Archive for the Category »The Writer’s Life «

01
Feb 2012

Holidays

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I had to work for the first three weeks of Jan, running the local shop. But after that I headed straight down to the coastal town of Hopetoun, south WA.  It was just gorgeous as the kids and I went swimming the moment we arrived. (Hubby had farmers still harvesting so he couldn’t join us until his bin was closed.)

We stay in the caravan park and I love the thick bushes that make it nice and private. We have a onsite van so I only have to open the door without too much fuss. So needless to say I got straight down to typing (after the swim of course) and I didn’t have to worry about the kids. Gotta love a nice safe park thats right on the beach.  Without any housework, bored kids or internet distractions writing was my main focus and I managed to write 11,000 words in the four days I was there.  It got me thinking about heading down more often. It’s only 2.5hr drive from my place…really I should go down for weekends more often!! Or at least start using it more as a writers retreat.

Then we headed off to Esperance for another five days to catch up with family. The kids uncle works on the port and they loved seeing the huge ships come in to load. Another crowd favourite was Sammy the Seal. Kinda nice hanging out by the jetty.

But this was my son’s favourite by far.  He was just taken with the little steam engine.

And one of the highlights for me, besides spending quality time with the family, was catching up with Fleur McDonald. Living in the middle of nowhere makes it hard to personally catch up with other writers so we weren’t going to miss this opportunity. Over lunch we talked all things writing and publishing. And yet there was still not enough hours to cover all the things we could have talked about.  Fleur lives in a beautiful part of WA and seeing as we have family in Esperance I’m sure we’ll get to catch up again soon.

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Category: Events, Everyday Life, Family, The Writer's Life  Tags: , ,  One Comment
28
Sep 2011

Author Areas

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A few more pictures have come in so i’ll share these with you.  This first one I’ve actually seen on TV.  And I love the fact that Matthew likes to surround himself with toys, posters and figurines from his favourite movies to inspire him. He looks really happy to be there…sometimes I can’t stand my office and it puts me off writing. Now i’m thinking I should put up some enticing pictures. (and being a romance writer I can get away with a few handsome buff guys hanging around :)

Matthew Reilly is the bestselling author of nine novels and his latest one  Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves  is due out on the 12th of October.  Its amazing reading about him and I love this quote :

Matthew Reilly, ‘Ice Station was a direct response to Hollywood action movies. I figured that when you make a movie, you are limited by your budget. Put simply, it costs big dollars to make big action scenes. But when you write a book, you can create the wildest and biggest action scenes you like and it doesn’t cost you a cent. The only limit is the limit of your imagination!

And he’s so right. (I automatically thought of Karly Lane’s book Operation Summer Storm with her action scenes :) )

Thanks Matthew x

***

Next I have Katherine Scholes who, like Tony Park, writes about some amazing places. I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Katherine at the RWA awards night two years ago as her book was a finalist in the Ruby. Her latest book is Lioness, set in Katherines birth place of Tanzania.

Katherine: “My novels nearly always begin with a location, very often in Africa. At the end of each day I find a quiet spot and write up my notes…”

 

Thanks Katherine, and what a gorgeous view from your window.

***

And now to another Western Australia writer, Sara Foster. Her second book Beneath the Shadows was published earlier this year and is on my ‘to be read’ pile.

Sara: “At present I am a nomadic writer, and I love it, because I can get away from the many distractions in the house and focus purely on writing. I carry my workstation with me – laptop and folders is usually all I need, although I have been known to carry big bags of reference books too. I try to work at my local libraries as much as possible, but it means I use up to half an hour of precious writing time driving there. I also have to vacate when the mum and baby group strikes up, otherwise I find myself absent-mindedly singing along to Row Row Row the Boat, which makes me 1) lose concentration, and 2) miss my toddler! Therefore, the local cafes also know me well – and they understand that on a good week it’ll be mineral water only, and on a bad week I need infusions of hot chocolate and the occasional scone or muffin to keep me going. The picture is taken at one of my favourite local cafes – imagine the table with drink, laptop and scruffy bits of paper and you get the idea. I love staring across the sea while I’m dreaming up ideas, and as a bonus their raspberry muffins are delicious!

PS After looking at Tony Park’s pictures, I think it might be time to start writing about Africa!”

Thanks Sara. Looking out over the ocean would be so calming. I think i’m going to have to visit the coast more often.

A huge thank you to all the wonderful authors who took the time to participate. I know how hard it is to find time between writing, family, other commitments and life in general. :)

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Category: Guest Blogs, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , , , ,  2 Comments
21
Sep 2011

Author spaces

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This time i’d like to share Lisa Heidke‘s writing spaces.  She’s the lovely author of What Kate did Next, Claudia’s Big Break and Lucy Springer Gets Even. (I’m sure she’s busy writing away on her next book, no doubt using the area’s below)

Lisa: “This is where I work when I have to…in other words when I have a deadline and have to put my head down. No distractions! I light a candle, drink tea and type as quickly as I can…so I can go back outside and into the sunshine.”

Lisa: “This is where I pretend to work when I’m brain storming – which generally means I’m procrastinating because I’m stuck on a scene or have hideous edits to work through. In other words, I am avoiding doing any real writing. It’s happening a lot at the moment as I chase the spring sun around the garden…laptops have a lot to answer for!”

***

And another author who is busy with her next book is Bronwyn Parry, who brought us great Aussie romantic suspense with Dark Country and As Darkness Falls. I’m so glad you’re back writing again Bron!

Bron: “One photo is of the dining table, where I work most nights and on cloudy winter days. The other is the old desk in the sunroom, which is a lovely spot to work in on sunny winter days – although I can be distracted by the blue wrens outside the windows, and the kangaroos that often come up quite close, munching on the grass.”

***

I love how most of us have our little window’s or outside places to help inspire us.  Most of my idea’s come when I’m out doing something ‘in the bush’, like the mail run or just driving from one town to the next.

Now if you’d like to join in with our writers spaces, please feel free to drop me an email. I’d love to hear from you. No two ‘writing spaces’ are ever the same. We all have our little ‘bits’ that make our desk’s our own. :)

 

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Category: Guest Blogs, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , ,  6 Comments
19
Sep 2011

More writing spaces

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My next author has some very amazing writing spaces. (I’m jealous of these authors who get to mix travel and writing.) I’m so excited to show you Tony Park’s work areas. Tony writes about Africa so vividly in his books, you can tell he loves it. African Dawn is his latest book, which is going great guns. Thanks for sharing, Tony :)

Tony: “I write all my novels ‘on location’ in southern Africa. My wife, Nicola and I spend six months of each year in Africa and while most of our time is spent camping in our tent, occasionally we lash out and spend a night or two in a self-catering bungalow in the Kruger National Park, like this one. You can see the reality of life on the road intruding in the form of the washing up hanging behind me.”

 

Tony: “OK, so this is a staged PR shot of me at work, in Zimbabwe, which I had taken for an article the Sydney Morning Herald did on me. I don’t really work out under the blazing sun in the middle of a swamp. The Herald wanted a pic of me in a savannah and as there weren’t any savannahs in downtown Harare, where we were at the time, this tiny local wildlife park had to suffice! I usually work under an awning or in my tent, with the doors open and a view out over the bush. I often see game walking past – impalas, elephant, sometimes the odd warthog usually. Once, in Zimbabwe, I was tapping away at the laptop and looked out towards a waterhole about 200 metres from where we were based and watched a pride of seven lions bring down a buffalo. It’s hard not to be inspired working in the great outdoors in Africa, and there’s no excuse for writer’s block.”

 

Tony:  “Nicola and I go out for a game drive, looking at animals, just after dawn most mornings. Generally we come back to camp before it gets too hot, and that’s when I work, but sometimes we spend the whole day out in the bush.In some of the places we go you can get out of your car (though generally this a no-no). This dam in the Kruger National Park is one of my favourite places. It’s on a 4×4 trail and you are allowed out of your vehicle for a break. I was working here just the other day, on the laptop, watching hippos and crocs while I wrote. I draw a lot on the natural environment and the locations I’m in for my books. I worked off the laptop’s two-hour battery, which is a good way to ensure I get my daily quota of 2000 words done quick-smart!”

Hmm two hours for 2000 words. I guess you’re a fast typer Tony. I bet its easy to get distracted watching the wildlife and have the battery gone before you know it.

***

And to finish off this blog, to return us to the Aussie shores, is Jaye Ford. I got to read Jaye’s first novel Beyond Fear through my local bookclub and it was well worth the scary nights. 

Jaye:  “I wrote for years from a tiny desk in our family room so when Beyond Fear sold, I knocked out a wall under the house and created this fabulous office. As you can see, I’ve learnt how to spread myself out! It’s tucked into the back of an old rumpus room like a cave and gets called the Bat Cave or the Slave Cave, depending on how the writing is going. I love the wrap around desk and wall behind that keeps everything in arms’ reach. And for inspiration, there’s also a huge wall of books on one side and a window across the room that looks onto our front garden.”

Thanks Jaye, I love the look of your ‘slave cave’. I don’t think we’d care where we had a room, just as long as we had a ‘quiet’ place to write.

I have maybe one more blog to do, so keep an eye out for some more author’s spaces!!

xx

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Category: Events, Guest Blogs, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , ,  5 Comments
17
Sep 2011

Writing spaces part 3

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Okay, I’m back again with the next round of author’s and their special places.   I was hoping to get this up on Friday but I had to work at the shop. But now I have the whole weekend to put this one together. 

This time we’ll start with Cathryn Hein. You would have seen her new book Promises doing the rounds in the papers and displayed in the shops. I was lucky to meet this wonderful lady in person at the RWA conference. (Yes, I met lots of amazing authors there…and i’ll be going again next year lol)

Cathryn: “One of my best writing investments has been this work station and chair. I used to work on an overcrowded old square desk with a cheap office chair but found it too uncomfortable. This set-up allows me to have all my notes spread out and within swivel distance, and being under the window means there’s plenty of light. The chair might look weird but it’s super comfortable. No more aching back! I have more whiteboards – 3 in total – but they’re out of camera shot, as are my overloaded and very messy bookshelves. I was too embarrassed by the state of them to show you!”

***

Mandy Magro is another rural author with her first book Rosalee Station already out. I know she’s already working on book 3, (yep, book 2 already written and will be out next year sometime i’m guessing) so her office must be a happy place to be.

 Mandy: “This is where the magic happens, or so to speak :) Seeing our home is a small 2 bedroom cottage, for now, my office is in the corner of my bedroom…hmph! I love to have photos around me of the people in my life that mean the world to me. My desk is almost taken over by them! The shawl wrapped Grandmother teddy that sits beside my computer was given to me from a very dear friend of mine when my nanna passed away last year. Every time I look at it I have warm memories of all the times I spent with my Nan, kind of like she is watching over me when I write. I have a little Rose Quartz ball which sits in front of the computer, a touch of my spiritual side. Apparently it stops all the nasty computer rays! And seeing I spend so much time in front of the computer I am willing to try anything to stop me from feeling zonked at the end of the day. It may be a small  space but it is my little hideaway where I can lose myself in my fictional world, sometimes while still in my Pj’s…okay…maybe a fair bit of the time while still in my Pj’s. :)”

***

Now I’m very excited to have Monica McInerney on my blog! She has her new book Lola’s Secret due out in October, for release in Australia and Ireland.  This bestselling author dosn’t disappoint with her office view’s either. Just gorgeous!   I’m happy to say Monica has survived the wild and windy of Hurricane Katia in Dublin. (and hopefully she’s back to writing the next book)

Monica: “I write in the attic of our house in innercity Dublin, at a desk tucked in under the roof, with light streaming in through two skylight windows. I have to be careful when I stand up, as the ceiling slopes. I bump my head most days. I started writing my new book Lola’s Secret up here during the December snowstorms, when the view from my window was a winter wonderland. The only sounds I could hear were the fall of snowflakes on the glass and the ticking of the central heating radiators. I wrote draft after draft during spring, and finished the final edits in summer, with the windows wide open. My favourite sound then was the click-click of birds’ feet running across the roof just inches above me. Now I’m starting my new book in autumn, and the clouds are scudding past the window and many of the birds are leaving for warmer climates. The desk is crammed with cups, pens and notebooks, the wall is covered in postcards, photos and a painting of a blue sky, and the floor is piled with paperwork and manuscripts.”

***

Now it seemed a bit harsh to have another author go after Monica’s dreamy snow view of Dublin, so I’ve decided to put my ‘work space’ photo here. (Hey, its only me, I can’t offend myself lol) 

This is my ‘area’ in our office room. The kids have an old school desk in the corner that was once used by me at their age, and at the other end is hubby’s desk area etc. The wall behind me is lined with white cupboards that hold all sorts of sh….crap. (The big silver box under my desk is the golf club secretary box, and the white holder on the side has Progress stuff…but the rest is writing stuff.) And my only craft book Immediate Fiction lol.  I have two special postcards on the side, one from Melissa Doyle and the other from Rach Treasure. They are my ‘OMG I have a postcard from them!’ section. :)

Hope you all enjoyed today’s photo’s. Will have more next week :)

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14
Sep 2011

Writing spaces part 2

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Hopefully you are eagerly waiting to see into the next few authors private writing spaces…I know I am. I find it so fascinating!  Well I won’t dribble on and make you wait.  Here are the next few:

First up I have Rachael Treasure, who is, in my mind, the Queen of the rural genre. Her first book Jillaroo being one of my favourites and her new book The Girl and the Ghost Grey Mare is due out 1st October.

Love that the Penguin’s feature :) Below is her view from the window…I’m jealous!

Rachael: “Here is my writing space! Since moving into a two-bedroom house with my two children a year ago I don’t have the luxury of an office or studio anymore. Instead my writing space is set in a tiny corner of my bedroom. I love having my work space here as I can get up and create in the night at any time I like. Also the view from the desk is stunning. Sometimes the clouds (often painted with rainbows) that pass across the face of the mountain help me to centre myself, appreciate my blessings and get on with my writing. This is my Heavenly Hill!”
***
I have new author Margareta Osborn Kerby whose first book Bella’s Run is due out early next year by Random House. Keep you’re eyes out for that one. (Another fabulous rural fiction).  And this is where Margareta’s magic happens.

Margareta: “It’s a mess! Haven’t had time to clean it up as I’m in the middle of Book 2. This messy space is home for writing books, keeping books (farm), keeping books (CFA)  and for lot’s of other things in between.
Some of the pictures are the ‘book covers’ my son makes up for me, so I keep the dream right there in front of my eye’s. And my RWA first sale ribbon in the dangly thing on the right – it’s just the best!”

Hmm well if thats messy then i’m a monkey’s uncle! Margareta I don’t know what you’re worried about :)

***

Now for historical romance writer, and favourite Australian Romance Author for 2010, Anna Campbell. I’ve just looked at Anna’s award page on her website…OMG! I’d be happy with one of them :)   Her latest book is Midnight’s Wild Passion.

 

 

I must say I love the bookcase in the next picture, nice and full.

Anna: “Hi Fiona! Thank you for asking me to join in. I love learning about other writer’s work spaces. For many years, I had a desk squeezed into the corner of a tiny little flat in Sydney with a wonderful view of the neighbours’ toilet windows. So you can imagine how much I love that now I have a whole office to myself with storage space and a lovely view of the garden. It’s a place where I keep a lot of stuff that makes me smile like special presents from friends and inspirational postcards and my awards.”

***

And the lucky last today is Fleur Mcdonald of Red Dust and Blue Skies fame. Now Fleur’s work space is a bit different than most. Being a farmer, she dosn’t have the luxury of spending her days by the computer. What do you think…could you write a book this way?

Fleur: “At the moment, it’s ‘harvest time’ for us. Our lambs are ready to go to market, it’s shearing time and, being spring, we have to keep a close eye on the sheep, for flies. We usually try the ‘prevention rather than cure’ method and jet everything. So in saying all of that, it’s very busy and I don’t think I’ve had more than one day out of the yards, over the past month.

 So, insaying all of that, my edits are waiting on the seat of my ute, my computer is my constant passenger (along with our new pup Weazel) and when I’m shifting mobs of sheep down the laneway, I’m able to spend a few quiet moments reading the MS, editing and drinkign cups of tea from my thermos!”

***

So there you have it, a few more different work spaces.  Now I still have more authors to come…Cathryn Hein, Mandy Magro, Jaye Ford, Monica McInerney…so keep an eye out.

Also if there are any authors out there who would like to participate, please feel free to email me your work space and I’d be happy to post it. Cheers :)

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Category: Guest Blogs, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , , ,  10 Comments
12
Sep 2011

Writing spaces – part 1

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I don’t know about you guys, but I love getting glimpses into writers lives. It’s one of the reasons I love reading the acknowledgements in the books I love.  So this is what inspired the next few blogs on ‘writing spaces’.  I have asked a few of my writing friends for a snap shot into their lives and of the special place where our characters are born and our stories are made.

My first author is Nicole Alexander, writer of The Bark Cutters and A Changing Land. She is not just a writer but a fourth generation grazier working on her family property which is located 110 km north west of Moree and 100 km west of Goondiwindi near the NSW QLD border.

 

Nicole: “As I’m easily distracted I make sure I can’t look directly out a window, hence my corner position. Having said that when the floods were on in January I did keep my eyes glued to the Boomi River which is just through the window over my right shoulder. About seven years ago I was looking for a new  desk, eventually  I purchased this one, an actual door and then screwed in legs care of Ikea! Presto the perfect length and width.  I have to admit that I tidied my desk for the shot as I’m a great hoarder of resource material.”

***

Next I have the lovely Karly Lane author of North Star.  We both have a similar ‘glitch’ in our writing…a small thing called children. We love them lots but kids don’t understand it when you’re in the ‘zone’ and need to just finish this chapter. Their bellies are more imporant and as mine always say ‘they are going to die if they don’t get something to eat now’.

Karly: “This is ‘control central’! It’s in the corner of my lounge room where I can see what the kids are up too and if I’m writing at night, I can still be  part of the family…I’ve just had to learn to block out noise and write in short snatches of time, but a set of headphones can solve the noise problem when it gets too bad!

I love my cork boards and if you look closely you might see my little bits of inspiration- scrap cotton picked up from the side of the road out around the Namoi area where I got the inspiration for Morgan’s Law, which you might also see, sitting on my desk going through edits!”

***

Now I bet you’re eager to see more, I know I am.

This next author has a rather different ‘spot’ where she writes.  Helene Young, author of Wings of Fear and Shattered Sky, is a busy pilot. And winner of the Romantic book of the Year award!! (I really like the pilot cap in the picture, Helene. It’s always great that an author knows what she’s writing about.)

Helene: ‘Being in a day job that involves travel has some advantages – someone else vacuums the floor and the towels are always dry – but it’s fortunate that I’m not fussy about where I write. Provided I have power for my laptop, internet connection (for research purposes only, honestly!!) and a comfy seat, I sink into my story and my surroundings disappear.’

***

A huge thank you to these lovely ladies for sharing their writing spaces with us, also the other authors which are yet to come.  (Fleur Mcdonald, Rachael Treasure, Margareta Osborn Kerby and Cathryn Hein.)

Keep an eye out…I have more coming soon.  :)

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Category: Everyday Life, Guest Blogs, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , ,  6 Comments
19
Jun 2011

Articles & Interviews

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Just thought i’d share with you an interview I did with Booktopia. They have a brilliant website with lots of interviews from your favourite authors, so if you haven’t already…check them out. Lots of great stuff.

And an article in the Herald Sun about rural authors! Go rural fiction!! *I need pom poms to shake lol*

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15
May 2011

Pressing send

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“Magic was happening.  For Sarah, even from an early age, she felt the energy around her from the land.  This afternoon was no different.”

That is the start for Sarah’s Journey…for the moment at least before the editors get a hold of it!!

So on Friday I finally finished my last minute read through before sending Sarah’s Journey off.  I was so excited, happy and felt like celebrating…and then I realised I still had to send it off to the publishers! Oh what was I thinking…was it good enough…the last part was a bit cheesy and the bit in the middle was saggy…wasn’t it? Crikey I don’t know…one minute I think it was okay and then in the next breath I feel like everything I wrote was utter crap.  (I’m really selling the book arn’t I, LOL)

I’ve got even more reason to be scared and to keep a lid on my excitement…because my first attempt at Sarah’s Journey wasn’t accepted.  I won’t go into detail the horror I felt after hearing the news…especially as I was so sure I was getting better at this writing game. So after feeling horrible for a day I had a pow wow with my wonderful publisher who explained in detail her thoughts…and funny enough I could totally see her point. The first draft was still okay…but my third book she wanted better.  Hear that readers, she’s looking out for you and me…so I don’t produce something sub-standard.  So I should be happy right? Well I am because I believe this second version is much better.  But i’m not listening to me…i’ve been wrong before.  But by the end of next week I should hear the news…bad or good.

So if you don’t hear from me late next week….it’s bad news and i’m still sulking LOL.  I’m sure they will publish it, i’m more worried about any more changes needed etc. 

Well thats where i’m at for the moment. I’m in limbo, just waiting…and catching up on housework. I don’t feel like starting my fourth book just yet. Still have Sarah on my mind.

Sarah’s story is about her journey of finding out where she belongs and what she really wants.

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Category: Books, Sarah's Journey, The Writer's Life  Tags: , , , ,  5 Comments
26
Mar 2011

Re-working

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At the moment i’m waiting for my camera to be posted back to me, so until then I can’t put up any blogs of my south-west tour of WA. (Sorry…but have no fear i’ll be blogging a minute by minute blog of the whole trip!! Only jokes…wouldn’t want you all to fall asleep at the computer)  None the less i’m using my free time with the re-writing of book 3…AKA Sarah’s Journey. (working title…with my track record it probably wont stay. I can write a book but can’t pick a title lol)

I finished my first draft of Sarah’s Journey in January, but after talks with my publisher Ali we have decided on some changes…some big and some small.  While I was doing my tour my mum came along to keep me company so I had help to plan out some new conflicts and themes for Sarah’s Journey. Spending lots of time travelling we had plenty of opportunities to brain storm…one time I couldn’t sleep and was rattling on to mum about different ideas…me wide awake and brain going a million miles an hour…my mum tired and probably wanting to hit me with a pillow and tell me to shut up. (She didn’t bless her…but I got the hint)

So I arrived home with heaps of ideas and planned out all the new bits, sent it off to Ali who gave the big thumbs up. (Thank god) Now in case you are wondering, the first draft of Sarah’s Journey was fine…but only if I was just after a romance story.   The wonderful Ali could see more potential.  Now I trust her judgement as Ali has been in the business for many years, with all these amazing authors she works with, Monica McInerney, Rachael Treasure, Katherine Scholes, (who has a new book out which i’m looking forward to reading) and many more just to name a few.  Quite frankly i’m just totally thrilled (beside myself in awe really) to be associated with her, Penguin and these ‘wow’ authors. Therefore i’m very open to changing whatever i’ve written and once things have been pointed out, i’m like…OMG I can totally see that saggy bit or how not important that person is etc. So it’s great to have someone in my corner, who is there to help and bring certain things to my attention, seeing as I don’t have a crit partner to help me…just my mum, but she says all my stuffs great lol!

So now the fun part of re-reading and re-working all those words i’ve written begins. Deleting…changing…adding…until hopefully a much better product is produced.  I’m aiming to get this done within two months but I’m not going to kill myself to keep that timeline.  Life happens! I’ll just go with the flow.

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Category: Sarah's Journey, The Writer's Life, Writing  Tags: , , ,  2 Comments
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