Ten Significant Books - day 2

Recycling isn't a new phenomenon. A group of furry creatures made it fashionable in the 1970s and I was one of their biggest fans. Around the time they hit the TV screen I was reading about them too.

My Mum bought me this edition of 'The Wombles' and I read it and read it over and over again. They didn't look as cuddly on the book cover as they did on the TV programme narrated by Bernard Cribbins but the book still made an impression on me.

So much so that I amassed over a few years a Great Bulgaria toothbrush holder, pillowcase,  schoolbag with Madame Cholet on it and several womble records (which are still in my possession!) My aunt bought me this one in exchange for a bottle of sherry I had won in a raffle - while she probably got the better deal I was more than delighted with my new raffle prize.

What I loved most about the book was the characters Elizabeth Beresford created - they each have their own quirky traits and personalities. She made them believable and brought them to life, before they made it to television.

Ten Significant Books - Day 1

I'm going to identify a book per day over the next 10 days that had a significant impact on me from first reading. Thanks to my writing friend Vicky for the nomination. I'm starting out with one of the first books I remember reading in school - Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby from the Uncle Remus stories.

The impact for me was not the actual story, rather it was on my determination to be able to read a story for myself.

Our P2 teacher rewarded us with dolly mixtures for reading well - is it any wonder I have a sweet tooth? If we read well we received two dolly mixtures each day. The sugar police would have a fit at this nowadays.

This was the book that introduced me to the first difficult word I couldn't read on my own and the day I couldn't read and pronounce 'briars' correctly I didn't receive two dolly mixtures.  But it never happened again - not because I wanted the sweets, but rather because I became determined that difficult words wouldn't beat me.

edit, edit, edit - pays off

I was delighted to hear last week that my short story 'Left on the Shelf' had been successful in a  UK writing competition. It's lovely to see the judges' encouraging comments about the story - especially as this story has been rejected several times. Following a few edits, taking on encouraging feedback from unsuccessful submissions, and continuing to believe in my story has eventually paid off. You can read my winning story and the lovely judges' feedback here.
https://www.solution-loans.co.uk/competitions/short-story-writing-competition/results-spring-2018/

workshop video

Last month I took part in a workshop on National Writing Day - it was great to see the video from the event today and I'm looking forward to another workshop with the Community Arts Partnership soon.
https://www.capartscentre.com/2018/07/video-community-arts-partnerships-national-writing-day-workshop/

e books

As someone who is following the digital publishing route, this is an interesting article I noticed today on the BBC website
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088172

Sunny summer days

It's a long time since we've had a summer like this one, when you can sit outside almost every day and enjoy brilliant blue skies and feel the heat of the sun on your back. Sometimes when the sun's shining in one area of our wee part of the world, it can be a completely different climate just a few miles down the road - often it can be raining in Belfast and glorious sunshine in Coney Island, but that's maybe because we like to believe Coney is such a special place.

When it's Coney time, it's also muffin time, so today, in honour of the fabulous weather I concocted a new summery recipe - lemon and raspberry, which were rather delicious.

Coney Island didn't disappoint this morning, though when we arrived it was shrouded in mist, making it very eerie.

We soon discovered that the mist was actually smoke, coming from a nearby forest fire. So before writing, but after coffee, a muffin and some chat we set out on a short walk

for some writing inspiration, to observe what happens on sultry, sunny summer days in Coney

and to be thankful that the forest fire had been dealt with.

I tend to write more in the long, dark, cold winter months than brighter summer months, but this summer I've started writing more outside in the garden. In Coney there's always plenty to be inspired by, and today was no different. Let's hope this good weather continues a bit longer.

 



 

So you like to write?

Yesterday was National Writing Day. I celebrated the day in style! If only writing were like how it's portrayed in fiction!

Jo decides she's going to write a novel

Yesterday there was one submission and one rejection.

And I wrote. Thanks to the great workshop facilitated by Shelley with the Community Arts Partnership in Belfast for National Writing Day.

The day was rounded off (very appropriately) attending an outdoor theatre performance of one of my favourite books - Little Women with family and friends with an evening picnic in the glorious summer sunshine.

Mr Laurence asks Jo - "So you like to write?"

Jo's story is accepted for publication.
 

To be fair to Jo, she realises she has to go through some serious editing and that success is as much about hard work, luck and determination as it is about talent.