I'm Back

You'd think, after the amount of time I've had off from blogging and the internet generally, that I would have something really interesting to say. Erm, sorry, I haven't :-(

In the last month I've had my appointment at the Halifax library with Kate Walker who lovely and super generous with both her time and her advice. I feel my competition chapter will be so much stronger for the tips she gave me.

I've said goodbye to my foster girls, which was incredibly hard but I also felt a sense of happiness that I had done a good job of raising them for 2 years and their new family are fantastic--so their future looks wonderful.

I had a week off, where I did a couple of all day fostering courses. Which then led to two new girls being placed with me--one of whom is a new born baby and therefore my excuse for my general internet inactivity and total lack of writing.

Three weeks later, I am desperate to find a new routine for myself in which I have time to keep the house tidy (ha, that's a laugh!), do the laundry, keep the kids fed, clothed, clean and generally loved (all 5 of them, which is tricky with their different ages), write and somehow also manage a bit of sleep every now and again :-)

So, am now going to make a bottle for the baby and read through some of the blog posts I've missed in the last 4-6 weeks.

Conflict

I think I know the answer to this question, but I'm going to ask it anyway :-)

How much is not enough? As in, if there really isn't obvious conflict in a first chapter--is that bad? Especially when said first chapter is being entered into a competition where surely conflict is going to be one of the things the chapter will be judged for.

There's plenty of conflict in the actual story and that will be made clear in the synopsis (when I finally write it!) but it's not in the all important first chapter.

What does everyone think? I'm thinking I need to add a few sentences here and there to make it clear. I'm usually cool and unflappable, but I'll admit to obssessing about this competition a little. Oh, ok then ... a lot.

J.K. Rowling

Sometimes I need to read things to cheer myself up and remind myself that dreams can come true. Today, for fun, I'm going to list the things I have in common with one of the most famous authors of our time:

1. We share the same first name :-)
2. She was a single parent
3. She is a leo
4. She has 3 children
5. We both have a child born in 2005
6. She wrote as quickly as possible while her baby slept

I wish the list went on, but now I'm scratching the barrel here but it was fun.

Is there anyone you really admire or aspire to be?

Calderdale Writing Days

To say I'm hugely excited about this event is a vast understatement!! Yes, I really needed both of those exclamation marks.

I have been lucky enough to get a place for a One to One session with Kate Walker at the above event. Now all I have to do is stop messing with my chapter and send it off, then Kate will discuss my writing style with me on 10th October.

I wasn't sure I would be able to attend this event, but for personal reasons I have to be over in Halifax on that weekend so it feels a little like fate I will be able to have my work looked at by someone I hugely admire.

Now to find a way to stop myself stuttering and stumbling over my words during the One to One session and crushing all desires to gush all over Kate. Wish me luck!

Titles

I've done a blog post before with the self same subject ... which just shows how terrible I am at choosing titles and making up my mind :-)

I know they don't really matter but given my competition entry needs one and I don't think 'leo and Cassie' will seem very professional to the editors at M&B, I had to come up with one.

While hanging out the washing I came up with 'The Spanish Playboy's Cinderella'. I think it might be a bit too 'Romance' line but it's a step in the right direction. Going to google it to check it hasn't already been taken.

How do you all come up with titles? Do you spend hours thinking about them or do they pop into your mind easily? For me, it's like pulling teeth!

Critique Partners?

I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone or is themselves looking for a critique partner? In the past I've been part of a large group but the amount of time it took to crit everyone's work caused me to neglect my own. I do have one crit partner already (waves to lorraine) so am ideally looking for one or perhaps a couple more.

I'm looking for someone who will crit romance/presents/modern heat. In return I'll crit most anything apart from paranormal.

If anyone can help, I'll be eternally grateful. Then perhaps I can knock my competition submission into ... well, submission.

My baby

Not writerly in the slightest, but am having nightmares about malfunctioning printers and the NWS.

So, instead, to brighten my day I am looking at pictures my daughter had taken yesterday in london for her modelling portfolio. I'm not ashamed to say that looking at the pictures yesterday had more than a couple of tears glistening in my eyes. I am so proud of her.

This one is what her friends have dubbed the 'electric shock pose' but I adore the innocence in her eyes and actually quite like the funky hair.

It was wonderful being able to spend the whole day with her although both of us spent most of the train journey there and back with our noses buried in books!

I was hoping to use that time to do a final read through of my NWS ms but I promised myself I wouldn't go on about the printer disaster.

This next picture was (obviously!) taken outside of the agency on the streets of london. We spent a couple of hours wondering up and down gaping at people before her appointment, there were some very interesting sights.

We were particularly impressed with the red Police car. Ours are not like that 'up north'.

This is my favourite picture. Maybe it's the background, but I think she is stunning in this one. My baby girl is all growed up (but not too much, she isn't 15 yet!).

I think I have finally found my talent -- creating beautiful children :-)