What's Up Wednesday (7)

Woah, I can't believe another week has passed already. We're racing through March, I can't believe it. Welcome to another edition of What's Up Wednesday, the weekly meme hosted by Jaime and Erin.

WHAT I'M READING

Read Lobsters this week, which was fantastic. About to start Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning, although I have a desire to start rereading all the summery books I can, as spring is in the air and it makes me feel like rereading all those light and wonderful summer stories!
  
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ A WRITING GOAL)

STILL EDITING. Although, I actually managed to sort the ending out for my YA story this week, so am pleased with that. Plus, am making good progress with my new story, so am pleased about that.

Goal: continue editing, address comments, sort out character development. Plus, keep writing new story.


WHAT WORKS FOR ME

Getting my head down and focusing! As well as just focusing on one thing at a time. It's nice to have a couple of different things to work on, but also have the focus to really concentrate on one.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW  

There were lots of announcements this week - from YALC (soooooooooo excited, who else is going?) to the sad news of Terry Pratchett's death, so in many respects its been a strange week. I am still so very sad about Terry's death. He was such a wonderful writer and man and the world will miss him greatly. I'm going to have to go back and reread some of his books - as well as crack on with some of the ones I haven't read yet.

It feels like spring is here to stay though - was a gorgeous day yesterday, and I'm looking forward to more days sat outside and walking around barefoot - as well as the bluebells!

What's Up Wednesday(6)

Here we go again! Welcome to another edition of What's Up Wednesday, the weekly meme hosted by Jaime and Erin.

WHAT I'M READING

I'm reading Black Dove, White Raven at the moment by Elizabeth Wein and I LOVE it. So good. While at Foyles this week, I also picked up The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark and Stung by Joss Stirling.
  
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ A WRITING GOAL)

Ashamed to admit that I really haven't done much writing this week because I've been so busy and had my head full of other things. That's not to say that I haven't done anything, just that it's been rather thin on the ground. But, I am still editing (I promise), and still playing with something new!

A goal: to actually do some useful editing this week!

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

I saw Gayle Forman speak this week, and that was really inspiring. I also saw my lovely friend Laura and it's always really great to chat to another writing friend about what we're working on etc.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW  

My extra busy week has come to an end (thankfully) and I collapsed in tiredness! It has been a great week though, seeing lots of friends, and doing other various exciting things - as well as seeing Gayle Forman! It's been lovely and sunny too, and I am so, so incredibly happy that spring is finally here. I love seeing all the primroses, daffodils, crocuses, and more!

Have a great week everyone.

What's Up Wednesday! (5)

I can't believe it's Wednesday again - I nearly forgot about this.

Welcome to another edition of What's Up Wednesday, the weekly meme hosted by Jaime and Erin.

 WHAT I'M READING

I finished A Darker Shade of Magic, which was fantastic. As it was my birthday this week, I treated myself to some new books that I'm looking forward to reading: Black Dove, White Raven, The Last Leaves Falling, and Lobsters.
  
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ A WRITING GOAL)

Still plodding along with those edits!

Plus I started something new. Oops.

Goal: keep editing, playing with new story.

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

I always forget how much I love being able to switch off and write by hand. So writing by hand. It's wonderful.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW  

This week has already been jam packed and exciting. It was my birthday on Monday, I attended a Studio Tour Hogwarts Express Preview yesterday, and have more exciting things lined up this week - including a Gayle Forman talk and signing. Can't wait!

Hope everyone else is having a good first week of March - spring is finally here and I'm so excited.

What's Up Wednesday (4)

Welcome to another edition of What's Up Wednesday, the weekly meme hosted by Jaime and Erin.

 WHAT I'M READING
Over the weekend I started A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab! I've been so excited about this book and I was surprised and happy to find it in the bookshop early! Loving it so far.
  
WHAT I'M WRITING (+ A WRITING GOAL)

I finally printed out Nowhere House and so I've been slowly reading that out and writing down some edit notes. It's amazing how many different things you notice when you're no longer staring at a screen. Still editing SLL too - plus I had the idea for something new *gulp* so I've been making lots of notes for that.

Goal: keep editing!

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

Printing out a draft and reading it out loud! Works wonders. 

WHAT ELSE IS NEW  

This week has been better than last week - I got a new laptop (yay) and all my documents have been restored *phew*, so I'm very happy about that. I have plenty of exciting and rather nerve wracking things coming up this week and next, so it's going to be rather busy and different! Also it's my birthday next week (how did that come round so quickly?!), so that's going to be fun!

See you all next week - I can't believe that February is nearly over. Wow, how quickly time flies.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Who can believe it's 2015 already?

I can't believe how fast this month is already going. I've been making the most of the month so far though, and have started using the calender reward system that Victoria Schwab, and many of my friends (Laura, Cole, Emma, and more) favour. Victoria has written about the system here. And so far it has been fantastically successful! It's rewarding to see the stickers build up and be able to see exactly what you've achieved. Otherwise, I find that it's so easy to forget what you've actually done and just spend your time feeling bad about things. I highly recommend it! I do need to get some more stickers though, I wasn't really prepared.

The rest of the month promises to be busy, and while of course I'm hoping for lots more reading and writing, I'm also returning to Exeter for graduation, spending some time in Fowey (eeek!!), and then visiting school friends in Leeds - so it's going to be a busy couple of weeks. A mini holiday I suppose - and I think I need it! Will be good to get some perspective, make plans, think about the future, forget about inboxes full of rejections (both from agents and jobs).

But that's life I suppose. And compared to all the grisly and really depressing, scary things that have been happening in the news recently, it's nothing.

I am busy both editing and writing, which is going well so far - one of my resolutions for this month - and year - was to not let myself get bogged down in too many projects or get worried about what to work on. I've set myself clear targets for what I want to achieve and all the other ideas can wait, for now anyway. So far it seems to be working! I've got to remember that there's time for everything - although it doesn't seem like that sometimes. I feel like I have to be working on EVERYTHING all at once. But I've got to remember to take it slow and easy - and there you go. One of my goals for this year, which is so far going well. I hope to keep it up!

I hope that everyone else is having a productive 2015 so far, and are managing to stick to their goals and keep being creative! How's it going for everyone?

Little white lies.....

So, I wrote this epic post the other week about why I'm not doing NaNo, and all that jazz. And I'm still not. Not really.

I mean, I'm not OFFICIALLY doing it, not on the site or anything, because it doesn't work for me and I know I can write a draft and I don't want this to be a draft I cast aside. But.... I am working on something new. So I am unofficially doing my own version of NaNo. If I write at least 500 words of this day I will be happy. I am still editing another story, and I just unearthed another half finished draft I really want to finish, so I don't know if I'll prioritise this new project yet. The plot is still a little muddled too! But hopefully it'll begin to make sense soon.

BUT so far it is going well. And it's good to be writing something new, even if I am still working out many of the details.

I've slowed down in the last few days, but picking it up again now, and it's going well again. 

How is NaNo going for everyone?  Are you all still plugging away with it?

Writing about writing...

Autumn has arrived and time seems to be flying by. I realised that although I call this a writing blog, I am blogging very little about writing - which needs to change! And so, I will try to write a little  more about writing, I promise!

Let's start with, where am I at the moment?

Well, I recently finished a draft that I had left languishing at 19k, and hit 50k last week and a very rough, horrible first draft, BUT at least I have a story to play with now. The words are down. Sort of. They just need some playing around with. But I'm leaving that for now, so that the ideas can simmer away in the back of my mind. So, I'm working on editing a draft I wrote over the summer, and getting that up to something decent. I made lots of notes for it, and although I love the thrill of the first draft, sometimes editing can be just as exciting, especially when you have lots of ideas of where to go and what to do. Luckily, I still love this story and want it to be the best it can be. I've just got a little way to go!

What else am I doing writing wise?

Well, I'm trying to write more regular blog posts on here, and I also started vlogging (I know, we'll see how that goes - lesson being learnt is that it takes FOREVER to upload things to Youtube. But it's rather fun).

I'm happy with my writing at the moment though. I had a brief phase in September after I'd handed my dissertation in, was exhausted, and unsure where I was going, where I doubted everything and could barely write a word or settle on anything. Luckily that black cloud seems to have passed, and I'm pleased to be really focused on something.

And I'm brainstorming notes for something I might start writing next.

The trouble is, when I start thinking about all the different things I want to write I start to panic, so I'm trying not to do that, and just staying focused on one thing at a time....

So tell me, what are YOU writing at the moment?

the things people leave behind

It is rather evident in my writing that I am obsessed not only with big houses, but with secrets and letters, desks, and forgotten things. So, when I found myself sorting out my mum's old desk the other day I didn't know what I might find. Of course as a child (and a rather nosy one at that), it had been once of those places that was forbidden, but so, so tempting. Otherwise, how else would you know what was really going on, or what was being written about you, or your siblings? I never really peeked (not really), but beginning to sort these things out, I did feel like that nosy, naughty child again.

Sorting out old things is always way more moving than I anticipate it to be. No matter how much you might be geared up to doing something, such as sorting a desk out, the reality of it doesnt' hit you until you're in the midst of it. After all, all these things have been kept for a reason, by someone who cared about them. It always feels like a strange intrusion to go through, even though they'll never be able to look at them again. It's hard sometimes as well to know what to keep. The temptation to keep every scrap of paper and every card just because of the handwriting and the acknowledgement that they once existed is too strong, especially for me, because I hoard an awful lot of stuff. And once you throw something away, you wonder if you should have done that. But you can't keep everything.

The past, family stories, and memories are all very well, but until you are holding something tangible in your hands it is hard to believe that any of it was ever real (something my characters often find in my stories).

And there's not only the cards or scraps of paper that you find, with handwriting that you want to keep just because it's the handwriting you recognise and remember and don't want to forget, but the objects too. The things that you don't know if they might have a story, some sort of tale to tell or if you're placing too much emphasis on it just because it's there.

And within all these things, you find letters, things hidden away. Letters from other people, thank you cards, or notes. It's an odd feeling, like you're intruding.

Sorting my mum's desk I found all this. It's a weird feeling. It's something you feel that you want to do, you need to do, but once you start, it unleashes so much, and part of you wishes that you'd left it there forever, preserved, just the way it is.

We also came across a bunch of my granny's letters and poems, which again feels like an intrusion, something very private, but also something left behind. Again it's that thing of trying to unite the person you knew, and in the case of grandparents, someone elderly with the young person in pictures and letters and writings.

It's a draining exercise, but also rewarding, and fulfilling in an odd way. Moving too.

But I suppose, there is a reason why people love archives, and looking through someone's papers or writings.It's funny too because this is something that I'm very much exploring in the book that I'm editing at the moment - in it the main character discovers things from her Gran's past, and - well, I won't say more as I'm still editing, but that theme is very much prevalent.

Desks are funny things aren't they?

Return

Once again, I am back from Fowey, and once again, I am so sad to be back. I was exhausted when I got back - crawling into bed just after nine. But Monday morning, I woke up so sad not to be waking up to this view:

And eating breakfast outside in the sunshine, on the steps, with some lovely people.

I've got used to it now, being back, and I was happy to be able to get on with some proper writing (I made scribbles while I was away, but nothing like just getting on with something). It was a wonderful week. And one of those strange times when it both raced by, but at the same time, it was as if we had been there forever.

The week started off wet and windy. At the start of the week, I didn't know any of the other student volunteers, but by the end of the week, we were close and all so sad to say goodbye to one another! I could easily have gone down to Falmouth with them - that's how hard it was to say goodbye.

Anyway, the first weekend most of us were helping out with the Family Fun Weekend at Trenython, which was new for this year. The theme was Inspired by Nature. Despite the wind and rain, it was a great weekend. I was put on the role of helping with the author events, which was enormous fun and meant I got to meet lovely authors, such as Liz Kessler (author of North of Nowhere).

There was lots of other things going on, such as den building, seed planting, camp fire cooking, and willow making.

Monday was the first day we were all in the town. After a briefing, and all clad in our bright green tshirts, which became quite a feature of the week, we set off on our different tasks. There was lots going on throughout the week, and our roles ranged from different things, such as giving out information, front of house, helping with Waterstones, and much more!

It was great to be back in Fowey, of course, and to see everything I love - and talk lots of Daphne! One of the events I was able to attend was one of Laura Varnham's reading group on Frenchman's Creek. It was fascinating, and relit my obsession quite fully! I now want to reread everything once again, and get utterly absorbed (not a bad thing). Other great events I attended included Helen Taylor, Veronica Henry and Ruth Rendell.

I drank lots of coffee and cider, ate lots of fudge, pink iced buns, and ice cream, spent time on the beach in the glorious sunshine, walked though fields and around Fowey, laughed a lot, wrote, read, met lots of lovely people, and had an ace time. It was the best week.

It was funny too to be staying at the same place I had the previous year, although upgraded in a caravan, and revisiting the same beach that I had first started windsurfing. I can't believe that was only a year ago!

It all already seems a long time ago now. Sigh.

On the plus side, I have settled down to some serious writing this week. I nearly have a first draft of my dissertation creative piece done, and I've been busy editing Treading Water (once again). Phew!

"I still got sand in my shoes...."

I don't know why I have that in my head - probably because I do, quite literally, still have sand in my shoes. It occured to me earlier that I haven't blogged in a while, and I apologise. What a few weeks it's been!

Anyway, going back to the sand. Last week, I went on a last minute trip down to Fowey (my favourite place in the world, if you hadn't gathered already), and it was amazing.


This post has been a little derailed (see previous post), but it still seems astonishing how quickly time is flying by. A week ago, I was in Fowey having a wonderful time. Sigh. I can't believe it really.

There was sand, sun, walking, coffee, books, writing, a range of interesting people, wonderful food and just being in my favourite place was so wonderful <3 I love Fowey.

As Daphne du Maurier wrote:

"All I want is to be at Fowey. This now is my life. This and no one else."

 That's from memory, so it might be wrong, but that's the general idea.

Oh I miss it. I feel so at home there.

I made lots of writing notes as well while I was there. Writing wise, I'm working on so many things I'm driving myself crazy. I don't want to complain, becasue I need writing and I rely on writing and it's my everything, but oh man, sometimes I shouldn't let my brain take over as much as it does!

Anyway, I'm still editing (again) Treading Water, writing my first draft of the strange spy story, also working on my dissertation idea (a children's story, eeep -which seems like it's going to be funny, ah!), and also my script for this current module - of which I only have ONE seminar left, EVER! Crazy. Like I say, where is time going? And then there's all the other ideas my head keeps throwing at me, and i keep trying to put off, but it's tough. Sigh. So lots and lots of writing going on - although the amount of different things does mean that sometimes I get NOTHING done because I'm wondering what on earth to work on!

Spring seems to have finally arrived as well, and that makes me very happy!

Spring is finally coming!

It feels like it's been a long, long time since spring, and summer, and sunshine, and warmth. The South West has been hit particularly bad recently, with floods and strong winds, and the coast line being battered violently. The main train line, I'm sure you're aware of, into Cornwall and the rest of Devon has been destroyed at Dawlish. My poor beautiful Fowey has been battered too, with constant floods, and the beaches and coast being hit hard. For a few days too, the entire South West was completely cut off by train to the rest of the country. That was a strange feeling.

But Spring it seems is around the corner, and we've had a couple of beautiful days. It's so nice to feel the warmth of the sun on my face again. It definitely lifts my spirits, more than I ever think it does. Spring flowers are coming out too - daffodils, crocuses, and primroses. I love seeing Spring flowers. It's one of my favourite times of year. It holds so much hope The promise of warmer, longer days, and beautiful flowers, and happiness, and summer ahead. I just love this time of year so much.

The longer days - they make me very happy too. It's so nice that it's not dark at 4 o'clock. I could go on, but I won't.

It's been a while since I blogged. I really don't know where the time has gone! I feel like I'm very busy at the moment, with barely enough time for a lot of things, let alone blogging! I seem to have what feels like hundreds of projects on the go (my own fault) and so I swing between being perfectly happy with the amount of things I'm trying to do, to freaking out at the amount and not really getting ANYTHING done on any of them, because I keep flicking between them, or being unsure what I want to work on. Oh, and I have to plan out my script for the end of this module, and start thinking about dissertation ideas. Oh yeah, so I'm not taking on much at all.

But then, I was away this weekend (at the Harry Potter studios - AMAZING, such an amazing trip. I love it there so much. Best day ever. And also catching up with my wonderful friends from home <3), and following that I had a couple of busy days, which meant I didn't have a chance to sit down for a solid period of time and get any writing done. This morning I finally got a chance to just sit and write, and I forgot just what a feeling it is, and how much I need it just for myself - and my own well being.

So despite all that up there, I know that I need to write, just for me - and I don't mind what it is, whether it's blog posts, small ideas, working on bigger drafts, writing news stories or whatever - just writing the words is what I need and want. That's what I live for. It puts my mind at rest, means I can get out all those crazy thoughts in my head, even if it's through a character living in the Swiss alps training to be a spy (current work in progress and rough draft btw - no idea where it's going, but it's fun). I need writing. It's not just a desire to be published or whatever, it's a deep, deep need, that I think I've always had.

And this got way deeper than I imagined! I'll leave it there for now.

January blues and 'Potter' ramblings

I was going to write a post about how terrible it is that I haven't written a post yet this year (how has that happened? I don't know, I'm sorry) and what has happened this year and how low I'm feeling at the moment (January blues), but instead, I've become lost in a YouTube vortex of JK Rowling videos.

It happened because I re watched Deathly Hallows P2 the other night (having watched some of the others over the last few weeks) and that one more than any others brought up a web of emotions and just nostalgia and disbelief at how wonderful those stories are, and how important they are, and the power of the story and the message of love, and all that. And just how intricately plotted they are. How important they are to so many people, me included.

Watching all these videos of Jo makes me remember just how much I look up to her and how much of a hero she is to me.

Of course there's that tiny bit of me that is sad that I will never write something as popular or wonderful as Harry Potter, but then I have to step back and just be happy about what I write, because I do love what I write. Anyway, that's beside the point.

Thinking back to that kid who found the first two Harry Potter books in her stocking one Christmas and didn't expect her life to be changed in such a big way by the book series, it's mad. I just did not know at all how huge this would all be for me and how it would change my life and my world, in the best way possible. I'm sure I've talked about this before, and just how important the books and characters have been in my life. But still, some things struck me (again). Mostly that Harry Potter is a series about LOVE. Most importantly, a mother's love for her child, and this is evident throughout the whole series. ALL OF IT.

That is the main plot line, the main feeling running through the WHOLE STORY. A mother’s love. Harry potter is about how much Lily loved Harry. How that love is unbreakable, never goes away, no matter what. She wasn’t alive for the whole of the series, yet her love had the greatest impact on the whole story. She was always protecting him from afar.

I know this is nothing new, but I just love it.

So many feels and emotions from that last film. 

In other news, January is nearly at an end (how?) and the January blues have got to me. Sigh. Today seems a bit brighter though, a bit better. Maybe helped by a good night's sleep and the fact that it's now light until about 5. Yay!

Writing wise, am plodding on as usual - switching between far too many projects and wanting to work on so many different things. Is good at times, but then I find myself just switching between things and actually getting nothing done at all, which is not so good. But am cracking on, and also focusing on Treading Water, and getting that maybe ready to query in the near future. Maybe.

Looking back at 2013

Wow. What a year. I realised the other day I hadn't posted in nearly a month, and although I meant to write a Christmas post, it seems to have passed me by and so instead I'll write a looking back post. When I first started to look back on the year, I thought, in many ways, well that sucked. But then, after reading the lovely Laura's post, and really thinking about this year, I began to think, well actually, a hell of a lot happened and SO much of it was good. I've had a wonderful year really.

In the more immediate past though, Christmas was certainly different this year. We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to find we had no power, and remained this way until Boxing Day evening. Luckily we have the wonderful AGA and we had a small generator so we weren't completely in the dark, but it certainly created tensions. I've never been more grateful for power.

But now heading back to the beginning of this year, there have been many wonderful things:

In Februrary, I met John and Hank Green, and my lovely wonderful CP Laura in London (FINALLY!!).

In March, I met JK Rowling (!) and joined SCBWI, which has been an awesome experience. There was another wonderful trip to Fowey too.

May, I saw Mcfly, ventured down to Fowey by myself for a camping trip and visit to the Fowey Festival, and tried Windsurfing. I also met Emilya Hall and other lovely authors at the festival. I also started Treading Water.

June, I saw Neil Gaiman talk about his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

July, Murray won Wimbledon, and I found out that one of my short stories, Tide, was going to be published in an ebook by Mardibooks and IdeasTap. It was also a wonderfully hot, perfect summer. Did a windsurfing course.

September, I spent a week in Fowey, which was perfect. I also went to Mcfly's 10th Anniversary Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

October, I joined the MuggleNet team as a News Intern.

December, I was promoted to a full staff member and News Writer (!), which has been one of the best and most awesome experiences I've ever had. I love it and am so grateful to be there! I also had a lovely day trip to Fowey.

I have also been very lucky to read lots of wonderful drafts by my amazing writer friends, and I've managed to write plenty of drafts and words myself.

I'm sure I've missed something out, but it's been an amazing year!

I never really like New Year - it always makes me nostalgic and strange, but this year I think I have plenty of good things to look back on! Bring on 2014.

'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...'

I'm sure I've used that title before, but somehow it seemed right again today. I can't believe it's nearly the end of NOVEMBER! I haven't posted since the beginning of the month, I'm sorry - it seems to have FLOWN by, so quickly. In fact, I can't believe that it's only two weeks until the end of term now, and under a month until Christmas itself. Where have the weeks gone?

It's noticeably winter now though, here in the UK. It's cold, and all the layers have come out. The cold just makes me miserable and grumpy, like a bear trying to hibernate, and I already miss the summer like crazy. The summer and Fowey. Of course there are high points of winter (grimaced as I typed that) - I mean sure, I love Christmas and when things are all magical and Christmassy, and I love Christmassy things, but it's the cold I hate. I miss wearing shorts and flipflops and tshirts. And suncream. I miss suncream. That's kind of weird I know.

But I suppose got to look positively at everything, and right now I'm beginning to look forward to Christmas. It's always a slightly stressful time, but ultimately enjoyable. Just a lot to do beforehand! Things have got kind of crazy recently, with lots of academic work to do, as well as other things. I've been busy working, writing, volunteering, and windsurfing among other things. Yes, still windsurfing even in this weather - I think the fact that I'm able to get out and do that (in my winter wetsuit, gloves and shoes) is helping me get through the horribleness of winter. It's nice having something outside to do regularly. I'm still swimming too, and that's helping to stop me be so miserable.

Otherwise, I've been busy writing, and trying to keep on top of several different projects. As I told you before, I haven't done NaNo this month (and it's felt very freeing. I haven't missed it at all. Not one minute. That's kind of telling I guess!), but I've been busy writing. I finished that draft I was half way through when NaNo started, and I've put it aside for now so I can come back to it with fresh eyes. It's a mess, but I think there's a story in there somewhere and I'm looking forward to editing it and teasing it out. Fingers crossed it will work, because it's a story that could be very important to me. Treading Water is still being edited, although it's taken a back seat. I'm hoping to start querying it sometime next year. I started something new too, because the story crept up on me and grabbed me, and made me want to start writing it, so I'm ten chapters into that and loving it. It's more NA I think than YA because the characters are older, but I'm just going with it and seeing where it takes me. For my course at the moment I've got to write a film treatment, so I'm also engrossed in that, trying to keep all the elements of the different stories separate - phew! Confusing at times. Luckily the stories are quite different enough. I'm also lucky enough to have been picked to be a MuggleNet Intern, writing news stories, so I've been busy with that too, and it's been tremendous fun. As I mentioned before, I've been taking part in PiBoIdMo too, so I've been scribbling down lots of ideas and it's been very productive, just for coming up with ideas. So that's me all caught up, sort of, for now!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends - I'm going to a Thanksgiving dinner tonight and I'm VERY excited about it! I was asked to make Cornbread for it, something I've never made or tasted before, so I hope I've made it right. Fingers crossed!

'Editing Alchemy' with Lil Chase

Last Saturday I attended a SCBWI South West Editing Workshop with Lil Chase (of Working Partners Ltd and author). It was lovely to see lots of familiar faces again and catch us, as well as meet lots of new people. The workshop itself, which I was a little bit nervous about, was fantastic. I learnt so much, and the way that Lil spoke and phrased everything was inspiring. It made everything really clear for me, and put things in a way that I had never considered before. Being surrounded by other people doing similar things to you as well, and all of them enthusiastic and completely dedicated to their writing - and some of them published! -  is also inspiring. I love the atmosphere that surrounds SCBWI and I am so glad I joined.

Editing is something I always struggle with. I always tempted to just go, oh it'll do, but this workshop made me look at things differently, even if they are things deep down I knew, it's brilliant to have them reinforced and phrased in such a way that makes them click. I am now furiously writing chapter summaries, looking for change in every scene and chapter, writing and rewriting hooks and considering 'inciting incidents', escalating stakes and conclusions. Lil stressed that change is fundamental to a story, and the main character must be presented with a difficult conflict that they cannot ignore. As the story goes on, the stakes must increase until the story comes to a climax and then conclusion. Every chapter and scene too, must contain a change to keep the story moving.  Lil suggested too that 10% of a first draft can and should be cut - an interesting idea, particuarly for me because I find I write a bare outline of things, THEN go back and add things, and THEN cut.

The funny thing is, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised at all, but the reading I'm doing for my module at the moment is covering the same sort of things. Weird how things collide like that. It's kinda nice though, it reinforces the ideas and principles. I came home on Saturday utterly inspired to get editing and able to look at my novel once again with fresh eyes. This lead to a creative high on Sunday and Monday morning, which was a completely wonderful feeling. I'm hoping the inspiration and enthusiasm will last a little longer - and it should all help with future projects.

Thanks Lesley for organising and Lil for the workshop - I'm looking forward to the next workshop already.

Return to Exeter Again...

Back in Exeter again, for last year (??!) of uni, and all moved into new flat, finally with internet working! Took a few days to sort things out, and there are still things to sort out, but getting settled in again and getting going with everything again - seeing old friends, meeting new people, getting back to work, seminars and enjoying being back in Exeter again! It's good to get going with everything again. Some things have changed, and that's sad, but there we go. Good to get back to familiar places (BTP!).

Strange to get back though after a week's holiday in Fowey, which was of course amazing - with lots of walking, paddling, boating and just wonderful Fowey-ness. Love it so much, and was super sad to leave. Really didn't want to. Much as I love Exeter, it doesn't even compare to Fowey (of course). Kept a scrapbook while I was there, with lots of notes and drawings, so that consumed my writing time, and of course I was super absorbed in Daphne and visiting familiar places and rereading things, and reading new things and visiting places I'd never had the chance to visit. All in all, it was wonderful. Can't wait to go back again and get my Fowey fix again.

Sad too to get out of shorts and flipflops. Stayed determinedly in shorts until Sunday, and flipflops until today, but the cold really is settling in and Autumn seems to be here, which makes me sad. I miss the summer already and am super sad to see it over - both leaving Fowey, coupled with the summer being over is tough! I hate that it is getting darker already, and it's just depressing. On the plus side, however, autumn is better for windsurfing, so..... Hopefully joining the windsurf society, and can't wait to get out there again. After four years, crazy to think I'm finally joining an AU club! Madness.

Writing wise, I am working on a new story - having started it, I have almost completely changed what I want to do with and am writing lots of new bits and typing some of it up, trying to make sense of it! Hoping to crack on with some more editing sometime too - as well as get going on the new course this term! Should be doing a screenwriting one, which is rather nerve racking and intimidating, and will be a huge challenge.

Summer is disappearing....

Time really is flying between these posts, and I mean to post more regularly, but somehow time just disappears. I can't believe it's half way through August already - this summer just seems to have flown by! And as always, there are so many things that I men at to do, which I haven't - isn't it always the way?!

Writing wise, I have started writing a new story, which is very exciting, but am still doing some editing too. Think (hope!) I'm nearly there with that though for now, although I still love those characters and that story SO much. Am definitely ready to start something new though. Lots of ideas buzzing around (you know how it is) and not enough time! Isn't it always the way that you think the summer will be the time when you are just able to read and write as much as you want? NEVER WORKS THAT WAY!

Still lots of books to read as well - as always.

We have the usual glut of courgettes (many of which have turned into marrows) and are trying desperately to think of new ways to use them - so far we've had quiche, soup, kebabs, pasta sauce. Who knows what will be next, I think we've got a few more things to try!

Hoping to head out windsurfing again soon. I have quickly become OBSESSED by the wind and weather and am often found sat in front of my computer staring at forecasts. Oh dear is all I can say!

Anyway, hoping to get a lot of writing done today, fingers crossed.

Well hello there.

Me again. It's been a while. In fact I didn't realise quite how long, until I realised this morning I hadn't blogged in a while. I seem to have got out of my regular routine, what with one thing or another - being home for the summer, WIMBLEDON (!), Murray WINNING (there could be a long excited ramble on that, but I will spare you all) and this somewhat amazing weather we've been having, I seem to have abandoned my computer (no bad thing AT ALL) for the great outdoors. That isn't to say that I haven't been doing lots of writing - I have been busy editing, editing, editing. Amazing myself by just focusing on this one story, although getting a little restless to just write something, anything, I don't care what, but when I try nothing really happens. Hmph. Hard to put stuff into perspective I suppose, because I am writing/editing, just getting restless for a new project. I still adore this one I'm working on however. I really do. Still adore the characters, the setting, the plot - all of it. And they're still so much in my head, which is wonderful.

Strange how things happen - the two projects I'd planned to write over the last few months have just not happened. But I'll get round to them one day. At the moment just going to focus on some editing, and you never know I might start something new. Do feel like need to make the most of the summer and the the chance just to write! Have stalled a little with books, seem to just be rereading things I have read tonnes before. I guess it's comforting. For instance in the last few days I have whizzed through Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, making myself unnecessarily emotional. Silly. Nothing else seems to be gripping my attention at the moment - apart from the wonderful Laura's second draft of one of her stories, amazing - but I'll find something, I'm sure I will. What else?

Over the weekend I completed my 'Start Windsurfing' course and got a certificate (!) for it, which was awesome. The best weekend, and perfect weather! Learnt a lot, and although it was frustrating at times, it was the best fun ever. Quite a few bruises and aches and pains to show for it too! Looking forward to carrying on.

Fingers crossed too that we are off down to Fowey at the beginning of September, can't wait!

Anyway, that's enough silly nonsense from me for now. Off to edit in the sunshine!

Andy Murray Season

Well, it's been a while! I didn't mean to leave it so long, whoops. Anyway, the end of term has been and gone, and it was crazy as ever. Sad to leave, again, and I realised I've been doing this whole packing up for the summer thing for ten years, which is impressive really. Although I can pack very quickly now, it seems that I can't pack concisely however, which can be a little problematic. Also, the amount of books that I gain over one year is frankly impressive. Anyway, I overcame that and managed to say goodbyes (which I hate) and leave everyone, which was very sad. And I am now back home in Sussex, for the summer (which doesn't seem to have emerged yet). After a chaotic return, which included getting overly excited about the Queens final (Murray, whoop!) and the Rally Against Cancer organised by Ross Hutchins, which was fantastic and a brilliant cause, trying to unpack all the books I obtained during the year, swimming outside for the first time this year (yay!) and then getting a horrible summer cold... totally not related, I'm sure. Managed to catch up somewhat briefly with my school friends, which was wonderful.

Oh yeah, and seeing Neil Gaiman! Which was AMAZING. He talks so wonderfully, and he is so inspiring and just brilliant. And his new book is fantastic - The Ocean at the End of the Lane - you should read it if you haven't, because it is brilliant!

Went to the Eastbourne tennis too, and saw one of the women's doubles semi finals and the men's doubles final with Colin Fleming and Johnny Marray, which was fantastic. It's most definitely tennis season. Which brings me onto... Wimbledon, which starts tomorrow. I am SO excited! Totally ready for this, can't wait! Best two weeks of the year. Let's just hope the weather improves. Although a little saddened to think that last year this was the beginning of a fantastic summer of sport. Sigh. Anyway, we're heading to Wimbledon on Tuesday (eeeek!) so excited, it's going to be brilliant. And tomorrow Andy's campaign starts, and James Ward is playing too, and he's awesome. Well, there go the next two weeks!

Writing wise, I have started editing my latest project, and I am so into this story - these characters dominate my thoughts a lot of the time, which is kinda awesome. At the same time, it's weird to be home, because it seems that a lot of the ideas and inspiration from the setting came from here, which is good for adding detail to the setting and everything, but at the same time, just bizarre. Like confronting my story. But so far, the editing is going well. I have added lots of details, and am also deleting things that aren't relevant, doing some rearranging and everything. I even had a moment a few weeks ago (I know, I should blog more, I don't know what happened) when I was talking with a friend and she was talking about something that was irritating in an acquaintance (I honestly can't remember the details) and I was there thinking, yeah I know someone just like that, and tried to think about who it was I was thinking of, only to realise it was one of my characters. Yeah. So there's that. These characters are taking over my life. Which is clearly a good thing and I am kinda in love with this story. It just feels right. So much editing to do, but it is kind of exciting, and I kind of love it. Despite plans to start other projects, think I might just focus on this one for now, and make plans for others for another time. That seems the best thing. Weird how things turn out - especially after swearing to myself I would focus on MG because YA stressed me out too much and didn't work. Of course then comes along a YA story that just clicks! Well, I'm not going to complain about that. Not at all!

June and finished first drafts

How is it June already? The last few weeks have disappeared, and dare I say it, summer is here.

I mentioned a while ago I was working on a new project, and if you follow me on twitter you will have seen me tweet an awful lot about it. But I finally finished typing up the first draft from my very messy handwriting, which was a great relief. The lovely Laura,my wonderful CP, has been reading it as I type it up and has been an amazing encouragment and has been super supportive and just generally awesome! So thanks Laura! And now it's all typed up, I'm going to start reading it through again, make some editing notes, notes of scenes and details and all of that to add, as the first draft is at points rather skeleton. Phew! Lots to do! But I'm still rather in love with this story and its characters, which I reckon is a good sign and I'm looking forward to doing lots more work on it.

And I'm looking forward to the summer, with hopefully lots of swimming, tennis, reading and writing. And Queens starts next week - followed by Eastbourne, then Wimbledon! The best two weeks of the year. So excited!

Anyway, I'm off to go read and make some notes in the sunshine. Got to make the most of it!