Progress, Links and a Party

Life is beyond crazy, but I am writing and only just a little behind on NaNoWriMo. As of last night, my word count for Pilgrimage was 11,294. I am totally enjoying the experience, but just a touch worried that my voice is a bit different in this one. It's early days yet so I will not panic until I finish the first draft.

Here are some fabulous links:-

Author Sarah Duncan has begun a blog and let me tell you each post is a gem... from NaNo tips to how an editor helps a writer to make the story better http://sarahduncansblog.blogspot.com/

Rick over at The Writer and the White Cat (no he didn't borrow Snowy but has one of his own) has been doing a fantastic series on the Dragons of Creativity which has been superb. This post is a summary and please go back on read some of this brilliant insights into the writer's mind and creative process.

The last link for today came from the marvelous JJ. It was on First Acts from the Literary Labbut the whole blog is worth mining for great writing tips.

That's it for now - head back down to catch up with NaNo.

Oh, the big drinks do went really well. There were the deans from Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Barnard, Wellesley, and Bryn Mawr and alums from all the schools except Bryn Mawr. The range of ages (graduates from '58 through '08) and occupations was fabulous and it reminded me again of the joy of a liberal arts education and the freedom of an all women's one

Another Wonderful Award From JJ

I woke up this morning wondering what the day held. Fog had settled around the streets of Dubai and with a chilly 14 degrees and I felt home sick for Cornwall. Blogger/google was playing silly with me and wouldn't let me see anyone else's blogs saying I was a spamming virus. Now I have been called many things in my life but that is new.



Fortunately that seems to be resolved and could go and received my lovely new award. Feeling the way I have been feeling lately the kind words from JJ made cry a bit. Here's what she said-

I'd like to pass it on to Liz who was having a moment of despair last time I looked. I really hope that's all it is because Liz has always been a huge role model to me. Her industry, like Cally's , never faulters; her diligence puts me to shame and her constant attention and generosity to the Novel Racers and their adminstration is the best.



I will be posting the latest installment of the Dickens Challenge tomorrow as I am a bit behind this week. I have to confess this was because I was out hand bag shopping with Penny Jordan. Life is good some times and it was all in age of research for the Explosive Dreams I can assure you :-)

Home

What a whirlwind two weeks.......and so much to catch up on! First I have been given a wonderful award by the fabulous JJ! What an honour. Thanks JJ. Now I may pass the gift along....... Ray-Anne,Rebecca Burgess, Lisa,Flowerpot,Rachel. I could name a few other but I think they have been awarded already.

London seems like a total blur now and I need to crack the whip and hit my revision, post the latest chapter for the Dickens Challenge (only half written - I confess), and work out some more of the plot for the next book....so the fact that the internet here at present is painfully slow may help to focus back on work.

So before I sign off today......books. I finished Lucie Whitehouse's The House at Midnight on the flight leaving Maldives. Bloody gripping with increasing menace.......great read- nail biter. On my flight yesterday I read Ian McKewn's On Chesil Beach. In many ways it was an easy read and the perfect length. I loved many aspects of it but yet........ glad I read it though.

Middle name Meme, Dubai 7's and Links

Rebecca tagged me for the middle name meme which requires that I list the rules first:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, just make one up...or use the one you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

M - Mother. I see being a mother the most important role in life. It shapes much of how I act and think although I wasn't sure I relay wanted to be one until I was one.

A - Angels. I believe in angels especially guardian angels who I particularly relying when I am flying because I am terrified of flying and with my life flying is not an optional activity.

R - Rejection. I am no longer afraid of rejection. I think when I hit 40 this passed and I don't really care what most other people think of me, my life and my work. I finally know and love myself so what others like really doesn't matter.

I - Imagination. Imagination is a special gift and I hadn't realized how many people lack it until recently. It seems to get lost somewhere between childhood and adolescence.

E - Education. Education is so important and it comes in so many many forms. We have an obligation to ourselves and other to keep educating our minds and sharing it with others.

Right now I tag JJ, Cally, Fiona, Nell ,Ray-Anne

Now the Dubai 7's start today, Thursday - despite what the blog says - and believe it or not it is cloudy which I am sure has the players worried as last year they nearly got rained out I here! So here's hoping it won't rain as we will be there tomorrow and Saturday. I am hoping that the 7's won't let me down as I have such wonderful memories of them from when we lived here last!

Now onto a few links for you. I tagged Fiona above but it worth dropping by her blog because she is doing one of her wonderful writing craft sessions. Her insight into writing is brilliant. I now forget who lead me onto this blog but it worth scrolling through his posts during NaNoMo. Here's a quote from his last post which hit home:

"That's because writing is about setting, and reaching, goals.

Stories don't write themselves. They take a considerable time commitment. Often that commitment is hard to justify. But writers, real writers, make writing a priority. They make the time and the effort. "

RNA Conference Part 8 and Award

First the lovely JJ had awarded me and Helen with the Inspiration Blogger Award for as she says 'because they both get on with the job (writing) without all the fannying around'. I am very touched. Now for my five nominations .......
1. I nominate Nicola for The Courageous Blogger Award; a while ago she bravely told her story and her strength has remained with me.
2. I nominate Therese Fowler for The Inspirational Blogger Award because she writes and shares what she had learned on the road to publication.
3. I nominated Amanda Grange http://www.historicalromanceuk.blogspot.com/ for The Thoughtful Blogger Award for all the help she has given to other writers to set up and make their blogs work.
4. I nominated Maht at The Moon Topples for The Creative Blogger Award because his blog is full with images and is so innovative.
5. And the last nomination goes to Caroline at In Search of Adam for The Thoughtful Blogger Award for her lovely comments she always leaves.

Now those nominated should pop over to here to receive their awards and find out what to do.



The next session of the RNA Conference 'Three Ways Into Print - Newly Published Panel'. Julia Williams(novel racer - Jane Henry) who book is due out this autumn by Avon, Jean Fullertonwhose book came out with Triskelion, and Natalie Rivers with Harlequin/Mills & Boon. The wonderful Katie Fforde chaired the session and each of the authors spoke of their journey into print.



Julia began by saying don't give up as it has taken her nine years to reach this point and she began as an editor! She reminded us that nothing is ever wasted on the journey and what doesn't work for one book may well work for another. Finally she said you need that all important dash of fairy dust to get you on your way.

Natalie's route started early and when she was so close she packed it all in. It was only many years later that she picked up again and reached her goal.

Jean's route has been hit by her publisher going bankrupt but she won the Harry Bowling Award last year and had just signed with an agent so things were looking up. he left us with a powerful image regarding editing your work. Remember that when you cut back the hedges you then see the weeds underneath!

Novel Racer - JJ

Where to start with today's Novel Racer, JJ, http://tea-stains.blogspot.com/?
Maybe with the porn star name incident. How she knew this twist on life I won't venture to guess - but you take your first pet's name and then your mother's maiden name and voila you have your porn star name! I won't repeat mine here..........too embarrassing for words. So with that little introduction here's JJ in her own words:

"I’ve wondered all my life about what I should do for a career. I’ve never stopped looking in the recruitment pages of the newspaper. It’s interesting to think it might have been obvious all the time, but I resisted writing because my mum encouraged it, and I didn’t know if I wanted it for her or me.

My few years in conventional employment were spent in an archaeological charity and a university, while beginning and aborting writing novels. While I was at home with small children I was offered the chance to broadcast some talks for Radio 2’s Pause for Thought. I wrote and recorded around 6 or 7 talks in total, got paid and had a day and half away from babies.

When my second child was two I realised I was going stir crazy so I started a part-time foundation course in Art and Design, which led to a full time degree in Fine Art, specialising in Sculpture. I discovered while making art that I didn’t need to write, and since not making art, I learned that I positively need to write. It seems I need one or the other.

I’d been lurking in the shadows of Kate Harrison’s blog for a long while, and I took the plunge and emailed her about joining the novel racers. It has been an enormous support in preventing me from declaring my crapness and quitting again."

Budapest is still lovely although the temperature has dropped thanks to a wild storm that blew through early evening. I have been taking it very slowly and just enjoying wandering through the city. I spent several hours in the National Museum yesterday. I find it fascinating to see what partings they choose and what their subjects are. Why? Well, it reveals what parts of history are most important to them them for one and two looking at the subject matter shows the focus of the Nation. So what was feeling coming out of the museum? Well, there seems to be a huge emphasis on the individual as the portraits were stunning. The landscapes were beautifully rural. What I walked away loving was the beautiful wooden carved altar pieces. Stunning.

So you may have noted there is a new progress meter on the side bar. Why you ask? Well, I am still undecided about how to proceed with A Cornish House but I know what I need to do with August Rock. Then there is the matter of the Daily Mail Novel of the Year prize, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/books/authors.html?in_article_id=443515&in_page_id=1826. Now I know I haven't a hope in hell of winning but it does give me a target. The deadline is July 2nd. Now I know that A Cornish House is a better novel than August Rock but there is no way I can whip that baby into shape by 2nd July however it might just be possible with August Rock. So I hope to be sharing with you the struggle to rewrite August Rock for the fifth time. If any of you have any insights into rewriting then please share. Any one else taking a stab at the Daily Mail competition?

One final note, fellow Novel Racers, I need your profiles.......please send them. Thanks :-)