An injection of creativity

What a busy few weeks!
Firstly let me apologise for not posting a blog recently.Things have just gone crazy here. In a good way, but it has meant I've been tied up in knots with other writerly things. At last I think I have a system in place which will enable me to write the blog, do all my writing and have a life too! That is the plan and hope.

Last week I was at the 'Get Writing' one day conference at the university of Hertfordshire run by the Verulam Writers' Circle. It was another good day with many delegates taking advantage of the agents, editors and book doctors at individual meetings. Workshops were amazing and the networking at lunch and throughout the day made for many happy faces.

The next conference I will be at is the Winchester Writers' Conference in June, so if you've not yet had a look at their details, do so, as it is a great creative weekend. They follow the weekend up with a week of workshops for those able to stay on to study with those in the business of writing. I can't express how inspiring these conferences are, from novice to accomplished writer there is always something for everyone.

Now if you are looking for a writing holiday, you couldn't do better than to check out: Philippa Pride 'The Book Doctor' (Stephen King's English Editor) she is running one of her fantastic creative writing weeks. The current course is to be held above Turkey's Turquoise Coast.

The task for this week is to create three characters. Each has a reason to want to change something about themselves or in their lives. They are unknown to each other until they find themselves in the same place at the same time. A chance comment by one gets them all talking. Do they all make the changes, do they all decide to forget it or decide to change something else? These changes can be as extreme or simple as you like. e.g. Liposuction - mind set - partner. There are so many things that we all want to change from time to time.
Think about where you might pitch this story and remember to add all the usual bells and smells to bring the writing alive on the page.

So, go on, get writing.

'The Sea' through the seasons.

The past week I have been quite creative and getting the further development points and plotting down for my YA novel. This is now taking shape and I’m enjoying the new direction it has taken me. It is very much still in its infancy, but developing steadily with a wealth of interesting characters.

I’ve also been working on more elements of my thrillers and they are, I hope, beginning to have a similar theme and elements but are uniquely individual, if that makes sense?

I headed down to the coast this weekend and enjoyed the sun and the sound of the waves gently breaking on the beach and sound of shingle moving, the laughter of children, the calls from parents and the sea gulls screeching for food.

This week I thought it might be fun to use the idea of ‘The Sea’ through the seasons. What do you hear, smell and taste at different times of year? Think about the things that differ season to season.  Try writing a 500-1000 word scene that uses all the elements to make it real.

Once you’ve completed the four seasons, choose your favourite and expand to create a complete piece of work. You might want to use all four sections and submit your work.

Have fun with this and remember to make the reader believe they are there within your work.

So, go on, get writing.