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Friday 27 July 2012

Family first...

This week has been a bit of an eye opener and I have realised just how much I'd lost sight of my priorities. Here they are, right here...


They have been somewhat neglected of late whilst I carried on with my WIP, pinching every possible moment and taking myself upstairs every evening and at weekends to crack on with it. 

So why am I trying my hand at writing in the first place?

Firstly because I love it, but secondly, because I would one day like to contribute to the household income whilst still being able to be at home for my kids. But what's the use in being at home for them  if I'm here in body only? I've already achieved my year's goal of completing the first draft of a manuscript so why am I busting a gut to get published at the expense of everything else?

I only have two hours a day during term-time to write, and that's also the time I like to get out on big walks with the dog. This next year and the past seven months were only ever meant to be about seeing if I could write, and then if I could, learning my craft and getting some ideas down. From next September, my youngest will be at school full-time and I'll have much more time to write, and maybe even get to make use of my study instead of sitting with my laptop on my knee.

I'm still going to write - I don't think I could stop even if I wanted to - but it's not going to be the be-all-and-end-all anymore. I have plenty of years ahead for writing and getting published whereas the clock is ticking and my children are getting bigger and growing up every single minute of every single day. I don't want to look back and regret locking myself away when I could (should?) have been making the most of my family.

There is always next year for my Christmas story, and maybe I'll have another manuscript or two to back it up. I've already been offered a contract so there must be potential in my writing and plenty of time to realise it.

Anyway, it's the summer holidays and the start of the Olympics so I know what I'll be doing over the next few weeks, with a bit of writing on the side.

Happy holidays!


Monday 23 July 2012

School's out for Summer

Oh boy!

Youngest has been off for over a week already and eldest finished on Thursday. Most of the time they play really nicely together but there's already been a few outbreaks of war and toys smacked over heads. Sigh. The joys of running around after a 5-year old boy and a 3-year old girl!

I really want to get my WIP finished so I can get it submitted but writing 'as the bullets fly' isn't working out so well, plus it doesn't seem fair on them... they're only little once.


So, for the next six weeks, my writing time is restricted to occasional DVD-time, after bedtime (assuming I can keep my own eyes open of course) and weekends when we don't have any other family plans.



I'll still be around online, mostly Facebook, as I can do that easily off my phone when I get five minutes to collapse in a chair.

Happy holidays!!

If you have any tips for surviving the holidays AND getting some writing done, please please share them...

Friday 20 July 2012

Update: New Year's Resolutions 2012

Somehow, we're already halfway through 2012 (don't ask me where the time has gone!) so I thought it was about time to catch-up with where I am on my New Year's Resolutions. If you missed the original post, you can read it here.


So, how am I doing?

Tuesday 17 July 2012

I got offered a contract!

Yesterday I was in the very surreal position of being offered a three-book publishing contract - yeah, I know, wow! - you can probably imagine my happy dance and it all happened very fast.

I still can't quite believe I'm saying this, but...



Friday 13 July 2012

Poem from a 'Cranky Old Man'... (removed)

Edited: 20 July 2012...

I have removed the photograph at the request of the family - if you can recall the image and happen to see it elsewhere e.g. Facebook, please do not share it and spread it even further.

The poem itself, although beautiful, was a fabrication and the details can be seen here.

Monday 9 July 2012

Based on my current WIP, I write like...

Over the weekend, I copied 37,000 words from the first draft of "A Resolution Too Far?", my current WIP, into the I Write Like website to analyse my writing and came out with...


I write like
Ian Fleming
I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

How amazing would it be if I really did write like the creator of James Bond and Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang? I doubt very much that it's true but a girl can dream.

Just for fun, why not analyse your writing too? Don't forget to come back here and share your result...


Saturday 7 July 2012

Allow me to introduce...

Just a quickie today, whilst I frantically try to complete my current WIP and get it ready to submit.

Seeing as I've been completely neglecting my blog because of it, I thought you may like to have a look at the inspiration behind the two main characters in it.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to Matilda and Dean...

Thursday 5 July 2012

Reading List: June 2012

I've been busy writing this month and trying to resist the call of many books so these are the titles that broke through my resolve...



Monday 2 July 2012

Book Review: The Last Woman He'd Ever Date by Liz Fielding

Score: 4 out of 5

Claire Thackeray: Hardworking single mom and gossip columnist. Hoping for the inside scoop on sexy billionaire Hal North, aka her teen crush! 
Most wary of: Gorgeous men who set her heart racing. (Been there, got the T-shirt—and the baby!)
Hal North: Bad boy made good. Back in his hometown as new owner of the Cranbrook Park estate. Determined to put his troubled past behind him.
Most wary of: Journalists—especially pretty ones, like new neighbor and tenant Claire Thackeray.
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