Blog on the Beach

Hi All! Been away a while from the blog, all go, but all good!

Today I’ve had a wonderful, windswept, walk on the beach near Bamburgh, with my spaniel Meg, in the name of research. It’s been on my mind to set the next novel bang on a wild Northumbrian beach, and though I should probably be editing and working on the last novel, it’s been whirring away in my thoughts. So I decided to get out there and live it, in the name of dog walking, armed with a camera, a scrap of paper and a pen.

The dregs of Hurricane Bertha were beating away at the shore, sending up mists of spray and the wind stole my breath, but it was great. The elements were bashing my senses, and floating the dog’s ears at right angles to her head - not that she was bothered. It gave me plenty of inspiration.

It’s fantastic and exciting when a setting is just perfect for what you want, and I really wanted a beach location with a sense of escape, and isolation, yet the promise of change, of things to come - and a very handsome next door neighbour enters the frame of my imagination and we’re off.

 

My mind is now mulling on the details of the plot and the back stories for these characters, who I can already picture. I’d love it to be a story that makes you laugh and cry, and I hope I can do it justice. Writing is wonderful and a bit crazy, hours are spent in make-believe worlds inside your own head, but the roots have to be in real life and real emotions. It’s challenging and exciting, and I love it. Well, I’d better go get back in my head and make this story something special!

Q & A Guest Blog on A Book and Tea

Hi All,

This week I'm featuring on the lovely A Book and Tea's Blog - having a chat about my writing journey and giving a few tips for other new writers. Pop across and take a look:
http://abookandtea.wordpress.com/

Castles, Cake and Dreams

Hello! Just how important is the Setting of a story? And how much does it affect whether you choose to read a book? Are you drawn by a Cornish Romance, a countryside escape , some city pizzazz, or something exotic and faraway? 

“Hold Tight to Your Dreams”, my latest novel, is set in a stunning Northumbrian Castle. It places you in such a historic setting, yet it’s a modern Romantic Comedy. The story is about Ellie taking a chance on her dreams of running her own Tea Rooms (oh, yes, plenty of cake), leaving behind the city and her dull office job… and of course, being a romance, falling head over heels with the rather gorgeous estate manager.

 

I live in the amazing countryside of Northumberland UK, rolling hills, big open skies, farmland, moorland, and just a few miles away from the most stunning sweep of golden sand with a Castle towering over the beach at Bamburgh. There are castles inland too, nestled away in a valleys, or the focal point of market towns such as Alnwick. Castles, castles everywhere!

 

 

So this amazing county colours the settings of my novels. Like Ellie, I want you to as a reader to discover somewhere new, quite different, and somewhere that will soon begin to feel very special. Don’t you ever feel that you want to stop – step out of your everyday life, give up the safe but dull job? Turn a hobby you love into a career? Reach for your Dreams? 

 

As a writer I’m trying to do that too – reach for my dreams. I have always loved writing, but only now am I trying to make it into a career. Writing stories which explore our relationships and the ups and downs of life, hopefully to be published one day soon – fingers crossed! – so that readers can enjoy them too. 

 

I love how a story fits with its setting. And how the setting is not just a backdrop but can also empower the plot. It can give you a sense of getting away to somewhere new as a reader, like you’ve landed on holiday in your head. Even better when there’s a particularly hunky male in residence there too! 

 

And then of course, there’s the essential cake; chocolate, Victoria sponge with strawberries and cream – all in abundance in the Castle Tea Rooms, and the smells of scones baking; raspberry and white chocolate anyone? 

 

Where would you like a story or novel set? Any ideas for an inspiring location? Or would you like me to welcome you to the wonders of Northumberland and Ellie’s Tea Rooms? Please comment below! I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

 

Writing - A Juggling Act

So here you are, you just get your laptop set up, when the phone rings, there’s a pile of washing that’s starting to look like Everest, work’s just e-mailed and needs a reply, and the dog’s looking at you, wagging his tail, for his morning walk. Sound familiar? Not to mention demands from the kids, your parents, your partner. And so it goes on… life just keeps getting in the way. So how the hell do you get time to write a whole novel? Well, that very much depends on how much you want to.

Life is demanding and often seems to conspire to get in the way of our dreams and ambitions. But if you want to write that book, short story, or whatever it is in life you’ve set your heart on achieving, you have to steal back some time. And most of all, you have to really want to do it.

For many years now, I have wanted to a) Write a novel, and b) Get a novel published. I’ve managed the first, three times in fact, and I’m still working away at getting published (that’s been harder than writing the novels, honestly). So how have I got this far? Juggling! Realising that I had to let some non-essential things slip – sorry Mum, the house probably has a layer of dust, and to organise my time better. Multi-tasking is a great way to snatch some writing time, like when you’re waiting to pick up the kids, take a pen and paper or your laptop with you. Today, I’m writing this blog in a coffee shop whilst waiting for the car to get serviced.

 So if you’re a new writer struggling to find time too, here’s a few tips and suggestions on how to steal back writing time:

Find what works for you:

I’m not an early bird, but I know writers who’ll get up at the crack of dawn to write before they go to work, and then there’s the late owls, scribbling away past midnight – not me either. I work best between about 9 and 1pm and I can write several thousand words when I’m in full flow. I tend to block my writing like this. It won’t be every day, and that suits me. The “day job” days, I just don’t have the energy or the right mind set when I get back in. So find what works for you. Many authors do feel the need to write every day, and like that commitment. We’re all different.

Beware the Time Stealers:

The phone: It really is okay to turn it off or put it on answerphone for an hour or two.

Social Media: Twitter, Facebook and the like. Helpful as they may be to promote your writing, and for networking – you can easily find yourself drifting off to other websites/blogs and feel you’re doing something productive but an hour (or two) can soon go by. Allow yourself time to develop your social media, but after you’ve written a set target of time/words.

Family/friends: (Sorry guys!) Treat your writing as though you are going to work. Set aside time to do this and let your friends/family know. You don’t have to ignore them forever – we’re not talking neglect here! Just make some writing time, so they know this is important to you, and that they are not to disturb you – especially for older children (oh, and husbands!).

Don’t be too hard on yourself/Allow yourself “Time Out” - just not too much!:

When life gets really hectic, I’ve learnt not to over pressure myself. For me, having time out for family/work commitments means I’m eager when I do get time to write and I don’t tend to waste that time. So don’t guilt trip yourself, that just ends up stifling your energy and creativity. When my kids are back from university, I know the house’ll be noisy and hectic and I’ll want to spend time with them. I know I’ll not get much done creatively, as I need a quiet atmosphere to write. So I’ll make the most of having them around, maybe do some research, jot down ideas, but not expect to write much at all, and then I’ll get back to it with renewed energy as soon as I get the chance.

What if you get stuck? You’ve got the time and it’s just not happening?

I think this happens when we expect every word we write to be perfect. It won’t be. So either do a bit of brainstorming; write down (just as single words/headings/jottings) anything that comes to mind about that next scene you’re on, or the dialogue you’re trying to write, letting you mind wander freely and it’s amazing what it comes up with.

Or just try and write the next few lines to get you started, and if they’re no good edit them later. Sometimes I even jump to a scene I really want to write, even if it’s not the next in the book. I can fill in the gaps later. A writer friend’s favourite quote: “Don’t get it Right, get it Written!”

 

Also, it's wonderful how chocolate and a cup of coffee can really get you in the right frame of mind! I'm in the mood for writing.... delighting. Has to be sung as per the Nolan's anthem.

 

 

Most of all Keep the Faith, and Enjoy it!

Writing a novel can feel a bit like a Marathon. You’ll never be able to keep it up unless you enjoy what you’re writing. So get enthused by your subject, write about what you love, and write because you love doing it, then your writing time will seem like a special “Me Time”, not a chore. And hopefully, that positivity will rub off on the agent/publisher you want to impress, and your book will shine.

Do you have any tips you can share on how you manage your writing time? I’d love to hear from you?

Good luck! Happy juggling!

What Is Love Anyway?

Trying to capture love in words… 

Some task, hey?  As a “Romance” writer that’s what I feel I do, or try to do, and not just “romantic love” but all shades of love. 

Love is… complex, beautiful, devastating, amazing, frustrating, crazy, scary, erotic, sensual, tender. It can take you to the moon and back, or make you hide under the duvet.

Love is… a verb, a noun, an adjective -  to love and be loved, a loving touch, the love of your life, endless love, enduring love, unrequited love. 

Did you know the Greeks have at least 4 words for love? Spiritual love, passionate love, mental love (like friendship) and affectionate love (family). So how do you try and capture all that and every nuance thereafter? Romantic love, friendship, family love – those strong bonds, a Mother’s love -that can be fierce and protective like a tiger.

And where there is love and passion, there will also be grief and pain and loss. Therein lies the story telling. Powerful emotions that touch us all, how we act and react to them, they are part of life’s journey. For what is a life without love? “Life without love, is no life at all” Leonardo da Vinci. Even the most unromantic souls amongst us are touched by love, they might just recognise or express it differently. 

It’s our unique, individual experiences of love that make it so intriguing, which means there are so many stories to tell, to create. I’m sure my husband sees love in a very different way from me and that’s okay, we are all different. We see the world in different ways, and so there are endless stories, variations, emotions. Yet in the end we are all human, we can recognize and empathise with these feelings too.  

And so, here I am, trying to capture love in words.

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year! Here’s to a fabulous 2014.

A New Year…  A time to think about your dreams and aspirations. A time to refocus. My aim this year is to keep writing and do my utmost to get published. I also want to take part in the Edinburgh Great Run – a 10 miler; it’ll be a bit more of a challenge than my usual 3-4 miles jog. So I’m going to need determination, willpower, and to keep training and working hard.

I intend entering several writing competitions this year too - any way of getting my work out there, getting it noticed, and hopefully getting that break. Richard and Judy’s Bestseller Entry has already gone off! So fingers crossed. And I’m going to keep on submitting my work to agents and publishers. I don’t want to waste any opportunities at all.

So what are you hoping to achieve? Where are your dreams taking you this year? Bear in mind that just taking steps to try and get there is a real achievement in itself. It may not always work out as you hope or imagine, but you’ll be working towards that goal.

My latest novel, which I’m busy editing at the moment is a Romantic Comedy called “Hold Tight to Your Dreams” which seems quite fitting. It focuses on having the courage to strive for your dreams.

Good luck! And have a very happy and healthy 2014.

The Submission Rollercoaster

If like me you’ve been regularly submitting your writing to agents and publishers -  it probably feels like you’re on a rollercoaster. There's the hope and excitement of sending your work off, then as the "thanks, but... no thanks" e-mail/letter rolls back in, that sinking feeling of rejection.

Okay, so there’s no easy answer here – I’ve been doing this for the last few years now (whilst writing 3 novels) and I’ve learnt a hell of a lot along the way. So I’m happy to share some tips. I know I haven’t quite made it yet myself, but this blog may just help make your journey a little more focussed and save some wasted time. Or it may just help to know that someone else is out there feeling the same as you.

There is no holy grail or magic answer. Yes, you do have to write a great book, market it professionally, and get on with sending it out after some targeted research - but that’s no guarantee of getting published quickly. So my main tip is PERSEVERE. It’s probably going to take a while, and may feel pretty gutting at times. But KEEP GOING! Believe in yourself and your book. Go back to basics, why did you write it, what do you love about it? If you know that much, it will give you the inspiration you need and the energy to carry on. If you don’t keep trying then there’s only one sure fact – you won’t get published.

KEEP WRITING! You’ll need to multitask. I wasted time early on concentrating on submitting after completing my first novel and not writing any new stuff. Keep doing both. You'll be learning and improving all the time. Maybe split a day in half, or dedicate one day every week or so to doing submission research, sending out maybe two or three targeted submissions at a time, marketing yourself, networking and updating your social media. See what works for you. It might just be book no. 2 that gets you that publishing deal!

DON’T BE SHY. You are a real writer – whether you are published or not. It took me a long while to get my head around this and be able to say this in company, honestly it felt like “coming out”. It’s a solitary hobby, and I felt I couldn’t be a real writer if I wasn’t published, despite the fact that I spent hours (actually days) every week writing. Yes, there’ll always be that awkward moment when someone asks, oh where can I get your book then, what’s it about? Just focus on the “what’s it about”, then you can mention later that you are trying to find a publisher. Be proud of yourself to have even got this far.

You are going to have to MARKET yourself and your book. For many, that’s not easy at first, but you really have to be passionate about your work and blow your own trumpet. Also, think about what is UNIQUE about your story, what makes it stand out from the crowd, who your readers are and why they are going to like it? You are making a PITCH, whether it’s by e-mail, letter or in person. You have to be business-like, concise, especially in your covering letter (keep it to a page). Keep to the submission guidelines, which can vary and will be on the agency/publishers' websites. And keep this in mind - Agents and Publishers want to sell to readers (and as many as possible) – bottom line.

FOCUS YOUR SUBMISSIONS/DO YOUR RESEARCH. Don’t waste time sending to agents and publishers who won’t even be interested. So how do you know? Q’s to research – do they publish/represent your genre, say it’s crime or romantic, for example? Are they looking for submissions at that time? How? Check their websites every time you are about to submit (things can change quickly in the publishing world) and research individual agents and editors (see which publishers accept non-agented material if you don’t have an agent). Look at the author thank you’s at the start/end of books in your genre and send to that particular agent, or at least mention their name in the submission e-mail. See which agents/publishers are going to writing and book festivals, especially those  in your genre or local area. Have a chat with your local book shop owner or library. Find out what’s going on.

It’s a bit like dating, trying to match yourself with the right person for your work. The right agent/publisher will want to feel passionate about your writing (which is of course very subjective) – if they reject you it doesn’t mean it’s rubbish, you’re just not the right fit at the right time. Try not to take it personally, and move on, taking into account any advice given. Onwards and upwards.

Keep a record of who might have shown interest in the past. An agent might say “no” now, but comment that they liked your work or that you have promise, so try them again with the next novel. Also, trends can change, like erotica with “Fifty Shades” -  your book might not be right to take on this year or this month, but by the next a trend may totally change that, so keep aware of what’s going on in the industry, and don’t be afraid to re-submit with that in mind.

FIND A FRIEND/JOIN A WRITING GROUP. There are some really helpful professional organisations, such as the Romantic Novelists' Association, The Crime Writers' Association – they are really helpful to new writers, giving invaluable advice, contacts and just that support of someone who’s been there and done that to keep you going.

Well, I think I’ve prattled on long enough. I hope some of this has been useful. And yes, I’m still trying! But have got really close to my goal of getting published this year, having had some fantastic comments from a major publisher, who looked at the whole manuscript of Book 2, so I’m not giving up now!

To anyone else striving for your goal, be it writing a novel or anything else THE VERY BEST OF LUCK AND KEEP GOING! When the going gets tough, the tough get going!