tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29619862082192756792024-03-16T18:53:06.329+00:00chaosmos - out of chaos comes orderAll about writingNess Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-70646840629018328392023-07-03T12:30:00.002+01:002023-07-03T12:30:46.595+01:00Editors that give you courage<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiF-l8rqhwdu_pvGLTLfOpLxvXWn6tyAmkDWfoy9q-_eJh12WZYdtRlWyeWLQuJtK-TNMrqzQvjRbHKQOnmluDxOYJT3fwoduJ4K2e8z6SC7eVxigMv-9JnRRwx0yEOUEs3HdE4O7-O2K00DsVx6Lc92H6lnqn4kowTg7T_t2LvbFbibH1CM1RwGC8cU/s960/38284507_10215045526685280_8544008072912175104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiF-l8rqhwdu_pvGLTLfOpLxvXWn6tyAmkDWfoy9q-_eJh12WZYdtRlWyeWLQuJtK-TNMrqzQvjRbHKQOnmluDxOYJT3fwoduJ4K2e8z6SC7eVxigMv-9JnRRwx0yEOUEs3HdE4O7-O2K00DsVx6Lc92H6lnqn4kowTg7T_t2LvbFbibH1CM1RwGC8cU/w150-h200/38284507_10215045526685280_8544008072912175104_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">Being able to trust your
editor is so important. I became fully aware of this ten years ago this summer when
I had to make some big decisions. At the time, I was working for the <a href="https://goldeneggacademy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Golden EggAcademy</a> (GEA) with aspiring writers, but also working with Imogen Cooper, the
head of GEA, on one of my novels.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"> <span> </span> It
was a novel I had been working on for a very long time because it had been part
of my PhD. However, I couldn’t get the heavy feet of my PhD thesis out of it.
For me, it felt like a tick-box exercise and did what it needed to for the
degree. Following a discussion, Imogen and I decided it was time to walk away
from it. This is never an easy decision, particularly when you’ve been working
on a project for a long time, but sometimes it is the right one. It must be
done. Hilary Mantel once said, ‘The question is not who influences you, but
which people give you courage.’ Imogen was someone who always gave me courage.
She ensured I believed in myself and my work, as she did too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Imogen’s
suggestion was to go away and write something new. Write whatever I wanted to.
However, I did feel a little lost. I knew how terrified my students felt when I
told them they could write about anything. Anything is an enormous subject.
This was also the first time in a very long time where I was writing something
without academic scaffolding supporting it where I discussed my reasoning
behind every creative decision. It really would be standalone. That in itself
was also terrifying. Could I remember how to be purely creative? Could I come
up with an idea? Imogen gave me the strength to be brave and the power to be
free. It was wonderful to have someone believe in me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span> I did
what many writers do in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century. I turned to Google and
asked it questions about things I was passionate about to see what turned
up. It showed me an image of Director Alois Podhajsky and General Patton which led me
down a rabbit hole of research to Operation Cowboy and the Spanish Riding School.
The next most important writer’s question was posed ‘What if…?’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnsS91IlIU08OBuYJ6g-YAbzRX4rSXjJmAWhirwQA4sQ1pZHfNQ2DLkyOtFoLnvL2EjhZIPRsWCVoIr_1oBmV0tkcku3v69D8MUzMnTe3dmuFNTicXM2mS_BhLU7xWEEBa-vVx1cc0ZvfvAwRgdWKgazijs5VtkgK0MFV-yqHwOesZ6lVRdFzHocBYKI/s1002/flight-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnsS91IlIU08OBuYJ6g-YAbzRX4rSXjJmAWhirwQA4sQ1pZHfNQ2DLkyOtFoLnvL2EjhZIPRsWCVoIr_1oBmV0tkcku3v69D8MUzMnTe3dmuFNTicXM2mS_BhLU7xWEEBa-vVx1cc0ZvfvAwRgdWKgazijs5VtkgK0MFV-yqHwOesZ6lVRdFzHocBYKI/w131-h200/flight-cover.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> Out
of that question came a nugget of an idea and a first line. ‘If Jakob sneezed,
he could die.’ I sent the outline of the idea to Imogen to see if she thought
it worked. She came back with ‘Yes, write it!’ That first line never changed.
And so, <i>Flight </i>was born. Five years later the next month, it was published
by <a href="https://fireflypress.co.uk/books/flight-safe-bundle/" target="_blank">Firefly</a> (where I worked with another great editor, Janet Thomas). <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;">If it hadn’t been for a great editor
giving me the courage to be brave and walk away from a project to find a new
story, my life would have been very different. Find the people that give you
courage. That great editor.</span></span></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-74903721461559836102023-06-25T14:07:00.001+01:002023-06-25T14:07:57.300+01:00Historical Fiction an important and safe tool for opening discourses with children about the present<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTRWY0OW3jY9ltjTQ7oSnAtAd9p6L-90tcoc7HRmwLoRtD29-u7C6vcv2WnFEAAfktd4trg2g-iVasLMIsU4AiqNJ1PCOqhUJWdFIeQsr_eDzE1cNbVm6kIxmZ-sQKBVKba9Wf5-ORCZO-7NBamhMuwCHHAbCLesS9X0ptuQGZeq-i17fMG7jUmVBEPY/s2048/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTRWY0OW3jY9ltjTQ7oSnAtAd9p6L-90tcoc7HRmwLoRtD29-u7C6vcv2WnFEAAfktd4trg2g-iVasLMIsU4AiqNJ1PCOqhUJWdFIeQsr_eDzE1cNbVm6kIxmZ-sQKBVKba9Wf5-ORCZO-7NBamhMuwCHHAbCLesS9X0ptuQGZeq-i17fMG7jUmVBEPY/w200-h200/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Historical fiction is important because it makes history accessible,
particularly in schools where it provides a tool to open dialogues about the
present by looking through the lens of the past. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be less frightening if you open these
discussions based on past events. There can be a greater experience of
understanding for a child who looks at complex current issues through the
historical fiction lens via the eyes and voices of child characters that they
can empathise with. Giving them opportunities to ask questions of the narrative
with answers that they may be able to apply to the world around them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Neil Gaiman points out stories are ‘a way
of learning about life without experiencing it.’ (2016: 27) It is about experiencing
challenging situations and considering what they, as a reader, would do in said
situation within page turning safety.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Historical
fiction continues to be popular with children and teachers alike. It is a
convenient way to bring history to life through narrative. Giving the children
a real sense of what it was like to be alive then as it is a chance to
experience it while walking in someone else’s shoes, as Rowe suggests
‘[f]iction …allows the reader to actually experience the world from another
person’s point of view.’ (2018). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unlike history where the risk is it
will so often be written from the perspective of the victorious or the most
powerful and educated as they are the ones creating the documents/resources
used. Historical fiction can be told from the viewpoint of those whose voices were
often silenced. The women, the children, the poor, the enslaved, the invaded
and those who would now be considered to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. Fiction
is a chance to investigate themes and ideas that might be ignored or glossed
over in other circumstances. To take a different perspective. It is an
opportunity to examine difficult subjects such as genocide, persecution,
discrimination, displacement, death, poverty and reasons for war. In my own
novels, <i>Flight </i>(2018) and <i>Safe </i>(2022), I explore the hidden
stories of children’s experiences during the Second World War linked with
persecution and displacement. Experiences which can easily be used to reflect
on situations in the contemporary world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gaiman
(2016:175), Ali Smith (Higgins, 2018) and Peter Bowker (2014) have all said at various
points that if you want to find the truth look at fiction. Ally Sherrick’s
recent novel <i>Vita </i>(2023)<i> </i>also plays brilliantly with the idea of
truth. It explores the issue of whose truth to believe. As does Candy Gourlay’s
<i>Bone Talk </i>(2018)<i>, </i>which tells the story of a young Bontok boy and
the impact the American’s have when they ‘bring war’ and colonization to the
Philippines in the late 19<sup>th</sup>/Early 20<sup>th</sup> Century. Both highlight
how every story has different perspectives and that there is no single truth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJm3_BkaqcT3u9Ko8yO7C-R93agq41U_JO05v6N6EXI-_QjVXQMuX3-8Q9tXC3-EcBFFc2MbKXiPwt-G5i4fK9wSfHPRRIeJUnECPeYVKCOqf6QN7xuFs-twB0OacrRvWdRIauScd0kY9kx6OtEZj17tke7OVKmRpEy4sCGQ9eWVh8oDh7uaf0bcZ6YVA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJm3_BkaqcT3u9Ko8yO7C-R93agq41U_JO05v6N6EXI-_QjVXQMuX3-8Q9tXC3-EcBFFc2MbKXiPwt-G5i4fK9wSfHPRRIeJUnECPeYVKCOqf6QN7xuFs-twB0OacrRvWdRIauScd0kY9kx6OtEZj17tke7OVKmRpEy4sCGQ9eWVh8oDh7uaf0bcZ6YVA=w130-h200" width="130" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0cjbuTP_m1agyTm0tcJlYPZltIEvblIABRDT1pymMX-vtbOTa2wyD5tr30S7SwbxfrcIJ8aMRIuUktY28E3Xl2JPOqvWDB1i-9xaV0WOG6S_Us6Sc6vElvpv2d4Mt28qu-2l8m2riUWg-pa2PxY0gSHDPwapKpTtdObbJZ7D7ZcHh5nbp5kPQPQo8X_I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="179" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0cjbuTP_m1agyTm0tcJlYPZltIEvblIABRDT1pymMX-vtbOTa2wyD5tr30S7SwbxfrcIJ8aMRIuUktY28E3Xl2JPOqvWDB1i-9xaV0WOG6S_Us6Sc6vElvpv2d4Mt28qu-2l8m2riUWg-pa2PxY0gSHDPwapKpTtdObbJZ7D7ZcHh5nbp5kPQPQo8X_I=w127-h200" width="127" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span> </span>Sadly,
we know that history repeats itself. Historical fiction can be used to
highlight that some lessons are learned. That there is hope. However grim it is,
we will find a way out of it because there are good people around. The work that
Empathy Lab UK has undertaken highlights how reading fiction can create empathy
in the reader. It can be used to increase compassion and understanding for
those who have been ‘othered’ in the past, and in some cases, continue to be
so. Encouraging a world where tolerance and inclusivity is the key rather than
discrimination and persecution that we know is still sadly prevalent when
history is still repeating itself.</span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Peter Bowker (2014) <i>A Writer’s Journey </i></span></span><span class="contextualspellingandgrammarerror"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">From</span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> There to Here, </span></i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">BBC4 18 May 2014 21.30<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Empathy Lab </span></span><a href="https://www.empathylab.uk/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">https://www.empathylab.uk/</span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Neil </span></span><span class="spellingerror"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Gaiman</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> (2016) <i>The View from the Cheap Seats, </i>(London,
Headline Publishing Group)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Candy Gourlay (2018) <i>Bone Talk </i>(London, David Fickling)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Vanessa Harbour (2018) <i>Flight </i>(Cardiff, Firefly)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Vanessa Harbour (2022) <i>Safe </i>(Cardiff, Firefly)</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Charlotte Higgins (2018) ‘Fiction not lies is a way of telling the truth
– Ali Smith in Edinburgh’, ‘Culture’ <i>The Guardian, </i>21 August
2018 </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dora Byrd Rowe (2018) ‘The “Novel” Approach: Using Fiction To Increase
Empathy’, <i>Virginia Libraries, </i>Vol 63 No1 </span></span><a href="http://www.ejournals.lib.vt/edu/valib/article/view/1474/2159" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">www.ejournals.lib.vt/edu/valib/article/view/1474/2159</span></span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Accessed March
2019</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0cm;"><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ally
Sherrick (2022) <i>Vita </i>(Frome, Chicken House)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-58121496170132708402023-03-31T13:48:00.000+01:002023-03-31T13:48:53.991+01:00Downloadable and printable resources for Safe and Flight<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduEhITNFcS92u_z-ihoWI3tscpDU8swd2Oi3F7TZ8ETekshQPAMQalfKSdpiSgznH3qKm_K4knT7csp3I7ZiPJbf_StdxjppX99CQWYw05SuusKT1l6lCbup496nefZo2mRo1Hq5FN5KaI2yazXWL6EngrFafJoY6PGRttGbPDnVtngyhmvHhbv9n/s2048/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduEhITNFcS92u_z-ihoWI3tscpDU8swd2Oi3F7TZ8ETekshQPAMQalfKSdpiSgznH3qKm_K4knT7csp3I7ZiPJbf_StdxjppX99CQWYw05SuusKT1l6lCbup496nefZo2mRo1Hq5FN5KaI2yazXWL6EngrFafJoY6PGRttGbPDnVtngyhmvHhbv9n/w200-h200/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I have been busy creating downloadable resources for Flight and Safe that schools, libraries, home educators or bookshops could use. I had to do this because the increase in postage costs has meant it is prohibitively expensive to send things out now. Instead, I've created what I'd send out in downloadable versions so you don't miss out. <div><br /></div><div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Here they are listed below - just click on them:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:39085b1a-dc01-3583-87ce-a16d9278b9d5" target="_blank">Flight Poster</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:02d0d887-29db-32c3-916f-f33cc2e7eb8d" target="_blank">Safe Poster</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:26f96d04-47a5-3fd3-a538-1fb8d44d6214" target="_blank">Downloadable Letter from me.</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e15a6f30-1fc3-341c-beb0-536d02c959e1" target="_blank">Reading Inspiration poster - where can it take you</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:23dfc861-db9f-32a8-9829-38e82e6b24ab" target="_blank">Reading Inspiration poster - shoes</a></p><p><a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:1d586f43-1412-3a3c-8749-9b85f39b7eba" target="_blank">Review exercise </a></p><p><br /></p><p>These are all downloadable and printable. I hope they can prove useful. </p><p>There are also videos on <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ8KUZonnIvlNatB514pvn9HmHhgXsPKX" target="_blank">YouTube</a> that you can use too that are linked to Safe.</p><p>Also check out my social media: Facebook author page, Instagram and Twitter.</p><p>Obviously, you can buy either Flight or Safe via Firefly or through your local independent store.</p></div>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-51823875377963658482022-06-27T13:38:00.000+01:002022-06-27T13:38:22.883+01:00Writing historical fiction? Keep detailed notes.<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8i5r6J622MZwWE5eR5O-00PiVEBUgqI63MFP0SnkHX7d16ofQM0PlwcohFOmQDVqcRQ_qPEgPjedOBXmq0G36_8JodGnJBCY8yq4HuErNiG0L0yyvtfXu3dNjZBL6BNK-GuJHWuOGMuf8RarZs04tsp8ucM-BrkrNATBmgUiLdckmFtmcyRa7wm1/s4032/2022-06-18%2019.48.08.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8i5r6J622MZwWE5eR5O-00PiVEBUgqI63MFP0SnkHX7d16ofQM0PlwcohFOmQDVqcRQ_qPEgPjedOBXmq0G36_8JodGnJBCY8yq4HuErNiG0L0yyvtfXu3dNjZBL6BNK-GuJHWuOGMuf8RarZs04tsp8ucM-BrkrNATBmgUiLdckmFtmcyRa7wm1/w150-h200/2022-06-18%2019.48.08.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of my extensive<br />research books</td></tr></tbody></table>I recently did a workshop on writing historical fiction at the IAmWriting Festival. In it, I reminded the attendees that anyone who writes historical novels more than any other writer will have to justify their writing. Only a week later I found myself doing exactly that when I received my most recent edits. <p></p><p>The copy editor was quite rightly double-checking my research, a certain word I'd used, querying why I had made certain decisions. This can be quite a challenge because I have long-Covid and I don't always remember what I did yesterday, so remembering why I made a decision when writing over a year ago was going to be challenging.</p><p>Luckily for me, I might not be a planner, but I do make copious notes when I make a decision and I also list all websites I visit that I use for research. Plus being an academic, I tend to underline things that are relevant in books and use post-it notes to mark useful chapters. This means that when I am challenged over my research or my decisions I can go back to my notebooks and go through all my scribblings. I will invariably find the answer. Resulting in me being able to put a comment that explains my sources for the decision or if I think the editor has actually highlighted a weakness in my writing, I might add a sentence to add clarity as I may realise that I'm not getting across what I thought I was. It is too easy to fall into the trap of the author's assumed knowledge. I say this so often to my students, just because you can see it in your head, you need to get those images from your head onto the page by including some hints for the reader to pick up on.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWdd42cNgkBlgK0FPbEalpsJUrZ19hT8YgbQJkx2OCXTkGqN3Mpqok8052TZjANjGCl_W64Q1mGb6S4ihWtq1tbkW--XYh_1oLipEyGHl_eMGQ3_ZFRZYC76f550d70XfjSj9eNumHGY6S9jYKLWDwnUCsj620LdPA-n_aYehwvKdQTTn7S7K9Gpx/s4032/2021-12-26%2010.01.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWdd42cNgkBlgK0FPbEalpsJUrZ19hT8YgbQJkx2OCXTkGqN3Mpqok8052TZjANjGCl_W64Q1mGb6S4ihWtq1tbkW--XYh_1oLipEyGHl_eMGQ3_ZFRZYC76f550d70XfjSj9eNumHGY6S9jYKLWDwnUCsj620LdPA-n_aYehwvKdQTTn7S7K9Gpx/w150-h200/2021-12-26%2010.01.26.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another resource<br />Helps with colours</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It is a salutary reminder to keep good records so that you can support yourself and it also means you can double-check when you are editing or rewriting. Never underestimate the importance of good research. When writing historical fiction you will research far more than will ever appear in your story but it will inform your writing, adding depth to it. I love doing the research and finding a little nugget of detail which will lift the narrative. The reader may not notice it but I'll know it is there. The research should always have a light touch within the story and not be overwhelmed by it. The story comes first always.</p><p>I've a new idea for a children's story but am also writing a historical novel for adults at the moment and that is interesting. I have found some wonderful research for them both. Those that know me well understand that the research process is one of the most exciting elements for me when writing.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thinking out loud is something writers do quite frequently so I thought I'd share Ed Sheeran's version:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lp-EO5I60KA" width="320" youtube-src-id="lp-EO5I60KA"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /> </p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-34923324960031491902022-05-15T20:30:00.001+01:002022-05-15T20:30:46.878+01:00Where do ideas come from?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlHSitQmfBgWjSjgFeNuVdgU6EV81EW4jjZdmV_hdwkJsu4gbv6Rtd680dfAlsOh7PLH4T_IIhZ6ugkzk1uYb1kZzd42LGxqM3Z5Wd85obCXk3gOuZEhg61_uCOS-u7kbhUXn0fijKPt7nP0BbG04lTwCM6EHhUVE3BGhsjhwypNqe7fqcH-a28Iw/s1080/2022-05-10%2014.06.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlHSitQmfBgWjSjgFeNuVdgU6EV81EW4jjZdmV_hdwkJsu4gbv6Rtd680dfAlsOh7PLH4T_IIhZ6ugkzk1uYb1kZzd42LGxqM3Z5Wd85obCXk3gOuZEhg61_uCOS-u7kbhUXn0fijKPt7nP0BbG04lTwCM6EHhUVE3BGhsjhwypNqe7fqcH-a28Iw/w200-h200/2022-05-10%2014.06.44.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This week has been an exciting week. Firefly revealed the cover of my latest novel, <i>Safe</i>, which is being published on 1st September and is the sequel to <i>Flight. </i>The cover is designed by Anne Glenn and I love it. It features Kizzy and Jakob and once again they are off on a perilous journey. They are tricked into making this trip and are in great danger. It is a story I am passionate about. In the main because it feels very pertinent. There are elements to it that feel so close to what is going on in the world now. <p></p><p>As an author, one of the questions you are asked the most often is 'where do ideas come from?' The thing with <i>Safe </i>is that obviously as a sequel it had a long journey. The idea started initially with those nuggets of ideas that formed when I began <i>Flight. </i>Now, where did they come from?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK1rAn4sOlOrGn7fALR9pAMOh9f8ZDBv4JCQEPED59l30XuyZJX7n4XWBYGEA2F9YUM5iX4omZPUvBAJK-SOj8Z5FyJClmzWZvlYimvjOa5kx3nejTFRC89zSjrUPMnKElhRStcCgeyWErt-6uo32Fb6q226XMNw-S3bZBAqlwwMrHJRPB4479a-w/s1100/General%20Patton%20SPRS%20CNN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK1rAn4sOlOrGn7fALR9pAMOh9f8ZDBv4JCQEPED59l30XuyZJX7n4XWBYGEA2F9YUM5iX4omZPUvBAJK-SOj8Z5FyJClmzWZvlYimvjOa5kx3nejTFRC89zSjrUPMnKElhRStcCgeyWErt-6uo32Fb6q226XMNw-S3bZBAqlwwMrHJRPB4479a-w/w200-h113/General%20Patton%20SPRS%20CNN.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokK0b2rwIsTsz7TRhZ2iy-QeLFsFV50QSctOB9miAlFo2OOL8-BpUYdioo2FmUsInJIyo7D7wtxTSpGgs_dfRiOC6V2S8zl6nCJPjXRkHNsFCclHAR1nL8Uf9db-28fe8n2sA2X65SuC27hvo0WfvuR-nxRWEVlDHJ2wfuiZyNpkvqyQ2CVSJpUbH/s600/Miracle%20of%20the%20White%20Stallions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="374" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokK0b2rwIsTsz7TRhZ2iy-QeLFsFV50QSctOB9miAlFo2OOL8-BpUYdioo2FmUsInJIyo7D7wtxTSpGgs_dfRiOC6V2S8zl6nCJPjXRkHNsFCclHAR1nL8Uf9db-28fe8n2sA2X65SuC27hvo0WfvuR-nxRWEVlDHJ2wfuiZyNpkvqyQ2CVSJpUbH/w124-h200/Miracle%20of%20the%20White%20Stallions.jpg" width="124" /></a></div><br /><p>These two images give a few clues. The first one is an image of Director Alois Podhajsky, from the Spanish Riding School saluting General George S Patton from the US Army near the end of the Second World War. The second is an image from a Walt Disney film made in 1963 entitled <i>Miracle of the White Stallions. </i>This film was inspired by Operation Cowboy, which was where the US Army negotiated with the Nazis so they go could through the German lines and get to Hostau where there were several hundred horses including Lipizzaner mares belonging to the Spanish Riding School and a prisoner of war camp nearby. The plan was to rescue both the prisoners and the horses before the Russians arrived. They drove the horses back through the German lines, cowboy style. Hence the name of the operation. It was doing research into the performance in front of General Patton, what happened to the Spanish Riding School during World War 2, and Operation Cowboy that started the nugget of an idea. I also watched the film. The nugget soon became the eternal answer to the important writer's question 'What if...'</p><p>I started thinking about what might happen prior to the performance in front of the General and prior to Operation Cowboy. What if two children, who were in danger themselves, needed to save a group of Lipizzaners. And so started the story of <i>Flight </i>with another great cover designed by Anne Glenn.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL753sfFVkiWsF_Vn-cagd1d1eGensSNsmIpzPfb29OBYi3oGfneYFcCaVnycGOLB64ltbgsYQ15mSZAb91IYcS5R0NMEVzEnv5QvKJqAP1yO_ABtND8RuqGvJX3BJGl0Tp_dJ03p9ngQ_kL1idbQta8pHraCZdugii9HIZHw_ARqgCn0FcJsoecKQ/s1002/flight-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL753sfFVkiWsF_Vn-cagd1d1eGensSNsmIpzPfb29OBYi3oGfneYFcCaVnycGOLB64ltbgsYQ15mSZAb91IYcS5R0NMEVzEnv5QvKJqAP1yO_ABtND8RuqGvJX3BJGl0Tp_dJ03p9ngQ_kL1idbQta8pHraCZdugii9HIZHw_ARqgCn0FcJsoecKQ/w131-h200/flight-cover.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br />That's all very well but then when you are asked by your publisher to write a sequel how do you follow on because the story has come to an end. Where does it go from here? Again you start asking questions. What are the worst possible things that could happen to Kizzy and Jakob now? Make a list of them, then make them fifty times worse than that before inflicting those things on them. <p></p><p>While doing the research I found out about all the displaced children in Europe towards the end of the Second World War. Groups of children who had lost their parents and relatives would move around together. These were sometimes called 'lost children' or sometimes 'wolf children' because they were in packs. It felt important that as a story Kizzy and Jakob should move beyond rescuing horses so this time they don't just rescue abandoned horses. They lead a group of 'lost children' to safety too. </p><p>The horses are different too. I spent time researching what horses might be around as I didn't want it to be Lipizzaners again as they had done those. I found information on so wonderful horses that I've been able to include. </p><p>I also found out about the formation of organisations like UNICEF after the war and how they tried to help alongside the Red Cross. Obviously, there are many more organisations now that help refugees but I've tried to raise awareness where I can at the back of the book.</p><p>Ideas grow and evolve as you find inspiration when you do research, particularly when writing historical fiction. I hope you've enjoyed this little insight into the journey of how <i>Safe </i>and <i>Flight </i>came about. Look how beautiful they look sitting next to each other. I am very lucky. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSNGFWacipByMY-kVGSSkuI3WV8J4DzPXNXbb0uKJ2N6FI67ZzjnGsM43ndgyzRlmsmuhImbCxz89h7FusYjD_j2KSIzDWgcbczNtBOBNWaWAeizGR6Du87XxUxh1U9wXsC6okhRVLESoVQ0cTIFT1SRBwwhEEAB2onbyYMFQAS5aFmopa_qipbeK/s2048/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSNGFWacipByMY-kVGSSkuI3WV8J4DzPXNXbb0uKJ2N6FI67ZzjnGsM43ndgyzRlmsmuhImbCxz89h7FusYjD_j2KSIzDWgcbczNtBOBNWaWAeizGR6Du87XxUxh1U9wXsC6okhRVLESoVQ0cTIFT1SRBwwhEEAB2onbyYMFQAS5aFmopa_qipbeK/w200-h200/2022-05-11%2012.32.02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>Another musical inspiration to make you smile if you remember it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtCNbERKvMs" width="320" youtube-src-id="jtCNbERKvMs"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-8893552786764701462022-04-24T14:27:00.000+01:002022-04-24T14:27:18.965+01:00A basic guide to Tik Tok<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsJwAGylwP-eofdY03whnEErno3L3e6-pK5P8xzjQiWI_Vk0qOr0gtDHhod6myZxQ6WzlumNt0y7SvGZcEXBkguChJTyk96ceuO4NvI5wJ2YEakTleWZttDTnTuwKTMQKLflF1cyqCH5NO8JTh1xCuhFBeetX5yrsIL9zJbnasnGAqYvDF2W7SBcem" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsJwAGylwP-eofdY03whnEErno3L3e6-pK5P8xzjQiWI_Vk0qOr0gtDHhod6myZxQ6WzlumNt0y7SvGZcEXBkguChJTyk96ceuO4NvI5wJ2YEakTleWZttDTnTuwKTMQKLflF1cyqCH5NO8JTh1xCuhFBeetX5yrsIL9zJbnasnGAqYvDF2W7SBcem=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><br /> Tik Tok is proving an important resource in the publishing world. In a recent Publishing Association report, they suggested that total publishing income for the UK reached a new high in 2021, rising 5% to £6.7 billion with surges in both fiction and young adult fiction, which they attributed in part to Tik Tok.<p></p><p>I joined Tik Tok ages ago and I've been a lurker for a very long time. Wary of taking part because I felt I am about to be a woman of a certain age who should know better than to get involved in it. I also watched the brilliant <a href="https://kathrynevans.ink/" target="_blank">Kathryn Evans</a>, <a href="http://finlayson-palmer.blogspot.com/">Emma Finlayson-Palmer</a> and <a href="https://www.klkettle.com/" target="_blank">K L Kettle</a> do incredible things on it and felt I was just not capable. However, I started to see the videos done by <a href="https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/">Chicken House</a> Publishing. They were interesting and informative. I was intrigued by it. All my adult life I have always tried new technology. Prior to my academic career, I would teach people how to use various software. I knew I had to get over this fear of making a fool of myself. I had to find a way of using it that worked for me. I wasn't going to dance or be funny.</p><p>It was the fabulous YA author and my great friend K L Kettle that finally pushed me into doing my first video by asking me what was my inspiration when I wrote. I did a quick 60 second video in response to her question and thoroughly enjoyed it. I posted on Facebook that I had put up my first Tik Tok and several of my author friends immediately asked if I could blog about how I did it, so here is a very basic guide to posting on Tik Tok. I am no expert. This is very early days for me but this is just based on what I have done so far. (FYI I am using my iPhone to record my videos)</p><p>1. When in Tik Tok press the black plus button at the bottom of the screen. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLC2MLfbC2s7WTcH08tUHx7L4iBIu9X9xXGIteSkURONxPVmA9iAUxN7iw8KkHdsQsLxAxfKDG1kG2r-QNSwxPZ2naNh_6zVevArquZejEarza69MAxu4CIWWbsbgcMMjt48enFn8ExYnraFdhVcoBK4EOJ3CzOjqz7G4WSlejrvR2lhk2lMZH25q/s1792/2022-04-24%2011.31.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLC2MLfbC2s7WTcH08tUHx7L4iBIu9X9xXGIteSkURONxPVmA9iAUxN7iw8KkHdsQsLxAxfKDG1kG2r-QNSwxPZ2naNh_6zVevArquZejEarza69MAxu4CIWWbsbgcMMjt48enFn8ExYnraFdhVcoBK4EOJ3CzOjqz7G4WSlejrvR2lhk2lMZH25q/w93-h200/2022-04-24%2011.31.16.jpg" width="93" /></a></div><br />2. Sort the camera out so it is facing the way you want it to using the flip button on the top left-hand side. You might want it to face towards you or away.</span></div><p></p><p>3. You can add filters if you want.</p><p>4. Decide how long you want your video to be: 15s, 60s or 3 mins.</p><p>5. When you are ready tap the red button and you will start recording. It will continue to record even if you take your finger off the red button. It will only stop when you tap the red button again. </p><p>6. If you want to record a video separately you can use the upload button on the right hand side at the bottom of the screen.</p><p>7. When you have finished recording and you are happy with it you press the button with the tick. If you are not happy you press the button with the cross to discard it. </p><p>8. If you press the tick button it will take you to a preview screen where you can add music (it can play in the background), captions (note you can edit these, they are really good), more effects and stickers. When you've done editing your Tik Tok tap next.</p><p>9. From the post screen add your description, hashtags and if you want to tag friends. This is also where you can decide who can view your post and disable comments. </p><p>10. You can hit drafts to save your Tik Tok - I have a draft video that I practise on. It gives me a chance to play with all the different options and work out how to do things. I am still not very good at editing so am not going to advise you on how to do that. I am lucky and have recorded a lot of online lectures so am very used to recording. Get it clear in your head what you want to say and do before you start. Having this draft helps you gain confidence. It is a video I will never post.</p><p>11. On the other hand if your video is ready to share press post. </p><p>As I said this is a very basic introduction to doing a Tik Tok video, but if this author can do it, so can you. Be brave! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-52688810389554151782022-04-21T16:20:00.003+01:002022-04-21T16:20:41.286+01:00The joy of the writing process<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeGlQYJqTakpP6R8kKyvd5MR-2aCu27Q7_Lyb5THNzQO25zqc1Clt6WKGN2jODuM67WNSQp3ONmuzI3OYQcZ0ISgEIixAtL0EvdT7DjMDt_bqMD0SF1G8Kva4WLEM7jnyN5xStbjIQMW-hlrzY1vfmMXkgz5KwIgZ2qu5cU-bQP3m7rtYsoRUup5h/s2048/2019-05-30%2020.17.43.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeGlQYJqTakpP6R8kKyvd5MR-2aCu27Q7_Lyb5THNzQO25zqc1Clt6WKGN2jODuM67WNSQp3ONmuzI3OYQcZ0ISgEIixAtL0EvdT7DjMDt_bqMD0SF1G8Kva4WLEM7jnyN5xStbjIQMW-hlrzY1vfmMXkgz5KwIgZ2qu5cU-bQP3m7rtYsoRUup5h/w150-h200/2019-05-30%2020.17.43.heic" width="150" /></a></div><br /> I love those moments when you are writing away and a character suddenly takes you by surprise by doing something totally unexpected that takes the story in a different direction. I had one of those moments yesterday in the adult novel I am currently working on. It has happened to me in the past when a character was getting very cross with me because I hadn't realised they were actually gay. Once I did they suddenly came to life and felt fully formed. <p></p><p>This is why I love writing and probably why I am not very good at plotting because my writing takes me off in surprising directions. I would say I am more of a plantser. In that, I will know my beginning, my ending and maybe a few key scenes, but how I get there is going to be a revelation. As for my characters, they often evolve as I write. This can prove a major problem when publishers ask for a chapter breakdown because that is not really how I work. I will write one for them but I will tell the publisher it is written with a caveat that it may not be set in stone. I work on the basis that you have to trust your gut and if it feels right go with it. In the same way, if it doesn't feel right you cut it out.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLxA0ewEQFUnT_F-0ncqhTi47Xqc2D-51kyLOpSL72XN0ryBVKz3RnS9J8D4fCXkV95jLUHDWEUot1k1dM-_sovaElmmxaEp2Up14AY0IC_roQASnpWRW-IiEDbqhP5Cga-Jmrf3hqCjwDJCYt6i50SBJsALh_5khUc2LA21fhHXYhngTF0AsrUze/s4032/2022-04-16%2013.30.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLxA0ewEQFUnT_F-0ncqhTi47Xqc2D-51kyLOpSL72XN0ryBVKz3RnS9J8D4fCXkV95jLUHDWEUot1k1dM-_sovaElmmxaEp2Up14AY0IC_roQASnpWRW-IiEDbqhP5Cga-Jmrf3hqCjwDJCYt6i50SBJsALh_5khUc2LA21fhHXYhngTF0AsrUze/w150-h200/2022-04-16%2013.30.23.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />Yesterday's incident was interesting because I had been worrying about how it was going to work with this character and where they were going to fit in. I had various scenarios in mind, but none of them felt quite right. Then the character actually wrote themself out of the story in a totally unexpected way, which solved all my concerns. It wasn't something I had even considered up until that point. I had seen them as a vital part of the onwards journey, but taking them out made more sense and the journey would still work with the other characters even without them. Characters are always powerful, they leave footprints on your heart as they find their route through your story.<p></p><p>I am used to writing for children and young adults and it has been quite interesting writing for adults. In a way, it has been rather liberating. This story started off as a middle-grade, but it was suggested to me that writing it as such was rather constraining and it would be better as an adult story. I have to say as I am writing it, I agree. Also, as a creative writing lecturer, it is always good to try all these different mediums so that I can share my experiences. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16up1stVc2PI8MwW4zN3xKCu_vbYW9TmoWXn7OeDK5udru4TlzOGaTq2ERvc27pVyfY2rHQo4NryHoquzifnoyUQjW1i73muWf-26ZRcdMO1uNzYYcx06_BpnVe9typzUplb17O8bwrgzFdKZPBc7StZ6mndk-kRoZmP5xAOlImRoUV8HiIrlF1Qe/s1080/2022-02-22%2016.15.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16up1stVc2PI8MwW4zN3xKCu_vbYW9TmoWXn7OeDK5udru4TlzOGaTq2ERvc27pVyfY2rHQo4NryHoquzifnoyUQjW1i73muWf-26ZRcdMO1uNzYYcx06_BpnVe9typzUplb17O8bwrgzFdKZPBc7StZ6mndk-kRoZmP5xAOlImRoUV8HiIrlF1Qe/w200-h200/2022-02-22%2016.15.20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Writing is important for me as it helps with my mental health. I always feel better if I am writing. I have tried different methods including setting word counts, sprints and using apps where I can create trees, but I don't find any of those work particularly well for me. I know they work very well for many others. Instead, I write when and for as long as I can without any pressure. I often find then I can churn the words out. What I always say to all my students and aspiring writers is that there is no write [sic] or wrong way to write. You have to find what works for you and most importantly, don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own journey. Just make sure you enjoy yours. <p></p><p>Happy writing everyone!</p><p><br /></p><p>I am loving the writing and production of the series The Split. It is very inspirational. This is some of the music from it by Olivia Broadfield</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SVzqW6hqkOU" width="320" youtube-src-id="SVzqW6hqkOU"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-78752885199509350232022-03-05T14:40:00.002+00:002022-03-05T14:40:16.026+00:00Fiction echoing Reality<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZD0zUbdYPHV4mkGC2TZ1R25PCg8Z69A7eMbuamsDUynJfsmjboHbb0FNY-BnTcXDcNGy3qobQyJWw2Tw5wAwEISUf7eK0AMILPKNA-8R8iX0oOpRMOBqwTamj-DLWHOiD1LovxW4ypNnFqQKF3xmrbuSlOqXSNLRs0y1VWtxw5GYSG1mHMM0F7rsT=s861" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="851" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZD0zUbdYPHV4mkGC2TZ1R25PCg8Z69A7eMbuamsDUynJfsmjboHbb0FNY-BnTcXDcNGy3qobQyJWw2Tw5wAwEISUf7eK0AMILPKNA-8R8iX0oOpRMOBqwTamj-DLWHOiD1LovxW4ypNnFqQKF3xmrbuSlOqXSNLRs0y1VWtxw5GYSG1mHMM0F7rsT=w198-h200" width="198" /></a></div><br />It has been hard watching events unfold in Ukraine. Feeling so helpless as you see families becoming separated, refugees fleeing and others determinedly defending their country against Russian invaders, sent by someone who can only be described as a dictator without any thought for others. Seeing children's faces full of fear as they run from the Russians. We feel like we are standing on the edge of something terrifying and am not even going to mention our own government's appalling behaviour towards refugees. #Notinmyname. All welcome. <br /><br /><p></p><p>I faced the situation last week as these events were unfolding where my fiction seemed to become a reality around me. I was doing the latest round of edits for Firefly on my novel Safe which is coming out in September 2022. Part of the story involves a group of 'lost children' who are fleeing from the Russians. Watching the news and feeling so desperate certainly enabled me to add depth to the emotion of my story even though it is based during the end of the Second World War.</p><p>I was very lucky in the past Flight was picked by EmpathyLabUK as a Guided Reading book for Empathy in 2020 so I am very aware of how important reading can be for creating empathy. It can also be a way of dealing with difficult subjects such as invasion, war and all those frightening terms that are being bandied around at the moment. Reading a story that opens dialogue and discussions can make a huge difference. It allows children to consider what it might be like for those children they see on the news. What they might be feeling but also to understand that though bad things happen often good things can occur too and there might be a sense of hope to hold on to. This image by Charlie Mackesy is a perfect example and a great reminder of the importance of love:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRa3a5K9lI40N5lpOGQNQk1ns6bXvE5VwdDndtf4eAHEIk1N8k4k-_cqRVGUiwNLD3vLuRweLgbLeCbHucCd7oDlcZHZ1rCZXHKkWEVY44CR7BHB-dYYkk8fEVGTVR5SrTNBnpM2pGBj_eiItf8CQae_sQAqRnW9HAZkegYGnkcF_9XeJgA-YOvdPU=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRa3a5K9lI40N5lpOGQNQk1ns6bXvE5VwdDndtf4eAHEIk1N8k4k-_cqRVGUiwNLD3vLuRweLgbLeCbHucCd7oDlcZHZ1rCZXHKkWEVY44CR7BHB-dYYkk8fEVGTVR5SrTNBnpM2pGBj_eiItf8CQae_sQAqRnW9HAZkegYGnkcF_9XeJgA-YOvdPU=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div> This is why I think it is important that we continue to write stories about the past because it helps children deal with the present and as a reminder to try and ensure that certain events of the past should never happen again. We need to create stories they can empathise and engage with. Writing the best stories we can. <p></p><p>For inspiration read books by: Phil Earle, Lesley Parr, Emma Carroll, Michael Morpurgo, Tony Bradman, Miriam Halahmy, Ally Sherrick, Rowena House, Hilary McKay or maybe even my book Flight</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgskxEx3Dau0oeUzSm2D8QEzK9ivpAK2TDDd2SBpt8C6x5u7NQ72RUSc9a2QyjjWaNOiLD_5GgHxc7s5FpXSUrUJCUSPXPnHfg54zUCD5BkgXT6c82UZQzdHu632Gyl1sT-n_3xBYz8uriHJP3hOCXlrO-WvaX4aihwi6rIqUtitIyalWc8DG_4-DVw=s1002" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgskxEx3Dau0oeUzSm2D8QEzK9ivpAK2TDDd2SBpt8C6x5u7NQ72RUSc9a2QyjjWaNOiLD_5GgHxc7s5FpXSUrUJCUSPXPnHfg54zUCD5BkgXT6c82UZQzdHu632Gyl1sT-n_3xBYz8uriHJP3hOCXlrO-WvaX4aihwi6rIqUtitIyalWc8DG_4-DVw=w131-h200" width="131" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-28891926518317233212021-12-21T12:04:00.000+00:002021-12-21T12:04:07.317+00:00The question is how you react<p>This post does relate to writing but I'm going off on a tangent first. Please bear with me. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNugIpFkpS0Gk8JRunkWV2RL02_jKc0MOpl8BOfvSce4EUEHEEH7E8vOUorBG26h2AzKCVZ2-l1pwj47zUtY3wCU_67eqgw8gmGE4WvMTY6wJZFbouQ811WC4xUeUV3eCs2j6BB9GEOTKMHSH1lhBnUFnBXmtposASULW39Ka8D4FmZ6O_KEMJPs8y=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNugIpFkpS0Gk8JRunkWV2RL02_jKc0MOpl8BOfvSce4EUEHEEH7E8vOUorBG26h2AzKCVZ2-l1pwj47zUtY3wCU_67eqgw8gmGE4WvMTY6wJZFbouQ811WC4xUeUV3eCs2j6BB9GEOTKMHSH1lhBnUFnBXmtposASULW39Ka8D4FmZ6O_KEMJPs8y=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My feed</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>It is easy for me to become self-reflective at this time of year. Those who know me well know this story but there is a reason behind retelling it. You see twenty-one years ago this month I had surgery to help stop reflux that my body didn't respond well to. I woke up from the anaesthetic unable to eat properly. Twenty years ago this month I had PEG tube fitted. I am not going to give the long name for it, but basically, it is a tube directly into my stomach through which I can pump nutrition. It saved my life but it also meant I was deemed disabled. </p><p>When I say I am a disabled author people see the crutches I use and assume it is connected with my joints. They are just a secondary issue. The tube in my stomach is, in fact, my disability. </p><p>Why am I telling you this? There is a good reason I promise you. Recently I have been reading a book by Jake Humphrey's and Damian Hughes entitled <i>High Performance</i>. I always like to occasionally read books like this because you never know what you can share with your students. Something I read in there reminded me of the time following the surgery and the years afterwards. In the book, it talks about how you react to setbacks can make all the difference and this is your responsibility. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR4b-C6OG0bjnJbfV_1hAt78GC94mh9VJvrunTAodP8hDfCdpQswxY0Ed0lwGW28LcQi-fUkQ09v9a2h_r34wnOqlS10eAwC3JgqamgZjqpNu_GC44JV0QLbEQx13vSo_5DaJs8DRjLA//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="321" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR4b-C6OG0bjnJbfV_1hAt78GC94mh9VJvrunTAodP8hDfCdpQswxY0Ed0lwGW28LcQi-fUkQ09v9a2h_r34wnOqlS10eAwC3JgqamgZjqpNu_GC44JV0QLbEQx13vSo_5DaJs8DRjLA/w128-h200/image.png" width="128" /></a></div><br />After the surgery, I was very ill until the PEG was fitted. At the time, I was a single parent with three children aged 15, 13 and 11 who ran her. own business. Things could not be more difficult. I lost my business because I was too ill to work. I'd lost my identity or so it felt. I could easily have given up. The doctors even expected me to do that. But, I refused to. This was no one's fault and how I reacted was my responsibility. This was not the first time I'd had to start my life again. I'd been divorced when the children were very small and I knew I could do it again. <p></p><p>People couldn't understand why I wasn't angry. But angry at who? Anger is so destructive. I couldn't change things. I had to focus on a new life and make sure my children and my mother who I cared for, were all right. The rest is history. I went to university and found a passion for learning. I ended up with a PhD became a lecturer and most importantly fulfilled my dream of becoming an author. You might think this sounds glib. Perhaps even that I make it sound easy. It was not. I had family around me. They were my tribe who supported me through the tough times and there were plenty of those which I'm not going to dwell on.</p><p>Please don't get me wrong as well, this is not meant to be a 'woe is me' post. The day the surgery went wrong was actually a great day. It meant I could follow my dreams. I'd never have had the guts otherwise (excuse the pun).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_EemTkpKHmDxgZ0QetJA5ZET2JHzY438vh8f9qgkOuDabXdUUSNVtt-V5nydRcL2WxPsioZHTBQ9Jvp_TMnzuAmz7L5Ph63dtrf2DH75KsPC6tjqyZl7hhiDBQlfkQfPV0XxQ5qYot8PNJau0PAvhuFvy2aGkTmlzJw_UuI7RrfFoarFy0fZ4PVIh=s1002" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_EemTkpKHmDxgZ0QetJA5ZET2JHzY438vh8f9qgkOuDabXdUUSNVtt-V5nydRcL2WxPsioZHTBQ9Jvp_TMnzuAmz7L5Ph63dtrf2DH75KsPC6tjqyZl7hhiDBQlfkQfPV0XxQ5qYot8PNJau0PAvhuFvy2aGkTmlzJw_UuI7RrfFoarFy0fZ4PVIh=w131-h200" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Achieving my dream!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tangent over. Let me bring it back to writing. Being a writer is so often about rejection in some form or another. From an agent, or a publisher, not winning this award or that award, not getting the film rights, not appearing at the literary festival. The list goes on and to some extent, it never stops throughout your writing career potentially. Our friend, social media can ensure that we are constantly reminded of others' successes. My point here is how you react to those setbacks and that is your responsibility as mentioned in the book. It is well worth reading it as they expand upon this. Whatever your reactions to those setbacks are ensure you have your tribe, your people, ready. They are the ones you can talk to in the tough times. </p><p>When trying to get an agent, wear any rejections as a badge of honour. Pay attention to what is being said in the email/letter though. Is it useful? Do you feel they might have a point? If several agents are saying the same thing in their rejection letters then you need to pay attention. Also, remember that it is one person's opinion. In the same way, an agent can reject it, it can take only one agent to like it and start your journey to publication. </p><p>If you follow me you know I will pull this quote out frequently. It is the one from Matt Haig's <i>Notes on a Nervous Planet </i>where he lists a single sentence 'do not compare yourself'. This is vital when thinking how you are going to react. This is your personal journey. Others may on the surface be succeeding in everything you want, but remember that is the edited social media version. What you don't know is what they are facing behind the scenes. They will be dealing with their own rejections and setbacks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWbZa2bplwzU_A0dn0AfljzJpShGCRIne_yds4lAkN6QQskQWBLKBP1UAiKaG_jyWpbVQ_-M-B8Cwb3gyVeqHGYCFp34YQv2AnnEow7OkzOjI-KO3oKQ3XHB743R6LNVtf8SsWY9_xMmLQ4Wj1Sg757h0EFrsu52fUZMf2xH4Dno3dfXFfmIPQPngb=s1055" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1055" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWbZa2bplwzU_A0dn0AfljzJpShGCRIne_yds4lAkN6QQskQWBLKBP1UAiKaG_jyWpbVQ_-M-B8Cwb3gyVeqHGYCFp34YQv2AnnEow7OkzOjI-KO3oKQ3XHB743R6LNVtf8SsWY9_xMmLQ4Wj1Sg757h0EFrsu52fUZMf2xH4Dno3dfXFfmIPQPngb=w200-h199" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>As far as I am concerned the most important things are to focus on you, your journey and how you react to situations while making sure you are supportive and kind to others. </p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-48120024844368471882021-10-24T20:04:00.000+01:002021-10-24T20:04:35.459+01:00Characterisation Inspiration<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQAAaTBHEGGl3qGZEiMG9zPyoBP-0NABSN567E2SY1gN9lBlhRdNMSxLsH8YJf1LOIDQYnEx3vSM6Oro6d0wF8ZZsWaThzSWHJg9qLAPAkjyedzw9FZBVfr0Zw9GOGAsB9oI0XGscw_E/s400/Ian+McKellen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQAAaTBHEGGl3qGZEiMG9zPyoBP-0NABSN567E2SY1gN9lBlhRdNMSxLsH8YJf1LOIDQYnEx3vSM6Oro6d0wF8ZZsWaThzSWHJg9qLAPAkjyedzw9FZBVfr0Zw9GOGAsB9oI0XGscw_E/w200-h200/Ian+McKellen.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian McKellen</td></tr></tbody></table> Characters are the very life of fiction. As writers, we need to create characters that readers are going to care about and empathise with. They need to believe in them, so the characters need to come across as credible and fully rounded. <br /></p><p>Your setting will exist so that the character has somewhere to stand and it will help define them. You can use your setting to give clues about the character. For example, where they live gives you some hints about them - The squat vs the gated community. While the plot is more about the character discovering who they are, what their needs and wants are, in the process revealing to reader what they are really like. </p><p>All sounds so straight forward really doesn't it? Or is it? So often I see characters in work I am giving feedback on that all sound the same and are one dimensional mean that the reader just doesn't engage with the narrative.</p><p>There are many ways and exercises you can do to get inside your characters head. For example: write a letter to you the author from the character introducing themself; answer various questions such what is their favourite music, what's in their pocket, what's their deepest secret etc.</p><p>However, I saw a really simple way to think about characterisation when I watched the brilliant actor, Ian McKellen, being interviewed by Graham Norton (Check it out on iPlayer Graham Norton Show, Friday 22nd October) So simple in fact, it is obvious when you hear it, you wonder why you hadn't thought of it before. Sir Ian McKellen started off by pointing out how incredible it is that we are all different. Different faces, skin, hair, mannerisms, the way we walk, sit etc. He then went to show how he played two of his characters. Hamlet and his most recent one, Firs, in <i>The Cherry Orchard</i>. He did it purely by changing his stance in his chair. As simple as that. It was extraordinary. Hamlet was a young character where he sat up straight, while the other was an old man, so he stooped over. Just small details, but it makes a wealth of difference. </p><p>Become a people watcher. Create a notebook where you take note of people's mannerisms, hair, the way they walk. All those small details that you can use to paint a three-dimensional picture of your character with them. It's not about info-dumping, it's about hints. The notebook will be a resource you can use throughout all your writing, not just one manuscript. Keep it is as a live document that continues to grow every time you see something. Create those brilliant characterisations just like Sir Ian McKellen did through observation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Conan Gray - People Watching</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/goqqohUitmw" width="320" youtube-src-id="goqqohUitmw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-18792076689064215802021-07-27T17:37:00.002+01:002021-07-27T17:37:48.397+01:00Working with Editors.I love working with editors. It is such an enlightening experience. Having said that I have been very lucky in that the two main editors I have worked with have really understood my writing and got my stories. Every time they have brought something new and good to the process. I have never once felt like it was a negative process. I do know of others where this has not been the case, so I do count my blessings.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9Qwo4yJOqtBp837Y4uKZ2Tnuf3y8UdMQH4frjB3lRLDHRinSVJ3qKty5431PnWPJrjAIiReGiiO9n6YUFVu8Zrw1zDhePYsoMiyIUz9NeXGE4R2V-NwdBnFc1i8QwwebM3nLI_pYU0A/s2048/2021-03-28+23.31.21-1.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9Qwo4yJOqtBp837Y4uKZ2Tnuf3y8UdMQH4frjB3lRLDHRinSVJ3qKty5431PnWPJrjAIiReGiiO9n6YUFVu8Zrw1zDhePYsoMiyIUz9NeXGE4R2V-NwdBnFc1i8QwwebM3nLI_pYU0A/w150-h200/2021-03-28+23.31.21-1.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Don't get me wrong when the email arrives with the edits attached I do have that gulp moment and have to let them settle before realising that, yes they are right. They will make the book better. I can see why they are being suggested. You don't always have to agree but you have to have a good reason not to. Editorial comments are there for discussion. They are suggesting you look at an element in the manuscript and consider an alternative way of exploring it. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is always important to remember that an editor's opinion is precisely that, an opinion. There is that joke that you put seven editors in a room and give them the same manuscript and you will get seven different lots of editorial comments. I can say the same about writers. If I set my students a writing task where I give them all the same opening sentence, not one of them will write the same story. It is because everything we do, whether it is writing or reading/interpreting what we read is based upon our life experiences. Our education, our upbringing, our politics, our interests. The films we watch, the books we read. Everything has an impact. If you want to get all theoretical you go down the lines of Roland Barthes and his tissue of citations. But let's not. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIiCdd84M6kVfRbBYHq7bWrDSkXBKAgLV5hej_akuFW7TKU3_a0k2f4830lJpWb5Og3u1glG1VfxE1iZUCx5mzwc61pozw8v1NgcLwoSGuXgsXugBPzmL-57uNQZdLPfAi2p1KLSP7Ew/s2048/2021-06-16+22.22.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIiCdd84M6kVfRbBYHq7bWrDSkXBKAgLV5hej_akuFW7TKU3_a0k2f4830lJpWb5Og3u1glG1VfxE1iZUCx5mzwc61pozw8v1NgcLwoSGuXgsXugBPzmL-57uNQZdLPfAi2p1KLSP7Ew/w150-h200/2021-06-16+22.22.07.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />This is why it is so important to be open-minded to editorial suggestions and not defensive. Don't be precious about your work. You want it to be the best it can be. You will be too close to it and you won't see the flaws, however, often you have proofread it. Believe me. There have been many a moment when I have cringed when one of my editors have highlighted something that I would have jumped on my students for doing. But I just didn't see it because I was too close to it. I confess I was mortified. Don't be hard on yourself but welcome your editor's input. </div><div><br /></div><div>Working with an editor is a joy because they are as passionate about your story as you are. They want to talk about your story as much as you do. Trying to talk to my family about my story is never the same. They are very tolerant of me, bless them, but they don't really care. They are not particularly interested. But your editor is. Make the most of it. Share your ideas when you discuss your editorial notes. Bounce ideas around. It is a chance to get honest feedback. </div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously being part of a crit group helps you get used to having feedback, but always make sure it is constructive feedback you are receiving and it is not someone trying to make the book into their book. Always listen to the feedback and ask questions about your manuscript. If you don't agree and you have a good reason not to agree, like with editorial feedback you don't have to follow it. But make sure it is a good reason and you are not just being precious about your work. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY2ldxrEGaQhlY88b5BlmbVs-mr8AKgrELnHshfxlM43T-OWHTvGCVveGCUS__UL2rQ6UlzoIpLqy0W30GszdGCWay8apJsgaIyG32e1uwQtETnyMwVyvcgYcc-YUiCA6lIhdhWIzpZY/s400/man+readingin+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY2ldxrEGaQhlY88b5BlmbVs-mr8AKgrELnHshfxlM43T-OWHTvGCVveGCUS__UL2rQ6UlzoIpLqy0W30GszdGCWay8apJsgaIyG32e1uwQtETnyMwVyvcgYcc-YUiCA6lIhdhWIzpZY/w158-h200/man+readingin+garden.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I envisage the latent <br />process<br />A man reading in the garden<br />Honore Daumier</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I spent years receiving feedback as a student then giving it as a lecturer and as an editor with the Golden Egg Academy. It doesn't make getting feedback from an editor any easier. I still get just as worried though once I have got the edits, I get really excited because I love doing editing and bringing the story to life. Making it sing by ensuring it is the best story it can be. It is all about giving yourself time for latent processing once you have the editorial notes and then enjoy the rewriting. This is why I love working with editors and as I said I've worked with two of the best, Imogen Cooper and Janet.Thomas. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy writing/editing everyone!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /> </div></div>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-79088939222321449142021-07-10T12:22:00.001+01:002021-07-10T14:30:21.575+01:00Writing Through - the power of reading and writing<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1k6maxugNGE1wPsEOtdsmmoZkgkx_2bQRQ6RfF3fKzec5bZKvd3-JkSRI5fPvm8iIAN-NXSPIQpJfO3hgQ0cDZO5xMFQrVESPeKmImWVBt_iqU2H18Dj8hxa8Qn9UKhFnCgjI5ZUJPs/s1200/Damian+Barr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1k6maxugNGE1wPsEOtdsmmoZkgkx_2bQRQ6RfF3fKzec5bZKvd3-JkSRI5fPvm8iIAN-NXSPIQpJfO3hgQ0cDZO5xMFQrVESPeKmImWVBt_iqU2H18Dj8hxa8Qn9UKhFnCgjI5ZUJPs/w200-h200/Damian+Barr.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damian Barr</td></tr></tbody></table> This post has been inspired by
the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wyzj" target="_blank">Radio 4 #GuideBooks</a> with Damian Barr particularly the programme on bodies.
It made me think about the books that have helped me but more importantly in
this instance how much writing has saved me.</p><p>My entire life can be described in one sentence... "well, that didn't go as planned." This has been an echo throughout my life. Just when I think everything is falling into place, I can almost guarantee that something will come along and turn my world upside down. It hasn't just happened once. The one theme throughout is that in one shape or form I will write my way through it. It is one of my coping mechanisms as is reading. The writing allows me to explore the emotions involved and soothe a fractured mind.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoC5cWse9ZuqDukoGXt-A9X6X-mN6kejulVPMGSIXO6lvhdQyM1PEf1fmdbkU3Kpo5E5UVVjTa8pWn3RkxGYSPiGLZ3OLjP1UN9KJ-A3bDP5x_fImmkTPC0GAMxcyYXnDnw6EdzqIybY/s271/Sue+book+back+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoC5cWse9ZuqDukoGXt-A9X6X-mN6kejulVPMGSIXO6lvhdQyM1PEf1fmdbkU3Kpo5E5UVVjTa8pWn3RkxGYSPiGLZ3OLjP1UN9KJ-A3bDP5x_fImmkTPC0GAMxcyYXnDnw6EdzqIybY/w149-h200/Sue+book+back+page.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back page of my <br />first book!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> From a small child, I have found
solace in writing and reading. This photo is of the book of powems [sic] I
wrote for my number 2 sister (yes, we are sometimes known by our numbers
because there a few of us) when I was five maybe six and she was leaving home
to go and study to be a nurse. I was going to miss her terribly and I wanted to
make sure she wouldn’t forget me. The answer in my mind even then…write her a
book then you will always be with her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Whenever things got difficult throughout my teenage years. I would lose myself in books or I'd write the predictable heartfelt and fraught poems and, in my case and perhaps randomly, articles. I believe I even considered entering the Vogue young writers' competition. I can't remember whether I actually did, but I know I certainly thought about it and was convinced I would win. Having said that, I was convinced I would win the pony in the WH Smith competition every year (you'd never get away with that now!). I never did! I do also remember a time when in the second year (year 8) my English teacher read out a piece of my descriptive writing to the class. Having finished it, she looked across to me and said, 'You know Vanessa, you really can write. That was beautiful. Maybe you will be a writer one day.' There was a lot of smirking in the class as I was bullied mercilessly at the school, but for that moment I glowed. I can't for the life of me remember the name of that teacher as I have blocked a lot of memories of that school for obvious reasons. I can see her face though. I doubt she is still alive, but I wish I could tell her that I did make it eventually. Writing was a big part of my teenage years as was reading</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYGDsakaXNhTVFksUhh4ab6BaWJ3jelr3wuBHjhfesUkktqSVGccdQox737HgD_rOeshVmBDI1m_YWNReqNXvaY8TxOqZ8khUltW7Xn9ETtcV5yWI4zpIeqR24Vm0ivK4n1YUWpEj-lo/s2048/2021-06-20+10.27.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYGDsakaXNhTVFksUhh4ab6BaWJ3jelr3wuBHjhfesUkktqSVGccdQox737HgD_rOeshVmBDI1m_YWNReqNXvaY8TxOqZ8khUltW7Xn9ETtcV5yWI4zpIeqR24Vm0ivK4n1YUWpEj-lo/w150-h200/2021-06-20+10.27.15.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my early notebooks</td></tr></tbody></table>In my twenties, I found myself as
a single parent with three very small children. At the time my way to deal with
it was to read voraciously everything and anything but an awful of Joanna
Trollope in the evenings when I was on my own. For childcare reasons I couldn’t
go out and get a job so I set up my own business. A lot of what I did was based
on writing. I wrote press releases, property features for the local paper,
newsletter for the local charity, software training manuals. You name it I
wrote. I quietly wrote in the evenings dabbling with fiction and poetry that no
one ever saw which helped me deal with my emotions. It was the continuation of
a habit. If I’m stressed or struggling I write. Never really taking the fiction
seriously at that time.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFCnrOelFmspQqIiLa4mATXzqCEkIRgUXnxtpRwLZzvgmdBPkW0wO4fQo982xhmRg57pyUgRNc9liTIKLaY-_bdA1UyPr9_LHcZzLykKOHKtR6EzYOpt5K2H05cm5PzrMwECc68Bgkos/s2048/2020-07-27+09.29.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFCnrOelFmspQqIiLa4mATXzqCEkIRgUXnxtpRwLZzvgmdBPkW0wO4fQo982xhmRg57pyUgRNc9liTIKLaY-_bdA1UyPr9_LHcZzLykKOHKtR6EzYOpt5K2H05cm5PzrMwECc68Bgkos/w150-h200/2020-07-27+09.29.29.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving myself a feed</td></tr></tbody></table>Just when things were beginning to go ok and were falling into place, I had some surgery to stop the serious reflux I suffered from. Unfortunately, my body reacted badly to it. I came around unable to swallow food and only able to take sips of fluids. There were all sorts of other implications that I am not going to include here because you really don't need to know them, but it all turned my life upside down. I was too ill to work. I became disabled. My children were my carers. I would cook for them absolutely starving and crying with hunger. It was a nightmare as it took a year for them to decide to put a PEG tube into my stomach through which I could take special feeds. It was such a difficult time because eating forms such a central part of our lives, our social life, everything really. Think of how many food-based programmes there are on television. Not being able to eat and work, I lost my sense of identity. I had no idea who I was. Yet again in my life, I had to reinvent myself. Work out who this newly disabled person was and how they fitted into this world. Once more I turned to writing. I wrote my way through it. . I have notebooks full of my witterings in. They will never be shared. All too personal and raw.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZst46PAttrCMfTH-riDYQFjl4Nm7aSK2NI8QntIaqUaRVdBSnOf4hqZ689Dffh9UjG5mbuTCzgnChnzuuVDxmksXpAfyk9ZQx5EPBvbREy57ruB0bg6QV8CswDjYqb4y1CcMExrXL42Q/s1002/flight-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZst46PAttrCMfTH-riDYQFjl4Nm7aSK2NI8QntIaqUaRVdBSnOf4hqZ689Dffh9UjG5mbuTCzgnChnzuuVDxmksXpAfyk9ZQx5EPBvbREy57ruB0bg6QV8CswDjYqb4y1CcMExrXL42Q/w131-h200/flight-cover.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br />The PEG however allowed me to
start a new life. To become a new person. I decided to make use of the writing
that I’ve always played with. I signed up to the University of Winchester to do
a degree in English because at that time the degree had modules in Creative
Writing (there was no single honours degree in Creative Writing at that stage). Little did
I know I was about to change my life completely. I had a chance to try on lots
of different voices that included writing for children. Something I’d never
thought about before and the rest, as they say, is history…I took an MA in
Writing for Children, a PhD, became a lecturer and my debut novel Flight was
published in 2018 by Firefly in the UK and by Feiwell and Friends in
the US in 2021. Firefly will be publishing the sequel, Safe, in 2022. Writing my
way through has helped me in so many ways.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">I still do it, when I ended up on crutches because of joint issues, for example. Or when I cut back my hours in order to focus on my writing and build up my school visits just as the pandemic hit - perfect timing Vanessa! I will always write my way through stress and fear. I know if I don't write it has an impact on my mental health. I have learnt that now. I have an understanding.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8qMyAZlKDUJ0oSoWQbS0jR3xnbmQX1BkJKBqlUCx53SO7N1qzvIQpe0BMGGTw8YtQsB4wPwNOqWxCBHU8zGlF7-m5ZhKtT7yvn0Tomw7i-MBqlUDtxQ3-BvQkpOvl07y56kr3cGAsw/s2048/2018-08-07+23.36.29-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8qMyAZlKDUJ0oSoWQbS0jR3xnbmQX1BkJKBqlUCx53SO7N1qzvIQpe0BMGGTw8YtQsB4wPwNOqWxCBHU8zGlF7-m5ZhKtT7yvn0Tomw7i-MBqlUDtxQ3-BvQkpOvl07y56kr3cGAsw/w200-h133/2018-08-07+23.36.29-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my crutches, and my crazy family at the launch of Flight.<br />I do my best not to let disability define me or stop me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Writing can be therapeutic, as can reading be. I have recently read an article about how reading to children in ICU can increase their production of oxytocin, which has an impact on their pain and can reduce it. It also reduces their stress levels. The writers of the article saw parents as a cost-effective intervention as they could read the stories to their own children. I am also a great believer that a book will find you just at the time you need it. It may be a little cliched, but Paulo Coelho's <i>The Alchemist</i> appeared in my life at a time when I needed it. The same with Matt Haig's <i>Reasons to Stay Alive</i>, which arrived at a moment when both myself and various people close to me were having issues with mental health. Yes, I know, the pragmatic part of my brain says, it is because you notice the write-ups of certain books when you need them. The romantic part does say they find you. Believe whatever you want to believe. The choice is yours. Writing and reading are so powerful. They will always be my salvation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p><p>
<br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-53247331163666570642021-06-26T09:07:00.000+01:002021-06-26T09:07:03.558+01:00Writing Historical Fiction - Research and the immersive experience<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMPDq-SEhcgaVnOYMPmnHRz4fdzcX78s3Ramh-q7WXpUb4NySo6jeR3F9KNGv75FJB1m1N-39VQ0TnHTpSHC1PTVgczjB3Q2rpwWj0QgqRKStdIyMFVBtPV6NYcUEnwhQ5XiCfV9tdYE/s1080/notebookand+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMPDq-SEhcgaVnOYMPmnHRz4fdzcX78s3Ramh-q7WXpUb4NySo6jeR3F9KNGv75FJB1m1N-39VQ0TnHTpSHC1PTVgczjB3Q2rpwWj0QgqRKStdIyMFVBtPV6NYcUEnwhQ5XiCfV9tdYE/w150-h200/notebookand+pen.jpg" width="150" /></a> <br /><br />Only two posts ago I wrote about walking away from stories because they didn't feel right and giving it a rest for a while. I wasn't going to write. I was just going to focus on the edits to <i>Safe</i> when they came in. What a silly thing to state. I should have placed a bet on what happened next as I could have almost guaranteed it. </p><p>Within a few days, an idea for a story came to me in the middle of the night. It was so demanding it woke me up! And the idea wouldn't shut up as a basic plot began to form in my head. I couldn't go back to sleep until it was done. I had no idea if it had legs. I thought maybe if I still remembered it in the morning, it would be a go-er. I did, so I wrote down the basics the following morning. This was going against everything I had said I would do. See writers never do what they say they are going to do! My writing never goes to plan.</p><p>But I am having a wonderful time. I am playing with this new story idea. It is
historical again. Before I start writing it though, I have to read myself into the period.
What this means is I have to do some basic background research. I spend a
couple of days reading what I can about the period and the place at the time. Reading around the general history, the country, the culture, and the people. Enough to
give me a sense and a feel for the place. A brief immersive experience. The more detailed research will be
done when I do the editing and I will add more colour - it is all about the writing cold/edit hot process. I wrote about it <a href="https://chaosmos-outofchaoscomesorder.blogspot.com/2021/01/latent-processing.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It is important to limit this background research because it
is easy to find yourself going down many a rabbit hole as things spark your interest.
There is a risk you could spend so long doing research that you avoid writing or actually forget to write the book. It is great for
procrastination. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cOaFdFAMhwtRzGZcieXUM_6ubahQRf8nGdEVE44-mfLYp9IrXZL6ekb2jBmYNNSSWhKBeaZYcH2wVtPj-3ahs5XbhLQlsqJXdAa3Fj6FO5fTsQzLe9NLzPC1iHrUaRBPi-w6AXfJGUU/s2048/2021-03-13+16.15.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cOaFdFAMhwtRzGZcieXUM_6ubahQRf8nGdEVE44-mfLYp9IrXZL6ekb2jBmYNNSSWhKBeaZYcH2wVtPj-3ahs5XbhLQlsqJXdAa3Fj6FO5fTsQzLe9NLzPC1iHrUaRBPi-w6AXfJGUU/w150-h200/2021-03-13+16.15.27.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration from US <br />edition of Flight<br />by Zach Myers</td></tr></tbody></table><br />However, when I am doing this research what I love the most
is finding those small details. Nuggets of information that make my
spine tingle. They are all very small minutiae, but I know when I use them to
inspire my writing, or I include them in the narrative they will add depth to
the writing and make it sing. Hopefully giving the writing a richness and a
sense of verisimilitude. It is important that research despite adding richness is there with only a light touch.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is because what I mustn’t do is overload my writing with too much
detail and information in order to prove how much research I have done to the
reader. Such a rookie mistake. All that does is make the writing inaccessible and
boring for the reader. The quickest way to switch any reader, particularly a
child reader off. It is all about leaving just enough hints on the page that help
the reader paint a picture in their mind as they read, but not lecturing them or slapping them around the face with information.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The other thing I do a lot of when I am doing all this research is
think. There is a lot of visualisation going on. It is once again all about the
latent processing – I have written about this before too in the same <a href="https://chaosmos-outofchaoscomesorder.blogspot.com/2021/01/latent-processing.html" target="_blank">place</a>. As a writer, I see
my story as a film in my head as I write and my process is all about getting
those images from my brain on to the page. At the beginning of the story, as I
start to create it, odd scenes appear in no particular order. They frequently
give me a vague sense of the direction of the story as images from the
beginning, middle and end appear.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDRjNoJm_soMPKbmL2dHEdZymATPO43TJ0I7JwyTWzX07l3NUk0hV20qycUhYNU6EcDK74nqP0UdqT_yo_jVRJqst3imCEfDYjUv98txOm-hMvnMHWJeBS14-i5b61IHQMa3O1rP6HGQ/s2048/2020-12-16+07.55.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDRjNoJm_soMPKbmL2dHEdZymATPO43TJ0I7JwyTWzX07l3NUk0hV20qycUhYNU6EcDK74nqP0UdqT_yo_jVRJqst3imCEfDYjUv98txOm-hMvnMHWJeBS14-i5b61IHQMa3O1rP6HGQ/w150-h200/2020-12-16+07.55.32.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Quite often some of the research I may include will mean
nothing to the child reader, but it might do to any adult readers – of which I
have quite a few. Also, there is a chance that the child reader might take it in and remember,
which is why I try to do as much research as I can and do my best to get it right. I remember Imogen Cooper saying to me, it is important not to get it wrong. I've heard of people being put off a text because they found mistakes. For me, particularly when I am writing historical fiction, I am aware that I am influencing someone's perception of history even if it is fictional. A reader may take it as truth, which is why I try to do as much research as I can. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Having said that, I do remember a time when a man thought I hadn't done my research. They accused me of basing my representation of General Patton on the actor who had played him rather than the actual person. This really stung. I had spent days and days researching General Patton as he was key to my story. I had read his memoir, war correspondence, anything I could about him, but most importantly spent hours staring at photos of him. I didn't watch the film, watching films are a last resort for me when looking at real life characters. Unfortunately, I highlighted in my novel the one facial characteristic that both he and the actor, George.C Scott, who played him in the film had - a prounounced cleft in the chin! I knew I'd never convince this person otherwise. He'd made his mind up about my researching capabilities and my book, a children's book. There are times when it doesn't matter how much research you do, someone will find fault. Be warned.</p><p>I spoke about needing the 'feel' when writing and I am definitely getting that with this story. These little nuggets of information I am finding are helping to create a truly wonderful story in my head. The emotions are there already. I hope they stay. For the moment, I am enjoying the process. Writing is the best job in the world. </p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-4455423220461357852021-06-14T13:23:00.000+01:002021-06-14T13:23:00.193+01:00Social Media - My love-hate relationship<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKGaPcnzClsBlJER0QxYHwNQkyQqXhJtI09CVZtIx6nxbcgl-8U7TrrdOLLHWAfVBrvN1-0M6JeUkSdl4ZTG0Ahrhp_F08WAJEI0mTNYadIAqPlrEXFhj3kctJf7Hmd6_koforPQOuUI/s2048/Launch+me%252C+candy+and+Kathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKGaPcnzClsBlJER0QxYHwNQkyQqXhJtI09CVZtIx6nxbcgl-8U7TrrdOLLHWAfVBrvN1-0M6JeUkSdl4ZTG0Ahrhp_F08WAJEI0mTNYadIAqPlrEXFhj3kctJf7Hmd6_koforPQOuUI/w200-h150/Launch+me%252C+candy+and+Kathy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous social media friends<br />Candy Gourlay and Kathy Evans<br />At my book launch</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I very definitely have a love-hate relationship with social media. Probably about ten years ago somebody I knew had a go at me because I used social media. They said 'you know the friendships you make on there are not real?' Well, those friendships I had made via social media then are still some of my greatest friends now. Many of them I've met in real life, and they have been with me through the highs and lows of the last ten-plus years. Proving that somebody very wrong.</p><p>I love social media because it is a wonderful place to celebrate the great news. When you shout about your book deals and publications. The wave of support is incredible. It is a wonderful way to keep in contact with friends and family too. With Facebook, I have a closed account for privacy so that my students can't access it, I am able to post things I want to share with my siblings. They can see photos of my children and grandchildren as they appeared. Plus family in Australia and the US can also catch up with what is going on here. Social media can be great for connectivity and communication. I should add, it is not just for the good times. It can be a great source of comfort during difficult times. Being like a huge hug as friends swoop around to support you.</p><p>I said I have a love-hate relationship. The hate element is because I am very aware that social media can have a negative impact on my mental health. Social media is fantastic if you are feeling positive. But if you are not having a great day, it can suck the life out of you. It can make you feel you are a total failure. You are not the one visiting all those schools, you haven't got all those events planned, you haven't got another book/film/tv deal. This is when you have to remind yourself that social media is the edited version of someone's life. Nobody shows their true life on there. You don't know know what is going on behind the scenes, what struggles they might be facing, and everyone's journey is a personal one. Plus you need to remember Matt Haig's brilliant words from <i>Notes on a Nervous Planet: </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC7_WYi71aa8PpmSp4tdZXG-3swtpQWXYVQ31q2FKLXi-fTpReL9dk75YwG9wWBmA72letajpaV_7ksbj1BI7vgn2d42ULuCx-W1loubFpLm4zc57KLy8ZZ3akmcwNwj7HgmgxHaxdL4/s1055/Matthaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1055" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC7_WYi71aa8PpmSp4tdZXG-3swtpQWXYVQ31q2FKLXi-fTpReL9dk75YwG9wWBmA72letajpaV_7ksbj1BI7vgn2d42ULuCx-W1loubFpLm4zc57KLy8ZZ3akmcwNwj7HgmgxHaxdL4/w200-h199/Matthaig.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p>This phrase is my mantra!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Also, I should mention at this point an element that I have
not personally, so far, had to deal with and that is trolls. There are some
people out there who seem to think that because they are behind a screen it
doesn’t matter what they say. It gives them a right to say whatever they want regardless
of how offensive and inappropriate it is because it is 'only on social media' and
therefore doesn’t count. Yes, it does! You should never write anything on
social media unless it is something you would be prepared to say to somebody face
to face. You do not have a right to pass
comment on somebody’s decisions, looks, children, careers, anything come to
that. Don’t say anything unless it is supportive. Be kind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMXeizyE26HYIsJSmPcP4G9_lbnE2687RUZgs7vbu9INrsHFHgimJik2R7PtmdXNH-exUVJ0XU90FgkvdgMTjxl7v58__4WrUVdl5qKLw5z8L1mco-J9TiqbEPAg-A68ae1W1aWTJ28s/s1306/KL+Kettle+Tik+Tok.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="987" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMXeizyE26HYIsJSmPcP4G9_lbnE2687RUZgs7vbu9INrsHFHgimJik2R7PtmdXNH-exUVJ0XU90FgkvdgMTjxl7v58__4WrUVdl5qKLw5z8L1mco-J9TiqbEPAg-A68ae1W1aWTJ28s/w151-h200/KL+Kettle+Tik+Tok.png" width="151" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KL Kettle - <br />brilliant author</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It is also easy to become overwhelmed by social media particularly if you
try to do all of them. There is not enough time in the day to do them all. Focus
on what makes you happy. I confess I have taken a bit of a step back from
Twitter as I find it rather shouty. I post some bits and any articles that I
find interesting. More recently I have focused on Instagram. I find it a friendlier
place at the moment. I have an author page on Facebook and as I said a closed
personal page for the family. I am watching TikTok, in particular, K L Kettle and
Kathryn Evans who are doing brilliant things on there. It is something I might
explore soon. What I try to do is schedule things. I use Tweetdeck to schedule
my tweets, so I don’t have to worry about those during the week. I have an Excel
spreadsheet with potential tweets listed that I might use, so I do a single
brainstorming session that covers a few weeks, then I just dip into the spreadsheet
when I am scheduling. I plan my
Instagram – particularly if I have a campaign I want to do. I then sort out my
content and save it ready to post. I might spend a Sunday morning doing that,
so it is ready. I do though have times when I step right away from social media
to give myself and my mental health a break. It gives me a chance to decide
what I want to include next in my social media and refocus my life. Remembering
what my priorities are. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The important thing with social media is that you do what is
right for YOU and what YOU feel comfortable with. There is no right or wrong
(other than being kind and not abusive obviously). There is an expectation if
you want to be published that you will have some social media engagement, but
you have to mediate between their expectations and your needs whilst being
aware of your mental health. Be social media savvy.<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-25562685034079598242021-05-29T19:21:00.001+01:002021-05-29T20:28:37.719+01:00Writing is hard - Be brave<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqAkWmV9svpEh6oY3NSkSUtPAJ6GjNlpX8IWqDclnnt66aMIbeVtanVvBsklTfWazmDBGPhuA31iqejVTvXUV53OqOd-Gm6bOAeWJu9qHtedVCltiKjAGJ4aypOqeOg8Aeff-iHwIFu8/s2048/2014-05-26+12.46.00.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqAkWmV9svpEh6oY3NSkSUtPAJ6GjNlpX8IWqDclnnt66aMIbeVtanVvBsklTfWazmDBGPhuA31iqejVTvXUV53OqOd-Gm6bOAeWJu9qHtedVCltiKjAGJ4aypOqeOg8Aeff-iHwIFu8/w200-h150/2014-05-26+12.46.00.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> Writing is hard.<p></p><p>Sometimes the words and ideas flow with ease. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes you have to make some very difficult decisions. You need to be brave.</p><p>Recently I've had one of those moments. Some of you who follow me on social media may know what I did. Consequently, I thought I'd explain my process/reasons a bit more.</p><p>During the previous eighteen months to two years, I have written three novels. One of which is <i>Safe</i>, the sequel to my Second World War adventure story, <i>Flight, </i>which was published by Firefly in 2018, and Feiwell and Friends in the US this year. I am currently waiting for the edits to come back from my publisher for <i>Safe </i>which is coming out in 2022.</p><p>The other two novels I had written were contemporary, realist novels, so very different from <i>Flight.</i> They contained similar themes, horses, nature, family, and important current issues such as food poverty and being different. I enjoyed writing them and as always doing the research. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love doing research. I rewrote them and edited them. I put them to one side while I worked on <i>Safe</i> then came back to them again and did another edit.</p><p>BUT...</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkSpocWdJiJQguo5fuqFwZVQ8zwk_9IIkVWj7p2HJEXJNc80QsJCmxjbM76Y_X8lDFQ9oBpYXWU4bLniZ8zF53I7J3sc_MWyW36lwVAd7GOmbJoRBnKAjH3IhPzPAZjovvC6QoyK1hYg/s1600/PhD+Thesis+x+3+001.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkSpocWdJiJQguo5fuqFwZVQ8zwk_9IIkVWj7p2HJEXJNc80QsJCmxjbM76Y_X8lDFQ9oBpYXWU4bLniZ8zF53I7J3sc_MWyW36lwVAd7GOmbJoRBnKAjH3IhPzPAZjovvC6QoyK1hYg/w200-h150/PhD+Thesis+x+3+001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />There was something wrong I had a niggle. A familiar niggle in fact. The last time I had this feeling I had been editing what had been my Ph.D. novel and luckily for me at that time I had been working on it with my great friend Imogen Cooper. Some of you may have heard me tell this story. I had been worrying about the manuscript. I couldn't get it right. The writing and the story were all perfectly fine or adequate is probably a better word. But something just felt wrong all the time. The feeling was deep inside me. I found it really difficult to explain but knew I needed to try at the next editorial meeting. However, unbeknownst to me, Imogen had also decided to have 'THAT' conversation with me. We got together. I didn't realise how worried she was. She had no idea how worried I was. <p></p><p>My memories are vague now but I seem to remember Imogen saying to me, 'Ness, I think you need to walk from it.' It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders because that was exactly what I had planned on suggesting. Her face was a picture when a grinned broadly and said 'Thank god!' I think that was the last thing she expected. The scariest thing was Imogen told me to go away and write whatever I wanted to. But it worked. <i>Flight </i>was the result of that conversation.</p><p>Recently that niggle was back though. It didn't matter how much I edited these novels. They weren't right. They were fine. They were adequate. But they weren't good. I was very conscious that whenever I edited <i>Flight</i> it could still make me cry or laugh at the appropriate moment. These novels didn't move me in the same way. They didn't reach deep inside me. The point being is if I am not feeling a story then my reader is certainly not going to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMIG5cQULRRzrU3VGo_Gw60gscJi1tYDQRutNC-01PIH7qTo_FkI8JFMGsVmOAL3Dd7Bx2ltyTGOchkZvhn0l63gUzH-7kKJg2kVb1RlLZIhKGMrCliBegtcDs9swU3XzNkFsZSubjXg/s1002/flight-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="656" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMIG5cQULRRzrU3VGo_Gw60gscJi1tYDQRutNC-01PIH7qTo_FkI8JFMGsVmOAL3Dd7Bx2ltyTGOchkZvhn0l63gUzH-7kKJg2kVb1RlLZIhKGMrCliBegtcDs9swU3XzNkFsZSubjXg/w131-h200/flight-cover.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br /><p>I made the decision this week to walk away from both novels. Some may think it is a stupid thing to do but I can't keep putting energy into books that don't work for me. Again, I spoke to Imogen about what I was doing. I told her about how I had the same niggle. As usual with her normal insight, she pointed out how I need to feel my stories. I have to get all the emotions. If I don't then it doesn't work for me. I can't make it happen. It is all part of the writing process for me. I admit it, it makes it quite torturous at times. </p><p>I notice my previous post, all the way back in January (University was very time-consuming and stressful with all the online teaching so please forgive me), I was talking all about latent processing. I am taking some time and stepping back from it all (great advice Jo and Amber) as I think about where I want to go with my writing. Once again I felt great relief having walked away and am looking forward to exploring where I am going next and finding new stories. There are also the edits for <i>Safe</i> to look forward to. Another story I felt deeply. </p><p>What am I saying? Sometimes you have to have the courage to walk away from a story. However, give it a good chance though. Don't abandon it at the first hurdle. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint (how many more cliches can I get in!) One final cliche and one that is very important to me: trust your gut. Be brave and enjoy your writing. Get all the feels as my small grandchildren sometimes call it. </p><p>Update: I am going to add a caveat to this. As the brilliant author Jennifer Killick so rightly reminded me and which I think is so important to highlight. No writing is wasted. Writing is like a muscle. The more you do the stronger you get. But also, elements of these stories and inspirations from them may well appear in other manuscripts in some other format. Writers are naturally very good at recycling. Please don't think I am in despair because I have walked away. I know it is the right thing for me. This is all about knowing what is right for you as a writer. </p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-48637674810629704512021-01-10T16:17:00.001+00:002021-01-10T16:17:56.978+00:00Latent Processing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGSna9iO9FqHhY8KYLpU2FrmrdKZPmbdDcWr52kd0DcLwAPBakz_CGB0vk0Z3GwVSAJ7UwSGdotxN5NToR7iuen-_BLzXuCya35tIgVky-TLPBAZBIlyd2jtwqqEfaJIbaDHcWQrD25A/s2048/2021-01-10+12.12.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGSna9iO9FqHhY8KYLpU2FrmrdKZPmbdDcWr52kd0DcLwAPBakz_CGB0vk0Z3GwVSAJ7UwSGdotxN5NToR7iuen-_BLzXuCya35tIgVky-TLPBAZBIlyd2jtwqqEfaJIbaDHcWQrD25A/w200-h200/2021-01-10+12.12.12.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Latent processing was something I have always done when writing, but often felt guilty for doing it. As if I wasn't writing properly. It wasn't until I knew <a href="https://goldeneggacademy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Imogen Cooper t</a>hat she made me realise how important the latent process is. <p></p><p>Latent processing is the time you spend thinking about your manuscript. It happens during the writing and editing process. It is an important part of it.. These photos were taken this morning on a walk. I have a new story I am working on and it has been going well, but then I felt a little stuck. I knew where I wanted it to go, however, I wasn't one hundred per cent sure how I was going to get there. I needed time away from it. The story takes part during midwinter and wandering through the countryside near my house, I was able to think how my characters would feel/think seeing a countryside covered in a hoarfrost. As you can see some of the left over seedheads look magical when covered in frost. It was foggy alright, but it gave me clarity. The next elements of the story started to fall in to place. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik51GcH2BjGnQdeehiW6paSlnVds2Ikp17_oW2hXGt5xX_VbC8pln6VgvwbhaalBKX8QT0RYeNDNc6pGvLW154nZ2x32NFAYLWPjR4owog4gDvuy3QxmnMpBTgSY36p4wm_pWPGXIn-WY/s2048/2020-11-01+10.55.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik51GcH2BjGnQdeehiW6paSlnVds2Ikp17_oW2hXGt5xX_VbC8pln6VgvwbhaalBKX8QT0RYeNDNc6pGvLW154nZ2x32NFAYLWPjR4owog4gDvuy3QxmnMpBTgSY36p4wm_pWPGXIn-WY/w150-h200/2020-11-01+10.55.29.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />Latent processing can happen at any time. It often works really well when you are doing something mindless like ironing, in the shower, driving, gardening or going for a walk. <p></p><p>When you have written a full manuscript, it is important to put it away for a few weeks (I know most of us only managed a few days!). Inevitably even when we are not working on it, it is there at the back of our minds. Thoughts ticking away. Ideas flowing. </p><p>I find it particularly important because I write cold , edit hot. What this means is I get the basic story down first, so I know there is a working structure. The editing process is where I add in all the colour, the details. I build the story up. It is a bit like doing embroidery. The basic story is the black outline and editing is where you fill in all the colour in order to make it a whole living picture. The details lift the narrative off the page. </p><p>Latent processing can happen even before you start writing. It is as you mull over an idea, deciding whether it might 'have legs.' Whether it is something you want to actually write. I have many ideas that never get beyond this point. When a story idea does stick, the latent processing becomes really exciting as you start thinking about characters and settings. Building the narrative world in your head. </p><p>When you reach the editing process, latent processing is still useful. You may have plot holes that need dealing with. The process is fabulous at filling holes or making you realise that your characters need bringing to life a bit more and how. </p><p>As I said at the beginning, I used to feel guilty about doing latent processing. Wallowing in my writing. Now, though, I see it as a vital part of the process and relish it. I no longer feel the need to justify my processes to anyone, as I have a greater sense of what works for me. You will find your own way. Good luck with it all. </p><p>I saw this video earlier this week. I confess it made me smile and the sentiments seemed appropriate in the world we are currently living in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L0X03zR0rQk" width="320" youtube-src-id="L0X03zR0rQk"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-19718804164275149882020-12-30T15:09:00.003+00:002020-12-30T15:09:28.759+00:00Endings and beginnings<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S_9vXGeZ7yjxjgEoxgNpOw6HvRfWagF_JvFaAbz3tm6u8os1hanbq_tGxkMSiqt6okLOW-FqYRSOo4Q-ges7S_hFYpOU5BVz-gfFNzsnyr0-OtDPZO3r2jjK3wnAxfCyxciIhYI3InE/s2048/2020-12-30+10.55.25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S_9vXGeZ7yjxjgEoxgNpOw6HvRfWagF_JvFaAbz3tm6u8os1hanbq_tGxkMSiqt6okLOW-FqYRSOo4Q-ges7S_hFYpOU5BVz-gfFNzsnyr0-OtDPZO3r2jjK3wnAxfCyxciIhYI3InE/w150-h200/2020-12-30+10.55.25-1.jpg" width="150" /></a> I am writing this on the 30th December. I know there will be a lot of blog posts out there reflecting on the past year and looking to the future. At this point, I need to be upfront and confess, I have a real issue with New Year's Eve and all the expectations. That moment when everyone believes that at one minute past midnight all the problems and concerns of the previous year are suddenly going to disappear. We are then disappointed when they don't, so we start the year feeling let down. To compound my mistrust of this time of the year, today is the anniversary of my father's death. It might be twenty-four years, but I miss him. I would still like to talk to him, to ask his advice, to show him how my children have grown up and to introduce him to his great-grandchildren. Also to thank him. He stepped up when it was needed and I am not sure I ever really thanked him properly. </p><p>At the beginning of 2020 I had fair view plans, as did we all, but the world had different ideas for us. I have not achieved many of those plans because the world thought it would throw a pandemic into the mix. However, I have learnt a few more unexpected skills this year, who knew I could Zoom, do Microsoft Teams, teach online, create videos and develop websites plus write another book. Apparently, you can teach an old dog new tricks...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkf3-SVy4fofqKRdWiNbVhPbsBu2oPp65zuwUieW8T_gRrUoETGx_ecw4uWp8Vz_972YZKx9_KGRxbjUpYB3faeENQFzIUdvhCSL-FRmyD2b8rHxpJ7Cjrch3s5Rw2F1yDoTqc79czn4/s2048/2020-12-23+18.25.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkf3-SVy4fofqKRdWiNbVhPbsBu2oPp65zuwUieW8T_gRrUoETGx_ecw4uWp8Vz_972YZKx9_KGRxbjUpYB3faeENQFzIUdvhCSL-FRmyD2b8rHxpJ7Cjrch3s5Rw2F1yDoTqc79czn4/w200-h150/2020-12-23+18.25.15.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family zooms become a thing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I am not celebrating the departure of 2020, I am happy for it to disappear in a whimper. Neither will I be welcoming the arrival of 2021. I do not trust massive grand plans anymore. I will live in the moment and see where it takes me. I will enjoy my family and friends. Hopefully, with the new vaccines, this might mean we get to see each other at some point. Who knew what a difference a hug could make and how much we would miss them?</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJcGgbvDZXZlf0FGLCll6dG_G845XfJXAJKEkjFdKTzZb8tPKuiyj6pfdLJlnRxXzbM6iWmjYYoqAjZj8PCirmjTqdZ-hbWZaOPRQIpr9yD6s4i-mKR8bxgjMwKkLan49CMkE2kYv_X4/s2048/2020-05-24+10.09.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJcGgbvDZXZlf0FGLCll6dG_G845XfJXAJKEkjFdKTzZb8tPKuiyj6pfdLJlnRxXzbM6iWmjYYoqAjZj8PCirmjTqdZ-hbWZaOPRQIpr9yD6s4i-mKR8bxgjMwKkLan49CMkE2kYv_X4/w129-h200/2020-05-24+10.09.19.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Cover</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I am also hoping that in 2021US version of Flight will still be published in March, but we all know publication dates can be pushed at any time. </p><p>2021 will be what it will be. Enjoy it, be kind. Live in the moment and hopefully there will be plenty of joyous times. Just remember though, we got through 2020, we can do this. And thank you for being there for the ride that was 2020. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zq0SWLovyE" width="320" youtube-src-id="7zq0SWLovyE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-76464086253669886542020-12-21T11:55:00.001+00:002020-12-21T11:55:41.894+00:00Books are magic<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx9IYsg6UYDvMkIl6mCHl8i_299AmCaNRJhpV1-3AWXiwcg9lCNLpxrm9XKA7yMSQx8kRQV7vpSdm6_PkmmgLTijmDAxjGVhtJVYDYiDuqYP1cZO8ZvHd6rB9pNh_491fbj48Ykhyphenhyphenixk/s2048/2020-08-24+13.55.02.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx9IYsg6UYDvMkIl6mCHl8i_299AmCaNRJhpV1-3AWXiwcg9lCNLpxrm9XKA7yMSQx8kRQV7vpSdm6_PkmmgLTijmDAxjGVhtJVYDYiDuqYP1cZO8ZvHd6rB9pNh_491fbj48Ykhyphenhyphenixk/w150-h200/2020-08-24+13.55.02.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of my books</td></tr></tbody></table>I love books. You might say that is a bit obvious as I write them. However, I loved books long before I wrote them. Books have played a huge part of my life. I love the feel of them and the smell of a new book whether a paperback or a glorious and luxurious coffee-table book. Books give you places to escape to. They can prove solace, they can inspire, or heal. They can amuse and challenge you. Books have got me through some very difficult times. Giving me somewhere I to get lost in. They have taken me to places I could only dream of going. Books give us a chance to work out who we are, and just as importantly, who ware not. A chance to walk in someone else's shoes. Books are full of magic. Not the obvious kind but the invisible kind that weaves itself into your soul, making a difference. <div><br /></div><div>Loving books means I love wandering around bookshops. Full of all that temptation. Not just best sellers that flash at you on a screen, but all sorts of books that you can stumble across. A chance to flick through them. Feel those covers, read the first (maybe last) pages. To have an unexpected book grab your attention. And, yes I know, often to have those stationery needs met while you are there. Who knows a writer who isn't a stationery nerd and doesn't always need a new pen or notepad? </div><div><br /></div><div>Walking around a bookshop can be soothing and inspiring. It takes you away from the chaos outside</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVrn5BhzT6YcPQOn9Fsovjs783FYCnjzxsWTWeEvXMDqzpMpFLudHEbR8o2o1wNZiJeEo8XSstfIT2RrB9rDSZGLDf4PqG04IN61o-mXaz7BjPRzMMWNVN9RdwyJr8fzC3hdzKIWK7Y/s960/2020-07-19+15.47.34.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVrn5BhzT6YcPQOn9Fsovjs783FYCnjzxsWTWeEvXMDqzpMpFLudHEbR8o2o1wNZiJeEo8XSstfIT2RrB9rDSZGLDf4PqG04IN61o-mXaz7BjPRzMMWNVN9RdwyJr8fzC3hdzKIWK7Y/w200-h150/2020-07-19+15.47.34.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P&G Wells<br />Winchester<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>This photograph was taken at my book launch. A magical night at P&G Wells. Where all my dreams came true. This is an incredible shop. Please visit if you get a chance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Libraries like bookshops are full of hope and places to escape to, whether a school library or a public library. That certain hush that wraps itself around you like a comforting blanket as you walk into there. The giggles of Rhyme Time echoing around, small children, eyes all aglow as they listen, enthralled to stories being told by librarians. Libraries are all full of dreams and opportunities that some may feel are beyond them until they walk through the library doors. When they do, they sometimes realise anything is possible. if you believe and dream big. Having the courage that you can find in the books you read. It may be a dream to feel safe in those four walls or to be someone who makes a difference to the people or world around you, or just to have a book of their own. No dream is too small or too big. Libraries are built on dreams and hope.</div><div><br /></div><div>Booksellers and librarians themselves are a special breed. They are kind, knowledgeable and so enthusiastic. If in doubt, ask a bookseller or librarian. They will undoubtedly have suggestions that will solve your problem. They guide children towards books that'll inspire them. They try to listen to everyone's woes before plucking a book from a shelf that might offer a solution. In the past year, they have also had to learn to be adaptable at the drop of a hat as circumstances constantly change. Having to become unexpected experts in technology. Providing services they never anticipated, but all done with a smile and a love of books. </div><div><br /></div><div>They take the time to talk to someone who may not speak to anyone else for the rest of the week. There is a moment for a child who finds the library or bookshop is a place of safety. No judgement is ever made. Just a listening ear. Books are full of empathy and so are the people involved with them. They create their own bit of magic and for that, I would like to say thank you. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-n57ICdZqsiOgigu_TOR3guNFq3V7XIefPOykLvS6wVzwGqS1_Mt7hNBVUj3XN4aH-kavcBfZNz5MdhyBhxRYOzqLSgCaRhgWjzxESCTe2TO9XGft4k8wlxXff1dnezGzVElwxr9tiw/s960/Nanny+and+Noah+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="960" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-n57ICdZqsiOgigu_TOR3guNFq3V7XIefPOykLvS6wVzwGqS1_Mt7hNBVUj3XN4aH-kavcBfZNz5MdhyBhxRYOzqLSgCaRhgWjzxESCTe2TO9XGft4k8wlxXff1dnezGzVElwxr9tiw/w200-h199/Nanny+and+Noah+reading.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical memories</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>There is nothing more magical than sharing a book with a child. It is an opportunity to build such wonderful memories. Books are definitely magic. </div><div><br /></div><div>PS I have not forgotten the writers and illustrators or the publishers - you are all magical too!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Christmas everyone. I know it is difficult but let's look towards the future. I am writing this on the Winter Solstice. The shortest day. Light is coming. We can do this. Stay Safe everyone. In the Bleak Midwinter was my mother's favourite - so this is for her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ELQ0ZoUkFM" width="320" youtube-src-id="_ELQ0ZoUkFM"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-31744327299494868102020-11-15T17:01:00.000+00:002020-11-15T17:01:09.265+00:00Slow growth is the way to go<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b7NwKK0Y4yXW3x0COwc4F50fpqyMU-qYrDMADUJ4VfVFw4BniYxykAviVl5RDHrBtCD3PHJQfSr4OMoTWpQpVaPW392a2k_1Bnp8pwe5HtgHP5oCLfun_6iD2_t4xz0MC8z3vxetKNk/s2016/VHbooksigning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b7NwKK0Y4yXW3x0COwc4F50fpqyMU-qYrDMADUJ4VfVFw4BniYxykAviVl5RDHrBtCD3PHJQfSr4OMoTWpQpVaPW392a2k_1Bnp8pwe5HtgHP5oCLfun_6iD2_t4xz0MC8z3vxetKNk/w150-h200/VHbooksigning.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being an author!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> As I am sure you are all aware as well as being an author I am a lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Winchester. Over the summer, I did a lot of research and upskilling because I knew I needed to be able to help my third-year students prepare in the best possible way for what was likely to be a difficult job market thanks to our friend COVID. I wanted to help them stand out effectively and for the right reasons as well as realise what options would be available to them.<br /></p><p>Little did I release this would prove so useful for me as an author too. I attended various business symposiums, career webinars and joined some groups. I followed a variety of people on social media that you wouldn't necessarily normally associate with my life as either an academic or being a writer. They were in fact more associated with my previous life, pre academia and pre writer. I learnt so much from them. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmusSKPeTmjiwvMZLoV1b9VQdNF_69ddGW2KLKEaxjKQ1wu-lYzLISDEoIGqceM1i6yxRMmfQBaOmEDkjfH1eYWB-9D3-gVqf0OBzrFTfCUoUo_eMoPTfb691DoGEYYq4VN6JcntylIO0/s512/Jessicabendien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmusSKPeTmjiwvMZLoV1b9VQdNF_69ddGW2KLKEaxjKQ1wu-lYzLISDEoIGqceM1i6yxRMmfQBaOmEDkjfH1eYWB-9D3-gVqf0OBzrFTfCUoUo_eMoPTfb691DoGEYYq4VN6JcntylIO0/w200-h200/Jessicabendien.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Bendien<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I attended a symposium for business women run by <a href="http://www.feelgoodenough.co.uk/" target="_blank">Emma Gosling</a>, which had a variety of talks. Some of which were not useful but some were. I was checking out anything that was related to employability or presentation related that I could use for the students. Through the symposium, I won a one to one session with Jessica Bendien who runs <a href="http://bangtalent.com/" target="_blank">Bang Talent</a> but also Finding Fame courses. Don't be mislead by the title of the courses. It is not about being a celebrity. It is about becoming 'a go-to person' in your area and raising your profile. It is easy to be sceptical about this and I am the world's worst cynic, but I learnt more in an hour with Jess than I have for a long time. She really made me stop and think about how I saw myself, what I wanted to achieve then how I was going to do it. </p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx_prCnSO0SP3eNODjWpHhmaFpRNEgfzeOEhyphenhypheng1aVusqftJ9qMmRzyFiYv_AzKoVY_T-YNh-IGy63fiq81-V2K07jVtcE0QExX3Ob8URvU-x4G8o5Vyox4CrKbGttCa3u1CUEZFMCt_c/s655/2020-11-15+14.47.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="655" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx_prCnSO0SP3eNODjWpHhmaFpRNEgfzeOEhyphenhypheng1aVusqftJ9qMmRzyFiYv_AzKoVY_T-YNh-IGy63fiq81-V2K07jVtcE0QExX3Ob8URvU-x4G8o5Vyox4CrKbGttCa3u1CUEZFMCt_c/w200-h200/2020-11-15+14.47.33.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vix Meldrew<br />Glow & Grow</td></tr></tbody></table>It has made me more conscious of my social media and how I use it. I am well aware that social media can have a negative impact on my mental health. I cam across Vix Meldrew with <a href="https://growglow.co/" target="_blank">Glow & Grow</a> on Instagram. Again it is aimed at business people. I have not joined the group (yet - I might soon but with school visits down so much finances are very tight). But I do follow them on Instagram and the information posted is very useful. I save a lot of their posts to remind me how I should be using social media. I am far more strategic about my social media engagement than I was before. I have a better understanding of it from both Jess and Vix. I also have found <a href="https://www.alicebenham.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alice Benham</a> who is an advocate for slow growth, which anyone who is an author, is really going to empathise with. Nothing about being an author is fast. Everything we do is about the long game. It is not a race.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now I can almost hear the shouting at this blog post. 'I am a writer, not a business person.' 'I don't need this.' And that is fine, you don't have to do it. This is just a way I have found of looking at my writing career and dealing with some of the issues I have faced following COVID, which I thought I might share. I have been lucky and always gained a lot of knowledge from people like <a href="https://www.candygourlay.com/" target="_blank">Candy Gourla</a>y who have always shared their author experiences including social media best practices. The links I have shared here just add a further dimension to it. For me, I became aware that I had a brand. There was Vanessa Harbour, author, and I needed to decide how to get that brand out there and what image I wanted to create so that people would be interested in my books and in me as an author with the knowledge I have. I needed to think about consistency and strategy. I confess I have not got this right yet and it is still a work in progress, but then I am working on the idea of slow growth. I intend to be here for the long run. What I do know is that I am open to ideas and seeing how I can make my brand one that is recognisable, reliable and one that you would think of automatically. Yes, I am an author, but I need to remember not to be closed-minded when I think about how I am promoting myself. Anything is possible.</p><p>The Internet is a great resource and it is here to stay. Let's make the most of it. </p><p>Enjoy Michael Kiwanuka's Light</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLEiBJXFKiM" width="320" youtube-src-id="TLEiBJXFKiM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-8577003758738652192020-08-27T11:22:00.003+01:002020-08-27T11:22:40.681+01:00Flight is a bestseller!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeYSCFZNtRKs47kEEmb6DZ-R5BUdfXH1EeG1zMbMtc3j226VC-uxZ0vwaZKmawvlm0XD4eBCcbQcSKJ6Rsim2utCfqMPrKBEPFfqaKnrmWS5d-N5jqloFlB7f89zbYhC3s-P4DlLHgbY/s1792/2020-08-12+15.54.55.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeYSCFZNtRKs47kEEmb6DZ-R5BUdfXH1EeG1zMbMtc3j226VC-uxZ0vwaZKmawvlm0XD4eBCcbQcSKJ6Rsim2utCfqMPrKBEPFfqaKnrmWS5d-N5jqloFlB7f89zbYhC3s-P4DlLHgbY/w190-h410/2020-08-12+15.54.55.png" width="190" /></a></div>Flight is a number one bestseller! Thanks to Books Council for Wales Flight was announced the number one selling children's book in Wales for July. First Wales, next the world. If you look at the picture there are a huge number of Firefly books in that list which lifted my heart enormously, proving what a fabulous publisher I am with and highlighting their ability to back great books. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>I confess, it took a little while for me to spot that Flight was number one. I looked at all the other books and then at the top and thought 'That looks like Flight.' I had to do a double-take. It was the best feeling ever. Knowing that people are buying and reading Flight. After all, that is why I write books in the hope that people read and enjoy them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Wins like this might seem small in the big scheme of things and they are strictly speaking but when you are a writer sat on your own they are huge!</p><p><br /></p><p>I know I said I was going to write posts based on #writingishard. I am afraid the pandemic won with that. I did not get COVID, for which I am very grateful. But general living and getting through each day became my priority. I am sure we all felt the same. The writing is hard became true and I focused on finishing my novel and my university work. I needed to live in the moment and appreciate what was around me. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStJU6hgXaS4YTeHfXQLND5YkdiEticxaB292RSn1DJQIYhodi51E5HFdKTwkBf4J-lrKEijUn8Gly-jUj1lXfBpmReCPm6EObos71_xFlHlKZSAQ5Csbp1bkmXl9-HvEomf91zZ7PS6A/s2048/2020-08-15+11.30.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStJU6hgXaS4YTeHfXQLND5YkdiEticxaB292RSn1DJQIYhodi51E5HFdKTwkBf4J-lrKEijUn8Gly-jUj1lXfBpmReCPm6EObos71_xFlHlKZSAQ5Csbp1bkmXl9-HvEomf91zZ7PS6A/w197-h262/2020-08-15+11.30.47.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><br /><p>I focused on walks through the woods. Listening to the cacophony of sound as the wind moved through the trees. The echo of the children's laugher that bounced from tree to tree. Always soothing yet inspiring as we moved through the trees. Trees always focus in my stories. For me, the walks were research too...or that's what I kept telling myself. </p><p><br /></p><p>We know it has been strange times and we all have had to adapt to what everyone has called 'new norm'. We spend our lives online talking to our colleagues, family and friends. We have a whole new vocabulary. Zooming, talking on Teams, hybrid teaching, blended teaching - are they the same. Who knows. We walk around with masks around, yet no one complains 'You can only see their eyes!' anymore. Strange that isn't it?'</p><p><br /></p><p>I will endeavour to be back more often. Remember to be resilient. We can do this. Live in the moment and, by the way, in case you forgot, I am a best selling author!!!</p><p><br /></p><p>And I love this my McFly 'Those were the days'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKRcl9nz74U" width="320" youtube-src-id="GKRcl9nz74U"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-48880028671961971062020-04-23T17:50:00.001+01:002020-04-23T17:50:58.518+01:00#Writingishard9 - procrastination<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL6yijFcoAgVfBoMNUu6x1Yml3PeL5BlFM2Ev4U-V3X8LMh25lVYe8AZYos6jsBUCmCZrAmzn9tzX2FGKU0nMHiNnpijOv_Y65tEwHvrFdHj5gRnvuBayNRyBW3sF94HneFia7HXAvQk/s1600/2020-04-10+11.58.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL6yijFcoAgVfBoMNUu6x1Yml3PeL5BlFM2Ev4U-V3X8LMh25lVYe8AZYos6jsBUCmCZrAmzn9tzX2FGKU0nMHiNnpijOv_Y65tEwHvrFdHj5gRnvuBayNRyBW3sF94HneFia7HXAvQk/s200/2020-04-10+11.58.31.jpg" width="150" /></a>A deadline looms and you know you should be writing or doing edits but you suddenly find this insatiable desire to...<br />
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Clean,<br />
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Iron,<br />
<br />
Paint<br />
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Garden...anything but do the thing you are supposed to do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJQMmBvJV-pRFHxfqyT9QboFFnDFQiha6RyJBYA2tmb49QlIB5Qxg44NZgFdhnZ8HGpLUZhZUhdwBhnnX3hYblsrlfQVweKbAU_B18ALeyjUUnfb11XwH6Yw-4EWfypWELg5b9NbYgps/s1600/2020-04-07+17.17.00-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJQMmBvJV-pRFHxfqyT9QboFFnDFQiha6RyJBYA2tmb49QlIB5Qxg44NZgFdhnZ8HGpLUZhZUhdwBhnnX3hYblsrlfQVweKbAU_B18ALeyjUUnfb11XwH6Yw-4EWfypWELg5b9NbYgps/s200/2020-04-07+17.17.00-1.jpg" width="150" /></a>Social media is checked more frequently. You end up disappearing down a Twitter rabbit hole.<br />
<br />
Get lost in Tik Tok (does anyone really understand that?)<br />
<br />
Watch TED talks, Facebook Lives, check Instagram in case you've missed anything.<br />
<br />
Update your website including recording those videos you've been promising yourself for ages.<br />
<br />
Anything...but write or do those edits. You watch the clock, knowing the deadline is getting closer. But look there's a cobweb, you better get rid of it first. It'll only irritate you while you work.<br />
<br />
Now you need a drink and something to eat. Perhaps you better have a wee before you sit down to <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXwUrLm8jYIw52aqjt1iQczbbO0Jus9XtnaL7Hn9NBE25nnfI6gXk5lupznfyRJmzUe4RbNkjm4u_b20QOxnc81uM8XwuTsmLaIQoJiP2P4jpnfgSWYEncGrgp4z75RetmOc4dd-i9MY/s1600/2020-02-14+08.25.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXwUrLm8jYIw52aqjt1iQczbbO0Jus9XtnaL7Hn9NBE25nnfI6gXk5lupznfyRJmzUe4RbNkjm4u_b20QOxnc81uM8XwuTsmLaIQoJiP2P4jpnfgSWYEncGrgp4z75RetmOc4dd-i9MY/s200/2020-02-14+08.25.46.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
write so you can focus....oh what's that on daytime tv that looks interesting. It won't matter if you watch just for a minute...it's research...<br />
<br />
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock tick tock.<br />
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It's too late to start them today. Start them first thing tomorrow. You'll have a clear head then.<br />
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And repeat<br />
<br />
A deadline looms and you know you should be writing or doing edits but you suddenly find this insatiable desire to...<br />
<br />
The world according to procrastinationNess Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-88077456334621439102020-04-09T08:00:00.000+01:002020-04-09T08:00:01.494+01:00#writingishard8 Anxious times<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rIQNO5ax-rZ4SCKHxWSxnlgZpyvgCCoAeTHf82hWnEs7lmCrmg_qJwwDp-Hk5EK6Y4SlOkKT-M5Q3IJipK41JAYZ9Cd_QcHU-Kamc8c-5x-XIrpbfJ1hfVUwIkaFlcHCE5-Mm46IREs/s1600/2015-06-29+22.19.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rIQNO5ax-rZ4SCKHxWSxnlgZpyvgCCoAeTHf82hWnEs7lmCrmg_qJwwDp-Hk5EK6Y4SlOkKT-M5Q3IJipK41JAYZ9Cd_QcHU-Kamc8c-5x-XIrpbfJ1hfVUwIkaFlcHCE5-Mm46IREs/s200/2015-06-29+22.19.13.jpg" width="150" /></a>I am partly revisiting something that I have spoken about
previously, but I felt it was important to do so again. I am going to talk about the pressures currently being faced. Damian Barr wrote an interesting <a href="https://inews.co.uk/opinion/columnists/damian-barr-lockdown-no-need-for-six-pack-and-new-skills-2528436" target="_blank">article</a> about this and also a fellow author had posted a status about the pressures he
was feeling on Facebook the other day and these inspired me to explore the issue again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is very easy to feel daunted at the moment. There are all
these online workouts, dance classes, choirs to name but a few. People are shouting about everything they are doing. Authors are
producing incredible activities for their readers. This, in particular, was something the fellow
author was talking about. They felt so pressurised to produce resources. They are
not the only person I have spoken to that has felt anxious and overwhelmed by perceived
expectations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was at this point I want to say to people, take a step back.
Take a breath and think things through. I want to remind everyone of Matt Haig’s
wise words from <i>Notes on a Nervous Plane</i>t, which I know I have said to you
before, but am going to say again:<o:p></o:p></div>
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How to be Happy</div>
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Do not compare yourself to other people</div>
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Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
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Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
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Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
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Do not compare yourself to other
people</div>
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<br /></div>
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At the moment it is really important that you do what you
can do and what makes you feel happy and comfortable. If this means not
producing lots of videos, then don’t do it. You will find other ways to create
resources. Life is hard enough without adding to the pressures. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMf5_BOGjg1iCLLBOvYh1Ry2FBqn14s1jtQLZRvadzXTKWv6HzIl9rQHJRLZ3G4uZN9Rh6PIpcM3ilEWTLnHIqhcJasxOhQ_knTQdrVyCOXuWo8ZAtnK4KAa7iHRN9yfsPV6cxm5ORfU/s1600/Catherine-Johnson-author.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="560" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMf5_BOGjg1iCLLBOvYh1Ry2FBqn14s1jtQLZRvadzXTKWv6HzIl9rQHJRLZ3G4uZN9Rh6PIpcM3ilEWTLnHIqhcJasxOhQ_knTQdrVyCOXuWo8ZAtnK4KAa7iHRN9yfsPV6cxm5ORfU/s200/Catherine-Johnson-author.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine Johnson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Don’t feel you’ve got to learn something new or do all the
workouts. I tried them, but I walk with crutches and can’t kneel, it becomes
incredibly frustrating when your body won’t behave, and everyone is lecturing
you on what you should and shouldn’t do. Do what you can and what makes you
feel good. Catherine Johnson has made me smile so much; she is posting videos
of her dancing to songs she loves on social media. Philippa Francis post shorts videos of the
sea near where she lives when she goes for a walk also on social media. The sound of the sea is glorious. They are both wonderful for making you feel good and
I am sure both make Catherine and Philippa smile when they film them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am also aware the pressure for the aspiring writer, who
have spent years working on their novel only to see <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/mar/26/novel-writing-during-coronavirus-crisis-outbreak" target="_blank">articles</a> about how those
who have always thought of writing a novel will now have the time to write it as if you can suddenly knock out an award-winning novel in a few weeks. Don’t
despair, remember you are way ahead of them. You’ve been honing your craft,
polishing your manuscript <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeDc2vZVg2rKGH4JjLFfBgUyGDyOWV-LCA1e5FTF8GMAsbAHkysj_jeKOi1z3RDYZzeZLI9YzVbEiy8RSod3tAcVfQ4HKCBFd_G7h3RkvzXg_mXggzTNiPlOgukxzRIqi0ghwazdDynk/s1600/2019-08-03+15.03.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeDc2vZVg2rKGH4JjLFfBgUyGDyOWV-LCA1e5FTF8GMAsbAHkysj_jeKOi1z3RDYZzeZLI9YzVbEiy8RSod3tAcVfQ4HKCBFd_G7h3RkvzXg_mXggzTNiPlOgukxzRIqi0ghwazdDynk/s200/2019-08-03+15.03.59.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All about the rewriting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
until it is in a fit state for submission. Hopefully, yours
will be the golden nugget shinning out among a pile of rushed manuscripts
thrown together during the lockdown and submitted before their time. Be patient and
get it to be the best it can possibly be before submission. Focus on honing
that writing craft. Remember writing is a muscle, the more you do it the
stronger it gets. Writing is all about the rewriting. Do you want any more clichéd
phrases thrown at you to encourage you?! Just remember you can do this. It is
your journey, not anyone else’s.<br />
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</div>
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The same applies to lockdown. What you do at this time is
for you to decide. Do what makes you happy – if it is standing in the garden
listening to the birds singing as I did yesterday, then do it. If it is
producing incredible resources because you are a whizz with IT then go for it.
This is your life, don’t let anyone tell you how to live it. Me? You'll find me getting lost in World War Two with two of my favourite characters, Kizzy and Jakob, writing a sequel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-15223041263406568402020-04-02T17:38:00.000+01:002020-04-02T17:38:24.176+01:00Lockdown thoughts and a tribute to a lost friend<br />
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Today’s blog post is not a #writingishard post. Instead, I
decided to write one from the heart. It is something I felt I needed to say. To
say it is strange times is an understatement, isn’t it. We are living through
history. In years to come people will ‘What was it like during Covid-19?’ and
we will say we were there. People will write about this period in time. I find
that concept quite surreal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I know talking to friends that we are all going through
similar emotions. A lot of the time we feel we are coping. Getting on with life
doing a variety of things but then suddenly for no reason, we become <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93WSU1dkvvXLG8HZxeFiDP25Q5ZEGIoZTn4mSIxKHVoljrjo6q3NmShmrJ3zsoJoZVo_PnZR7Zpm7FgSQ0PmjCdil32scuykwNay4k_yGHEDBOFEWmYfDtHsJ0v0Gz3WFmsGFIzQ6-js/s1600/bubblesnanny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93WSU1dkvvXLG8HZxeFiDP25Q5ZEGIoZTn4mSIxKHVoljrjo6q3NmShmrJ3zsoJoZVo_PnZR7Zpm7FgSQ0PmjCdil32scuykwNay4k_yGHEDBOFEWmYfDtHsJ0v0Gz3WFmsGFIzQ6-js/s200/bubblesnanny.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NANNY!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
emotional
and tearful. As I was talking to a friend on FB (Social media has never
become so important as it is now) I think it is vital to acknowledge these
moments of feeling overwhelmed. You shouldn’t be feeling ashamed of them. We
are all feeling like it at times. My way of coping them is to do something
mindless like colouring in a picture, doing some drawing (I’m a really bad
artist but I know no one will ever see them), or dance crazily to my favourite
music – it is the old adage, dance as if no one is watching – that is me. I
live alone but I am lucky, and I know it, I have family very close, and I am
mean very close. I was working yesterday and in the middle of a workshop, I
heard this ‘NANNY’ being shouted. I opened my door and there was my youngest
grandson at his fence wanting me to catch bubbles with him. There is a house
between us, but Emily didn’t mind bubbles flying across her garden. I sneaked
out for a couple of minutes to do just that. It makes all the difference for my
sanity. <br />
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxNoNds2nZDR4V4PoTeVmE745-LOUPVsunhv3AG8R8DI-oWS87WrjRkyjDif1rhNWrJH8Rp1NwJDOchfysjXEApQOp72zVbYr-j9sSW0Am2ZIE73dVYiggAgK1lspB2SYnSBmsyKEZIA/s1600/2020-03-26+18.09.25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxNoNds2nZDR4V4PoTeVmE745-LOUPVsunhv3AG8R8DI-oWS87WrjRkyjDif1rhNWrJH8Rp1NwJDOchfysjXEApQOp72zVbYr-j9sSW0Am2ZIE73dVYiggAgK1lspB2SYnSBmsyKEZIA/s200/2020-03-26+18.09.25-1.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family quiz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Checking in on people is vital at the moment. A quick message
on text, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger, whatever is your favourite
method can make all the difference. It can bring a smile or even a giggle. My
social life has taken a real upturn. We even have a family quiz night now. I
went to the virtual village pub via Zoon last Friday night and have caught up
with friends and siblings too. It can make a huge difference when you live alone
just to hear someone’s voice. But the things I miss the most is a hug. Is human
contact. Is my grandchildren wrapping their arms around me. Is holding my brand-new
granddaughter and watching her newly learnt smile. The bear hugs from my sons
and the all-enveloping hug from my daughter. The ache for those is physical. It
really hurts. Those are the things I am going to do first when this lockdown is
over.</div>
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<br /></div>
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During this time my colleagues and I have had to deal at a distance
with the loss of a great friend. We</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupHUca5lgNvR3deUk5d8Fq55ms6cuHvbrdyFYE1xYru901wxskQFTm8OOz_vk8n7E3cbeOxjAuae0LTy3utGfTFUtKbxVduotwrVN-eNGjc1AiigCnbZQmlmVxZZvZjsx15-Ht7yadoo/s1600/2020-03-23+14.52.34-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupHUca5lgNvR3deUk5d8Fq55ms6cuHvbrdyFYE1xYru901wxskQFTm8OOz_vk8n7E3cbeOxjAuae0LTy3utGfTFUtKbxVduotwrVN-eNGjc1AiigCnbZQmlmVxZZvZjsx15-Ht7yadoo/s1600/2020-03-23+14.52.34-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP Prof Neil McCaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
haven’t been able to come together to share
our grief. Prof Neil McCaw was a larger than life character. He wore the best
shirts. He so kind, but never suffered fools gladly. I have sat opposite him in
meetings and he’d give me a look, just slightly raising an eyebrow, with a
slight twitch of a grin. I’d know that I’d get an email later with his ‘thoughts’
on the meeting. His emails were the best. I’d quite often get an email from him
because he’d found something that he knew would interest me because that’s what
he was like. We’d talk about tv programmes, theory of creativity, life, dealing
with illness and dogs. I knew if I had a worry, I could ask him, and he would
give me an honest answer. It wasn’t always necessarily the answer I wanted to
hear, but I knew it was always the best answer. Neil was a great support. He
always had my back. He mentored me in my career and celebrated my successes. He
was a truly gentle man and a gentleman, so kind and generous of heart. He knew
so much and was so interesting to talk to. Passionate about Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle and George Eliot. You could have a fascinating and challenging
conversation with him.<br />
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He started, with Andy Melrose, the Creative Writing Undergraduate
Programme at Winchester. He always strove to make it the best it could possibly
be. His leadership was such that we all wanted the same. He showed us how to be
the best academic you could be. It made you push to ensure your teaching was at
the top of your game. Neil achieved his aim too. The programme was number one
in the country and renowned for what it offered. We were proud to be part of it
and what he was creating. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My heart goes out to all my colleagues and to his family.
Neil, go shine brightly for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This seems appropriate a bit of Paul Buchanan</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GO1NRpjfKI" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<br />Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-2823396852468016192020-03-26T08:00:00.000+00:002020-03-26T08:00:02.825+00:00#writingishard7 - characters<br />
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So much has changed in two weeks. When I wrote my blog two
weeks ago, we were not in lockdown. People weren’t fighting over loo rolls. How
quickly life can change as we start living in<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tZ7ETSvGbRxpdVpbnA-xMqfpEXfLp65fWyR8y1zDxs8knzTwltGJI2wXE9OSPYC_9wQgtANeisjrw4gYv8l7JVQ-3ilsfEgIXYkWi2ydIdgH59pcZIV-EOuPYWKT5b-NW5l2BjsZEtY/s1600/coronavirus%252Bmgn10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="810" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tZ7ETSvGbRxpdVpbnA-xMqfpEXfLp65fWyR8y1zDxs8knzTwltGJI2wXE9OSPYC_9wQgtANeisjrw4gYv8l7JVQ-3ilsfEgIXYkWi2ydIdgH59pcZIV-EOuPYWKT5b-NW5l2BjsZEtY/s200/coronavirus%252Bmgn10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
our dystopian fiction. I could
imagine telling a student their story was too far fetched if they’d presented
me with this idea! <br />
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I thought this week we’d talk about characters. Characters
inhabit your story and need to be fully rounded so that your reader can empathise
with them. You will have protagonists and antagonists. All of whom will need to
have flaws, wants and needs. It is important to remember that any decision that
the antagonist makes will be the right decision for them to make at that
particular moment even if it is going to cause problems for the protagonist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When you create characters you automatically think about the
basics. You think about hair colour, eye colour etc etc. I often search for
images of people that I think look like my character. I then keep <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnNvXf_zEzuQ8syL6e7sQPeeW90w6UY62RgyFdGXLNSiJNo9DFtvM2xa2vfWcZI-LPb9J6NQuHzLeK_dTwMmyUMBGXcLsNTbt5a9AXFj23GLlRC97UrDOKeADrQJ5pBHwDBUyMhtvgT0/s1600/2019-05-30+20.17.43.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnNvXf_zEzuQ8syL6e7sQPeeW90w6UY62RgyFdGXLNSiJNo9DFtvM2xa2vfWcZI-LPb9J6NQuHzLeK_dTwMmyUMBGXcLsNTbt5a9AXFj23GLlRC97UrDOKeADrQJ5pBHwDBUyMhtvgT0/s200/2019-05-30+20.17.43.heic" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">writing letters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
them in a
closed Pinterest board that only I can access. It helps me visualise them and as
a reminder. I also write a letter from my character to me introducing themselves.
It is a way of getting inside their heads. <br />
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When writing Flight, I learnt to look at the relationships
surrounding the main character and for me, I suddenly realised that Jakob was
only surrounded by males including the horses, which were stallions. It was only
when Kizzy came on the scene that he had anything to do with women. This was
really important as I needed him to be unsure how to behave in front of a girl,
clumsy and almost threatened by the situation. It was one of his flaws. You
need to be aware of the flaws as it those that make them fully rounded
characters and not flat, two-dimensional characters. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Getting to know your characters inside out means you will
know how your character will react in any given situation. It needs to be a realistic
and appropriate reaction. In an extreme situation (and you do have to be brave
to do this) I have gone out pretending to be my character to see what it would
feel like. How would they view the world? It is about writing the height. How
would the world appear to them? Important if you are writing a ten-year-old
character or a fourteen-year-old character. The world is going to feel very
different from the world that you see. The other thing you can think about is
what would be in their pocket always? Their phone? A pebble? Sweets? Intriguing
idea. <o:p></o:p></div>
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During this lockdown perhaps take this time to get to your
know all your characters intimately so you<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYadKq81GNm1bPVDMjfx-d5uxpbEVApIY27F7h16FxyMKIBSwbAT4VJMTJNR2d8B8148gnNmQfq3ZcgpioFMU_k3XigUVaLot6IVpJKOF_mZfej1qfmBaX9_Ix46vY17rnqFrzv7Hx8ws/s1600/2014-05-26+12.46.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYadKq81GNm1bPVDMjfx-d5uxpbEVApIY27F7h16FxyMKIBSwbAT4VJMTJNR2d8B8148gnNmQfq3ZcgpioFMU_k3XigUVaLot6IVpJKOF_mZfej1qfmBaX9_Ix46vY17rnqFrzv7Hx8ws/s200/2014-05-26+12.46.00.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Social distancing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
will know automatically know how
they would react in any situation without having to think about it. Have some
fun with it. <br />
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Stay at home. Stay Safe. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961986208219275679.post-22757742334500638822020-03-12T08:00:00.000+00:002020-03-12T08:00:08.093+00:00#writingishard6 - right way to write...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The right way to write. In my various roles I’ve been asked
for formulas for how to write; where’s the ultimate place to write or the
perfect time. I am afraid I have no magic answers to any of these – other than
maybe you need a beginning, a middle and an end. It is all about finding out
what works for you and your writing style. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNdE48jeimi43SpuDpllqwAnPRXEHNk-e7fA-69UWJ7Xd0z575pnj2QU0-OBPJNXdSoH2WekjacoRYi5X9SyJv8L0R_suBg2qbX38EqFLaG-VFMir5QO7ID8ZAmhR0WlEhh5EobIQkV8/s1600/lucy-christopher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNdE48jeimi43SpuDpllqwAnPRXEHNk-e7fA-69UWJ7Xd0z575pnj2QU0-OBPJNXdSoH2WekjacoRYi5X9SyJv8L0R_suBg2qbX38EqFLaG-VFMir5QO7ID8ZAmhR0WlEhh5EobIQkV8/s200/lucy-christopher.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Lucy Christopher</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people like to work in silence, others in noisy coffee
shops. Some like Lucy Christopher has sometimes talked about a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7jRsTl5OtMxeTHHoZhfmLt" target="_blank">playlist </a>linked
with their novel. This can be the music they listened to while writing. Annaliese
Avery posted a track of ‘white noise’ that she likes to listen to when concentrating.
People like to write first thing in the morning before everyone is up or late
at night after everyone has gone to sleep. Others might take snatched moments.
There are those that aim to write every day and those, like me, who might write
every few days, fitting it in around other jobs. I have written about this
<a href="https://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/2019/07/time-to-write-by-vanessa-harbour.html" target="_blank">elsewhere</a>. Writing is like a muscle the more you do it, the stronger it gets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzQ4mErlgDtKYHYC9RZxnjgR5mPADeoJPHLwiZb9SaKNT8XjB2xanUmEpN5XNufmhFUX-sO3gq6ycyXhL4RokmFFxb0YMZKiwmwXnRbfIdYgaq0_iMlG_gqpzFiQsL4L-lJg92cZts_o/s1600/notebookand+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzQ4mErlgDtKYHYC9RZxnjgR5mPADeoJPHLwiZb9SaKNT8XjB2xanUmEpN5XNufmhFUX-sO3gq6ycyXhL4RokmFFxb0YMZKiwmwXnRbfIdYgaq0_iMlG_gqpzFiQsL4L-lJg92cZts_o/s200/notebookand+pen.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people love to handwrite first using a pencil (Blackwing),
pen, fountain pen (oh the choices are numerous but I am definitely a Lamy fan)
in to an equally glorious number of wonderful of notebooks – A4, A5, lined,
blank, squared, Moleskine, Lechtturn etc. I confess I tend to use my notepads
to write scenes in and all my research but always have to have a new notebook
for each novel. Others, like me, will write straight onto the laptop. I do it
because I can type faster than I can write plus I can read it! Again, there is
no right or wrong way. It is what is right for you, and what is right for you
at a particular time. It doesn’t matter if it changes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As
a writer you find that people will be very quick to tell you what their writing
practices are and some may even insist that their way is the ‘ONLY’ way to
write. You can’t be doing it right unless you are doing it their way. Wrong. (Unless
of course, their way does work for you!) It is like having children, everyone
has an opinion as to how you should do it. You need to filter it just like you
do when you have children when you decide who to listen to. There are the
experts who you work with that you know you can trust pretty well plus there
are those friends whose advice is always sound such as maybe your crit group
(find your tribe – I’ve written about that <a href="https://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/2019/11/finding-your-tribe-by-vanessa-harbour.html" target="_blank">before</a> too). From the rest, you pick
out those golden nuggets that make sense to you. The rest you nod and smile
sweetly at them and say thank you. Remembering always, this is your story, not
theirs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other important thing to remember though is to be
adaptable. As a writer, you will change and evolve. Sometimes this is forced
because of the needs of an agent or publisher. Other times it is just as you
become more and more experienced as a writer, your writing style develops. I found
this myself recently. The publisher wanted a chapter breakdown for the
contemporary novel I was writing. I struggled with this for a bit because I am
a bit of a ‘Planster’. Let me explain. I am definitely not a detailed plotter/planner
when it comes to writing. Neither am a ‘pantser’ in that I don’t just write it
and see what happens…or not totally. I usually know my beginning and know my ending;
I might have a couple of scenes in the middle, but the rest is definitely
written by the seat of my pants. Therefore, coming up with a chapter breakdown
really challenged my creative processes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1FGUoPbgEkHDvDWwWuenSo35axZVdq2Lym4XsxDufqZA2KS7Un8usyu14ABvYjamtQJEdBE1S3Ng23pihL_xXAX0gVturU3iTpZaQjjgqYjY-5DOz60JYu3SNHFt5wYgiMUl8MwUF5Q/s1600/Writing+a+novel+the+reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1FGUoPbgEkHDvDWwWuenSo35axZVdq2Lym4XsxDufqZA2KS7Un8usyu14ABvYjamtQJEdBE1S3Ng23pihL_xXAX0gVturU3iTpZaQjjgqYjY-5DOz60JYu3SNHFt5wYgiMUl8MwUF5Q/s320/Writing+a+novel+the+reality.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I could do it because I was able to
use all the theories and skills, I had gained from writing <i>Flight</i> with
Imogen. It worked well but it took me outside of my comfort zone. I completed
that novel and sent it off to my agent last week. Interestingly, on the same
day, a complete chapter breakdown for the next novel fell out of my head. This
had never happened to me before. It seems my writing style has adapted. But
these are my ways of writing. You will often hear how I ‘write cold, edit hot.’
I get a basic story down, so I know structure works then go back in a fill in
the colour. I know plenty of people who do it the other way around: ‘write hot,
edit cold,’ needing to cut out masses of words. As a writer, you have to find what
works for you and don’t be afraid to try different ways until you find ‘your
fit.’ This follows on from the last post where I said you never stop learning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I will assure you is even if you have written a book,
when you are sat facing the blank screen, white piece of paper because you are
starting a new project, the chances are for the briefest moment you will think ‘can
I remember how to do this? Do I know how to write a book?’ We all do it. It
never gets easier. Just try to enjoy the process as much as you can. However
hard it is, it is still the best job in the world.</span></div>
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<br />Ness Harbourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.com0