March 31, 2017
Book Title Puns: How much did you groan? Can you think some up?
Sea Birds: Al Batross
Turkish Minerals: Asa Miner
Cooking Spaghetti: Al Dente
Joke for writers:
Why Did the Run-on Sentence Think It Was Pregnant?
“Its period was late.” Run-on sentences consist of multiple clauses that should be broken up with periods.
March 29, 2017
Writing:
Well what can I say but that our road trip resulted in some spectacular revisions, editing and increased word count 72,674 for The Twesome Loop. We left just after work on Friday and made our way to Red Deer, got checked in and made the room our own! This actually means setting up laptops on the table/desks, selecting beds (usually Linda has the one near the window) and then we went for supper. Delicious meal with the chef’s specialty Bulgogi, amazing flavor.
Saturday morning after a leisurely breakfast we spent the morning writing in quite companionship for the most part. Then as the sunshine was too glorious to miss, set off for a drive to enjoy the afternoon and surrounding scenery. Back for wine and salad and more writing. As we have a late check out at 1 pm we utilized the time to write after breakfast and set off on a tour of the historical sites in Red Deer. At one site where old buildings have been sited we delighted at two surprise guests – a buck & doe walked in through the gate and calmly grazed just feet away from us.
Our trip home was of course the longer route (common practice for us) and took us to Sylvan Lake, through Lacombe and Clearwater counties up to Rocky Mountain House through Wetaskiwin and Braznea counties and to Leduc and home.
Linda (as my publisher) kindly completed the update of my fantasy romance, The Rython Kingdom with its new cover and ordered proof copies. So it will be soon. I had the idea of having slip covers made for the editions I have at home so the new cover can be attached. I am so pleased with how the new cover looks.
Have you changed a book cover?
Did you write over the weekend?
Do you escape to write? Where do you go?
Books:
I finished The Uninvited Guests – my Goodreads review:
What a delightful and surprising book. I had an inkling about the visitors (I will not reveal) three quarters the way through the book but it was skillfully written, wonderful prose and immersed me in Edwardian life.
Sadie has a remarkable story telling talent and I recommend you read this story. Love lost, love gained and love thwarted with touch of revenge served cold.
The beginning of The Faraday Girls gripped me from the start – a great first sentence! The story is endearing, surprising and intriguing so far.
Writing Tips:
Diana Athill: Read it aloud to yourself because that’s the only way to be sure the rhythms of the sentences are OK (prose rhythms are too complex and subtle to be thought out – they can be got right only by ear).
Margaret Atwood: If you’re using a computer, always safeguard new text with a memory stick. (I know this from experience after loosing over 5K in the midst of NaNoWriMo – not funny!)
What are your writing tips?
March 27, 2017
This week most of my time will be dealing with the planning of future events, for instance I have a meeting with the local transit director tonight. This is to discuss shuttle buses to the Heritage Day event hosted by the Arts & Culture Council of Strathcona County in June. I also have to create a schedule for performances for the event too. One of the disadvantages of all this pre-planning is how quickly the year goes by! With an AGM and conference in April, a writing retreat in May, the Heritage Day in June and the upcoming Words in the Park event, which is part of Alberta Culture Days in September – poof the year has almost gone!
I have to take a step back sometimes and look at what month I am actually in. The years pass quickly enough as it is.
How about you? Do the seasons come and go at an alarming rate?
Other local events:
LitFest NewWest celebrates readers, writers, and community March 31–April 2 in New Westminster, BC.
Please feel free to add your events in the comments for your area.
March 24, 2017
This one will make you groan!
A chicken runs into a library, goes to the main desk and says, ‘Book, bok, bok, boook.’ The librarian hands the chicken a book and it tucks it under its wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the book on the desk and says, ‘Book, bok, bok, bok, boook.’ Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out with it. A few minutes later the chicken is back, and returns the book saying, ‘Boook, book, bok, bok, boook.’ The librarian gives the chicken a third book, but this time follows it as it runs out. The chicken runs down the street, through a park and down to the river where a frog is sitting on the bank. The chicken holds up the book to the frog, saying, ‘Book, bok, bok, boook’. The frog replies, ‘Read-it, read-it, read-it…’
Book Title Puns:
Robotics Handbook: A. I. Expert
Rhythm & Blues for Wasps: Aaron Bee
Where to Find Islands: Archie Pelago
Crocodile Dundee: Ali Gator
Can you think one up?
March 22, 2017
Writing:
I am pleased to announce I completed the two beta-read & editing assignments given to me and both authors were happy with the feedback. One will require me to re-read once certain details are confirmed for legal consistency and correctness.
Another project – ghost writing – is proceeding well and I am waiting on some input from the client.
As for personal projects I made progress on my reincarnation romance, The Twesome Loop this past week and the word count is over 80K – so that makes me happy. There is still some polishing to do. A surprise road trip with my dear friend Linda this weekend will give me uninterrupted writing time to do this. Love when we can escape on a whim! I had to plead for a rain check with another friend for a proposed meeting this Saturday but she was accommodating. Thank you Kathie.
The new book cover for my fantasy romance, The Rython Kingdom is in the hands of my publisher and should be ‘live’ in the next couple of weeks. All in all I am happy with my progress and writing life.
How are your projects progressing? Care to share?
Books:
I am really enjoying this book – it doesn’t give up it’s secrets quickly that’s for sure.
What are you reading?
Do you review books on Goodreads? Why not follow me for my reviews and books just click the link on the side of the page.
Writing Advice:
“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”Saul Bellow
So is this true? How about you?
I know I have ‘dreamed’ scenes or story ideas but always improve on them when awake.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 