Why do i like writing fiction?

I was asked earlier why I like to write fiction and my answer was simply why not? I mean is there any reason out there not to enjoy writing fiction?

The thought of taking a story and making it your own, with whatever twists and turns you can come up with and never worrying that you are doing something wrong because the fact is that fiction isn’t fact, it blows my mind. If I was to write in any other genre I would most definatly stumble over legalities, what is correct and what isn’t etc. but with fiction the possibilities are endless!

I mean think about it, why can’t we have a book that starts with a romance story, then leads to introduce a vampire friend before zombies attack and it ends with a nuclear bomb destroying an alien invasion. Action packed yes although probably slightly confusing. But still possible!

I have a habit of spelling things incorrectly or saying the most stupid ideas that come to my head, do you know what that is called? Excitement. My fingers fly over the keyboard as I try to get all of the ideas out of my head and on file before they are gone forever and yes 70% of the time I will read through it later and think “What the ……” but the point is I am excited about fiction. Romance, mythological, historical, mystical, magical, adultery whatever you want to write about is possible with fiction.

My passion is to write and I write with passion. 🙂

Overcomplicated Simplicity – My article for AHA Authors Helping Authors.

Overcomplicated simplicity.

 

My last article was based on writers block and I suppose this one sort of hovers around the same topic. You see as a writer for the last lord knows how many years it has been extremely frustrating that I could not write my book. The ideas were in my head so why were they not coming out on the paper? I would have sticky notes covering the wall above my computer filled with all kinds of notes and words I found inspiring yet every time I opened my word document and tried to write the first sentence I was immediately stuck.

Dean turned to Dillan about to ask a very important question.

A simple sentence yet in my mind other questions where spiralling. “Do I need to introduce Dillan earlier? Should I explain more about his background? What if I need some background history on him later? Should I write that now? Yes I should. So where would I like this character to have grown up? A small village or a big town? Which country? Should I make him exotic? What colour eyes and hair should he have? What personality and build should he have? Maybe I should start with Dean and go from there? So where would I like Dean to have grown up? And what could have happened in his life to make him what he is today? Should I add another character to that? They could show up later out of the blue and save him? Or try to destroy him? What if the readers don’t think this question is as important as the next question. Should I move that sentence down and use it later? But then what sentence do I use here?” these questions were circling my mind constantly until I just gave in assuming it was because I had no idea what I was doing.

One day I opened a word document, and I wrote a short story. Reminding myself that if something doesn’t sound correct or make sense it doesn’t matter, it’s only a rough draft. There is always time to go over and fix the problems when you are done but if you try to do it as you go you will get stumped. The other thing to remember is that nothing will get published until you are happy with it, so relax and just have fun with it. Stop beginning a story imagining the book you want at the the end of it or you will completely forget what you are trying to say. Another thing I myself am guilty of. See my first book Awake Again is based on legend and myths from vampires to mermaids and includes awareness of my daughters rare disability, it is my way of raising awareness in a fun way instead of leaflets with statistics and facts which let’s face it just aren’t interesting. But once I started writing it seriously I started to forget that the aim was to make this disability more known about and support easier to find and began aiming on making it exciting for the reader, it grew into an exciting romance story between a vampire and a demon that began with a horrific rape scene of a prostitute and it was only after a publisher friend had read it and asked me one simple question that I realised what I had done wrong.

“That first chapter is amazing.” He had said. “You managed to make a violent rape scene inviting and enjoyable to read and I couldn’t put it down.” Obviously these words had me beaming from ear to ear. But then he continued. “But I am confused, you said you wanted this book to help raise awareness of a rare condition so other parents with children born with the same condition could feel more relaxed. How did you feel after Jessica’s diagnosis? How do you think reading a violent rape scene of a prostitute would have helped you to relax?”

I was speechless that I had made such a horrific error in judgement. I remembered the main goal was the book being for disability awareness, but I forgot that the readers I wanted would be affected by a disability. See what I am trying to say? Again I focused on the book I wanted at the end and forgot what it was I wanted to say.

My point is that wether you are trying to write a book, a short story, an essay for school or even an article for a website you must try to forget about what it is you want at the end and always remember what you want to say and that the keyboard has a delete button you can use at any time. There are no limits with writing so we do make it so difficult for ourselves? 

Do you ever just sit and wonder about the world?

I do, I am definatly one to sit and lose myself in thought. But I think that is part of what makes me a writer. I mean my book might not be any good, it might not sell at all! But it is just a learning curve after all. I am determined to write books that people like and in my first attempt I take everything that I personally don’t like about books and change it. But… what I don’t like is probably what others like most. So as I say it’s a learning curve. Though my book will be short it is less detailed allowing the reader to imagine things however they like to!

But as I say others might like to have MORE details, I will find out when I get feedback. I also wonder about other types of books, and hope to write children’s books, teen fiction books, adult books and even comedy books! (I have my first comedy idea already).

So do you ever sit back and wonder about things? How was this drink in my hand created? Just how was that children’s playhouse built? I wonder if you could freeze jelly? Why is my sunburn tingles more in cold water than hot water? If everything has to have an end then where does space end, and what is beyond that, and surely THAT space has to end….? What if this universe we live in is really a cell for some gigantic creature? What if the sun explodes? What if I take this ice cube and add something fizzy to it? The world really is like a giant playground, so why am I so bored all of the time?!

I guess I am just deep in thought tonight but I have to say that everything out there is definatly worth a try, well…. Maybe not EVERYTHING! (cringes at some of the fetish’s known) I keep getting asked “What if you get bad feedback from the book? Won’t that upset you after all of the work you put in?” and my answer is this. Honestly. No it won’t, because the negative feedback is nothing but a lesson learnt, and we could all do with more of those when following our dreams! So if you read my book and you don’t like it, feel free to stop by on my facebook page (at the side of this blog) and say “hey, I didn’t like having to think up the characters descriptions / the way it rushed through it / the ending was predictable. Maybe next time jazz it up a bit.” Because at the end of the day, how can I teach my children to follow their hearts and take all the advice they can if I don’t do the same?

Thank you for reading yet another randomn thought of mine, and I am sorry to have bored you with it. J Its how the mind of a loner writer works sometimes ^_^  

well… i guess thats that then!

So i have finally finished the form for last minute corrections on my manuscript, once these are done it goes straight to printers. EEEEEK! exciting for sure!

The only problem so far is the design team. Lets just say i was extremely dissapointed with the design they came up with based on my specifics. it looked like a child had drawn it! “no glowing halo outlining the rose thats far to nice, this needs to be harsher and bolder and more gothic, its a vampire book after all!” and no joke it looks like my 5 year old did it. i knocked soemthing together within half an hour that was much more appropriate! i am tempted to post the offending design (which i do not believe was done by a design company in the slightest!) but i think i will leave that untill i have a few more followers and make a bigger deal of it LOL. or am i just wishful thinking now

so anyway back to the text document. as i said that is it now, as scary as it is knowing it is gone to the printers i cant even begin to explain how relieved i am that i don’t have to read my manuscript anymore. i mean jeez, 1000 and 1 times wasn’t enough? phew! i am thinking of doing another long article style blog for you all again soon now all the writing work is calming down 🙂

I’m back!

Hello followers! (all 22 of you i think i am at now lol) sorry i haven’t posted for a few days it really is busy work having a book published! (have to keep getting that in somewhere lol its all i can talk about!).

So what have i been doing? well since you ask i have been looking over the cover and requesting the correct changes and now have to read over my manuscript AGAIN for last minute changes before it goes to printers. i never thought i would get tired of reading my own book but lets face it, anything gets boring after the first 100 times! 

but on the bright side its going to the printers and with any luck will be available next month 🙂 super happy about it after years of dreaming to be a writer and thinking ‘oh i will never get there’ and yet here i am.

so i was asked today what i think on authors keeping professional pages open and private pages closed for social media so they can still be themselves but nobody really see’s it. my thoughts are that i am not making my career to suit me, i am making my career based on who i am. so in other words what you see is what you get, i don’t care if i made millions i would still do the funky chicken and air guitar on the dance floor  its just who i am and that will never change. i have a very wacky sense of humour i admit that but its a part of me and its not going anywhere. so sorry guys, looks like your stuck with me! (please imagine crazy eyes right about now to add dramatic effect. thanks)

have to go now as it is bedtime here in never never land and i have an early morning school run to prepare for. hope i get a few more followers soon cos im starting to think im doing this wrong lol

Sneak Peaks.

Well as promised here is a few sneak peaks from my book Awake Again available very soon 🙂

‘The concrete beneath my head is hard and cold, and I think there’s a bruise on the cheek I’m resting on. My fingers twitch as my limbs shudder, my muscles tensing and relaxing almost painfully. I welcome the burning feelings running through me, reassuring me that I am alive once again – well …kind of.’

‘As a vampire I’ll not walk the earth for hundreds of years; when I am not needed, I merely sleep. My soul is connected with nature, and I sleep, it is pulled within the earth to await another threat. I do not drink human blood to survive; neither do the others. But warriors can bond with each other through blood, as I have with four others. This means that when we awaken, we can sense each other and find each other when we need to. I can feel their emotions, so when they are scared, I know they are in danger. We five are the only ones to have bonded; the others seem to prefer working alone.’

‘His warm breath tickles my earlobe and sends shivers down my spine, which surprise me so much my knees buckle and I start to fall. Luckily Cole’s hands move quickly from my hips to my waist, catching me so gracefully that it must look like part of the dance to all of the other dancers. Before I know it his mouth is on mine, and I don’t know if it was him or me that made it happen. All I know is everything I have ever known has disappeared. Nothing matters except this kiss. It makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. I’m happy to be here, alive at this moment in time, but I’m sad because I know that although these feelings are strong, I will never be able to explore them as much as my body is screaming for me to do.’

‘He spends a little time wandering around the kitchen and playing with the television on the counter for a short while. When he spots the microwave, a look of concentration crosses his face as he scans the memories of his body’s previous owner, but then he recoils in horror.

“Women don’t cook anymore?” He actually looks afraid, and I can’t figure out why. He doesn’t eat anymore!

“Women work now, George; they don’t have the time to cook. They buy ready-made food and heat it up in this.” I point to the microwave. George looks almost offended standing with his mouth open and hand covering his heart as though to stop it from failing, head shaking slowly in disbelief. “The worst thing about it is that some women do call that cooking.”

His eyes widen even more, and he turns away, shaking his head harder now. He moves from room to room, inspecting everything from light switches to remote controls.’

‘It wasn’t safe; I haven’t eaten anything in a long time. As soon as I taste the creamy richness of the soup, my eyes widen, and my throat makes the most unappealing “Mmm!” Cole chuckles. We taste the delicious meal delicately and with refinement, but after a few more bites, we end up fighting for the last bread roll and throwing peas across the table at each other.’

There you go, snippets ^_^

Achondroplasia (Dwarfism) Awareness.

Since a lot of my life is based around raising awareness for my daughters condition and even in my book, I figure it’s time I blog some info for you guys.

My daughter has Achondroplasia, which is the most common type of Dwarfism although there are hundreds of different types. This means that her limbs are shorter than average peoples, her torso is average size and her head is slightly larger. People with Dwarfism have to be carefull as they face risks to their breathing, spine, legs, feet, brain stem, water on the brain and so much more I bet you wouldn’t have guessed about!

Jessica has a yearly appointment with Sheffield Children’s Hospital where she has reviews with Neurological specialists, Orthopedic specialists, ENT specialists, Bladder specialists (although un-needed yet as she is still in nappies) leg specialists, there’s to many to name! That’s not including the appointments she has every three months with her pediatrician and the regular appointments with the child development team, the Orthotics department, Orthopedic department etc. here in Leeds.

The chances of having a child with Dwarfism are around 1 in 40,000, and it IS NOT always hereditary. It is a very scary time when you know nothing of the condition and struggle to find support, which is why I am fighting not only to raise awareness of her condition but of the support available through my daughters facebook awareness page. If a family are struggling to come to terms with this condition they need only message me on her page and I will either answer questions myself or point them in the right direction while also suggesting many more friends of whome to speak to about the condition.

Thank you for time 🙂