A Mission Impossible for the Dark Fantasy Nightwriter

Oh, What A Feeling, Keep on Believing!

2012-01-27T11:04:00.001Z

Do you have a song which inspires you? I have one which Iheard many times while I was working full-time in a factory. The song is quite famous and Isuppose it is really for dancers, but I always feel when my writing is goingwell, my fingers are dancing to the ebbs and flows of the words.

So this is song: What a Feeling, saids it all for me.

First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life

What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (Pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)
Have it all (Pictures come alive when I call)
(call, call, call, call, what a feeling) I can have it all
(Bein's believin') bein's believin'

Keep believing and you too could have all you dream of!

If you are feeling inspire then here is news of a future writing competition run by A.Vogel Dormeasan 'Write a Short Story for Bedtime' competition 2012.

For more information click here Your Healthy Living and turn to page seven of the online magazine for news on last year's competition and information for this year one.

Wishing all the best with your dreams,

Jarmara

Writing A Synopsis

2012-01-23T21:46:00.006Z

Today, I've been busy writing a synopsis for my pocketnovel. Yes, I know you normally map out a plot for your novel before you startwriting, but I didn't. I wrote a short sketch of an idea, which then wroteitself. Now I know what you're all thinking, what has she got to worry about ifthe PN wrote itself?

The problem being where you would have a sort of synopsis allready written, which would just need a darn good polishing, I didn't. I've just spentthe whole day writing the thing from scratch. It is true what they say about it beingharder to write a synopsis than it is the complete book.

How do you write two and half page synopsis and make itsound so exciting that the agent/editor/ publisher will fight tooth and nail toget their grubby little mitts on it? Well, I justhope I’ve managed to do just that today.

If I have, don’t worry, I’ll soon let you all know.

Best wishes,

Jarmara

Science Fiction Short Story Competition

2012-01-18T12:37:00.000Z

I'm going to enter this competition because of my novel 'P.H.' is classed as a scifi. As you know, I was told by a book editor that I would need to change my name to a man's name to get it published.

So I decided that if I could get a short Scifi story published in my own name then maybe I didn't need to.
The prize for the competition is to have your story published in an anthology in a printed book
So if any of you are interested in the competition, then check it out @ Words Just Words

I woke up this morning and wrote 500 words straight off, so now all I have to do is turn it into 3, 500 short story.

'Child's play to a writer like me,' She said pausing only long enough
to tell all her online friends about the competition she'd found while
surfing the net.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Are you a Chocolate Lover?

2012-01-16T08:32:00.001Z

Love Chocolate.... You'll love this short story competition.... Hmmm, Chocolate

Please don't think this is a chocolate diet which will give you a body like hers... Rememeber, this is a writing blog.:-)

Best wishes

Jarmara

Check this out!

2012-01-15T13:27:00.002Z

Why Self Publishing Authors Are Targets for Conmen

There is no escape the fact everyone is after a cut of the money you can, or could make from your work, and it's not just the tax man.

So check this article out for yourself.

I'm busy in the flow with my writing at the moment. So when I get time I will drop by for a cuppa and a chat with you all, though, I am finding it very difficult to get on to some of your blogs at the moment especially RLS @ Life of a Fifty-something Yorkshireman and Olivia Ryan's. When I click on them, they open up then very quickly disappear and I'm left with a blank page, or I can read them but can't comment.

RLS, I was able to leave you a coment before it disappear, but now I can't get back to you... :-(

I do hope it sorts itself out soon.

Best wishes,

Jarmara

Living in Hope! :-)

2012-01-12T13:01:00.002Z

Another two rejections; Oh, mmm. A short story by Woman's Weekly and my novel 'PH'.... I'm just too dark. It took the publisher 10 months to get back to me... And in that time I've redarfted the novel twice... Should I re-email it to them?

Just kidding :-)

Still hitting the keyboard as fame and good forture calls to me.

Happily writing a bestseller... I hope.

Jarmara

The Joys of Books

2012-01-10T16:37:00.000Z

I just love this Video... I wonder how long it took them to film it.

Help! I need some advice .....

2012-01-04T09:30:00.001Z

Old Film

Help! Here I am busy working on my new novel ‘E’ which is a murder/ mystery. You know the sort of things, Lost love, betrayal etc… But I’ve a horrible feeling that my story plot is coming to me from a film I watched years ago.

The whole plot is rolling through my mind far too clearly to not be a film.

I’ve just tried looking on a free online film website to see if I could recognise the title or even a film like it… But no I can’t.

It just a little too scary for my liking. Have you ever got the feeling that someone else may have just done your novel before you?

The whole idea for my novel ‘E’ came about when a friend of mine made a throw away comment at work in June 2010. By the end of the day, we'd came up with a complete plot idea and characters for a novel I could write sometime in the future. All the notes and characters have been sitting quietly waiting on my computer.

What should I do carry on writing knowing that at the end of the day there no such thing as a new plot just lots of recycled ideas.

Or just keep hunting around for a film which may or may not be like my novel.

It’s just keeps bugging me L

Jarmara

What a Start to the New Year!

2012-01-03T19:34:00.001Z

..
Wow, what a great start to the New Year! To start with I would like to Welcome Hamel Moric to my blog. She's my 100th Follower!

As for my own writing, well, today has been one of those day when no matter how hard you try to settle down to write things keep getting in the way. :-(

First, it was the dentist, then there was the hoovering, which hasn't been done because of Christmas, then there was the washing, well who wants visitors to see your smalls drying on the radiators... By the time I'd finished my chores, it was time to sort out what to cook my much beloved for his dinner.

Hopefully tomorrow is another day.

Jarmara

My New Year Challenge!

2011-12-29T19:37:00.001Z

What a great start to the New Year for my Much Beloved and me as this week we’ve just finished paying for our house. The only sad moment is having cleared our mortgage; we now don’t have any free money to replace our cars, but I’ve a plan.

Is it possible to win a new car by my writing?

This is my challenge for this year.

What's yours?

Happy New Year.

Jarmara

Holmes & A Game of Shadows

2011-12-18T15:35:00.001Z

I've just come back from seeing the new Holmes film, with my much beloved and number one son; it was fantastic. The best film I've seen in a long time apart from the first one in the series by Guy Ritchie.

Apart from my husband, Robert Downey Jr dress as Sherlock Holmes is the only other man I would love to find in my bedroom.

But, I have a horrible feeling that Robert Downey Jr maybe on the shorter side of 5'6" which isn't my ideal man though I could forgive him if he does have the wonderful sense of humour which Sherlock Holmes has been given in this version.

It was fast moving, action packed, funny and wonderfully filmed.

Happy Christmas,

Jarmara

Christmas Wishes, Short Stories and Novel Writing....

2011-12-15T09:34:00.003Z

Happy Christmas To All My Readers

Now that Christmas is truly upon us, and we are all busy with our party plans. I would like to say thank you to all my fellow friends and bloggers.

Here’s my Christmas card for all of you. May I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas with your families and friends over this festive season, and I hope too, you all have a safe journey, if you have to travel anywhere over the next couple of weeks. I'm look forward to hearing and reading about all your wonderful news after Christmas.

At the moment, I’ve been busy finishing a short story for the Harrogate Crime Festival and have started sorting out my entry into the Good Housekeeping novel competition.

So for now, I shall say, Merry Christmas to you all and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Happy writing,

Jarmara

On Reflection...

2011-12-12T11:04:00.003Z

Reflection by Jarmara.

The poem has been removed to be entered into a competition. I don't normally enter my poems, but I thought I'll give it ago.

Poem by

Jarmara

A New Crime Writer is Born!

2011-12-07T06:51:00.000Z

If you love crime novels then take a look at my friend's book. She has just uploaded in on Amazon.

Death in Sprigg's Wood is Linda's first novel.

The police are called to a sadistic attack in Spigg’s Wood in the quiet Essex countryside. Meg Rusher, mother of three, and erstwhile kickboxing champion, has shot and wounded one man and seriously injured another. In self-defence, she claims. The men and the evidence at the scene contradict this. DI Hal Hedley and his team investigate, but their discoveries lead to injustice and death.

Great News! New Readers on the Horizon

2011-12-06T10:35:00.003Z

Scientist have discovered a new planet close to our own. A new planet earth.

Let’s hope that it's full of wonderful readers so us writers will have a new market in which to launch our books, share our love of writing and follow other peaceful pleasures.

If it’s a green and pleasant land, let us hope we won’t destroy it as we are doing to our own.

As Christmas is just around the corner, let us remember Peace of Earth and Goodwill to all men and aliens.

Let's hope this doesn't happen on the new planet: Sorry about the bad language.... but you have been warned. This woman doesn't speak for me all.... And I'm English... I feel sorry for all the poor people on the train at the time, who had to listen to her awful language, especially her son. Yes, she has a right to her opinon, but not use such awful language and to think she's speak for the rest of us.

Best wishes to new planet Earth… May the force be with you.

Jarmara

We are Elizabeth Lord's Wednesday Writers' Group

2011-11-30T19:54:00.001Z

Elizabeth Lord's Writing Group.

We are Elizabeth Lord's Wednesday Writers' Group. We meet once a month on a Wednesday. We take no prisoners!
It's a great group because we read our work out so the rest of us can give feedback.

But it isn't for the light hearted as we tell each other exactly what we think of the works that are read out.

We talk books, sharing ideas, and writing news. We are Derek, Linda, Jarmara & Elizabeth Lord. Elizabeth and Linda have now Kindle their books.

Elizabeth Lord's new novel 'The Chandelier Ballroom'

To find out more about Linda's crime novel
soon to be Kindled with the best of them.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Win and Plant a Tree!

2011-11-24T19:01:00.001Z

Are you a Tree Lover then this is a Writing Competition for you.

ITF short story competition 2011/12

The International Tree Foundation, based in Crawley Down, is running a short story competition to find some writing talent which they can use to support our cause.
It costs nothing to enter their competition and your story can be as short as you like (or a maximum of 1,500 words). The theme of competition is ‘Simply trees and forests’…the rest is up to your imagination!

Oh, what a feeling!

2011-11-22T14:09:00.002Z

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

First of all, where has all the years gone?
I expect it was life getting in the way of living that doesn’t give you time to stop and reflect too often.

Today, I’ve had time to reflect back over twenty-four years as it's my baby boy's birthday today.... (I know he's a grown man, but.... forever he's my BB)

So I baked him a cake while he sleeps the day away after coming home from work after a night shift, bless him.

Talking about babies, well you knew I'd get back to talking about writing at some point soon; last night, I signed my first publishing contract.

Yes, you did read that right.

It’s amazing how technology has made it possible to sign a contract and to send it back in one night. Now I really do feel like a writer as I shall be paid royalty for a short story I’m having published. The crime anthology will be published next August 2012.

Okay, okay, I’m trying to make it sound much grander than it is, but whether it’s just a few pence or half a million pounds. When I was at school struggling to write half a page in my English class, and stopping my fountain pen from making a mess all over what I’d struggled to write down, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought anyone would be publishing a short story written by me, let allow paying me for it.

If my teachers could only see me now!

Though, there again, in my school report they wrote I was a bit of a daydreamer.

In my mind, my ability to daydream has been very handy as I wouldn’t have been able to come up with amazing plots ideas, if I hadn’t been able to. Maybe, if they had thought about my ability a bit more they could've add, possible career ideas for the future, an artist or writer.

Reflect on my future now,

Jarmara

Women are boldly going where Sci-fi male Authors have Gone before!

2011-11-21T15:38:00.002Z

It looks as though I might be in with a chance after all as far as my novel is concerned. I've just read an article in The Independent about how women are winning sci-fi's battle of the sexes.

It so nice to know I don't have to become a man to get my book published after all. I'm sure my husband is pleased too. We saw a man in a charity shop on Friday trying on a pair of high heel boots. The man tried to tell me it was for fancy dress, but who knows maybe his wife had to have a sex change to get her book published, and now her husband is having to cross-dress to go to her book launch. The man asked me if you could get boots in size 9....

Happy writing,
Jarmara

Romantic Novelists' Association... Love Writing

2011-11-20T12:36:00.002Z

This is what happens when a lot of Romantic Novelists get together for their winters party. The evening was very interesting and I managed to chat with an editor from Arrows book. I explained the plot of my novel to her. After a few moments and with quite a shocked look on her face she said, I wouldn't be able to sell the book because it was too shocking for most women. She felt I would be better off writing under a man's name if I was going to write Sci-Fi.

May I ask if any of you, my dear readers, read sci-fi fiction or even mysteries? Do you see a book as being for a male or female reader? In my life time as a reader I've read all sort of books, if the plot grabs me enough I'll read it.

I did point out that P.D James wrote 'Children of Men' which was a sci-fi novel, but Miss Arrow said, 'Yes, but P.D.James was all ready famous when the book was published.'

So it looks as though I shall have to became a man, and wait until I'm famous to have any hope of publishing my novel.

Still, I've one other option. Take out all the nasty bits which would upset women, put in a lot of sweet romance and kissing, reduce the word court and sell it to People's Friend as a pocket novel.

Talking about pocket novels, mine's coming along spiffingly with no nasty bits at all.

I did manage to speak to an agent at the RNA who asked me to send him my opening chapters. I did warning him about the nasty parts, but I'm glad to say it didn't put him off.

Something else I learnt while at the RNA as writers we can't expect to received large advance anymore that there isn't any money around. Miss Arrows said, I should self-publish my novel, but my reply to that was until I felt confidence enough in my writing I didn't want my novel to be like some of the kindle books I had read by S-P writers, who haven't had someone other than family and friends casting an eye over their work.

I've taken onboard some points Miss Arrow said about making my novel into a romance, but I shan’t be cutting out any of the so called nasty parts because this is part of the plot.

Once I have finished the pocket novel, I shall go back to my novel and rewrite yet again.

Happy Writing in the weeks ahead,

Jarmara

Out and About... Oh and a rejection!

2011-11-15T16:31:00.002Z

Martina Cole

I have a few busy days and nights ahead of me. On Thursday, Elizabeth Lord has invited Linda Gruchy, a fellow writer and me to the RNA Winter Party in London. So if any of you are going to be there and would like to say hello please let me know, I look forward to see you.

On Friday, my much beloved and I are taking Elizabeth in to Chelmsford to see Martha Cole signing her latest book, Faithless.

On Saturday night, we meeting up with some of my friends from work, which I’m looking forward too as I will be interesting to find out about the changes that have happened since finishing.

Yesterday, I had another rejection on my Sci-Fi Novel. Oh mmm, but in a funny sort of way I was expected it as so far the four rejections I have had on it have all said the same, more or less. It’s not mainstream enough for them.

Since I’ve started writing my pocket novel which is going very well, I’ve kind of understand more about using my characters’ emotions to tell the tale. I’ve been thinking about taking my first two novels apart, reducing the word count, cutting a few of the characters and rewriting both of the novel and turning them into romances by rewriting their main plots.

Will this make them more mainstream, I wonder?

Puzzled Jarmara

Hit me Baby... As many times as you like!

2011-11-14T08:58:00.010Z

Since starting this blog in February 2009, my confidence as a writer has steadily been growing as I’m able to post my good news and share my ups and downs with the wonderful new friends I have made both here in the blogging world and in real time.
I enjoy writing my posts and reading all the amazing postings on the other bloggers’ blogs that I visit. It’s so lovely to know that we all understand what it’s like to be a writer as the world of publishing is on the move and changing daily. I’m just so glad that we are here for each other and are able to keep everyone updated with the latest news.

Since May 2009, Blogger has added Stats on our dashboard so we can see how many hits our blogs has had, I was delightfully surprised to find my little old blog has had the grand total of 10,085 to date.
Thank you to everyone who had dropped by and taken time out to read my blog, leave comments

Here's my(( hug)) to you all

Best wishes and a Big Thank you to you all.

Jarmara

Ps: Just looked a my Stats and it has told that so far today
after posting this post I've had 307 hits. Now that's scary,
just wish that you all had left me a comment.
Best wishes whoever you are and thank you for dropping by
and collecting your hug. :-)

I've Gone and Done it Again

2011-11-10T20:29:00.005Z

Today, I received an email from Dedz Hobbs-Wyatt from Bridgehouse Publishing to tell me that my short story has been selected to appear in their Crime Anthology due out next summer.

I’m so excited by the news after having two short stories rejected. This has made my fingers dances over the keys with happiness.
At least, this story is more in keeping with my darker self.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Bridgehouse Publishing

How Great is thy Love ?

2011-11-08T14:12:00.002Z

The Fens

My husband is magic... He loves me come hell or high water. Okay, I would say that, the guy did marry me after ten years of living together. (Well, we were both on our second time around and needed to know if it would work before tying the knot)

As you all know, I’ve taken to writing a pocket novel, which means I’ve put my macabre self on hold. As you all know you should study your market before writing, so with this in mind, I’ve been buying the odd pocket novel from my local supermarket and off eBay.

63 Pocket novels all in the row

Then to my utter delight I saw someone was selling a box of 63 pocket novels, but the buyer had to collect. I nervously asked my much beloved if it was all right to place a bid.

He said, ‘where will we have to go to collect them?’

‘Just the capital of the Fens’

To the rest of you that’s Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Sunday morning, nice and early without breakfast, my much beloved drove me to Wisbech so I could collect my box of people’s friends before the ebayer went on holiday for the week. We had to be there before 10o’clock and it took us two hours to drive the distance. We were back at home by 11 o’clock after leaving the home at 6.00 just in case we got a bit lost.

My Pocket Novel is coming on in leaps and bounds. My word count now stands at 16,858 and I’ve been editing as I progress.

I just finished reading a couple of the Pocket Novels by Margaret Mounsdon, ‘Written in the Stars’ and by Susan Udy, ‘Rebellious Heart’ and have enjoyed their style of writing.

My Much Beloved & I in Whitby, North Yorkshire

I just hope my first attempt at writing pocket novels is my second step on my journey to becoming a paid writer.

And to my much beloved, Thank you for believing in me enough to give up your Sunday morning lay in.

Happily Writing Romance,

Jarmara

Never Say Never

2011-11-03T14:24:00.003Z

Since I started writing eleven years ago, I’ve always seen myself as a dark writer hence the name of my blog. If anyone had asked me what sort of book I’m writing, I always gave the same answer, ‘I don’t do romance or erotica’.

But since I started to write my pocket novel, I’m warming to the idea of writing romance. I must admit I’m still find it hard to read the stuff as I want to shake the heroines, and tell them to snap out of it that they don’t need a strong man in their lives to get on in life.

Maybe because I’ve had to stand on my own two feet and believe anything is possible for a woman on her own.

When I was sixteen, I use to read them by the bucket load, all those dashing highwaymen and pirates sweeping, weeping young virgins of their feet while saving them from wicked men, but since then I’ve never found pure blood romance exciting stuff to read. Give me a murder, or mystery any day of the week.

So here I am writing the same sort of stuff for People’s Friend and My Weekly Pocket Novel and loving it.

Who knows if I get good at it, I could start writing something a little darker like a Paranormal Romance next.

Has anyone else come across Channel 4 The Book Group.... I love it, the actors work so well together, and their characters are amazing. It’s a little naughty, but funny too, a sort of Sex in the City for book lovers

You can find series one & two on Channel Four OD

Jarmara

Here's my Goth Weekend

2011-10-30T16:35:00.003Z

I'm back after having another wonderful weekend at the Goth Festival in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

I hope you enjoy my slideshow. Thank you to all our goth friends and to the family who remembered me from last year's Halloween Festival. It was lovely meeting up with you again.

While in Whitby, we went to listen to a reading given by the author Paul Magrs from his latest book 666 Charing Cross Road.

Paul Magrs

I have never read any of his work before so I shall let you all know what I think of the book when I've finished it.

Best wishes

Jarmara

I'm in Whitby!

2011-10-27T18:21:00.001+01:00

St Mary's Parish Church

We're here for the Whitby Goth Festival... We arrived at 10.00 this morning and walked around Whitby and found quite a few people dressed up, but not enough to photo today. Tomorrow, my much beloved and I will join the rest in our outfits.

I shall post more tomorrow.

Jarmara

Me and People's Friends

2011-10-24T07:46:00.001+01:00

I’m sure many of you, my dear readers will know I’ve had an ongoing relationship with People’s Friend over a number of years now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought the magazine, read their Christmas Annuals, subscripted to their seasonal specials hoping to be able work out quite where I’m going wrong in my writing of short stories for their market.

On Saturday, I received another rejection from them.

“There’s a lot I like about it, Jarmara, in relation to the issues you have raised, but overall, it’s just a tad too blunt for our more reserved readership.”

They went on to say… “Maybe worth targeting towards other women’s magazines.”

I wonder if it was my mention of the children playing in a rundown housing estate, collection of rusting, burnt out cars, discarded cans, bottles, and black plastic bags full of goodness-knows-what littering grass verges and the hint of runaways that put them off.

Oh well, back to the drawing board and positive thinking.

Hmmm, made a list of things which mustn’t be mention in any stories you send into People’s Friend… Good keywords: nice, sweet, honey, lovely, grandma apple pie, kittens, puppies, etc.

Bad keywords: Anything to do with real life, even good things in the real world.

My pocket novel is coming along nicely, but I’ve got to change my main character from a mixed race girl to an all English white girl at the risk of being rejected after making an observation that all the women pictured on the front covers of the Pocket Novels were white, middle class.

My writing friend said she had a story rejection and did wonder if it was because her hero was black.

It does make me wonder whether there is a reader's market out there which isn’t being tapped into, but who am I to know. It just my opinion.

Happy writing,

Jarmara

Something all poor writers will need this Christmas!

2011-10-20T12:49:00.001+01:00

Okay so I’m the first to put up my hand and say I’m a poor writer. I haven’t made a penny from my writing since My Weekly published a letter in 2008 and I earnt £25.

Now we all know about the high prices we can expect to pay for food, fuel and heating in the long cold days ahead until spring comes knocking on our doors once again. Now I’m home all day, I can’t afford to have the heating on throughout the winter months, and my little writing room does get cold.

So I’ve bought myself a snuggle blanket. It's a blanket with arms so you can, read, write, watch TV and drink your hot chocolate in comfort. So if you are stuck for ideas for what to have for Christmas, or to buy your family and friends, why not put this great item on your list too and help them to keep cosy as they're enjoying their hobbies, while beating the high heating cost.

Jarmara

P.s I’m not modelling it, I got the picture off the net. Anyway, I’m far too busy making my Goth outfit for next weekend.

Are some people just born unhappy?

2011-10-13T12:21:00.001+01:00

Can anyone tell me why someone just enjoy being unhappy?

In the world torn apart by all sorts problems i.e wars, unrest, proverty, etc, there still many good things happening as well as bad, but on the whole most of us are lucky enough to be able to just worry about the small problems that everyday living brings.

There are a group of people I know who on the whole have enough to get by with, who live well, but never seem happy with their lot in life.

Maybe, they see their lives as being dull, unfulfilled, nothing much is happening to them, I don't know. But if you were to ask to swap their lives with someone who is living in a war torn country, or where poverty is king, I bet you they wouldn’t... So why can they enjoy the wonder of living and all it rewards. Just to wake up to a beautiful day and hear the birds singing.

I’ve had lots of ups and downs in my life, but nothing I couldn’t get over or change. We all make mistakes, did things we wish we hadn’t, but that’s what life is all about, learning to adapt and grow as a person.

When we were born, we all had to learn how to do many of the skill we now use today, so could it also be true to say we all had to learn how to be happy too.

Maybe, this was a lesson that some have missed out on in their early years.

Could it also be true that some people are born spiteful too?

Happiness is enjoying what you have!

What triggers some people to be nasty and spiteful all the time that they never see the good in others. Why can’t these people see what pleasure they are missing out on by not sharing in other people’s good fortunes.

I supposes I should just use these questions in my writing when I need to create antagonists and let the people in questions just get on with their sad, but happy lives.(well, if they are happy being unhappy) and just enjoy my fulfil and fortunate life.

Busy being happy and writing, of course.

Jarmara.

And now for something completely different...

2011-09-26T19:52:00.002+01:00

I've set myself a challenge after my novel has been rejected for the second time. Though, it's had some positive feedback, it not mainstream enough to be published by traditional publishers.

So after two half years of working on it, I’ve decided to take time out to write a pocket novel. Okay, so what is a dark writer doing writing romance?

Well, sometimes you have to try your hand and mind at something different.

People’s Friend, a magazine, I’ve tried submitting to before, and have had great feedback from them, even though I’ve yet to have one of my stories accepted by them. I’ve just completed another short story which I’m hoping they will find suitable for their magazine this time. So fingers crossed.

So what’s my challenge? Well, I want to see if I can write a pocket novel in 4 weeks. Pocket novel stories are character led, and have a word count 50k.

Ready, steady, go.... And I’m off to start writing.

Best wishes,

Jarmara

Let's all spread a little happiness

2011-09-20T10:46:00.001+01:00

Nights In White Satin by the Moody Blues

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end,
Letters I've written, never meaning to send.
Beauty I'd always missed with these eyes before.
Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore.

'Cos I love you, yes I love you, oh how I love you.

Gazing at people, some hand in hand,
Just what I'm going through they can't understand.
Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend,
Just what you want to be, you will be in the end.

And I love you, yes I love you,
Oh how I love you, oh how I love you.

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end,
Letters I've written, never meaning to send.
Beauty I've always missed, with these eyes before.
Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore.

'Cos I love you, yes I love you,
Oh how I love you, oh how I love you.
'Cos I love you, yes I love you,
Oh how I love you, oh how I love you.

Breath deep
The gathering gloom
Watch lights fade
From every room
Bedsitter people
Look back and lament
Another day's useless
Energy spent

Impassioned lovers
Wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love
And has none
New mother picks up
And suckles her son
Senior citizens
Wish they were young

Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion

I've loved this song from the first day I heard it back when... I now have it as a ring tone on my phone. Back when I first knew who the Moody Blues were, I never imagined I would carry a small piece of this song around in my pocket to let me know someone needed me, or to pass on a message.

How the world has changed.

Yesterday, my aunt told me she hated computers, and said they should be ban as people used them for evil things.

I said, Well, the same could be said for cars.

It is easy to remember a time before, but if people what to use something, or anything for bad things, they will, and often or not do.

We can’t turn the clock back, and if we did we would lose more than we gain.

I have loved computers since seeing Captain Kirk on Star Trek asking his computer for the latest data. Even though my computer is yet to speak to me, I’m still amazed that in my lifetime I can talk to all you lovely bloggers out there in Blogging world, to share in a small part of your lives. In visiting, chatting and sharing view points, and ideas the world becomes a small places. We all becomes neighbours. Yes, there will always be someone with evil on their minds, but there are more people with goodness in their hearts and willing to share their kind thoughts. So as the saying goes spread a little happiness

Back as a child watching the men walking on the moon, I thought space travel would be like catch a bus, but I don’t think we will see that happening. Man has conquered inter space instead of outer space. And I for one love it otherwise how would I find out about all the others amazing programmes, videos, information, weather reports, writing festivals and competitions and blogs without it.

So spread a little happiness and keep the evil so and so, in their place, behind lock doors.

Jarmara

* Spread a little happiness was written in 1929 by Vivian Ellis

Sometimes Fact doesn't work in Fiction

2011-09-16T09:30:00.004+01:00

From Fact to fiction

Since the gasmen have left my road, it has returned to a haven of peace and quiet. Until last night when it turned into a Episode of East Enders.

Three house along the road from my house live single mums or young families that have been re-homed for whatever reason. Normally, they quietly getting on with their lives taking their children to the local school etc. I’m only really aware of them in the warm summer evenings when their little ones play on the green area in front of their homes, and they all get together to have a BBQ in their shared front gardens.

Last night, about 7.30/ 7.45 time I could hear someone shouting and a woman’s voice calling for someone to call the police. A man’s voice was heard shouting ‘if they didn’t come out he would coming in a slit their **** throats. He then went on to tell the woman how much he loved her.

As I went to my landing window to see what house the disturb was coming from, I was that the man was carrying a large knife. He walked over to the parked cars and started to bang on one of them.

I didn’t have a clear view of what he was doing, but he gave a running commentary of his action. Shouting at the people who remained in the house.

“I’ve slashed three of your F*****g tyres and if you don’t get out here now I’ll do the rest.” He went on to tell us how he just come out of prison and he wasn’t scared anymore.

What amazed me most was how everyone else in the street seemed to be calmly standing around watching what was going on. At one point a man taking his dog for a walk, walked passed the man with the knife as though it was the most natural thing in the world. The knifeman ran up behind him and waved it at his back, shouting “Who are you?” Are you….?”

All the time this was going on, I could hear the young woman’s voice pleading for someone to call the police.

Selfishly, I was worried for my son as I didn’t want him getting caught up in it when he came home from work, so I called the police, but just as I was explaining what was going on as they reconnected me from one line to other, two police cars turned up closely followed by an ambulance. By now it was getting too dark to see what was happening outside.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, thinking back over what happened two things stuck me. Firstly, how many people stood around outside watching. My house overlooks the green where it all took place, but my high hedge blocked my view, but no way would I have gone out into the road to watch. Secondly, the dialogue of the knifeman.

My thoughts this morning while I was dusting, yes it’s a great time to think about writing while doing the house work. Anyway, as I was saying, if I was about to write the scene for a book I would have made it too sensible.

To start with: The man had a knife. It was big and clearly on show. To have your antagonist ask the people inside the house to come out isn’t going to work as common sense comes into play. That’s if you don’t want your characters being complete idiots. Would you come out if you saw the guy had a knife?

Having him, telling them that he’s going to cut their throats, isn’t about to make them more willing to come out. Also, if your antagonist has already slash three of their car tyres would they be more than willing to come out of their place of safety to rescue the last one. Somehow, I think not.

This is where you begin to see fact and fiction work differently. What happened in reality wouldn’t work on paper and the whole scene would have to be rewritten for any reader to feel it was realistic. Also what is the end game too? Clearly, the knifeman was too worked up to think straight and his angry was getting in the way of commom sense, but it gave me an insight how sometimes fact can't be used in fiction without having changes made to it.

Interesting isn't it…

Back to writing fiction for me…. As my road becomes a haven of peace and quiet once more until the next time…

Jarmara

Down and Dirty in the Veggie Patch

2011-09-12T06:02:00.001+01:00

Have you ever wondered what is going on behind your back in your veggie patch while you are gathering your freshly grown vegetables for your dinner. Well, here's the answers

I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Or do I need to get a life?

Best wishes,
Jarmara

Digital Publishing & Me.

2011-09-04T12:04:00.004+01:00

Now I’m not a great advocate of eBooks as my dream has always been to see my novel published as a hardback, but after winning an eBook publishing deal I’ve had to rethink my hard-bitten stance.

After reading Mark Oakley’s article ‘Book to the Future’ in Writers’ Forum Magazine: Oct 2011, I feel I may have to embrace eBooks like everyone else seems to be doing. According to Mark Oakley, the eBook market has grown from 100 to 800 per cent for some UK publishers. He goes on to say, whatever research you read the figures tell much the same story. While it currently accounts for a relatively small section of the overall book market, the eBook market is on the up.

This has left me with a dilemma, which of my finished novels should I have published as an eBook. My first book is a vampire with a twist novel. I'd sent this one out into the big wide world and was told by a publisher that it needed some work done on it, but had potential. I left this one on the back boiler as there were, I felt, too many Vamp books out there. Or should I put forward my latest timeslip novel, which I feel is far more original and is a far better book by far. But part of me still would like to go down the mainstream route.

Or am I looking at my dilemma from the wrong angle?

Should I see my win as a marketing opportunity?

Having the win in itself has given me something else to add to my writing C.V, but could it be a way of stepping up on the first rung of the publishing ladder.

At the moment, I’m waiting for the competition organisers to get back in contact with me about the details of my win, so I still have sometime to think about what I should do.

I would love to know what you would do in my situation.

Happy writing,

Jarmara.

Soundtracks for Books

2011-09-01T16:23:00.007+01:00

I've hear it all now.... Whatever next? I know, lets have pictures to go with the book I'm reading, and maybe we can come up with a name for it. Lets call it... 'Film' or has someone all ready thought of it. If you want to know what I'm talking about then go to the link.

Book Tracks... A soundtracks to go with the book you're reading. Great idea or not?

Happy reading my paperback ......
'The Secret Lives Of Sisters by Linda Kelsey'

I wonder what soundtrack I could come up with while I'm reading about Hannah and her sister Cat... Hmm, She's your best friend... And your worst enemy!

Jarmara

Ebook Versus Published Book... What's in it for the Writers?

2011-08-26T12:07:00.002+01:00

Hear what the author, Graham Swift has to say about the new age of Ebook means to us the writers.

Maybe we, the writers should start thinking more about what happens after we get our books published than just focusing when we get our work into print. I don't mean, being the bestsellers list and doing the arounds of book festivals either.
What we need to know is how much is our work is really worth? How do we hope to make a living from our writing?

Graham Swift's words are chilling and they made me stop and think.
What does lay in the future for writers, maybe we shouldn't be rushing to be published as any cost, but sitting back and waiting to see what happen next. As Graham Swift points out, it's not how we read books but what's in it for the writer, we should be worrying about.

Heavy-hearted for the future.

Jarmara

Good News Week For The Dark Fantasy Writer!

2011-08-10T21:04:00.002+01:00

I just can't believe it... Today, I had an email to say that I'm the overall winner in the World Book Day Short Story Competition 2011.

The competiton asked for entries that were full of imagination and creativity – intriguing tales, which will draw in any reader.

Short stories should lie in weaving descriptions revealing insights into ...characters, unveiling and analysing detailed moments in time, exposing only the slightest of hints to keep the reader drawn in. The use of language should evoke emotions and trigger memories; they should go beyond the usual realm of writing and enlighten the reader.

Your short story should beautifully and verbally illustrate a piece of prose where every word counts and the reader is drawn in from the very first sentence.

I sent in a short story which 'People's Friend' rejected because the narrator sounded like he was a stalker, not believing for one minute it was possible that my story would be chosen as the overall winner!

I'm looking forward to seeing my story published in an Anthology with fourteen other short stories. There is some more exciting news to come, but I will tell you more when I know more about it myself.

So for now I shall continue dancing around my writing room because I too excited to sleep.

Oh Happy Writing Days,

Jarmara

Dead Man's Folly & Mrs A Oliver's Advice

2011-08-09T11:18:00.003+01:00

1) Remember to stick with what matters.

2) Don't log roll i.e find one spot and stay.
Keep moving the story on!

3) Show all hidden emotions: how does your characters feel inside and out. Tell your readers all about body language: laugh, frowns or pouts

4) Foreshadow: Give a hint of what is going to happen next then deliver the unexpected. Build up a greater drama for later on.

These four pieces of advice I post at the top of each outline I write to remind myself to stick to the main theme of my novel, to not stay in one spot and to keep the story moving forward. To show the emotions of my characters to stop them from become wooden or underdeveloped. To remember to keep the reader turning the next page by giving them a hint of what's to come next.

I'm sorry, but I can't remember just where I got these four tips from, they may have come from four different books, authors or magazines, I don't know. All I did was write them down and follow them when I'm writing.

I'm a fan of Agatha Christie. In her book 'Dead Man's Folly' her character, the well known novelist Mrs. Ariadne Oliver sum up just how I feel about anyone giving me advice about writing my plot or storyline. Mrs A Oliver tells Poirot all about a murder hunt she's organising.

Poirot: “Can you explain a little more clearly what you mean by that?”

Mrs A Oliver said, “You see, this is my murder, so to speak. I’ve thought it out and planned it and it all fits in- dovetails. Well, if you know anything at all about writers, you’ll know that they can’t stand suggestions. People say ‘Splendid, but wouldn’t it be better if so and so did so and so?’ or ‘Wouldn’t it be a wonderful idea if the victim was A instead of B? I mean, one wants to say: ‘ All right then , write it yourself if you want it that way!’”

Mrs. Ariadne Oliver and Poirot

As a writer myself, I wonder if Agatha Christie had people giving her advice on how to write her plots and this her way of telling them just what she couldn’t say to their face.

I hope my four pieces of advice can help you, if not then always remember the well-known novelist, Mrs. A Oliver's words should anyone start telling you how to write... 'All right then, write it yourself if you want it that way!'

Happily writing my novel my way.

Jarmara

Can There Be Too Much Advice?

2011-08-08T11:35:00.002+01:00

Do you ever wonder if you should listen to yourself or other when it comes to your writing?

Is there ever too much advice from others that we could all land up writing the same way?

Should you learn the rules then break them?

I view every ‘How to’ book on how to write as a guideline to how the author learnt their trade. Beyond learning the basic skills i.e. grammar, punctuation, etc, the rest is down to each and every writer to find their own voice, plots, characters and ideas to create their own bestseller.

What may be great idea for one writer, may not be ideal for another.

When you create your characters, we (the writer) have no idea where they are about to take us... Can we then tell them…”Hey! You can’t do that it not in the ‘How to write a best seller book’!

I think you might find their answer would be ‘Up Yours, See If I Care!’

So when you hit those key let your imagination and characters take you where they will and stop worrying about what other say about what is the right or the wrong way to write when it comes to your own bestseller.

Cut free, follow your dream and let the agent, editor or publisher tell you what you need to know.

I’m off to Whitby on Saturday…. And the weather report isn’t looking good L

Happily writing in my own way,

Jarmara

Oh, so busy....

2011-08-06T07:15:00.001+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posting, tea and chat, but life is a bit busy at the moment. My writing is going well. Peace has settle in my street outside my window as the workmen move away to upset someone else.

I shall be off to Whitby again soon for a wonderful week with my much beloved.
Bye for now,
Jarmara

Didn’t see that one….

2011-08-01T10:41:00.003+01:00

Head in Hands by Adele Gowrie-Sculptor

Sometimes having a second pair of eyes or even a second head seems like a great idea.

At the weekend, my dear friend Elizabeth Lord came over to spent the day with my much beloved and I. Our other writer friend, Linda came to join us too. After chatting about agents, get published and other book and writing related subjects we had dinner. Taking our plates, we all decided to sit in the garden to enjoy the sunshine until a horde of wasps thought it would be a great idea to join us and chased us back indoors.

After Linda left, Ivy sat reading through chapter 4 of my novel and pointed out a huge mistake I had made.

I know my novel is fiction and with fiction anything can happen, but I had failed to take into account one small fact, in 1871 electric wall sockets hadn’t been invented.

Oh hum…

I had checked out when electricity had been invented and allowing for bending the truth on its timeline to fit in with my plotline, but I just presumed that if you had lighting there would be wall sockets.

Thanks be to God for Elizabeth… Born in 1928, she told me what life was like when she was growing up. It makes you stop and think about how much we take our modern living for granted. Elizabeth told me how she remember her mother taking the light bulb out to plug in the iron when she wanted to do the ironing.

So if you are going to write about the past, just make sure you check every detail, and I mean every detail, or make sure you have someone to read through it with fresh eyes.

Happily rewriting chapter four.

Jarmara

I'm Back

2011-07-26T20:59:00.002+01:00

Martina Cole and one very nervous fan, Jarmara

We had a wonderful time at the Harrogate Crime Writer’s Festival. Martina Cole was amazing and so funny. She had her audience laughing with her as she told us about some of the people she has met in prison both in this country and in America.

For some strange reason because Martian Cole is such a big name in the publishing world, I thought she would be larger than life itself, but it came as a bit of a shock to find she is a tiny lady with a big personality. I was so nervous about meeting her, she laughed when I told her so and said she's always like that herself before giving a talk. It was lovely to find that she is such an easy going person who is so chatty that it put you at ease with her.

Val McDermid

While my much beloved and I waited to see the next talk we sat outside having refreshments and watched Val McDermid being interviewed for a programme which will be aired in September.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing who I can spot at next year's festival.

Now back to writing my own best selling novel and who knows who could be rubbing shoulders with me.

I did meet a new writer called Maggie Wilson who told us all about her novel 'Fallen Angel'. Maggie has another novel out in August called 'Inside Out'. We wish her lots of luck.

That's all for now, I shall be dropping by soon for a chat and a cuppa so make sure you've put water in the kettle before you switch it on. :-)

Jarmara

Missing People: A Red Cross Writing Competition

2011-07-19T08:14:00.000+01:00

Take a look at this Writing Competition

For AJ... and Other Whitby Lovers

2011-07-18T13:43:00.002+01:00

Whitby Harbour.

Whitby, North Yorkshire was the home of many great writers and artists. Once you have walked the streets and breathed the air of the North York Moor's she will never let you go. I'm lucky that I was born with a link to this wonderful, inspiring place as I can traces my family history back over two hundred and ninety-five years. Since my much beloved started coming with me to the home of my ancestors, he is now hooked and doesn't want to go anywhere else, we come up at least three times a year.

St Mary's Church, Whitby.

Please Click on Photo to enlarge.

Best wishes,

Jarmara

Gone in a Flash...

2011-07-18T11:14:00.001+01:00

I don't know where the time has gone this year, here we are near through July. This week is full of writing for me, not only am I continually working on polishing my novel, but I over to my writing group and going to see two brilliant writers who are ahead of the game.

On Wednesday, I’m off to my dear Elizabeth’s writing group to read out my finished Chapter 3. This morning I read it aloud into my record and play it back. I like to play each of my character in a different voice, but I won’t be doing that for the group. Well, I’d feel rather silly. Do you read aloud to yourself in character?

On Thursday, my much beloved and I travel to Whitby, North Yorkshire, home of my ancestors, to spend a long weekend. Then on Friday, we head over to the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival to see Martina Cole and Sophie Hannah.

Sophie Hannah is part of a panel of writers, with Tana French, Camilla Lackbreg and Steve Mosby giving a talk about writing psychological thrillers, which I'm really looking forward to hearing. I love Sophie Hannah's books and can't wait for her next one.

I shall tell all when I get back.

Happy writing,

Jarmara

On the Street Where I Live!

2011-07-15T09:37:00.011+01:00

My house is behind the trees

At the moment all is quiet and peaceful the sun is shining.
I've been up since 4.00, this is my normal time for getting up. I enjoy the peace and my brain is refresh and ready to go, not only that I get my best ideas too.

This morning I've been up-dating my plot-mapping and came up with another great idea. The locked room! Of course, this will make no sense at all to you, but to my novel it will be a OMG moment!

Yesterday, my dear friend, Elizabeth phone for a chat and of course we chatted about all things writing. She gives me such an insight into the publishing world. She told me all about her latest book, then asked me how I’m getting on with me.

I told her all about my new ideas and how LB gets rid of the bodies. Elizabeth said, “You are so clever and have put in a lot of thought into your novel .”

I said, “I think that’s why it’s taking me so long to finish it completely, because of having to keep checking and rechecking everything.”[ There’s a lot of science and genetics in my novel,]

Elizabeth then said, she couldn’t wait to read it as it sounded very exciting and she was sure that the agent, Juliet Mushens would want to read it too.

I feel very chuffed that someone like Elizabeth could say such a lovely think about my writing. Some of you may already know, but ten years ago I didn’t know what a past tense and present tense meant. What passive or active was all about. And as for an adjective, I was utterly lost for words, but over these last few year, my dream to have a small article published has now grown into a novel. With seven articles and one short story published, I’m very proud of my achievements so far. Who knows what tomorrow might bring for this girl who left school with no qualifications who could read, but couldn’t spell and her writing was so awful that it embarrassed her that she hated filling in forms or anyone to see her writing.

The vans and lorry have just arrived so the noise will drown out the sweet sounds of the birds…

It’s warm already today, but I’ve had to close my window, so by this afternoon, I might just be nodding off, that’s if the noise doesn’t keep waking me up… LOL

Bye for now,

Jarmara.

An unhappy writer,

Silence is Golden... If Only!

2011-07-12T09:16:00.004+01:00

This is the view from my window.

The gasmen cometh…

My quiet street within my peaceful village has been shattered. Normally, I could sit working with my window open and just the sounds of the birds.

Now it’s mayhem and madness

We’ve been told that it could take over a month for the work to be finished.

Ernest Hemingway

I bet Hemingway didn’t have this problem.

And to add to the noise, it's dustmen day too.

Oh hmmm…. I just hope it doesn’t get too hot today…

From a less than peaceful writing room.

Happy writing,

Jarmara

Update on Rewrite.

2011-07-10T10:25:00.000+01:00

Sorry, I haven’t been around much, but as you all know I'm busy rewriting novel.

The book is growing up fast and I now have thirty chapters and a brilliant ending.

I’m busy working on trying up loose ends, checking for inconsistencies and typos.

Hope everything is going well with you,

Best wishes and happy writing.

Jarmara

To Be Published or Not to be Published

2011-07-01T20:54:00.003+01:00

It is one thing to be published and another to have a book in print. I have nothing against anyone going down the route of self-publishing, but it's not for me. I want someone to say to me, We love your book and want to publish it.

Now it just so happened that I got a letter through the post saying many moons ago I had sent a Ms to a publishing company which had since been taken over by a new company called E-Books Publisher. They then told me 'They would be very interested in giving me the opportunity in publishing my book in the e-book format.'

So me being me and not believing a word of it, I phoned them and asked whether I would have to part with any money.

Of course, I knew what would be said... It's funny how suddenly companies are all talking about Eco-friendly and doing their bit to save the environment when it comes to them making money and us poor writers spending it.

So I thought that I would see what happens next when I did as they asked and submitted my synopsis for my first novel. I did think it was a bit odd that they asked to read a synopsis and not the first three chapters. To my way of thinking, how could you possibly know how good the writer is at writing if your not reading their opening chapters.

Anyway, after four weeks I've heard back from the publishers.... Hey now, don't you go getting excited for me. It's just what I thought they would say....

Thank you again for submitting the synopsis for your book ‘Seeking the Dark’. Having now reviewed this, the E-Books Publisher team where impressed. However, we are at this point unable to offer you a totally non-contributory contract. We can however publish your book for a contribution of £300. This is much lower than the usual contribution we ask for and lower than the charge of many traditional publishers.

If you chose to publish your book with us, we would proof read and amend your manuscript (in line with the changes you agree to after the book has been to the proof reader), design a unique cover for your book, format and distribute it. After publication, your book will be available for download from Smashwords (who distribute to Apple, Sony, Diesel, Scroll Motion and Barnes and Noble) and Amazon. We have also recently signed contracts to make our books available from Kobo and Books on Boards and also with the wholesaler Gardners.

Just you all remember if it's too good to be true, it probably is :-)

There are just as many people out there, as there are writers, all desperate for you to spend your money to make your dream come true.

I did say to the lady,who I spoke to on the phone, it was cheaper for me to upload my novel online if I wanted to publish my work as an E-book.

We writers must remember the simple fact that publishers and agents will become a thing of the past if all writers suddenly started to make money from self-publishing.

Remember: Do your homework! Find out as much as you can about the Agent or publisher, before signing anything. If it's too good to be true, it probably is!

Good luck with your writing over this hot weekend.

Jarmara

Time Moves so S.l.o.w.l.y....

2011-06-30T15:44:00.001+01:00

I've just sent my latest short story off today. So at least, I can feel pleased I have completed something, unlike my novel which is coming back together too slowly for my liking.

Yesterday, I went to my writing group. No matter how many times you can sit and read your chapters over and over again they sound great to you. As soon as you read them out to someone else they suddenly sound like rubbish.

Yesterday, this is what happened to me.

I realised that my manuscript is nowhere near ready for anyone to look at because the plotline is still grow and developing.

The nature of the beast is such that my novel isn’t a straight forward tale of good and bad, right and wrong.

I’ve had to sit down and create a means of travel, set boundaries, do and don’ts. Have an understanding of law, physics, and science. Check out health and safety laws within the manufacturing of drugs. When certain things within my timeline had been invented. With each step forward I’ve come up against something else I need to check out.

It is easier to say, wing it, but I just don’t want to someone to read my book and say ’That’s was a rubbishy book because the author hasn’t bother to do her homework.

My dear neighbour, Joan popped over today to bring back some of the opening chapters she had read through and found some points I need to sort out.

She told me that she now understood why it has taken me so long to finish this book.

The first sparkles of a idea came for this book in December 09. At that time I worked full-time so it was a case of writing whenever I could. Now I’m writing full-time so I’m hope that I will see an end insight soon.

Anyway, must get back to the keyboard.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

It's Just Too Hot

2011-06-28T06:56:00.000+01:00

Yesterday’s weather was too hot to stay focused on my writing. I’m busy trying to sort out my chapters and make them shorter.

As usual my much beloved and I found ourselves rushing about trying to get our son to his appointment on time. Son needed to be picked up from our local railway station to come home have a shower and something to eat before driving over to a college in the next town over, only the powers to B in London came up with a wonderful idea to cancel one of the trains during rush hour. So instead of picking Son up at the local train station we had to drive over to Chelmsford then rush all the way over to Colchester to try and get him there on time. To add to our problems, my much beloved’s car didn’t like the heat either, got into a strop and started to play up, so we had to drive back home on the return journey and change the cars over, before head off to Colchester.

By the time we got home it was just to hot to eat. The lovely salad I made is sitting in the fridge ready for this evening.

Oh, BTW the picture was just to get your attention.

Cute though ;-)

Keep cool and keep writing,

Jarmara

Keeping the faith, while Editing....

2011-06-25T20:43:00.001+01:00

Agent Juliet Mushens & Jarmara( photo by Sylvia Kent)

Keeping in mind that a book is never quite finished until you can’t physically do anything more to it, i.e. once it’s in print.
Even then you may start wishing you could change it.
My novel is busy reconstructing itself amazingly. Today, I was busy editing chapter 9 when an idea came to mind, so before I forgot it I opened up my ‘Mapping plotline' file and hastily made a note to myself to follow up the idea in the last chapter.
As I wrote the idea down, so another idea came to mind, so I added another chapter.
Yes, I did just say I added another chapter, so now I have 23 instead of 22.
So as I scribbled out my idea for the new chapter, the thought suddenly hit me. Why am I making notes, just open up the new chapter and write it. So I did. I now have a fully formed new ending for my novel and it’s bloody marvellous… If I do say so myself.
As you all know on Wednesday I met the agent Juliet Mushens. Well, I had chance to put the question to her about my novel and sub-genre.
I explained that my novel is classed as Science fiction/fantasy, but when I looked online at the books published in these categories my novel didn’t seem to fit in.
She said when she’d briefly looked at my submission and she felt time slip seemed the right category for it and my novel sounded very interesting too. My jaw dropped.
I just hope she didn’t think I could’ve done with better dental work as a child as I stood there open mouthed.

Elizabeth had given Juliet the submissions when she first arrived and I didn’t think she'd had chance to look at any of them.
So I’m now very busy trying to finish what I started as quickly as possible just in case she wants to read the rest of it.
Oh and by the way, I do have a dental appointment on the 6^th July J

Myths about Agents!

2011-06-23T20:58:00.001+01:00

Elizabeth Lord & Juliet Mushens: Photo taken by Jarmara.

Well, not one for stereotyping, but we have all heard stories about literary agents. Juliet Mushens was everything I never imagined an agent to be. She was young, bright, bubbly and very enthusiastic about her job. She shared with us tales from the slush piles. Her agency gets over 100 unsolicited manuscripts per week, all are read, but it does take time.

Never, ever pester an agent by phoning to see if they have read your manuscript. If you do, they see this as a worrying sign of things to come if you are taken on.

They need to see you as someone they will enjoy working with, no matter how wonderful your book maybe. Never, ever send them little gifts of chocolates, new cars or holidays even if they would enjoy such things, it wouldn’t make them love your work anymore, if it’s not what they are looking for.

She told us all about making sure to target our approach to the right people at the right agency. To find out if any of the authors already on the agency files have written a similar novel, or book to our own. Go to the website and read their guidelines and address your covering letter to a person as they are more likely to read it.

To make sure our covering letter is to the point. Keep it short and snappy… Nothing worse than trying to wade through several pages to find the information the agent needs to know.

Put right at the top of your covering letter, the title of your book, what it’s about, the setting, and who your target readers are.

Someone else will love your book as much as you

Send your manuscript out to as many agents as you want to and you don’t need to tell any of them unless someone asks to read your whole manuscript.

Don’t tell the agent that your brother, sister, mother, wife, lover really, really loved your book unless they are, Stephen King, Stephen Speilberg etc…

Work on your novel until it blinds you as there isn’t such a thing as an in-house editor anymore.

If all else fails never ever give up, just because one person didn’t like it someone out there will love it.

Pick & Mix and It's never to late....

2011-06-21T15:23:00.001+01:00

As you all know, I’m busy re-editing my editing so I haven’t had much time for anything else. On Sunday, my dear friend Elizabeth Lord came for the day and we had great fun putting together a blog for her.

At the grand age of 83 years young she thought it might be a good time to learn something new, which just goes to show it’s never too late to learn.

Over an afternoon cuppa, Elizabeth told my much beloved and I that she has a guest speaker coming to her writing group on Wednesday evening, so we offered to help with the set out of chairs etc.

Her guest speaker is Juliet Mushens from Peters Fraser and Dunlop Literary agency. Elizabeth phoned to find out if it would be all right if anyone wanted to take along a submission to the talk, and was told that would be fine.

So you can all guess what I’ve been doing today?

The real problem I having with my book is finding out what genre it comes under.

There is just too many categories these days, no straight forward romance, thriller, war, murder, fantasy, sci-fi. You now have sub-genre.

Sub-genre are as mixed as the Pick & Mix in Woolworths in the good old days.

My novel could be classed as a mystery murder with a hint of romance. For those who don’t know, I don’t do romance or erotica…. Sorry, it’s a bit of a in joke.:-)

Or my novel could be a Time slip near future with a hint of murder and romance.

Or a Steampunk speculative novel with an element of murderous time slip.

Well, whatever my book’s genre is, I hope my readers find it’s just a brilliant page-turner of a novel.

Oh, I can hear my keyboard calling, or is that my MBL wanting his dinner.

Bye for now,
Jarmara

Jarmara's Book Reviews

2011-06-15T16:13:00.001+01:00

I’m in the middle of a book I think you all should read… Now I’m not one for throwing my orders about or stamping my feet and making demands, but this is a book you should put on your must read list.

God, how I wish I could’ve come up with such a twisted plot…. Wow… If you think you’re having family problems then you haven’t met this family. This book follows a chilling exploration of jealousy. It's Brilliant!

Gillian White: Night Visitor
Rose's early life was full of tragedy. Her father disappeared one night, presumed drowned, and her twin brother had died on his bicycle, a cherished tenth birthday present. Now, her husband, Michael provides her with the love and stability she so desperately needs. All she asks of him is complete fidelity, and when she has cause to doubt him, she devises a terrible revenge. Michael has planned an anniversary trip to Venice for the two of them. But as they ride in gondolas, dine on delicious food and wander the sights of this most romantic of cities, Rose, racked with secret jealousy, is making plans. By the time they return, Michael will be seriously ill - though not so ill that he cannot recognize the fact that something truly dreadful has happened to him.

I’ve just finished reading Kate Atkinson: When Will there be Good News. Part of the Jackson Brodie series which is on BBC 1 at the moment.

On a hot summer day, Joanna Mason's family slowly wanders home along a country lane. A moment later, Joanna's life is changed forever...
On a dark night thirty years later, ex-detective Jackson Brodie finds himself on a train that is both crowded and late. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly hears a shocking sound...

At the end of a long day, 16-year-old Reggie is looking forward to watching a little TV. Then a terrifying noise shatters her peaceful evening. Luckily, Reggie makes it a point to be prepared for an emergency...

The book, I've just started is Sophie Hannah: A Room swept White

This is the last of her books I can read until she had another one published.

I shall tell you more once I’ve finished it.

I’ve just finished my short story which I’m very pleased with, so I hope it does well in the competition.

Now it’s back to the novel… Working on chapter 6,

Jarmara

How short is a Short Story?

2011-06-09T13:29:00.002+01:00

First of all I would like to welcome Matthew to my blog. He was posted a wonderful, interesting post on his blog. So do pop over and take a look.

I would like to add my own short, short story to the ones Matthew has quoted
Here's my short story. It's called 'Morning'

The dawn broke, I heard it shatter.

Now back to the important business of writing my novel. I shall return... sometime soon.
Best wishes and happy writing,

Jarmara

From This to This

2011-06-07T21:09:00.000+01:00

The Skip Pickers' Paradise

Just to let you know how I’m getting on with my rewrite. So far I’ve reworked five chapters and about 30k words.

On a different note, my neighbours across the way from me have moved out this week. Outside their house they left a skip full of rubbish. Quite an eyesore, now I no longer have my beautiful cherry tree, I can tell you.

But the most amazing thing of all was the numbers of vehicles that screeched to a halt and their drivers jumped out to root about the skip before jumping back in their vehicles and driving off with their finds.

Missing my Little Piece of Heaven

I believe in recycling, but we don’t live on a main road, so do you think skips are fitted with tracking devices so the skip pickers know where and when a full skip is ready for rich pickings?

This what I use to view from my window.
I still have my silver birch, but that is in the corner of my front garden.

Anyway, it's back to my novel for now,

Happy writing,

Jarmara

Great Reads

2011-05-31T21:46:00.000+01:00

If you are like me you will have at least three books on the go. And, I don’t mean writing them.

I’ve just finished reading ‘Instruments of Darkness’. It was a wonderful gothic CIS style novel set in the eighteenth century.

This book has everything I love rolled up into one brilliant novel.

Harriet Westerman, a wife of a sea captain lives on an estate which borders Thornleigh Hall, the ornate and forbidding seat of the Earl of Sussex.

One morning while out riding she comes upon a dead man carrying a ring bearing the Thornleigh coat of arms. Mrs Westerman persuades the reclusive anatomist Gabriel Crowther to help her in her cause to find out who the dead man is and why he’s carrying such a valuable ring.

On the same day, a musician called Alexander Adams is murdered in his music shop in London, leaving his young children orphaned. His death takes you on a journey back to Sussex, and a secret that has already destroyed one family and threatens many others.

This novel won the Telegraph’s First thousand words of a novel competition in 2007 for its author Imogen Robertson’s first novel

The book I’m half way through is ‘A Presence in her Life’

By Louise Brindley.

The story follows Lara, after the death of her elderly husband, she is forced to take charge of a Victorian Mansion on the East Coast of Yorkshire. Lacking self-confidence, she is unsure if she can face living alone in a strange house with only a dog and cat for company.

Slowly, Lara is aware that the house has more to offer her as she uncovers its mysteries.

The novel I’ve just started Sophie Hannah’s latest book ‘Lasting Damage’

I love the style of Sophie’s books. She writes chilling psychological suspense novels that keep you guessing.

Right now I must get back to writing my own great novel so all you lovely people will be able to read my work of art.:-)

Best wishes and Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Starting from scratch!

2011-05-29T10:37:00.001+01:00

A Writer's Paradise: Jarmara's Writing room

As you are all aware my novel is in pieces. Well, after a lot of note taking and plot drawing I feel I found the novel’s real voice.

My main character has revealed herself by stepping out of half-shadows and taking centre stage, by the simple act of giving her, her own voice.

Before going with my gut instinct I found myself treading water and not getting anywhere fast. I knew I was in trouble with my book and what I wanted for it, but I just kept plodding on hoping it would come together.

I think my much beloved knew before me that things weren’t right when he left me a note before he went off to work the other day.

The note read ‘Write hard and be disciplined ‘. For days, he has been asking me if I had done much writing.

I had said, ‘of course!’, which was true, but it was in fact re-reading and editing parts I was already happy with.

In truth, I was spending more time in the garden, in kitchen and cleaning the house while going over in my mind what was wrong with the book.

My excitement of the idea, characters and plot were waning and I even got desperate enough to think about scrapping it and starting something new.

Now I can’t stay away from my keyboard as my excitement is back big time. Chapter 1 is complete and the new chapter 2 is nearly finished. Chapter 3 is sketched out as I've had to rewrite some plot in the old chapter 2, which has now become chapter 3 in the new version of the book ‘PH’.

So if you don’t hear from me for a while you know where I am.

Busy hitting the keyboard in my writing room.

Best wishes and happy writing,

Jarmara

Let's have some Fun & Play the Game...

2011-05-26T20:01:00.003+01:00

I’ve been Tag by Suzy at My Journal. So here are my answers to the six questions, I hope you have fun reading them and would like to play along. Thank you, Suzy.

Q1) Do you think you’re hot?
A. Well, my much beloved tells me I’m too hot in bed, but I think that might have something to do with my age

Q2) Upload a picture or wallpaper you’re at the moment

'All Alone' taken by Jarmara

A) This was taken up on the North Yorkshire Moors

Q3) When did you last eat chicken?
A) when I was about 10 years olds, at a guess,
I stopped eat dead animal altogether when I was about 20.

Q4) The song you listened to recently?
A) Falcon from Celtic Visions by Midori New beginnings If you go to the link you can hear a sample of his music. It what I call, New Age.

Q5)What are you thinking as you do this?
A) Oh boy, I could have added all these words to my word count! My much beloved gave me a note the other day which said Write Hard and be Disciplined! I think he’s telling me something.

Q6)Have you any nicknames?
A) My son calls me ‘Trouble’ my sister called me ‘ Bitch’ but I think we’ve had a bit of a falling out. And my brother called my Twiggy, but I was young and very slim in those days. And my husband calls me ’Lover.’

Now I have to tag three blogging pals which is hard to do when I've so many lovely readers,
but I've chosen three new bloggers to my blog.
Welcome.
Morning AJ
Evelyn
Sandra Davies

Resurrection....

2011-05-25T08:04:00.000+01:00

Doubting Thomas & Christ

I'm off to my writing group soon, but I thought I let you know how I’m getting on.

It was a tough day for my novel yesterday. It’s in pieces.

It made me feel quite sick to see what I have done to it. By the late afternoon, I had to take to my bed, but I woke in the early hours of the morning full of new ideas.

I’ve opened a new document and started afresh.

Chapter 1 is much better by far and I’ve changed my character’s point of view from 3^rd to 1^st which gives it a more immediate connection between the character and the reader.

I’m playing around with an idea I have, because this is a time-slip book, but I shall tell you more later on if my idea works or not.

I had a good day yeasterday as far as playing around with re-plotting of the storyline i.e. flashcard, large sheet of paper etc… and this has given me some great ideas on how to retell the story too.

I’m hoping to cut and paste quite a bit of my novel so all in all it might not quite be murder in the first degree.

Good luck and I hope you all have a great day writing.

Jarmara

The first cut is the deepest

2011-05-23T21:29:00.001+01:00

I’m not very happy…. Actually, I’m quite cross. Not with anyone else, but me. Okay, not so much me, but my book.

It’s all over the place. Lots of waffling. Great scenes, wonderful dialogue, amazing characters and a brilliant idea, if I say so myself.

But it is going nowhere fast.

What I mean to say is, it is rolling along, out of control. This means the book will be far bigger than it needs to be.

Which in turn means I will have to cut lots of it to bring it down to size.

So what I’m doing now is plotting it, not that it wasn’t plotted before, because it was. Only lots of other things have happened to it since I got started on my second draft.

As a result, I need to remap it. This time I’m going to do it the old fashioned way by taking one large sheet of paper, and a pencil.

So now I have to decide what I need to keep, what needs to come out.

I want my writing to be more tighter, more focused, in fact more exciting.

I have a book which I read sometime ago called Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon
ISBN: 978-0-399-53395-2 Revision Techniques No Fiction writer Can Afford to Ignore.

In it, Elizabeth tells us, the ‘tricks of the trade’ of which there are five basic working techniques.

Add

Delete

Rearrange

Enhance

Transform

What I think I need to do is Add + Suspense

Delete - Waffle

Rearrange Chapters

Enhance Plotline

Transform Book

So tomorrow I shall be stripping my book back to its bare roots, cutting out the old wood, and breathing in some new life.

Don’t Stop Me!

It’s got to be done… I promise you, I’ll be careful.

I just hope I don’t land up with a bloody mess, or there will be tears at bedtime.

Happy to be plotting,

Jarmara

A Short Story Writing Competition: Write into Print

2011-05-22T11:26:00.001+01:00

I came across this competition while visiting one of my readers' blog, but I can't remember whose, so I'm sorry I can't add a link to your page.

The competition is run by an 'editing service' so this may put some of you off. I have signed up and adding my competition entry to their site. The competition is open to everyone here in Britain and around the world. The story length is between 800 and 3,200 and ends on 31st July 2011.

If you would rather not add your story to their forum site you can send it in via email.

So if you would like to read my entry, or add your own please click on this link.

I look forward to reading your comments about my story on my blog as you can't leave them on the site.

I hope some of you will join in and post a short story too.

Best wishes, happy writing, and Good Luck.

Jarmara

Welcome one and all..... What a Beautiful New Day

2011-05-21T22:00:00.000+01:00

I'm so glad to know we are still here to see another new day

The End Is Near!

2011-05-21T10:38:00.005+01:00

North Yorkshire Moors picture taken by Jarmara

If you aren’t aware the world is suppose to end today according to California preacher Harold Camping. I checked out his website and did his ‘Good Person’ test to see if I would be saved.
I’m so sorry to have to tell you all I’m not up the scratch. So I won‘t be saved and I‘m not a good person after all.

For some reason, or other this doesn’t seem to bother me. Perhaps because I was honest enough to put my hand up to the fact I don’t always tell the truth if I feel that it is good to spare someone’s feelings. Mister Harold and his band of merry persons may mark me down as a bad person for doing this, but I wonder how the Big Man, himself, may view the doomsayer after today, if the Lord God has decided to spare us all.

I’ve woken to a beautiful day with the sun shining, the birds singing and a clear blue sky. I would have even been happier if it had been pouring with rain, but God in his mercy has blessed me with a wonderful life of which I have enjoyed.

Whatever this day and the next may bring me, no matter how long or short my days will be numbered, I can honestly say I know how lucky I have been.

I’ve never asked for much from life and I have been blessed ten times over when I’ve see how others have suffered through no faults of their own. I live in a peaceful country and in a safe village, surround by wonderful family and friends. Though, I have gone, like most people, through tough times and seen the light at the end of the tunnel, my tough times melt into nothing when I see what other people have gone through and are still living in.

So all I have to say to Mister Camping and his other Doomsayers.

‘Be sure your sin will find you out’ Number’ Ch. 32, v. 23 and ‘Beware of False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. St Matthew Ch. 7, v. 15

On a lighter note: My novel is going very well at the moment as I’m making headway into the problems I was having with some of my plot.

Doubting Thomas was whispering in ear yesterday, leaving me feeling very insecure about my ability to write this book. However, this morning I’ve read through Chapter 8 and printed it off to take to my writing group on Wednesday. I know this is going to sound silly, but I was amazed how well it flowed. There is enough action and excitement to keep the reader wanting more. Now if I could just get the rest of the book up to the same level I will be very happy indeed.

Must get back to the serious job of writing as I might not have enough time before the end of the world as we know it.

Do you think it might be worth our while printing up our books just in case the power goes down?

Oh, no! you can’t send in handwritten MS…

Oh Mister Camping, you are making me very unhappy L

God keep you all safe whatever your religion maybe

Hope to hear from you all soon,

Jarmara

Ahhh... Just when I thought!

2011-05-19T10:50:00.001+01:00

Cider Presse: Good thing take time!

Just when I thought I was getting somewhere with my second draft so more problems are bubbling to the surface. All I can be pleased about is I didn’t rush into sending my work off to the agent, my dear friend Ivy put me in touch with.

It’s the little things you have to look out for, like tying up loose ends. In my first chapter I have two missing girls with a third one going missing by chapter 8. By chapter 16 the missing girls have been mentioned and at least one of the them has turned up to tell her apart of the story.

But what about the missing sister of one of my main character? I have forgotten to even mention her again L

It's so easy to forget key points of your book when you get caught up in a rush to finish it.

Luck for me I keep a document called ‘Problems and Timelines’. Within this document, I’ve listed each chapter and in each chapter I’ve listed all the main events that has happened within the chapter plus any questions or problems that haven’t been answered.

i.e. How does Louise know that the girl has gone missing?

How was it that Charles has such a strong hold over Master M?

By opening this document up along side the chapter I’m working on, I’m able to add any new questions that spring to mind or answer any that need to be answered at that point in the novel.

You will be amazed by just what you have forgotten when you come to work on the next draft.

Last night while reread some old writing magazines, I’m about to pass on, I came across an article in Dec 2009 Writers’ Forum. In ‘Pitch Prefect’ written by Kate Pain who had spoken to top agents and publishers, we are told that just under six weeks Simon Lelic’s whydunnit Rupture was submitted to the literary agency Felicity Bryan read, edited, then sold to a big publishing house.

It was said, it’s rare that anything really good arrives on a slush pile, likewise, it’s equally unusual that it is passed across to a publisher a month and a half later.

So what was Simon’s secret to his quick accepts?

Prior to mailing his submission, Simon did his homework. He only sent his submission to six agencies that represented writers similar in style to himself. He followed each agency guidelines to the letter, and his finished manuscript was in exceptional shape.

Simon’s tips:

Simon Lelic

1)Is your MS the very best it can be? Ask friends and fellow writers for feedback.

2)Research the agencies. Who is the best ’fit’?

3) Follow submission guidelines to the letter and contact the administrator to find out who is the best contact.

4) Be available to meet with the agents you’ve contacted and be prepare to cancel unrelated appointments to do so.

5) welcome feedback. Don’t be too oversensitive or stubborn, but similarly assess whether this agent is someone you can really work with.

6) Act on the edits quickly. Keep the momentum flowing.

So like 'Simon said', 'I'm not about to rush into sending my work off until it is 'Pitch Perfect'.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Layer Marney Tower & The Antiques Roadshow.

2011-05-15T17:20:00.000+01:00

Layer Marney Tower

On Thursday, my much beloved and I went and joined the queues at Layer Marney Tower, Colchester, Essex. At the Tower, we stood with many hundreds of other people who brought with them their family heirlooms in hope to meet the experts from the ‘BBC Antiques Roadshow which were filming there for the new Autumn series.

Layer Marney Tower is England’s tallest Tudor gate house and was built in the 1520’s by Henry Marney, Lord Privy Seal to Henry VIII.

In a copy of East Anglian Daily Times.

On the day, I took along my collection of WW1 militaria and showed it to the militaria expert Bill Harriman. He said he was pleased to see I’d researched into the history of my items. Then he looked up a medal I had and told me how much it was worth. I explained that I wasn’t interested in what it was worth as I was more interested in writing an article about the history of the man who originally owned it.

In 1999, I brought a box of old photograph albums, this led me to write an article about one of the photographs. The photo was of a first world war grave belonging to Harry Andrews. He was in the first Tank Corps which was established in June 1917 and was the new weapon of mass destruction in WW1.

I was lucky enough to have my photograph taken with Bill Harriman which appeared the next day in the East Anglian Daily Times. Bill was very interested in my brooch which is in the shape of a fountain pen. He told me he wished more people would take the time to research their items.

Apart for having to queue for three and half hours before seeing the experts then another three and half hours to find out about our items it was an interesting day watching how they film the programmes.

Expert Adam Schoon looking at my silver buckle

I did find out that a silver buckle which I thought you used when wearing a shawl turned out to be a George III silver shoe buckle dated 1770. I was amazing as I had, had since I was a small child and found it in my grandmother’s old button box.

So after spending the whole day queue, I'm none the richer, but a lot wiser. I don't think I would go again unless I really thought I had something of great wealth or of real interest. I'm just glad it didn't rain or was too hot. Though, we did have fun chatting to the people we were queuing with.

Now it's back to my writing.

Best wishes to all my readers,

Jarmara

Wishing I had kept it simple!

2011-05-10T14:21:00.002+01:00

I've finished rewriting chapter 8 of my growing novel and I'm now rewriting chpt 9 when I realise I've come up against a problem.

My novel is quite complex. The plot is quite simple, I suppose, but because it is a timeslip novel, you need to keep track of the timeline in the two different time zone. As my main character, LB travels back and forth getting up to her nasty doing- deeds she need to know what the time is in her own time when traveling back.

At the moment, I’ve been keeping notes on the timeline i.e. days, and years etc, but now I realise to keep it real, so the reader can follow her progress as she travels between the two time zones I should have been keeping track of the hours too. So now I'm busy working out the daytime hours when LB makes her time jumps.

Ahhh...I don’t believe in keeping it simple, do I… lol.

Time, oh how I wish I had my own time machine...

Dreaming of the time when I see a light at the end of my novel's tunnel...

Busy back plotting,
Jarmara

Things are not always what they seem.

2011-05-10T07:35:00.001+01:00

Odd Man Out: Wild rabbits

While out walking yesterday with my friend Ana. We spotted some rabbits enjoying the sunshine. As we got closer we were surprised to see that two of them were blonde colour. These are wild rabbits so they stood out like the proverbial sore thumb.

At the moment, I’m 54k words into my second draft of my 110k book. As I’m working on the scenes I’m asking myself whether the scenes are needed.

Having to take into account my over-growing word count. Mine started off as 90k now has grown to 110k it is too easy to add and much hard to take away.

I read a book sometime ago called ‘Novelist’s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes’ by Raymond Obstfeld ISBN 0-89879-973-2

Raymond tells us that Writing page-turning fiction depends on your ability to create rock-solid, believable scenes. Scenes act as dynamic structures that thrust both your characters and readers forward.

Writing good scenes makes the difference between a story that buzz with energy and momentum or falls flat.

In his book, he tells us we should look for the ‘So-What’ Factor in all our scenes. As you read through your ms you should ask yourself, ‘So-what? Is this scene really necessary?’

By reading the scenes before and after the one in question ask yourself if this one is needed. Does whatever happens in it deserves to have its own scene? Could the information be placed in one of the neighbouring scenes.

A scene depends on many elements. However, it is important that every writer understand that there are no firm rules to writing--- only general principles.

A well written scene is a memorable scene which will carry the characters and readers further on into the plot as the scene focuses the reader on giving them the necessary information.

Showing the conflict between characters

To develop a particular by highlighting a specific trait or action

To create suspense

The best scene do a combination of the above, sometimes all the above. What’s important is the writer (1) Knows why that scene exists and (2) justifies its existence by making it memorable.

Like the rabbits in the field, I saw yesterday, I want my novel to stand out from the rest of the slush pile, so if I can keep my writing tight, my scenes memorable and keep my readers wanting more, I just might be on to a winner.

Happy writing,

Jarmara

Keeping it Real....

2011-05-05T10:26:00.003+01:00

For the last few days I’ve been beavering away at my novel. At the moment, I’m working on a courtroom scene set in 1871. The scene has come together very well and overall I’m very happy with it.

One of my characters UE was a young policeman at the time of the trial, and his part in the scene is played out through the eyes of a reporter. Late on in same the chapter we meet up with UE as an older man in 1900.… Suddenly, my confidence has become shaky as I continue to rewrite the remaining part of the chapter.

This morning I’ve been busy going through my collections of books and surfing the internet trying to built up a picture in my mind of the changes made to the policeman’s life over the intervening 29yrs since the court case.

I want to get the history right even though the two scenes are a small part in the bigger plotline.

Policing was fairly new at that time as organized police force in this country didn’t really take place until Sir Robert Peel’s Police Bill received the Royal Assent in June 1829. Before then, law enforcement had been in the hands of magistrates and watchmen, and its operation had been haphazard.

The Peelers or Bobbies ( both slang names came from Peel’s name) were designed to check the growing crime in London and were purely a metropolitan force. They were the first English policemen to be employed full time at a regular wage.

Within a couple of years the vigilance of the peelers had driven many criminals out of London, sending them to the provinces. Slowly the English counties and boroughs abandoned their systems of parish constables and night watchmen and brought in their own police force. By the end of the nineteenth century the whole of the British Isles was covered by a network of local police forces who referred back to the Metropolitan Police Force at New Scotland Yard where it all started from by Sir Robert Peel.

So for me at the moment it’s research, research, research. Not that any of the information I have gathered will be used in my novel, it just getting the setting right in my mind. My novel is set in Middlesbrough and not London.

At the time I’m writing about, Middlesbrough was a new town built on the backs of Iron ore and the railway. It was one of the first town to have its own gas lighting on the streets.

By 1853, when the town was granted a Charter of Incorporation as a Borough it had established its own tiny police force of a Superintendent and a handful of Constables.

I just don’t want any of my readers to say… “Well,that never happened like that....” thus losing the sense of reality.

Happy Being Busy Writing,

Jarmara

All about Me... An Award Speech

2011-04-29T21:44:00.003+01:00

From A Likely Story

So to get this award I have to tell you seven things about myself. Hmm, tricky!

1) Well, in my youth I use to drive a motorcycle. I have passed my test and could go out a buy one now, but I won’t. Somehow seeing mature men riding bikes and dressed head to toe in leather doesn’t rock my boat, so as a mature lady I don’t think I want to relive my youth by looking as stupid as they do.

Whitby From the Air taken by a very scared Jarmara

2) I have never been up in an airplane. Up until last August I had never flown. My much beloved took me up in a small helicopter. It was a seven minute flight over Whitby, North Yorkshire. I have never been so scary in my life. I managed to open my eyes long enough to take some photographs.

3) I have always believed one day I would own a computer from the first time I saw ‘Star Trek’ while sitting at my father’s feet watching the first episodes. I was in awe when Capt. James Kirk said, ‘Computer how far are we…?’ And the computer would have all the answers.

I also believed we would see everyday space travel for the masses in my lifetime, but I don’t think that will happen just yet. As I haven't been in airplane, it's very unlikely you would get me up in a space craft.

A Standing Stone on the North Yorkshire Moors

4) I love our English Countryside. We have an amazing country full of such wonderful ancient sites. From Stonehenge to the Avesbury’s stone circle. We have Ancient Woodlands and beautiful churches. Not forgetting the landscape itself. With heath, moor land, hay meadows and our wonderful coastline.

5) I love fungi… Not to eat, but to look at and photo.

6) I love the Pre-Raphaelite paintings and artists. I loved the fact that they used a lot of symbols in their work such much so you could almost read their pictures like a book. I used to paint myself and I have sold a few of my paintings in the past. Sometimes I have a strong urge to pick up a brush and start painting again.

The Lady of Shalotte by John W Waterhouse

7) The only thing I want in life now is a book contract. I have everything I could possibly want. I have a home with a large enough garden, I live in a village surrounded by the countryside. I have a wonderful husband and a loving son who are both in full-time work. I’m now a full-time writer and homemaker. I have more books than the British Library ( I think I might be stretching the point a bit there. Okay not quite, but it feels like it.) I have a car which is over ten years old, but it’s mine and I brought it from new and still love it. I own two computers. A laptop and a main computer which isn’t connected to the internet. About 15 years ago, I had a computer which caught a virus and I lost 20 years of family history. Luck for me I had some of it backed up, but I had to go through it all to check what I had lost. Since then I’ve had two computers. My novel, all my writing and family history is on my safe main computer well away from nasty little Virus...

And now for the hard part, I pass it on to.
Dream it, then do it
Jobbing Writer
Lines of Communication
With ink from the pink pen
Paula Martin’s Potpourri
North Stoke
The thoughts of Chairman Bill

Thank you to Teresa at A Likely Story for this award.

And thank you to everyone who drops by for a cuppa and a chat. I just wish I had more time to read everyone's blogs everyday.
Jarmara

A Scaredy-cat Writer...:-(

2011-04-25T09:29:00.000+01:00

Over these last few weeks I have been busy cleaning and polishing my house and garden rather than polishing my MS… Why?

I ask myself that same question. What possible reason would I have for not wanting to complete my MS so it is ready to send out.

Elizabeth, my dear friend has given me the opportunity to send my opening chapters and synopsis to an agent, but I find myself stalling.

My mind is edged in fear. Worry grips my soul.

My dear brother came over yesterday and we sat on the patio in the sunshine. The birds were singing and it was peaceful (Well, until the neighbour decided it would be a great day to cut his lawn.)

“How’s your book coming on? Bet you’re working on it eight hours a day now,” Big brother said.

“Oh, she’s busy all right, but not with her writing,” My much beloved said with a grin.

I have to confess here… I’m still write everyday, more or less. I think about my characters, plot and how I can improve the flow all the time. I will sit at my keyboard constantly rewriting the same sentence over an over again.

While out walking with my friend, Ana, I voiced my fears about my lack of progress saying that I felt that I should be a lot further forward.

She smiled and laughed, “Great piece of art don’t happen overnight.”

Part of me is excited, this is all I wanted, dreamt about while I was working full-time. Now I’m living the dream, I’m scared that I haven’t got want it takes. That I’ll let others down, even myself.

Hugging my MS to me( from google images)

Part of me wants to hug my MS to myself and tell it “It’s great, I love it and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about it. I created it out of love, it doesn’t matter about wealth or fame.

But there deep within my soul, I want a hard back copy of my book in my hands.

To see how an artist would create a perfect cover for it. How others would review the story, good or bad?

Would it enthral, fascinate and intrigue my readers or leave them puzzled and dissatisfied?

Until I take a step into the unknown I’m the one who is feeling a little lost and rejected not my ms.

A book isn’t a book until it is read by others. (I think I just made that up, but if it is someone else quota please let me know:-)

Love and Shakespeare

2011-04-21T21:53:00.000+01:00

The Early Purple Orchid

This morning my friend Ana and I met up for our early morning walk. We decided to head towards the large woods. These woods are working woods, by this, I mean every so many years an area of the woods are cut and cleared of its undergrowth. Large timbers are taken away then hazel is coppiced.

It takes some time for the wild flowers to return. For quite a few years now I’ve been telling Ana that there are Early Purple Orchid in these woods.

Well, at last, we have found some and what a beautiful sight they were.

The Early Purple Orchid has for centuries been associated with love and reproduction, and until fairly recently it was employed as a love potion in Ireland and the Shetland Isles. In Hamlet, Shakespeare included the plant among the fantastic garlands’ draped on the drowned body of Ophelia. He used the Orchid’s West Country name of ’Long purples’ and added, ’But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them’.

Close up of the Orchid's Flower.

The plant was said to have grown beneath the Cross, and the spots on its leaves were created when the blood of Christ fell when he was crucified.

Another flower we’ve came across in the hedgerow is on the Crab apple tree. Though, Its fruit, in Autumn, is small, bitter and hard, it is the ancestor of all our cultivated apples of today from Cox’s Orange Pippin to Bramley’s Seedling. In spite of it’s bitterness the fruit is made into jelly, jam and wine.

Crab apple trees have been with us for a long time as it was one of the first to recolonise Britain after the Ice Age and is regarded as a native tree to our shores.

Crab Apple Flowers

Yesterday I had a wonderful time at Elizabeth’s. It was very interesting listening to the others in the group read out their work. It was very hard to know whether my comments were helpful or not. Well, no one put a knife in my back so I guess my comments could be classed as helpful.

The next meeting is on the 25th May.

Happy Easter Everyone,

Jarmara

A Helping Hand from One in the Know

2011-04-19T10:23:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow I’m off to my first visit to a writer’s group and it’s not just any old writer’s group. I’m going to Elizabeth Lord’s writing Group.

I met Elizabeth Lord three years ago at the Essex Book Festival, since then she has taken me under her wings and guided me with my writing. At 82, she's so full of life and excitement about her writing, and helping others, she just carries you along by instilling your belief in your ability to write well, and to see that light at the end of the publishing tunnel. She makes you believe anything is possible if you just keep the faith.

Elizabeth reading my Ms

She has written over 23 Historical Family Saga Fictional Novels covering a wide ranges of subjects from the Rise and Fall of Cromwell family to Sagas set in the East End of London.

Last week, she invited me over to her home so she could help me work on my MS to get it ready to send off to an agent. I can't tell you how exciting it is to have someone like Elizabeth to take time out from her own writing time to help me with my novel. Even though my genre is very different from her own, she told me she found my novel exciting and couldn't wait to see it in print. Bless her!

I'm really looking forward to meeting the rest of her group, so I shall let you know how I get on.

Best wishes and happy writing,

Jarmara

Bluebells and the Houses of Parliament

2011-04-13T15:31:00.002+01:00

If you go down to the Woods

I really don’t know how I had time to go to work because I’m so busy at home. This morning I went out for a walk with my friend, Ana. We went up to bluebell woods to see whether the bluebells are out or not. We were pleased to find that they were just opening up. I was up at four o’clock this morning sorting out today’s dinner and making bread. I like to put the dough to rise before I go out for a walk so by the time I’m back its ready to cook. This morning I’ve been busy in the garden patching up my lawn. I’ve planted grass seeds so hopefully the birds won’t eat them. In my greenhouse I came across lots of packets of flower seeds which I’ve scattered around the garden with luck they might come up.

Yesterday, my MBL and I went up to London. We went to the Foundling Hospital. Though the original hospital isn’t there any more there is a museum to its history. It’s a wonderful and interesting place to visit.

The Foundling Hospital

The hospital was set up by Thomas Coram to take the lost children off the streets of London and give them a home life. The original buildings were demolition in 1928 in it’s place is a museum and a park. Within the museum, they have used some of the original fitting taken from the Foundling Hospital. You can also see the tokens left by the mothers of the children who were, for whatever reasons, unable to look after their children.

A Mother's Love

One mother left a poem and a piece of cloth to identify her baby when she came to collect him when her life had improved enough to care for him. Sadly, it was rare for the mothers to return for their child.

The next place, we went to was the Houses of Parliament. Now I’m not a political animal, though in my younger days I would watch the news because I liked to know what was going on in the world. Today, I’m not sure who is in power or what’s on the top of the political agenda simply because it's the same old same old...:-)

I don’t know whether any of you have been to the Houses of Parliament, but I can tell you now, it wasn’t on the top of my ‘Bucket List’ of places I must see before I die. It was my MBL who wanted to go on this trip and I’m so glad I went along.

Big Ben

When we stepped into Westminster Hall it was like stepping back in time by 914 years. The Hall was completed in 1099 and was designed by Willaim the Conqueror’ son, William Rufus. The Great Hall was designed to impress and overawe, and it certainly does just that. I stood there with my mouth open staring up at the beautiful ceiling. It is one of the largest undivided mediaeval spaces in existence. It’s an architectural spectacle and has the largest surviving single span mediaeval timber roof in Northern Europe.
In 1834 a fire robbed us of most of the original buildings apart from Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower. In 1834 after the fire a competition was held to find a design to rebuilt parliament buildings which was won by Charles Barry along with Augustus Pugin with his interior designs in neo-gothic style. We wasn’t allowed to take any photographs inside the main building, but I found some links you might like to take a look at Building Of Britain The House of Common Interior The fire of 1834

Too many Artists

It was an amazing tour which lasted 75 minutes and was mind blowingly beautiful inside, with wonderful paintings, statues, carved doors and panels. Everythings was well over the top, but somehow it all seemed to work well together. I thought it was the most wonderful thing I have ever see, but I love Victorian art anyway.

This sign was written on the top of a row of shops, by whom or when I have no idea, but it brought a smile to my lips.

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

Keep on Reading & Writing and Staying Mum?

2011-04-03T21:44:00.001+01:00

I, like many of you who are writing know the mantra ‘To write, one must be well read.” I finished reading Lesley Pearse’s ‘Secrets’ in time for meeting her and having her sign the book for me. ‘Secrets’ was one of three books by her that I bought just before going along to her talk. I’m half way through reading the second one, which is called ‘Faith’.

To help top up my reading I enjoy listening to audio books while cooking and sewing, and have just finished listening to ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ by Robert James Waller, which was read to me by the author himself. I stood in my kitchen and cried. So far in all my years of reading and since I’ve taken to listening to audio books ( in these last three years) ‘The Bridges’ is one of the most moving stories I’ve ever known.

I thought ‘The Forgotten Garden,’ by Kate Morton was the book I most wished I had written, but I’ve changed my mind. I now wish it had been ‘The Bridges.’ It is simply beautiful. The pictures it creates in your mind of the power of that first sight of someone who touches your heart and soul that you know no matter what may happen in your life beyond that first meeting you can’t be without them. Even though the two people in the story only spend a short time together they loved each other beyond death itself.

I’ve just ordered the film of the book off Ebay to see how they have retold the story; just out of interest. I read ‘The Shipping News’ then watched the film, it was good, but not as great as the book itself.

Is there a book you've read you wished you had written?

Please don’t just say any book which has been published because that’s too easy. :-)

Happy Writing,

Jarmara.

P.s... I've got something very exciting to tell you all, but at the moment I've got to stay 'mum' ;-)

Summer is on its Way & Family Ties

2011-03-30T13:17:00.002+01:00

The first Swallow of Summer

This morning I saw the first sign that summer is on its way. No, it wasn’t the sun rising to chasing away the fog which added to the grey misty morning, but a swallow whistling high above me on the telegraph wire has I head home after my early morning walk.

Yesterday evening my much beloved and I went to hear a talk given by the mega-selling author, Lesley Pearse. During her talk she asked if anyone in the audience was trying to become a published writer, I put my hand up. She smiled and said, “I always find I have at least one person at my talks who wants to became a full-time writer, so let me tell you. It isn’t easy. It took me 17 years and many re-writes to get my first novel Georgia published even after I had an agent. At one point it seemed hopeless, but some strange compulsion kept me writing. Let me say even after you have finished one book you must keep on writing.”

Lesley Pearse

When I went up to get my books signed she chatted to me about my writing. I explained that I was full aware it wasn’t easy to become a published writer, but I had my foot on the first rung of the ladder after having some work published. She wished me lots of luck and wrote a message in the book she signed that she hope I would be published soon.

Two amazing things happened to my MB and I while were in Whitby. As we stood people-watching a man dressed as 'King Charles the First' came over and started to chat with us. In the course of our conversation he told us he came from Middlesbrough. I asked him what his surname was, and he said Wishart.

Geoff Wishart

“Oh, I have Wishart in my family.”
He smiled and said, “Your name wouldn’t be Paula Readman, would it?”
I laughed, “Yes.”
It turned out when I was researching my family history years ago we use to write to each other, but this was the first time we had ever met each other.

The day before, MB and I had gone in to the local newspaper office to find out about when the next official dates for Goth Festival will be as there has been a bit of a to-do about whether it is in October or November.

The young lady was very helpful but said no one is really sure and all she could tell us about was the births, deaths and marriages. I laughed and said had there been any ‘Readman’.
‘Oh’ said she. “That’s my name.” and with that she got out her family tree.
She told us that she had been given the tree and hadn’t got round to taking it home. I showed her my branch of the family tree and have promised to sent her the rest of my details.

The Two Readman

This goes to show it's a small world and you are never far away from a relative, if you did, but know it. :-)

Happy Writing,

Jarmara

I'm Back!

2011-03-27T22:00:00.000+01:00

Goth Weekend @ Whitby North Yorkshire.

After an amazing weekend in North Yorkshire I've lots to tell you all. Just give me a few days to catch up on the housework and I will fill you in. In the meantime take a look at this.

Best Wishes to all my dear readers,

Jarmara

Where There's a Plan, There's a Writer Writing....

2011-03-19T10:56:00.003Z

The Chelmsford Writers Group

MMB and I went to Great Baddow Library yesterday evening for a talk given by the Chelmsford Writers' Group. The group was set up to help writers of all levels of experience. Their main aims are to give local writers a sounding board in which the group can help each other through discussions and comments. They are actively seeking new members of all ages and all styles of writing. They don’t charge for their meetings but there is a small monthly charge towards the cost for the hire of the hall.

We were told at the beginning of the talk that the truth may have been bent just a little for the sake of artistic values as each member of the group read out a story or poem with a link to Chelmsford. We learnt about a murder, a family’s view on taking a holiday in Chelmsford, A father’s and son’s history lesson on ball bearings [this was very well written and funny]. A Suffragette’s tale, Dick Turpin’s Dad's side of the legend and the unforgettable story of the child-hood of Robert the Bruce when he spent most of his early days growing up in Essex.

As part of the Essex Book Festival, the Chelmsford Writers’ Group handed out ‘Short Stories For Commuters’, printed on a single sheet of paper about leaflet size, at Chelmsford railway station.
Jack Dighton handed out extracts from his novel ‘The Pirates Of Maryland Point‘. While the rest of the group handed out short stories: Maggie Freeman’s ‘Parrot Curry’, ‘Fizz Gets Fit’ by Elaine Chong, ‘Beyond the Grave‘, by Jerry Beckett. Hazel Smith wrote ‘Dancer On Tiny Heels’ [A great short story about liberation of classic books over celebrities’ books] ‘The Faerie Queen’ by Peter Fox [a short story about steam locomotive]. ‘Cayenne’ by Graeme Mason. It was a great idea to get your work out and about. Maybe, there are other places where writers could hand out their work i.e. Shopping centres, supermarkets etc. MMB and I found their talk to be entertaining and refreshing and well worth the money we spent.

Peter Lovesy

On Wednesday 23rd at Witham Library we are going to a talk given by Award winning writer, Peter Lovesey. I shall tell you all about it after the next weekend as I shall be at the Whitby Goth Festival.

Driving in beautiful sunshine to take my son, SW to the railway Station, I came home to find our lovely postlady had left me two rejections from ‘Take A Break’, which dampened my spirit just a bit... hoh, humm.

I kind of get the feeling my heart isn’t quite into writing short stories, or it could just be the subject matter. I don’t think Romance or Cosy Fic is my type of writing, but I'm not quite ready to give up just yet.

I’m going to stay focused on my novel until I've finished it then have a couple of months working on some new stories., but as Pope said, ‘A mighty Maze! But not without a plan.’ So we shall see…

Have a great, sunny, writing weekend, one and all.

Best wishes,

Jarmara

Me busy? Well, of course!

2011-03-16T10:47:00.007Z

I've been very busy and not just with my book. Today, I've just finished making the bread, so if I have to dash off it's to get it out of the oven. This morning I walked down to the village shop to buy some mushrooms. I had everything ready for the recipe apart from the mushrooms which I had use up the day before. And you know what it’s like, you go in to a shop to buy one thing, you always come out with more. I did too. I bought some flower bulbs.

Mouse's nest in my boots

So when I got home I planted them in a pot which did have something in it until it died.
When I was looking for my trowel in the wooden box I keep on the patio, I made a discovery. A mouse or mice decided that my old gardening boots made a great place to see the winter out in. In one boot was a collects of nuts shells and in the other, the nest.

Front of Goth Outfit

Apart from working on my novel, I’ve been busy making other things too. In the morning I work on my novel. I’m editing chapter 7 at the moment. Just other 14 chapters to go.

On the 24th March, MMB{my much beloved} and I head to Whitby, North Yorkshire for the Goth Festival, so I have been busy making my outfit. It needs a bit more work but I’m very happy with it. I even made a bustle after seeing them on EBay for about £8, so I thought I'll make my own.

Side of outfit.

I still haven't finished MMB's waist coat yet. He such a good man, "As long as you get your outfit done I have other waistcoats I can wear." Bless him! I nearly forgot to put the dinner on yesterday. I checked the time and it was only three o'clock. There I was beavering away when I looked up, it was four o'clock. I couldn't believe it! Lucky for me I had prepared it already, so all I had to do was switch it on. MMB didn't have to wait too long for his dinner.

For those of you who don't know. I get to stay at home and write as long as MMB's dinner is on the table when he walks through the door. :-)

My Camera Bag

I’ve also made a bag to keep my camera in. I looked on EBay for a bag but most were to big and expensive for what I wanted, so I made one. MMB said it’s very Gothic.

Cushion cover

I’ve also made this cushion cover too. I came across the fabric while looking for black lace on EBay. It’s great! If you just want an odd piece of material to make something small. So when I saw this piece with news print on it, I thought that just right for a writer. MMB said, "That looks wonderful! Are you going make another one for the other chair?" so now I’ve had to order another piece.

Anyway, I must dash now just heard the cooking alarm ringing the bread is ready to come out.

Then back to the writing…

Jarmara

The Highs and Lows of being a Writer

2011-03-11T09:43:00.001Z

Jojo Moyes

Like many of the people gathered at Ingatestone Library last Tuesday I hoped that the author Jojo Moyers would talk about her experiences as a writer. Where her ideas came from, how she created her characters etc. She didn’t disappoint us.

The first question she was asked was ‘Do you know the ending of your story before you start?’

“No, I have no idea how the story will end. My characters take me on a journey.” She went on to say she likes to know as much as she can about her characters before she starts writing. “Creating and knowing as much as you can about your characters will give you an insight into just how they will behave in any given situation.” She said, she finds her characters behave like uncontrollable children who run off in different directions and she has to keep pulling them back and keeping them on track.

Jojo likes to use a whiteboard to map out everything before she start working on the book. She explained that she likes to know where every twist and turn will come in her story and using the whiteboard to helps her to see it much clearer, but it’s the characters that will take the lead in which direction the story will go in the end.

On the whole it takes her a year to 18 months to write a book. She like to start her books in September just so she has a target. Normally she has 2-3 books running around in her head at any given time. When she starts she likes to write 20k straight off before going back over them. She tries to write at least one thousand words a day, sometimes it more sometimes it’s less. She does have three children of school age plus horses and a husband etc to look after. After writing the said 20k she has a complete breakdown in confident whether the said 20k is any good or complete rubbish. She tries to stick with it and has in the past scrapped a book and started again. Having stuck with it when she gets to 40k words, by this time it about February, she can guarantee she has written herself into a corner and has the feeling its all going terrible wrong. By May, she gets very interested in what she has been written and stops caring about everything that’s going on around her. By now she’s become completely obsessed by her book.

She said writing is like child-birth you can’t wait for it to end, it’s very painful and then you have to send in out in the world on its own. It’s a very competitive world. Those top selling chats that you see in bookshops are where publishers have bought the places in the chart for their top selling writers. Those books haven’t made it into those places through sales. Jojo said she only found out about this two years ago.

Her book ‘Silver Bay’ had great reviews and was picked by reading groups everywhere. It looked as though the book was about to take off and everything was going really well for her book, when ‘Richard and Judy’ launched their Book Club and their books became the talk of the town knocking her book out of the limelight.

Sometimes it can be your cover, the picture or the colour, even the title of your book, or the blurb on the back of your book, which can put the readers off . The blurb is written by editorial assistant.

She was asked if she write straight on to her computer and does she use voice-recognition. ‘No,’ because she likes to keep rewriting a sentence until she is happy with it. “I’m not one of those writer who can just write a sentence off in one go. I have to keep going over it until it is right for me.

What sort of book does she like to read herself? her anwers was she like to read lots of different genres, but when she is first working on her novel, the first 40k words, she doesn’t like to read as she finds herself writing in the style and use the author’s voice of the novel she is reading rather than her own when she's working.

She told us you know when you have found your writing voice when you can see and hear your characters talking as you imagined they would. Whole scenes are acted out before you and it is so clear to you, you get excited by it.

One of the most interesting thing she told us was the film rights has been bought on her novel ‘Silver Bay’. We all got excited for her. Then she told us the hard truth… like us she had got excited at the thought her book would be made into a film. She asked how many films had been made from the Rights that had been sold.

“Oh, said he, and started to count up on his fingers. “Well, I’ve been doing this for six year and it must be about 4, I think.”

Jojo went on to say, “It’s nice to think one day it might happen, but I not going to get my hopes up.

It was very interesting listening to Jojo talking about the ups and downs of being a writer. Our next evening out is at Great Baddow Library with the Chelmsford Writer Group.
So if I learn any useful I shall, of course, pass it on.

Have a great weekend,
Jarmara

Are love letters a thing of the past?

2011-03-08T22:14:00.000Z

We have just come back from a talk given by the author Jojo Moyes.

She said, the idea came to her while she was sitting in a bar. There was a group of women chatting about what was meant by a text one of the women had received. The text read 'LaterX'

Jojo Moyes taken by Jarmara.

In this modern world of emails and texts are written love letters a thing of the past. I have a collection of love letters sent by my much beloved before we were together. How many of you have kept yours?

Jojo talked about her writing, being published, and how the publishing world works. I will post more once I have put my notes together. The most amazing thing of all was she recognised me from a previous meeting about 2 years ago at Chelmsford Library, Wow. I said to my much beloved,' I can't believe it was me she remembered normally most people remember you' ;-)

Bye for now.
Jarmara

We were on The One Show in our Goth Outfits.

2011-03-04T07:20:00.001Z

Michael The One Show hairdresser at work.

If any of you did watch BBC1 The One Show on the 1st March you would have caught a glimpse of my much beloved and I in the crowds at the Whitby Goth Festival in October.

You can watch it on Iplayer by sliding the bar to 24.06 you can see the clip.

Happy Goth Lady with her new hairstyle

My much beloved and I with Michael
at Whitby Halloween Goth Festival

A Great Day had by All.

2011-03-03T20:35:00.008Z

BBC Radio Dave Monk interviews Guy Saville

We had a great day at the Essex Book Festival Launch at Chelmsford Library. BBC Radio presenter, Dave Monk interviewed Guy Saville, Joanna Trollope and Lindsey Davis.

Joanna Trollope

Guy chatted about his tough-as-nail thriller,'The Afrika Reich', which is set in Africa and tells the story of a world where the Nazis have won the war.

Joanna Trollope talked about her new book 'Daughter in Law'.

Lindsey Davis

Lindsey Davis chatted about her hero Falco and her latest book 'Nemesis. Another writers seen at the launch were Karen Bowman, Jean Fullerton, Ivy Lord [Elizabeth Lord] Mike Dodsworth the storyteller, Francis Wheen

Here are some of the writers at the 2011 Launch

On the 8th March my much beloved and I will be going to a talk given by Jojo Moyes, at Ingatesone Library.

Have a great weekend writing and I will catch up again with you all soon.

Jarmara

Ivy, Nicola and Linda

Jean and Ivy

Essex Book Festival is Coming to a Radio near You.

2011-03-01T09:12:00.002Z

Here we are the first day of a new month. Saint David’s day. March named after the Roman god of war, Mars. If you are Welsh then it’s Mawrth. In ancient times the year was reckoned to start when the new crops started to appear, in what we call springtime.

I can’t believe a whole month has gone by since I finished work. It has flown. How do I feel I am progressing? Okay, I think.

Joanna Trollope

Lindsey Davis

I’m a little worried what is happening on the book front. Not my novel, but the publishing world in general. On Thursday 3rd March, my much beloved and I are off to the Essex Book Festival so if I hear any news I will of course pass it on to you. We are meeting up with our dear friend, Elizabeth Lord.

The launch of the festival is Live from Chelmsford library so if you can't make it you can listen online at BBC Essex Radio on the Dave Monk Show 95.3 FM 103.5 FM & DAB bbc.co.uk/essex 9am -12

Dave Monk will be talking to Joanna Trollope at 10am to 11am and Lindsey Davis at 11am-12. I hope to see some of you there, if you can make it.

I have just sent of a mini book review to ’Take a Break Fiction Feast’ the magazine pays £20 for 70 words on your favourite book.

My son is on holiday for the week so I don’t think I will get much done in the way of writing. Well, the poor lad will need feeding and looking after as all 23 years old lad do, lol. Bless him. I hoped to get out into the garden this week, but it is still too wet and cold, though, I will get some seeds potted up and in the cold frame.

There is plenty of signs around that Spring is with us as the birds are gathering nesting materials to build their nests. I already have pigeons busy building a nest in a tree near my writing room window.

I better go and do some writing while I can. We'll chat again soon.

Jarmara

Flash Fiction

2011-02-24T09:10:00.004Z

Over at One Writer's Mind Bryce Ellicot ask us to 'Prompt the Muse' full details on his blog.
There is something dark covering the land, and a character has stumbled across this phenomenon. How did he/she find it? Is it malevolent, beneficial, or neutral? What is it made of, and what does the character plan to do now that this discovery has been made?

This is what I wrote:

I took a handful and raised it to my nose. I drew back. God help me if I got this wrong!

My skin tingled and for a moment ‘Health and Safety’ rung in my ears.

How could I have not thought about my safety, put on gloves, used a spoon at least. How could I tell others, if I died no one else would know what happened to me.

Brushing at my hand. I stepped back and looked around.
Why was I so unprepared. You wait all your life to make a discovery like this and what happens?

I tapped at my pockets. As a kid my mother was always complaining about the rubbish I carried about with me and forgot to take out my pockets. And now I didn’t. God, why did I listen to my mother.

There must be something and anything. Again, I look around everything is too neat, too tidy.

Bloody Utopia. Who needs It !
Isn’t there something I could use to clean this up with!
Oh dear God… It’s too late. I’m going to die…

"For Christ’s Sake, Melvin, why do you always have to make a mess. I asked for coffee not lemon tea. The bloody dust pan and brush is kept in that cupboard."

"Yes, my much beloved."

Busy Doing What I Shouldn't

2011-02-24T07:51:00.006Z

Yes, I know what I said about staying focused, But! Okay, so I had a plan. And the plan was; I was only going to work on my novel. But!
Yes, I know I keep repeating the same word, But!

Please will you listen to my point, then tell me what you think?

I saw posted on another blog, Guidelines for Fiction Feast Submissions so I thought I would take a look at a short story I had sent into People’s Friend. They like it, and made interesting comments about it, even asked me to rewrite it. I have to admit, I was pretty wet behind the ears and new to writing at the time I wrote the story and sent it to them.

So I took onboard their comments and made changes to my story. Excitedly, I sent it back. After a few days of dreaming about seeing my story in print. It was returned to me. I had, according to the letter, ’Lost the story’s sparkle’. My dream vanished too. How had it happen? Where had I lost it?

Confused. I wrote another story. Again, good comments, they asked me to send in more stories. PF became my own personal challenge I was going to get a story in that magazine no matter what….

Well, I’ve yet to do that. Maybe I’m just too much of dark writer to write their sort of stories.

I’ve been looking at my first short story again. It’s about two visitors in a town park. I love story and I’m very proud of it. I would love to see it in print. So yesterday I reread it and have been making small changes.

Putting myself in the characters’ places and standing well back as I read it. I'm beginning to think I understand more fully how to edit my own work; to distance myself enough to read the story from another reader’s point of view.

Oscar Wilde

I’ve decide to send the story out somewhere else rather than try PF again, so finding the 'Guideline to Fiction Feast' has made me find my sparkle again, hopefully. :-)

I’ve also trying to write a romantic short story. Though I see myself as being a romantic person, I’m not very good at writing it. In the words of Oscar Wilde ‘The worst of have a romance of any kind is that it leaves one so unromantic.” The Picture of Dorian Gray

I hate weak woman and overbearing men. I’ve always believe women should stand on their own two feet if they want to be equal to men.

Stories of Romance always have weak woman who can only be whole if she finds the man of her dreams. He tends to be rich, goodlooking and has been badly treated by the rest of woman kind. (I also think the pictures on the covers of Romance novels make me think the men look too gay to be looking for a woman anyway.)

My Oxford English Dictionary said: romance noun

1 a pleasurable feeling of excitement and wonder associated with love. >a love affair, especially a relatively brief and light-hearted one. >a book or film dealing with love in a sentimental or idealized way.

2 a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life.

3 a medieval tale dealing with a hero of chivalry, of the kind common in the Romance languages.

I’m a little worried about the words 'remoteness from everyday life'… Maybe I’m too practical to write Romance and should stick to the darker side of life. Death, horror mystery and intrigue.

Happily busy writing everything :-) Jack of all trades, master of none...Well forever hopeful that one day I shall be a great writer of something soon ;-)

Jarmara

Don't forget to watch 'My Life In Books'

2011-02-22T13:33:00.000Z

BBC 2 6.30 every night for the next two weeks. 'My Life in Books'
Last night was with the Crime writer P.D. James.

Another Point of View.... [ A Piece of Fiction]

2011-02-19T21:04:00.009Z

Eye see ewe!

“Okay, let’s get up close and personal.” He said, peering down the len and into my eyes.

I tried not to laugh, but you know what it’s like the harder you try not to, the more you want to.

He sat back on his haunches and watched me through narrowing grey eyes. “Look, you’re just not taking this seriously, are you?”

I could tell that I had hurt his feelings, but for God’s sake I wasn’t used to someone staring so closely at me. Checking everything about me. It was as though they wanted to get inside my head. To get up close and personal with my very thoughts.

I loved the freedom my life gives me, being on my own. Just wandering around minding my own business, coming and going whenever I want to. I’m not one for following the crowd. I like going it alone. After all you don’t get that many shepherdesses these days .

“What about the shots, Darling? These will make you into a star, Baby”

[Not one of mine borrowed off Google]

I stood. “I’m not your darling, nor your baby, not even your love.”

I moved away from him and his bloody camera. 'Out of shot is out of mind in my book'. The one thing that made me different from the rest of the sheep, he wanted to photograph it and ‘put it out there’.

His words not mine.

I headed for the door.

“Hey, where you going?” he sounded both shocked and surprised

“To put it out where it belongs.”

“Sorry?” He shook his head. For a moment puzzlement playing in his washed-out grey eyes. Then I wondered if he fully understood me.

“You said, I was one of a kind, unique, unlike anyone else you had ever met, but if you plaster my pictures all over the front of your magazine, I won’t be anymore. There will be others trying to be like me, following like sheep.”

He reached out, his long slender fingers brushing against my skin, but I’m already letting go of the door handle.

Glad to be outside once more. The smell of the countryside is calling to me. Pulling pins out of my honey golden hair, I let it fall around my shoulders and felt the wind lifting it playfully. I rub at the make up and lipstick as I hurry cross the car park. Home for a shower to wash off the city grime. Then it’s back to the highways and byways for me. Just my flock and I.

Jarmara
Copyright Feb 2011

How do you keep the faith?

2011-02-18T08:29:00.002Z

Stormy sea taken at Whitby

Though I see myself as being quite tough and a bit of a fighter, especially if my back is against the wall and it is something dear to my heart, but I do have days when I take a fall.

Yesterday was such a day.

As you all are aware I opted to take redundancy. My much beloved and I talk about all the pros and cons before I made my decision. The idea was I took up writing full-time with his support we are both sure that it is possible for me to make some sort of living from it.

Yesterday, I had a panic attack my confidence left me full-time and I spent the day wandering around the house until I crawled into bed.

What had I done! In these days of uncertainties how could I be so stupid to give up my job and step into the unknown.

So how do you keep the faith, keep on believing that the choice you made is the right one?

My bank phone me to say a large sum of money had gone into my account. I told her I was aware of it. She then wanted to talk about my options.

I told her I couldn’t talk about it because I had a migraine and needed to go back to bed.

Later on she phone again, she was sorry to bother me again, but about the large sum of money. Then the questions started what were my plans. Was I going to go back to work etc?

My much beloved and Me

I want to cry… I see myself as working. Building my dream, planning our future. Being happy to feel fulfilled.

The house will be paid for in December, we haven't outstanding debts, we're very careful with money. My much Beloved is working and my son. I’m not claiming anything off the state….

So why am I feeling so down?

When my much beloved came home, he took one look at me and said, “I saw this coming, you silly thing, everything will be all right. I believe in you."

One step at a time and keep on believing....

Jarmara

Now I've got it!

2011-02-15T13:40:00.003Z

Over at Tossing It Out, Arlee Bird was asking if we his readers had read J D Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’.

I said I hadn’t that I would put it on my 'read before I die' list.

'Catch 22' was a book I tried reading in my youth and found it very hard going. Years later, I came across it as an audio book and listened to it. It was a great book and I got it, I understood it totally.

This has made me wonder whether there are books and films that we need read or watch when we’ve reach some sort of maturity. Was I too young when I tried reading 'Catch 22' as a teenager?

Is there any books you’ve come across that you have read later in life and finally fully understood what it was the author was saying?

Happy Reading and Writing.

Jarmara

Okay, so what has James Dean got to do with my posting,
The rebellious teenager... hmm, or is it because there are still some things which look just as good at any age :-)
Maybe.....