It's not you, it's my muse. 

Sometimes writing just does not work out. Sometimes it's good to take things slow. Sometimes the universe even helps you along a little bit by blowing up your hard drive or killing your power. It can be a good thing. 

It’s okay to let life get in the way of your writing sometimes. Really. I am an advocate for taking well-deserved breaks, welcoming the refreshing 'new eyes' when you return to your work in progress, the inspiration you can gather, and the new outlook you have on life. 

I'm not the busiest writer in the world, but I try to get out a writing related blog a week, a travel one when I'm inspired (often!), the odd story competition, a feature column once a month for MK Pulse Magazine, and of course, working on that novel so reluctant to make it to page. Sometimes I forget there's more to my lunch times and I should go out for some fresh air, but I love my craft. Sometimes too much.

No one wants to ruin a good thing you've got going on by rushing things. So, this weekend, if you're writing, try to take things slow. No pressure!

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist

Image courtesy of Derek Erdman

So this is my last blog for two weeks as I'm off to volunteering the internet-free grasslands of South Africa. It had better be a good post this week!

I saw the film adaptation of 'Life of Pi' last week. I was a little apprehensive (not least because Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' wasn't my cup of tea), as the book made quite an impression on me when I read it last year. Would the film stand up to the Hollywood test?

Yes, it did. It was just like the book and the CGI was incredible. But this is not a film review - did one of those much too recently. So today, I ask you to consider what 'Life of Pi' teaches us about writing. 

You know the old phrase "the truth is stranger than fiction..." 'Life of Pi' gives encourages us to go places with our stories, use your artistic license, but don't go too far - unless, of course, it's a complete fantasy world you are creating.  

"'So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can't prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?' Mr. Okamoto: 'That's an interesting question?' Mr. Chiba: 'The story with animals.' Mr. Okamoto: 'Yes. The story with animals is the better story.' Pi Patel: 'Thank you. And so it goes with God.'"

Chapter 99, page 317

Feeling overwhelmed with rejection letters? Keep going. As a writer, you can't quit. If you really want to have something published, you won't unless you try. Everyone loves an underdog. Keep at it. You'll get there.

When Pi loses all his supplies in the storm when his make-shift raft is destroyed, he's lost almost everything. 

How does this relate to writers? Well, there are several ways. 

Literal: Do not forget to back up your work. If your laptop dies, you'll be stuck. 

Actual writing reflection: Try other things - don't just work on your novel. There are other ways to make money, to write, and to grow your mind and imagination. Also, try new outlets for your writing. So what if one magazine didn't like your creations? Try somewhere new. This is especially pertinent in this economic age where publications are closing all the time. 

Don't be afraid to name your characters unusual or made-up names. Even better if you can explain how they got their name. 

Were they conceived in the town they were named after?

Was it the heroine's name in their mum's favourite book?

Did the midwife help in childbirth so much so that the parents named their baby after her?


Let your imagination flourish!

When Piscine re-brands himself as 'Pi', he's building a personal brand, re-inventing himself. Sure, writers don't need re-branding to stop school bullies, but thinking about how you come across as a writer is an essential consideration. 

Try using standard images for when you post about your books (e.g. cover photo), try linking your Facebook, Twitter, website with the same header image, and think about your appearance when you do private or public events. 

I don't enjoy reading (auto)biographies very often, but if you find the right person with a good story, they can be stunning. Pi's 200 odd days at sea with a tiger is way up there in terms of fascinating. 

Do you have any autobiographies you would recommend? Or are you working on a similar story just now? 

Keep up the writing. If you believe in yourself and your talent, you will achieve something. I am sure the greatest writers among us did not expect fame and fortune, as much as they would have wished for it. 

No written word makes it to publishing without courage and endurance from the writer. 

"As an aside, story of sole survivor, Mr. Piscine Molitor Patel, Indian citizen, is an astounding story of courage and endurance in the face of extraordinarily difficult and tragic circumstances." 

Final paragraph from 'Life of Pi'. 

Interlinking genres in your writing is also ok, so why not add some crime to your romance, or some horror to your historical novel? Spice it up, challenge the boundaries of your story. What new twists to the plot and new characters might it lead to?

So what do you think? Did the 'Life of Pi' inspire your writing in anyway?

I'm leaving you for two weeks while I'm on holiday, volunteering in Krueger National Park, South Africa for an environmental charity.

Stay safe, keep writing. See you at the end of the month!

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist

Kidding. Kinda. 

To celebrate the end to another fantastic 'Stargazing Live' series last night, today I am posting an article I had published in MK Pulse Magazine (April 2011). The nation has yet again been wrapped up in a three day treat of astronomy and physics - and we've loved it! Physics was my least favourite science at school and I lapped it up. And I'm not even a Brian Cox Babe. Well done Dara, Prof Cox and team - here's to January 2014!

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Astronomy - Accidentally Awesome

His heroic, immortalising space flight may have only lasted just longer than a football match, but Yuri Gagarin’s 1hr 48 minute voyage orbiting the Earth was the first penetration of space for humans during the Space Race of the 1960’s. On 12th April 2011, it [was] the 50th anniversary of the first man launching into ‘the final frontier’, but how has space exploration and research in the 21st century become so popular?

An interest in space exploration is no longer limited to a couple of science geeks in the front row in a Milton Keynes secondary school, but enthusiasm for the dynamic subject has boomed in recent years and astronomy has become “cool”. What child doesn’t love Buzz Lightyear and the spaceman featured on Kellogg’s Ricicles cereal boxes? Who hasn’t been entranced by the stories of the Northern Lights by Philip Pullman? We’ve even seen the beginnings of shuttle tourism. But why the sudden interest, half a century after the first space flight?

When everyone’s feeling the pinch in this financially challenging climate, astro-tourism is free. That’s got to be a good reason for the night sky’s popularity! Once you have a good set of binoculars or a telescope, all you need to view the sky from our very own rotating platform on Earth is a clear night. And when decent telescopes can be purchased for less than £100, it’s a small price to pay for the wonderment on your kids’ faces when staring skywards, their mouths gaping. Christmas sales of telescopes at John Lewis increased by 148% last year, and at the biggest observatory in the Midlands (Keele University), visitor numbers are up.

Of course, you can always use the view from your own eyes – free! A surprising amount of stars, constellations and even planets are visible to the naked eye. Dan Hillier, from the UK Astronomy Centre, Edinburgh, agrees. He says all you need to be doing is “looking up – that, you can do anywhere.” And if it’s cloudy, there’s always the DVD alternative, with hundreds of large and small budget space-based films available from your local library, and the new thriller ‘Apollo 18’ is being released to cinemas later this year [Ed - 2011].

Astronomy has become much more of an ‘every-man’s’ topic of conversation due partially to the exciting astronomical events we’ve seen this winter. The partial solar eclipse at dawn on 4th January sent many people off to work with heads bursting with intergalactic thoughts. Seeing amazing sights first hand really makes space seem closer to home and more accessible to all. We Milton Keynes residents can’t help but feel a little special too compared to the rest of the UK, as most of the country was under cloud cover that morning – let alone the fact that most people globally were still              The Milky Way
under the cover of darkness.

Astronomy has become much more of an ‘every-man’s’ topic of conversation due partially to the exciting astronomical events we’ve seen this winter. The partial solar eclipse at dawn on 4th January sent many people off to work with heads bursting with intergalactic thoughts. Seeing amazing sights first hand really makes space seem closer to home and more accessible to all. We Milton Keynes residents can’t help but feel a little special too compared to the rest of the UK, as most of the country was under cloud cover that morning – let alone the fact that most people globally were still under the cover of darkness. 

The rise of social media, the ever-widening use of the internet for information, and the sheer number of television channels available has undoubtedly had a large influence on the growth of astronomy in the UK. You only have to look at the huge popularity of the BBC’s Professor Brian Cox – a friendly, un-patronising expert who excites even the most anti-galactic housewife! He’s collected over 36,000 Facebook fans, and is fast approaching a Celebrity Chef kind of status, but for physics. Prof Cox’s recent show ‘Wonders of the Universe’ proved this by netting over 3.6 million viewers for the opening episode in March 2011. 

Recent levels of interest may also have something to do with the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. You may not have heard of it in its full official title, but schools were presented with telescopes, and you may have noticed more TV documentaries and press coverage on everything intergalactic just over a year ago [Ed - 2010], to name a couple of the projects which ran that year. Conveniently, a special show even opened locally in the Milton Keynes sky on 7th August 2009 when a meteor burst into miniscule pieces (but perfectly positioned!) miles above us – a treat for any stargazer, amateur or otherwise. 

The further you can get from sources of urban light pollution (street lights, light from houses etc.), the easier it is to look out into space. Modern photography technology has only improved this, with space exhibitions much more visual and colourfully enhanced nowadays, compared to the early grey and grainy images of the Moon landings. These photos show that there are more possibilities than we ever thought, from Mercury to Pluto, out in the black vacuum of space. 

So before the darker nights of winter disappear into longer summer evenings, get out into Campbell Park, Willen Lakes, or your local school field, and see what you can discover. 50 years after his brave and ground-breaking trip, Yuri Gagarin would have wanted you to get involved! 

Where will astronomy be 50 years from now?

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Want to know more? Got the bug? Why not take a look at the free booklet on stargazing from the Open University? 

What's the most interesting thing you've seen in the night sky?

See you next week!

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist

Milky Way photo courtesy of In The Universe

I've finally done it. I've combined my two biggest loves in life, travelling and writing, into one and started a travel blog. I was reluctant, as I don't want it to be all me-me-me, look at my travels, but I have thought hard and this is more than just a travel diary. Dot com.

I am in the early stages so far, as it was only launched this weekend, but with over 130 views already, it's off to a good start. Why not take a look if you fancy reading something new?

What can you expect to find on my new blog?

So far, I have blogged:

10 Travel Websites Worth Bookmarking
A Geek Abroad
1100 Miles To Rome
12 Tips To Save You Money While Travelling

In my latest post I share with you the secret to enjoying Egypt. 

Future plans include some UK tourism, Free Things To Do In Chicago, and top tips for camping with kids. Let me know what you think, I'd welcome any comments!

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist

Image oourtesy of Angel In The North