Wednesday 23 May 2012

His soul was just a sink of filth

His soul was just a sink of filth - Larkin

So last night I was looking through Twitter and I came across @LarkinQuotes - definitely worth a follow if you are on the periphery of reading poetry. I didn't think I was remotely interested in it until I read some Auden and Larkin quotes.

The amount poetry I have read in my lifetime is just not worth talking about. I'll be honest I just didn't 'get' it. I studied Wilfred Owens War poetry in school and enjoyed it but I cant say that I ever thought about reading more poetry.

Last night I juts had the urge to read poetry- is this me becoming more bookish and author like- is this what an author should be doing? I am not sure. Maybe it was the poet in our writing group who writes such amazing poetry that inspired me- maybe its just age! but whatever it was I am going to invest in a poetry book - something you can dip in and out of - read - reflect and take a small nugget of goodness and a warm feeling away. I say warm feeling because apart from the war poetry I think that poetry will make me feel all warm inside- I know  however that this will not be the case!

I read Nicola Morgan's 'How to write a great Synopsis' and it was brilliant - I did have most of the information on what to do already but the book was clear and succinct. Now I need to polish it and then send it to my writing group for a critique. I have also finished my pitch letter. Once this has been perfected I need to polish up my first 30 pages.

Already, being the impatient soul that I am, I have looked at the Writers handbook and circled a few small independent publishers and writing agents (up to the letter D) - I know I should be learning the grammar rules instead - but I am so restless for this.

I got a lovely personal review of Goa Traffic the other day from my website which cheered me up and generally I am in a positive frame of mind about writing today.

So if you are reading this and are thinking about writing - Just do it!!!! there is a whole host of possibilities out there.... and if you are thinking of reading poetry do that too - we need to give poetry more popular attention!



Wednesday 16 May 2012

There are two kinds of writer:

There are two kinds of writer: those that make you think, and those that make you wonder.
- Brian Aldiss

So as I mentioned I have taken a break from The Bittersweet Vine but I couldn't help but look at my pitch/query letter that I put together one day haphazardly in the car -  it was bad but I have improved it. It may be ready to show my writing group for their critique- but not yet. I want to get the full package together before I show them the final package. I feel that it has all come round rather quick with TBV but you know how impatient I am. I am going to perfect my first 30 pages and the synopsis over the next couple of months - and unlike Goa Traffic I am going to sit on it for a while and keep perfecting it until I think its had enough time (that's a year...or there abouts)

So you have heard the above before. I think I need to write it to remind myself. I have just bought onto my Kindle - How to write a great synopsis by Nicola Morgan. I have read the first 16% and I have a feeling its going to be good. What is that about 16% - that is what Kindle is about - so fair enough you know how much you have read - I do like to know when the next chapter break is though - so I can say I'll read till that point and then go to bed... with this scenario I don't seem to get to bed - maybe its my issue and I need therapy or maybe other people get annoyed with it too. Nevertheless I am enjoying my kindle and of course with all the publishing opportunities I grateful for it.

I have also been checking out other blogs - my friend has a fabulous one which you must check out if you like food: http://amuseyobouche.wordpress.com/
She is amazing and she is the same friend that did my wedding cake - which was out of this world in taste and in design- 300 yellow marzipan roses in a tower - she is pretty amazing and 'out of this world' creative.

I have been tweeting her later - which brings me back to my issue of still no followers. 47 is pretty poor - help me out- follow me although I must admit I am not that witty on the Tweet - I generally re-tweet at the moment I am loving Google Facts.

I am also reading Before you go to Sleep by SJ Watson. Someone recommended it to me given that my book involves amnesia as well. Its definitely gripping but different from mine. I always get worried that someone will think I am copying them.

And finally...my writing group - Abingdon writers (link on the right) - I cant get over how good the writing is - in fact I felt rather dejected after the last meet because I was just so in awe of everybodys writing. I feel that when I read out my stuff its so amateur in comparison.

That's about all my news - Goa Traffic is still selling well (thanks) but I am over marketing it for now. My website is getting lots of hits as well (link on the left)- from Amazon as well so that's good. I don't have the energy instead I am 20,000 words into Under The Coconut Tree - who knows I might have a first draft by the end of summer- lets hope so - well if it continues to rain like this maybe...

Anyway I wont bore you any further

Tuesday 1 May 2012

It is perfectly okay to write garbage...

It is perfectly okay to write garbage--as long as you edit brilliantly.
- C. J. Cherryh
I haven't been on here for a while and for that I apologise... life has taken over as it does sometimes. Work is super busy so much so I don't know whether I am coming or going and in between this all I am down to the last 30 pages to edit on The Bittersweet Vine. so I didn't meet my April deadline but I am determined to finish it this week. Now that I have a kindle as well I can email it over to myself and read it like a book - without the edit facility maybe I wont be tempted - or maybe that in itself will just annoy me.

Goa Traffic sales for April were good - which surprises me because every time I looked at the rank it was pretty low. Still very low sales in America...never mind. I think I need to get some Amazon reviews on the American site which may boost sales.

Detective Chupplejeep is coming along nicely - slowly but I am really enjoying it. My reading has taken a hit- no time to read at the moment but with my kindle I plan to do some - I started reading Room by Emma Donahugh so I will post my review as soon as I am done. The idea of the kindle is to get me reading some other self published stuff - If Goa Traffic continues to do this well then Det. Chupplejeep will definitely be going straight to Kindle.

If any one is thinking about self- pubbing I say go for it - you get a  mini buzz every month when you check out your sales! And some pocket money in the bank helps every month as well... which reminds me I havent had a statement for the last month!

In other news - I have bought some fish... They are supposed to be relaxing but no - they are stressing me out- they hide all day and now they have white spot of which I am treating them for. Maybe I will find something funny to write about them one day but then again that could just serve to bore people.

Anyway I will be back on here soon with news to entertain.