Blog Archives – Miss Write

I’ve decided to take my debut novel down from Amazon. ‘Girl Meets Boys’, my internet age rom com was published in Autumn of 2010 and I had the aim of having just one stranger buy a copy. The books have sold better than I ever expected on both ebook and in paperback and I’ve made a surprising amount of cash, but it’s time for the party to end.

“But why?!” I hear you exclaim.

There are several reasons why I’m going to stop selling my novel online.

I stopped promoting ‘Girl Meets Boys’ about 18 months ago, with the thought that I can’t go on about it perpetually. People would get sick of hearing about it, I was sure! The mini book tour of local libraries and book shops stopped. I didn’t do the weekly mention of it on my Facebook and Twitter pages. I removed copies on display in local shops.

The main reason I’m taking the book down is that I am no longer proud of the publication. Don’t get me wrong, I was overjoyed when I held my first printed copy of the first book I’d ever written. I was excited with every sales figure update and grateful for every cheque which followed. But I know I can do better now. I don’t want this book to be a reflection of my writing abilities, as I feel I have progressed a long way since the date ‘Girl Meets Boys’ was published.

Sure, if I kept it available online I would sell some more copies, but I think I’d prefer to treat it as an achievement and work even harder on my current novel – my Next Big Thing, working title ‘Scrabble Pieces’.

My blogs, both here and at Born To Be A Tourist, are booming with visitor numbers, with new people discovering content and commenting every month. My monthly MK Pulse column is still being accepted with open arms, for which I am very grateful, and I am still writing the odd short story. I think I have enough on my plate writing-wise, even without ‘Scrabble Pieces’ text slowly crawling onto the page. I’ll soon have something back on Amazon to show you, guys! I’ll be removing the book from Amazon in July, so if you do still want to order a copy, go for it (and thanks!) – you have a month or so to grab one.

‘Girl Meets Boys’ will always have a little place in my heart, being my first novel, but it’s time has come and gone. Goodbye, and thanks for all the fish. 

Keep writing, and thanks for your on-going support for this blog. 

Lou x

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Events in the last 24 hours have made me reconsider what I am going to blog about this week. I’ve decided to ‘write about what moves me’, an old piece of advice handed out to writers. 

                                                   ———————-

Yesterday, an innocent bystander was attacked with a meat cleaver and a knife on a busy road in Woolwich, central London. The man was a soldier, based at nearby barracks, and before he was hacked to death in daylight hours on a main street, he was run over by another attacker in a vehicle. 

Many people’s first reactions from this story are of anger, upset, panic, disbelief, fear…. The incident has certainly affected me, made me think; what would I have done if I’d have been there? What if it was one of my family involved? What does this mean for the UK, London and the War On Terror? How could anyone do this to another person?!?!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all, to be honest. Part of me wants to not read anything about the incident and to avoid the news so I don’t see any graphic, disturbing footage. However, I feel it’s better to know what is going on in the country and the world, even if it’s horrific. But how to deal with the situation, to take it on board, but not to fall into the trap of fear?

I was reminded of something I heard during the Boston Marathon Bombings coverage. One woman, watching the breaking news on TV with her little boy was reported to have said the following tocomforting him:

This mother, having had to explain to her son what was going on, was encouraging him to look for the people helping others in a scene of chaotic terror, panic, atrocity and confusion. 

     Look for the men taking injured people into their arms and carrying them from danger. 

     Look for the people caught on scene attending to the injured, outside of an official medical 
     role. 

     Look for the children taking hold of their younger siblings hands and taking them to 
     safety. 

     Look for the good people helping strangers in an awful situation. 

This helps to restores your faith in humankind and remind you that there are some good people in the world, fighting for justice, looking after their fellow human beings. 

A great example of ‘helpers’ from yesterday’s unimaginably brutal attack on the undeserving guy were the women at the scene who shielded the body – presumably from the media, from the road, from mobile phones from onlookers taking photos/videos, and possibly, more attacks. This was a brave and selfless thing to do and offered last respects to the victim – true ‘helpers’. I heard about this on the radio driving home for lunch today and it moved me to tears. 

Maybe it was instinct which made the women stand up for the victim. Maybe they put themselves at risk because they were mothers. Maybe they just wanted to show a little respect to a fellow human being. 

Well done, ladies. 

I love my country but I know sometimes we are guilty of remembering the good guys. There are a lot of people who are negative about the UK, insular, ignorant, apathetic and even warmongering souls, who treat racism as a tool. We should be more like these courageous women who just happened to be caught up in the craziness. We cannot let intimidation and violence scare us into different ways of caring, thinking or living. Treat others as you would want to be treated – that was one of the rules we had at school. Some adults need to go back to school, I feel!

I remember something another mother, my mother, said when September 11th 2001 happened. It was advice to a 16 year old along the lines of “Do not be afraid. If we live our lives in fear, they [the terrorists] have won.” 

Remember this today, and give your loved ones a hug when you get home tonight. This is a great country, and in times like this we need to remember that not all of us are in-human, weapon wielding lunatics. There is a lot of compassion in British people, and this needs to be remembered and celebrated. ‘Helpers’ are there. 

My thoughts are with the family and friends of the soldier, who has yet to be identified. May good prevail and justice be a quickly served. 

If you have been moved by this appalling incident – angered, tearful, fear, shame, compassion – please donate something to the Help For Heroes charity. The provide support for soldiers and families of soldiers killed in action. Yesterday, apparently, the HfH website crashed as people moved to donate, but please persevere – they’ll fix it soon!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, UK readers (enjoy Monday at work, everyone else, mwahahaa!). If you have a quiet few minutes, maybe you should try to write about something that moves you, to get your passion and emotion flowing through your writing. 

Lou x

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Last week I buried my non-supermodel insecurities and had my photo taken professionally. I was a little bit nervous – I don’t take the best photo normally! – but I’m here today to show you how simple an operation it can be, with great results. 

My photographer, David, and I did a few practice poses and worked out the best angle for my face, checked the lights, and sussed out which leg I feel more comfortable leaning on. We also discovered the tilted head look was beneficial, and got used to ‘shoulders back, boobs out’ look while looking relaxed.

Make sure you’re showing off your book 

The obligatory shot – me with my current novel. This is ‘Girl Meets Boys‘, my debut book. Note how the dress compliments the cover? I’ve thought about this – can you tell?!

Take a couple of copies of your book so you can fan them out, sit next to a pile of them, whatever takes your fancy. 

If you’ve written more than one, take them all – you never know when you might need some new shots including your previous publications. 

A tip for blinkers

If you find yourself blinking at the flash, like me, try this tip: close your eyes and get your photographer to count down from three. On two, smile. On three, open your eyes and your eyes will appear more fresh and less likely to blink. Take it from a notorious blinker, this works!

Don’t just stand – use some props

The chair didn’t work too well for me, as we didn’t have a lot of physical space in the studio – hard, when you’re trying to get both feet, all the body, some furniture in the shot, and no random doors or carpet!

Have you tried putting these props into your shots?

   – try a window, but watch the extra light
   – chaise lounge 
   – desk and chair – look like you’re writing!
   – pillars or plinths you can lean against
   – comfy armchair
   – a stool – change up the seating arrangement 


Remember the jewellery

Plan your outfits before you go so you can bring the appropriate jewellery with you. You don’t want to get dressed in the studio only to find you brought the gold bling when the dress you’re wearing needs silver, the necklace you chose is too long for the neckline, or you forgot your statement ring you love with a particular simple outfit. And remember to take it home. I didn’t. That’s a 40 mile round trip my petrol tank doesn’t need right now. 

Get up close and personal 

Head shots are a necessity if you have an Agent, who will want a nice close-up shot of you at some point. They’re also good for any magazine columns you may write, or for the back cover of your book. You know, right next to the barcode, where you put your social media and website details. 

Your photographer will get closer on this, but don’t be intimidated. Keep the same attitude, confidence, relaxed pose… and smile! 

Show your readers your face – make it personal!

Take lots of outfits with you

Costume change like Lady Gaga, but with fewer meat based dresses. The more outfits, colours, styles and levels of casual/fancy you have at your fingertips will help to set different tones for each shot. You might feel more relaxed in one outfit more than another too – and this will show.

Note – heels aren’t easy to balance on when posing on carpet!

Keep hydrated

Drink tea, squash, water… wine, if you’re nervous! You’ll concentrate longer and take direction better if you’re keeping hydrated. 

Get triangular

Having lots of triangles in your shot if a good thing, I’ve learned. Make triangles by putting your hand on your hip, lean your chin on your fist, get an angle on your leg bending or straddle something to make another triangle, bend your arm into 2 sides of a triangle and let the air create the other side. 

Have fun and relax!

The more relaxed you are, the better the photos will be. Change it up. Doing something with my hands definitely relaxed me. I think it’s related to how I like to dance with a drink in my hand.

Hands on hips worked – apparently a great pose for me; I just need to try not to look bossy! Play with your hem. Try smiling with and without teeth. Can you hold a pen and look…pensive? 

Now go find a photographer, set up a white background, and dim the lights. You can get that perfect author photo!

Lou x

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