How to Get Published conference

Yesterday, I went to a writing conference. For various reasons, I've written about it on my website, so rather than repeat it, click

HERE

to read all about it, and see yet another dodgy photo of me. Feel free to comment over there, or pop back and comment here. Or not at all... You know, being Sunday and all, you might be way too relaxed...

Well, that's that, then... (A NaNo confession)

I've just signed up to this year's NaNoWriMo event.

It's possible I've gone completely mad!

I'm not sure what happened. I came home from work this afternoon, made a cup of tea, checked my emails, signed up.

Okay, that's not strictly true - I've been considering it for a while, but coming up with some really very good reasons not to: I've got a two day course to go on for work in November, the kids will need me to be available for specific reasons in November, I'm already booking up my days off with hot chocolate dates with friends, I'm going to be an aunt and will want to see lots of the new baby.

But, there are some compelling reasons to give it a go:

1. I'm staring at a novel that's just been rejected and wondering what to do with it - I'm not happy with it, but it's been through so many incarnations at this point, I've forgotten what the original point was.
2. Because I've been working on the same novel for most of the year, I think I've forgotten how to write something new. I have no ideas, no characters, nothing even remotely like a plan, plot or vision.
3. I've recently turned my 2012 attempt into a short story that's out on submission - even if I don't win, I might be able to salvage something useful.
4. It's a really good excuse to be lavished with chocolate. I don't drink coffee, so I have to get my caffeine from somewhere, don't I?

So, who's with me? Who's already signed up? Who's thinking about it?

Is chocolate a good enough reason?
Do you have any advice for me?

Writers are yellow cars

Every so often, I have a wobble - you've probably been witness to it once or twice: I wonder why I'm even a writer. Because everyone seems to be a writer. Is there really any room for me? I talk to people online, and discover they're writing a book. Or I'll meet someone new in real life, and - guess what? - they're a writer too.

In fact, there seems to be far more writers than readers these days.

#2 son is a budding actor. Today he was telling me about his friends, and they all seem to be part of one acting group or another. As a child, he's drawn to the people who have the same interests, of course - and perhaps acting groups are more prolific for kids these days than when I was at school. None of my friends were actors, and I didn't want to be one - I can't recall any of my non-friends who were actors either.

My husband's first car was a yellow Metro, and I knew how easy it would be to find that car in a multi-storey car park... it would sparkle like a star from a bed of really dull-coloured cars. Until every car seemed to be yellow. Ugh! They weren't all yellow the day before, when we didn't have a yellow car. They were many colours.

Many years later we had an import car - this time, when we met other drivers of the same car on the road, we'd give them a wave. We seemed to be waving an awful lot!

So, perhaps there aren't a limitless numbers of writers oozing out of gaps in the walls or cracks in the pavement. Perhaps, by being a writer, I just notice them more.

This post is brought to you from a really boring bus journey this morning

Laptop woes and holidays

Good morning! It's good to be back. You might not have noticed my absence, but I have been very aware of the lacking of blogging, networking and laptop in my life over the past week.

Such a long week...

Laptop woes

I had grand plans when I finished my blog tour of visiting all the people who'd commented on my blog and replying... But my laptop went away to be serviced. I waved it goodbye last Monday evening and waited. Then I vacuumed, and cleaned the bathroom, and washed the windows, and  gave the box of You. I. Us's a proper home.

Holidays

Then I went away for the weekend.... Yay! I went on a trip with my dad and sister to Bletchley Park, the Duxford Air Show and Milestones Museum in Basingstoke. I promised myself I'd take lots of photos, and then didn't. So, to illustrate my weekend away here I am, looking very scared, in front of the bar used in The Imitation Game, in a display at Bletchley... Ready?

Even though my New Year's Resolution was to take a selfie a day for the year, I'm obviously still very bad at taking them.

But this is one of the better photos I took, apart from this one, from the air show... Taking photos of planes is really hard. You should have seen the calamity of me trying to catch the F-22 fighter jet!

More laptop woes

We came home on Sunday evening, and I was still without my laptop. On Monday, I wandered the house, watched telly, read a book, wrote some notes for a new flash fiction, and went down into town to buy a mop.

Reader, there was no mop! I bought a duster instead.

My laptop didn't come home until late yesterday - Tuesday - evening. It was a harsh eight days (and I was away for four of them!)

But, I'm back!

And because I've done very little marketing in the past eight days, I'll just leave this here...

Find the book in all these places:

Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Depository // Kobo // iBooks // Nook

And add to your TBR list: Goodreads

My to-do list keeps getting bigger

I would like to say a huge thank you to my guest bloggers/interviewees over the past couple of weeks. Sometimes, when I'm in the middle of writing, everything else goes pear-shaped - I'm lucky I remember to go to work, some days!

I've been deep into some serious rewriting for a resubmission - so serious that my 39,000 word novella is looking like it's going to be a 50,000 novel. Possibly longer. I'm not sure how I feel about this at the moment - the story I wanted to tell is getting lost. I'm going to keep going, but during my re-read it might scale right the way back to 39,000 words again. But, obviously, different ones!

As well as writing, I'm trying to keep on top of marketing my new book. You know the one. It's over there, on the left, keep going... That's it, the one with the amazing cover.

Today I was told that all the pre-order links are live - print and ebook. If you'd like to check it out, click here now, to find the pre-order links, add it to your Goodreads TBR list, or to look around the site and find other great titles.

I've got three events coming up - two book signings and a book fair in my hometown, all within a couple of weeks of each other. I just hope I've got enough books to sell - and that the locals don't get bored of me. Because of those events, I'm designing a large banner to take around with me. Well, okay, I'm not, but my wonderful husband is - right now, in fact.

On top of that, I thought that maybe my web site needed an overhaul, so I'm currently trying to tie it in with the new banner and some business cards. I even thought about having some new author photos taken, but given the fact I'm procrastinating over my passport photos, it's probably not a wise idea.

Oh, and I've got the posts for my blog tour to write and send out. If you've signed up as a tour stop, rest assured I haven't forgotten you.

You know, I thought by writing it all down, it wouldn't seem such a mammoth list. But it is, isn't it? I'm not complaining - before my first book was published, I used to look enviously at all those writers who were juggling their tasks. Plus, the wine I'm drinking is helping. How many other jobs are there where drinking wine is practically a prerequisite?

What's keeping you busy at the moment?

Making decisions

How do you make decisions? Do you weigh up the pros and cons? Or flip a coin? Or agonise back and forth until you've forgotten what the question was?

What if there's no correct answer?

I have a very clear idea where I want to be, career-wise, but the path I travel to get there is a very windy (as in twisty, not breezy) road. It's full of decisions I don't want to make.

Today, I sent off a short story to a competition, then wondered if I should send it to another one as well. But I don't know, so I haven't yet. Is the story good enough to warrant two entry fees at the same time?

A couple of days ago I was considering some severe editorial changes to a novella. If I make the changes, there's a good chance a publisher would take it. If I stick to my vision of the story, that market would disappear but another might open up. I don't know, so I haven't done anything yet.

I have a novel that I'm querying, but I'm running out of agent options. Should I go small? Should I self-pub? Is it even any good? Should I shred it into a million pieces and throw it like confetti onto some unsuspecting bride at my local church?

See... far too many decisions and questions, and I don't know how to answer any of them.

Does anyone actually have answers, or are you all floundering around and getting lucky too?

And here are the photos... (#2 - sightseeing in London)

And, especially for my oversees readers and friends, here are photos from the following day. We took a rather long, winding walk back to the train station, just so we could take pictures and go to toy shops!

Hamley's - Hubby's suggestion!

Lots of Harry Potter merchandise in Hamley's

Regent Street

Liberty's

The only bit of Selfridges I could photograph without buses in the way!

221b Baker Street, honest. If you look carefully at the glass

above the door, it says so.

The H.G. Wells plaque

I had a quick look for the Doctor, but he must

have been busy

Had a chat with Paddington instead

On our way home

For photos of the evening, see my #1 post

And here are the photos... (#1 - the award ceremony)

I know you know I won 3rd Place, so I won't mention that, I'll just get on with the photos.

We're on our way!

On camera for my BBC Spotlight interview

Back to the hotel to get changed

Waiting for the announcements to start

Receiving my award!!

Me with Erin Soros (2nd Place) and Danny Murphy (1st Place)

The room, so many people

It's all over, just about to leave

Breakfast, the morning after

Here's the link to my sightseeing photos, from the following day.

The second post of the year

I wrote a great post the other day, about my New Year's resolution, and promptly posted it on my web site instead. If you're curious, please pop over and see what I'm planning this year!

And then I realised, I should post something here too, because there's only so long you can wish people Happy New Year before it's weird.

So... Happy 6th January.

I'm currently writing another short story, which obviously means I've been doing a lot of other things instead!

I have

• redesigned my writing submission database (yes, all parts of that are as geeky as it sounds)
• voluntarily taken the dog for a walk during really heavy downpours
• walked to town to pay a bill... a bill!
• possibly organised a book signing with my local independent bookshop owner, and then bought a book from her (A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson)
• chomped my way through lots of Christmas chocolates
• celebrated the return of Castle - yay!

I guess, all that's left is to get on with this story.

My words are missing

My writing has felt like an uphill struggle for the past six months or so. I take one step forward (a shiny new idea) and three steps back (my rational head tells me the idea is too rubbish to contemplate).

I've chosen Glastonbury Tor to illustrate this post because I walked up it in July, on a beautifully warm and clear day. From the top, you can see for miles across Somerset. I wish I could see my writing so clearly. (See what I did there??)

Last week, I had the house to myself. Even the dog was out for the day, so I didn't have the distraction of taking him for a walk, or letting him out into the garden, or playing tuggy with his favourite toy.

And yet, I wrote nothing. I wrote some ideas. Made a cup of tea. Came back and scribbled out my ideas. I tried to rewrite a different story, but it was rubbish - so that got saved (I save everything) under the title To be buried forever and ever.

I know what the problem is: I finished a novel in February. Whereas most writers move on to their next shiny idea, I'm a gibbering mess. I try to stay positive - I announce new ideas on my Facebook page, as though saying it out loud will consolidate them, and I write blog posts that sound relatively upbeat - but the reality is just a little bit different.

I'm going to make a couple of changes:

1. I'm going to change the place where I write - I'm going to move to the dining table.
2. I'm going to limit my wasteful web surfing. I spend a lot of time on the internet, but still don't manage to visit blogs or do meaningful research. I end up on bodybuilding web sites, reading their forums about how to get bigger biceps. (Actually, my biceps are coming along pretty well...)
3. I'm going to manage my time (related slightly to my point above). There will be strict no internet hours, with ten minutes surfing every so often for light relief.
4. I may try dressing in smart clothes, as though I am working in an office. I once read about a writer who did this to put herself in 'work mode'.

I'll only need to do this until I get myself stuck into a new project. Once I'm there, I will be totally focused to the point of ignoring everything around me and walking around with a glazed look on my face while my characters take over.

Comments will be disabled for this post, just because it's a little but whiny - and you all commented on Melissa's post on Monday which dealt with the same subject. I would however appreciate some positive thinking - thank you.

Write, submit, walk the dog, repeat

My favourite bridge, from the opposite direction

I'm sure I only closed my eyes for a moment, and now it's July! I went away for the weekend last week, and it seems to have thrown me completely out of sync. It was a very warm weekend, and I didn't sleep well, and I was on the go the whole time.

While I was away, I decided to write some short stories. So I hunted out a new notebook and wrote. But they're all really daft and will need a lot of work to get them up to standard.

I've been submitting my first almost-novel (it's only a little bit short) to agents. Nothing's happening there yet, but it's early days. Although I woke up in a hot sweat last night when I realised I hadn't added contact details to the latest attachment I submitted, so all they have is my email - no address or phone number or anything - assuming my email and the attachments don't get separated. I did it wrong! So very wrong!

And finally, I'm rewriting one of my oldest stories, changing it from 3rd person/past tense to 1st person/present tense. I've had to cut 1000 words off the first draft because some of it was from another POV. But I hope this will make the story tighter. I've missed the deadline of the market I was aiming for though, sadly.

I'm now going to visit all the blogs I've been neglecting (ie. all of them)

ISWG - it's been a blast!

Click for the linky list

It's June, it's Wednesday, it's time to be insecure... and to make my final IWSG post.

I've been thinking of leaving the group for several months now, but the time has finally come. First and foremost, I would like to thank Alex for the time and commitment he puts into this group. He's the most amazing blogger I've ever met. Through this group, my own blog has grown, and the number of people who regularly comment is greater than I ever imagined.

I will still be blogging, and I will always be around on the first Wednesday of the month, giving support and advice. So, I'm not going anywhere, and nothing will change apart from the fact you'll all have one less blog to read on IWSG day.

My reasons, in case you're wondering, fit neatly into a bullet-point list:

• I have been talking about the same insecurities for the past few months - I'm bored of repeating myself, so I guess you're bored of hearing about them.
• I keep forgetting to post. Luckily, I stopped by Alex's blog yesterday which reminded me, but the last two months have been written half-way through the day itself.
• I struggle to get through visiting and commenting, and then feel guilty I'm not working on my WIP. It's becoming a challenge too far.
• Wednesdays are pretty busy days - I either work or meet up with friends for lunch/coffee - so by the time I get to my blog it's after dinner and I've got 20 or so commenters to visit before I even begin.

So, that's that. See you next month...

Thank you for all the advice and support.

You guys are awesome!

Too much to do

It is probably obvious to my new followers that I a) don't post as regularly as I do during the A-Z challenge and b) there aren't many flash fiction posts. Perhaps I should do more fiction on this blog, but I prefer to write things that I might be able to sell, and if I post them here I won't be able to do that. Also, it will become obvious that I spend my time taking photos like this...

... instead of writing, posting and generally keeping on top of my to-do list.

However, the reason I take a lot of alcohol and nice-view pictures is because I spend some of my time listening to my husband gigging (Peter Crawford, in case you're really new here - he mostly gigs in Cornwall, Devon, Cheltenham, Belgium and Germany). And that will also explain why I take nice-view photos through windows rather than being outside!

My current to-do list includes making more use of my mailing list and writing a new novel.

I was doing well with the new novel, which was actually going to be a rewrite of an old novel, Until I realised that it was awful, certain events made no sense whatsoever, it was set in London even though I've only been there twice, and I'd used a narrative device which I mutated to use in Cat & The Dreamer, so I can't really use the same device again.

So, I've taken it back to the drawing board and letting my imagination run riot... and it is!

As for my mailing list goal, why not sign up to see how I get on...

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Reflecting on the A-Z

I did it! I completed the whole month! I put up 26 vignettes, some of which I wasn't completely happy with, but I got wonderful comments anyway, so...

Thank you for visiting my blog this April!!

I decided on taking part in February, because I'd started to stagnate with my blog - I wasn't sure what I was doing with it or whether I was enjoying it any more. I chose to write vignettes because I'd spent the previous few months writing them for a competition entry and really enjoyed them - capturing scenes and moments in time without explanation or back story really suits me.

And, best of all, I've come away from the month teeming with ideas - not only for more vignettes and short pieces, but another novella (possibly just flipping over into novel-length territory).

The Good

• I met some brand new bloggers that I'm really looking forward to getting to know better
• I reconnected with some bloggers I've lost touch with
• I was organised enough to visit and comment on other blogs - although I still have replies to write to the people who visited me
• I didn't eat as much chocolate as I thought I would
• The dog wasn't neglected
• My kids still recognise me!

The Not-So Good

• I started with the intention of visiting a lot of new blogs, working my way down the linky list, but as the month went on, I just didn't have time for as many new blogs as I hoped for.
• I managed to completely ignore some of the blogs I've followed for years, in some cases not even realising they were taking part! I am so sorry if that was you.
• I got so tired, and when I get tired I get grumpy... So I got grumpy too... oops!

And now, I'm looking forward to getting back to normal, to pulling out my WIP and having a few computer-free, coffee shop writing sessions.

How about you? How was your month?

Did you take part in the challenge, or sit back and read other people's efforts?

Chocolate and music!

Check out this gorgeous box of handmade German chocolates. Yes, I've eaten one already - it is past 10am, and they've been in the house for two hours. I think I've been quite restrained.

If you've been hanging around my blog, or my Facebook page, recently you'll know that Hubby has been on a five and a half week tour of Germany to promote the digital release of his album Six Strings... Keep Me Sane. Well, he's back! Yay, everything can return to normal.


I made the decision to put my writing on the back burner while he was away to make sure I was on top of everything else, like cooking. I've been scribbling a few flash fictions for the A-Z Challenge, but left larger projects alone; but now I'm really looking forward to getting stuck back in.

Not writing is hard, but sometimes it's necessary. Before Peter went away, I was in a bit of a writing rut - staring at a blank screen, having ideas running through my head, but being unable to put them into words - and now I can't wait to get back to it. My dreams have been getting more and more vivid, which is a sure sign my creative juices are flowing without a proper outlet.

In related news, it's finally light when my alarm goes off in the morning, and when I walked the dog over the last couple of days, I actually had to take my coat off!

You can check out/buy Peter Crawford's album Six Strings... Keep Me Sane here.

Giving up writing

I am giving up writing... not forever, just for February.

Although to be honest, I haven't written much over January, so it's not a huge loss to daily life.

Why am I doing this? Because Hubby is off on a six week tour (well, five weeks and two days...) and I'm going to be at home with a manic dog, a teen with college interviews and mock exams, and a 10 year old with a birthday coming up. I also have to juggle my work hours, especially around the up-coming half-term holiday.

Writing just feels like a huge extra pressure that I don't need.

Have I ever mentioned how I don't cook? Hubby does it all. He's great at it. When I cook, my kids sit down to dinner with expressions that say don't worry Mum, it can't be as bad as last time!

Instead of writing, I'm planning to spring clean early. I'm currently listing all the things that need doing in each room, because - I don't know if you're the same - I tend to clean everything, put all the stuff away, and then realise I missed wiping down the paintwork on the back of the door. Or I'll have done the door, but missed the frame. I figure, with a list that I tick off, I'll actually get through everything.

Without the pressure of writing, I'm looking forward to watching a few films I've got recorded, and to - definitely, absolutely - do some reading.

What are your February plans?

Do you ever put writing on hold to, you know, have a life?

Do you have any ideas for films and books I should check out?

News, and cheesy Christmas music

It's December. I am not ready for December. I'm sitting here, amongst the Christmas decorations that Hubby put up last night while I was out at work, and I'm still not feeling it. I even went present shopping this morning, and - nah, nothing...

The problem is it's too early for Christmas/December/winter. It was such a long, hot summer, I haven't really accepted autumn yet (fall, for my American friends).

On Facebook the other day, I mentioned Boney M, and several people said they'd never heard of them. So, here there are, in all their Christmas cheesiness...

In other news, I finished my novel. A couple of people are reading it at the moment - so I have my fingers crossed. I'm hoping to submit it to an agent - yes, I actually wrote a proper novel that an agent might consider. This is huge for me, seeing as though I have a habit of taking novel length manuscripts and cutting them down to novellas.

I'm also considering re-writing my 1998 novel Pictures, Fading. Note the use of the comma - I did that way before Love, Actually and Girl, Interrupted ;-) Hubby read it, many years ago, and has several hundred ideas on how to improve it - I still have the email! Although if I implement all the ideas, I'm sure he'd want double billing!

I got a rejection last month. I've always referred to this particular book as the most depressing novel in the world... ever, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that their reason was it is 'relentlessly bleak'. I'd spent time re-writing it, taking out the most depressing parts, and yet it still, apparently, is. Ah well. I still stand by the story, so obviously that publisher just wasn't a good fit. Back to the drawing board.

That's all my news, but I'm racking my brains to come up with something positive to end on. Oh, yes - my shifts at work are changing (again) which means I'll now have a whole Tuesday and Wednesday once a fortnight where I won't have to leave the house at all. Now that's what I call a pyjama day :-) Is that the kind of thing you were expecting?

And relax...

There's nothing quite like decorating to annoy/infuriate/make you want to leave home and never pick up a paintbrush again... but there's also nothing quite like sitting down in your brand new room and feeling calm and relaxed.

My living room used to be yellow, and now it's blue. I'm sure writing in this new room will inspire me - it's been yellow for a very long time, and change was well overdue. There are some pictures to put up, and a new sofa to buy early next year, but apart from it's all done!

It gave me a good excuse reason to reorganise all my writing folders that have been stacked up in my bedroom for weeks. I probably don't need so much paper any more (two versions of the book I'm working on at the moment??) but I really can't bring myself to throw it all away. Sometimes there will be a gem of an idea scribbled in the margin, or a beautiful phrase that didn't make the final cut but will be perfect in another piece.


Last week, before we picked up our paintbrushes, I was really getting into that current ms. I've had it on ice since February, and as I started rewriting, I found a few inaccuracies that I needed to straighten out and a few character traits that didn't ring true. All written out and replaced with something more believable. I can only imagine what I'll find in the next two-thirds of the book. And I can't wait.

I've also got a great short story bubbling away in the back of my mind, but no idea how to start it or how to write it. Should be interesting!

What was your last decorating project?

Do you still use more paper than strictly necessary?

This writer is writing

Blogging has been lower down my priority list for a while now, which you'll know if you've stopped here recently. With every post, I seem to be making excuses giving reasons for my lack of interaction. And when I do post/enter a blogfest, I have a really hard time getting round to all the commenters.

Please just know, I love you and your blogs, it's nothing personal, it's me trying to write while the dog rests his head on my keyboard - looking pitiful - and hits me in the face with whichever toy he wants to play with next. Often, I've resorted to typing left-handed while playing tuggy with the other.

I've finished polishing the flash fiction I started a couple of months ago, and with help (thanks Kyra Lennon) weeded out the weak links. This means the collection is a little short for purpose - I'm planning to enter it into the Vine Leaves Literary Journal competition - so I'll be writing some more over the coming days and polishing those too.

I should be thinking about my next longer work, but at the moment I have nothing. I've got a 'novel' that I could play around with, but I don't really have an overall story to link together the short periods of genius (lol). 

Tomorrow, after work, I'm off to listen to Hubby playing an afternoon gig in a pub, and I'll be taking my notebook to write. Music and cider... what a great way to write!

On a different note, Our Beautiful Child has been available for almost four months. Have you read it? Did you like/dislike it? Would you consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads? Thank you!

What's your best marketing tip for me?

What's your favourite way to write?

IWSG in September

It's the September meeting Insecure Writer's Support Group... Check out the sign up/visiting list here!

You know what that means? It means I survived the summer holidays for another year. It also means both my kids are in the last year of their respective schools. I means my sun tan is going to fade soon. And it means I really ought to knuckle down and get some work done.

I spent the summer messing around with some small projects, giving up, starting something else, giving up... I've had a lot of distractions since April, and I'm still in that I've just finished a major project stage, even though that major project was finished in February!

I used to be happy with my work rate, but there are so many writer friends who are working on several books at once, or releasing something every four months, or telling me their plans to release two new books before the end of the year, that I'm starting to think I'm a bit slow. I ought to be doing more.

I have a novel and a novella currently under submission, but nothing else remotely ready. I'm going to get to a point soon where I have absolutely no writing projects at all... It's probably time for some chocolate!

PS...

That Sadie Thing on Kindle is 99 cents (77p) until Friday, and then $1.99 for another couple of days after that. Check out this link. [edit. 12.20pm BST, 3 Sept... Not yet, but soon hopefully!!]