tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47185527396281843042024-02-22T08:19:36.951+00:00 Daggers under DaisiesWriter / Blogger / Reviewer / Rabbit MotherAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-56895924084539433592014-07-31T07:48:00.001+01:002014-07-31T07:48:20.445+01:00Be your own Superhero! - 5 quick steps to setting up your story.Haven't you ever wished that you had as much time or morale to sit down and start writing chajns of epic novels/novellas/poems, with no distractions, worries or temptations?<br />
The sad fact is we all have, an even sadder fact is that there is no way around said troubles that doesn't involve quitting your day job and moving away from family and becoming a social recluse. If you approach writing from a business like manner and treat it like a small start-up company (which it is really) - you will feel more compelled to pour your heart and soul into not letting your business tank and nurture it like a small puppy or child, dependent on what you prefer more. To let your 'business' flourish and sparkle, here is what you need to do:<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>1. Brainstorm.</b></span><br />
Now all businesses start from the basics. Acquire a nice new notebook that you love the look of to contain all of the scruffy notes, timelines, quotations, character bios, scene suggestions, bullet points, chapter ideas, ect. It doesn't matter how they are arranged, just readable enough for you to flick back through and understand what you've scribbled on the bus home. <br />
Take your notebook and shut yourself in a quiet room along with a viewpoint of 'calm'. Personally I surf youtube to source the latest hour long videos with calm/atmospheric songs, and use that hour as a viewpoint to how long I need to write. When my music stops, I leave the laptop/notebook alone and carry on with something else for a while. Music doesn't need to be used if you simply gain nothing from it - your 'viewpoint' must mean something to you and encourage the creative ideas to flow.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>2. Mind-vomit.</b></span><br />
Looking at the brilliant brainstorm you have just created through delving through the inner sanctums of your mind, I want you to take two minutes to fully take in the scope of your brainstorm. Get yourself a clean sheet of paper and write down 5 quick plot scenarios that have started to form in your mindset. Crack open those embryos and don't be afraid to get deep in there amongst the slush. You don't need to include a huge amount of insight to each possible idea, but just enough for your brain to connect to the plot associated with the words you've written.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>3. Elimination.</b></span><br />
One by one, I want you to eliminate idea by idea, purely by how confident you feel enough to be able to look at the one or two sentences you've written and make a snap decision of; "This won't work". In addition, you'll be started to sharpen your beginner copy-writing skills and killing off the components that don't feel right to you as you go. When approaching the last idea on the list that you've left until the end, take a good hard look at it, feel it. Imagine writing about that with scenario/plot/time frame. Allow yourself to visualize what kind of possible characters could be deep inside, locked away. If it feels as exciting to you, go for it and run. If not, start again from fresh from a different perspective or genre. Keep going until you find that muse you've been waiting for.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;">4. Digging.</span></b><br />
Either by pencil or laptop, start with a random scene from what you imagine could be the very middle of the story that sprouted from your last idea. Start jotting down whatever falls from the brain down to the fingertips - it doesn't even need to be good, just enough practice for you to be able to ascertain what kind of story it needs to be, what you as the story-teller, wants it to be. I would suggest to take the most action-packed scene and run with it until you cannot possibly exercise anymore creativity into it. Here is my quick scene that I have literally this very moment just typed out, without thinking.<br />
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<i>"Jared took his gloves and placed them back into the glove compartment. Stello would never be able to see the blood stains on the upholstery, he thought half with mirth and half with guilt. He could feel the weight of the dead man in the muddy bootof the old mustang, sitting on the back tyres and dragging the whole damn car down. Jared cliked his teeth and tapped the steering wheel impatiently. Stavros was late, late with drugs. He was either dead or laying face down in a ditch somewhere. Two possible dead bodies in one night and Jared was the one still standing, no drugs."</i></div>
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I opted for just letting my fingers slide over the keyboard to just see what I could come up with. I let the ideas flow to my brain and just kept writing although I had no idea where it was likely to end or become. Have a try - don't think, just feel the words.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;">5. Nurture.</span></b><br />
Now red back everything you have written - seriously read it through with care, an open mind and thought process. Do you honestly see yourself recreating the plot around your scene? Do you see yourself putting hundreds of hours into this project to nurse and nurture your little seedling into the 80,000 word novel it deserves to be? If yes, then congratulations because you have taken the first steps into creating something beautiful and the next step now would be the planning process.<br />
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If the process has still left you stuck, take an hour to move away from your work and concentrate on something else fairly media related - such as reading a magazine, watching TV, playing a game, ect. After that hour I want you to return and write about any random scene that you have witnessed in that hour, it can be anything. Put your own characters into that scene and have them move along the same story line, eventually you will need to take the reins and decide what happens next, watch them come to life at your very fingertips and gain an imagination of their own. After writing as much as you feel you need to, have a read back through and piece together the events before and after this scene - what could have happened to the characters next? What could be their back stories? You could literally warp their entire world and bend it to your will! Next I want you to edit the small excerpt of text and take out any reference or name that could lead to plagurism; (which only applies to those who have taken the scene from any published media seen during the 'cool down hour' obviously).<br />
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And there you have it, in the space of a small amount of time not only have you managed to exercise that writing muscle, but you've also grown potential ideas from near to nothing and taken them to the next level where they sit, eager and awaiting you to finish their tales. Good luck with the journey and let me know how it goes!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-72703140799414822882014-04-25T13:12:00.001+01:002014-04-25T16:40:37.061+01:00Bloggity Blog #4: Channeling the inner writing hero.Before you say it - yes I haven't uploaded any new material in a little while. Stop glaring, lower the pitchforks.<br />Amongst trying to find time to write Beneath the Door, decorate the house, work out how to build furniture and revise notes on my new job - I have decided to take shelter under the brick entrance of my workplace, shivering in the chilly and rainy atmosphere, and finally get something online. <br /><br />One thing I find very common in the writing industry, are writers - both new and old struggling to find exciting new ideas and inspiration to channel themselves into and spend endless hours and sleepless nights pouring over. Now I have conducted a little experiment myself to see just how much I can stretch my creative muscles... The challenge I set for myself: "Write 25 new story ideas in the space of a working week".<br /><br />I tried to procrastinate and insist to myself that it was a gone idea and I really didn't have the time. So what did I do to resolve this? I mentally battered the procrastination side of my brain and did it anyway. For five days in the small moments I was sat at my desk and needed a break from the computer screen, I jotted down ideas like my life depended on it. I retreated to every webbed, dusty corner of my brain and retrieved every sudden idea I could think of, to which I was then able to craft a brief synopsis, characters, scene, timescales, ect. The only thing I had trouble with, was picking out suitable names to suit my characters - which for me takes a lot longer. I want to lovingly bestow my creations with suitable names - so I gave them 'starter' names, which I may alter at a later date.<br /><br />That aside, I came out of the week with 25 sets of plots, scenarios and worlds. Some of the ideas I came out with ended up really astonished myself into thinking; brainstorming really works! A few that really stand out in my mind involve a post- apocalyptic world, the depths of gritty london's past and numerous vast social spirals. Needless to say, my new shiny characters are really going to be stretched to the limit when I get around to writing 25 full novels based on these ideas.<br /><br />Now if I can find time to imagine all of these ideas out of an empty brain amid my busy daily life - why are you still sitting there wondering what to do next? I challenge you! <br /><br />- H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-55608740782268277312014-03-29T00:32:00.002+00:002014-03-29T00:32:27.042+00:00Bloggity Blog #3: Find that Inspiration!I'm sat slap band in the middle of a busy shopping centre at the end of a very busy Friday - I'm staring at random passers-by and subconsciously working out their histories, presents and future from the few seconds that they glide by. Some look my way curiously, wondering why I'm staring back creepily wide-eyed. Others don't even register my existence and move along with their day.<br />
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My silent stalking session only lasted about ten minutes or so - but it got me thinking about possible novel ideas and what fresh new characters I could introduce. It may have made me look like a weirdo sat still on a bench for ten minutes with two big Wilko bags containing four sacks of rabbit hay - but stalking jokes aside - it seriously is a very productive way of generating inspiration for possible characters and scenarios.<br />
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1. For example; older woman stomping by in knee-length leather boots could be a desperate social-phobic, clutching onto her youth and afraid of stopping and taking a break, in case fatigue would catch up with her.<br />
2. Another example would be an elderly man; struggling to walk properly - perhaps due to underlying medical issues such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis. He feels like he wants to stop and take a rest, but pushes himself on stubbornly.<br />
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Now let's take the older woman and put her under the microscope a little bit here and delve a bit into her history. Let's say her name is Margerie. Dear old Margerie could have lost her husband - Aldric (?) in a freak motor boating experience a year ago. She would have gone through the normal process of loss and bereavement - with a twist. Margerie could have been so distraught and very self-aware that she herself was getting on in her years, that she decided to buy a full new assortment of clothes and pick up those knee-length boots in a keen attempt to feel younger and alive again, despite the urge to give up and give into her loneliness.<br />
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For the elderly man who I'll nickname as Bill, he could have just come from a very recent Doctor's appointment that confirmed that Bill in a few years, would no longer be able to walk properly and would need the use of a wheelchair to get around, eventually even losing the ability to use his leg muscles indefinitely. Bill could have heard this and become absolutely confident in himself that he would never become such a liability to his loving wife and children. Let's say he makes himself a daily schedule - a walking schedule. Bill walks half hour to an hour a day to strengthen his leg muscles - before returning home back to retirement.<br />
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Two characters - very different backgrounds and issues. Both of which as the reader, you would instinctively want to know more about them and where their paths are heading. Naturally, you would want a happy ending for whatever character you can 'connect' to most.<br />
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However I will leave these two stories unwritten and let you decide their ultimate fate and what endings you would be most comfortable and satisfied with, in your own interpretations. But if I could simply sit still in silence and watch two completely random and unconnected strangers pass by me, whilst making up their histories and scenarios in my head, there is simply no limit to what imagination and inspiration can achieve.<br />
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Happy Friday!<br />
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- H<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-4028961514774673542014-03-23T22:01:00.004+00:002014-03-24T07:33:37.226+00:00Sunday Showcase: Introducing Mike WellsWelcome to the first 'official' Sunday Showcase - here is where I will be uploading and having a look at any new up and coming authors in the industry.<br />
So for this past week or so I have been delving into the dark depths of social media - talking to you guys and trying to track down the 'star' of this weeks' Showcase. After a barrage of messages and reading manuscript after manuscript, I have finally found an author who I think deserves to be my number one this week.<br />
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I have chosen to feature Mike Wells, American best selling author of the Lust, Money and Murder series and amassing a collection of 20 other titles under his belt. Admittedly, I haven't heard of him beforehand, nor have read anything before that he has written. Coming across him by sheer fluke, I followed him on Twitter and he then contacted me to share Book 1 of Lust, Money and Murder. At once I was dubious - I so rarely get into Thriller/mystery/suspense titles that most of the novels I read end up blurred and desolate in the background on my mind. However, I was determined to give it a go and lay previous experiences aside.<br />
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At once I was hooked by the gorgeous scenery the romantic nature of the character meeting a mysterious rich man in the Italian Riviera. I was grossly interested at how both characters interacted romantically and inseparably with one another - but really had no personally interest nor passion for the other at all. I had to admit I was reading and thinking at the same time; "God I hope one of them gets bumped off." - I wasn't disappointed either! As one of our opening characters soars majestically over a cliff, we are then introduced to the novel's protagonist, Elaine Brogan and her journey into adulthood.<br />
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Reading through Elaine's memories - especially of her father, I couldn't help but wonder a little where it was leading - which in retrospect, what was what kept me hooked and helped me not give into my usual stereotype of avoiding crime and thriller novels like the plague.<br />
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We see Elaine blossom quietly from a shy little flower, through an awkward school phase into an independent young lady in just a matter of paragraphs. The memories are short lived and don't tend to veer too far from the point that Wells' is orchestrating across. When Elaine makes one of the first true adult decisions of joining a modelling agency, we begin to see some of that hard confidence that I visualised when first glancing at her name.<br />
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Without giving too much of the plot away, Elaine learns what it means to have to grow up too fast in such a harsh reality, thus a tragic turn of events sends her spiralling into adulthood with an agenda and a plan - taking her from beautiful places such as the heart of America and Moscow.<br />
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As mentioned I have only had the chance to read book one, which I believe Wells' has uploaded directly onto his website for public viewing. I would suggest going to have a quick read - even if you are dubious as well about crime and thriller novels, is I'm sure this would certainly change that stereotype and engulf you in the world of Elaine Brogan.<br />
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If you're interested in seeing more of Wells' work, you can visit his official website; <a href="http://www.mikewellsbooks.com/">http://www.mikewellsbooks.com/</a> If you're a tweeter you can also follow his daily movements here; <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeWellsAuthor">https://twitter.com/MikeWellsAuthor</a><br />
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Check back next Sunday for my next weekly Showcase! In the meantime, if you are interested in featuring you can drop me an email at; <a href="http://daggersunderdaisies.blogspot.co.uk/">daggersunderdaisies@gmail.co.uk</a> with a brief bio about yourself and what you'd love for me to read.<br />
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Until then, happy weekend!<br />
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- H<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-15431017153391575522014-03-22T00:03:00.001+00:002014-03-22T00:04:00.802+00:00Bloggity Blog #2: The Blogging Effect.So, it's Friday and I've finally got around to sitting down in bed whilst listening to Boyfriend snoring and getting on with my planned blogging schedule that I have oh-so-craftily put into my phone and set reminders every time I forget/am busy/lazy ect. Long story short, I will be uploading a lot more content to this site now. When I set out on this experience, I made a commitment to myself and anyone reading this, that I'll put my heart and soul into it.<br />
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But anyway moving on.</div>
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I've been ghosting around a fair bit on various blogging sites in various industries, topics and hobbies - hoping for a little bit of inspiration. As you may have noticed (or not, sad face) I have been making quite a few improvements to the site and ensuring it's a little more reader-friendly and easier to see in terms of colour and readability. Of course every author has their own ideas in terms of what they want and how they want to portray their work across to their target audience. I also saw a lot of fantastic blogs that go hideously under-advertised and lay forgotten, whilst their owners either frown and lose hope or continue doing what they love, simply because they love doing it. (I'll be showcasing talent such as this in my 'Sunday Showcase section!)<br />
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My point being that I class myself as the latter - I could have absolutely zero reader base but yet I will continue to churn out what I love doing, simply for the fact that I love doing it. This should definitely be a trait that everyone should learn to adapt in whatever they feel their passion is, and put everything they have into it. Imagine it.</div>
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Self-illumination and perspective aside, life has been changing pretty rapidly for the past few months or so, with a variety of changes occuring. Not that change is a bad thing, it's the ability to be able to learn and grasp new knowledge, skills, whatever.</div>
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For those of your who keep up to date with me on Twitter, I've decided to make a major career change and move from Recruitment to Financial Services. I feel that I should point out here though, that I have about as much skill with numbers as I do with hardcore welding and plumbing - absolutely zero. So here I am, totally out of my comfort zone and no clue of what I'm doing, stumbling day to day through numbers desperately trying to looks over my notes daily.<br />
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However not letting this beat me down, I decided that taking on a completely new industry and job, will teach me a lot more about the business world itself and hopefully a variety of new skills that I can apply to my own. Admittedly, I miss Recruitment a lot more than I thought I would but again remembering the reasons why I decided to take a different route, I am choosing the 'new' things that I like now and focussing on them wholeheartedly. I know in myself roughly what I would like to change and what I'd like to improve on - which could be compared to writing as well in this aspect, I know what I want to do.<br />
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As to where this whole adventure for me at the moment - who knows where it will end? It's exciting, it's adventurous and most of all, I'm doing what I want to do.<br />
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Why don't you do the same?<br />
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Happy Friday!<br />
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- H<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-74147786763156634202014-01-31T22:21:00.001+00:002014-01-31T22:28:16.613+00:00Jumping on the social bandwagon.<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5o-_zaeMkZA/UuwjSmtKpNI/AAAAAAAAAL4/umd-u6Y-bzY/tmp2B75.tmp.jpg"/><br /><br />Wouldn't it be nice to wake up one day, finish the your novel, get it edited and out to the public and generate thousands of sales as soon as you could?<br /><br />Okay so confession time; when I was a young girl with my chubby hands clasped around my pens and notebooks, dreaming about a future where I could make lots of money and do the thing I love doing for a definitive career - I had no idea of the long hard slogging, back breaking, brow sweating, tear jerking journey it would actually take to ascertain this status. It was only up until very recently that this horrendous fact seriously sunk into the dark depths of my stomach, where it sat festering.<br /><br />Admittedly, I had to question myself on my life choice. Weigh it up with the pros and cons - did I really want to put myself through so much stress for a small chance of sales in such a big pond? The answer of course hit me like a baton - why yes, yes I did. But somewhere long the way, my focus changed and less did it concern money. Nowadays I write because I want to. Yes of course I would love to be a published world renowned Steven King , Darren Shan or JK Rowling - who honestly wouldn't? But I write because I love it and it excites me. And I don't want to blow my own trumpet here, but this is what I believe sets writers apart.<br /><br />Having the drive, imagination and goals are only the first step however. A massive social network backed behind you, a vast interspace and a reliable wifi connection will be your next best friend. Now you can't generate many sales unless you have the desired audience and fanbase to pitch to. Like any self respecting organisation, no one will buy unless they are promised a good interesting read that appeals to them.<br /> <br />This is where networking comes in - with the interspace at your fingertips, join as many social networking sites and you feel necessary - and more. Build your blog/profile/network/friends - let people know who you are and what you stand for. You won't be globally renowned in five minutes, but congratulations, you have taken that first step to becoming a social bandwagon driver.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-78390491640583305242014-01-30T13:01:00.001+00:002014-01-30T22:58:09.780+00:00Why Failure should be spelled with a capital 'F'.Failure or failure?<br /><br />Which has more of an impact on you - either good or bad. Of course this word could have both positive and negative connotations entirely dependent upon the situation it's used.<br /><br />You fail on a test for serious neurological disease - congratulations! You succeed in catching man flu, though. But tell me which you're thinking about most? <br /><br />Failure is not a bad, dirty word that writers and poets alike should shy away from, like its contagious. It's a learning opportunity that has the ability to kick you back into focus, or swallow you whole and completely undermine your confidence. But this is not how it should be! <br /><br />Take a brand new writer and stick them head first into their first novel - bear in mind they know nothing about the industry nor about the wider publishing word. They submit their first work to the first publisher or literary agent they come across and receive a big fat 'no' after all of the effort. Should they be suddenly flushed into a world of doubt and question their career choice?<br /><br />Negative, they shouldn't. Frankly, every writer knows exactly how much rejection this line of work comes with - failure and literature practically sit hand in hand. In welcoming Failure, see every rejection as a physical result and a promise, that you have created something bespoke and original - you are the grand creator of your work, the God of your own world. <br /><br />Do not feel disheartened - I cannot stress this enough. JK Rowling experienced many rejections for Harry Potter and on the verge of giving up, Bloomsbury picked her up in a sheer stroke of luck, that they were opening a children's division - thus her story in itself began. I would encourage you all to save these letters/emails/calls and keep them close, let them remind you of your contributions and work that you've battled to finish.<br /><br />- H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-85802857808562670882013-12-04T10:14:00.001+00:002013-12-04T19:26:11.751+00:00What's in a name?I am the worst person at this, ever.<br /><br />So it comes to sitting down with a new revolutionary great idea for your latest novel. You have the storyline all planned out - you are deadly sure that this book will change the world as it is and will influence many generations to come. You know it should be a bestseller in many countries and appear on various charts as numero uno. There is only one problem - what to name your characters? How to bestow them names worthy of their own characterisations?<br /><br />I wrote something a long time ago which featured a main protagonist named Ivy. Now Ivy can be pictured into two visualisations here; the first of which is the plant itself - green and poisonous, winding itself onto any surface and digging its roots into foundations, creeping into the inside and snaking up walls, seeking out any possible weakness in structure and exploiting it.<br />But as for a polar opposite mental picture - Ivy can also be regarded as a beautiful name for a little girl with big green eyes, pale skin and a sweet smile. <br />This was the character I had dreamed up for that piece of work. I decided to take the name of a devious plant and pair it with a more positive reflection - not only to throw my reader off, but to also surprise myself too. <br /><br />But how do you know if you've given your chosen character a deserving name?<br /><br />Imagine how you would expect them to look. Strong jaw? Pearly white sharp teeth? Golden wavy hair? You wouldn't name a little girl Henry and a macho muscled man Sandy, would you? The names completely throw off the character that perhaps you wanted to portray. Little Henry and Sandy have magically transformed into the polar opposite of what you initially wanted.<br /><br />So what are the right names for your characters?<br /> <br />That is something only you yourself can answer. You know your mental pictures, you know your plot and your scenery and ultimately you know how you want it to end. <br />For my main protagonists, I tend to pick less popular names that would stick in my readers' minds. In Beneath the Door (uh oh, plug time!) - I chose Terin - not overly feminine, quite strong and harsh on the tongue, which was exactly what I was aiming for. <br /><br />Overall, in some aspects names mean so much more to a great story than the plot itself. Next time you want to write an epic three piece trilogy about the adventures of Joe Bloggs and John Smith - think again.<br /><br />-H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-5049288093903393322013-11-14T12:01:00.001+00:002013-11-16T00:49:09.343+00:00New Features.Hey guys!, I have taken the decision to introduce some shiny new things to this little blog of mine in order to showcase my talent and that of others as well.<br /><br />For an example of what is to come; In an ever-changing industry, new bloggers, writers, poets, ect. Find it increasingly difficult to be able to break into the mass net that is social media.<br /><br />I want to be able to take those blog/pages belonging to those that really deserve some recognition for their work. Eventually, I want to be able to set up awards for this purpose as well - this totally is going to be my new goal for the new year.<br /><br />Here is an overview of what you can expect coming up;<br /><br />1) Sunday Spotlights:- Every Sunday I delve into the depths of social media and find nuggets of literary talent to share with you all. This can range from blogs to personal portfolio websites. If you'd certainly like to appear on one of my spotlights, please let me know.<br /><br />2) Bucket List - Every book I am going to read or have yet to. Any suggestions of course, would be welcomed and I promise to attempt to read all of them! Published and non published included.<br /><br />3) Reviews - A page dedicated to reviewing the work of new up and coming authors, which will include; pros, cons and constructive critique.<br /><br />4) Beneath the Door - An entire page dedicated to my later project. On here you will find my progress, characters bios, possible concept art and of course snippets into some of the chapters as well.<br /><br />I will continue to ad, alter and update as I go along and improve the usability and readability of this blog. Suggestions are welcome, as are requests, questions, ect.<br /><br />Until then, stay frosty. (Can I pull this off?)<br /><br />H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-28829039715739439542013-11-09T15:12:00.001+00:002013-11-13T20:18:44.383+00:00Never be afraid to use personal experiences! In fact, this could be one of the best tools that you'll ever use in writing.<br /><br />But let's back up a second here; firstly, why would you feel the need to Influence your story with your own personal experiences? Why should you, especially when the experience may perhaps daunting and unwelcoming?<br /><br />Closure and feeling.<br /><br />There are plenty of pros and cons to this. It's a tricky skill that can either make or break the novel. I put it down to working out exactly what kind of novel that you want to write, firstly. Now close your eyes and imagine that you are the story and you are the protagonist. Maybe you want your story to be told? Put your main character in your position and get them to experience the memory or event. How do they feel? What is their first reaction?<br /><br />More often than not, it will be your feelings and reactions coming through the words. Having done this before, the last emotion I was expecting to feel was shock. Shock that I were seeing my innermost secret feelings and experiences laid bare in front of me under an alien alias that was my protagonist. <br />However, in an odd way this is a good opportunity to also connect with your character, to share and through doing so, to heal as well. Your secrets are out, as are your deepest emotions. Now sit back, take a breath and enjoy your freedom.<br /><br />Influencing your story doesn't have to involve negative experiences however. What about the first time you held your newborn child? The feeling of falling in love for the first time and the sheer anticipation of awkward first dates? There are so many events that can be drawn upon that inspiration is everywhere.<br /><br />So, the next time you feel the snag of Writers block? Look a little closer to home for inspiration.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-61514132403233127072013-11-08T08:31:00.001+00:002013-11-08T08:31:13.056+00:00Bloggity Blog #1I write this to you, sat on a bus on the way to work amidst a chilly Friday morning. Of douse I don't want to be going to work, I would much rather spend the day in pajamas with hot chocolate and going over the manuscript of my latest project, but we can't all be picky.<br/><br/>Welcome officially to my first proper 'Bloggity Blog' - entries that reflect just what exactly I spend my days doing, instead of getting on with writing. You're now in the very inner sanctum of my mind where it's filled with sarcasm and procrastination. Enjoy your stay! <br/><br/>I now unfortunately must arrive at my desk and pretend to look busy, but watch this space! <br/><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim68UuTJcOI1-MF3_CDkGvZh3m9LiaI1L2gWbvKfXmqbLSC4lQY1vis9InH5LDnKvjTe_SVxN6VPZiiJJ1x3WNrUwOjxAOfowNpapCsXzA6JoE6d0_4uQbclyOqNLcFnd9jKIl1aA_6XTY/'/>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-32239466929257631862013-10-22T22:47:00.000+01:002013-10-22T22:47:47.084+01:00The real thing.In one of my previous entries, I pulled across the point of going through something you or I have written, and editing it within an inch of its life, until the entire story flows like chilled water.<div>
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I just wanted to take a moment and reflect back on this because I have since looked at my half-finished manuscript of my latest project; "Beneath the door" - and thought that this was the most opportune time to go back through all of the chapters I'd written for it and note down it's flaws.</div>
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When I'd finished, I was absolutely aghast at the amount of threads I'd pulled from the manuscript and flagged up. Plot holes, bad characterisation, boring mundane scenes and different writing techniques. </div>
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Eventually the list ended up as an A4 sheet of paper, but the very last feeling I thought I would feel looking down at this list - was determination.</div>
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I <i>want </i>to be able to tell my story and I <i>want </i>the sheer pleasure of seeing it sold in bookshops one day. Looking down at the list of discrepancies, only made me plot out possible solutions and outcomes that I could pull my dead manuscript out of the depths of mundaity and turn in it into a work of art that I could seriously be proud of.</div>
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Now because of the little revelation, I have decided to do a little more research, write up a proper bio from start to finish and plan out my story better and more accurately. </div>
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All in all, this experience has taught me that self-evaluation is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to reading back through work - if anything, only yourself can accurately tell whether you are telling the story how you envisioned it being told. At the end of the day, you are the story teller.</div>
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- H.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-32239199043296688852013-09-30T21:18:00.001+01:002013-09-30T23:09:48.745+01:00The Bitter TruthOkay, so you have half of your latest epic novella written, spell-checked and neatly printed out and stacked into a readily waiting plastic folder with the rest of its predecessor chapters, all eagerly waiting for the day that the last chapter is added to the collection - so you can smile happily, make a dozen copies and chuck off to the nearest big time publishers, right?<br /><br />Only in a perfect world. <br /><br />Finishing the first draft is only the sure beginning to the journey of getting your epic adventure out there into the world. Strap on your harness and pull out your Indiana Jones hat, because it'll be a bumpy ride, full of pitfalls, self esteem slumps and the overwhelming desire to give up and find another job/hobby.<br /><br />Writing for pleasure or profession both commands a certain amount of dedication, blood, sweat and tears. You are pouring every ounce of creativity into your project, you are feeding the flames and forging something new, shiny and beautiful. You are a writer, ultimately a literary warrior. If you want it, you fight hard for that first book to hit the shelves, you battle for that first book signing, the first person to ask you about your inspirations, ect.<br /><br />We all have dreams - to do what we want most, we edit and edit and edit. Done editing? Comb back through the entire book for a second and third and maybe even forth go. Print out copies and distribute out to friends and family to get their opinions and reflections on the characters/plot/feel of the entire thing. Scour the bookshops for anything remotely similar that you may want to distance yourself from. (A prime example of this would be vampires!).<br /><br />The bitter naked truth lies here: Draft, Edit, Comb, Edit, Opinions, Edit and finally then perhaps ready to be flooded out to publish.<br /><br />Good luck, we all need it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-18412417524202615672013-08-09T11:13:00.001+01:002013-08-12T13:00:49.399+01:00Beware your language!All writers are guilty of it at some stage and I am no exception. Its a universal faux pas that we have all experienced and in cases, a bloody hard habit to climb out of the depths of. But also is inevitable to pick up at one point or another.<br /><br />Yes boys and girls, I am referring to language. Did anyone else just have a flashback to their English lessons? <br /><br />With the way we are all connected via the internet and all other mass media channels, we can access content and entertainment from all corners of the globe. I tend to immerse myself in the sunny world of the US a lot of the time, ranging from watching my menagerie of Friends to Desperate Housewives to House. And then of course I have shelves filled with American authors from Julie Krantz to Dan Brown.<br />Lately, I have recieved a few reviews on my latest project and the one that seems to crop up most; are the amount of Americanisms I've adopted sub-consciously.<br /><br />Not that im saying Americanisms aren't cool. No, I love half of my weird and wonderful sayings that some people just don't 'get' - family included. But as someone who wants to be recognised at a British author, it's a little frustrating to write and then read over my workings to find that I had written 'gotten' as opposed to 'become'. <br /><br />I think I can safely say that I've learned something from this experience though.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-72357247536292415802013-08-05T22:02:00.001+01:002013-08-05T22:02:42.700+01:00First Look: Beneath the Door - CHAPTER EXTRACT.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-6aa7ed4c-5046-b882-aa57-55aa249116c0" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m dreaming aren’t I?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The blonde girl momentarily looked up from the freshly made daisy chain between her slender white fingers. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What makes you think that?” She smiled sweetly, lips as rosy as her cheeks.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The sheer fact I’m dreaming about someone I hardly know. Someone I met in the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>storeroom</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of a mental institution. What does that say about me?” I could have smacked myself.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebecca’s ice cold eyes danced with amusement. She continued her daisy chain, humming under her breath as her fingers expertly tied each small flower to another.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t blame me. This is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>your</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">dream.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do me a favour and get out then.” I spat and moodily began to tear handfuls of lush green grass from the field we were sat in. A cool breeze swept over the cliff tops from the cerulean sea somewhere down below and carried the sound of seagulls and crickets singing, whilst the sun beat down comfortably from ahead. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To the left, was the big white door that I had long since given up trying to open. Rebecca finished her flowery new accessory and hung it proudly around her pale neck, surrounded by waves of her luxurious blonde curls.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I scowled at my strands of flat auburn hair and bitter-down nails.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You need to relax.” Rebecca sighed. Even her </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>sighs </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">sounded musical.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sure, no problem. Attempted murder victim, psychologically damaged and socially handicapped. But I’ll stand over there and recite ‘knock-knock’ jokes, shall I?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Mature. No - I mean you need </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to stop thinking and start </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>living</i>."</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I haven’t killed anyone yet. I think that’s a job well done if you ask me.” Who was she to start trying to be my personal life coach? I already had one annoyingly-enthusiastic blonde in my life. I didn’t want to start collecting them.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t you see? You’re so wrapped up in the injustice of what has happened, that you aren’t even bothering to live</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">!”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>am </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">living!” I snarled. “Don’t dare try and tell me how I feel.” I was thoroughly tired and wound up. Rebecca barely battered an eyelid at my extremely crap mood and laid back on her hands, stretching and wiggling her naked toes in the long grass.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I was just making an observation.” She sang quietly.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, don’t. Keep it to yourself. Get out of my dream.” I rolled over onto my other side and viciously tore more grass from the field, balling it together in my hands. Silence gratefully filled the space and I stupidly thought for a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">second, that she <i>actually</i> listened to me.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden hair invaded my face, my eyes. She was stood above me, ice blue eyes gleaming under the thick curtain of her hair. She pierced me with those eyes and stripped me bare to my very core. I was both utterly bewildered and terrified at once.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“If you want things to change.. You change.” She whispered. “This concerns more than just yourself now.” Rebecca grabbed my arms with cold prying vice-like fingers and prodded me towards the door. For a fleeting moment, I thought she was going to kill me.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You aren’t a friend, either.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Comments, opinions, feedback? Leave them in the comments below and thank you for reading!
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>- Holly</b></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-34235676175449819562013-08-05T20:31:00.003+01:002013-08-05T20:31:54.390+01:00Does a degree define your skill?We have all been there. Throw yourself back into the last months of mandatory schooling - that freaky feeling where you are on the very edge of the world and about to take the last breath and jump head fast into reality. Those who are confident of what they would like to do career-wise, fall into safety nets on the way down, whilst you're left free-falling and wondering where you would like to land. Years pass by, you've done nothing that you wanted to do and you're feeling panicked as life trickles by.<div>
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For those few lucky people who have fallen into nets and have ended up going to University and obtaining themselves a shiny new English or Creative Writing degree - well done you guys, you worked hard and was rewarded for it! But what about those who neither had the choice nor the money to be able to work for a degree? Does that make them any less of a writer?</div>
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Reading a LOT of literature in my 20 years on this little planet, I have read amazing works from both sides of the spectrum. But I never once noticed purely from the content, who was the Author with the full education and who ended up in full time employment. </div>
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But DOES a degree define your skill as a writer?</div>
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Let me know what you think in the comments below!<br /></div>
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- Holly</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-26568173590001369352013-08-03T15:31:00.001+01:002013-08-03T15:31:27.580+01:00Self Publishing versus 'The Good Old Fashioned Way'If you're a keen writer/novelist/poet - or whatever you want to call yourself - you have successfully stayed in touch with the fast news and goings-on within the literary world - go you! <br/><br/>The act of Self-publishing has always had a negative edge to it. Publishing your own book? PAH. That just means that you aren't good enough to be properly taken on by a wildly amazing publishing house! Right?<br/><br/>No, wrong. Sooooo wrong.<br/><br/>In fact, more and more writers are now considering the option of taking their works into their owns hands and going that extra mile to do all of the hard slogging themselves. Aided by a literary consultant or Self-publishing houses, and of course a fair amount of money - it is becoming increasingly common to self publish.<br/><br/>Of course it will not completely take away the stigma, nor the fear of failure and a lot of hard work should the venture fail, writers are now keen to take their future into their own hands and make the dream a reality. <br/><br/>Admittedly, I have been doing research on the same issue. Yesterday after a long day at work, a literary agent from Author House called me and we discussed the highs and pitfalls (although declined to discuss pricing at this stage, there's a shocker).<br/><br/>The point is - dont be afraid to avoid the conventional route and shy away from hundreds of possible rejections from publishing houses. Do a little research into taking the time to control your own journey, and see where it takes you.<br/><br/>- H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-1026818659730580802013-07-21T19:39:00.000+01:002013-07-21T19:39:04.192+01:00Beneath the Door.'Sup!<br /><br /><div>
Which translates to 'what's up' for those of you, who aren't 'down with the kids'. Maybe you'll surprise the young'uns with your new found language skills the next time they spout endless reams of unidentifiable syllables. Enjoy the blank stare you'll receive - half full of confusion and contempt for you.</div>
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But anyway, moving on.</div>
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As mentioned in my previous posting, I wanted to get my latest Story 'out there'. This ideally would be the first book I would like to get published, although being a young inexperienced author - it will be a lot of work I imagine. Someone suggested I should also create a Google+ page in terms of marketing (I rely way too much on Facebook and Linkedin!) Although I've always silently hated the idea of Google+ - has anyone tried it and/or can recommend it to be worth while?</div>
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Right well, my latest workings I've decided to title 'Beneath the Door' - Why did I decide on it? Well, you'll have to read it to find out ;)</div>
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The story circulates around my protagonist - Terin. A young woman plagued by fears, emotion and amnesia, this is her journey to not only to find 'herself' but to solve a few personal mysteries as well. This is the admittedly the darkest thing that has fallen out of my mind and onto paper, with also a few of my own personal elements interjected as well (couldn't resist!) </div>
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The orginal story for this came about whist I was in Primary School, although it was almost a completely different plot. A couple of years ago, I was stuck for inspiration and thought that I wanted to continue this further, thus over the many months that have flown by, I had tossed around ideas and possible scenarios - now only sitting down properly to do it justice and write the thing!<br /></div>
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So what have I learned from this experience?</div>
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<u>Don't procrastinate, If you want to write a good story - sit down and get on with the damn thing!<br /></u></div>
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- H x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-63206019882245754162013-07-17T15:19:00.001+01:002013-07-17T15:19:45.767+01:00Update.I write this to you sat in a semi-melting Dentist surgery, watching as the other half gets his mouth hacked into and I, watching amused from the other side of the room with a bag of sweets. What a rebel.<br/><br/>So how has my writing been lately? Pretty sparse to be fair. I have been lax with updating my personal archives with the amount of things that have happened as of late. But that's cool, I will get my groove back soon! <br/><br/>Which brings me onto my next point - as this is my very own blog with entirely my own material and inner-thinkings, i can shamelessly plug my own work! Yay!<br/><br/>My latest project has led me to an entirely different genre that i haven't explored before - Psychological Thriller. Out of my comfort zone and armed with good ideas, good characters and an exciting plot - I am about 12 chapters into the first draft and counting. Woah.<br/><br/>I will post a description and a snippet of it soon for you guys, watch this space!<br/><br/>Until then however, please enjoy this doodling of me at my desk.<br/><br/>Over and out.<br/>- H x<br/><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0_TS6IIQ6CFkSqa3QsN7HJ3423nVxRdfDHnEQZcbjM7WwD7evrW62T4YkGSIEIuptM7RoFo6Z6l9DffzNw5j0C1tB4a-IsZXlna1x3VnH2TbU6O0lyWmLkKksO8d5xsIKiWrvWbj9oc/'/>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718552739628184304.post-44496755620067983452013-07-15T22:41:00.001+01:002013-07-15T22:41:07.050+01:00Starting Out.<b>(Cue really dramatic opening film music)<br /></b><br />
Hi Guys!<br /><br />
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Yeah that was actually my well though-out attempt at a good opening for my first official blog. Creative huh?<br />
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Well I've finally found some time within my work/family/other half-filled life to actually sit down and take this writing thing seriously. Although I do wish that this room wasn't currently melting around me with mid-summers' heat - It's making me feel sleepy and lethargic - not a good combo for an aspiring young author I reckon.<br />
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So yes anyway, back to the point of this fantastic new page - This, ladies and gentlemen is the start of my journey to setting out what I've always wanted to go - become a writer. (I've left out the 'successful and rich' aspirations for my new career *sad face*)<br />
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What's that I hear you cry? It's a tough ol' line of work? Why yes there Jimmy, it is. But admittedly it's one that I've always wanted to follow ever since I was old enough to grasp a pencil in my chubby hand and attack any sort of writing surface with - thus, this will be my unedited, undiluted truth of the highs and the lows of being a budding young writer.<br />
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It's scary, new, big and blood sweat and tears will be spilled. Who said that writing was boring and unexciting?!<br />
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But I'm taking you all with me.<br />
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Good luck Holly!<br />
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- H xAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753077080605040187noreply@blogger.com0