Cheapskate

Just a quickie!
I now have a regular Blog on Hastings Online Times! 'CHEAPSKATE' My guide to living frugally! Please take a peep and while you're there have a look around - it's a fantastic guide to our wonderful and diverse Hastings Town. Great for locals and visitors! http://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/category/hot-blogs/cheapskate 

Great Logo designed especially for my Hastings Online Blog by Cathy Simpson

Next!

It's gone. Now I have that constant niggling feeling that I have sent the wrong version, or, as I dreamt last night, I sent the first 5000 words of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' convinced that they wouldn't recognise the story or characters Titania and Bottom - common as they are - and award me first prize!

I really MUST stop thinking about it now, it's done!

So....next?

Next I am working on the children's book I had started just before this competition was announced and couldn't use as my entry as the only genre not accepted was children's fiction. Thanks to the competition though I have a far clearer plan of how to go about writing a novel. I am a novice noveller so any pointers in the right direction are more than welcome. I'm sure that every writer, published or unpublished, has their own way of working but for me it was really useful to have the deadline to work to and made me really get my head down and plot out the story properly before going on to write anything. Obviously as I went along there were changes to the synopsis as the characters took on lives of their own but to have an overview was completely new - before I have always dived straight in to the narrative - which can work too - but not as well....for me.

I have also taken another look at a sitcom I was working on previously. It's funny! Sometimes when you go back to things you've written you cringe, I have plenty of things I've written that have that effect on me anyway! But I genuinely think this one has legs - so to speak. Soooo, I'm going to have a crack at trying to get this further developed. I know it's not easy, not even for well-known writers to get projects off the ground but if you don't try then you certainly won't get anywhere. With this in mind I'm going to re-write and tighten it up. 

Apart from the BBC Writersroom there are few and far between production companies who will even read your emails let alone your scripts so it's tricky and a bit irritating to have that door not even ajar before they shut it in your face, however I would rather have my toe stuck in it trying than to have never knocked on the door in the first place.

I've entered another short story competition too and also a poetry competition. I feel that if I just keep sending stuff out there that something may come of it - who knows?

Obviously, I still have to actually go to work every day and I still have half pint at home every afternoon so time is not my best friend at the moment. However, when September arrives I will have afternoons to myself as the human dynamo starts full-time school.

Considering the amount of time I do spend writing (every spare minute) I haven't earned one single penny from it, which proves to me that I have found the job I want - finally! Who knows, this year....this 'Brilliant Year' could just be my time and like Mark Twain said 'Just write without pay until someone offers you pay'.

If Mr Twain was happy with that then so to am I !

DOUBT IT!

Well....there it is....on my desk in an envelope all 5000 words, synopsis and biography, just sitting there, just waiting, just.....

And now the doubts!

I have just spent the best part of this year (ok I know we're not even a third of the way through yet, but you know what I mean) brainstorming, story-boarding, writing, deleting, completely re-writing, changing the story (drastically), printing off, reading, re-reading, re-re-writing, re-printing.....to now be really scared about sending it off out in to the world.

Out to a panel of judges......Will they like it? Will they get it? Is it what they were looking for? Have I completely missed the mark?....Do they know how much I could do with the prize money????....No, I know...it's not the winning that counts, but it would be so nice just a small affirmation that i'm on the right track, you know?

It's been quite hard work. Having said that I have loved every single minute of it - really. It's been such a joy to be sat at my computer just putting my imagination on to the screen. A real luxury actually, just having that time. And THAT'S why the money prize money would be so wonderful as it would prove to me that I can do this that i'm not wasting my time - precious time.

The sun is shining right now and just as soon as I finish this blog I am off to play footie with half pint and I will have a fabulous time, but that's not going to last forever. In the next few years probably five at the most he won't want to be seen out playing with his mum...and I can't blame him. I was fairly old when I had him, almost 43, so by the time he's 10....you do the maths!! 

Writing has always been an ambition of mine. I always wrote stories when I was little - not for homework (I never did much of that!!) but for myself. I always made up stories for my sons and I will always be walking around with new stories forming themselves in my head. So, if you see me out and about looking rather vague (ok, ok I know I always look vague!!!) then this is what is happening, be careful what you say at a time like this as you may just find yourself morphed into one of my characters.

My dearly beloved husband keeps saying that it's not the winning and that at least I now have a fully formed story to send out to other agents etc and he's right but, if you do happen to know the judges, put a word in for me!!

All I need to do now is just pop it all in to an envelope, put a stamp on it and pray!

Ok, done. 

Hold on...I just need to read it all once more. I'll send it tomorrow - maybe!

Distractions! Distractions!

I don't know how I ever manage to get anything done. I'm like a magpie in a bottle top factory! I can be quite happily engrossed in something and then something sparkly catches my eye and i'm off!

The internet really does not help people like myself. I need to find information so I dutifully type into a search engine and 8,920,000 results come up in 0.054 seconds. So I'm off following any random link, completely having forgotten what I was looking for and have now signed up to become a member of The Local Budgerigar Society (yes we do have one!).

My head generally knows what it's doing but my face and in particular my mouth betray this and i'm left looking and sounding like a confused Mrs Potato Head - I have my party dress on but still wearing my slippers. If you get my drift. 

For example. I came home from work today and was a little chilly so popped upstairs to put my cosy PJ's on. Bottoms on but still wearing dress from work when Half Pint comes in and wants me to sing 'Consider Yourself' from Oliver the musical, so I did....as you do....However, I then forgot I was wearing some fawn-like cut 'n' shove outfit when I answered the door to the 'Betterware' catalogue woman (does anyone know what is better about the wares in this catalogue?) who, for once didn't push for an order thank god, there are only so many silicone egg poachers one can use.

Once changed I had planned to make/alter Half Pint's Artful Dodger outfit for a school event and was just setting up the sewing machine when a message from Facebook pinged for attention. A friend asking for ideas for fancy dress. Well that was two hours ago. 

Since then I have looked at fancy dress, obviously, which led me to Alice in Wonderland, then I followed a link to Helena Bonham-Carter and straight to Kenneth Branagh....you still with me....then I got caught up in Bram Stoker - bit dark for a Tuesday afternoon but still couldn't resist it and so decided to see what Mary Shelley has been up to, not much lately it would seem!....although probably more than me. Which is my point....I have not achieved anything today I am a serial distractee! 

Although I do now know a little more about Google searches and how addictive they are. For example, I now know that by typing in 'Life's Too Short' you will NOT save yourself time by cutting a few seconds off this chore and that but that in fact you will become wrapped up in 'About 4,110,000 results' and that's a lot of distractions....believe me.  

Where was I? Oh yeah, sewing machine.

Was that the phone? La dee da dee da....

FYI

Hi all

I've been a little quiet here on the Western (Eastern in reality but not as romantic sounding) Front. It's half term and have been mostly going to the cinema (The Muppets), going swimming (I felt like Miss Piggy) and having small people round to play (I now look like a Fraggle). 

What I am trying to say in my verbosity (did I make that up? What of it?) is that I haven't 'done' anything....in a 'I-haven't-had-a-moment-to-myself' kind of way.

Not that I haven't enjoyed every moment, I have. Ok, not every moment...I'm not Super-Mum, not by a long stretch, but it has been lovely to spend some time away from the computer (and work) with my four year old, the human dynamo. 


Whilst 'doing nothing' I've been scouting around for some more competitions to enter and thought that some of you out there might be interested in having a bash. So here you go - the links are below.

http://www.novelicious.com/noveliciousundiscovered2012.html 

http://spillinginkreview.com/competitions/2012-spilling-ink-literary-competitions/2012-spilling-ink-flash-fiction-prize/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/laugh_track_2012.shtml

http://playwrightscalendar.wordpress.com

http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/index.htm


Good luck and please let me know of any successes you have!


Although I have been relatively quiet, I am still sticking to the Manifesto For a Brilliant 2012.


I mentioned in an earlier blog about the whole bi-polar thing, and it isn't easy when that dreadful low pulls the rug from under your feet. However, I can honestly say, that I am feeling so much better since the start of this year. Which in itself is amazing as I really am not a Winter person. Generally in the winter I am close to tears most of the time.....I haven't cried (for no apparent reason) once this year.


Of course I still get upset about things, I haven't lost my soul, I just feel far more optimistic and philosophical than I ever have done before. And I am certain it's because I have set some goals and (maybe stupidly) made them public. But it's working. I am NOT stagnant.


I hope you're all enjoying 2012 as much. I have had some fantastic messages about your goals and achievements and I am really touched to think that you feel I have had some small part to play. Thank you.

Finally, Spring is almost here. A collective sigh of relief. My lovely husband bought be a huge bunch of daffs which are always guaranteed to make me smile, must be the Welsh in me. Life is good.


Hurrah for us all!

Snow Fun!

Sledging. Check.

Build a snowlady. Check.

Write silly messages in the snow. Check

Hot chocolate in a flask. Check.

Grow up......nooooo waaaaay!

What a brilliant weekend.

Up on the hill where I live everyone makes the best of it. 

Toboggans - plastic ones, wooden ones, homemade ones (including for sale boards!!) and uber cool ones. Anything that will transport you down hill at speed. We had people on skis, snowboards and tin trays. Whatever the mode of transport everyone sported  matching accessories - a massive smile and rosey cheeks!

Back at home there was hot chocolate an open fire and DVDs. A perfect Sunday which will be rounded of later with a delicious (even though I do say so myself) roast dinner. Life doesn't get much better!

The manifesto is working brilliantly - in the past it's most likely that I would have wrapped my little one up for the snow and sent him off with daddy whilst I sat on the sofa feeling guilty and missing all the fun! I was there - I did it - I loved it and I feel blooming marvellous for it!

Ready for the week ahead where I shall be cracking on with some writing for Hastings Online Times and the Novel competition. I entered another flash fiction competition last week - 500 words or less in any genre. It will be judged in March and it would be great to win or get commended but above all else it's great practise and great fun.

I have a meeting organised with the Head of Children's and Young People's Services from East Sussex County Council regarding service users desires for our children's library. This will be next month - until then it will be fairly quiet on the library front.

  Another little snowflake.

 Well my lovelies, gotta fly! I think I may go out for a snowball fight...well why not? Have fun one and all - wrap up and smile!! Wooooohoooo!!!

Procrastination

With a view like this from my desk there really is absolutely no excuse for not sitting here and writing. Ok, one excuse could be that the view is way too beautiful to take your eyes off.

This was taken one morning as the sun came up. No matter what time of day it is this panorama is never boring. Whether the rain is lashing down, the wind whipping up around all sides of my house from the sea or the sun is making the sea an enormous mackerell mirrror I just can't stop watching. 

Stunning but not helpful, a bit like me in reverse!

Another is that my smallest child wants to play snakes and ladders 24/7 these days. And, although I know I should resist, I can't help playing just to hear him squeal with delight every time mummy has to walk up a ladder and he gets to slide down a snake....I know that I really should teach him the rules but I can't bear the thought of losing to a 4 year old!

People watching is another classic. Flying kites. Kicking balls. Children shrieking with excitement. 

So here I am procrastinating!

I'm not as bad as I used to be, BM (Before Manifesto). at least I have goals that I am working towards, step by step.

• I am waiting replies from the Children's library and East Sussex County Council re: a walk round to discuss what the service users (us) would like in the new premises and whether or not a mini-makeover for the existing site is feasible.

• I am writing SOMETHING daily. This is a major step forward for me.  
• I have 'pitched' (sounds a bit grand but I think the right term) an idea for a column for Hastings Online Times and have been told that I can write it weekly. I am very excited about this! 
• I have kept this blog updated regularly - again - a massive achievement for me! (Staying power of a gnat!). 
• And....drum roll....I have the rough outline for my first three chapters for the competition! Huzzah!
• I am NOT stagnating. These days I try to keep busy - unlike the me formally known as couch potato. Thanks to this movement and the fact that I have things occupying my mind other than which PJs I should slump into I am feeling a little fitter and my clothes are getting a little looser. A great snowball effect!  

I think, in the grand scheme of things, I shall allow myself a little procrastination. I'm worth it! Now where's that child, I'm on a winning streak! Best of 17? Hey where's he gone?