Spring is Here...

It's been a lovely few days over Easter- despite a little rain- and so many of the plants and flowers are blooming giving bursts of colour amid the greenery.

Did you know that you could find out what native species of trees and plants have grown in the area you live?  You can use the postcode database on the Natural History Museum website to find out. Very helpful if you want to plant native species in your garden...

You can find out about different plants- there's a long list of names. But I can see it would be a useful starting point if you were setting a scene sometime in the past and had your heroine picking wild flowers or herbs, even being presented with a bouquet- and you'd added in a flower that wouldn't or couldn't have been there at that time.

Meanwhile here are a few flowers from my garden, thought sadly my self-seeded bluebells are not the native species that were once so abundant in the woods of my childhood.

 Bluebells Forever...

                                                            And the Hawthorn Blooming

A Picture Can Inspire a Thousand Words or More...

Yesterday I was looking at some photos taken while I was in Dorset a few years ago- it's a very scenic place to visit at any time of the year.

I often find that when I've taken a photo, concentrating on a scene or subject, something off to one side has been captured. It doesn't have anything to do with what I'm interested in, but later on those unexpected scenes set off the creative tingles...

Where've they gone?

I won't throw out magazines (recycle) until I've looked at each page for interesting faces, places or information I might find a use for later on. (My husband despairs and tries to throw things out when I'm not there to scream "stop!")

As it's the Easter holidays and next weekend the Royal Wedding and the May Day Bank Holiday, you might be out and visiting old houses or markets.

Guide books and postcards are great prompts for stories or for settings.

I have a few old postcards that I've picked up over the years- currently in a box that was put somewhere I can't remember...I must look it out.
(Postcard collecting is apparently a serious hobby and there are books about it.)

So here are a few photos for you that might inspire a story...

Stopped for lunch or something else?



Wait for me!







Grammar Links...

As today is the start of the school Easter holidays my computer time is going to be limited again, so my regular routine may go slightly awry.

Today has already been refereeing arguing teenagers...

So I thought what I could suggest that was fun but useful?

Now I know grammar may not be the most fun subject in the world, but without it we'd have some trouble understanding...

If you want to test yourself try out Free Rice- each right answer earns 10 grains of rice for the World Food Programme.

There are different categories and different levels, so you can work at a level suitable to you, or challenge yourself.
You can select the category you prefer here. You can try English Vocabulary or Grammar; even language learning with French, German, Italian or Spanish...

I'm not too keen on Chemistry, Geography or Maths, but the Art section might be fun as you get an image of a famous painting and a choice of  possible artists to select from.

If you want an interesting site about grammar then I recently came across The Grammarphobia blog
after it was mentioned on another writer's blog (sorry I've forgotten on whose blog it was, but thank you for the recommendation).

If you know of any relevant websites then do please share your knowledge- just use the comment box at the bottom of the page.

A Little More Kindle Publishing...

Just a brief post to give you a link to writer Carol Arnall's website. She has embraced publishing with Kindle and is willing to share her experience to help other writers embarking on the process...

The page on marketing tips (there's a link on Carol's home page) might be useful if you've never had to do any promotion before and aren't sure where to start.

There's even a link at the end of the marketing pages to explain the Amazon Rating system.

Now I've got a few e-books I'm in the middle of reading...

Creativity Strikes Anywhere...

I'm a bit late in posting my mid-week blog because I was at an open evening yesterday. One of my sons is looking at potential courses for autumn next year, so I went with him to the local further education college to find out about Computer Games Development.

Actually there are some similarities between creating a game and creating a story.They both start with ideas and inspirations. They need to be developed and if something doesn't work you go back a couple of stages and try something else, or make alterations to something you have that is good but just isn't quite right. You revise and fine tune until eventually the game/story is ready.

The only difference is that I can understand the terms used in writing, whereas gaming terminology goes completely over my head. I just sat there while my son and the tutor talked in phrases that meant very little to me... :-)

But it must have done some good because today my brain has been working.

Now I have always found cooking dinner to be a creative time- combining ingredients to make something delicious and satisfying.  So as I was putting together a chicken casserole two of my vague characters moved into my conscious. I now know the circumstances that gets them together, some of the back story and the conflicts. So now I need to find suitable names and what they look like...

Some writers report they get ideas develop when they're out walking, or even when they're ironing, so I've learnt to accept this as normal and not to let anyone or anything distract me until I've written it down. Hence the reason for notebooks in my handbag, by the television or near the computer...

So at least it's been a productive few days...

Colour and Me...

As the past few days have been very warm and extremely bright I've been out in the garden taking photos of all the tree and plant blossoms that have suddenly burst into life- okay I know that all the buds and flower heads started to burst into life a month or so ago, but you know what I mean, colour is suddenly everywhere...

(And sympathy if you are the part of the population who start sneezing, itching or having breathing problems the moment pollen starts rising.)

Cherry and Magnolia in my garden

Looking at the various shades of white from the assorted blossom it started me thinking how to describe such a basic colour. In the next-door neighbour's garden is a white Magnolia- I automatically think of the shade of paint when I hear the word magnolia- but it is a different shade of white to the cherry blossom, the former has tinges of pink while the latter reminds me of ground chalk (chalk was used for writing on blackboards when I was in school many years ago).

So I had a look at The Bookshelf Muse blog and viewed the list of words under White in the Colour Thesaurus but chalk wasn't mentioned- well they mostly use whiteboards in many schools now.

If I haven't mentioned this blog before it is worth bookmarking. I especially like the Settings Thesaurus, it has a lengthy selection, among which are a Casino, a Cryogenic Sleep Chamber and a Wood at Night. There's a setting for any genre.

I wonder what I might find in a fantasy Herbalists Shop? Hopefully not eye of newt or tongue of iguana, but then again...

Sadly the brightness didn't last and the dismal clouds arrived- no I'll leave the dirty dishwater description out of it I think and include a few blossom pictures so you can imagine the sunshine.



Open Magnolia blossom

The Joys and Perils of Research...

Inspired by Sally Quilford's advice following her success with My Weekly Pocket Novels, I've been reading a selection of them (by various authors) over the past year-as I have a couple of ideas that might be suitable.

I say MIGHT because once I start writing it could change tone completely and end up entirely unsuitable for the market I was originally aiming at! And it isn't neccesarily my fault, it's those characters who decide they're totally different to what I imagine them to be... :-)

(Okay, I know I'm supposed to be the one in charge of the words that I type, but...)

Research can be fun and I do enjoy it, in fact so much it's easy to forget that you have to stop at some point and start writing, plus remembering that you don't need to put all you've learnt into the story- just a little of it.

But then comes the issue of keeping hold of it, so you can refer back to it when you need to. I've tried a few things, some worked, some didn't.

Sadly I don't have room for a filing cabinet (if only...) so I've tried:  lever arch files, which unfortunately got badly bent out of shape, so I now have numerous thin clear plastic sleeves each holding either a picture, article or face, all looking for a new storage solution.

I often have a similar problem with box files- mainly because there's no shelf space for them.

Suprisingly the best solutions for me have been a big plastic stacker box that can be moved around, and those flat packed cardboard storage boxes that you get in stationery stores, which you fold and slot together to make a lidded box file, they can be fitted into odd gaps around the shelves.
They're also great for storing any paperwork you need to keep, like invoices, receipts and so on.

I have hardback notebooks for different novels or novella length stories. In these I'll put snippets of dialogue, descriptions, thoughts about my characters, page references from specific research  books, postcards, leaflets of relevent tourist attractions, even weather descriptions from the area the novel is set.
Each long story has it's own notebook.

Some pictures I'll have on my computer, but most will be on a disc and/or memory stick as well as printed out (somewhere).

Relevent books can be on a number of different shelves in the living room, or in that big lidded stacker box that keeps moving...

One problem that I do have- and I'm sure other fiction writers do too-is that avenues of research often trigger other ideas for related stories, or even completely new novels just when you're working on the first project and don't need the distraction.

I'm getting better at just writing the idea down and any associated mental images that come with it, then forgetting about it while I try to get on with the other project. I know I'm not going to forget the new idea because those jottings will be enough to ressurect the thoughts and images even a year later.

The human brain is amazing.

So I need to take my own advice and get on with the short story that has been giving me trouble recently, then I can come back to the pocket novel market research later (when the longer length stories- recently announced- start being published).

And I'll leave you with this thorny question: research first then write, or write and research as you go?

If You Tweet Please Help An Impersonated Writer...

Just a brief request for help for a fellow writer Rosalie Warren.

Rosalie has (like any other writer) been actively promoting her new book 'Coping with Chloe' since its publication date.

Last week her Twitter identity was assumed by someone else, read about it here. So sensibly she did what she could to make people aware what had happened and contacted Twitter about this impersonation.

Now under the rules of Twitter, Impersonation is wrong- whatever the reason it is not on. So she followed the rules and contacted Twitter, but has received a lukewarm response from Twitter.

From Rosalie's latest post:
"Now Twitter have replied - and apparently it's fine to nick someone's profile and pretend you have written their books, own their website, etc. For her to claim to be me, in fact, intentional or not. I just need to 'keep an eye on things' and report back if they get 'any worse'. "

So spread the news- Rosalie says:
"If you are on Twitter, please follow me at Ros_Warren and retweet my tweets on this."

Have any of you had a similar experience? If you have, please share how you got it resolved so we all know how to deal with it if it happens to another writer in the future. Thanks.

Notebooks and the Subconscious...

If you're a writer you're likely to have a notebook in your bag or pocket-and a pen or pencil to write with. If you haven't, why not?

Even non-writers need to make notes sometimes.

Though I admit that I do know writers who use their phones to send an e-mail with those sudden bursts of inspiration, or even use a Dictaphone.

While I was waiting for an appointment this morning I thought I'd review what moments of insight I'd jotted down in the past year or two but hadn't looked at - okay, I admit the notebook contains as many pages with notes relating to names and phone numbers, plus other non-writing associated scribbles, but there are a few ideas, dialogue from my characters, all mixed among snippets of overheard remarks or sights seen.

But I did come across something which ran to three and a half sides of A5, though sadly at the bottom of the first side the words became an indecipherable scrawl as I was having a hypo at the time (a hypoglycemic reaction- low blood sugars).

I was surprised because the words have no mental visual images associated with them- which usually happens when I get an idea- so my mind is completely blank about them.

Here's what I jotted down that I can still read...

In the beginning we'd never believed Felicity would return. Return to this house of purity and truth.
Truth.
Truth had never been the purpose. It had been the desire to resolve the truth of that photo.
That so revealing photo of  Mathew and Mark. So engrossed in a romance of love and desire that they...

Sadly I will never know the answer to what I was writing as from then on as it becomes unreadable.

Now that it is in my mind, my sub-conscious may start working on it and eventually I will find out who Felicity is. Who, or what Mathew and Mark are to her and what IS so revealing about that photo? And who is the narrator telling the story?

I'm a great believer in letting my subconscious work on writing problems while I get on with other things and it usually works.

If I ever find out the answers and/or write the story, I'll let you know...

Edited to add: I wouldn't normally use repetition  in the way I have above, that's just what came from my pen at the time.

More Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Information...

Following on from my last post, writer Jay Mandal has kindly been giving me some further information and links-which has helped a great deal as I've been having a little computer trouble this week.

Jay's earlier books were made available as digital downloads (as well as paperbacks) from his publisher at a time when e-books were still unfamiliar to many readers. One of his stories has been included in each of the Best Gay Romance anthologies (2009 and 2010 are both available on Kindle) 2011 is currently in paperback.

Jay is a whizz at remembering information and finding links, so a big thank you from me...

So down to facts.

Whether you're buying an e-book from a publisher or setting one up for sale on Kindle Direct, price matters, it can be the difference between making sales and not selling at all.
Unlike the paper version, e-books are subject to VAT at 20% - so Amazon will put the VAT onto the price you set, you don't need to do that yourself, but you do need to remember it will be added.

In another post  this year I mentioned that market survey company Mintel had asked about e-book pricing in December 2010 and found :-

"(For anyone thinking about pricing of their e-books) those who expected to pay less-for an e-book-preferred a price of £3 to £6, while existing e-reader owners expected to pay £6 to £10."

Royalties are the big advantage of KDP and selling to the US, UK or CAN brings a 70% royalty, while other countries will bring a 35% royalty.
As each book is going to be individual in size and price here (scroll down for the GBP list) and here are a couple of useful links to read.

We've all heard the saying about the only two things in life that are certain, are death and taxes, well with KDP paying attention to taxes is important.

As a UK taxpayer, you'll obviously declare your income to HMRC, but unless you take action you could find yourself paying into the American tax system too.

If you're on Facebook then you may find it useful to find writer Ali Cooper who has just completed the paperwork to avoid the IRS taking that 30% from her kindle earnings. Her simple guide for UK authors to sort out US tax appeared on the 19th March 2011 at 16:22.

It is a three stage process and does require getting appropriate paperwork, proving identity and some expense, but if you're going to be saving 30% of your earnings it is probably worth it!

But do remember it may not be right for everyone, it will depend upon your own tax situation- so investigate thoroughly first.

There is an online form for contacting the IRS- Help With Tax Questions for International Taxpayers

I believe this system can also be used if you are resident in the UK and have solid books released and sold in the US. I'm not certain if it also applies to sales in US magazines, so if someone knows the answer to this please let me know so it can be passed on.

There's a lot more that could be talked about, but too much overloads the brain, so I'll stop there...

Plans Can Go Astray...

I should have been doing my follow up post on Kindle Direct (it's under construction) but life has got in the way again...

My plan for Wednesday was to finish the next post and then get on with my short story (poor Jack will have a cold in his back by now. I left him stood in the doorway of his cottage...)

I'd be home too, so I could get my food shopping from Asda delivered as well, but what happens when I go to sign in? They've got server problems so suggest 'I try later'...Don't you hate messages like that?

It's not the end of the world of course but I do like my daily pineapple pieces and the coconut chunks I can nibble while I'm writing- I've now finished my last supply.

Even when I'm reading I do like a little bit of chocolate, or a glass of wine (evening reading only).

So I'm off to try signing in again...

When you're reading and/or writing, what do you prefer? Or are you very strict with yourself and won't have food or drink anywhere near your computer?

But the one essential in my opinion is coffee...

Kindle Direct Publishing...

Today I'm welcoming Deborah Durbin to a Q&A on Kindle Direct publishing. Deborah is a journalist, freelance writer and author. She has recently begun successfully selling her Kindle book Oh Great, Now I Can Hear Dead People.

(I've kept the questions simple because there is a lot more information once you get into the process. I'll be gathering a few more facts for you next week.)

 Q. Most readers will have heard of, or even used a Kindle e-reader, but may not have realised writers can make their work available to purchase as an e-book from Amazon (and other versions- more later).
How did you find out about this potential publishing opportunity?

A. I received an e-mail from Amazon direct informing me of their Kindle Direct publishing venture.

Q. Do you need to be very computer literate to prepare a manuscript for loading?
(I think this is something that puts many writers off, thinking it will be too difficult.)
Also what advice is there available to help if you have a problem?

A. No, you don't need lots of computer experience. There are many other publishers out there who are more than happy to help and if you go to kindleboards there are pages and pages of questions you can go through and lots of helpful members who have all done it before and are only too happy to advise.

Q.From your experience, what are the most important issues to be considered before you make that final commitment?

A. I tested the market with a book that was just sitting gathering metaphorical dust in my PC. I would suggest you test the market with some spare material you have first- a book of short stories, or poems.
Regardless of how you choose to publish, you have to market yourself.

Q. What are the Pros and Cons?

A. For me the Pros were that it was very quick and easy to do and my book was selling within hours of publishing it. The royalties are much better too.
The Cons are the time it takes to proof and edit your work, then design a cover and marketing of your book, but it is worth a few hours a day joining forums, social networking, blogging etc because it is mainly an online business.

Q. On the basis of your experience so far, will you be adding more, now or in the future?

A. Yes, I have a couple of half written novels that I will eventually publish to Kindle Direct. The marketing opportunity for a writer is worldwide, very fast and instant and I think that many mainstream publishers will have to re-think their marketing strategies in the future.
I've had 11 books published traditionally too, so can compare the two and I honestly believe that e-publishing is to books what itunes is to music.

Q. Not everyone has a Kindle device- I have a Sony Pocket reader myself- so if they want to read your e-book but may not want to read it on the computer screen, is it available in different formats elsewhere?

A. If you also join Smashwords and upload your book with them, it is available to every e-reader or computer (including Macs), but even if you don't have an e-reader anyone with a computer can download your book to their PC/laptop/ipad etc. They just have to first download a free application from Amazon.

Thank you Deborah, I'm sure this will have inspired many readers to investigate further, perhaps they will even decide to embark on e-publishing now or in the near future.

I think this is a great opportunity for writers to get their work out to readers, especially if their work isn't what mainstream publishers want at the moment- not long enough but the story is complete, they don't publish collections of short stories unless you're a well known writer etc. You can even publish a collection of poetry. But you still need to produce a good manuscript, just as you would if submitting to a publisher or agent.

If you've already ventured into Kindle publishing then please let me know how you're doing. All comments welcome.

Coming up on Friday...

If you've read my blog before, you'll know I enjoy e-books and have been following the various news stories relating to them.

I mentioned on Monday that I'd be talking later in the week about writers publishing to Kindle. On Friday I will be posting a Q&A with writer Deborah Durbin who has kindly agreed to give an insight into the basics- from her own experience.

I realised a couple of years ago the potential advantages of turning short stories, novellas and full length novels to e-books, so wanted to know the answer to some obvious questions- if you're considering this publishing route.

I hope the post will lead you to wanting to find out more and hopefully I'll be bringing a follow-up item next week...

Monday News...

Another week and I've got a few ideas for items to talk about, but I need to sort out some info and speak to people first, so it may be later in the week before you hear more about getting your unpublished books on Kindle...

Meanwhile the Authors for Japan auction closed yesterday and the winning bidders are receiving e-mails telling them their bid was successful.

The sum raised at the moment is over £10,000 (exact figure to be confirmed) for the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami appeal. If you weren't one of the lucky bidders and want to donate to the appeal, you can still do so here.

Spring is trying to grab our attention, so enjoy what sunshine you may see- and feel- and perhaps you're bursting with ideas already - I think I need a little bit more sun and warmth to be bursting with anything at the moment...

Red Nose Day and beyond...

Today I've been wearing my Red Nose Vivien Westwood designed t-shirt- this is the only time I'll ever get into (size wise) anything by her, but it does also mean money goes toward very important causes.

I bought Hogarth's The Laughing Audience a month ago, but would have loved the Louis XVI Lady with her very very low neckline with two red noses covering strategic points, but they didn't do a XXL in the slim fit... :-(

I've had the television on all evening watching the Comic Relief event, enjoying the various items and performances- especially Peter Kay and Susan Boyle recreating the Elaine Page and Barbara Dixon video of 'I Know Him So Well' from Chess.

But I don't think many of us won't be moved by the images of children in Africa suffering from malaria- and knowing some will even die.

Also I didn't even realise children could get cataracts, it is something I've always associated with the old rather than the young.

There are a lot of causes at the moment that need donations as we know, but even £1 can help- apparently it costs 80p for a malaria testing kit, so even £1 will help someone.

There are a lot of causes supported in the UK too, young carers among them.

We might complain how bad things are in the UK with the economic problems, but I'm not having to watch my children suffer in any of these ways.

You can find out more here.

(Monday, normal writing related service will resume on my blog.)

Authors for Japan -website up and running

Following on from my post at the weekend the website Authors for Japan is up and running- thanks to Tracy on the Talkback Forum for providing the web address.

So visit Authors for Japan and see if you can find something you'd like to bid on between 8am (GMT) 15th March and 8pm Sunday 20th March.

Catching up on Romance...

Well spring is bursting out so romance should be too-hopefully...

Actually this is a follow up to an earlier post on whether men can write romance. This followed the announcement that a man was in the shortlist for the RNA's (Romantic Novelists' Association) 2011 Romantic Novel of the Year.

The winner was announced at a reception last week. The winning novel, 'The Last Letter from your Lover' by Jojo Moyes.

Other awards presented on the night were Outstanding Achievement Awards to Josephine Cox and Penny Jordan (I've read a large number of her Mills and Boon books over the years and enjoyed them all).

Nottinghamshire author Elizabeth Chadwick received the Historical Novel Prize for 'To Defy a King'. I've met Elizabeth and know how intensively she does the research for her books.

The Romantic Comedy Prize went to Jill Mansell for her book 'Take a Chance on Me'.

While Louise Allen received the Love Story of the Year for her Mills and Boon historical 'The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst'. This award is for a category romance. Louise Allen is one of the authors for the Historical Romance UK blog.

You might like to read all about the RNA and the awards reception and see the pictures from the event, so look here.

The RNA even has a blog that you might like to follow.

If you want a good read I can certainly recommend their 'Loves Me, Loves Me Not' Anthology. I bought it as an e-book (rather than the paperback) and I've still got a few stories left to read- the book would make a great gift for Mother's Day next month.

Japan and how we can all help...

I don't think many of us haven't seen the pictures of the devestation caused by the Earthquake and Tsuanami in Japan that have been shown on every news programme, in every newspaper and online.

In previous disasters writers have shown their willingness to help raise money, so as before writers are stepping forward to help.

Many thanks to Womag on her blog for providing the link to Keris Stainton's site- here is Keris' idea-

"If you’re an author or a publishing professional willing to contribute something to be auctioned in aid of Japan, I’d love to hear from you. I’m thinking proofs/ARC, books, naming a character, swag, chapter/query letter/synopsis critiques, even writer mentoring."

She will have a dedicated website up next week.

Now you may not have anything you can contribute but you can bid for the items/services when it is organised...

My Chance to be Stylish...

Two lovely writers-Teresa Ashby and Patsy Collins- have both awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award, sadly I've been too full of cold, plus coughing and spluttering, to concentrate on it. But I feel a little better now, so I better get on with the big reveal.

Seven things about myself-that's a tough one...

1. I hate Garlic. Well that should be, it doesn't like me. If I accidently eat even a little bit I am ill.

2. My first published letter was when I was eleven years old and it was in a music newspaper- can't remember the name, too long ago.

3. I couldn't read properly until I was 7 years old. I will be forever grateful to my teacher Mrs White, who took extra time in helping me with my reading, and demonstrated how to make specific word sounds. The results of her patience opened a world of books to me.

4. I don't like Marmite, Sprouts or Gravy-I don't think I need to say more...

5. I always played a man in school plays. I went to an all girls school and once you reached the senior years (equivalent to Years 10 and 11 now) we took part in the annual drama production (I was in the drama group anyway). The script was written by our English teacher Mrs Brandt and other members of staff did all the backstage and front of house work.
I played Sir Thomas Boleyn (Anne's father) one year. The next I was Mr Brocklehurst in Jane Eyre. I learnt how uncomfortable high collars on men's shirts could be and that fake whiskers itched.

(The long lasting advantage is I can understand how men in formal dress moved- an advantage for historical fiction.)

Now I have to admit, it was only because I was tall and had short hair...

6. I love long sandy beaches. As a child I lived about an hour by train from the seaside, so many summer Sundays were spent on the beach, with my parents in their deckchairs while I ran between my sandcastle and moat to the sea for water.

7. I have a long-standing admiration for Derek Jacobi. He has a wonderful voice. I first saw him at The Old Vic in Christopher Fry's, 'The Lady's Not For Burning' when my college O' level English Literature class were studying it.

Now blogs that I want to award the Stylish Blogger Award to:

Now Teresa and Patsy (mentioned above) would obviously be top of the list- they're great blogs anyway, but we need to spread this around a bit so here are my suggestions...

Lou Treleaven

Parodies Lost - this has a number of writers so I've chosen the latest posting.

All Write- Fiction Advice

Romy's Regency Romance- Rosemary Gemmel's other blog

Gone Writing

Sandra's Blog

Up the Down Escalator

There are a vast number of interesting blogs out and I always enjoy exploring the blogs mentioned on other sites. So I hope you'll find some you like from my list and theirs.

International Women's Day- Tuesday 8th March

This post isn't the one I originally intended today, but when I saw the following item I just had to post it.






This short film with Judi Dench and Daniel Craig has been made by artist and director Sam Taylor-Wood and commissioned by a coalition of charities who campaign on equality issues.  It is produced by Barbara Broccoli- the producer of the 007 Bond films.

You can find more information and details of what events are taking place around the world at: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

E-books are making an impact...

There have been two news items on e-books this week that show they are starting to play an important role in publishing.

On Wednesday (2nd March) European Commission Inspectors made 'unannouced inspections' at a number of European publishers on the basis of "suspicion of anti-competition practices on the pricing of e-books."

Nothing is being said about it relating to agency pricing, but it isn't likely to be anything else, when the OFT in the UK has already launched an investigation into this issue and cited complaints and EU laws as the basis.

I do like the comments from appropriate spokespeople saying they have no proof and are not accusing anyone...

You can read the interesting responses from officials in this Bookseller.com article.

*   *   *

Mintel (a market research company) have revealed that existing e-book owners are more realistic about pricing (doesn't mean they are always happy with that pricing though) while younger readers expected to pay less- Mintel took this to be a reflection of previous experience of obtaining digital products cheaply or for free (and some of those free sources could have come courtesy of piracy). 

But it did confirm that most readers expected to pay less for an e-book, 40-70% off the hardback price. (As agency pricing has been selling e-books at the same price as a hardback- sometimes even more, then there is still a long way to go before a satisfactory compromise is reached between publisher and reader).

(For anyone thinking about pricing of their e-books) those who expected to pay less-for an e-book-preferred a price of £3 to £6, while existing e-reader owners expected to pay £6 to £10.

(For an 80-90,000 word e-novel by an author with a few books to their name I'd personally have no issue with paying £6 to £8).

The research was undertaken in December 2010 and in the run-up to Christmas there is often a push on e-readers. So by December 2011 the results they found could have changed if they asked those same people again.

49% did say they they would rather have a book than an e-book- so there's no risk of the mass demise of the paperback.

But clearly these same respondents were concerned (like everyone) about their money as 1 in 10 said they expected to buy less books this year than they bought last year...

I know I'm not buying as many books as early last year- whether solid or digital. So are you buying less books than previously? 



February Mini Poll results- Character or Plot?

Thank you all those readers who took a moment to give an opinion. Although this is the result of a small number of answers it is still interesting.

The question was: Should novels be...?

Character led                57%
Plot led                          0%
No preference               42%

All stories have people in them- well there are a few from an animal or ghoul type perspective of course, but usually there is a human being in the story somewhere.

If a writer has done their job properly then the reader will believe that those characters are real- okay you know they're made up, but how many times have you read a story and realised you know someone just like them?

I was fortunate enough to hear crime writer Stephen Booth give a talk last year at Nottingham Writers' Club. During the Q&A at the end of the talk I asked if he was a plot or character led writer?

(Many crime writers do seem to be plot led in my opinion, but I'm open to that view being challenged.)

He explained how his characters led the story, not the plot. His characters did seem to work things out as he wrote...

Of course there has to be a plot to any story, but it doesn't have to be set out from A to Z, letter by letter. If that's the way you write and it works for you, then that's great.

I've always been the type to know where I'm starting- or think I am, then where I see the story as ending and certain points in between the start and finish. Those points may move about a bit, but generally I end up where I expect to, even if I reach that end in a different way than I thought.
It does allow for some surprises along the way...

When I try to plot each stage my writing suffers- I think that is why I've had a number of issues with my Dorset novel. I deviated from my usual style. But I have learnt from it.

Though I do sometimes wonder if it isn't being a writer that makes plots visible. EDITED to add that I was thinking about books made into television dramas when I made this comment. Hope it now makes sense...

So, do you have any opinions on this subject that you'd like to share?

Writing is like a ride on the Big Wheel...

As it has been half term this past week, Nottingham City centre has again played host to a Big Wheel in the Old Market Square.

It is actually an interesting process to watch when it's being put up and again when it's taken down a couple of months later.

Looking at the big wheel going round today started me thinking, that writing and the process of writing a short story, a novel (or even an article) have a lot in common.

First the base for building upon...
Perhaps that equates to having what you need to start the process ( a notepad and pen or a computer and keyboard).

The big supporting poles come next ( the initial idea...the plot?)

Then the wheel begins to be constructed (the characters and the setting).

The viewing compartments get added next ( the dialogue and the narrative).

When the wheel is completed (the first draft) it is tested and anything that needs correcting is done (editing).

So the wheel is finally ready to run (you say goodbye to your manuscript).

In you climb and off you go until the wheel stops ( it's in the post or winging its way through the ether to that editor, agent or publisher and finally lands in their in-tray/inbox).

Then you start going again (it's being considered) and who knows whether the next time the wheel stops it may be the return envelope and you'll soon be getting off the wheel sooner than expected.
You may go round a few times and when you reach the ground for the final time you may have that acceptance you've been hoping for.

But even if it fails that time you can always try again...

And as we've been talking about the Big Wheel here is a picture...



Big Wheel
photo by Richard Bevitt



Characters and the problems they bring...

I haven't been writing this week as it's half term, plus I've been recovering from the accident I was involved in last Thursday, so pain and discomfort have pushed my characters to the back of my mind.

Every writer has their own way of creating their characters. But today, mine decided that I'd had long enough ignoring them and demanded attention.

Now I have one, Jack, in his rented cottage needing to find a document that is important to a group of people, but he's not cooperating, or he just doesn't know what he's doing!

There's Marcus in the eighteenth century patiently waiting for a rewrite...

Another is a young woman in a lift- that's all I know about her at the moment...

Then I have another unnamed couple lurking in my head. I have a few possible scenarios for them, a location where the story takes place (a picture from an item in Radio Times a few months ago) and my heroine in a half mask looking mysterious (courtesy of a magazine tidy up).

Generally my novel characters present themselves in a scene-almost a still. I may have a vague idea about one or more of them, but usually it's as if I'm looking at them through a fine net curtain.
From there I have to find out about them, for example their past and what they look like- okay that character may have dark hair from what I can see through the net, but is it black, brown or going grey with all the implications that can suggest?

Sometimes I realise that an idea I'd jotted down months- or in the case of Marcus- years ago, ties into a particular character's story.

For short stories I find it more of a problem. Something will trigger an idea and I may have one or two characters who I know belong with that idea- sometimes they are very clear, but others times they're vague and it tends to be those vague ones that don't go anywhere.
Yes, I need to know them more but I do sometimes wonder if they aren't in the wrong parts. Stories like that need more thinking time.

So next week I'll be back with Jack- one of my very clear characters- in the cottage trying to sort him out- then  I can get him to the next scene where I know what is going to happen...

So, do you have any characters who demand your attention?

Vote for the Oddest Book Title of the Year...

The Diagram Prize shortlist was announced last week. This is an annual award for the oddest book title of the year. It is run through the Bookseller and you can read about this year's selection- and previous year's if you wish, here.

In the past it has brought us (in 2009) 'Advances in Potato Chemistry and Technology', 'Collectible Spoons of the Third Reich' and 'An Intellectual History of Cannibalism'. But it was eventually won by 'Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes' by Dr Daina Taimina (A K Peters).

They say that any publicity is good publicity, so authors (and publishers) in the 2010 shortlist are probably hopeful of a few extra sales by their inclusion- as they don't get a prize.

The 2010 longlist comprised 66 books- here is the shortlist of 6 for this year's judging.

• What Color Is Your Dog?                                          Joel Silverman (Kennel Club)
• The Generosity of the Dead                                        Graciela Nowenstein (Ashgate)
• Myth of the Social Volcano                                        Martin King Whyte (Stanford University Press)
• 8th International Friction Stir Welding Symposium Proceedings                       Various authors (TWI)
• The Italian's One-night Love Child                              Cathy Williams (Mills & Boon)
• Managing a Dental Practice the Genghis Khan Way    Michael R Young (Radcliffe)

You can vote on the home page of The Bookseller.com website. Voting began 18th February and the winner will be announced on Friday 25th March.

My vote went to the Genghis Khan Way- perhaps we all secretly think of dental practices in this way...:-)

Contemplation...

I'm feeling a lot better for resting for the day, but decided I couldn't miss my Friday/Saturday posting, so I went to find an illustration to inspire you.

I like the illustrated pictures by silentstella on Photobucket, simple but with depth- they inspire ideas for stories- well they do for me...

So I've selected one that I particularly liked and added what I thought the person in the picture was doing or thinking. So perhaps it will start you thinking and creating.




By silentstella from Photobucket

The figure could be male or female. You could set the story in another time- future or past. Nothing is impossible with imagination...

Health and the writer...

I'd intended this post to be about writing health- making sure you're well supported in the chair you use at the computer (no dangling feet and back supported please). Also keeping your eyes healthy when you spend a great deal of time at the computer screen (taking breaks and looking away from the screen for a few moments regularly).

But I was in an accident today- as a passenger, so I'm starting to feel stiff and I'm not sure how much typing will be comfortable by tomorrow.

So there may or may not be a weekend post, but I will be looking out for interesting things to write about next even if I'm not up to immediate typing.

Now where did I put those pain killers...

Back to the start...

Having lived with the new colour scheme- as much as I liked it- I preferred the old one, so I've reverted back to the original. That shade is just perfect for me...

But, I have changed the colour of the text for links so it will be clearer for everyone...

Now I'm back to normal- what am I saying, I'm a writer-what is normal? :-)

There are a few short competitions I'm thinking of entering, just depends if I can expand on my initial ideas- I have the end, but no start or middle.

If you want to try a few writing competitions yourself look no further than the blog of Patsy Collins or for many months ahead Sally Quilford's Writing Calendar.

I'm off to jot down some thoughts...

Men Do Write Romance-But Are They Any Good?

Now I am going to leave you to decide on that.

Today the BBC's freeview text service and this evening, Robert Dex, in The Independent online have revealed that Tom Gamble is on the shortlist for the Romantic Novelist Association Novel of the Year Award for his book titled 'Amizir'.

He is joined on the shortlist by Sarah Duncan, Nottinghamshire author Elizabeth Chadwick, Jojo Moyes, Kate Furnivell and Rebecca Dean.

It's unusual to see a man in the shortlist admittedly, but still welcome.

For many years male writers submitted short stories to women's weekly magazines with a female pseudonym, but now they appear under their own name and are as equally successful as their female counterparts.

There is a Mills and Boon author- of medical style romances- who has written under a female pseudonym for years, but is known to be a man. He has obviously been convincing.

No one queries a female writer creating a male character in love. We're writers, we have to produce believable characters with emotions and reactions that we-and the reader-can recognise and have sympathy with whether they are male or female, young or old.

The reader wants a good story, they aren't going to refuse to read it because it was written by a man, or are they?

Having read the blurb on Amazon (other suppliers are available-as they say on tv) it sounds like it might be a good read- you can read an excerpt using Amazon's look inside option.

So I wish all the contenders luck and look forward to the announcement of the winner in early March.

So, what's your view on the issue?

Writing at Last...

Just popping in quickly to share the news that my block is gone and I'm writing again.

Admittedly it isn't a new story but one that has gone through a few rewrites to get it nearer publishable standard.

It started out as a ghost story for a new annual competition at the writers' club (three plus years ago) but by the time it was ready it had turned into a potential romance. Since then it has moved back a step to the beginning of what might become a romance, but still has a ghost lurking in it...

So I'm on what I hope will be the final rewrite and after some final tinkering it will be ready to send out.
I'm aiming to get it ready for dispatch by the start of next month, if not sooner...

But at least I'm writing...

A Colour Change...

This may be the result of my trip to the hairdresser last week to have some highlights done, or because the creative side of my brain is working again (hooray).

So I'm experimenting with the colour scheme of my blog.

If you find anything difficult to read because of backgrounds or text colour then do let me know- there's an e-mail address on the right or leave a comment in the box below. I'm aware that not everyone has perfect vision (I'm off for a new pair of glasses myself this week) and some colours are just too much...

So there may be other changes after I've lived with this scheme for a few days... :-)

The Value of Libraries...

Libraries are under threat.

Today there have been a large number of events and protests taking place in libraries all over the UK.
There will be mass borrowings as readers check-out the maximum number of books they are allowed, in others authors will be performing readings and for many more it will just be vocally protesting outside with banners.

Shutting libraries or reducing their hours is not new. It has been going on for a year or two.

A nearby village spent last year trying to save their small community library- it already had limited opening hours- and looked into the possibility of buying and running it themselves. The plan to close it had been discussed and agreed at least two years before but no one told the residents, so their campaign was hampered from the start.

Sadly their attempts were unsuccessful and it closed last summer to be replaced with access to a mobile library each fortnight during the daytime- not much use for children at school, or adults at work...

I doubt there are many writers today who haven't benefited from free access to library books. Many of us would have spent hours during our childhood raiding the shelves and devouring the words from all the books available to us.

I remember looking forward to my weekly trek into town- a half hour walk-to change my library books. When I had eventually exhausted the children's section (in the early 1970's) and I wanted to move onto the numerous shelves in the adult fiction section (I was about fourteen at the time) my mother had to come with me to the library to give permission to the librarian to let me borrow any of those books.
If they felt something was unacceptable for my age then they wouldn't let me have it- but that never happened.

Fortunately today we have cross-over fiction so both adults and teenagers can enjoy it. But budgets don't stretch to all the new books readers might want now.

Well over ten years ago the Central library in Nottingham gathered together any old stock they could sell. Yearbooks that were out of date. Books that hadn't been borrowed for years; books that had been written in or underlined, or were a little too tatty to stay on the shelves.

It was wonderful. I bought some books that have been useful for reference, or the subject just interested me and they are dotted among my book shelves.

 A few of my books

The money that was made was put into the budget for buying new books so everyone gained.

Sadly with local authorities making cuts because they have to rely on less money, libraries have suffered.

Do councils see libraries as soft targets? Just because the number of books borrowed is down that doesn't mean that people don't use them.

You are still using the services even if you don't check-out a book. Plus many of the libraries have limited book buying budgets so they will never please every reader and potential borrower.

I hope local authorities listen to the people and find a compromise...

E- Books Pricing Investigation...

Last year I was blogging about the introduction of the 'Agency Model' for e-book pricing that many of the larger publishers had introduced, or were intending to introduce. For anyone new to buying e-books or the agency model you can read it here.

The OFT (Office of Fair Trading) in the UK has opened an investigation into the arrangements between publishers and suppliers for the sale of e-books. This is the result of a 'significent number of complaints', though there is no detail on whether the complaints were individuals or organisations, or both, nor how many.

"The Competition Act 1998 prohibits agreements, practices and conduct that may have a damaging effect on competition in the UK." (OFT statement) There is more but you get the idea...

Just because these agreements are being looked at, it doesn't mean that the publishers and suppliers are guilty of 'any breach of the law'.

(In fact when publishers announced their intentions last autumn many of the larger suppliers made books unavailable until agreements were reached.)

At the end of the investigation a ruling will be made, so what happens then will depend entirely upon the results.
So meanwhile publishers can continue to tell suppliers how much they can sell that publisher's e-book formats for...

As an e-book buyer I'm looking forward to reading the conclusions.

It's February...

Well I know that's obvious if you look at today's date, but no sooner is the New Year over than the month is gone.

So what have I achieved in the last 31 days?

More than I expected actually.

I had intended to enter a 250 word competition with a closing date of yesterday, but have to admit I failed. The idea just didn't go anywhere and no matter how many avenues I considered it just wasn't right.

Despite that failure I did enter the Words with Jam competition for the last couple of lines of a story. I was not alone in this, there were 800 entries (it was free to enter). I didn't expect to get anywhere but considered it was good practice. I rewrote the ending of a piece of flash fiction and it did actually assist me in deciding how I could improve the rest of the story- it needs to be longer...

Last month I had a lot of commitments so very little quiet time which I think contributed to my spell of writers block. Glad to say the remedial action is working.

Nor have I read as much as I wanted. I'm working my way through the most recent Woman's Weekly Fiction Special and have the Fireside Reading special from People's Friend to follow.

I've started 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel', but have been in a short story mood, so swapped to 'Loves Me, Loves Me Not' a great mix of stories that can be dipped into when you only have ten minutes to spare.
I bought this last year and have got about half way through and have thoroughly enjoyed the variety.

Last night I bought and downloaded another short story anthology 'Diamonds and Pearls', which has among it's contributors well known writers such as Della Galton and Sue Moorcroft. The great thing about this book is not only does the reader get a wonderful bunch of stories to enjoy, but also a donation from the sale of each book goes to a cancer charity.

I'm certainly learning from these stories how to improve my characterisation.

So now I have a few weeks without interruptions- hopefully-I'm going to get on with some writing. Have a look at competitions I could enter over the next few months and get my brain moving again. And carry on reading.

In the meantime I want your opinions on whether you prefer your novels to be character or plot driven? Perhaps you don't have a preference.
You will find the voting box on the right hand side of your screen under the list of my Followers (thank you all).

If you'd like to share how you fared with your writing and/or reading in January then please add your thoughts to the comments box. I enjoy reading them.

E-books in the news this week

This week is was revealed that the judging panel for this year's Man Booker Prize for Fiction have been provided with e-readers.

So rather than the judges receiving a heavy delivery of books to wade through to create a longlist (for announcing in July this year) they will have the choice of reading the entries digitally- if a e-book version is available of course.

Have to say reading about 100 books in a set time span sounds easier to do if you have an e-reader you can slip in your bag or pocket.

Meanwhile Amazon has announced that in the US their Kindle books have outsold paperbacks- 115 digital to 100 books.
Obviously the US has had a head start in e-book sales as the first Kindle was sold there some time before becoming available to the UK.
The UK market is starting to see increased sales but some readers prefer to use a Tablet or their mobile phone devices to read on, rather than exclusively an e-reader.

Then there is the issue of Territorial Rights. It's easier to explain in books (the solid type) before venturing onto e-books.

For example a UK publishers has the right to publish his/her authors books in the UK and a number of other countries within a territorial agreement. A reader in another territory won't necessarily be able to obtain that book in their own country at the same time, because the rights for the territory (their location are covered by) may not yet have been agreed and sold to a publisher located there.

So with digital you have a different problem.
A digital file could be downloaded to a reader in any country who technically should not be able to obtain that book- because no territorial agreement for printing and publishing that 'book' exists in their area.
It relies upon the e-book supplier saying to the buyer, sorry you cannot buy this book because of your territorial location. (Now why should a business be expected to turn down a sale?)

It's a complicated issue which you'll see if you read this item on The Bookseller.com website, here.

Digital keeps raising challenges in the traditional publishing world as long agreed formulae don't fit the new systems. But I'm fairly certain agreements will be made eventually.

Publishers (and writers) want to sell books, so hopefully they will get such issues over digital sorted as soon as they can.

If they get it wrong and piracy gets a boot in the door then it will be too late for everyone.

Does Writers Block exist?

I'm open-minded on whether writers block is real.

At the moment I'm having one of those blank spells in my creativity which I get whenever everyday life gets very stressful or there are long spells with no calm to concentrate on writing- perhaps they are the same thing, but they seem different to me.

The blank spell = my creative side just locking up, as if it is on a timer.

I know that when I'm very ill trying to write is frustrating and often pointless. If I wait until I'm better then I won't need to scrap all I've done previously- or at least heavily rewrite it...

This month my life has been full of appointments and important phone calls which all take time and doesn't allow for any sustained  period of writing which I need - sadly I haven't yet succeeded in the task of writing (anything) for ten minutes as all I have is a blank page ten minutes later.

I do wonder sometimes if I should give up writing. But then I know I'd need to start again as there are too many characters waiting their turn or forming in my head, then snatches of speech that linger for someone yet to be written about.

That alone reassures me I shouldn't give up...

So my idea to help revive the creative side of my brain is market research, as that can be done in short bursts while waiting for appointments and travelling to and fro on the bus. Plus reading someone else's writing often sparks my own ideas.

Do you think writers block is real, or is it all in the mind?

Absorbing Words...

After my decision the other day to read more books, I started thinking about how many books that I actually absorb.

When I say absorb I really mean listen to...

Anyone who has listened to Radio 4 will probably have heard of Book at Bedtime; It is on at 10.45 pm Monday to Friday for 15 minutes and if you haven't tried it I'd recommend tuning in sometime. A book can be read over one or two weeks, sometimes three weeks, though there is obviously some abridging needed in longer novels.

A few weeks ago I was listening to Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier, a book I've always intended to read but never have.

In the past I've fallen asleep listening to On Chesil Beach but needed to force myself to stay awake so I could follow Atonement- both by the same author- Ian McEwan-but clearly with very different results.

I remember listening to the first part of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and without knowing anything about the story- the book was just coming out at the time- thinking that the boy in the story had to be autistic (I recognised the same patterns that I've lived with every day with my own sons) and when I found out more about the story I understood why.

The books are brought to life with the very good readers, using intonations of accent when needed, easily suspending my disbelief when a male reader speaks female dialogue.

And that is something that appeals to the writer in me, not just me the the listener.

New writers are told to tune in and to listen to people and conversations going on around them- that's why I'm never without a notebook- and after a while it becomes automatic, we do it without thinking about it.

I think really we're wearing an invisible pair of headphones with an antenna attached which constantly tracks from left to right for that voice or chatter that we zero in on for some reason.

I've never had difficulty with my characters sounding different, and dialogue is my strongest area so perhaps all these years when I've been lying under the duvet listening to that week's book, my creative brain has been absorbing the skills of the readers and writers...

Reading and Writing...

Writers are told they need to read widely to help improve their own writing, so I decided this year I needed to read a little more variety than I have been doing so far...

When I'm writing historical I will either not read at all or if I do it will be a contemporary romance or a research based topic. If contemporary then I'll indulge my love of historical romance without tainting my own writing with similar sentence construction and character traits.

As a teenager I read a lot of different authors, Wilbur Smith, Graham Greene, Winston Graham and Agatha Christie among them. I devoured their words and styles of writing without any thought of the effect, but as I've got older my choices have become more tailored and I can see the various techniques the writer has used.

Now if a book just doesn't appeal and I can't get into it, then out it goes.

I've decided that's not good, sometimes I need to persevere- it isn't the book's fault (or necessarily the writer's) it's just me.

So, knowing I'm more likely to finish the book if I put it on my e-reader- so I can read it in bite-size sections-I spent a couple of hours perusing the fiction sections of online bookshops.
The thing that became very clear-as far as fiction was concerned- was that crime, romance and erotica have realised the potential of e-books and have ensured their books are out there to be bought and downloaded.

Finally I decided on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, so I paid for and downloaded it instantly.

I've decided I will keep an open mind about it, even though the opening seems a little strange - I read half a dozen pages while waiting for an appointment this afternoon.

Of course I'll still read my favourite Romance authors as well as paperbacks, but I'm going to aim for at least four books this year that I would not have normally chosen.

Any suggestions for future reads?

Trying to Write Flash Fiction...

Flash fiction is a complete story in a shorter form 250-1,000 words, though the latter figure would be a short story in some markets.

As one of my writing resolutions for this year is to enter more competitions, I thought I'd start with the Brighton Cow 250 word competition that I mentioned recently.

Only once have I ever managed to do well with this very short story formula and that was because the character, Lola de Cortez (Positive Exposure) almost jumped out of my head and whacked me around the ear with her steel re-enforced corset. Since then I've struggled.

So with a deadline of the end of January I need to get on...

Knowing a number of writers who are very good at creating stories in 200 words, I asked them for any tips they could give to help me improve- or at least work out where I'm going wrong (I think it's characterisation again).

I'm very grateful to AJ Humpage who has kindly allowed me to reproduce the summary of her blog post on the subject. While she writes a darker form of fiction, the advice still applies whatever your subject or genre.
If you'd like to read the whole post with further explanations and I'd recommend it, you will find it here.

Otherwise here is the summary of the main points to aim for when writing flash fiction.

• Use a great opening line or hook.

• Use a powerful image for your story.

• Keep the reader guessing - Include a twist at the end, if possible.

• Be tight, be concise – limit adjectives and adverbs.

• Brevity – can you use fewer words?

• Beginning, middle and satisfactory ending – complete the story arc.

• Edit and revise.

So armed with this valuable advice I'm going to look at what ideas I have jotted down in my notebooks and see if I can produce 250 words...Then the hard work really starts with the revision.

Next month I'll tell you whether I managed it and whether it was sent off in time.

The Joys and Perils of Research...

I received a comment on my Awards Night and Novel Feedback post from last week about research. So I thought it would be a good subject to consider.

Research is something you usually can't avoid when you're writing, whether it is fiction or non-fiction. At some time you need to do it.
All writers are different in their approach. Some research first before they begin writing, others as they go along. Or like me, I research first and do additional research as needed when something in my manuscript needs clarification.

I admire the writers of earlier generations who didn't have Google enabling them to access picture libraries, museum websites, old documentation and all those things we take for granted today. They did it the hard way.

Travel has opened up to the average person since the latter half of the 20th Century so if we can't go to where our story is set then someone else will have- and written about it. You'll even find photos on the web-though they won't always be of what you want but it will give you something to start with.

But nothing beats actually visiting: absorbing the sounds and scents; the light and darkness as you move through the day.

My family have likely seen enough of Dorset now, so my notes and photos will have to suffice as I tackle my novel...

Off Chesil Beech

Nottinghamshire author Elizabeth Chadwick actually belongs to Conroi deVey, a member group of the Regia Anglorum society who concentrate on portraying the early Middle Ages.

Aside from her links to the living history group she has an interesting page on her research techniques explaining primary and secondary source material she uses as well as those valuable location visits I mentioned above.

Even if you don't want to go as far as joining a group like this- and there are a number of time periods covered by such groups- they are worthwhile visiting to get an impression of the time and find out how everyday activities were done.

Many years ago a weekend visit to a small village museum sparked an idea after watching and talking to a small civil war group. (That idea is still in my notebook and will be used in the next few years).

When we're writing and researching we can't avoid building up our own reference selection relating to our genre and time period and with so many sources available for searching out old items you can build up an invaluable background for your writing.

(Older reference books often have comprehensive lists of books that were consulted and referenced by the author, so always have a look through them to see if particular books or documents are mentioned.)

But remember, the research has to stop at some point and the writing begin...

If you have a favourite research method or source then do share it with us using the comments box.

One of those days...

I'd planned that this week I'd get down to some writing in between appointments and phone calls...

Clearly I was too optimistic.

After having absorbed the feedback on my novel I suddenly went into one of those moments of self-doubt about my ability to write.

Now I get these about twice a year. I know they are quite normal, they are just 'a thing' writers have from time to time, so no panic I'll get over it.

I decided to get a competition entry ready to send off, so I started revising it and just as I finally began getting somewhere with the words, the first of my younger children came home from school- in a bad mood- so that put an end to that bit of inspiration.

But as Scarlet O'Hara said at the end of Gone With The Wind, 'tomorrow is another day...'

 Chesil Beach at dusk

Learn about Presentation...

We've all been there at some time, you're still a newish writer and you're struggling with your manuscript lay-out. How much paragraph indent should there be? When to use a new line in speech? And so on...

Well if you go to today's blog post by writer Sue Moorcroft you can study her pdf on Manuscript Presentation. You won't have any doubts after you've read it.

The story is still important- very important, but as we want to sell our stories and hopefully win competitions,  we need to ensure that the editor or judge doesn't have to struggle to read our best efforts-some might give up trying if your lay-out is confusing.

If your story isn't right, good presentation won't make it better, but if your story and presentation are good you'll certainly improve your chances of success...

Awards Night and My Novel Feedback...

Last night my writers club finally got to hold their annual Awards Night (cancelled in December due to the snow) where all the members find out who has won the annual competitions; last year's winners get a little medallion to mark their previous win (I received the Drama trophy last year) and those who were placed first to third in the regular prose and poetry competitions throughout the year receive book tokens.

And outstanding competition entries and the judges feedback are returned.

Two Awards Night Trophies

We have a buffet and a few quizzes after the presentations. This year we had a

News quiz- given basic information and had to name the event, place or story. It is surprising how much you remember and forget over a year...

A page of cut-outs of eyes and we had to identify the owners...

And finally a fiendish music quiz. A story made up of song titles and it wasn't easy as they weren't modern ones. I'm glad to say my table won with only one answer wrong- we didn't know what that piece of music was called...

So to my novel feedback...

I've been fortunate that both the judges this year have been small publishers, one a writer as well.

Judge One who was reading my entry for the Romance competition (my entry is an historical romance) felt my story has potential but that the writer was 'trying to hold the reader at arms length' so they were not drawn in at the beginning.

(Now only today a number of trusted writer friends said the same thing about another piece of my writing unconnected to this one. So I know this is an issue.)

Very little character development and the story didn't have much 'flow'. Mainly because the story started later than it should- which is quite common. I might need to reinstate the prologue instead of it being chapter one, but that's an open issue at the moment.

The story moved 'too quickly' to allow reader sympathy- yes I can see that looking at it with another person's view.

But this judge did feel that the storyline was a good one but just needed a little extra to grab the reader.

So all is not lost yet I'm glad to say...

Judge Two was reading it as an entry to the novel competition. I'm glad to say the judge considered it a competent piece of work. The dialogue was considered lively and the language convincing. This judge seemed to like the opening.

Unfortunately my characters though well-drawn are 'all too shallow and predictable'. They actually found my character who is dead at the start of the story more exciting and complex, suggesting their drama was needed, perhaps in flashback.

The plot lacked 'intrigue and complexity'. It was suggested that a 'little more mystery and complexity mixed into the characterisation and plot' would help.

Whew...

So conclusions.

1) I was playing too safe with my character development. Sort it out.

2) I need to bring back the 'dead' body- after talking about that idea with two fellow club members who know my writing style and way I plot, I'm fairly certain that the dead Antonia is going to be very much alive and would fit into and enliven my existing plot- she would certainly create trouble and cause conflicts...

3) Start the story earlier, which will help set-up the basis for my current first three chapters better (which will be different chapters when it's rewritten).

Everyone gets something different from a story and as the two judges have shown what bothers one may not necessarily worry another.

But when a number of people highlight the same weak spots then you listen and you do something about it.

Ignoring them is just asking for failure.

So I will be adding work on the novel to my list of aims for 2011.

On the bright side at least I know the story isn't beyond redemption...

Coming next...

Just a brief note to tell you I've got the comments back from the novel competitions my synopsis and first three chapters were entered into at the writers' club I go to.

Two different reactions from the judges but a few similar points so I know the weak spots.

Anyway more tomorrow...

Happy New Year...

I'm sure some of you will already have been writing since the calendar moved into 2011, but I'm not at that stage yet- unless you count writing this blog.

I haven't neglected it totally...

I've spent a few hours today looking at competitions I might enter and considering if I have anything already under construction that might fit with work or whether it will be entirely new.

I need to put a chart up to log deadlines this year. No good writing a story for a specific competition and leaving it late to post, with the possibility it may not arrive before the closing date. (Remember the snow recently? Many areas didn't have regular postal deliveries for a week or more.)

I think the chart will have to be a fold up version as I don't have the space for my own little writing room, or even  for a shed in the garden. My desk is in the main living area and I need quiet to write, so I keep to school hours on free days.

Wednesday is the postponed Awards Night at my writers club, so my novel entries with judges comments will hopefully be handed back. No doubt there will be work to consider...

I've set myself two targets to start with. Finish a short story that needs some rewriting and compose a 250 word story- there are 5 choices of song titles to use as the basis for a theme. The latter has a deadline of 31st January. (Thanks to Patsy Collins for highlighting the competition on her blog last month.)

So I better keep to my first targets...