Entering the Debut Dagger

Several weeks ago I entered the Crime Writers Association, Debut Dagger competition, but it's taken me this long to actually write about it. The competition involved submitting the first 3,000 words of your crime novel and a synopsis between 500-1,000 words.

Considering I'm 25,000 words into my novel, means that the first 3,000 words were already there. I mistakenly thought this would be hard work but not too difficult. How mistaken can one girl be.

I spent  three hard weeks editing those already written 3,000 words. I'd edit, print it out, see more mistakes, edit some more then see whole paragraphs that sounded ridiculous and rewrite those. I wrote character profiles and learned more about who my characters were. The main character I already had, but during this process, I wrote complete profiles for several of the big characters.

All this was ridiculously time consuming. I never at any point realised it would be this way. I must have edited every single sentence in those first 3,000 words. It's shown me that once the first draft is complete the work really begins.

Once I'd settled on the correct words for my entry I had to write the synopsis. A synopsis for a book I haven't even finished writing yet.
I wrote the first part, next I wrote the ending which I already knew, then the conflict my characters were facing and once all that was in, I had to sit down to work out what the middle would involve. That was difficult and I'm not sure I've got that bit down right. I have multiple victims and multiple offenders so it gets a bit confusing.

Anyway, DJ.Kirkby very kindly offered to look at my synopsis and gave me some feedback on areas I hadn't made clear, so I did a little jigging about a bit, I was finally finished one hour before the closing time of midnight. I never imagined I would work so long on it, but though I was shattered, I was and am really pleased with myself. No matter what happens, I know my story and my characters a lot better now because of the competition, so continuing with the novel itself will be an easier enjoyable process. And I have no deadlines to panic over.

It will be several months before a short list comes out and I'm definitely not expecting to make it even close, what I am, is proud of the fact that I entered. It's an experience that has helped me. I entered The Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger competition!

Rheumatology Appointment

On Monday I had an appointment with the rheumatologist. My GP had referred me back to him to query ehlers danlos syndrome after he had given me a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. A complaint often running alongside EDS. 

I went fully expecting the consultant to do the examination and give me a diagnosis,  or not, depending on his medical opinion. I was really pleased I might finally get some answers, though anxious about what it would mean to my life. 

Imagine my emotional drop when he told me he couldn't do the diagnosis and had to refer me to the genetics team to assess me for EDS. He did tell me that I scored a 5 on the beighton scale (which puts me in the bendy enough for EDS category). I felt even more gutted. I genuinely feel that EDS is the problem as there are relevant issues with my son and my sister as well as my own. 

Why on earth did he make me wait two months for an appointment when he knew he couldn't do a diagnosis? I'm so frustrated with it all. I'm struggling with pain and exhaustion and just want answers so I can deal with it and adjust my life and potentially my sons life and get on with it. 

I have no faith in our local genetics team as they weren't very helpful last year. I'm now considering calling the consultants secretary and asking for the referral to go to a London consultant I've been recommended. It's a long trek but it could prove more helpful. I have to ask myself if I do this or be more vocal when seeing the local team. 

Yet again there is more waiting. 

Finding Time to Write

I'm guest posting over at Nancy Hinchliffe's blog, Business and Creative Women's Blog, on finding the time to write.... 


First of all I have to say a huge thank you to Nancy for asking me to come along and write a guest post for her blog. I was extremely flattered when she asked. 

No sooner had she asked and I had agreed, than things started to go wrong. Nancy requested a personal type post, involving things such as my life, working, kids, mad female dogs with boy names and finding time to write and guess what? I let her down within the week simply because one of the other commitments got in the way of finding the time. Oh the irony. 

But what does that say about my organisational skills?


To read the rest of this post visit Nancy's blog..

Crazy for Books Blog Hop

 The Crazy for Books blog hosts a weekly Friday blog hop where a question is set, you add your link and away you go, blog hopping and meeting new bloggers. 


Todays question is -  "Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"


Strangely enough this is a question I have been asking myself over the past couple of weeks. When I first set up the blog I didn't have a real focus, I just wanted to blog about my life and see where it took me. It wasn't until October last year that I started seriously considering my writing and doing something about it. That has led me into reading an awful lot more and social networking with others that have shared interests. Now my blog is starting to settle and get comfortable I do wonder if I should consider changing it's name and have even thought about buying my own domain name. 


The answer I have currently come up with, is that I will wait another few months, see how things go and then consider it again. I feel that the blog will take about a year to settle into it's place, at which point I will then give this question further consideration and possibly act on that. I am wanting to change my header though and will look at that over the next couple of weeks. Until then, we are looking at life in clarity. Or trying to anyway.


What are your thoughts on naming your blog?

Guest Post - Writers Voice

Todays blog post is on writers voice and has been kindly provided by Nancy Hinchliffe. 

Nancy owns and operates a bed and breakfast in Louisville, Kentucky where she also blogs and writes on line at Examiner.com, Eye on Life Magazine, Pink magazine and Hub pages. You can find her blogging at Business and Creative Women's Forum, Inn Notes, Inn business  A Memorable Time of My Life, and Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association  In 2008, she co-authored Room at the Table, for The Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky for which she won their president's award for outstanding work. The coffee-table cookbook has recipes from Kentucky Inns throughout the state and beautiful photographs of scenic Kentucky taken by award winning photographer, Robin Goetz. She is currently working on a memoir titled Operatic Divas and Naked Irishmen: An Innkeeper's Tale, a humorous and poignant account of how an admittedly asocial retired school teacher reinvents herself as an Innkeeper. This intimate tale recounts 16 challenging years of self-discovery.

Thank you Nancy for providing this post, it is much appreciated. Over to you...

Getting Back to Business

...the business of writing, that is. For the past two or three months, my memoir has been sitting on an obscure corner of my desk upstairs in my office...out of sight...out of reach...out of mind. I haven't gone near it. What I have been doing is trying to figure out what in the world is wrong with it. Why do I only like Chapter 8 and Chapter 12?

I have three fourths of the book complete. And now I see that I have to do a major re-write on it. Why? Well, I finally figured it out. I can't hear my voice...at least I can't hear it all the time. It comes through in different places, like in Chapter 8 and Chapter 12, but it does not infuse the entire book. And that really bothers me.

So, what to do about it? Well, I finally retrieved my manuscript from my desk on the third floor...that's a start. Then I divided it into four sections. Each section has around four chapters. Now, what I am doing is re-writing every day for a set amount of time. I am going chapter by chapter, sticking with it until I have it the way I want it...looking for my authentic voice and planting it on the pages one sentence at a time.

Just what is writer's voice anyhow and how do you find your own? According toWikipedia,“Writer’s voice is a literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice is a combination of a writer’s use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works). Voice can also be referred to as the specific fingerprint of an author, as every author has a different writing style.In creative writing, students are often encouraged to experiment with different literary styles and techniques in order to help them better develop their “voice.” Voice varies with the individual author, but, particularly in American culture, having a strong voice is considered positive and beneficial to both the writer and his or her audience.”

Finding your writer’s voice may be compared to expressing your personality in real life. It's that authentic way of thinking, speaking and telling that each one of us has. “Confident writers have the courage to speak plainly; to let their thoughts shine rather than their vocabulary.” says Ralph Keyes, author of The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear I strongly believe that one way one can find their true voice is through blogging on a regular basis. When I first started blogging a few years ago, I focused mainly on the content of what I was writing and was not too concerned about the way in which it was presented, as long as the grammar and punctuation was correct. I was not really writing to connect with my readers.

In the Elements of Style, Strunk tells us that style is an expression of self, and [writers] should turn resolutely away from all devices that are popularly believed to indicate style – all mannerisms, tricks, and adornments,” I believe that if one continues to blog, your voice will eventually be freed. “As you become proficient in the use of language, your style will emerge,” writes Strunk “because you yourself will emerge…” And, the more comfortable you are with the rules for good writing, the more your writer’s voice will shine.

I have found this to be so true. And, it wasn't until I felt my true voice starting to come true that I even entertained the idea of writing a memoir. I wanted that memoir to be an expression of "me". But somewhere along the line, in trying to complete my work, I lapsed into my old ways of focusing on the content, not on my reader. And that's what I'm trying to get back.

Now, I am working that out, chapter by chapter. I am reading my writing aloud to see if it really sounds like me. This is very helpful, by the way. I had already stopped comparing my writing to other writers. Comparing how you write or your writer’s voice to other writers is destructive and suffocating. So, my motto is: admire other writers’ styles but nurture your own. And focus on ways to improve your confidence as a writer.

*A final tip: try picturing one specific reader — one that you're not trying to impress – and just communicate with her.

Book Review - Storm's Heart

Storms Heart is a contemporary romance with a dark brooding centre. When Greek lawyer Andreas Lazarides and bistro-manager Kizzy Dean clash over the executing of his mothers final wishes, Kizzys turbulent past kicks up a storm in Andreas's heart that rages until his own explosive secrets are revealed. 

Andreas lazarides, a wealthy gorgeous Greek whisks Kizzy Dean off to Greece under the guise of writing up a contract to secure her silence on the sale of her place of employment. 


There is an instantaneous sizzle between Andreas and Kizzy as they meet, which continues and is realised in the beauty of Rhodes. Conflicting emotions and misunderstandings threaten their relationship and you are drawn into the will they wont they scenario. 

Though I become slightly confused as to the reason Andreas is so adamant to protect the feelings of the people he buys a failing business from, Greek heat, brooding good looks and some sizzling scenes make this a great girly read. Watch you don't burn your fingers in chapter 6 though where an 18 rating is advisable! 

It has the definite feel of a contemporary Mills and Boon. So if you want a book full of emotion and steam whilst sitting with a box of chocolates and your drink of choice, then this is for you. 

The book is the debut novel of Rachel Lyndhurst and you will find a Storms Heart book competition over on her blog, Rachel Lyndhurst.

This is my Today

I ummed and ahhed about whether I was going to post this blog post today or if I was even going to write it. You see I thought it would be a bit too depressing for my blog, but then considered that it's part of my life and quite a significant part at the minute, so here it is.

Ive been really quite angry today. This has made me quiet with my children and withdrawn. I don't want to hurt anyone when I'm hurting.

It's the pain. Not just the pain, the exhaustion is pretty upsetting to be honest. The pain has been in my chest today. Round my left collar bone area. I'm tired and I'm hurting and I have an appointment in just over a week with the rheumatologist. A man who barely paid me any attention when I first went, yet managed to diagnose me with fibromyalgia. Now he's looking at me for ehlers danios syndrome at the request of my gp. This appointment is now playing on my mind

Will he pay any more attention than he did last time, will he even look up from his note pad to even see what I look like?

Will he listen to all the things I have to say or ask me the simple questions? Am I hypermobile and do I have pain? Yes to both, but eds comes with more and I have more to say. Yet I feel that I have to talk at a rate of knots just to say what I want to say before he looks up and sends me out the door.

If this eds I want to know. I want to know for me and I want to know for my son.

I don't want to be fobbed off anymore. But what if he doesn't fob me off. What if he says yes, it's EDS. I have my answer. Will I then give in to it? Use it as an excuse or will I be able to then get up and fight it and live my life? What will happen to my career?

I don't want this, but I don't want him to say its not either. If he says it's not he won't provide me with alternative answers. He will look at his notebook and say goodbye. Last time he gave me a leaflet and told me to look it up on the Internet!

Today I am tired of being tired. Sick of the sick. Its making me angry and frustrated. I don't enjoy feeling this way and I know others don't want to see me this way or read this and this makes me even more frustrated.

This is my today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better