Fog

 

I'm in a writers group and recently they asked a question about how much planning you do before writing a book - the outline, character profiles etc. It was very interesting to see the answers. 

Then I came across this quote by E. L. Doctorow: 

“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

I guess it varies book by book and the power of the inspiration.  It is rumoured that Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde in three days after dreaming it.

For the writers of fiction out there, what do you do?

Linking with #Writersden  #BetweenSkyandEarth and #MySundaySnapshot (the badge didn't work sorry, see below) 

Writing and Resilience

It's a tough one. There is inevitably a lot of rejection with writing. But just as writing is a muscle that needs to be exercised to strengthen, you also need to work on how you deal with rejection. You have to get so used to rejection that you form a callus. Take heed, work out what you're doing wrong, improve but don't give up. 

I have a couple of friends who wrote books and at one point or other both decided their books weren't any good. One is deciding to give up sending it out, just because it's been rejected a few times.  I am trying to push him along, make him realise that one or two rejections is nothing. Stephen King's Carrie was rejected 33 times, and he threw it in the bin. His wife dug it out and insisted he persisted and we know how the story ends.

I enter a lot of short story competitions. That is the easiest way to learn to be unfazed by rejection. You don't have to put in a year's labour, and you get relatively quick feedback. A few pats on the back make a huge difference, but when rejected, you learn and grow.

In Age against the machine, a podcast I mentioned last week,  Marcia Hines talks about what causes Imposter Syndrome. "Somewhere along the way someone told you you'te not worthy, and you believed it". She concludes, 'You should never believe it'. 

I learnt from Art Spiegelman in Maus, 'Why not me?' Look at the logical statistical outcomes and then set out to do everything necessary to make it happen.

I am in two book clubs and read a broad range of books. Not all of them are good. Not even the best sellers. So don't think you have to be good to get published. You need a hook, you need a market, you need appeal. Listen to feedback and criticism and work with it. Get it out there, in front of as many eyes as possible. 

See it more as a challenge or a game than the rejection of your baby, and you.

And write a few quick shorts to get your confidence back before returning to the big labour of love.

How do you deal with inevitable rejection as a writer?

Linking with #WritersDen and #FriendshipFriday

Be warmed by the fire within

I've been in s low mood this lockdown but when I sat down to write my Furious Fiction story on the weekend, that rapidly changed.

The story I wrote was silly and playful. It amused me while I tapped it out, and after I submitted it, I spent the rest of the day in a joyful mood.

The spark it ignited in my brain warmed me for the rest of the day.

It is not a winning story, I knowingly submitted it anyway but it fulfilled it's purpose. It gave me the buzz I needed. 

In writing, that is winning. 

 Linking with #HappyTuesday #WeekendCoffeeShare #Inspirememonday #SundayBest and #WritersDen

Writers Block

I definitely have it. I am struggling to write any fiction and it appears I'm beginning to struggle to think of anything for the blog as well! 

I will be taking a break come the 26th March until 18th April so will limp along on the blog until then, just to try and push through it.

I can't explain it. I have been going out and doing fun things, I've been seeing art to inspire me - and movies and exercise and walks in nature. Just nothing.

I submitted something for Furious Fiction but my brain shut straight back down again.

#AusWrites even asked their writers how they got through writers block and while there were plenty of great ideas, still here I am!!

Got a busy week ahead so hopefully I can shake things up inside, and get back to feeling more 'normal'.  A play, an art show and a (drum roll)...festival! (of sorts). 

May you all be feeling more creatively inspired or content than me! 

Linking with #Sundaybest

Intrusion

I had to write my Furious Fiction entry in 24 hours as I'd have no access to my laptop on Sunday. I looked at the story requirements, the words that must be used and the action that must happen, and was stumped. I wasn't concerned by this, as it often takes some time for the pieces to fall into place.

I woke this morning and still nothing. I was beginning to get a little worried. Not the slightest idea.

I was listening to The Queen's Gambit as I walked around the lake. Suddenly, as engrossed as I'd been in the novel, I realised I wasn't listening to the words. It actually took me by surprise.

A woman had intruded into my thoughts. A woman with a story to tell that happened to have all the set words and requirements to fulfil the Furious Fiction criteria.

I switched off Audible and walked home as fast as I could to get the words down. Trying to edit the story down to under 500 words in my head as I frenetically strode.

This is what I love most about writing. This 'intrusion'. The moment when a character arrives out of nowhere and enchants you. The invigorating urgency to get the words onto paper, in case it is a fleeting visit and the character takes their story away with them. I love that they have chosen me to tell their story to. For a brief while it is all I can think about, and it will distract me from any other task at hand. 

So this week, I am loving intrusions and the joy of writing.

Linking with #FortheloveofBlog

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett

 I read these words on someone's blog yesterday, and I thought I'd tuck them away for a friend who is currently getting a great book idea (with a really great title) out to publishers. His first knock back hurt and it took a few days to recover but he was proud that he finally shot it out to another agent. (I'm his cheer squad - or perhaps annoying, pushy person that keeps hassling him, but whatever).

I had recently written a story for the 8-11 year old market, purely because I never had. I found out yesterday I didn't make the list of 20 finalists and had that pang of disappointment we know so well. However, this time was different. After about 10 minutes, I thought of those words of Beckett, you know, the author who was originally published in two different languages (and translated into many more). And I felt fine. I immediately sent the story off elsewhere for it is a good little story though possibly not connecting with that age market, as I'm a little unsure of what I'm actually doing there.

In Ali Wong's book, Dear Girls, she talks about being prepared to bomb. She advocates you will learn more by going in front of crowd of strangers who don't care about you and react in truth, than in a class where the audience is other comedians and their loved ones and want to be kind.  I think that's the trick. It doesn't matter if you get rejected a million times, as long as you learn a little from it (preferably in the form of actual feedback, so you aren't guessing what went wrong). I hope I can keep this ease of rejection as the new normal level of emotional reaction.

I am aware the Beckett poem is not actually as motivational as it gets bandied about as, but if having your work still performed and enduring 70 years later as well as winning the Nobel Prize for Literature is failure, I'll happily take it.

So this week I'm loving cheerful optimism in the face of rejection (delusional optimism perhaps? No matter).

What are you loving this week?

Linking with #WritersDen

I have never...

 The Torschlusspanik list is a quick way to list what 'I have never' done but there are new things I attempt without even realising. I have been madly writing short stories since lockdown and submitting them to competitions for feedback. I saw one for stories for 8-11year olds and thought it would be a good challenge. 

Many years ago I wrote a picture book in rhyme for 3-6 year olds. It got fairly positive feedback but not published, but I've never written another thing for children since. 

I knocked out a story for the Buzzwords competition and I'm quite keen to see how it goes. I'm not 100% sure I got the age connection right, it's sometimes hard to be 'assuming' how they think and what will engage children, verging on teens. It's a little like speaking another language - you know the words but it's awkward and sounds stilted.

I really like this story though, so I'm hoping it does well. Anyone who writes fiction knows you have a little of your heart with these characters, and like a teenager, you just want them to be liked. 

I'm learning the things I really need to work on are titles, bio's and synopsis. If you see any courses on those, let me know...

Linking with #WritersDen

Writing my story

I'm not in a very good place to be writing my story at the moment. In fact I rarely get to write. I'm way behind on reviews, my blog posts uninspired, and the overwhelming crap of life is bringing me down. I seem to be using all my energy to bolster others, but lacking the cheer squad that I desperately need to regroup*. (As an interesting aside, I went to a parenting course, and at the start of the session, they said 'Parenting is hard. Have a think about who your support person is. Think about who you can call tomorrow and vent about what you need to download'. Quite possibly the most valuable thing they taught us.)

So, I will write in clichés, for that's the story I feel I'm writing at the moment.

Don't get caught in the chapter you're currently stuck in. If you don't like it, edit. Remove people, add action, whatever you need to do to make an improvement.

Don't make it repetitive. You can't live it, you can't write it. No matter what, find one small thing for you.

If you really have no words, add a picture.

Know that in the end, there's a happily ever after, even if that means you need to bin this story and start a new one.

For me, I need to make some time to write. The life I'm trying to create, the career and income, requires the written word, and some creativity. So to write my story, I need to ACTUALLY write a story.

"Rejected pieces aren’t failure; unwritten pieces are." Greg Daugherty

Linking with #ConvoCoffee and #OpenSlather

*I reread that and it's not meant to sound as the words imply. I've actually had some amazing support come from surprising corners of my world, and my regular good friends never fail. I just meant I seem to sink under the weight of a moment and there's no one there at the right time.

Just when I thought I was wasting my time...

I've missed out on a few things I really wanted this year, in blogging and writing terms. The constant rejection can be quite devastating and erode all confidence.  Just when I was wondering if I should give up completely, I got the email letting me know my story was in the Hunter Writer Centre's Grieve Anthology again this year. It really gave me the boost I needed to continue, and know that I just need to keep at it.

I know I'm not alone in these feelings at the moment, so I will quote myself from last year's Proud Moments post "...to anyone else who is struggling with the crappity crap of life, sinking in a sea of uncertainty, search your blog for 'proud' and 'pride'. You'll be amazed what long forgotten memories and ideas are sitting there, waiting to cheer you up".

With Social September upon us, I'll be trying to write a few more stories, and focus a little more on the fiction side of writing...so happy holidays to you all, and see you in October (I will still be on twitter and the travel blog).

Linking with #FYBF & Flat Bum Mum

Blog like no one is reading...

I've already written a post on Why I Write which outlined that when I looked at what I needed to do to make the blog fiscally successful, I decided I wasn't interested in those changes (it would bore me to write AND read). So Where the Wild Things Were is in essence, an outlet for me, and interestingly, growing in readership. Basically I already blog like no one is reading, most of the time. I see it more as emptying my head, in order to clarify my world view, for me. (I do have a mildly popular though poorly named travel blog that is more correctly 'niche' focused but for this post, I'll stick with my out of the box effort)

I also use my blog to promote things I think are deserving, and to make a difference (in a tiny way) for issues and causes I believe in. It's my soapbox, if you will.

Part of the challenge for Blog Exchange included:"It’s more a case of removing the unspoken blogging lines you’ve created." I use the link ups for that. I try to follow their prompts, as it makes me write on a topic where I may not have gone, so all you hosts, I'm eternally grateful for your efforts.

I was a regular for the now defunct #SunshineSundays. I loved this link up because it made me write in a more poetic style, less of a point to communicate in the post, more of an exploration of words or images. I used Conversations over Coffee for that too. 'Tell us about' is similar to what that linky offered,

I write for link ups whether I get a lot of readers in return for the effort. I figure I can always promote the post myself but it's the exercise in writing that appeals to me (and the time frame - I need end dates).

The other thing I love about link ups, is I get to read abroad range of blogs. Instead of reading my faves, over and over, I will read randomly. I will read blogs I've never heard of and I will comment to show you I've been there. I like to see what other people are doing, because there is a lot of broad world view out there. For me, the blogs that vary each week are far more enticing that the ones that are 'niche'. But that's me, and not an indication of what will make your blog successful. (What? 'How did I not make the finalists of #Voicesof2015?' I hear you ask. I know, it's astounding...)

I write short stories, and have been published in anthologies, long listed in the Hunter Writers Centre Grieve competition & Fursious fiction and fourth in a Canadian compeitition, so they aren't complete rubbish. I love writing stories, but really need to work on the more imaginative side, being less pedestrian, and playing a little more with the construction of sentences. That's why I like the more poetic prompts. They required me to do that each week, and they push me creatively and out of my comfort zone. (Does anyone else think comfort zone is less about fear and more about laziness?)

For me, blogging is not just blogging. It's dedicated writing practice, every week. It can be whatever you want it to be. Going against all that they tell you (and I make such a minuscule amount of money, you can ignore any advice I give), don't sell your audience short. They may be more interested in what you have to say than you think. While you are a niche blogger, it doesn't mean you can't once a month, or once a week, stretch out of your niche. Support the link ups, not to gain readers, but for the exercise in writing.

Lastly, I want to thank again the hosts of all the link ups I visit. I love that you put aside a post one day a week where I can park something you've asked me to write. I like that at times I start with one idea on a prompt but go somewhere completely different. I love to see where everyone else went on the topic. Please don't be disappointed if the linkers are limited. If I'm there, it means you are doing something right!! (I am the centre of the universe, in case you were unaware).

For me blogging is very much as E. L. Doctorow said:

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

Linking up for #TellUsAbout. An edit since I wrote this, I can now say I'm an multi award winning writer, published in two languages....it sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is but I can truthfully say it! Ha!

Where I write

Where I write is not where I type. I am often constructing a story or blog post in my head, and then the next morning I type it up.
This post, Better Jobs was written in the carpark of the hospital, and then on the drive home.
This very sad (but one of my favourites) story was written on the walk to preschool, when I saw a photo stuck to a telegraph pole.
The tale of the crab was written as I walked down the street.

More often than not, I lie in bed writing in my head - dictating what I will type the next morning, should I remember.

I constantly have characters coming into my ear, pleading for me to share their tale of woe, like a lesser Pirandello. They keep coming back if I ignore them, or decide it's too hard or beyond my ability. They also come back if they aren't happy with my effort. I don't need editors to tell it's no good. The character starts nagging me because I 'got it wrong'.

I have ideas I want to expand on or share, but usually only a fraction are still there when I sit down to type. Sometimes I start composing posts because I don't know what my opinion is on a subject, and if I put it into words, it clarifies what I think.

It makes me sad that there is never enough time to put it all down in words.

"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." Gustave Flaubert

Linking with 

Don't let anyone dull your shine

Grace's quote from last Friday spoke to me with a message I really needed to hear, and sums up my feelings nicely, in it's simplicity. "If someone rains on your parade, poke them in the eye with your umbrella." Don't let their negativity or lack of support tarnish your head space.

If your dreams are too big for those around you, it doesn't mean there's a problem with the dream. Just prove them wrong.

If they aren't in your corner, cheering for you, be your own hypeman. As Oprah once said "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

No matter what, don't dull your shine for anyone else.

Whatever the f*ck you do...

In a careless remark, a friend referred to my blog as 'whatever the f*ck you do'. At the time I ignored it because I don't think she realised quite how offensive she was being. For some reason, people seem to have an issue with blogs. The media pushes the mummy blogger as an insult agenda and the whole world jumps on board, whether they have even bothered to look at your work. People think it's okay to say it.

The same person, when trying to take an 'interest' one day asked "So do people actually read blogs?" Well, yes. Even my tiny readership has clocked in over 100 thousand views (just not her), so I can only imagine the successful bloggers are breaking the 100 million figure...So yes, people read blogs.

Here's the thing. If I know the company you work for, and happily listen to you vent about work, don't dismiss my blog. I work very hard each day and I'm proud of what I do.

If I bother to remember the names of your kids and ask how they are going at school, then maybe take a look at my blogs before you diss them. One of the posts has been translated into another language, many featured in magazines and I have written a story that beat out hundreds of others to be published in a book. I'm very proud of my work and getting better at it day by day.

As I am at risk of editorial rejection almost daily, I really don't need it from someone who should be cheering in my corner.

I don't expect my friends to read every post. I don't even really expect them to read it at all. I am certainly thrilled when they do, but I understand it isn't for everybody and people are busy. However, that doesn't mean I am not insulted when you belittle it, and if you don't read it, you have no right at all to criticise it.

If you deal with work emails in my company, don't be annoyed if I tweet at an event. Those foodie people are part of who I promote myself to. Maybe try to understand something about what I do. That's what true friends do, if they care about each other.

As the old adage goes, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Does anyone else get criticism from friends and relatives? How do you respond?

Linking up with the crew for #WeekendRewind

Treading water

I took a long time off over the holidays, and thought I would come back, burning to write - to write reviews, to write stories and to maybe eventually start on one of my three book ideas. Yep, I have great ideas for three different types of books, that in 4 years I have yet to put pen to paper on any of them. I also have a picture book that needs work to make it better. It's written, but the rhyme needs to be reworked (because I whipped it up three hours before a competition closed, so as you can imagine, the execution is a little crappy while the idea is solid).

I was very busy with a few fiscal and travel matters the last few weeks, but have now seemed to have dropped the ball completely for no apparent reason other than lack of motivation.  I have a backlog of reviews to write, and I seem to struggle to get my posts on prompts in on time. I have three short story comps ticking to deadline and none of my broken or bitter people are popping into my head to tell me their tale.

I think I just need to write, but I seem a little too good at coming up with excuses not to sit at the laptop.

I am finishing off Amy Poehler's Yes Please (This book is a must read for everyone, especially women and there are more posts still to come on her inspirational way of thinking). She talks a lot of passion and drive and has a saying, 'the talking about the thing is not the thing, doing the thing is the thing'. In my case, I need to remember the thinking about it amounts to naught, and until I sit down and write, it is nothing at all.

Doing the rounds of Facebook are Neil Gaiman's 8 rules of writing. I will focus on the first 3 (the full version can be found here):

1. Write
2. Put one word after another. Find the right word, put it down.
3. Finish what you’re writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.

It's tiring to tread water for too long, it's time to move forward, to finally swim.

Linking up with Things I Know and Weekly Wrap Up

PS Not relevant to the above, except the work of another SNL writer, but I've just finished The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey and it is hilarious. I can't remember the last book that made me giggle continuously out loud.

Why I write...

Why do I write what I write?

So why do I write? It all started on maternity leave - I used Kidspot as a way to break the isolation when the baby slept. I'd fritter away an hour happily chatting, answering questions and eventually, writing a few blog posts. I liked getting the views, and I got a lot of enjoyment from the 'company'. It really made a difference to my days, especially those when I saw no adults in real life. I will always be thankful to Kidspot for that.

So when I had a year to go before looking for work, I decided I'd write a blog, as that seemed like a way to make money that wouldn't impact on the needs of the rest of the family. Stop laughing. I'd never even read a professional blog. I had absolutely no idea.

Fast forward six months, I realised I would never make money, unless I made a lot of changes to the blog. As you know, my heart wasn't interested in those making those changes, so now Where the Wild Things Were is just a blog for me. I empty my head, trying to make sense of the world. Join in, or ignore it. Hopefully there is something that resonates with someone.

I write for Weekend Notes, to make a little pocket money, but mainly to share great places to visit, or to boost deserving businesses. I won't review anything I don't like. I don't want to waste time reading bad reviews, I only want to read about where I should go, and so I work on the same theory for others.

I am most proud of my travel blog, the poorly named Holidays, Hellidays and the Journeys in Between (seriously, what on earth was I thinking?), which currently has a post being translated into German for a website, and has pieces published in a US travel magazine, plus pictures published in the Huffington Post. However, as it is self-funded travel, I only publish once a month.

The short answer to the question, is that I write because I like to. I get a great deal of enjoyment from it.

How does my writing differ from others?

I don't have 'a voice'. I have my voice. It's not aimed at an audience, unless the audience is like me. It gives me an enormous amount of freedom, to write whatever I want to write. This, however, also limits my ability to make money from the blog.

What am I working on?

I am looking for work writing, and in the meantime, I am writing some articles with the aim of selling them into more mainstream media. I also write short stories for writing competitions. Without the deadlines, I don't seem to get motivated to sit down and write fiction. I have an idea for a children's book, which I want to complete before the end of the year. Wish me luck!

Re-purposing this old post for #Lifethisweek on how my blogs started. I clearly never got round to writing the children's book...hmmm.