THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

I am now steaming toward the end of my first draft of my 'Monet' novel. It has been hard work but so enjoyable living in 1912 with all that wonderful food and clothes, flowers and sunshine. Now comes the nice bit of planning my return trip to Giverny and plan the publication. April should be so beautiful there with riots of beautiful spring flowers. What an inspiration it was to me. How marvellous the mind that can come up with stories.

A PRIDE OF WRITERS

WE HAD  A TRUE SOIREE LAST NIGHT: A WAM FIRE, WINE AND DELICIOUS NIBBLES WHILE EACH ONE IN TURN READ OUT THEIR WORK. WHAT A TREAT OF ALL KINDS OF WRITING FROM A BEAUTIFUL POEM ABOUT KEATS TO THE STORY OF  A BEAUTY QUEEN MANQUE. THERE WAS GUITAR PLAYING AND SINGING, TOO. AS I SAT THERE I THOUGHT HOW WONDERFUL IT IS WHEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE GET TOGETHER AND CREATE SUCH ENJOYMENT...THE  PLEASURE OF CONVERSATION ND CREATIVITY. I WAS PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF MY 'MONET' NOVEL AND TO FEEL I WAS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
TODAY I TRIED TO COME UP WITH A COLLECTIVE DESCRIPTION FOR A GROUP OF WRITERS  AND DECIDED ON A PRIDE. YOU HAVE TO BE LION HEARTED TO KEEP ON WRITING AND ALSO TO READ YOUR WORK ALOUD.

A LUCKY BLACK CAT AND THOSE NOT SO LUCKY

I searched for my black cat, tonight. I found her. She was just outside in her fur coat playing in the cold But tonight I think too of all those feral cats trying to find somewhere t be warm. This year, I am happy to say, I was able to give my friend Elke enough money to feed colonies of feral cats this winter.  They still dn;t have anyone to cuddle and caress them but at least they will have something to eat  As you snuggle down to sleep tonight think of them. Maybe you might even think about helping them...all those animals who, from no fault of their own, suffer in these old months.

COLD OUTSIDE, COSY WITHIN

Today our group had a good session. We delved deep into the subject of 'style', what is it? We say we like one writer's style and not another, but what do we mean? In my book and briefly because it is a complicated subject it is a balanced mix of elements such as narration, description, dialogue etc. It is also, and this is a hobby horse of mine: being true to yourself and your unique 'voivce' This i such a liberating thing as we don;t have to copy other writers nor think they are good an we are not...we simply have to be ourselves. The third and one of the most important factors, in my view anyway is the use of desciptive detail...the showing not telling school. Just a few telling details can set up such reverberation in the reader's mind and send them off on flights of their own imagination. Such power writing has, such energy and pleasure. We shared this, this afternoon. It might have been a nasty chilly day outside, but we five sat cosy and content in Nice Slice.

WRITING AT FIRST HAND

Thinking about the thorny subject of showing versus telling. Its really a question of slipping into the shoes of the person, emotion, situation and feeling it with all one's senses. It's not about describing feelings. I spend a lot of time in my own work going back over what I have written to make sure the scene is visual. 

But of course, there are times when telling is useful to whizz through a secondary episode and move on to the next drama. I suppose the secret is to understand rhythm. I am looking forward to discussing this with the group next Tuesday.

GOOD WEATHER FOR WRITERS

Just come in from paying bills and glad to be back in the warm. We have been lulled into thinking our climate was turning Mediterranean but, oh no, here it comes again. This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to escaping to a sunny clime. As a writer however, this is 'good' weather for finishing that story or starting work on another for a competition. Writers weather is very different from other people's. I can remember when I lived in Sicily the beach and the sun called and work was left in favour of a swim. So today I will make some hot soup and WRITE.

POINTO F VIEW

Getting point of view right is one of the arts of professional writing.  The reader  has to be given the illusion they are entering a story not written by the author but the narrater. This is the camera's eye with the ability to also smell taste and feel. Then the narrater steps into the point of view character's shoes. It is logical once you grasp it.