Any Use?

Any use to you?
Storymind.com

I have been going through my blog and some of the free links I have shared. I noticed I have not shared this one. It is from a website that I came across and have found useful information to assist my writing progress.

I am trying to stick to my unplugging time and am re constructing my MS again. I have gained an extra chapter by doing it, so am happy with the process so far. A short post but it is important I stay true to my new U turn as I mentioned in a previous post.

Doing a U Turn

(My front porch at sunrise Dec '09)

In a previous post I mentioned I would not be making New Year resolutions. I would not be putting myself under writing pressure, and I removed a self imposed deadline for my novel.
This was the biggest mistake I have made in my writing venture. What went wrong?
Well this is the layout of my daily routine.

I write articles on Triond and sometimes on Helium. I write my poetry and add it to my blog. I write and play on my blog, New Scribbles and I write my novel. I am adding notes about another one or two books playing in my mind and I run house. I have four dogs to care for and a great DH who does all of the cooking. I help a neighbour or six, I also maintain a house & large garden for friends. I do an early morning market with my friend on Wednesdays and Sundays, every now and then.I have started making card toppers for a friend who has a craft shop, I love making cards.
I am fortunate enough not to have to work in a nine to five job.

So by removing the pressure of a novel finishing deadline, I felt free. I had gained time as far as I was concerned, and could take things a little easier.
That was my mistake. I twittered for hours, so had to unplug from that for a little while. I read books, not a bad thing to do and a positive thing.
I helped build two websites for my friend, to help get her business off the ground. Another good thing to do as I learned so many new techniques that will help when I have my book website. Then it happened, I was invited to write at RedGage, to upload my photographs and articles. I joined and admit to having fun there, writing daily is a positive thing, so I was happy, I was earning and it felt good.
Then it happened again, I was invited to write at Factoidz, and I joined. OK I have only added four articles, but they took time to write. I then started researching for more material, looked at the clock, looked at DH preparing the evening meal and realised something...
I was neglecting areas of my life that were important to me. DH and the dogs are never neglected by me, so don't go gooey on me. No, it was you my friends here, my poetry blog and most important of all, it was Ripper My Love...I neglected Kitty. I had put her on the pile of...lots of time yet.
Yesterday I made a decision to restore a deadline, to regain order in my writing life and to learn to switch away from online writing temptations. My posts will not be daily, my articles will be as and when I am inspired, but Kitty will be allowed to breath again, this is my U turn and it feels good.

50 Word Contest

This is a great contest to try, I used it as a writing exercise and then thought I would send it in and try my chance at winning a book/ebook,(above).

Taken from the website:

Our very own Becky Levine, author of the The Writing and Critique Group Survival Guide, hot off the Writer’s Digest press, will be answering interview questions on my Q & A blog for writers next week ( Jan. 20). In advance, I’m running a contest:

In 50 words or less, what’s the best advice you can offer other writers?

The winner will receive a free copy of Becky’s book, either as a hard copy or e-book, along with immense fame.

Read about it HERE

Have fun and try it keeps the brain ticking.

Proofreading Is A Dying Art

I have been a little busy with writing this week, but dropped by to thank you all for the support and advice about my dilemma in my previous post.
I was sent these proofreading funnies and had to share them with you. It was a poor copy and paste job I am afraid.

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Proofreading Is A Dying Art

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter yep, the dead do come back to finish up the job! Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says Holy cow, really? Ya think? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers Now that's taking things a bit far! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over What a guy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miners Refuse to Work after Death No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant See if that works any better than a fair trial! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- War Dims Hope for Peace I can see where it might have that effect! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile Ya think?! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures Who would have thought! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide They may be on to something! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges You mean there's something stronger than duct tape? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge He probably IS the battery charge! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group Weren't they fat enough? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft That's what he gets for eating those beans! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kids Make Nutritious Snacks Do they taste like chicken? **************************************** Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half Chainsaw Massacre all over again! *************************************************** Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors Boy, are they tall! ************************************************************** And the winner is.... Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead Did I read that right? **************************************************************

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Am I Wrong, Unkind or a Coward?

Am I wrong, unkind or a coward? Some will say the latter...

I was given a gift at Christmas, a book written by an acquaintance, (she knows nothing of my blog, so am safe in divulging this). The cover and title were perfect, it was wrapped beautifully, a lovely gift but a little forced on me. You know the sort of gift; the one where you have to wrap the box of Christmas chocolates in thirty seconds to return the offering, without looking caught out.

On the first available day, I eagerly set aside time to start reading it.

Horrors!

By page 14 I had encountered over 50 typo's in the form of double spacing between words. Then I encountered, this sor of thin. But she... was the start of several sentences. But he. But she. "The dialogue""Ran back to back""and you never knew who was talking""or answering back". Every time I got; started I was stopped; in my tracks; by a semi-colon.

Get the picture?

I am not a proofreader nor am I an expert on writing, but these errors stood out like a sore thumb. The story is good, but I am now distracted with a pencil and marking the mistakes.
I have never experienced this before and am wondering if it is because I have learned more about writing and editing.

I must sound dreadful, scribbling in a gift, but it was a great motivator. I am determined that I will do my upmost to edit my work, (and ask others to do the same), before I present it to an editor or agent. If I self publish, I will be extra careful and not rush through it, as I would have visions of readers armed with pencils reading through my novel. Granted books have errors, they slip through the net, but this was...well, awful.

The worst thing is I will have to say how I enjoyed the book. Money has been spent publishing and promoting it. Also it is not my place to destroy her joy or dream. If it was an MS, it would be different, I would have the courage to offer my opinion and findings. The reason I am using a pencil is that maybe, if ever the time was right, I might be able to show her before she publishes anymore. That way she will have the chance to correct the second version.

If I am very lucky, someone else might beat me to it! Coward Moi?

Happy?

Allison, Adrian and Nicola

Happy 2010 to you all. I am very happy at the moment, and am not worried about updating my blog for a few days...Why?

On Tuesday my doorbell rang at 9pm and 3 carol singers stood there. They wore all the festive santa clothing and were singing their hearts out about families etc. My dogs were barking, they were singing out of tune and I was tired. I had just returned from collecting friends from the airport. DH asked who it was and I whispered to him I did not know and could he just get rid of them.
As he got to the door, I looked at the man's shoes and noticed the position of his feet, the same as DH's and it dawned on me it was our nephew, I looked at one female and it was our niece. The other one stood staring back at me and I could not speak, it was our daughter 1, Nicola.
They had planned the surprise flight from the UK since August, it was sparked at Nicola's wedding in the July. Sadly Dale, her husband was taken ill at the last minute and had to back out of the trip.
I was speechless, I could not believe it. They had travelled to spend New Year with us.
We have had a wonderful few days and now planned a summer gathering.

Happy? You betcha I am :)