The Results are Now In

The Writing Buddies meeting came round again and quite a few of us gathered at the Art House Cafe to learn the results of the anthology competition. We had a guest, Simon Walley, who announced the winners and runners up. A very well done to all those who went home with certificates and an envelope - I was hoping for a "highly commended" mention but alas, my short story fell short I suppose. I can't wait to read the winning entries in the book when it's published.

The Writing Buddies meeting is always informative and I go home with lots of ideas to follow up and there's always plenty of encouragement. Eileen told me that I need to get more feedback on my work and not rely on my Writer's Bureau tutor. That's not to say my tutor gives the wrong adivce. Indeed, I value what she tells me and certainly take note. It may not always be what I want to hear but feedback should always be positive and constructive. Funnily enough she didn't like the story I submitted to the antholgy comp and said it was "confusing." It was a ghost story and I didn't think it was confusing but I wonder what other's might think.

I'm off to Spain and hope to spend the afternoons writing THE NOVEL. As it's partly set in Spain I should be inspired enough to produce some reasonable work plus I need to write two short stories for the Writers Bureau. I shall spend this afternoon gathering up all my writing materials.

It'll be an early night as we're up uber early to drive to Dover to take the P&O to Calais.

No Excuses

It's tuesday afternoon and since last thursday I haven't put pen to paper. Let me explain. Friday brought bad news that my cousin had suffered a serious stroke and was in hospital. The weekend saw me and my brother and his wife make a 260 mile round trip to Southport to visit him. I truly believe that in times like this you have to put certain things on hold and the family must come first. I am no stranger to driving up the M6. Southport is my birthplace and I am always happy to go back there. My cousin is paralysed down one side but has regained his speech very quickly with only a slight slurring. He expects to be in hospital for 3 months, may be more and I have promised to visit again. Sunday was spent recovering from the long drive and very late night.

Monday came and went and no writing. I don't know what was the matter with me but I could think of a thousand things to do and writing wasn't on the list. In fact, by the end of the day I asked myself did I really want to commit to it anymore? There's no excuse not to open your laptop for even half an hour and write gibberish if you have to. The point is, you are writing something. I have only submitted one article to Bukisa and am procrastinating on what to subm it next. I am dithering over assignment 6 for the WB and waiting for assignment 5 to come back. Not a good day for motivation.

Today is different. This morning I went to the hairdressers for a much needed restyle and colour. That was uplifting. This afternoon I have written for two hours non stop (THE NOVEL) and I am in the process of making a list of possible articles to submit to Bukisa.

I realise I have no excuses when it comes to writing. Yesterday I should have been back on track after a busy weekend doing other things. Today I am making up for lost time and really quite enjoying myself.

Beautiful Bath

Yesterday We went to Bath. I know I went there as a child but couldn't remember anything about it except I'm sure it was busy with tourists. Well yesterday was the same. Busy and lots of visitors. I had printed a map off of the main streets and decided that the Royal Crescent would be the sight I wanted to see most. It was just a short walk from the town centre through quieter streets. We made the Crescent the first stop on our tourist trail and arrived to find it deserted. It's a magnificent sweep of Georgian splendour and exactely like the photo in the guide book. We walked through small streets, lined with antique shops and posh hairdressers and quirky coffee shops back to the town centre and followed the signs for the Abbey and Pump room. We didn't venture into either and carried on to the picturesque Parade Grounds and watched people haul their blue and white striped deckchairs to a shady spot for a picnic lunch.

I like Bath because it looks so stately. The shops are different with 'one offs' as well as the usual high street chains. I wondered into Cath Kidson and couldn't resist buying a book of sticky labels. I'm not sure what I'll do with them all but I've got a mania for labelling things so I'm sure some of them at least will be used. We browsed charity shops, a Fairtrade shop and there was even a shop selling sausages and nothing else!

Lunch was at the excellent Loch Fyne (we have been to many now) and the £10 menu didn't disappoint - fresh sardines to start with followed by whole plaice in a herb butter.

Bath is just under two hours away. I think I'll be visiting more often from now.

A Country Walk with spectacular views

We decided as it was such a beautiful morning to go for a long walk down to the coast. We set off purposefully towards a popular track that leads down to the sea between Hill Head and Solent Breezes. I hadn't been down this track for years and thought it would be overgrown with nettles and brambles but it was clear and well marked. We passed farmers fields and blackberry bushes along the way until the solent came into view. It's a pity I didn't have my camera. The scenery was picture postcard perfect. A calm sea shimmering in the morning sun and dotted with the white sails of little boats sailing to the Isle of Wight or perhaps to the Hamble river. Wecould seee the little beach huts at Calshot and the only blot on the horizon was the ugly chimney of Fawley power station. We walked along the top of the clifts and passed several people walking their dogs, all with a cheery good morning. Eventually we came to Solent Breezes holiday camp and fancied stopping for coffee. Unfortunately the cafe was closed until midday so we walked around the site admiring the little chalets and their neat gardens and continued towards Warsah common and home.

I expect we covered at least 6 miles. We made coffee as soon as we got indoors and sat outside on the patio. Our neighbours was doing some gardening and we told them where we had been. We all agreed that we sometimes don't appreciate what's right on our doorstep and I'm glad we've redisovered one of the nicest walks in the area.

I've started the big project

I started my novel a few weeks ago but scrapped it (or most of it, anyway). Today, after much character preparation I've started again. This will be a challenge to see if I can write something towards it most days, if not every day. By Christmas, I would like to be a good half way through it. I don't think that's too big a challenge.

Do you know something? I don't like bank holidays. You think twice about going anywhere in case the roads are too busy so you end up staying in or if you don go out, don't venture too far. What's more, the weather is always a disappointment. Today is no exception. This morning was dull and looked like rain at any minute. This afternoon has had some bright spells but as I type, the sun has gone in and it's gloomy again. This always happens on a bank holiday weekend.

So what better way to spend this afternoon but writing. I'm feeling quite creative and I'm going to close this blog (mainly because I haven't got anymore to say) and continue with the opening pages of the story.

Another good week.

Had a very nice weekend in my birthplace, Southport. Went shopping along Lord Street, dined at an excellent restaurant called "The Barking Frog" or was it "The Banking Frog"? (it was in an old bank building). Went to Formby and the red squirrel sanctuary but didn't see any. However, on the way home we did a small detour to Crosby to see Anthony Gormley's statues on the beach but the tide was in and most of them were submerged. However, we did see a red squirrel running across the road!

I've had a letter published in FMN. Just a small success, I know but it's all going in the right direction hopefully. I've finished Assignment 5 for the WB and am itching to send it off but I haven't had feedback from Assignment 4 yet. I've had an article published on Bukisa.

I've outlined in detail the plot for my novel after deleting about 8,000 words of drivel. This time I intend to get it right.

Time to press the submit button more

I've been finding lots of outlets for writing this week again. A student on the WB has suggested a few on line sites. One is called Bukisa and I have already submitted an article on re-organising your wardrobe. I wrote it out in long hand first and then typed it up. I have several more ideas for on line articles so watch this space. For my Bukisa articles go to www.bukisa.com/people/JacquelineField. Now watch the dollars roll in (ha ha).

I've also submitted some other stuff to magazines by e-mail. I type it out, check for spelling and grammar and then I should press 'send'. Problem is, I'm always worried I could have worded it better or maybe I've not been too clever with my grammar and that leads me to re-reading and re-rreading before sending it off. What a time waster this is. There comes a time when you simply have to let go of a piece of work and send it off knowing you've done the best you could.

I'm off to Southport for the weekend. I hope the weather is kind.