womagwriter's blog: Ghost Stories and How to Write Them

womagwriter's blog: Ghost Stories and How to Write Them: Those of you who are my friends on Facebook already know about this, but it's time I mentioned it here - I have published an ebook - Gho...
At Last! A Ghost Story Book For Readers and Writers!

womagwriter's blog: One day writing retreat

womagwriter's blog: One day writing retreat: I bet the title of this post made you all sigh, and think: oh yes, that's just what I could do with... Well, if you're within reac...

What to do with my novella...

I haven't heard back from the one market I sent my novella to three months ago, so I sent a query email today. I'll give that time of course - then if nothing comes of that I think it might be time to look at other possible markets and get my novella OUT there. I've heard about a few different outlets and I'm not over-confident but I do believe in my story! I'll let you know what happens. I'm onto my second novella by the way.

womagwriter's blog: Forthcoming books and a competition

womagwriter's blog: Forthcoming books and a competition: A quick news post for you. Firstly, with Mother's Day coming up, here's the perfect present for your own mum, or for your kids to ...

womagwriter's blog: Critiques and proof-reading

womagwriter's blog: Critiques and proof-reading: Two of my writing friends, whose skills and knowledge of writing I can personally vouch for, have set up new services for writers this year....

Five Things To Do in 2013

It's that time again! Yes, I promise myself I will 1) Write more novellas. 2) Write more short stories. 3) Enter competitions. 4) Read more. 5) Set up my new editing/critiquing service. Keep it simple. That's my motto for 2013. Another cliché - Less is more. But oh so true.

More on Christmas Past...

I remember my dad sitting at the open stove with me and my sister and shouting up the chimney to Father Christmas. "They've both been good. They want...." Then he'd list things like books, chocolate, and whatever we'd asked for. It was such a magical time. I think we believed he was actually speaking to him because the reply would come back soon after. "okay!" As we got a bit older we noticed Dad's mouth moving ventriloquist fashion and we kind of guessed it had been him all along. But the fun was just as real. We never had turkey. Mum used to buy a large capon and we'd have that with all the trimmings. Funny how I could always manage a full Terry's Orange afterwards...well, later in the afternoon. Now, I just can't face anything other than Christmas dinner and perhaps a cold meat sandwich later. These days I tend to pick at bits of things like left-over roast potatoes, and pickles and crisps. This year the family went out for Christmas lunch. It was very nice, very festive and very filling!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I've always loved Charles Dickens' Scrooge, but although I want to talk about Christmas past, it's not the Christmases portrayed by Dickens, but my very own 1965 blast from the past. On waking up on Christmas morning, cold and sleepy, my sister and I would feel at the end of our beds and if we touched lumpy cloth we knew beyond doubt that Father Christmas had been! Our pillowcases were the first sites of exploration. We'd have an apple, a tangerine, chocolate coins, a tube of smarties or Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, a card game like Happy Families: Mr Bacon anyone? Crayons and colouring books. I have a memory of being about eight years old. I still played with dolls and my main present was a pram (Silvercross style) and a (big) doll. My sister got the same (slight variation) and we called the dolls big dolls, because they were baby sized. Yes, I know babies come in different sizes, especially as they grow a bit, but let's just say I could bounce the doll on my knee like you might a six-month-old baby. We loved and cherished those dolls, proudly walking out with our shiny new prams, along to our auntie's house on Christmas day to show her what fine specimens of dolls we had! I can remember tucking her up (doll) underneath lovely new soft blankets. We didn't get many more presents, not large ones anyway, but what we got was thrilling to us, such as the huge bar of Dairy Milk, kaleidoscope (watch those beads swirl and twirl into colourful patterns), selection box, annual (Bunty for me - Judy for Sis), Monopoly (or some such game). Pretty Peach Avon perhaps? Or was that later on? Bath-salts or cubes to dissolve in frothy warmth on bath-night. People tried so hard to make Christmas special as they still do today. But you know, I'm sort of glad that technology hadn't soared like it has today. I like the memories of dolls and prams and nothing to interfere with a quiet Christmas (except for our squeals of delight). No pings or bells or ringtones. No getting in touch with all and sundry. Just lovely family communication. Now that's what I call Christmas.

Writers' Office Christmas Party

My party begins NOW! Hello to all you writers out there! Happy Christmas! Enjoy a mince pie and a glass of something spicy. It can be quite a lonely time for us writers, especially if we don't have another job to go to. I do have another job, but I'm home at the moment writing my heart out. Some of us live alone, so being in company from time to time, even virtual company is a great help to many. I'll be writing a Christmas piece later. Meanwhile, keep the party-poppers going, and go on, have a slice of Christmas cake! Check out Quillers Place! Sally thought up this wonderful idea.

Yet another Submission...

Short story this time to The Weekly News. Whoooo!

One MW pocket Novel Submission in the Bag!

Yes, it's only a sub in the bag, but at least I'll know if it's what they're looking for! First piece I've subbed anywhere for ages. I've started now though....watch this space.

NaNoWriMo AND Pocket Novels

This Blog is BACK!! I don't know what's happened to this Blog but I haven't been able to access it or write on it for months. I'll try it again and continue if it works okay. Now writing for NaNoWriMo. Updates can be seen on Twitter @Antoniablue. I'm writing a Pocket Novel and have started a second one to work alongside my original, so that when the first one is finished I can continue with the second. Some days I'm actually able to write a little bit for the second one as well as the first. Still with me? Grand. Anyway, more than half a Pocket Novel has grown from the merest of ideas. Excited! It's a Spy/Suspense Novel, and I've really enjoyed writing the action and the characters. Hope, pray I'm on to something here.

Neglect...

Hi, all. I HAVE neglected this Blog, what with Uni work and ordinary dull work and writing...enough of the old excuses. Anyway, here to say I'm going to make time, get back on track and start Blogging again. I'll tell you all about my Uni experience, good and bad and pretty mad, too!!

Last Push for Final Portfolio

Well, here I am having worked all day on my final porfolio. I'm off work all this week, so can devote all my time to licking it into shape. I have almost finished the self-reflective critical essay, which was no mean feat I can tell you. I called into the bindery today and priced-up, got turnaround times etc. I'm taking the work in there on 20th August, picking it up on 24th August, handing it in to Uni on 1st September.

Once it's gone, it's gone. Shudder!

Inspirational T.V. Writer at Uni...read on...

Terry Cafolla came to Lancaster Uni on Thursday to talk about working in T.V. He's very friendly, informative and eager to pass on tips and information. He's one of the writers on Law and Order UK, which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to the next series.

One thing that struck me was how ordinary he is. No airs and graces. I don't know why, but you tend (or is it just me) to imagine that those who have made it in tv etc, will be beyond you in some way. Of course, it's nonsense.

Terry did an M.A at Lancaster too, which inspired me somewhat!!

Okay, I'm a short story writer/novel writer (aspiring), but Terry BEGAN with poetry, so whoooooooooooooo!!! I too will take a screenwriting course.

M.A. Creative Writing Update

It doesn't seem two minutes since I started the course at Lancaster. It all began last October and I now find myself with just ten weeks left to get the novel finished, edited, edited again and again, polished, until at last the final draft is ready to be submitted on 1st September. Think Victor Meldrew: "I doooon't believe it."

But before that I have the pleasure of going for afternoon tea to the Lake District with the gals on the course. That's next Tuesday, and boy, am I going to enjoy those sandwiches, tea and cakes!!!!!

I'll keep you posted.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake!

I had to share this, passed on by a very good friend, Quillers:

LINK TO QUILLERS' BLOG

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

What I Hope to Achieve in 2010 - Five Things

Now here! Listen. These are the achievable things I WILL nail in this brand new shiny year.

1: Keep up with and finish the novel by September 2010, when it'll be due in for Uni assessment.

2: Analyse and break down novels and scripts to gain a better understanding of the processes.

3: Keep writing scripts.

4: Enter a few scriptwriting competitions and short story competitions to keep my hand in. You've got to be in it to win it, as they so rightly say.

5: Make myself pick up that pen every day, or tinker at the p.c. and write words every single day.

There you have it. Five things isn't over-facing. I think I may be able to stomach it. :-)

Blog TakeOver - Who, Me? I Live Here Don't I??

I'm a character out of Antonia's book, but I'm sure I existed and lived here before her anyway.

My name is Joe. I'm blonde, with a hint of strawberry - shaggy hair, blue eyes, icy if you must know, and a mouth that doesn't turn down too much at the corners despite being thin.

I laugh a lot, am a wiry, lanky twenty-nine year old with a passion for Lowry paintings. Antonia reckons I like to think I'm Lowry, but I don't, I just like to think I can paint like him.

See, I never was good for much at school; I could draw, but only stick-like fashion, and sketches that created childish scenes. Then I discovered Lowry and saw that he'd made stick-drawing fashionable. So I practised didn't I? I practised all the time, until I made those stick figures a bit livelier, yes, with personalities of their own, even though their features became muted and bland and sometimes even featureless, yet retaining a semblance of a self.

I learnt how to draw a group of people so that it looked like they were one, and busy, and industrial or poignant in some way.

So, I aint the ghost of Lowry, see. I could paint you, Antonia, and fashion you into stick and merge you with a crowd like a giant colourful mural; you could be on a street somewhere in the north, tiny red hat perched on your head, brown woollen coat clutched about you, lacy red brolly perched on the end of a slim, bony wrist.

What? You are doing that right now?

See, I told you I lived here. It was me that made YOU!