I've been tagged in a Blog Tour. This one's about how the writer in question's writing process works. Thanks to Sarah Grace Logan for tagging me!


QUESTION 1: What am I working on?

Well, this week it's a mixture of my normal writing themed blogging and travel blogging, and my monthly column for MK Pulse magazine. There's no novel happening... I have minute hopes that it will surface again... Writing blogs and articles are so much more fun!

QUESTION 2: How is my work different from others in its genre?

The blogs are personal, no question about that. They are accounts of my own writing, travelling and personal life experiences, which I hope my readers will enjoy. This makes my entries completely fresh and original. I write with a conversational kind of tone, so it's an easy, friendly read, on a wide range of subjects and issues (e.g. baking, environment, but mainly on writing).

QUESTION 3: Why do I write what I do?

First of all, the content has to be of interest to me. I have tried writing about things I don't have any passion for or interest in, and it just doesn't work as well. I write to entertain (me, mainly, but also for the 3500 ish readers I get every week), and I write to help. I enjoy the posts which spread a good, productive, outward-reaching message too (e.g. last week's post on International Womens' Day). 

QUESTION 4: How does your writing process work?

I need the idea first. Sometimes it's a photo which inspires me, another piece of writing, a charity or campaign, an especially bad/good experience, or sometimes it's something I've come across that day while driving, walking etc.

Then I sit down and just bash out the words. I know that a blank page doesn't work for most people, and brainstorming what I want to say in short bullet points brings the article or blog post together very quickly. It's also very easy to structure in that way. My English teacher at school would be proud!

When the writing's done, I edit, then I allow myself to indulge the 'fun' part. I love discovering great images to go with my writing - a photo, something I found online, or a fab infographic I've come across (my favourite).

So who's up next?

Suzie Hunt - Read Suzie's blog - Check out her *free* latest short story

Sarah Becker - Check out her blog, GET THE LOOK YOU WANT!

Di Castle - She's writing a book inspired by deafness in her family - also has a blog...

Take a look at their blogs - I know they'll appreciate it!

Lou x

Find me on Facebook
...And on Twitter
Born To be A Tourist

Image from Differentiation Station

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

Find me on Facebook...
...and on Twitter

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

There are more fantastic blogs I could mention, but I'm only allowed 15. Save them for another day maybe.

Now as a nominee for the Versatile Blogger Award, I have to reveal seven things about myself. Here goes...

1. I am going to Costa Rica this summer to work for Raleigh International. I'll be there for 8 weeks working on community and environmental projects with a whole pack of young volunteers who want to make a difference. I have been fundraising like mad and now comes the real challenge - packing. Just kidding, I am so excited for the expedition, to see a part of the world I have wanted to visit since I was a kid, and to get stuck in with some lasting, sustainable, good work and karma.

2. If I could wake up one day and be Olympic standard at any sport, I would pick ice skating. I can't skate very well at all, but I would love to be able to spin and jump to impress crowds of people. 

3. I have been collecting postcards and sugar sachets since I was small. I have shoeboxes full of them! Postcards, yes, kind of understandable given my travels and travelling friends and family, but sugar packets? I can't remember how that started, but trust me, it's addictive.

4. My biggest fear is bring trapped in a burning car. I cannot imagine a more horrific way to panic!

5. I get most of my 'books to read' recommendations from my mum. She knows what I like to get absorbed into better than I do!

6. Flying runs in the family, as my brother, uncle, dad and great uncle are/were all pilots. I guess that's where the travel bug comes from!

7. My first love was Jason Donovan, and I have no shame! We all have our secrets... I still own all his albums (on tape of course!)from when I was eight years old, or there abouts. I had to wait until I was 19 to see him perform live though, in a crummy bar in Swindon. He only did 3 songs, and one of them was the Home & Away theme!

And we're done! Phew! Now I'm blushing. Thanks again for the nomination, keep writing!

Lou x

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

Find me on Facebook...
...and on Twitter

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