. She was a runt, and her two siblings were growing at double the weight she was. We came back one day to find her dead and the mother still cleaning her - strange. But I felt so awful, as if it was something I'd done,  even though I knew it isn't in my gift to give and take life.

As writers though, we can give life to characters (and take it away) and that can be a tricky time too. Nature has no part to play in our creation so we can't blame her, and often I find myself killing off characters with gay abandon. I must have a mean streak somewhere, but most of the time my fellow writers at Writers Abroad will point out the error of my ways and insist that someone survives! We nurture, support and sometimes love and hate our characters with equal measure so no wonder we feel some sort of parental responsibility. Still, I can cope with my fictional creations far easier that I found being a new parent. 


I couldn't find a specific quote for July, but came across this one which seemed to sum things up...

 People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway. 

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

~Mother Theresa~

Don't Think Just Write

JUNE MONTHLY MUSE

As you've probably noticed if you are one of the few that actually follow this blog, I have posted since the beginning of last month. It's been a conscious decision. I don't have any excuse. I just set some priorities and this wasn't one of them. As you can see from the Writer in Progress blog I haven't been sat around twiddling my fingers either. 


I've had quite a productive May in many ways as well as having my father over to visit for ten days, so overall I'm quite chuffed with myself. I'm hoping that June will be just as fruitful and it probably will particularly in the garden. June is a busy month if you grow your own vegetables like we do but it is one of the most satisfying achievements I could imagine. It's a little like writing (bear with me here). I start off with little seeds (either from a packet or in my head) and  plant them in the ground or commit pen to paper. Then I dabble with them, make sure they have enough water, talk to them (yes I do!) and when I see the a tiny little shoot breaking through the compost, I just know that something will happen. Sometimes nothing happens, it just dries up and I don't dwell on it, just go on to the next set of sowings, or tend to the larger seedlings. Writing, a little like gardening is best done daily and in short bursts, that way I don't get out of practice or feel the tug on underused muscles. And daily I see progress, sometimes very small and sometimes not for a long time but when it comes to harvesting, the proof is in the pudding so to speak. 
So I'm going to make sure I continue to apply this strategy to both of my passions, with equal zest and hope that the literary harvest is just as tasty!
And I'm into quotes at the moment so here is one for June:

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast that it invented romance.”

Bern Williams

Which actually is quite an apt quote for me and my Man Friday as we celebrate two wedding anniversaries this month, yes two! One on the 11th which is the day of our wedding ceremony in Florence and one on the 21st which is the day we had a humanist blessing back in the UK. Sweet eh?

Don't Think Just Write

READING MATTERS

As a writer, I know it's important to read, in order to improve my craft. This is not a hard task. I've always loved reading, though my choice and preferred genre has probably moved considerably since the Famous Five series and The Valley of the Dolls. I used to read at the breakfast table, walking to school, helping to dress my younger siblings, and even under the covers by torchlight. 


However, reading as a child and as a reader is a much more satisfying experience than reading as a 'writer'. 
You don't have any of those little voices in your head which insist on looking for rounded characters, distinctive dialogue which don't need speech tags, consistent point of view, showing not telling, plenty of conflict and of course a good old plot to follow. I'm not saying that readers don't notice these things, they do and will make choices based on these elements about whether a book was a 'good and satisfying' read or not. It's just that they don't particularly label  or define their satisfaction or dissatisfaction in detail. Well, not in general anyway. As a writer, learning the craft, I find it so difficult to just sit back and enjoy a story. I'm always deconstructing it to try and uncover why I like a particular character or hate them at first read. Or murmuring into my coffee cup ' that's telling, not showing', or tutting at the scene where numerous 'head hopping' is ruining my concentration. All things, that as a writer, I have to strip down and build up again to ensure that the story is not only technically written well, but has a good chance of pleasing the intended reader.


This tendency I suppose on the one hand must be a good thing, because it shows that I am indeed learning the craft. Maybe one day, it will all become second nature to me and I can return to reading (or not as the case maybe) for the pure pleasure of entering a world of someone else's making.

Don't Think Just Write

PRODUCTIVE PROCRASTINATION OR JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE?

I've just spent the past couple of days painting. Not in the style of Monet or Rembrandt, I hasten to add. Just walls, kitchen and bathroom walls. I panicked at first, being away from the PC, as once you start these jobs you have to finish, and they seem to have a habit of growing into a full blown spring clean. But actually, on reflection, it's been a good 'writing' time. 


For one thing I've not been distracted by the Internet and my inbox. I read a piece by Lorraine Mace in the latest Writers Magazine last week about the perfection of procrastination on 'writing days'. I think it must be a particular affliction for writers, and unfortunately there isn't a  magical cure. One thing I have learnt though, is to develop a habit of  productive procrastination. Yes, that's right. Productive time wasting. But the fact is you're not. Wasting time that is. If you choose to procrastinate whilst doing something quite banal, it can actually help the writing process.


I probably did more writing in my head, with my tongue sticking out as I edged the window frame than I have done on recent 'writing' days. I sorted out the beginning chapter of my novel in progress, The Promise', something which has alluded me for weeks, I drafted out the outline of a Monday Muse, including the setting and two characters, I had numerous ideas about other potential writing projects, and edited several short story ideas where they had got a bit stuck. So all in all, not a bad time spent. And the kitchen positively sparkles! 
So next time you hit the avoidance phase, why not pick up a brush instead of a pen? Try it - you may be surprised!

Don't Think Just Write

Writing Competitions - A Case of Win or Lose?

The main aim of our writing group at Writers Abroad is to improve our writing through feedback, encouragement, support and to badger each other to seek publication. Part of this obviously means entering competitions. We've all had a bit of a dry period at the moment and the continual 'non-placement' of our stories can be a little daunting on an individual basis. So what are we doing wrong, if anything? We have quite a robust feedback mechanism which includes: characterisation, plot, dialogue, conflict, showing not telling - all the stuff that together should make a good story and we have an agreement to be honest and constructive.
All of our members have had publication of some sort or another so we know that we sometimes get it right and some members have had novels and novellas published, so we have a rich background to pull on. 


I know that this writing business is a very 'subjective' one and I suppose that's why some writers give up and opt for something which is maybe a bit more dependable. And perhaps my view of some of the 'winning' entries I read are a bit 'sour grapes' but some of them do seem to break all the rules of short story writing which is a little frustrating. 
I've come to the conclusion that there aren't winners or losers in writing competitions but there are only a limited amount of places for stories to be showcased. It's a bit like rolling the dice. That doesn't mean I've written a bad story, just not one that reached out to one or two judges. If my work was read by a whole panel of readers, it might be a different story. So I'm not giving up.
Can't be that certain about my commitment to a daily blog, though! 

Don't Think Just Write

Distractions and Temptations

Having blogged about my ten most guilty pleasures earlier this week, I missed a post yesterday because I was enjoying one of them ! It wasn't a bag of Maltesers or a bath, because we have neither of them here in Italy and are considered two of my most luxurious luxuries. It wasn't a glass of red whilst cooking (but a glass of rose) or a quick nap after lunch - instead braving the heat to walk Bertie. I didn't sing, watch a film, read a mag or write with a fountain pen and Simon simply refuses to let me buy another bag... 


After a few weeks of - should we, shouldn't we, no we can't - can we? - sort of debate, we decided to add to our little family of animali and now have 9 week old Freya, a Maremma (Italian Sheepdog) puppy who has lived in the field where she was born until yesterday. At the moment she's learning how to climb steps and stairs (barking when she needs a little help) and following our two year old Maremma dog, Bertie, around like a little lamb. She has also been down to say 'hello' to Na, Wilma and Doris our three hens. We've named her after a Norse Goddess of love and beauty - a little like myself... I wish.


Not that I need more distractions but hey, life is for living in the moment which reminds me of a quote by Oscar Wilde (I think) 'I Can Resist Everything But Temptation'.
Now, must get to work on the purchase of a new item for my bag collection. (Poor Si).

Don't Think Just Write

Inspiration

There are days when we all could do with a bit of a lift, a hand up or an armful of a cuddles.When things look bad we tend to forget the good things and when things are good we never remember the bad. A stumbled across a quote by Winston Churchill and a poem which says it all for me.

The Don't Quit Poem 

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 

When the funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 

When care is pressing you down a bit, 

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, 

As every one of us sometimes learns, 

And many a failure turns about, 

When he might have won had he stuck it out; 

Don't give up though the pace seems slow-- 

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man, 

Often the struggler has given up, 

When he might have captured the victor's cup, 

And he learned too late when the night slipped down, 

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out-- 

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems so far, 

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- 

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

These are going up on my wall above my desk, so tell me, where do you get your inspiration from and the energy to keep going?

Don't Think Just Write