New Baby Neice

Welcome to the world my new baby neice Kacey Jo. Born this morning 3 weeks early. 5lb 6oz  : )

The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award Win !

 

Thank You Steph (S.B. Poscente)  http://sbposcente.blogspot.com/ for this award. Its nice to know that people like the work I have put into my page and am interested in what i have to say. I really appreciate it, thanks :)

The rules to be followed with this reward are

1) Thank and link to the person that nominated you.
2) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to 15 (or, in my case, 12...) of your blogging buddies.
4) Notify the recipients.

7 facts? Ummmmmm....

1*I would love a boob job!
2*I slept with a light on until I was about 15 yrs old.
3*I can`t swim under water
4*I have always wanted to run the London Marathon
5*I am dyslexic
6*I have a phobia of waxwork museums 
7*My first celebrity crush was on Adam Ant ( I was only 6yrs old!)

# If you have never heard of Adam & The Ants take a look at this and remember it is the 80`s! Still love this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p__WmyAE3g

Could not resist had to put this one too.Love it!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPgHbt0ODr4

I will now pass on the honour of this ward to some blogs that I enjoy and have learned from.

The Glamorous Life Of A Writer

Disney Version Of Royal Wedding . Naughty But Funny !

A Prayer For The Stressed

Novel Planning Worksheets

I have now included on my blog page handy links to various novel planning worksheets to make your life easier. If you scroll down you will find them just under Writing Tools. I hope they are useful.

How To Find TheTime And Motivation To Write

Every one of us lead busy lives and find it a struggle to find enough time to write as much as we would like. There is just not enough hours in the day. 

The struggle of your ambition vying for time with your family, work, and emotional obligations can leave you feeling frustrated. My children more often than not leave me feeling physically and emotionally drained at the end of the day. 

It is easy to say "I will write tomorrow" and just veg out in front of the TV for the evening. But if you are like me the "I will write tomorrow" can stretch out for weeks and weeks. Before you know it a month has passed with no writing. 

You need to ask yourself if on your death bed do you want to look back and be proud that you never missed one episode of your favourite TV programme? Or do you want to look back and be proud that you wrote the novel you had always wanted to write? 
Life does have a habit of trying to get in the way of your dreams. 

If you are going for long stretches of time not writing why are you not writing? Is it because of no time,fear of failure, the evil procrastination, or just lack of writing space?

Every day presents a good reason not to write. But everybody has moments of time in their day which could be put to better use. It is not necessary to write for three hours straight every day. The odd fifteen minutes of writing will add numbers to your word count. No book was ever written in a day.

If possible try getting up an hour earlier every day to write or go to bed an hour later. Think of those odd minutes of “dead” time when you are not really doing anything through out the day. Seize opportunities to write when they present themselves. Have a small note pad and pen with you and write for five minutes in your car when you get to work, or in your lunch break. Or even while you are waiting for your dinner to cook.

Author Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan while waiting in the car park outside her daughters swimming lesson each day 
http://internationalchicklitmonth.com/2011/05/03/how-i-find-time-to-write-by-claire-cook/

Think of the tasks you carry out each day. Unavoidable or necessary tasks such as work or caring for your family. Then think of the numerous tasks you perform that could be delegated to someone else. Finally think of the countless recreational tasks that occur; reading magazines, errands, phone calls, the internet, and the most time draining of all the TV.

Think of how many times in a week you could replace these recreational tasks with writing. That would add up to lots of minutes. Decide when you are going to replace these tasks with writing and commit to it.

Here is a link to a time table you can print out and stick above your desk. Write on it the necessary tasks you have to perform but also in bold RED when you are going to write.

Create a writing schedule and stick to it. 

Weekly Timetable 

Fear of failure, well that is one that I struggle with. But I hope confidence will grow with time. 

Procrastination, thats an evil monster we all fight with. 

When writing try taking phone off hook, unplug your internet connection to eliminate the temptation, help those in your house to understand and respect your need for quiet writing time. 

Space, a fancy office would be lovely but is not necessary. Place a table or small desk in a quiet communal corner of your home. Find a time when you can work undisturbed. Either during day when others are away or in evenings when the family are watching TV or sleeping. As you can see from an earlier post I write in the kitchen in the late evenings.

To be a writer takes commitment,time,sacrifice and determination.

Also if you wish to be more organised with your goals and planning for your blog here is a Blog Planning Calendar that you can print out to help you keep on track. 

 Blog Panning Calendar

Just call me Miss Organised ;-)

Live Your Dream

Coming Out Of The Writing Closet

I have been writing on and off since my teens but have only really put my heart into it this last year. Firstly I wanted to write a book by the time I was 25, then it was by the time I was age 30. Now i am 34 years old and am scared of never fulfilling my dream. It is now that i am making a serious attempt at achieving my goal. But i feel very protective of my writing and feel like it is my little secret.
Apart from my husband not one of my family or friends know that i am writing. I fear ridicule , and if i let them read some of my work negative comments that would destroy my struggling writing confidence.
My husband knows i write but i keep my written word locked away in a filing cabinet. If he read any of my work at present i would feel embarrassed. Funny, no one even knows i have a blog.
But in maybe a years time when i have more work under my belt i am proud of how do I "come out" to people? How do I take that first step? I think many of my friends, apart from one, will be surprised. But i hope supportive.
Today I found a posting on Author Elizabeth Spann Craig blog called "Subtle Ways to Come Out of the Writing Closet". I am glad that i am not alone in my need to closet away my fragile dream. Please take a look  http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2011/05/subtle-ways-to-come-out-of-writing.html

Where Do You Write? Pictures Please!

Today I found some pictures of Amanda Hocking`s gorgeous new office on her blog (very jealous).http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/


I got to wondering ( or just being plain nosey) where other writers work at home. I would love to hear from you as to where you write and if possible put a picture on your own blog.


My tiny space is a corner of the kitchen. No privacy or real quiet I am afraid. Well, unless it is pass 10pm then i get it to myself for a couple of hours. About a month a go I bought a lockable filing cabinet which I desperately needed because my children use to play with any papers or books on my desk.


Here is a picture

Most of my research books are kept in the bottom of a display cabinet on the other side of the room.All a bit pathetic.

I dream of one day getting my own office.A bigggggggggggggggg desk, shelves on every wall, a comfy seat, and most importantly a lock on the door!!!

Gothic Inspiration From Finland

 I find that i get alot of my ideas from watching music videos. I Love this video.
In The Shadows by The Rasmus