There is always a lot of organization and planning behind any writing conference, and this weekend’s conference is no exception. A committed voluntary Board has secured elite presenters for this Saturday’s conference in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
From initial concept to title and theme, to the booking of a venue, and finding presenters and then promotion, there is a lot of time spent creating the event.
Any writer, or author, is welcome to gain valuable information, and network.
What do you consider essential for your writing zone? It may not be the same as everyone else, so firstly let’s take a look at my desk (the one above).
Firstly, I have a laptop and second screen – this enables me to utilize two screens for editing purposes with beta-reader and publisher suggestions and edits. It is easier than splitting one screen to read two full pages.
Secondly, there are numerous note books and folders/binders of relevant information, event details, contact sheets, and freelance clients contracts. Yes, I am rather obsessed with organization – I put my hands up to that! As you can see I have several desk organizers for said items all labeled, storage is key to having information at your finger tips.
Next is ‘fuel’ – water and tea! What do you favour for hydration?
You may have noticed the propensity for purple – yes it is my favorite colour. Purple wall, crystals and water bottle to name a few. It is interesting that when I looked up the meaning of the colour purple there were key words relevant to my writing. Maybe there is a deeper force at work than we know, when it comes to our colour choices.
Color Meaning: Meaning of The Color Purple. … The color purple is often associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. Purple also represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery, independence, and magic.
Light sources are also an important choice – I have the normal ceiling light and natural light from the window but a spotlight disperses shadows so I have a clean and clear view of my screens.
Storage is key and yes I have several spaces just for it. The storage tower holds business cards, promotional items, paper, filing supplies, and more.
The cupboard has books, more promotional material, such as an event banner, card holders, table coverings and larger promotion items as well as books.
Yes, I am lucky to have this space but bear in mind I started using the dining room table as my writing space. It took me nearly seven years to get to this. Maybe you don’t need this kind of writing area – anywhere can be a creative zone after all. When I go on writing retreats I use a folding table and write on the hotel bed or desk. (And even at home). As long as there is room for a laptop or notebook we can write anywhere.
I grabbed this from Jackie over at To Breathe Is To Write – a great idea. Why not do your own answers?
What do you think you can do but can’t?
Be all things to all people – but I do try! It is a female’s dilemma to nurture, protect and create an all encompassing loving and creative environment for her family and friends, and if there is time or space a little something for herself.
What’s a difficult word for you to pronounce?
I’m told I say ‘demons’ – wrong! Sounds like ‘demonds’ so I’m told.
What are your favorite TV shows from your childhood?
Wow now you have me thinking. Robinson Crusoe, White Horses, Animal Magic, Dr. Who, Crackerjack, Steptoe & Son, Dr. Finlay’s Casebook (Dr Finlay (man on right of photo beside little lady- was my first crush) Steptoe & Son – tag line “You dirty olde man. The White Horses – I can still hear the theme tune. I grew up with Dr. Who from the original Doctor onward. There are too many to name and they weren’t all in black & white!.
What are your virtues and vices?
Virtues: Fierce loyalty and love to family and friends.
Vices: Can be selfish with my time when the Muse speaks.
What’s more important: love, fame, power, or money?
Love of family, money to ensure they are looked after.
If you could live in any era/time period, when would it be and why?
1960’s – life was seemingly simpler but probably because I was a child then. There was respect for our elders, less technology and childhood innocence.
If you had to redo your entire wardrobe with 2 stores, what would they be and why?
I regularly do this anyway – thrift stores allow me to change everything cheaply. I tend to avoid clothing stores because of the mark-up they make.
Can you recall what you were doing a year ago on this day?
Exactly what I’m doing now, sitting at work wishing for the workday to end so I can work with my publisher, Dream Write Publishing this evening, as I do every Thursday.
Do you have reoccurring dreams? If so, explain?
I rarely dream now-a-days. My only recurring dreams were when I was struggling with emotional fears of one sort or another. One was being paralyzed in a hospital bed with blood dripping until it filled the room. The other when my children were young and the three of us were trapped under an avalanche. (which in itself is odd as I lived in England at the time!) To protect them I cut my stomach open, empty the contents and place them inside the void to keep warm…gives you an idea how my mind works when I’m writing now doesn’t it!!!
What’s your horoscope?
For a while now, you’ve been wanting to do a certain something, but haven’t quite been able to give yourself the necessary nudge to get going — until now. This push may come in the form of someone else’s inspiring story, a sudden influx of cash, or maybe it’s just that little voice inside of you getting louder. Whatever the cause, you will finally get that needed push out of the nest. Hit the ground running and move forward with this fun and exciting adventure!
What does your dream bedroom look like?
I would need to morph these three into one – I’ve always wanted a round bed – don’t ask me why I just have! Earth tones are my favorite as well as large windows, which have to overlook Rome or the Italian countryside and let in the golden Italian light .
What position do you sleep in?
I always slept on my front but after my back injury it is not as comfortable so mostly I lie on my side now.
What are your all-time favorite films?
Another difficult question. There are so many and my answer varies depending on my mood. I love Julie & Julia, Thelma & Louise, Lucy, Carrie – is there a theme here? I also watch multiple genres.
What makeup are you currently wearing?
The usual – Compact powder, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick.
There is an added bonus to writing fiction – we delve into places, careers, hobbies, technology and scientific areas that we would otherwise not come into contact with. To enable us to write with confidence and ensure that the story holds true to reality (to some extent – sci-fi and fantasy are exceptions of course). We cannot write blindly about something totally foreign to us and expect our readership not to call us up on its inconsistencies or discrepancies. As with most authors and writers, our internet search results could be viewed with suspicion, or abject horror in some cases! Thorough research, however, should not be solely gathered from the internet (it isn’t always 100% accurate, shocking I know!). It is best to also utilize library resources, interview people, or even travel to locations, if at all possible. These are all fundamentally more rewarding and can give us more indepth information and insights. Some of which gives us a more realistic viewpoint on the subject and vital details to give our narrative authenticity.
In my novel, The Twesome Loop, the basic theme was reincarnation. This is a subject I researched and read about for many years during my nursing career (long story I shall not go into now). Because of that personal knowledge, I was able to reflect how souls meet again and again and also what it feels like to become another version of yourself. Here’s a previous post to explain that last part – https://mandyevebarnett.com/2014/01/20/reincarnation-fact-or-fiction/)
My current work in progress, Willow Tree Tears, centers around barrel racing, something I have seen only once. So obviously, I needed to study the way the courses have developed over time, the type of horses used and what the women who race are like. After finishing my first draft I was particularly upset to see a TV preview for Rodeo Girls – a so called reality show. The truth is, after contacting a couple of professional barrelracing organizations, the show is far from the truth and has been Hollywoodised! In fact, the women I discussed this with were extremely angry with the portrayal of rodeo women on the show. This tempered my fears some what that my novel was inaccurate, as my heroine is a down to earth young woman, with great determination and love of the ranching life.
What ‘new’ discovers have you found when researching your novels?
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 