With Christmas in mind.

I've been wondering which of my ideas to start work on now that I've completed both my latest novels. I've fiddled and muddled and come up with a Christmas tale. The idea, like so many came when chatting to one of the children at school. I'd just announced the Christmas writing competition when Linden appeared. He is now trotting off to find a child in a manger. I'm loving writing this and it looks like it will indeed be a complete picture book story. This isn't just an idea that goes no where. As a writer I get lots of these. Sometime the ideas just sit there for years waiting for their turn, but never move. Others just need a little more time before the idea unfolds and becomes a real story. I've two like that at the moment. I'm waiting for them to become ripe so I can work on them and discover their secrets.

And what to do now?

Boundary Farm is now complete. I've fiddled and tweaked and tweaked and fiddled. It is the best it can be. Mind when I take a look in a couple of weeks I'll find fault - you always do when you look with an editors eyes. For now it is done and looking good.

Now what do I do? It is too soon to go back and check on Troggle School, so I'll have to open up one of my new ideas. I have a few sitting waiting to beginning to walk from the plotting stage onto the writing stage. The question is, which is asking more loudly to be allowed to grow.

In the mean time I'll make up my Christmas shopping list and head out for the shops. I do love a bit of retail therapy after completing a novel. I've now completed two in month. It isn't that I've written them both in one month (many months) but the final chapters, have been written in the same month. One edited to within an inch of its life and completed. The other finished to the second edit, awaiting another editing session.

It's been a fun week.

It has been a very good week. I love waking up to cold, crisp frosty mornings. Everything glistens in the sunlight and makes you feel fresh and wide awake. This week it has been a bit wet and windy but today is beautiful. The ideal day to go walking in the woods with a dog. I don't have a dog, and I don't think my cat would take to kindly to being placed on a collar and lead and dragged outside. She is more content curled up on the chair of choice for the hour. No I'll look from inside, perhaps cuddling a mug of hot cocoa. Now that sounds nice.

The children at school are participating in my latest writing competition - Can you write an original Christmas story? I'm looking forward to reading all the work, but the judging is always difficult. The children always put so much work in to their stories and they each have their own style.

I'm about to write the last chapter of Boundary Farm, which is going to be fun. The nasty character in the book is about to become Christmas dinner! This book has been a joy to write and I'm hoping if it is taken up by a publisher I'll get to write more books about Boundary Farm and the strange things that happen.

What's or who is standing in the middle of Stonehenge?

Recently on the Writers' News Talkback site, we were discussing pictures which have strange things appearing on them. I added my story about the photo of something standing in the middle of Stonehenge, when you were kept a distance by a cordon around the monument. And minders were strategically placed around the monument also. So I wonder how this person, thing or alien appeared in the centre of the circle? I've zoomed in and it looks like a person with some kind of breathing tube on their head. Your comments are welcome. What do you think?
You might have to zoom in and take a look, but you can just make out the figure between the two short centre stones.

Boundary Farm

I've been having fun over the last few days writing up a short novel for the 5-7 years old market. It is aimed a the lower end of the market. Strange things happen down on the children's farm. I'm now working on chapter six which leaves me two more to write. I can hardly believe what the animals get up to. They get themselves in and out of some very tricky situations.
I'm off now to see what they're up to. So until next time...

Dealing with rejection

We all get it. We all hate it and we all have to deal with it.
As a writer, you have to deal with it constantly. If it isn't a publisher/agent or editor saying this isn't quite right, it is a son, sister or neighbour.
But this is how you begin to learn. One of the main things writers have to understand it that nothing you ever write is going to be perfect. Even when you've finished, polished at least four times your manuscript could undoubtedly be improved.
One persons view is going to be different from another's. No agents or publishers are going to be the same. Each has their own personal likes and dislikes. As writers it is our job to find the agent or publisher who loves our work as much as we do.
One problem with writing is that the work you produce may be important to you, you may think it is special and unique, but someone else could have had the same idea at the same time as you but their style suits the publisher and yours doesn't. Don't take it personally. This is a business, however much it hurts. If your writing is good enough, you will find a home for it.
Stick with it and you'll find that place and see your work in print.