Okay, so not quite the end of the month, but going away for the weekend and trying to get everything done! It has been a good month overall I think, and its only as I look back, I realise how much I've actually achieved. I finished typing up my 'Broken Links' story about two best friends who fall out. Its only a short story, but I'm really pleased with it. The idea came from a couple of films that I liked and I incorporated ideas from these into my two main characters. I'd made a few notes from each of the films and this formed most of my research, most of the inspiration just coming from my imagination, which, although a majority of my original stories do come from my thoughts, some require more in depth research, depending on where I want the story to go. I wasn't sure what I would do next once this story was done, but I didn't have long until I was onto the next thing! I have had two or three other ideas for short stories that I've currently started and spent time on researching so looking forward to seeing where they take me. I've had some days where I feel I've hit a bit of a wall, and not written much at all, and I've tried to fill the time instead with reading and research online, trying to spark some inspiration. Other days there just hasn't been enough time to fit in all the writing that I want to do, but I guess that's just the nature of the game.
I submitted two entries for writing competitions this month, so despite that fact that I may not win or even be shortlisted, I feel positive just that I entered. One was a poetry competition, and I have to admit that I didn't write anything new for this as I already had a few finished poems that fitted into the theme. The other competition was for short stories, again under a specific theme, so this involved coming up with a new idea, as well as keeping within the required word count! Following advice from a local and well known author (Rowan Coleman, thank you) I will certainly be looking to enter plenty more competitions (preferably free!) in order to try and get some of my writing noticed. It was a good exercise to work to a deadline as well as exploring new ideas, and out of my comfort zone. I'm really happy to say that some of this has also rubbed off on my sister. After months of feeling stuck and that she had lost her ability to write, she also entered both the competitions, coming up with lots of new ideas for the short story, so finally she is getting her mojo back, so long may it continue. I find that having each other to bounce and share ideas with has helped me and without her I don't think I would be where I am now in my writing.
My next column will be published in the next week, and being given the rota well in advance allowed me to explore a number of ideas before selecting my submission. I have a whole list of ideas already in my notebook, which I keep adding too, and having written up three of them for this next column, my only reason for picking the one that I did was the time of year. Something I want to work on for the column is the voice that I use, and this hasn't come across in a couple of the ideas. Still, I'm reasonably new to this, so I would hope this would come with time and experience,
Only managed one Writers Group meeting this month, but was a good one! It was a workshop with a local author and we were given information on how to get published as well as getting started as a writer. I wasn't sure how much I would take away from this as still not sure I have a novel in me, but has certainly given me a insight and will not give up! One piece of advice that particularly stuck with me was about starting with short stories and keep entering competitions, so at least I know I'm currently in the right place. In regards a novel, I'm still working on my Cornwall story, but have tried to rein in what I'm doing, so I'm clear on the direction I want the story to go. I've been doing more research as well as reading other novels, that include similar themes and ideas that I want to incorporate. I have lots more that I have scribbled over the month to type up and its certainly not finished yet, so not sure how long it will be! I have a feeling that although longer than all the other stories that I've done, it will still come under the short story category, but we will see! I like the fact that I have a number of things that I've started, it means I can put one down and come back to it, but in the meantime, be looking at something else, keeping the mind busy! I've scribbled a few new poems in between other things too, in the hope that I don't lose the one thing that got me writing in the first place, keep all the options open! I have a fun idea of using poems as presents for friends, so looking forward to exploring that further.
So that ends another month.Who knows what I will do and where I will go next, but have plenty to keep busy with in the meantime, so long as I just keep writing!
