Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Writing:

Alas my writing has suffered for the past several weeks, setting up a new home takes a lot of time and organizing. However, this week I am back into full freelance work and should have a couple more chapters written for the ghost writing project.

I am itching to get back to my YA novella as well as it is tantalizing close to completion. I can then send it to beta-readers and my illustrator. I find not writing saddens me so the sooner I am back the better.

Has ‘life’ gotten in the way of your writing? How did it make you feel?

Books:

My review:
A spectacular sequel to the first boo. I was completely immersed in Keenan & Moira’s struggles to find the Phoenix but also their blossoming love affair.
We are transported to the world of the previous book with wonderful author skill and attention to detail. Well done Jamie.

My sister sent me this book from England mainly due to the story behind it. My parents always wanted to live in the wilds of Wales on a small holding. They came close with a small cottage and large garden in Narbeth but never the envisioned ‘hovel’ as depicted in this little book.

My review: Delightful insight into the simple life in near isolation in North Wales. Set in the early 1960’s it is a quaint but realistic story of self sufficiency, persistence and ‘making do’. Loved the imagery and the sheer beauty of the natural world around them.
I will certainly try to find the next book – Garden in the Hills.(Footnote: this next installment is out of print unfortunately.)

Currently reading:

Writing Tips:

Set your writing goals for every writing session

Outline your aims for a writing session in order to keep yourself focused. It may help to write down what you want to achieve in the next chapter or scene. However, remember,  to give yourself elbow room. It is okay to depart from your scene summary if you feel the story should go (or wants to go) in a new direction. Personally, I let the story flow but some writers find writing a pre-scene enables them to maintain a clear sense of direction for each scene in relation to their story arc.

Which process works for you?