SUCCESS!!!! I DID IT!!!

In case you didn't realise, April was a month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. I kept to my general writing theme (as with my normal weekly posts), with a few other random ones thrown in. I've had some wonderful feedback and great support from the A-Z community, so thanks for all of that. It really encouraged me to keep going, which was key; I didn't think I'd make it far past a week trying to keep up at the start!

I'm now returning to posting on Miss Write on Thursdays... and slightly missing the A-Z Challenge! Weird, huh? 

My first post post-A-Z Challenge is a summary of my ... A-Z posts. Did you miss any?!

A - 5 ways to survive film ADAPTATIONS
B - Robinson Crusoe - BOOK Review
C - Could you COPE without social media?
D - The DEVIL in me
E - How ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY is being a writer?
F - FIVE books which inspired me
G - 'G' is for GOAL
H - 'H' is for the colour of HUNGER
I - 'I' is for IDEAS
J - Unusual words beginning with 'J'
K - 'K' is for (Stephen) KING
L - 'L' is for LIPSTICK
M - MY CHILDREN will do it differently
N - NAUGHTY & NICE
O - OWNING UP - Three things I hate about being a writer
P - How to write a PRESS RELEASE
Q - Best Scrabble words beginning with 'Q'
R - RENTING a room? 20 tips to protect yourself
S - If I were a SUPERHERO...
T - 'T' is for TIARA
U - I'm taking to U!
V - Very Short Fiction
W - 'W' is for W*llies - A cautionary tale
X - 'X' is for EX
Y - 'Y' is for (never) YIELD
Z - Zzz... How much sleep does a writer need?

Take a look on Twitter #AprilBlogChallenge to find other A-Z blogs worth checking in on. 

Thanks for reading through April. I hope you found some of the posts useful - even the random one about baking!

See you next week, 

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

The final day of the challenge... Wow, I'm tired...

** Z is for Zzzz's **

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Sleep is good for everyone (duh). The benefits to getting enough sleep include:    

     - - Increased happiness

     - - Improved immune system

     - - Reduced irritability

     - - A better memory

But how can catching enough Z’s improve your writing?

Don’t Be A Dream Killer

Keep a diary of dreams you have. This can be a source of inspiration on dry, blocked moments or weeks, God forbid. You might think your night time imaginings are a little too off the wall, or perhaps the other extreme; mundane thoughts just re-organising themselves ready for the next day. However, you might be missing a trick here so keep a notepad and pen by your bed to jot down the memories you have first thing from the night before. Read this fantastic blog if you're worried about how you can learn to remember your dreams. 

Are You Getting Enough?

A good night’s sleep can mean different things to different people. It varies between individuals. A teenager might try for 12 hours a night; new parents might think five hours is a luxury. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously ran the country on four hours sleep.  This is clearly not sustainable for ‘normal’ people. 

It is not a challenge to see how little you can get away with, and life is not an endurance challenge. Work out how much you’d need to sleep every night to feel refreshed and ready to work the next day, and try to stick to it. I know I work best with about 7-8 hours. Gone are the days when I sleep 10+ hours a night. You can have too much of a good thing. If you get the right amount of sleep you will feel more alert in the morning and your writing will see the benefits.

Are You A Writer/Drinker?

Some writers work better after a glass of wine. I am the opposite. I get drunk or sleep and can’t think straight very quickly. If it works for you, fine, but studies have shown that you will sleep all the worse for that half a bottle you enjoyed in the evening. 

The same goes for caffeine. This doesn’t affect me as much as alcohol (I quite enjoy an evening cuppa, really!), but it’s worth bearing in mind.

Banish That Laptop

I know this works for some people, but for me, having technology in the bedroom is a no-no.  I don’t work in bed, I don’t want TV in bed, and I don’t sit playing with my phone before I turn out the light. Honestly, most nights I barely remember going to bed, I am so ready for it, but I have noticed in the past how much longer it takes for my brain to switch off if I have been writing in bed. You will relax quicker, fall asleep faster, and enjoy your bed for things more appropriate than work!

Finally – I’ve not heard of this before, but I suppose it’s entirely possible…

Sleep Writing

If you can train yourself somehow to write in your sleep, it would be an amazing time saver and could be productive beyond your wildest …dreams. 

Physically writing in your sleep is also possibly better appreciated by your partner than your sleep walking or talking. It’s quiet, but don’t turn on that light! Take a look at what Lea, a Tumblr blogger, has produced while sleeping – it’s not all useable, but you might discover something in your subconscious which is a best seller.

What do you think? How does sleep work for you as a writer?

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** X is for err... EX (slight cheat...)! **

This is a short story I write inspired by a prompt: Receiving a call from someone from your life ten years ago. 

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An Unexpected Caller

I recognise the number blinking up at me from my mobile phone’s screen. It’s a number ingrained on my memory since 2003. Surely it can’t be him?

“Hello…?”

“Louise? It’s Craig. Craig Mitchell - from Cheltenham.” As if I needed reminding where I knew him from. It was one of those moments when it feels like no thoughts pass through your mind , yet there are a million fighting to be heard. Maybe that’s what a feeling of shock feels like, I pondered briefly.

“Craig from Cheltenham?” I replied, slightly tongue-in-cheek. “Hi, how are you?” All natural like. I mean, why would it be weird for my childhood sweetheart to call me after a 10 year break? I wondered how he had my number still after a decade, but if I can remember his digits, maybe he could remember mine… Interesting.

“Good, good, I’m good… erm… I’m getting married.”

Now I’m confused. Surely he’s not after my permission? God, I hope he’s not getting cold feet in a fit of nostalgia. Well, a tiny part of me hopes that – it would be a compliment if he was!

“Ah! Congratulations, what’s her name?” What else could I say? I hadn’t a clue he was seeing anyone, let alone who she was. ‘I should be asking why he’s calling...’

Craig reveals the woman he’s marrying is named Jenny and pours out a whole profile about her; how she’s a nurse, how she loves to travel – “like you,” he added – how it’s going to be a small event… That’s one motive for the sudden call I  can discount – I won’t be getting a wedding invite.

He eventually tails off. Craig always did that when he was nervous, almost running out of anxious steam to power his outburst. There was a long pause. I remember his hazel eyes. His fine hair and the juxtaposition of his coarse late-teenage beard. I remember the first piece of jewellery a man ever gave me. I remember the Yorkshire Dales.

“Well, congratulations, I’m pleased for you.” I wince at the repetition of good wishes. Is it a little transparent? I’m suddenly eager to get off the phone. “Nice to hear from you, best of luck for – “

“No, don’t go!” he interrupted. “Wait – Jenny… She wants to meet all my ex girlfriends before we tie the knot.”

Bugger. 

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Tomorrow's a day off the challenge - day of rest - and then there's just two more days to go on the April A-Z blog Challenge! 

Lou x

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Image courtesy of Sarah's Scribbles

April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** W is for WELLIES **

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This post was suggested by one of my oldest friends, Lou Gooding. She was the one who spotted a typo in my book, and suggested I write a cautionary tale on that theme for my 'W' day on the A-Z blog challenge. 

I have learned my lesson and I want to tell you of my experiences so you don't fall into the same hole of accidents, embarrassment and poor editing. 

Paragraph three on the opening page of my debut novel 'Girl Meets Boys', an internet age rom com, contains the following text:

"...You’d think I’d have more grace when leaping up the stairs at home with feet that small, but no. My favourite footwear is flip flops or wellies (weather dependent of course)..."

Can you spot where the humiliating typo appeared? No?

Need a clue? Try substituting the second letter in the word 'wellies' for 'i'...

Got it. 

"Oops" was not the word. I was mortified this word had appeared on my first novel's first page! What a book boo-boo. An easy, quick tweak later, and both the ebook and the paperback correctly had footwear and not genitals on the first page. However, this was too late for the first 60-100 sales I had. If you have a copy of the male appendage version, keep it. It's out of print. 

So what have I learned?

I admit I cheaped out a little on editing my manuscript. I went through it with a fine (but gappy) tooth comb, 'editing' the 36,000 word document myself. I also arranged for four 'hobby' editors I knew to have a read. Four, I thought, was enough, but next time I'd get a professional to get it. I certainly plan to get it done properly for my current work in progress. And you should do the same for your next book. Definitely. 

So 'W' is for wellies. Or willies. Whatever will get me the most hits on the porn-obsessed internet search engines!

Who can beat that typo, then?!

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out!

** V is for VSS (very short fiction) **

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If you're on Twitter, you may well have seen the hashtag #VSS flying about. This stands for 'Very Short Fiction', where Tweeps write short stories the length of a tweet (140 characters). I thought I'd share my most recent #VSS offerings for the day of V. 

If you like the thought of creating fiction like this, also check out the prompts from #twitterfiction and #ThePush

PROMPT: Where did the 15 high school students go when the bus disappeared?     
A bus load of 15 students and a driver disappeared. The hole swallowed them. The tunnel finally gave up its prisoners, standing confident.

PROMPT: Describe an unphotographable moment.
A family gathering undocumented. This reunion has been 8 years in the making, still no joy is recorded. Cameras are not commonplace at funerals.

PROMPT: Describe your favorite song without using the name of the band or the name of the song. 
An old fashioned girl’s name. Upbeat and mentions ginger hair. Lifts my spirits and can’t help but make me dance! #favesong

SOME RANDOM INSPIRATION...

You expect me to be humbled by your mere presence. The fact that I answer your questions with nonsense gives me away. 

He could feel the beating of the baobab beneath his torso as he embraced the trunk. The tree shared tales with him older than stardust.

The gentle reflexologist did her job and Angie's disolved. Her toes told stories of tension and slowly it lifted. Best $30 ever spent. 

The heist had failed. The intelligence had been wrong. She was 7 years old caught with her mum's empty purse. 

See you tomorrow!

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** U is for U. And you and ewe and yew. **

Just try to resist singing the Jim'll Fix It theme tune now...

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The letter U on the A-Z challenge has made me consider words which are misused frequently. Let's take 'you' and words that sound the same:


U – Should ONLY be used in text speak (txtspk) or as an initial.

You – When you’re addressing an individual, be it man or beast.

Yew – This is a tree.

Ewe – This is a female sheep.

Make sure YOU use the correct one!

I frequently see the misuse of they’re, their and there, the old favourite, but this week I saw the word ‘you’ being used completely wrong. How can this be?! It’s simple!

You can Google grammar until your heart is content. Here are my top 8 other misused words:

     Lose, loss and loose… (My trick? Think of a slutty bird, a loose goose)
     Accept and except…
     Affect and effect...
     Are and our...
     Where, were and wear...
     A lot and allot…
     Complementary and complimentary… (I try to remember complementary things complete 
     each other, complimentary is free)
     Appraise and apprise...
     It’s and its…

These are my biggest word use bug bears… I am sure you can think of more!

Lou x

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Image from The Wisdom Pearls

April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days. #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** T is for TIARA **

This post is inspired by my favourite 'Big Bang Theory' episode - when Amy is given a tiara by Sheldon as an apology present. 

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Why I Hate Tiaras

They look great on some people. Take Amy Ferrar Fowler from The Big Bang Theory. My favourite episode is when boyfriend Sheldon buys Amy a tiara. She almost explodes with excitement and really pulls it off. The look, not the actual tiara – she loves it. As much as I adore Amy, you’d see me running furlongs rather than parade around in jewellery like this. 

Weddings I have been lucky enough to be invited to have featured tiaras. Bridal, glitzy, a bit of classy bling. None of that is my style. Again, the bride always looked beautiful; I’d just personally prefer a fancy pin-up hairdo. 

On a more practical level, tiaras, like superhero masks, are awkward to a glasses wearer like me. There’s too much gripping to the back of your ears if you throw a glorified headband into the mix. Granted, they’re not as awkward as 3D specs at the cinema, but still… You can hear the plastic and metal grating against each other and I don’t have that big a pair of ears for the practical side of either specs or tiaras to hide behind. 

I'm no princess. I don't have anything in my wardrobe which is pink. When I was a little girl, my bedroom was painted green and orange. My dad said I lived in an Opal Fruit (remember them?!). Pink couldn't have been further from my thoughts, and jewellery was the same. Why would I want to dress as a princess?! I was too busy getting muddy and climbing trees!

I won't be wearing a tiara anytime soon. 

Lou x

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Images courtesy of The Telegraph and Thaut Cast

April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days (excluding Sundays). 
#AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** S is for SUPERHERO **

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IF I WERE A SUPERHERO

If I were a superhero, I wouldn’t want invisibility
Super-powered strength or shapeshifter ability.
Some people crave being perpetually youthful
But X-Ray vision’s not so useful. 
I know exactly what superpower I’d love,
And it would fit me like a glove.  

If I were a superhero, I’d be able to fly.
I’d jump off a building and soar into the sky.
Just how I’d get up to the roof,
I’ll suggest no evidence or proof.
Because that skill would most likely
Have HR here fire me less than politely.

If I were a superhero, I’d fly around the world,
And around my waist my cloak would furl.
A face mask would be inconvenient
As a method of concealment
Uncomfortable, klunky and awkward on the nose
As any spectacles wearer knows.

If I were a superhero, I’d jet off this morning.
That makes Monday much less boring!
First stop, Costa Rica to see a mate or two,
Off to a beach no one else could get to.
Follow that with India, the Taj Mahal,
Polar bears in the Artic and the Panama Canal.

So if I were a superhero, I wouldn’t save the planet.
You know I’m already itching to plan it! 
What use to the world is a flying woman
To deal with the world's problems common.
I’d definitely enjoy myself and you’re invited too,
Until they lock me up and exhibit me in a zoo!


Thanks for reading - if you liked this poem, why not share it on Facebook or Twitter?

Lou x

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April is month of blogging A-Z for 26 days (excluding Sundays). #AprilBlogChallenge Check it out! 

** R is for RENTING **

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I’ve moved house in the last year more than I care to remember. Things have not gone well and I have decided to put a ‘top tips’ list as a blog to help any readers who may be on the market to rent a room. I hope you don’t fall into any traps I did!

RENT THROUGH AN AGENT

Not everyone's as honest or human as you. Renting through an Agent protects you much more than renting privately, even if it’s through the landlord is a family member or friend. You never know, you might not end on great terms and it could cause trouble beyond imagination. It may cost more in the first instance (e.g. I had to pay £100 for a credit check and admin fee on my current place), but it’s worth it. Ask for a breakdown of any fees – in the past, friends have been caught out paying £50 for ‘miscellaneous costs’ which turned out to be paying for tea and biscuits in the Agent’s office! Private landlords could be anyone and can really take the piss.

TRY TO NEGOTIATE ON ANY CREDIT CHECK FEES

Ask if the landlord/Agent will require you to pay any fees for a credit check or similar. Ask if they would be satisfied by looking through your recent bank statements, as this could save you a packet. This hasn’t worked for me in the past, but it’s worth asking.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE LANDLORD/AGENT

This is so it’s easy to record communication, to back up phone conversations, and to send photos.

ASK FOR A ‘SAMPLE CONTRACT’ TO BROWSE WHEN YOU FIRST VIEW THE PROPERTY

This shouldn’t be a big deal - you can then read at your leisure before signing anything and brood on it when you get home. Of course, you still must read your real contract through thoroughly should you agree to rent this place, as it will not be identical to the sample copy, even if it’s just the tenancy dates which differ.

ENSURE YOUR DEPOSIT IS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION SCHEME

Legally, landlords have to register your deposit with this national scheme. The DPS become the middle-man between landlord and tenant. No money ever goes via the landlord when you put the deposit down and when it is returned. Keep your log-in details to their online service secret.

TAKE PHOTOS OF ANY DAMAGE PRESENT WHEN YOU MOVE IN

And make sure the photos have a date stamp on them. This way the landlord cannot prove you did the damage when you arrange to leave the property. Trust me, most will try to collar you for any minimal or ‘wear and tear’ damage, even if it’s not your fault. One previous landlord of mine tried to get a new, expensive bathroom suite out of me, when there was no damage whatsoever. Photos and statements to rebuke this claim settled the matter, even though the evidence wasn’t legally binding. Ask for a receipt for any thing they want replaced so you are charged the correct amount. 

Remember to include carpets, curtains and any damage to doors/walls/windows/fittings. If the windows need to be cleaned on your exit, photograph them in the state they are in when you start your tenancy. Emailing the photos to yourself that day will time stamp it, even if you cannot get the date to appear on the photos themselves.

If a friend or you does break something, notify any irreparable damage to the landlord ASAP. An email with a photo attached is fine.  

ENSURE THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES BILL PAYING ARRANGEMENTS

“Tenant to pay gas/water/electric bills etc.” is not enough. This needs to be spelled out as to which bills you are responsible for (e.g. Council Tax, Wifi, phone, TV Licence). Don’t forget, if you have a TV and you have a lock on your room, this houseshare is classed as separate tenancies and you will each need your own licence.

TALK TO ANY EXISTING OR PREVIOUS TENANTS

This might not be possible, but in a houseshare this is easy. Ask if there are any issues which need sorting out as you might be able to bargain with the Agent when you sign up to the contract. The existing tenants may even warn you off! And they might be like Spike from 'Notting Hill'. He's not everyone's cup of tea. 

TAKE AN INVENTORY OF ALL FURNITURE WHEN YOU MOVE IN 
The Agent will normally do this, but this will set your mind at rest too. The landlord will not, for example, be able to claim there was furniture there when you moved in and it disappeared when you left. Again, email this info to yourself and keep a copy until the move has been settled 100%. Ask when you move in how the exit inventory will be carried out. Sometime there is a compulsory cost to having an inventory done if the Agent employs a special company to do it on their behalf, but it is worth it and this is normally split between the landlord and tenant.

MAKE SURE YOUR BEDROOM HAS A LOCK

Having a lock on your door makes you a tenant, and not a lodger – an important difference. Whatever ‘contract’ you may have signed, you have much fewer rights as a lodger just renting a room off someone than as a tenant. Also, you need to know you and your possessions are secure! Believe me, this is essential for peace of mind. Obviously you should have contents insurance for your things, but having someone prowl through your kit isn’t covered.

CHECK THE LANDLORD OWNS THE PROPERTY

You cannot exactly ask to see the ownership or mortgage papers (awkward!), but you can check this detail no the Local Land and Property Gazeteer.  http://www.land-reg.co.uk/propertyownership.aspx  This costs about £12-15 but could set your mind at rest that they do actually own the property you want to rent from them. If your landlord is renting the property privately or as a Council property and sub-letting you, this could be against their tenancy agreement and make your stay precarious.

ALWAYS HAND OVER THE KEYS IN PERSON

Never post them back or leave them at the property without having the landlord sign off that you have left the property in an acceptable condition. Get a receipt for this.

GET A RECIEPT FOR RENT AND DEPOSIT PAID

Using your bank statements could back you up, but it is better to have a signed receipt, especially if any of this is paid in cash.

PUT A PASSWORD ON YOUR LAPTOP

This will stop any out-of-order housemate/landlord poking through your computer. I neglected to do this in my previous house and fell fowl to an inconsiderate housemate. Aside from the privacy issues, they could Google anything dodgy. For example, the authorities might have a word with you if your IP address shows activity about bomb making, child porn or terrorist group links!

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These are all things I have slipped up on in the past, over about seven years of renting a room/house. Other general tips you should always do when moving into a new place...

CHECK THE GAS SAFETY CERTIFICATE FOR THE PROPERTY - is it renewed annually?

CHECK THERE ARE SMOKE ALARMS ON EACH FLOOR

CHECK FOR DAMP - look in cupboards as a paint job might cover the sins of a leaky house

BE AWARE THAN OLDER WINDOWS OR ROTTING WINDOW FRAMES MAY BE HEAT SINKS

KEEP ANY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN YOU AND THE LANDLORD/AGENT

INQUIRE ABOUT INSPECTIONS - how often do they happen? Insist you are present at all times. 

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I believe it’s true that if there are any vague clauses in a contract, the law sides with the person who didn’t write it (i.e. the tenant), but this is not legal advice. Please note, I AM NOT A LAWYER. I just listen. One piece of advice I would be happy to impart EMPHATICALLY is:

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR HAVEN’T READ.

You can always get advice from the Housing department at your Local Authority or call Citizens’ Advice. I would also take someone with you as a witness or a second pair of eyes when you view the property.

NB. This advice is what I have gleaned from renting in the UK ONLY. This info may not apply outside of the UK.

Lou x

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Image courtesy of The Independent blog, We Love Local Government and NetFliix