Pink Gecko Writes

Not So Perfect by Nik Perring: A Review

2010-09-07T15:11:00.000+01:00

Not So Perfect by Nik Perring is a delightfully compact collection of equally compact ‘short-short’ stories and despite the title they are each absolutely perfect. Each tiny morsel will leave you with a lingering flavour, sometimes bitter-sweet or unusual, but always memorable and satisfying. Some of the stories may be less than a page long but Perring manages to pack more meaning into 100 words than most can in 1000.

The stories may be sprinkled with magic but raw and familiar human emotions shine through in sometimes painful ways. Perring understands his characters and never judges, simply tells their story. It’s difficult to pick a favourite story from this collection as they are all so different, some inspiring tears (‘Kiss‘) and some a rye smile (‘The Angel in the Car park‘) but ‘My Wife Threw up a Lemur’ (the story the cover art is based on) won it for me simply because it tells a familiar story in such an unusual way but never has to explain itself.

Each story is illustrated with a charming line drawing on the title page adding to the special experience that is reading this book. It’s worth mentioning that the books small format makes it perfect for carrying around in a handbag to dip into throughout the day. The only thing there seems left to ask is ‘When’s the next collection out?’

NB: Another thing worth mentioning is that Nik runs an fabulous short story appraisal service called ‘The Story Corrective’. I can say from personal experience that it is well worth the money and should you try it out you will get excellent and honest constructive feedback with a very fast (under a week) turn around.

Like Bees to Honey: A Book Launch (and a very strange date)

2010-09-06T15:26:00.000+01:00

First, apologies: this blog post is long overdue. I attended Caroline Smailes’ Liverpool launch party for Like Bees to Honey way back in May (which brings me to the very strange date I took: more on that later) and have been intending to write a review for months. It was a fantastic experience to hear Caroline read from the book and explain how inspiration was taken from her own family’s stories and culture. So here’s the review:

Like Bees to Honey by Caroline Smailes is a book that will make you cry so be warned. You will especially cry if you have children, have ever lost anyone, have ever followed your heart rather than pleased someone, pleased someone rather than followed your heart or have in fact, ever had a regret or a family rift. This book will speak to you whoever you are.

Nina travels back to Malta with her son Christopher to reconnect with her family and culture but finds an island full of ghosts. This isn’t an ordinary ghost story though. It’s a story about people: their regrets, their mistakes, their injustices, their loves and their truths. It is a story of forgiveness: not only forgiving others, but yourself. It also includes the most original (and witty) portrayal of a (Cisk) beer swilling Jesus I have ever read, as well as beautiful descriptions of Malta and its culture. There is plenty of sadness in this book, but also humour, uplifting moments and wonderfully colourful characters.

If you are a fan of Caroline’s previous books you will be glad to see that her novel presentation of text is used to the full in this book. Lines down the side of the page (visible from the outside of the book) indicate when the ghosts are narrating and different fonts and page breaks are used to great effect. Caroline transports us into the psyche of Nina right down to the sounds and minute details she focuses on as well as the conflict between her two cultures. This is a writer who understands how people think. The story itself unfolds in a subtle way that leaves you sighing ‘ah’.

And now onto my date. Mmmn. Never take a blind date anywhere important with you, especially if you are experimenting with dating a new type (in this case people my friends think are normal). And if the first words you hear out of their mouths are ‘you don’t look anything like the picture I was shown,’ pitch them back onto the train right that moment and send them home. Don’t do what I did and say ‘Neither do you,’ and then take them to a book launch (now both feeling rather shit about yourselves (actually I‘ve lost three stone since that date so a little loss of self esteem may have been worth it)).

I feel I’m probably fairly safe in writing about this as I don’t actually think the gentleman(??) in question actually bothered to learn my name let alone my website address. Anyway, I feel I have let Caroline down a little as while she was signing my book she asked how the date was going. Thinking he was standing close to me I said it was going quite well, thank you. He wasn’t: he’d wandered off somewhere: so sorry Caroline for telling that little fib. (I was however punished for this by having to take a long train journey home with him). Especially as she was so lovely in wishing me a ‘happily ever after’ in my copy of Like Bees to Honey. Don’t worry. I will find my fairy tale ending, but it’s likely to be with my usual type of long haired or bearded eccentrics and bikers because at least they are charming and exciting (although obviously not until I’ve lost the next 1.5 st).

An Update in the Life of Me

2010-07-13T11:49:00.000+01:00

I thought I would post a quick update about what I've been up to since my last post and what I have planned for the Summer. As far as writing events go (and I am very late in posting this) Talking Books at Chester Library in June was a fantastic night. It was great to hear successful writers, Caroline Smailes, Nik Perring and Jon Mayhew talking about their writing process and sources of inspiration. Hopefully there will be similar events in the future. I will be reviewing both Nik Perring's Not so Perfect and Caroline Smailes' Like Bees to Honey as promised in the near future so watch this space.

As far as my writing goes, I am busy polishing up some stories and also a radio play. In the spirit of my favourite activity (procrastination), I am considering sending some of my work to a professional reader before testing the market with them. Any advice on this would be welcome. The novel is still plodding along but I really need to get some wordage on paper (or screen). The summer holidays are starting next week, but I have discovered that the local soft play area has free wifi. This may just save my sanity. I'm also looking into joining a writer's group. The end of A363 has left me missing my fellow writers and their valuable comments on my work. I can't make the local group so may have to look further afield.

Finally, if you know me personally, you'll know my son, Jake had a bit of a nasty accident at school a couple of weeks ago when a bench went through his cheek. He's back at school this week and healing up well, you can hardly tell he's had 15 stitches. We're going camping this weekend and I know he's looking forward to that.

Like Bees to Honey by Caroline Smailes: The Launch Night

2010-05-21T11:01:00.000+01:00

Lat night I attended a very important night for author, Caroline Smailes, the launch of her new novel Like Bees to Honey . It was a wonderful night and included beautiful readings from the book. It was fantastic to meet the very friendly Caroline (and get my book signed) and have a cake (or two) and a chat.

I wish I could get started on this beautiful book sooner but as you will see from my blog, I am still tangled up in the last of my uni work for the year. From the glance through I allowed myself after getting back last night, I can see that it features Caroline's usual ingenuity with the page layout and fonts making it extremely visually inviting, as does the gorgeous cover designed by Becky Adams. I can't wait to get stuck in. Expect a full review when I've finished it.

The Last Hurdle

2010-05-21T10:42:00.000+01:00

Okay, so I'm nearly there. So far this year I have submitted over 37,000 words to the OU purely through my TMA's. I have 4000 to go and they have to be in at 12 noon next Thursday. Have I started writing them? Erm, no. The next week is going to be fairly intense. But I will get there... I will.

After that I have to wait until August for the results that will determine my degree classification. Even then it isn't quite over: I have another 15 credit points to gain to be awarded honours, so I won't actually graduate until April 2011. But the end is in sight.

So for everyone else packing up ECA's and attending exams over the next couple of weeks, before that painful 2 - 3 month wait until results day: Good Luck!

A Useful Little Site

2010-02-02T09:17:00.002Z

I've just been having my usual morning stroll around the internet an have come across a useful little site called 'Creative Writing Prompts'.. Its full of those little one sentence suggestions that can fire creativity and make you think, 'Why didn't I think of doing that?'

Okay. So the site mainly appears to be an advert for various e books, but that aside, there are 346 completely free prompts and starting points available. Definitely worth a look.

A Little Bit of Light Relief

2010-02-01T15:30:00.002Z

I should make it clear that the following is not mine: for more like this click here

There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to become a great writer.

When asked to define great, he said, "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!"

He now works for Microsoft writing error messages.

Reading is the key to writing

2010-02-01T10:50:00.003Z

So I am halfway through the uni year now and have just completed my most challenging assignment yet: a 1000 word critique of another student's work. Still very much thinking of myself as needing the guidance of other writers around me (and I don't think this will ever change), I felt incredibly under-qualified for this task. But now it's done and I realize that the things that stand out to me about other's writing are the things that I can take control of in my own. Reading is truly the key to better writing

This brings me on to one of my current projects: reading my way through the 1001 must reads before you die. Click here for a downloadable spreadsheet including everything you need to know. You can track where you are on the list and mark the books you already own. It even estimates how long you have to read the books and how many you need to read each year to succeed. The most important thing for me is not completing the list, but that it is encouraging me to read more widely and step out of my comfort zone. So far, I haven't been disappointed with a book. Take a look and see what you think.

Quick Update

2009-11-18T09:43:00.004Z

It's been a bit of a break for the blog I'm afraid, and it's been a very busy time. Jake has gone of to school in his new uniform for the first time and is going to be the star in the nativity play, yes thats right, literally the star. That's going to be a bit of a costume challenge. I'm thinking sequins and cardboard. He spent a month of the first half of term off sick with Swine Flu but at least its over with now.

As for writing, I have started my Advanced Creative Writing course with the OU along side their new Children's Literature Course. I'm biting my fingernails waiting for the first creative writing grade of the year. It should be in sometime today. Eek. I'm completely deleting the opening chapters of my novel and am seriously considering writing it backwards as I have a climax I'm thrilled with and feel confident about the ending. Has anyone else done it this way?

September saw me complete the HACK for the NSPCC 24 miles turned into 27 as I got lost on the last mountain. We had fantastic weather which resulted in severe sunburn and I couldn't move for two days after. It was all worth it though. The photo below was after an hour of walking and I allowed myself a moment to watch the sunrise.

Anyway, I promise to blog more often and also have to catch up on my visiting.

Playing with Words

2009-08-13T09:48:00.001+01:00

Today, two long awaited packages arrived from Amazon (always the best kind of delivery). Inside were the remainder of my set books for the OU course in Children's Literature starting in October. I have been devouring these books, rereading everything from Harry Potter to Little Women. To be honest, I have enjoyed them much more this time around. Of course, there is also new literature to be enjoyed, much of which arrived this morning.

One of the books in my parcel was 100 Best Poems for Children, put together by Puffin, 2001, 2002. Inside I found lots of old favourites and back came memories of school recitals and certain musicals about cats. One poem struck out at me, as I am the sort of person who likes playing with lists of words, especially when I am finding writing tough.. I write lists of words I love or hate or share sounds: I could go on. Anyway, I share it with you below.

The Word Party

Loving words clutch crimson roses,

Rude words sniff and pick their noses,

Sly words come dressed up as foxes,

Short words stand on cardboard boxes,

Common words tell jokes and gabble,

Complicated words play scrabble,

Swear words stamp around and shout,

Hard words stare each other out,

Foreign words look lost and shrug,

Careless words trip on the rug,

Long words slouch with stooping shoulders,

Code words carry secret folders,

Silly words flick rubber bands,

Hyphenated words hold hands,

Strong words show off, bending metal,

Sweet words call each other 'petal',

Small words yawn and suck their thumbs,

Till at last the morning comes,

Kind words give out farewell posies...

Snap! The dictionary closes.

Richard Edwards

Results Day

2009-08-07T10:54:00.003+01:00

The results for my OU Creative writing course came in yesterday after days of compulsively refreshing the student homepage. This is a bad habit I am obviously not alone in as collectively we managed to crash the OU's online Student services for a day (delaying our results?). I was extremely relieved to see I had achieved a Grade 2 Pass, which, assuming I can maintain the standard next year, puts me on track for a 2:1 degree.

Things have been very busy for the last few weeks. I have moved house unexpectedly (half of my belongings are still in limbo). This resulted in some very forced 'bad' writing for a couple of weeks but I am happy to say I have managed to write something everyday. I finally came out of my funk last week when a whole short story poured out of a free write. Who knew Chicken Soup could be so inspiring.

So Quiet

2009-07-03T11:06:00.002+01:00

Apologies for this being my first post in almost a month. I've been using the time since my course has finished to catch up on my reading and start work on editing some of my short stories and poems ready for submission. I think it's finally time to start 'getting out there' a bit. I'm mentally preparing myself for lots of slim rejection letters, but you never know and they won't get anywhere languishing on my Hard Drive.

Reading at the moment is extremely fun as I am working my way through the set books for the OU's Children's Literature course, (Any excuse to re-read Harry Potter). It has suprised me that children's books today deal with so many painful subjects such as child abuse, slavery and drugs. Having spoken to the local bookshop owner, it appears that at the other end of the spectrum, she is no longer able to stock Charlotte's Webb or many other farm yard tales due to the threat of death of animals causing complaints from parents. I'm sure this is the kind of debate the course will address.

Anyway, here's to filling some more blank pages.

Powerful Places

2009-06-11T18:00:00.005+01:00

I've had a bit of a weird writing/reading coincidence recently. As I mentioned in my last blogpost, I visited Jamaica Inn a couple of times on holiday and bought the book of the same name. I didn't let myself begin to read it until I had completed my last assignment and also I have not read a Daphne Du Maurier before. However, when I started reading the book, I realised how similar the mood and themes were in her book and the short story I had just written. I have to wonder, do some places have specific moods and influences?

It would be easy to say that as it was the same place we were searching for inspiration, that's the reason for the similarities, but the inn has changed so much that it is now completely commercial complete with a gift shop (yes I did get a mug as well). Also, the weather was beautiful on both occasions. It would certainly have been much more rugged when Du Maurier stayed there.

I'm also having a quick panic that whoever marks my writing is going to think it is very old fashioned and (heaven forbid) cliched. Thank God I didn't mention smugglers (or moors come to think of it).

By the way, I absolutely loved the novel and didn't see the twist ending even though I now see it was hinted at from half way through. It was one of those books you read until your eyes have to be held open by your finger tips in bed. I will definately be reading more by her. Any suggestions for another good one?

It's all Over

2009-06-04T18:03:00.002+01:00

The last assignment has been entrusted to the Royal Mail (I won't hold my breath for it making the deadline but I have Proof of Posting). It is the story that I feel most attachment to out of everything I have written this year, but I am also aware that it is quite dark and may not be to everyone's tastes. I will have to wait and see until August to find out how it was received.

It feels very strange that the OU Creative Writing course is over. I now have a huge gap until October to fill. Then I wil be starting Advanced Creative Writing and also Children's Literature. I have a whole stack of children's book to re-read before the course starts ranging from Harry Potter to Swallows and Amazons. I am very much looking forward to it as you can imagine.

For the moment I am reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. I ate at the pub twice whilst on holiday and couldn't think of a better souvenier to buy than a copy of the book (and a bookmark). I don't normally read classics. I don't dislike them, I just seem to stay on the more modern side of literature, (and sometimes on the Chicklit side of that). I am, however making a real effort to read much more widely. So far I have just got through 3 chapters of Jamaica Inn but I am gripped. I will update you when I have finished the story.

So now it's on to three month of unashamed reading and writing. Maybe I might even try to sell some of the stories I have written during the course.

On Cornwall and Other things

2009-05-30T15:08:00.002+01:00

I've actually been back home for a week, but due to various distractions have not updated the Blog. Cornwall was fantastic and I am more and more convinced that I eventually want to move there (In my dream world where I am writing all day). We found a lovely village called Boscastle which is just about the most idylic place I have ever seen. There are two streets littered with little shops and museums on either side of a stream leading down to the harbour. It looks like it has never changed although it flooded dramatically fairly recently so it must have been substantially rebuilt.

The weather was great and we sat outside for all the traditional cream teas, icecream and Scrumpy. I had promised myself I would get loads of writing done but I was so exhausted at the end of each day I only managed a few freewrites. The walking was fantastic too. Loads of coastal paths to explore and canals to stroll along. On the last day we finally managed to relax on the beach and watch the surfers.

This week I have my examinable piece of work to complete for the OU. It's going to be a fairly intensive week of short story writing before 3 months of being under my own steam. I'm wondoring how many projects I will actually complete in this time as I love starting things but often jump around project wise.

Otherwise, I am loving the sunshine and enjoying the new picnic bench I have built this week. Perfect for writing outside on the laptop.

And it's Off! And I'm Off!

2009-05-15T20:02:00.002+01:00

My final assessment for my Creative Writing Course has just been sent off into cyberspace. Just the Examinable piece of work now (which I've been itching to start for about two months now) and it's all over. I'm really quite sad about this, but on the other hand I will have a whole Summer to catch up on my reading and taking my writing life at a much slower pace. Of course the novel will get a lot of attention too, rather than just keeping me awake at night. My characters are very intrusive you know, stepping into my dreams or waking me up when I'm dosing off.

I won't be around next week to compulsively check for returned assignments though as I am off to Bude tomorrow morning for the week. It is most likely going to rain on us but I'm really looking forward to the break. My boyfriend doesn't realise I have snuck a notepad and pen into the luggage yet. I've seen his fishing gear in the back of the car though so I think we are even.

Photos next week!

Help Chris Find Love

2009-05-12T06:23:00.004+01:00

This is not usually what I blog about but a friend of mine has started an interesting blog about Match.com. He has described himself as unloveable and antisocial (which I'm sure isn't true) and is testing out whether as someone not likely to find love on a site like this, it is actually possible to get your money back if you don't find someone special after six months. How can Match.com define love?

At the moment he is still struggling with his profile, which sounds like the most difficult writing project ever set. (1000 words on your interests anybody?) Eventually, he will be relinquishing control of his dating decisions to those reading his blog and on his facebook group. A very brave man. Take a look and Help Chris Find Love.

Lots of Work Today

2009-05-07T07:28:00.003+01:00

There is loads of writing to be done today. The little one is in Speech Therapy for two hours this morning so there will be plenty of time for lots of freewriting and ideas generation.

The novel is on the backburner for the next few weeks as I have a big assignment due at the end of next week, closely followed by the BIGGEST assignment two weeks later. I'm going to Bude at the end of next week so I'm hoping some new landscape will prove inspirational.

It's funny how you go through different phases in writing, sometimes doing nothing but generating ideas and freewriting, and sometimes doing nothing but working on projects for weeks on end. My aim is to mix it up a little more as it always amazes me how quickly a full length piece of work can grow from a five minute freewrite.

My blisters from walking the Orme have almost gone, although nine hours of waitressing on Monday was quite stressful to the feet. I have now invested in a pair of proper women's hiking socks. so we'll see if they work. The sunburn has morphed into a tan so I am no longer looking like a tomato.

Great Orme

2009-05-02T20:04:00.003+01:00

I went on the first of many hikes in training for the 25 mile long H.A.C.K in September today. Starting from just outside Llandudno we set off round the Great Orme. I can't pretend it's the most challenging of walks, only around 6 miles the way we do it, but on a sunny day the views are amazing. We also saw porpoises off the rocks and plenty of nesting sea birds, which is always fantastic.

To my surprise and relief, my muscles didn't ache and I didn't get out of breath. My feet are another story. By the time I got back to the car, I was walking on hot coals. I wore proper hiking boots and thick socks (albeit cheap ones nicked off my boyfriend), so I don't know what went wrong. Any advice would be gratefully received as obviously this is something that needs to be sorted out before the big day.

I will also NEVER, EVER, forget to put sunscreen on again. I am red with two white stripes where my rucksack straps rested on my shoulders. Ouch.

How Far I've Come.

2009-04-29T19:21:00.003+01:00

At the weekend I was looking through old DVD'S of data, rootling about for baby photos and other gems, when I came across a file containing the first couple of chapters of a novel I had completely forgotton I had started. Apparantly it is possible to forget things like this. I opened the file named, rather originally 'A Novel Idea' with interest and it all gradually came back to me.

What I read was full of stereotypical characters, contrived dialogue and cliches. Worst of all, what I'm fairly sure was meant to be the introduction to a surreal fantasy horror (definately not my genre anymore (although I love to read them)), read like a Mills and Boon romance (Maybe I should try one of those).

Overall I was satisfied. Either this is an extreme case of time (five years) making you a better editor or maybe, just maybe I'm better at writing than I was then. Either way, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

After the Storm

2009-04-25T06:37:00.001+01:00

Golden light shines bright
Piercing through slate grey darkness
Flickers under cloud.

It's Done and Gone

2009-04-25T06:21:00.002+01:00

At last my life writing assignment has gone, albeit a week late. I can't pretend I'm happy with it, but writing things that are difficult is probably a good thing to get used to as a writer. Now it's all back to fiction, where I feel cosy. Only two more assignments to go though, and my current course is over. The lovely group of people who have supported me and critiqued my work will next year be replaced. This makes me both sad and a little nervous. Surely I can't have it so good next year as well.

Having got this assignment out of the way, my mind is buzzing with ideas again. Another notebook is almost filled. I love the motivation of starting a new pad with a gorgeous cover. My next one came from Chester Zoo and is covered in furry zebra print. Now I just have to remember where I put it.

So. On to the next project.

How Publishing Really Works

2009-04-22T18:17:00.002+01:00

Being short of any real news, I thought I would sing the praises of a certain Blog I visit a lot:- How Publishing Really Works. The blog is written by a prize winning UK Writer/editor (Among other roles) and has mountains of information and advice about writing and publishing.

Although I am nowhere near the stage of being published, I check in here nearly everyday for the great advice and support, written with personality and humour. If you can think of a publishing related subject, it's probably here, even down to advice on writing query letters, (something I'm dreading). If you haven't already, please check this blog out.

My Neglected Blog

2009-04-20T18:52:00.002+01:00

I feel awful I haven't posted on here for nearly two weeks but life has been chaos. As I said in my last post I have got a new job, which is fantastic. Lovely people and lovely location plus I get to walk to work through the countryside which means I'm getting a tan in this sunny weather (and putting in practice for the hike in September). However, this has also coincided with the family car dying meaning dashes to town have happened when we have had sporadic use of someone else's car.

The fish have whitespot which I am treating to the letter with no effect whatsoever except that they are dying. I can now also officially state that you cannot get away with putting underwired bras in the washing machine. My flooded kitchen and dead (brand new) machine will testify. Finally today, my little one topped it all off by throwing up everywhere.

All this has culminated in a very unproductive week or so and a late assignment. My writing has been limited to scribbling down story ideas and working on my life writing assignment, but at least I have still been putting pen to paper. On the upside I am now officially registered on Advanced Creative Writing and Children's Literature with the OU for September meaning the end of my degree is in sight.

I Have a Job

2009-04-09T18:51:00.002+01:00

After weeks of searching I have been offered a job and it's perfect. It's part time so I'll have plenty of time to spend with my son, and of course time to write. Best of all, I'll be working in my local country pub so I will meet lots of interesting people (as well as working with lovely ones).

So, now I will have lots of writing inspiration, (The view from the pub is amazing), and something to focus my mind. And of course, I still get to feel like a proper Mum and pick my little one up from school. Such a relief

H.A.C.K Hike Against Cruelty To Kids

2009-04-08T12:24:00.003+01:00

I have just signed up to a 25 Mile hike in the Llyn Peninsula in September in aid of the NSPCC. It's going to be a big challenge but I'm starting training this weekend. Hopefully it should smooth out some of the lumps and bumps too.

If anyone supports the NSPCC and ChildLine and would like to sponsor me for this event, there is a widget to my fundraising page on the right hand side or alternatively please click here.

I promise to keep you updated on my bruises and blisters.

One for the Easter Holidays

2009-04-06T10:06:00.001+01:00

It's very American But here's the link

I hope nothing like that happens this holiday, but then I don't have a ceiling fan.

Round and Round in Circles

2009-04-06T09:51:00.002+01:00

I've had a bit of an unproductive week writing wise. My thoughts keep going round in circles. I've yet to finalise a subject for my life writing (although I had a bit of a breakthrough at 11pm last night) and I'm thinking of rewriting the first two chapters of my novel. Meanwhile, ideas for new projects keep popping into my head.

As always, the arrival of Writing magazine and Writers News on my doormat provided some much needed focus and I'm starting to get back on track. I realise that actually, I have written quite a lot in the last week. There just hasn't been many gems in the rubble.

Here's to a more productive writing week (and finishing the Jilly Cooper).

A New Distraction

2009-03-29T19:39:00.002+01:00

There is a new item in my house today which has caused me not to write at all. I'm hoping that in the future it will create the calm I need to settle down and write. At the moment though, I just keep staring at it.

It took two cars to get it here, and two strong men to struggle it into the house without killing the residents. My brother decided that he needed more space, so he has given me his huge fish tank complete with beautiful fish.

For the whole afternoon the four of us (me, partner, four year old and dog) have been mesmerised, gazing at litle clown loaches nipping in and out of their cave and sword tails hiding in the greenery.

Long story short, I have had to tear myself away upstairs to get any work done at all.

Jilly Cooper Rocks

2009-03-27T05:56:00.003Z

I haven't read a Jilly Cooper since I was at school where they were devoured along with numerous Danielle Steele and Anne Rice novels. I was in the library when I rediscovered her and just had to take 'Wicked!' out.

She is as good as I remembered. Her characters are fab but I don't know how she does it. There are over 100 in this book alone. It helps that there's a list of them in the front but to be honest, I haven't used it yet.

I'm looking forward to getting totally absorbed in this one.

Two Nosey Parkers

2009-03-26T07:54:00.001Z

My four year old and his puppy having a good look at nothing through the window.

Haiku Error Messages

2009-03-25T09:58:00.001Z

If you feel like your computer is laughing at you Click Here

One for the team.

2009-03-25T08:07:00.003Z

My son takes after me. We did Chester Zoo the other afternoon and we spent ages gazing at a reticulated python and the komodo Dragons in awe. What amazing creatures.

Of course he loved the cute and cuddlies too and was very disappointed not to be able to see the tigers and bears. Elephants as always got a 'wow', but the reptiles seemed to be the winners for him.

Link to Chester Zoo Here

Panic Attack

2009-03-24T14:03:00.002Z

A sour cheese stench fills the bathroom. I can’t be sick again. I try to catch my breath but nausea catches me first, sweeping upwards through my torso. Deeper, deeper, quicker, quicker I breathe, trying to find fresh air. It’s not working. Lights start to flash. A furnace rises rapidly into my head, my brain. I’m dying.

I grapple at the door. It’s locked. I scratch and scrape at the door. It gives way. I fall into freedom. Darkness.

My eyes try to open. Dapples of sunlight force them to close. The memory floods back. My screams for help are rasps. She comes. At last she comes. My head is bleeding. I don’t know why. She reaches down to me. I can’t reach back.

‘I can’t move my hands, I’m dying, I can’t move my hands,' Panic is erupting again. He’s here now picking me up, bundling me into the car in my hysteric state. I recognise everything, everyone. But places and people have no names anymore.

The journey is a blur. I stumble into the doctor’s surgery and catch sight of my reflection. I’m calm enough now to feel humiliation. My hair is lank and vomit flecked, unwashed since the salmonella hit. Skin, greasy pale, with sallow grey marks like a heroine abuser’s. My hands are frozen still, not listening to what I want them to do. I pray to be out of their sight. Their staring faces sit in rows, spying eyes peering over magazines.

‘Just a panic attack,' the doctor checks me over. ‘Nothing to worry about.'

‘But I can’t move my hands.' Is the doctor blind? Can he not see I nearly died?

‘Just some tetany. It will go. You hyperventilated and the oxygen and carbon dioxide couldn’t get to your brain.’

They look satisfied. We go home. I start to move my fingers and my memory slowly returns.
The horrifying experience not to be repeated for another ten years.

Too many Projects

2009-03-24T13:43:00.002Z

I've passed the mid point of my OU Creative writing course now, and it's at this point that instead of concentrating on completing one assignment at a time, there are three projects to work on.

One is my lifewriting project. This is the one that's panicking me the most. All the guidance in the course books seems to point owards full length pieces. We have 1500 words. I was thinking of doing a piece on my childhood using the seasons as a through line, but to get a good grade I think we need to concentrate on a lot of characterisation. Ironically this is the project that is due in first.

The other projects are a short story geared to a magazine and the final examined piece of work. Both of these can be works of fiction so I'm not as worried about them. In fact I'm a bit excited about getting another couple of short stories under my belt.

Life writing however is completely new territory. Even if you choose to write autobiography you have to be so careful not to offend people you know. I keep putting it off and working on one of my other projects instead. Hopefully inspiration will strike in time as I really want to do well on this course. In fact I'm going to miss it like mad when it's finished. I still have so much to learn.

Breaking through the Wall

2009-03-21T16:20:00.003Z

I have just finished chapter 2. This leads me to a question. Do I write the next chapter and then begin to polish the first three to perfection in order to start sending samples out to agents? Or do I write the whole thing first knowing that I'm probably going to make drastic changes as I get to know my characters?

I think I'm going with option two as surely after spending a year writing a novel I will hopefully be a more experienced writer who will probably rip what I've already written to shreds. Also I change my mind. A lot. I've already gone from one protaganist to two, written in a shifting first person viewpoint. This is something I'd never envisaged doing, but I've seen Sophie King make it work in School Run. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

Another reason, I want to write the whole thing before sending it 'out there' is that I want to get the story down on paper. I need it to make sense before I start perfecting it. It seems a bit mad to be sending anything out so early as I don't feel I've even hit my stride yet. I'm still feeling my way into the story. I've also started waking at four in the morning needing to write things down. Is this normal? Does novel writing always turn people into insomniacs who also dart off in the middle of the day to sit with their notebook?

National Geographic POD

2009-03-21T08:18:00.003Z

And this is the reason I have the National Geographic Picture of the Day on my Blog. Link to their websire here.

Passionate Arguments.

2009-03-20T18:23:00.004Z

Things I have had heartfelt discussions about today:

1. The nutritional benefits of apples vs custard creams.
2. Toothpaste: For hands or teeth?
3. Should the family dog have equal rights when it comes to the use of shoes and soft toys?
4. Shoes: Are they really neccessary in a muddy garden?
5. The bus: Will it be yellow or blue? (It was red)

Yes, just another day with my gorgeous 4 year old.

In Search of Adam, Caroline Smailes

2009-03-20T13:03:00.003Z

I've just finished reading In Search of Adam, which explains my two day absense from blogging. The most suitable word I can think of to describe this story is 'intense'.

The story follows Jude from the day her mother commits suicide leaving her with a note. 'Jude, I have gone in search of Adam, I love you Baby.' Jude's tragic life is chronicled in the first person giving a graphic insight into the mind of a vulnerable and neglected child. There were moments I had to put the book down and escape because of the power of the writing about very gritty subject matter.

The style of the writing drew me further into the mind of a child, the need for patterns and repetition - something safe. The layout and patterns of the words on the page reflected this. The lack of speech punctuation was different, but the fact that I only noticed halfway through the book proves that it worked.

Although bleak, this is an important story - How many children , like Jude, have no one they can trust to protect them, and problems that spiral through the generations. I hoped for a happy ending right to the end.

Please link to Caroline's blog here.

Brook

2009-03-18T06:00:00.001Z

Diamond clear light
shines through smooth hard pebbles.
Bubbling water above.

Breaking Through the Fear.

2009-03-17T20:29:00.001Z

Well, I have officially stopped procrastinating because I now have my first chapter down on paper. No title as yet but you can't have everything and I always find them the hardest bit of any story. It is unofficially, 'Doormat to Clodhopper in Ten Steps'.

I knew I was missing something before I could start and it turned out that the something was a lovely new notebook with a red stilletto across the front cover for drafting. I don't know if it's just me, but I'm very fussy about the notebooks I write in. The have to be A5 or bigger (but never as big as A4), hard back and ringbound with lined paper, preferably faintly, with something lovely on the cover. My favourite scribbling book at the moment has a dalmation puppy on it. Things like this shouldn't matter but they do. (To me anyway).

Anyway, I have popped a word counter on the side of my blog to keep me motivated, and see it creep up towards the magic 80,000. 990 so far, but you have to start somewhere.

The Novel

2009-03-16T17:00:00.000Z

After a year of thinking about it, I am finally going to start preparing to write my first novel. I have two stories in mind and have not quite decided which direction to go in.

Today I have bought two scrap books to fill with anything that relates to my characters and themes and a lot of coloured index post its to plan with. Part of me is very excited about actually starting to plan on paper and the other half thinks I am procrastinating. Is this just an excuse to read endless magazines/newspapers and cut things out, creating my fantasy world? I am too scared to start without actually knowing my characters inside out (wallpaper inclusive) and having a decent idea of where I'm going.

Any advice from those who have got through the wall of starting their first book would be very welcome.

Blackberry Wine, Joanne Harris

2009-03-14T15:14:00.000Z

Having found it difficult to sympathise with Harris' protagonist in Chocolat, I wasn't sure what to expect from Blackberry Wine. However, I was encouraged to try it and was very curious about a story told from the point of view of a bottle of wine. Well, I'm really glad I did read this. A lovely book full of magic, set in the same town as Chocolat.

Told in two times, late nineties and mid seventies, it follows Jay through three summers in his teens and later as a formerly successful writer. Having opened some wine homemade by his childhood companion Joe, he begins to connect with his childhood self and buys a house in France and ups and leaves, much to his girlfriend's horror. In France he finds his past is waiting along with new mysteries.

I don't want to reveal any more as it would spoil it, but as the narrator would say, it's a full bodied story with a good finish (and a hint of berries).

Not writing what I should be writing

2009-03-11T18:43:00.001Z

Since I've been having a little 'employment break', I've had the privilege of two blissfully free hours to write and work towards my OU Course. My local library has the advantage of a very quiet reference library with plenty of desks to spread out on. I don't know about anyone else but I always feel a bit exposed writing in a cafe. (Oh look there's that crazy girl who thinks she can be a writer).

At the moment I'm meant to be working on some life writing both biographical and autobiographical. After twiddling my pen and staring at the clock for a while, I thought some free writing was in order. Just a bit - just to write something useful. Anyway the occult came up in my freewrite and I was sure I had seen a demon dictionary on the other side of the shelves. I had, starting a new page I started noting down interesting facts. I then decided I should learn about Celtic demons and got all five volumes of the Celtic encyclopeadia out.

By now I had a pretty good outline for a short story which is not to be sniffed at. However, unless I'm going to write the biography of Beelzebub I had not achieved any of my writing goals for the day. I wouldn't be too worried but the day before, I spent a good half hour giggling over The Oxford Dictionary of New Words (1991 edition). Ho hum, will try to do better next time.

Jigs & Reels, Joanne Harris

2009-03-08T08:30:00.000Z

Since studying creative writing with the OU, it's become a neccessity to write short stories for assessment. At first glance this didn't seem too difficult (2000 words on whatever you like), but I soon realised that my only experiences of short stories came from weekly magazines read in Doctor's surgeries.

Since last September, I have been grabbing hold of anthologies by well known authors in an attempt to grasp the art of a quick read and learn some of the tricks these authors use. My first (a collection by Stephen King) was unfortunately devoured by my puppy after I left it on a table in the living room. From the one I read though it seemed his idea of a short story was somewhat longer than mine.

Yesterday though, I came across the above collection by Joanne Harris by accident. I was just about to leave the bookshop empty handed (being hurried along by my partner and four year old) when it caught my eye in the sales pile. I'm reading Blackberry Wine at the moment so I thought it wouldn't hurt to have another of her novels to add to the collection. By pure luck, it tuned out to be an anthology of short stories.

I've only got through three of the stories so far but I have to say, I will continue to read them. All three have been very different in subject matter and mood and all with surprising endings. The stories also left enough untold to keep you thinking and wondering about them after finishing reading. In her preface, she describes how difficult she finds the short story and this collection of 22 stories has, in fact taken her 10 years to put together.

Definately one to keep in the bookshelf and learn something from.

Joanne Harris Website

Unrequited

2009-03-05T18:34:00.000Z

Bright air illuminates the dust.
Bottle of wine still lies overturned.
Hearth lies empty, coal turned to crust.
Pale wax candles last night burned.

Dark beams across the ceiling stare
at my still form. I mull over you.
Igniting mere spark where she made you flare,
my soul still wonders if it's true.

Back in the moment our intimate frisson
comes but with a bitter twist,
inhaling your musk, the truth hits – a collision.
A hint of her scent, present in our tryst.

I leave in silence with the look of a seer,
we both realise your wife's ghost's still here.

OU Writing Courses

2009-03-04T20:01:00.000Z

Since September last year I have been studying Creative writing (A215) with the Open University and without doubt it is the best learning experience I have ever had. Previously, despite feeling an overwhelming urge to write I always felt guilty about it as there was so much else going on. By shifting the focus of my degree, I've been able to write as much as I like/need and feel good about it.

As well as having great materials, the course offers an online forum for discussion and comment on each other's work as well as day schools. These were the aspects that scared me the most but how wrong was I? Comments, both positive and constructive have been such a help. The best thing about writing is that there is always something new to learn, whether through research, honing a technique or simply talking to another writer.

A great blog covering this course and more is here

OU Website

The Five Minute Writer, Margret Geraghty, 2006 (2009).

2009-03-03T19:39:00.002Z

I bought the above book from Amazon a few weeks ago and I haven't been disappointed. It does just what it says, but this is far from a book full of writing prompts. Yes, the writing could only take five minutes but most of the exercises I have tried have led me onto larger projects and taught me something new about style. The best thing about the book for me is not only that you can simply open the book at any page and begin, but that you can repeat the lesson as many times as you want and create something totally new.

Even if I already have something in mind for my writing session, I have been starting with a page from this book. Topics range from thinking up a character's name to humanising nasty characters. Highly recommended.

Hysteria

2009-03-02T20:19:00.000Z

Hands grasp me. My body
pulsates, I struggle. His gentle
touch overpowering, I swell.
A puffer fish using her spines.

Sweat, Rancid and old,
Chlorine and sulphur
Ooze from my pores
The stench of panic.

I scream, weep, plead
for help. Yell for solitude.
Cry of loneliness, howl of despair.
Mind broken, voice intact.

Bitter bile rises and
consumes me. Salt replaces
bitterness, Nauseous my
stomach seizes in pain.

He catches me, I struggle,
slipping through strong arms.
Rodent like I bite, rejecting
comfort, seeking dark corners.

I'm dropped. Crawling back
I plead. Arms reach out, I
wrench back. Writhing on the
Floor, a slug in a salt bath.

Scent

2008-09-27T20:42:00.000+01:00

Subtle aroma
Intoxicates all senses
Disarmes defences.

Past the Point of No Return

2008-09-23T20:41:00.000+01:00

Farewell, My Antipodal Friend,
Ten Thousand Miles, Five years between us now.

Past the point of no return.

No snatched moment of contact can compare to
Fire of flesh. Tumultuousness of touch. Scorch of scent.
Our illicit union now only in memory.
Parks at dawn, Stolen kisses marked with the aroma of the
Eucalypt.
Sultry afternoons at the riverbank, amongst the tangle of the
Mangroves.
Passionate city nights, wine flowing, chaperoned by Elvis.

All now a lifetime away.
Our hearts have grown – New life, New love,
The two of us moved – forwards, apart.
Past the point of no return