National Novel Writing Month

Http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Worth a try - focus on writing every day for a month and see where it takes you. I tried it 2 years ago but became unstuck after two weeks. Maybe now is the the time to revisit the beginnings of my novel!

Quotes

'Sit down, write and believe and let your pen lead you to your story'

Reading

Books I'm reading at the moment -
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway (beautifully written and I can almost hear George Michael singing Miss Sarajevo in the background) and
Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve - wonderful writing as ever and perfect reading on a stormy winter's night

Writing

More editing done - I must be on the 20th edit of my current piece. Still a bit more to make it 'sparkling and polished'

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Ode to Autumn
How I love this poem! So evocative of this time of the year

Reading

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

Picnic under the Stars Part II

Another wonderful evening, glorious picnic, great company, perfect weather and top rate entertainment. Very good dramatisation of Great Expectations, played by only four actors - what skill and what larks!

Reading

The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith and
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Writers at Coney

Another inspiring morning in the company of fellow writers - Wendi, Yvonne, Mairi, Jo, Moira, Michelle, Rhonda & Maddie, sharing good news of progress made since we all last sat round Maddie's big table. As always the sun shone, warm rays coming through the open door, the smell of the sea wafted in, the sound of the waves on the beach and oystercatchers calling inspiring us on our various projects. Off now to start that homework!

Writing magazine

The new edition of 'Writing magazine'was wedged through my letter box when I returned home today. Bliss and utter heaven to sit down and indulge in it after a trying day at work!

Reading

Books I'm currently reading:
The Return by Victoria Hislop and
The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society by Chris Stewart

Picnic under the stars

Wonderful evening spent at 'Sense and Sensibility' outdoor theatre with the girls. Great cast delivering Jane Austen at her best.
A truly veritable feast was had by all - sandwiches, strawberries & cream, splendid cupcakes & coffee with great company. The weather remained kind to us. What a wonderful way to spend a July evening!

Writers at Coney Island

Sparkling sea on a clear blue day. Fresh sweet peas and roses, a wicker picnic basket full of home made goodies, chocolate and banana muffins, melon with raspberries- just a few of the highlights at yesterday's writing workshop at Maddie's. Moira, Keira, Maddie and I focused on early readers requirements and then (after coffee refills) embarked on a spot of free writing with pick n mix words. Amazing results - I think I've got the start of a new story there! Thanks girls! Further work was carried out today on it sitting in the sunshine in the back garden. Amazing the inspiration you can get from background sounds - a bicycle bell tinkling and the strains of an accordion band wafting up from the afternoon concert at the park.

Reading

Books I'm currently reading:

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay

G Shay - That sounds like a great idea for a book. Is it aimed at the children's or adult market? You've just given me a good idea for a children's book - thanks! The advice for all writers is to 'write what you know' so if this is your main interest it sounds like you're well on the way. Photographs would probably be easier to use (and cheaper) than getting good quality illustrations but if you are using other people's photographs you would need to seek their permission for copyright purposes. The Writer's and Artist's Yearbook is a good source of information and tips - published annually by A+C Black. Good luck with the book

Belfast Book festival

Great day out yesterday at Belfast Book Festival.  Lovely coffee in the cafe @ The Crescent Arts Centre and good to catch up with fellow writers. Very useful information from NIPR. Very interesting speakers at LitNetNI's Writing for Children event - Lynsey Fraser, Siobhan Parkinson and Sheena Wilkinson. Now I need to go and polish up some of my writing!