This week I was to share the video above. This was a real gem of a You Tube video I discovered through Paula Reed Nancarrow. Isn't it fablulous?!

If you want to find more gems related to writing, take a look at Paula's blog. She'll make you very welcome.

Happy weekend all - and I hope you get your typewriter/laptop dancing through a word count!

Lou x

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This was my 'I have just collected my wedding dress face'. It's not the most flattering photo of me (thank you pre-holiday paleness, goofy grin and crappy phone camera!) but it makes me smile even now. 

I picked up the dress from my seamstress (mainly a couple of inches taken off the bottom - short-ass!), and drove away on Cloud 9. You can just about see the plum coloured box I bought (from Empty Box) to transport my precious cargo in. 

I love my dress!

I promised a post showing you the actual dress in the near future - when life finally gets back to normal and I have a little more time. 

In the mean time, why not check out my other wedding related blog posts?

Lou x

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No, before you start, I'm not going to blog about Twlight. Or any other vampire literature. And I've never written a piece about vampires. Zombies, yes (check out DAWN OF THE DINERS!), but never vampires... as of yet!

I'm asking you today, are you, as a writer, a vampire?

What am I getting at?

Do you suck the life blood from other writers?

Do you put other writers down? Everyone needs a bit of encouragement sometimes - even the big players! No one writes because they hate to write, everyone is just trying to express themselves. Next time you're at a networking meeting, writers group or contributing to a forum online, try to check if you're being constructively critical (if you need to critique) and be nice!

Are you drawn to myths and legends?

Vampires are often drawn to stories and tales of fantasy occurrences. Being a fan of this genre isn't anything to worry about, but don't let it become a blood-sucking obsession. There's a whole plethora of themes and genres out there for you to explore - don't limit yourself to what you're familiar with. Try romance or comedy, for example. You might find your calling!

Do you close the curtains in your study to keep out the sunlight?

If you're overly sensitive to sunlight, then you might want to take a closer look at your situation. You may not be a fully-fledged vampire, but I'd make sure you are getting some form of light during the day. Hiding in your study or bedroom all day furiously typing or thinking your way out of your current creative block isn't healthy. An absence of natural light can reduce creativity, make your brain work slower, and everyone needs a bit of vitamin A. Get some sunglasses and go for a walk at lunch time - the fresh air will do you good! 

Are you nocturnal?

Does writing at night work for you? Well, I suggest you stay with that tactic, then, if it's how you work best, but I recommend you keep away from garlic. Make sure you are getting enough sleep though as this can affect how productive you are whatever time you sit down to write. 

Check out Gaia Online for tips on how to cope best if you're a nocturnal writer. 

Do you bleed through your work?

There's a famous quote from Ernest Hemingway: "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Put your heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into your writing, and it'll work. Your readers will see the passion you have and connect with the story. It's hard work, exhausting and a long process, but if you really work hard and put all you have into your piece, you'll achieve. 

For more about bleeding in writing, check out this post from Quote Investigator. 

Do you suffer from vampire-like mood swings?

No one likes a moody housemate/spouse/offspring. And writers can be this. So, my advice is, check yourself. Try to write to make yourself happy, and embrace the tough times. Some days you'll feel the muse, others you won't. Try not to take it out on your family and friends - they don't deserve it, chances are, and if they do, subtly put them in your novel and kill them off! 

Have you ever melted in the sunlight?

Oh, ok, time to stop!

I hope you get my point, anyway. You are a writer. So, write! Write your own stuff, get creative and...

For more traits of vampires, visit Real Vampires. Give yourself the full check-up!

If you're disappointed this isn't a post about how to write a vampire novel, check out these tips from WikiHow and another from Inanna Arthen: Think Outside The Coffin.

Lou x

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Image courtesy of Vampire Bibliographica

How good do you feel when you drop your milk bottle into your recycling bin?

Do you think 'ahhh, doing some good to the world!' as you stuff your newspapers into the recycling bank?

FANTASTIC! KEEP GOING!

However, I want to challenge you today about your recycling habits. More and more people are recycling in the UK, and that's excellent, but it is time for moving forward and doing more.

"Recycling can be a cop-out for consumers, making us feel justified about buying stuff in excessive packaging." That's what Katherine, writer for Treehugger says. I know what she means - so what if you're doing the norm and recycling your household waste like a good resident? That's not the 21st century point of waste management!

Have you heard of waste minimisation?

It's what comes when you've been recycling happily for a while and have got the hang of it. The idea of this is, yes, recycling your waste wherever possible is great, but not producing the waste in the first place is even better. 

Some ideas to get you going...

1. Let's start with an easy one... Choose to use reusable bags when you go shopping. This will reduce the amount of plastic bags created, used, and thrown away. There are some dead trendy reusable bags out there, but your old backpack will work just as well. 

2. Try to buy products with less packaging. The coconut, for example, solves shipping problems by having it's own perfectly suitable packaging in the husk, so avoid shrink wrapped coconuts or ones sold in boxes. And if you can't reduce the packaging, try to choose materials whoch are more readily recycled - check with your local Council for info on your area, but most places seem to accept glass, card and paper, and plastic bottles.

Do be aware of packaging myths though - most packaging is there to keep the food fresh and protects it in transport.

3. What to do with old jam jars...? Know someone who's into pickling or making jam? They will welcome your donations. 

4. Donate your unwanted but completely fine clothes/furniture/household goods to charity shops. There's a huge market for second hand items, both from the more and less affluent members of society. Not throwing these items in the bin saves them from landfill and puts them to good use. You'll also be helping out a charity - a double 'feel-good' whammy!

5. Cut down on unwanted mail by putting a small sign on your front door politely asking for no more junk mail or free newspapers. This also applies to Junk Mail. Visit MPS ONLINE to register for mail preference services (UK only). You can also register previous addressees and people who have passed away so this mail no longer comes through your letterbox.  

6. Use rechargeable batteries to save on disposal of old batteries - but even better, use the mains wherever possible. If you're worried about the old 'leccy bill increasing, copy my cheapskate-ness and charge your phone at work!

There are still some people who don't recycle, but most of us are making the effort. And if you go one step further with waste minimisation ideas, you can start to be aware of how much waste and recycling you're generating and work on reducing it to a more healthy, sustainable level. 

Feel that joy in recycling - just try to expand on that and make your world a greener more joyful, self-satisfied place!

If you want to know more, a good place to have a read is “Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson and “Garbology” by Edward Humes. They come well recommended. 

Lou x

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Born To be A Tourist