Just a quick post today, as I am determined not to let this blog fall by the wayside again!
Today I have been blessed with a rare bit of peace and quiet - boyfster is on night shifts and so currently asleep upstairs, sproglet is away at her mums, and the cat is out sniffing things in the garden.
Time to stop watching Buffy repeats on Syfy, and get some writing done!
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Friday, 14 February 2014
Busy doing Nothin'
A few years ago on Valentines day, I spent the evening consoling my housemate, whose boyfriend was stuck at work. Everyone else it seemed was having such an amazing evening, just look at all their posts on facebook; every other post was a picture of flowers, cards, chocolates (or worse yet a photo of plate of food) and gushing posts about how lovely their other halves all were.
I stand by what I said at the time, I doubt very much that the people having the best valentines day were the ones posting about it every few minutes on facebook! Lets be honest, if you're really having that good a time with the person you are with, facebook will be the last thing on your mind!
And yes that really is going to be my excuse for neglecting this blog - I've been having too good a time to stop and post about it!
In all seriousness, this blog was supposed to be about my writing (cat pictures? What cat pictures? *Ahem*) and for the last 9 months or so my writing has taken something of a back-seat.
My little family of me and the cat has more than doubled, and now includes boyfster, sproglet and a tank full of guppies.
To say it has been a busy year would be a massive understatement!
But things are settling down, I am no longer living between two homes, fish cats children and books are all finally under one roof, and this weekend I am looking forward to getting back to some quality writing time!
Hurrah!
I stand by what I said at the time, I doubt very much that the people having the best valentines day were the ones posting about it every few minutes on facebook! Lets be honest, if you're really having that good a time with the person you are with, facebook will be the last thing on your mind!
And yes that really is going to be my excuse for neglecting this blog - I've been having too good a time to stop and post about it!
In all seriousness, this blog was supposed to be about my writing (cat pictures? What cat pictures? *Ahem*) and for the last 9 months or so my writing has taken something of a back-seat.
My little family of me and the cat has more than doubled, and now includes boyfster, sproglet and a tank full of guppies.
And some cannibalistic Tetra, but they are still in my bad books
But things are settling down, I am no longer living between two homes, fish cats children and books are all finally under one roof, and this weekend I am looking forward to getting back to some quality writing time!
Hurrah!
Friday, 31 May 2013
Note to Self...
Well before the whole of May goes by without a single post (how did that happen?!?!?!?!) here's an update on what I have been up to...
Reading this!
So excited to finally have my hands on this book, but to do it justice I will save that for another post!
The big news this month is that I have (finally) reached a point where I have a complete readable draft! So I am currently annotating my way through this...
I have some big plot holes to fill, and a character whose gender currently changes mid-chapter (I changed my mind, that's all!) and a whole bunch of clunky sentences to fix, but it's getting there!
The more professional editors and writers amongst you will no doubt be familiar with the standard editing symbols. I however seem to rely on a series of smiley faces, frowny faces, scribbly red pen, and pencilled comments in the margins!
For your viewing pleasure...
Reading this!
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| ACID - Emma Pass |
So excited to finally have my hands on this book, but to do it justice I will save that for another post!
The big news this month is that I have (finally) reached a point where I have a complete readable draft! So I am currently annotating my way through this...
I have some big plot holes to fill, and a character whose gender currently changes mid-chapter (I changed my mind, that's all!) and a whole bunch of clunky sentences to fix, but it's getting there!
The more professional editors and writers amongst you will no doubt be familiar with the standard editing symbols. I however seem to rely on a series of smiley faces, frowny faces, scribbly red pen, and pencilled comments in the margins!
For your viewing pleasure...
I'm not always that harsh on myself - there are plenty of smiley faces too!
Right, back into the writing cave I go! See you next month!
Monday, 8 April 2013
Books, books, everywhere...
I spent last weekend putting up what I think will have to be the final bookcase in my house. I have run out of room, but not run out of books! I clearly need to get a bit creative...
Walls made of books maybe?
Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'top shelf'...
wonder what books get kept up there?
Saves on wallpapering too!
Includes hidey-holes for Le Cat
I love this idea! Trying to figure out if I can get it to work on my stairs. Although, I have enough trouble with the cat tripping me up every morning though, so maybe not the safest idea!
Now this is how you make bookshelves out of a staircase!
I'd love to see that the rest of the house looks like.
Right. I'm off to stash more books away!
Monday, 25 March 2013
It's like a disease, I swear...
The result of an evening 'browsing' on Amazon, with a glass of wine in my hand...
Still, Fran seems to approve! (Though it might just be the box she's after)
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Monday, 18 March 2013
Judging a Book by its Cover
I've always thought 'Don't judge a book by its cover' was a pretty crappy analogy for anything because, well, what else are you supposed to judge a book by if not its cover?
I'm not talking about books you've read, re-read, the ones you've given up on halfway through - I'm talking about the shiny new books on the bookshelf, the ones with clean uncracked spines - the ones that whisper buy me buy me as you walk past...
But assuming you also need to pay your rent this month and can't spent your entire salary on books what do you base your decision on?
If you care about the opinions of strangers you might check out some reviews. If you trust your friends taste in books you might listen to their recommendations. You might have some favourite authors - I'm on a Darren Shan kick at the moment (demons, vampires, zombies - he's not let me down yet!) But if you're hanging round a bookshop, killing time on a rainy lunch break what have you really got to go on Yep, that's right, the cover.
Here are a few books I have bought lately based on nothing but the front cover:
Who is this girl? What's with the weird lava demons reaching for her feet? Why does she not look remotely scared by her surroundings. And if I take her hand will she lead me out of this Hell-hole or will she rip my face off. Judging by the look on her face and the fact that her name is 'Anna Dressed in Blood' it could go either way. Awesome. Buying it!
One word... DRAGONS!
It goes both ways though. There's a particular book I ignored for about four years because the front cover was so rubbish. It wasn't until the fourth in the series came out with a Dragon on the front that I thought it might be worth a read...
I mean come on... What were they thinking?
I'm not talking about books you've read, re-read, the ones you've given up on halfway through - I'm talking about the shiny new books on the bookshelf, the ones with clean uncracked spines - the ones that whisper buy me buy me as you walk past...
But assuming you also need to pay your rent this month and can't spent your entire salary on books what do you base your decision on?
If you care about the opinions of strangers you might check out some reviews. If you trust your friends taste in books you might listen to their recommendations. You might have some favourite authors - I'm on a Darren Shan kick at the moment (demons, vampires, zombies - he's not let me down yet!) But if you're hanging round a bookshop, killing time on a rainy lunch break what have you really got to go on Yep, that's right, the cover.
Here are a few books I have bought lately based on nothing but the front cover:
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| 'Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-gets-sucked-into-Hell story' |
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| Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. |
This picture doesn't really do the book justice. The writing and the spine of the book are gold, as is the keyhole around image - and as for the illustrations inside...
These had me reaching for my pencils and dusting off the sketch pad - beautiful!
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| This is the year Blue will be drawn into the strange and sinister world of The Raven Boys. And the year Blue discovers magic really does exist |
I'm not normally one for romance, even the doomed and torturous kind, but I was swayed by the Poe-esque ravens and mention of magic!
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| Seraphina hides a secret - the secret behind her musical gift - and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger . . . |
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| September is a twelve-year-old girl, Somewhat Grown and Somewhat Heartless, and she longs for adventure. |
One word... DRAGONS!
Yep, sometimes that's all it takes.
It goes both ways though. There's a particular book I ignored for about four years because the front cover was so rubbish. It wasn't until the fourth in the series came out with a Dragon on the front that I thought it might be worth a read...
I mean come on... What were they thinking?
Friday, 1 March 2013
Friday, 15 February 2013
Yet another well thought out post...
You may have noticed things have got a little daft the past few weeks... Well there is good reason for that! Quite simply, less blogging equals more writing!
So without further ado:
Right. Chapter 21 prepare to be rearranged!
Later!
So without further ado:
Right. Chapter 21 prepare to be rearranged!
Later!
Friday, 8 February 2013
I kinda love this kid...
Daniel Radcliffe is kind of terrible at staying humble
May have snorted tea out my nose at 1:03... 'We're doing the same thing Jake!!!'
Happy weekend everyone!!!
Friday, 1 February 2013
Friday, 11 January 2013
Ebay, books and guinea pigs... Bring on 2013
A rather belated Happy New Year everyone!
Well January is already sneaking on by, and I have yet to decide what I want to do with the year! Time for a new year checklist I think...
Well January is already sneaking on by, and I have yet to decide what I want to do with the year! Time for a new year checklist I think...
- Well the first has nothing whatsoever to do with writing... This time last year I moved house. I went from renting a single room in a shared house, to renting a two bedroom house - so why do I have no room for all my stuff?!?!?! It's insane. I need to have a clear out. I am also ridiculously overdrawn after Christmas so I think an epic ebay session is needed!
- Next on the list is my stack of books to read! It's possible it might be taller than me now. I considered making a rule that I can't buy any new books until I've read one on the list but... but... not buying books?!?!?!?! I've already given up chocolate and alcohol this week - books is all I have left!
- I also have grand writing plans this year, some semi-secret, some top secret and some... not secret at all! I'll be needing some guinea pigs soon (obv not real ones, though that would be cute!) to test my writing on...if I'm brave enough!
Monday, 31 December 2012
12 Things I have learnt in 2012...
Well it's New Years Eve, and as I prepare to put on my glad-rags and dance the new year in, I thought I would take a few moments between painting my nails and curling my hair to have a think about some of the things I have learnt this year...
1) There is no such thing as too many pairs of shoes
2) There is such thing as too many dogs...
3) Missing a vital letter from the word 'count' is not the worst typo you can make...
4) ...neither is accidentally putting three 'x's at the end of a message to your boss.
5) Offence is taken, not given.
6) Not all lost cats find there way home.
7) Your best friends are not necessarily the ones you have known the longest.
8) Honey makes an excellent burn remedy.
9) It's all well and good having people support your every move, but sometimes you need someone to remind you of the things you can't (and shouldn't do)
10) Smoked haddock is the devils food.
11) Blood is thicker than water - but so is yogurt
12) If you're too drunk to log onto twitter... you probably shouldn't be on there...
Happy New Year everyone! Here's to 2013!!!
1) There is no such thing as too many pairs of shoes
2) There is such thing as too many dogs...
3) Missing a vital letter from the word 'count' is not the worst typo you can make...
4) ...neither is accidentally putting three 'x's at the end of a message to your boss.
5) Offence is taken, not given.
6) Not all lost cats find there way home.
7) Your best friends are not necessarily the ones you have known the longest.
8) Honey makes an excellent burn remedy.
9) It's all well and good having people support your every move, but sometimes you need someone to remind you of the things you can't (and shouldn't do)
10) Smoked haddock is the devils food.
11) Blood is thicker than water - but so is yogurt
12) If you're too drunk to log onto twitter... you probably shouldn't be on there...
Happy New Year everyone! Here's to 2013!!!
Friday, 30 November 2012
This post has been a long time coming...
At least once I week I end up typing the phrase 'literaty tattoos' into google, more often than not I end up on contrariwise (which you should all go look at after reading this post!) I can't believe it has taken me over a year to get round to doing a tattoo post!
That being said, if I'd done this a year ago I might not have had quite so much to share...
Shakespeare
Neil Gaiman - Sandman
Harry Potter
Lemony Snicket
So what's with the numbers? Ah well, four of these tats are not from contariwise, but are my very own skin and ink!
Prizes to those who guess which four are mine*!
*Prizes may be virtual
That being said, if I'd done this a year ago I might not have had quite so much to share...
Shakespeare
Hamlet
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Henry VIII
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The Tempest
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Neil Gaiman - Sandman
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Harry Potter
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Lemony Snicket
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So what's with the numbers? Ah well, four of these tats are not from contariwise, but are my very own skin and ink!
Prizes to those who guess which four are mine*!
*Prizes may be virtual
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