Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘blog’


Iota – definition: a tiny amount

abc-award-600x100-banner1

I have been nominated for the ABC Blog Award by http://eyedancers.wordpress.com/ - thank you! So as the rules dictate I use every letter of the alphabet – eeek! – I am sharing iota’s of things that mean something to me. Here goes:

aAfrica

bBucklebury

c- creativity 

d- dreams pursued 

e- Evan from Slake Patch 

LifeinSlakePatch 001

f- Ferney by James Long 

g – Gilleum Ruet from The Rython Kingdom 

The Rython Kingdom

h- historic houses

i- Italy

jJohnny Depp (of course!)

k – karma theme in The Twesome Loop

Twesome Loop 002

l – literary community 

m – memories of past lives

n – nursing

o – obsessed with writing

pPaul Newman

q – quest for creative outlet

r – Rumble, my cute monster 

Rumble's First Scare

s – Slake Patch matriarchy 

t – The Twesome Loop romance

u – unrealised opportunities 

vViggo Mortensen

images (3)

w – Writing 

x – crossed paths 

y – yellow tones of fall/autumn

autumn leaves

z – zillions of ideas, so little time.

My nominees are:

http://anelectricjournalofacastaway.wordpress.com/

http://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/

Read Full Post »


Ineluctable - definition: impossible to avoid or evade : inevitable

imagesCAPS7E6K

As our writing journey begins we are immersed in our words, characters and plots – this is the honeymoon stage of writing. Our creativity runs free, there are no obstacles, anything is possible. Once our story is written there is the inevitable editing, revision and practical aspects to work through and consider. With a polished manuscript before us we need to look at the ‘advertising’ side of this journey.

Many of us have no experience of media or a promotional background so this becomes a daunting prospect. I found this great post by Jamie Sheffield, which lists tips for marketing. Go check it out.

http://www.jamiesheffield.com/2013/04/9-marketing-tips-from-writer-who-hates.html

Obviously there are companies that offer to help you with promotion and the internet is full of helpful guides and tips from other authors. You need to find your comfort level and determine how much time you want to commit to this aspect of your journey. Some of us may ‘go all out’ but in practical terms we still have to balance the other facets of our lives.

Research your options and find the ones that you are most comfortable with and focus on them. Trying to promote on multiple sites several times a day is certainly not practical and will only lead to a ‘burn out’ as well as frustration. Focus on genre specific sites and use your connections (although care must be taken here too!) Be realistic in your expectations – slowly build a following and the sales will come.

Read Full Post »


Bluster – definition: to talk or act in a noisy, boastful way.

One way to ‘turn people off’ around you is boasting about your accomplishments, it is seriously uncool! If you share your triumphs and give back with them then that is much more acceptable. Therefore I am sending out a huge thank you to my newest followers – I hope my words and encouragement will help you along your writing journey. As always I love to hear about your own experiences. That is the premise of my blog and the global community it is linked to.

followed-blog-200-1x

I’m open to suggestions for topics and love sharing others enlightening words as well as have an open door policy if another author would like to be interviewed.

Read Full Post »


Insouciance – definition: lack of care or concern : indifference

I’m suffering chronic back pain at the moment, with crutches to walk and pain med’s. This has highlighted how much we take for granted in our everyday lives. The simplest task becomes a trial and brings into focus how indifference to our wellbeing has consequences. Yes, I’m guilty of lifting heavier objects than I should but also for forgetting how little I ‘move’ in my regular day. I will blast around cleaning the house and digging the garden and then pay the consequences of over exertion.

Instead a little exercise every day would be easier on my body and to that end I had signed up with the 30×30 challenge for May. See here: http://30×30.davidsuzuki.org/  I had started well going out on evening walks which were very pleasant.

cropped-30x30E-cropped

Obviously I can not participate at the moment, walking across the living room is painful enough! But I hope that my chiropractor will set me right after a few more visits. At least after two manipulations he has eased the pain and I don’t have pins & needles in my foot now. That did worry me a lot.

So I pledge here and now that I will exercise regularly once I’m fully recovered and not go from the work desk to my home writing desk without ‘movement’ of some kind. Although I don’t have my canine companion around anymore I will walk every evening. It’s a start and from there I hope to do more.

Twinkle

I know how easy it is to be drawn into the cyber world and look up to see hours have passed while sitting on my behind!

If you have any tips I would be more than interested to hear.

A timely article I found today – http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2013/05/the-body-brain-connection-does-your-sedentary-lifestyle-damage-your-writing-talent/

Read Full Post »


Hackneyed – definition: made commonplace or trite : stale : banal

editor

 

The first thing that your web copy should not be is hackneyed! Whomever your target audience is, you need to interest them immediately (or soon after!) Taking time to get to know the client and understand how they want to be perceived will make your job easier. As you can see from this excellent advice:

http://nhwn.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/5-things-to-consider-when-writing-webcopy/

This next link has some witty but seasoned advice:

http://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/29-expert-tips-on-writing-website-copy-that-gets-real-results/

I am researching (gradually) the intricacies of web copy and other writing skills as my freelance portfolio grows. Being open to new ideas and not being afraid to ask questions helps a great deal.

As writers we are always striving to be better and looking to experts and their work is a good place to start.

What is your experience of ‘learning’ a new skill?

Read Full Post »


Stymie – definition: to present an obstacle; to stand in the way of

As many of you know I really enjoy writing prompts, and have overcome ‘blocks’ using them. So don’t get stymied use one to refresh and release your creativity.

I was inspired by a fellow blogger’s photograph of a set of windows. http://storiesbyfrances.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/untitled-2/ and promised to share the short story it inspired. The changing light in the two windows made me think of reflections of a personality.

Window 1

Madeline believed wholeheartedly that the eyes were a reflection of the soul so no matter what a person might appear like on the outside, she knew it was their inner being that was their true self. When she moved into her new apartment she relished the golden light that shone through. It reflected her joyous nature. With a bubbly, friendly personality many people were instantly drawn to Madeline. She made friends easily and was known as a loyal and supportive person.
Although she had been living in the apartment for over two weeks, she had not met her immediate neighbor. Their apartment window was always dark and gloomy such a contrast to her own, even though they were facing the exact same direction. Madeline had heard movements through the wall and the murmurings of a television but nothing more. Wanting to make introductions, Madeline baked a batch of cookies on Saturday morning. Once they were cool she placed a dozen into a small tin lined with a napkin.

Window 2

After taking a deep breath and with a broad smile on her face she knocked on her neighbor’s door. She waited and turned her head to listen. No footsteps. No response. Maybe she had missed them going out while she had been busy baking? A shuffling noise stopped her from turning away. The door slowly opened and an old man’s face appeared just above the door chain.
“What do you want?”
“Hello, my name’s Madeline. I’m your new neighbor. I wanted to introduce myself and offer you some cookies I baked this morning.”
The man’s brow crinkled, as he looked her up and down.
“Cookies you say?”
Yes chocolate chip. Would you like them?”
“You want to give them to me?”
“Yes.”

Window 3

The man put his hand through the gap in the doorway and took the tin. A slight smile creased his lips.
“Well thank you. The name’s Boyd.”
Not waiting for a reply he shut the door.
Madeline was a little surprised but thought Boyd was probably lonely. From the small glimpse of his apartment she could see numerous cobwebs and there was a distinct stale odor. She thought her gift had given him a little happiness but wanted to help more. She would think on how that would be possible as she cleaned her own apartment.

Boyd sat in his armchair with a mug of coffee and ate the cookies hungrily. It had been a long time since he had such a treat. After Mildred passed he seldom left the apartment. Luckily the corner shop delivered the same food order every Wednesday so his only outing was to collect his pension once a month. He would pick up the money, pay his bill at the shop and return home. He felt anxious whenever he was outside; the neighbourhood had changed a great deal in the last five years.
Madeline’s idea came to her as she was folding laundry. She knew she would have to be convincing but maybe it would work. Once supper was cooked she made up an extra plate and knocked on Boyd’s door.
“Who is it at this time of night?”
“Hello, Boyd, it’s me, Madeline, from next door.”
Boyd opened his door and peeked through the gap.
“I wondered if you would like some supper? I haven’t got used to making single portions and made far too much for one person.”

Window 4

The aroma made Boyd’s stomach grumble.
“Well, it seems wicked to throw it away, I’ll help you out.”
Boyd took the chain off the door and opened it. Standing to one side he motioned Madeline to enter. Her heart ached when she saw how dark and dirty the apartment was. The poor man was obviously living alone and could not manage. Boyd followed behind Madeline shuffling with his cane.
“Just put the plate on the little table by the armchair. Thank you.”
Madeline surveyed the room, apart from the armchair, side table and the television everything else had a layer of dust covering it. It was obvious Boyd sat in that exact spot most of the time.
“If you will let me I could bring a plate over every evening.”
“Now why would you do that? We’re strangers.”
“Not anymore, Boyd, we’re neighbours. I hope we will get to know each other well, in time.”
Boyd looked at Madeline friendly, smiling face. It was a long time since he had anyone want to be his friend. A broad smile lit up his face and Boyd nodded as a single tear ran down his cheek.
“You are so very kind. I would like that very much.”
Over the following months Madeline managed to clean Boyd’s apartment and they regularly went for walks at the weekends, picking new coffee shops to visit on their way. Light began to reflect in Boyd’s window and his eyes. Madeline shared her light willingly.

Read Full Post »


Thank you everyone for liking my humble thoughts & words. I reached 1000 likes…whoop!

likeable-blog-1000-1x

Read Full Post »


Today I am sharing a scene from my speculative fiction novel, Life in Slake Patch. Young men of the resistant group, known as the Tribe have been captured and secured in a grain store.

LifeinSlakePatch 001sunday_snippets2

Woken by sudden shouting, horse’s hooves and cries of help, I knew something was terribly wrong. Pulling on a pair of britches quickly, I raced out of the long house to see huge flames leaping into the early morning sky. The grain store was on fire and the young men were still locked inside. The heat hit me as I rushed toward the store. Men were lined up between the large water troughs and the burning building, passing buckets of water back and forth as quickly as they could.

Suddenly there was a deafening crash as the store roof collapsed. Screams pierced the air then all at once there was silence. Shocked faces were bathed in the gold of the flames, no one moved for several moments then hectically the bucket line restarted. It took over an hour before the flames were quenched sufficiently for the chard logs to be pulled away, exposing the blackened bodies of the seven members of the Tribe. One by one they are laid out then wrapped in hessian and taken by wagon to the spirit garden out to the east. Each wagon accompanied by the father of the young man within, riding on horseback with black cloths shrouding them, as was the custom.

The Tollst residents watched the procession leave in stunned silence. Death was usually through old age and occasionally an accident but this was an unprecedented event, something that would make its mark on everyone there that day. Merchant Folke stood at the gate and as we watched the last wagon past through he asked us all to say the death chant together.

Please enjoy everyone’s snippets – here is the list.

http://mermaidssinging.wordpress.com/

http://caitlinsternwrites.wordpress.com/

http://ileandrayoung.com

http://wyrmflight.wordpress.com/

http://www.mandyevebarnett.com

http://womanbitesdog.wordpress.com/

http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com

http://jennifermeaton.com/

http://richardleonard.wordpress.com

http://jordannaeast.com

http://letscutthecrap.wordpress.com

http://writerscrash.blogspot.ca/

http://joeowensblog.wordpress.com/

Today’s word for those who would like to know is Promontory – definition: a high point of land sticking out into the sea or over a lowland. I could have found a scene where Evan travelled to a similar place but chose not to. However, I am sharing a wonderful scenic view instead.

4336_il-karraba-promontory-with-ghajn-tuffieha-bay-in-the-foreground-and-gnejna-bay-in-the-background

Read Full Post »


Hovel – definition: a poorly built house : hut – sorry a tenuous link as there is a house mentioned. I had fun making up this piece from the short paragraph starter. Have a go it’s fun then read the other submissions.

tree1a

http://readfulthingsblog.com/2013/03/26/an-unfinished-story-a-blog-contest-from-readful-things/#comments

300 words or less from starting paragraph.

It wasn’t like that before, Andrea thought to herself. The previous night’s storm had caused the tree to topple over like it had never been rooted to the ground. The hole it left in the wake of the storm-induced tragedy was enormous, bigger than she could possibly fill in on her own, especially with nothing but a broken shovel. Andrea walked to the large pit that was now the center of her front yard and peered in. What was that she was seeing? It looked like a…

 skeletal hand pointing upwards. Andrea turned her head as she vomited on the grass. Wiping the back of her hand across her mouth she looked down again. Bile rose but she managed to swallow it. A body under the old tree? How long had it been there? Who was it? The shock of her discovery numbed her mind. What should she do first? Call the police? Call Dan? 

A cloud moved away from the sun brightening the scene, a sparkle caught Andrea’s eye. There on one finger was a jeweled ring. Could she manage to climb down and get it? Wasn’t there a ‘finders keepers’ rule for buried treasure?  Determined to reach the ring Andrea used her shovel to steady herself into the hole. Gritting her teeth she gripped the ring and pulled, it came off the bone easily. The gem was a large sapphire in a gold setting. There were words engraved on the inside. Andrea read them and everything went dark.

Dan called out as he entered the house. Andrea did not respond. He searched the house, the garage and the garden – no Andrea. A missing person’s report was filed. Andrea was never found. Underneath the tree roots the darkness slithered over the new body – a welcomed feast.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,906 other followers