Happy Halloween !

Counting Down to The Mad Month

This is half term week which means children are off school and nursery.
I am not getting as much NaNoWriMo planning as I wanted but it is still only Wednesday. I really want to do well this year and have many ideas swirling in my head. 
My little girl is going to be five years old next week. It is very scary where the time goes. This week I am busy getting things ready for her Halloween fancy dress party on Saturday. I have invited 24 five year olds!!!!!
I really hope it goes well.

At the minute a book I am finding useful is Writer With A Day Job (UK)

Writer With A Day Job (USA) 

This is not one of the usual guides to getting published but a book about how to stay committed to your dream even with the stresses of a job, family, and other responsibilities life throws at you. It shows you how not to let life get in your way. That it is possible to do it all.

Aine Greaney "provides the exercises, inspiration, and techniques you need to build creative expression into your daily life and establish the productive writing life you`ve always wanted."

Nearly NaNoWriMo Time!!

For those of you who are not familiar with the term NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month .
It is a literary marathon that takes place every November that was started by a freelance writer called Chris Baty in 1999. The aim is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Wow, shocking I know. This averages out as 1,667 words a day for 30 days. You have to turn off your inner editor and doubtful demons and just write. This task means writing quantity over quality. Don`t take ten minutes pondering over every poetic word you are going to use just write. It is believed that by writing so freely in the end you will find some gems amongst the rambling writing.
There is also a book by Chris Baty called No Plot? No Problem!  that gives some great tips .
This can at times be stressful but you are not alone. On the NaNoWriMo web site there is a support forum broken down into the areas where you live. Also the local online communities often arrange face to face meetings during the month of November. Mine will meet once a week at the city library. It is well worth having a look at them.
A problem I found last year with NaNoWriMo was that if you miss a few days it is very,very hard to catch up. Last November for me seemed to be the month that everyone in my house got ill, typical.
But what i came away with from the experience was a renewed enthusiasm and drive to stay committed to writing regally. It was NaNo that inspired me to start this blog.
So succeed or fail who cares, have a go.


Here are some NaNoWriMo related articles worth looking at


25 Things You Should Know About NaNoWriMo


5 Tips For Successful NaNoWriMo (and how scrivener can help)


Tools To Help You Plot Your NaNoWriMo Novel


Tips For Winning NaNoWriMo

Would You Like To Write For Mills & Boon ? Expert Advice !!

This week I was excited to attend a Mills & Boon workshop which took place as part of their NEW VOICES
competition. A search for fresh and new romance writers. 
The workshop was hosted by the award winning romance writer KATE HARDY who has completed fifty novels for Mills & Boon as well as numerous local history books.
If you have the opportunity to attend one of these workshops please do. It was great to be able to ask a successful author many questions (sorry!) and I learnt a great deal.
As well as some free books I came away with some useful handouts.
Please take a look

Sherrilyn Kenyon Coming to UK in 2012!!

Wow it has been announced today that the number one best paranormal writer, the goddess SHERRILYN KENYON is currently working on the fine details of a book tour in the UK for 2012. Exact details are yet to be announced. I am soooooo excited! This woman can not write a bad book. Every one is truly amazing and inspiring. I am going to try my best to go and see her. I guess my nearest place will be London. I hope she also does a talk. When I hear more news I will let you know.

Hot In The City

Sorry that I did not post on Friday but we got back at the weekend from a few very, very hot days in London. A real indian summer. Last Thursday night I went with my husband and two of his friends to see Lee Evans at the 02 Arena. I have never been to that arena before and it is absolutely massive ! Lee Evans was his usual brilliant self and well worth seeing if you get the chance.
I have found some film footage of the show the night we were there on You Tube. If you are a fan have a look

My poor husband got ill while we were on the London Eye.
It may have been because it takes you up really high or it may have been because of the far too much eating and drinking that had taken place.
I am glad to be home now, but now have too much washing and other boring things to catch up on.