Author

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

How’s your week been? I’ve had an industrious week writing-wise. As well as continuing with the editing of my second children’s book, I’ve started work on two other short pieces.

One is for TenX9 Nottingham, where nine true-life pieces of no more than ten minutes are read. The theme for the next one is waiting.

My second piece is for Let’s Write, an online writing group I attend. This month we had a choice of three prompts. I spent some time deciding which prompt to use and made a start on my piece.

I’m feeling satisfied.

What are you pleased or satisfied with this week?

Ticking off writing tasks

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 5 Comments

Having completed the first draft of my next children’s book, I felt a bit daunted at the thought of starting the editing process. I remembered I still had access to some online talks on editing and decided to listen to the one on developmental editing.

It occurred to me as I listened that I knew how to do this. There was nothing in the tutorial that I couldn’t do, or hadn’t done before. It felt reassuring to have a way forward.

I’m pleased to say I’ve made a start. I’ve been through the whole manuscript noting areas I’d identified in square brackets that needed research or clarification. I’m now halfway through reading the manuscript to check for inconsistencies. That feels like quite an achievement.

What are you pleased about this week?

Focussed on editing

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

Share something you’ve achieved, or are pleased with, this week. It doesn’t matter how big or small; go ahead and flaunt it.

In the last week, I have taken my children’s book, The Clocker, to two local libraries. I’ve met lots of children and their families and had a wonderful time. Each session has started with me reading a few chapters of my book, followed by a writing/ craft session. I’ve been very impressed at how many children know what a blurb is and where to find it on a book.

Each child, as well as some of their family members, thought of an animal whether real or imaginary they’d like to write a book about. They came up with titles, drew pictures and wrote a mini blurb. What fantastic ideas they had, from Superflea, to The Finx, from Flight (about a bird called Blue Bell), to Fun Facts About Snakes. There’s definitely some budding talent out there.

Thank you to Nottingham Central Library and Wollaton Library for inviting me; I loved it.

This is the first thing I saw when I arrived at Nottingham Central Library My Books

Sum up Sunday

~ my word (s) ~ 11 Comments

How’s your week been? If you’d like to sum it up in 25 words or less, I’d love to hear from you.

Charity shop Monday

Write and clean Tuesday

Write more on Wednesday

Friends on Thursday

Library event Friday

Shop and write Saturday

And it’s Sunday again

Having the chance to read some of my children’s book, The Clocker, at the library was fantastic My Books

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 7 Comments

Today’s the day to share anything that you’re pleased with this week. Here’s mine:

Having had my debut children’s book, The Clocker, published this year, I have been beavering away on a second children’s book. It’s a follow on, with a focus on a different character than the first book.

I’m delighted to have now written over 30,000 words. Although it’s very much a first draft, that feels quite an achievement.

I’m looking forward to adding this book to My Books

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 14 Comments

My word today is chuffed. According to my weighty tome, The New Oxford Dictionary of English, it originated in the 1950s from chuff meaning plump or pleased.

It’s a word I love and associate with The Midlands/ North of England rather than the south. The saying, I’m dead chuffed, or right chuffed sums up its meaning of being pleased.

Do you have a word or phrase meaning you’re pleased where you live? I’d love to hear from you.

I’m chuffed to be at Liverpool Book Festival with my book, The Clocker, on Sunday.

https://share.google/gMb3I97pVl69XLmPv

Sum up Sunday

~ my word (s) ~ 6 Comments

It’s time to sum up your week in 25 words or less. Here’s my week:

Guitar sale at charity shop

Cataract appointment comes through

Support at Let’s Write

First draft of second book moves on

The boiler is serviced.

As a writer, it’s good to have a supportive writing community

Wordy Wednesday

~ my word (s) ~ 9 Comments

This week, I’m going to hand over to Nev, the main character from my children’s book, The Clocker. Nev likes to make up his own words and he’s going to share one of them.

I love making up words. Sometimes there isn’t one that exists that says what you want. I started making up words when I was little. It made people laugh so I made up more. The first made up word in The Clocker is ‘slumpfolded’. It means you’re slumped and folded over all at once. It described how my dad looked when my mum had left us. Apparently, that word also means something to do with a geographical feature but I think my meaning is better.

Have you ever made up a word, either by adding two words together or creating your own word? I’d love to hear them (and so would Nev).

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 14 Comments

It’s Friday again and time to reflect on achievements, or things I’m pleased about this week. I’d love to hear your Flaunt it Friday too.

I’ll admit it, I’m not someone who finds it easy to ask something of others; offering comes much easier. This makes the task of promoting my children’s book, The Clocker, a challenge. It’s not something you do just once either; it’s an ongoing process. I find it easy to decide it’s not worth asking when, the reality is, I don’t find asking comes naturally. As the saying goes, if you don’t ask ….

With this in mind, I’m pleased that I’ve reached out to several people this week, asking them to review my book. Even if I’m trudging along, I’m putting one foot in front of the other and I keep going.

Keep going …

Flaunt it Friday

~ my word (s) ~ 8 Comments

It’s Friday again. What are you pleased with yourself about this week?

I’m delighted to have had several more reviews of my children’s book, The Clocker. Especially gratifying were these two comments: “Once I started reading the Clocker, I couldn’t put it down” and “I can’t imagine a young person who wouldn’t love this book”.

It’s an amazing feeling when people not only read your book but take the time to write a review. It reminds me of the importance of doing this for other authors.

Oh, I also managed a volunteer shift at the charity shop with no internet, ergo no card payments. Cash only – like being back in the 70s.

5 star reviews – whoo hoo