Creating Characters – The Fun Part of Writing Fiction
When writing fiction, creating characters has always been the fun part for me. Getting inside each character’s head and shaping them into credible human beings for others to enjoy, love or hate.
The Critic – coming back to bite me?
I am about to start submissions, again, so I hope this one doesn’t come back to bite me! I wrote this doggerel almost thirty years ago. It was inspired by an experience I had at sixteen when I still had, misguided, aspirations about pursuing a career on the stage.
Life Writing. It’s Not All About Me!
The thought of writing a memoir had never crossed my mind. I’ve listened intently as members of my writers’ group read from their life writings. One member decided to defy convention and sail around the world with her children. Another lived in India for years to learn the practice of Ayurveda, a form of traditional Indian medicine. Both amazing life experiences. But, consciously thinking about writing about my life experiences might not have occurred to me but, the fact was, I’d been doing it for years.
MY LIFE IN ‘RESUS’: An Appreciation of A&E Doctors and Nurses Everywhere ❤️
I am the paradigm of an A&E nurse. I am the one that is chosen but would volunteer to shepherd young nurses through their first few days and weeks in A&E.
I am bombproof; unflappable. Nothing fazes me anymore.
In Appreciation of Healthcare Workers Everywhere ❤️
At 8.00p.m. last night we all came out of our houses to clap and cheer, as well as shedding a few tears, to show our respect and appreciation for all careworkers.
Only an eight-minute drive from my front door, a handful of doctors and nurses are working tirelessly to save lives.
It was a small, but a deeply moving gesture, from a huge amount of people. We came out in our droves, from Jersey to John o’ Groats, to show healthcare workers everywhere how much we care, and how much we appreciate the incredible job they are doing. Their selflessness know no bounds.
Bye Bye 2019
As 2019 draws to a close, remember the things that are important during 2020. ❤️ Here is my, uncharacteristically gloomy New Year video. Rather than calling it Bye Bye 2019, maybe I should have called it Good Riddance 2019?
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🕊️❤️
As 2019 fizzles out at midnight tonight, I would like to thank you all for your continued support during the past year. It means a great deal.
GET JOHNSON GONE!
I don’t seem to have found my 2019 Christmas spirit yet. Rushing out to buy a Christmas tree hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind, as in previous years. Bringing home a Nordmann fir and decorating it in front of a roaring fire while enjoying a glass […]
For Gemma Dupont – Please care, and share. Thank you.
Earlier this year, I met Gemma Dupont, who is a part of my Word Press blogging family, as well as a fellow aspiring author. Enthusiastic, bright and bubbly; her motto has always been… caring is sharing.
Gemma very recently finished writing her memoir, Perpetual Helix, all bar one final, professional edit. She is so close, yet so far away from achieving her dream to see it in print.
This week, Gemma has received a truly devastating diagnosis. Stage 4 lung and brain cancer.
Gemma urgently needs an editor who would be willing to get the manuscript to the stage where Gemma can, at least, self-publish, as a legacy for her partner and her children.
Author Interview: Gila Green – Gritty, yet shimmering stories
Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I very recently ‘met’ the Canadian author, Gila Green, who is based in Israel. Since then, I’ve got to know her a little better, as she kindly agreed to be interviewed.
To date, Gila has written four novels, and her work has been shortlisted for many awards, which is no surprise. Her books focus on everyday people tackling immigration, racism, alienation, war, politics, romance, poverty, terrorism, and surviving. After I read those words, I was instantly drawn.
Gila was a joy to interview, honest, funny and an example to us all in terms of her gutsy determination to see her work in print. She finishes up the interview with a few of her top tips for us aspiring writers.
Stockpiling for Uncertainty – Are You Brexit Ready?
In Jersey and Guernsey, we are only live a short hop from St. Malo and our Entente has been extremely Cordiale for years, thank you very much. Yet the repercussions of Brexit will affect us just as much as everybody domiciled in the UK mainland, not least when it comes supermarket shopping, as all our supplies are brought in by boat.
The Inevitability of Consciousness
I’ve forgotten when I hugged you for the last time. It was so long ago because the evil disease took its time to destroy your body and your vibrant mind until it sucked the very last breath from your lungs.
Exhilarating – The Jersey Festival of Words 2019
Yesterday I went to four sessions at the Jersey Festival of Words, it was the day for me to soak up the words of wisdom, as well as support, local writing talent and hopes of coming away with a better understanding of what literary agents are looking for.
IT’S YOUR TIME TO REALISE YOUR DREAMS
VIDEO: This is YOUR time to realise YOUR dreams.
Happy Saturday Everyone! Hope you are out achieving your dreams? 🙂
“You may be the only person left who believes in you, but it’s enough. It takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up.” Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway
JUST BEEN RUBY WAXED
Ruby Wax is an inspiration to women of my generation, no wait… judging by the wide-ranging ages of both men and women in the audience last night, she is an inspiration to us all. She is innately funny, down to earth and compassionate, in fact, she is a role model on how to be human. I am enlighted, Ruby, thank you.
IN THE NAME OF GOD
Hate is so often fueled by religion. How I wish it wasn’t so, then maybe I could reassess my belief. I am a pacifist and I believe there is no place on our fragile earth for gratuitous violence, especially the slaughter of innocent people, in the name God. If I pray for anything, I pray for global peace.
WAKE UP: To Climate Change
If you didn’t see Climate Change – The Facts on BBC TV last night, you should. Even if you think you are already doing your bit to halt climate change, you need to watch it, so the alarming stats are ingrained in your mind.
Sunrise
I watched the sunrise yesterday, as I often do. My writing day starts at dawn. It’s the time of day my brain seems to creatively engage. I threw back the curtains to greet the dawn on the day that marked yet another year since my arrival on the planet.
Tired but Wired: 4 days at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival
What a few days it has been for me in the city of dreaming spires. I don’t like to brag, but I soaked up the words of wisdom of writer and broadcaster, Melvyn Bragg, who is best known as editor and presenter of ITV’s South Bank Show. He was talking […]
OXFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL 30th March to 7th April 2018
It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’m going for four out of the nine days. I will be soaking up the words of wisdom of people I have admired for many years, such as the legendary Ranulph Fiennes. Much admired veteran journalists, Kate Adie, and Martin Bell. I […]
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