It's Friday! Who isn't feeling that?! 

Shopping, wining and dining, seeing friends... But before I get too carried away, I'm going to consider what writing at the weekend could do for me and that novel which is sulking quietly in the corner. It could save our relationship!

I'm feeling like I can hardly call myself a writer this week. The week has flown by; I've only really managed to write some really flashy flash fiction prompted by the fabulous #TwitterFiction festival and I've contributed absolutely nothing to my novel. The weekend is stretching out before me and I need to use it wisely.

Now, I'm not crazy. I am not suggesting I spend my entire hard-earned 48 hours off working on my current Work In Progress (or WIP, I learnt the other day!), but an hour or two could do it the world of good. I've blogged before about being surprised to find you have more time than you realise, and as a writer, I obviously enjoy the work writing involves - perhaps more than my actual day job sometimes! 

One tip for writing at the weekend I'd suggest is working with someone else. In the past, this has encouraged me, disciplined me, and has delivered me willing participant who will congratulate me when the work's done. Suzie, a writer friend of mine, and I did a #5kwordcountpact one weekend and it really helped keep me going. Having a goal really focusses the mind and gives you something to work towards. Take a look on Twitter to see how we progressed on the #5kwordcountpact. And no, the tweets didn't count as part of our wordcount! Writer buddies can be found all over the internet, so finding the right partner can be easy. I'd start by sending out a call on Twitter, or browsing writer forums. 

Or perhaps you fancy a Day of Writing Dangerously, like my friend Sarah? Grab your laptop or notepad and begin a local cafe coffee crawl and bash out a few caffeine fuelled hours. You could aim for 1,000 words in your first cafe or coffee, and increase this as you increase your intake of the good stuff.

Too late, you can't run now! You've been prompted!

Writing prompts seem to be all the rage in writerly circles at the moment, so here’s one for you, inspired by a lively weekend away in Bournemouth with my sister and cousins.

Create a story using one, some or all of these quotes. Post your flash, short stories or poems below in the comments box. I look forward to seeing what you can produce.

“I got my fix…”                                                               Warning - weather is not like this in  
                                                                                           Bournemouth in November!!!  
“You punched me in the egg!”                                                     
                                                                                                              
“GEORGE!!!”                                                                    
                                                                                       
“Guess how we’re related?” 
 
“You got God’s phone number and you lost it!” 
                             
“He’s a DJ but I’m the one with all the money. I carry him, really.”

“It’s a once in a lifetime offer.”


"Wow, 27 hey, you look good for it!"

“Pour me something green.”

Lou x

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 Photo courtesy of Anglo-European College of Chiropractic 

I've been tagged in "The Next Big Thing" blog hop. 

"What does this mean?!" I hear you cry.

The idea of 'The Next Big Thing' blog hop is that I write a blog post answering the questions below and mentioning the person who tagged me, the brilliant Philp Bell. At the end of it I tag other writers I love in the chain and they take the baton.

So who's Philip Bell?

Philip Bell, from the Isle of Wight, tagged me this month in this blog hop. He's a dad of two, which puts him in a great position to works for an award winning, family run, indie publisher of kids' books, Beachy Books. Philip's into 'life and humour' and his writing certainly reflects this. Take a look at his 'Next Big Thing' blog too, while you're online and catching up on your blog reads!

I'm instructed by Philip (and the makers of the blog hop) to tell you all about my next book by answering these ten set questions. Here I go...

What is the working title of your next book?

I'm calling it 'Scrabble Pieces' at the moment. I considered 'Two Sisters' and just 'Two' (that one was scrapped pretty quick though), but as you can probably tell, titles aren't my strong point! No doubt the title of this book will change again before it's published, but I am feeling good about this title at the moment. The reason for the scrabble reference is that the two joint protagonists in my book have the same tattoo, the "R" Scrabble tile drawn on their wrists as a mark of sisterly bonding. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I remember exactly where I was when I had the initial idea for the book. I was ferry hopping between Greek islands - this one was Naxos to Santorini, I believe. My boyfriend (at the time) and I were nearing the end of a wonderful two week holiday full of beaches and sun, and inspiration just hit me. I spent the long and claustrophobic trip bouncing ideas off him and excitement grew for my next book. Those 90 minutes or so became one of my favourite holiday memories - even if it was spent on a rocking, smelling ferry. 

What genre does your book fall under?

This book is a story of a personal quest of two sisters - twins, in fact. It's a story of family, grief and personal discovery and development. 

The sisters, in their early 20's, have recently lost their parents in an accident, and they embark on two contrasting paths to deal with their unexpected and tragic loss. One of the girls, Rachel, stays home (UK) with her new boyfriend to look after the book shop they've inherited, welcoming the familiar and comforts of home. Her other half, Roni, takes a different attitude. She heads off on a round-the-world trip to escape the horror home reminds her of and deals with her grief in a very different way. The two stories dovetail in portraying grief, and the characters grow as their develops and subsides in two separate but entwined stories. I imagine 'Scrabble Pieces' would sit nicely in the 'contemporary fiction' genre.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Now you have me stumped. I struggle to remember celebrities' names at the best of times (with a few exceptions: Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, mmm!)... Perhaps Emma Watson could work as Roni, but Rachel would need some further thought. 

But wait! They're twins! Emma Watson would have a double gig! Ummm.... I need a cup of tea! Whoever it was who played R & R, they'd have to be British - I cannot abide fake British accents.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

'Scrabble Pieces' follows the story of two sisters who take the opposite stance in dealing with a family bereavement - a story of grief, personal and world discovery, family, and abuse. (Ok, I cheated a little there, adding the hyphen!)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The best of us know that writing a novel is an epic undertaking, and that's only the beginning. Actually publishing a novel is a whole other ball game. I actually love self-publishing for the control it gives the author - I get final say on the cover artwork, I'm in on all the fun being a marketing whore has to give, and I have no middle man. All the decisions (and profits!) lie with me which give publishing a whole other angle and a steep learning curve. 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'm not done yet, but I'm nearing 20,000 words. I'm probably going to be hitting the 30,000 word mark by the end of it, I imagine, making it a novella. I don't think my book has the legs for a 100,000 word masterpiece... I'd hate for it to turn into a 60,000 word waffle-novel just for the sake of creating a doorstop. The worst thing I could do is to ruin the work I've done by stre-t-ch-ing it out over another 200%. Cut the crap, make it interesting, and keep the reader wanting more - that's what I'm aiming for. Oh, and I'd like to achieve a more successful proof-read before I publish this time - lesson learned there from my debut novel, online dating rom com 'Girl Meets Boys'! It wasn't horrendous, but I know my style and skill has come on leaps and bounds since then. This is a very different (and truly fictional) story compared to my memoirs of internet dating, so I hope it works out!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I'm not entirely sure... Library Thing suggests many books in grief and family contemporary fiction - take a look and see what you think. There are some beautifully worded titles there, if nothing else!

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I'd enjoyed reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' by Audrey Niffenegger, and when I finished it I felt inspired to make Roni and Rachel twins instead of mere sisters. My short stories often have a twist and I wanted to transpose this to a bigger level in the form of a novel. I think it's working so far - only my future readers will be able to tell me that for certain.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

I shan't say too much here as it might spoil the read, but 'Scrabble Pieces' excites me. I have days when I don't think of much else, even if I'm not working on the manuscript. I'm trying hard to make the characters complex and intriguing, and the structure is something I hope will interest from the reader. There's action, mild horror, romance, and (hopefully) a couple of tear-jerking moments. I would love to be able to make my reader cry. A mark of a good book, I think!

Here are the authors I've tagged who promise to tell you about their Next Big Thing... 

- The coach surfing, poetic and journalistic genius of Steve Clarkson 
- Rebeccah Giltrow - Lowestoft's best!
- The King of Geekhood, Andy Robb 
- Three times best-selling and self-published author Adam Croft
- The awesome and inspiring Sarah Grace Logan - A (HUGE!) Slice of Imagination 

I look forward to hearing from you guys! Readers, take a look, these are some of my favourite writers on the TwitSphere, my personal life, and random blog findings. 

Thank you again for tagging me, Philip! 

Lou x

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Photos courtesy of this fantastic interactive education website, Glogster and Amazon

Good to see you again! I have had some comments recently to say my blog readers would like to see more of my short stories, so here I am, obliging as ever!

This is a story I wrote in 2009. I've re-written it to improve the style and vocabulary I'd used. It was interesting seeing the different structure and words I was using, even from just 3 years ago. Hope you enjoy this quick read - it's just over 1700 words long. 


As with all my short stories, this is complete fiction! Anyone who knows my family will understand... we're 4 of us pilots!

                          -----------

Bowing Out Gracefully

A tired, middle-aged man is in his bedroom, hanging up his uniform. He is starting his evening routine, whiskey in hand, and is dressed in casual wear. The bedroom is decorated in neutral colours but it’s cosy and modern.

It’s not like I wanted to retire early, it’s just the way it is. Like I told the boys at the Nag’s Head, I loved my job. However, it’s standard policy of Air International that when a commercial pilot like myself reaches a certain age, they have to hang up their uniforms. Hand back the standard issue briefcase and the intricately embroidered necktie. We need to return the hat - along with the status that comes with it. The very cheek! Well they did ask me to leave quietly so…

I have discovered, however, that the bosses generously let you keep the epaulettes as a souvenir for your life’s work. Well, that’s if you can call 30 years a life. Life doesn’t always mean life, we all know that. Funny that…

Patrick the Pilot, stepping down after 31 years. Yep, 31 years in the same job. I’ve flown so many places, every destination my aircraft flies to in fact. Dubai, Rio, Sydney… I’ve always preferred long-haul trips, exploring the world for a night or two, with a different crew every time. It’s a very sociable job. Sociable, yes, but with a high turnover of colleagues, who become disposable friends. We rarely fly with the same company. Sinatra’s “Come fly with me” has never been more appropriate a song choice I suppose. It’s a bonus never having to bring work home with you either.

Leaving A.I. Madness even to imagine it! I think I could still have managed to fly a few more miles yet, had the circumstances been different. The bosses are too strict sometimes in my opinion. Odd policies, enforced by ridiculously over-paid and old fashioned Directors.

It seems ironic that my only son is starting a sprint in the Rat Race just as I am flying through the finishing line. He’s a qualified architect at 22 years of age. Recently graduated from Sheffield School of Architecture, Sam’s incredible love and admiration of the construction of bridges and buildings worldwide has finally come of age. When Sam started school, my wife and I owned a house with a full view of Frogmore Viaduct, deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside. It must have caught his imagination from early years, I suppose.

I often used to snoop round the door of my son’s bedroom when I came home from a trip to catch him dreaming out the window, gazing in awe at the magnificent piece of engineering looming in the distance. A career in the making, I suppose. Back then, I commuted to Heathrow (not far when it’s only once or twice a week), and the wife worked part-time in a charity shop in town. Hah, she enjoyed the kudos from that, working for charity. She should be more charitable to me sometimes! I wonder if she’s talking to me again yet…? She certainly wasn’t happy with the news I wasn’t to be bringing in the bacon in the same way or quantity any longer. Plus, hanging around the house won’t be an option – we’d end up killing each other!

Sam developed a passion much like I did, I now realise. My obsession with planes and overseas travel no doubt came from my childhood too. My father would point out the man-made birds in the sky from a vantage point on The Downs, from the back garden on a sunny day, or he’d sit with me at an airport for hours before our holiday began. We wondered where their next destination would be, watching them create the straightest lines across the sky with their jet streams. Sometimes, just sometimes…

Well, that’s all in the past now anyhow. I remember the father of the golfer Tiger Woods’s explaining once on TV that “you gotta spark their interest from an early a­­­ge”. It obviously works that way in flying, architecture and sport alike. Anyway, I digress.

Many men I know relish the thought of retirement, some even wishing for an early arrival of that day. Well, why not? ‘No more working for The Man! We can book that month’s cruise holiday we’ve always dreamed of!’ However, leaving work is a daunting, and potentially boring prospect to me, which screams “Granddad!” louder than any jet engine ever hummed in my direction. True, for many people it will mean having more time to spend with the grandchildren. Our Sam hasn’t brought anything to the table in that respect yet, and I hope, I assume, we’re not likely to see any related events any time soon. Sam tells me he’s too busy for a girlfriend and too broke to take a wife. See, it’s just not the right moment for me to retire. He’s not ready. She’s not ready. I’m not ready. Life will be so different…

My wife is getting broody though, I warn my son. I can see it in her eyes that she’s anticipating the arrival of a third generation to our family. More obvious signs are developing too. Last weekend, I caught her cradling a melon in her arms as she gossiped on the phone to a friend – unconsciously, I hope, else we have bigger problems here than a broody middle-aged housewife! The label of “Nan” can’t come soon enough for her. Expanding families. ‘That’s what real retired folk live for,’ she says.

Eurgh, “folk”. I hate that word, so old fashioned, and I’m getting older by the minute. Every day I am reminded that I have more than a touch of bad eyesight. Oh, incidentally, that eye test still hasn’t been booked, remind me…

Old age – it looms in front of us all. Associated symptoms aren’t something you want in a trans-Atlantic Captain, cruising a jumbo jet packed with hundreds of holiday makers at 37,000 feet. I’d argue that I’m healthier than most of my counterparts though. A couple of rounds of golf a week keep me in check, and I haven’t had a problem passing the compulsory medicals the flight staff are subjected to annually.

Semi-retirement doesn’t seem to be common practice for pilots of commercial airlines, whatever the circumstances of their departure. Retirement, a career change, redundancy – we all leave at some point. We’re expected to bow out gracefully when the big day arrives.

Some retired pilots re-train to become instructors, although I think A.I. might have had enough of me by now to bother keeping me on the books. But you never know… I think not! You’d never catch me crawling back in that way! Slam the door behind me, they have! I personally can’t imagine doing anything but flying. I was born to do it, as much as you can be without having your own set of feathers.

Of course, I have the company’s ‘full support’ now I’m planning to withdraw my pension, early as it is… I’ve heard a rumour that there’s a leaflet advising you on how to return to a grounded civilian lifestyle, cold-turkey. It’s common practice to ‘celebrate’ your retirement flight, making it a little special as your last trip as a professional air man. Balloons onboard, announcements over the PA to the 300 odd unsuspecting passengers, and dinner and drinks are on your cabin crew when you get down route. Hah, as if!

However, I didn’t have the opportunity to choose my final destination as any other long-standing Captain does on his final flight. Had my departure come at the normal retirement age, I would have been debating in only a year’s time between
a final destination of Cape Town for the wine and the golf, or possibly Buenos Aires for the wine and entertainment. What better excuse to have a good’un at the expense of the company?

What would a man of leisure do then now? Apart from the inevitable increased number of days spent on the golf course (and I do make a bolt for it some mornings, before she’s up), I see it as an expanse of time slowly unfolding to the unavoidable end. It could mean 30 years or more, gradual moves towards becoming a grumpy old man, akin to Victor Meldrew, avoiding my wife more and more in the evenings by joining other men who enjoy a quiet pint away from their families. This role with Air Flight International has more than satisfied my need to be entertained, and my love of travelling around the world. What better way to experience what the world has to offer? I could have had more of it all had I been more careful…

Perhaps our savings should be poured into a perpetual holiday for my wife and I? A detox of sorts. Surely though, we’d get bored after a while of even the whitest, most sandy beaches and a glutton of global historical sights? 

But being a pilot is who I am. How can they take it from me? I’ll certainly miss the freedom, the good times… It’s more than how I earn my pennies, and how I keep my wife in Radley’s designer handbags. She can’t deny she loved the job as much as I did – a good salary and I wasn’t home half the time. Perfect! Being a pilot’s a large chunk of my identity and a great conversation piece. Friends and strangers alike ask me about it at dinner parties. Granted, it’s a more interesting vocation than what most others settle with. Where I’ve been, what I’ve seen… The stories just pour out after a couple of glasses of Chardonnay!

Perhaps I’m looking at an early ‘retired’ life in the wrong way. Perhaps it could become a blessing. Yes, I’ll miss the job, but I will need to keep busy. I’d only end up driving my wife further round the bend otherwise. Maybe the break would be nice. It might be turn out to be more welcomed that I realise. Maybe I could become more regular at the Nag’s quiz night. Why stop there?! Maybe this is the opportunity I needed to reinvent myself, to improve my image. Nothing too drastic, I don’t want a complete overhaul, hair implants and a new set of teeth and all, but maybe a ‘lifestyle makeover’ I guess they’d call it on reality TV. It’ll probably be healthier too, what I need… My unravelling situation has been a little wake-up call for me, really. 

Perhaps this could be a new beginning. A drink to the future! We’ll need a top up, waiter, but the shop will have some down the road. Drink driving ain’t so bad – not as bad as society deems ‘drink flying’ anyway!


Lou x

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Photos courtesy of ExpertFlyer.com and IndustryLeadersMagazine.com 

Let me make this clear. I'm no touchy-feely hippy.

However, it's been a difficult year with one thing and another and a constructive, wise, and spiritual idea from a dear friend (she, also constructive, wise, and spiritual!) has helped me get a grip on things so much I have decided to share it with you. 

I have recently begun completing a short exercise before I go to bed which makes me feel good, peaceful, and happier. No, not heart-pumping, adrenalin-inducing exercise exercise, (ahem!) but an exercise in writing. Yes, some days I feel like I have written enough words to rival 'War and Peace' (we all know that's not true!), but this is easy, doesn't take a creative mind when your juices are all dried up, and can really make a positive impact on your mental, spiritual and emotional well-being.

Every night, before I go to bed, I take two minutes to write down three things which made me happy on that particular day. It could be anything from the gorgeous cold but sunny morning I woke to, getting a compliment from a stranger on my new outfit, right up to the safe arrival of my friend's newborn. You might surprise yourself what comes to light and what you have to be grateful for!

I can see several benefits to doing this little exercise, not just ones which rate highly in the pursuit of happiness and fulfilment, but some are particularly pertinent for us writerly types.

1. It can help you keep grounded, keeping things in perspective in perhaps troubling times. See, life ain't all bad!
2. I wouldn't be surprised if casting your mind back over your day, trying to pull out the good out from it boosts your memory. Making lists is certainly proven to boost your memory. 
3. This evening ritual will help teach you to stick to a routine. There are arguments for and against writing regularly, and I am firmly in the 'for' camp. The more you do it, the better you become, and if you can build it into your daily routine, all the better. 
4. Above all, writing this little list will surely improve your mood (see no.4). It's perfect for unwinding before nodding off and dreaming of pleasant things. 

I have a little notebook on my bedside cabinet which I scribble in each evening before I drop off to sleep (quite an achievement in itself most nights, as I often don't remember going to be as I'm asleep so quickly!). You could even blog it, like Claire Law has done with her '3 Beautiful Things', publicly or privately, if you really feel impassioned by the concept! 

Write well. Feel well. Sleep well. 

Lou x

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Image courtesy of Campus To Career

We all need a supporting cast in our novels. Not many stories are written without using more than one character. They are necessary to populate the story with believability. 

Secondary characters can bring out the character in the protagonist and can increase opportunities for sub-plots. These characters are important to the story, not just by-standers. They don't just blend in and become part of the furniture, and are great fodder for creating conflicts. Conflicts can be created through unbalanced opinions and goals, conflicts of interest, personal and family situations. The possibilities here are endless.

Even if the book is about the protagonist's personal journey and he encounters very few people along the way, there are still secondary characters to get to know. For example, I am thinking of "The Remains of the Day", where nothing really happens (a bore of a book if you ask me!), but characters of the Lord the protagonist butler works for and the lady the butler is going to visit are significant characters without physically appearing in a scene.

Creating larger than life secondary characters is harder than you might think. A good piece of advice from the writer CS Lakin says that you might need to imagine what they'd be doing if the story wasn't about the protagonist - give them a life of their own. 

One of the ways I use secondary characters is to introduce them gently, almost as casual observers or unimportant roles initially and then expand and make them intrinsic to the story the second time we come across them in the book. You need to give them defining characteristics and an origin and do not allow your reader to forget them!

Memorable and Loved Secondary Characters

Timon and Pumba - The Lion King

Haymitch Abernathy - The Hunger Games

Watson - Sherlock Holmes series

Mr Chow - The Hangover 

What do you think? Is it time to put your secondary characters first?

Lou x

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Now, I don't mean do you READ what you actually WRITE as a creative bod (because of course, you should be doing so, editing is key!), but do you read what's been published in your field?

If you're a novelist, do you read your fiction genre?
As a columnist, how many magazines do you read each month?
If you write short stories, have you read up online on what your fellow writers have created?

I am a huge advocate for reading similar genres and themes to what you are writing. It can help with style, vocabulary, inspiration, and tips in sticking with (or indeed mixing with) and emphasising your genre of choice. 

For example, if you're writing crime set in the 1800's have you read any of these Victorian detective novels? If you're creating a whole new world, have you devoured any of these Top 25 Fantasy Books? If you want to make your readers' hearts melt, have you seen how these Top 10 Greatest Romance Novels writers have done it?

Without even realising it, if you read in your genre and writers whose style you enjoy, unconsciously you may start to mirror their technique. This is not copying, this is not plagiarism; it can be dangerous, but more often than not it's simply a way of seeing something good and trying to improve your own writing as a result. It can help with the structure of your novel, knowing when to end your chapters, how to develop a twist… etc etc etc. 

I’m all for trying something new and reading widely, but if you don't tend to read the kinds of stories or articles you write, perhaps you should consider why not. How do you know what your readers will like or what they expect from your chapters and pages?
    
Consider this... Who are your favourite writers? What is your favourite book of all time? Have you tried writing in that genre?

You will give yourself a bigger head start on most other authors who haven't spent the time reading in the style and genre, and whose stories may not be as appropriate for the magazine or as easy to place on the bookshelf. 

This weekend why not settle down for half an hour with a book or magazine within your writing genre. You might find something just clicks inside your mind and you’ll be dying to get back to the keyboard! It’ll keep you out of the cold, if nothing else.

Lou x

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