Writing in Progress Blop Hop

Jillian Pearl asked me to join her in the Writing in Progress Blog Hop (WIP). My hesitation was brief, remembering the fun I had in another one I participated in earlier this year. Thank you Jillian. You can check out her blog at jillianpearl.com. 

Here are the questions I must answer

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on my children's book which originated during the awesome A to Z April Challenge this year. These consist of twenty-six theme-based stories, each representing a letter of the alphabet. They are about a few well-known fairy tale characters who are living in a more modern day setting. It is taking me longer to complete this because of the extra segment I'm including, as well as the illustrations and editing. 

This section has a few recipes of the foods mentioned in the stories, and will be quick and easy to prepare. Creating these recipes take a bit of time because it's important to know which concoction works best, but I'm having a good time. Some of the desserts taste yummy, but then, I have a sweet tooth.

The sketches was another concern of mine, but saw samples of the illustrator’s artwork, so am confident that the results will be great. Each stage taken to prepare this book is unfamiliar territory to me, but find it an exciting challenge. Some of my other projects are moving at a slower pace, but I want to take my time to develop and edit them.

How does your work differ from other genres?

My work isn't unique from other genres as mentioned in my previous WIP article. However, there are times when parts of the stories come from events or things that people experience, and personalities of people I know often find their way into the characters I create. 

Why do I write what I do?

My interest for books developed from an early age, and reading most genres has made me flexible to write content in any category, although I prefer creating mystery/suspense. I get a buzz from participating in writing prompts and contests that tests my ability to submit content based on their requirements and deadlines. Writing poetry is another passion of mine. It helps me to unwind and 
think clearly, so I am able to create or edit articles with a fresh approach.

How does my writing process work?

There was a time when I had an organized schedule and met my writing deadlines, but things changed over the past months when the workload increased. The time recently spent away from my blog to catch up with my assignments paid off. I am not worried about meeting my obligations now, although there are still a few tasks that need completion.

I create plots in my head anywhere I am - cooking, going for walks, events, and can't wait to get them on paper. I’ll sit at my desk and work for hours, while listening to music. It is easier for me to edit while I think and write, instead of waiting for the content to be completed. 2015 will be a very productive year. There will be more content on my blog and other writing sites, as I'm trying to write most articles early and have them organised for posting at their appointed time.There are a few other projects I can't wait to start, and have the drafts in place.

My writing aids are simple:

Coffee greets me in the mornings at 6:30am. Another cup or two, especially in the evening will keep me energized.

Chocolate chip cookies (4) is necessary and accompanies my first cup of coffee. I will not need to eat again until 10:30am.

Dictionaries are important to me, and prefer to use my hardcover companions, rather than the online ones, although that can be quicker. Pens and notebooks are on my list too.

Allow me to introduce you to the bloggers I invited to join WIP.

Werner Stejskal is the author of the children’s series “Oliver and Jumpy” for small to primary school aged children. The Oliver stories started out with You Tube clips, and are now available as picture books.

Werner’s involvement in “Oliver and Jumpy” is only the latest project in a very interesting life. He was born in Vienna, Austria very soon after the Second World War. Being a single child for 11 years before a younger brother arrived, influenced his character greatly. He was alone most of the time, and became an avid reader.

                                    His Social Media Links:

                                    au.linkedin.com/in/OliverAndJumpy

                                    bedtimestory4you.com

                                    twitter.com/OliverandJumpy

                                    facebook.com/werner.stajskal

                                    plus.google.com/+WernerStajskal

Gail M. Baugniet is the author of the Pepper Bibeau Mystery series. She worked in the insurance industry, and with law enforcement as a police officer and dispatcher. After living through many snowy winters in northern states, she now calls Honolulu, Hawaii  her home.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Inc and current president of the Sisters in Crime/Hawaii chapter in Honolulu. Her novels are available in trade book and eBook format at Amazon.com.

Links to her Social Media sites:

http://www.gail-baugniet.blogspot.com

                 

            http://www.sisters-in-crimehawaii.blogspot.com

   twitter@GailMBaugniet

The questions they are to answer:

What am you working on?

How does your work differ from other genres?

Why do I write what I do?

How does my writing process work?

Please visit these bloggers and find out more about them and the exciting books and projects they are involved with. You’re more than welcome to participate in the blog hop. Just send me a link to your post and I’ll be happy to hop over to your blog.

Images courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.org

The Writers' Review

I've been spending more time on my assignments which includes writing book reviews, and less time on creating content for my blog. I know I need to balance my time and am trying to rectify that. This is a general post on the quality writing I come into contact with, and is based on my observations as a book reviewer. It's for this reason I decided it was time to express my thoughts on this topic and point out a few mistakes which are frequently made. 

Proofreading: To give credit, most of the published and unpublished literature I've read so far are written by authors who not only compose good reading material, but also spend time ensuring their work is properly proofread before promoting it to the public. This process enables favourable review ratings for them, and hopefully, an increase in sales.

On the other hand, there are writers, especially new ones, who appear to have penned and published their books rather hurriedly, without giving much thought to this critical area which needs special attention. Fortunately, I don't publish poor reviews, preferring to contact the authors by email or other means with summaries highlighting my reasons for the low rating, and possibly, suggestions to adjust the flaws. 

Spelling: It's understandable if writers overlook a misspelled word, but there are times when novels are infected with so many. Oftentimes, the same words are repeated throughout, and they're basic ones too. Please, don't ignore the red highlighted or underlined words made by the spelling and grammar checker. It's an indication that the words are incorrect. A dictionary is also an essential writing aid that will give you the proper spelling and definition.

Punctuation Marks: The correct form of punctuation is important to a story and specific sentences won't have the desired effect without them. This is a vital necessity that is needed, especially when characters are conversing. I have noticed that it's occasionally omitted from dialogues, or added to the beginning or ending of paragraphs which don't require it.

Format: Some authors write with a confident, relaxed ease, making their sentences blend with a good selection of words which flow smoothly. This gives readers better comprehension and visuals from the stories. Others have displayed rigid or poorly developed sentence structures which have the opposite effect. I've also read material containing unnecessary sentences, or the writing is too detailed, making the stories lag. Proper editing could have even reduced the quantity of pages, and the content would have been more interesting.

There are other key issues I intend to address, and will soon post other articles in The Writers' Review series. Have you encountered similar problems when reading?

 a writer's fate  (senryu)

writing a story

must be very creative

reviewers hold fate

Images courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.org

Please feel free to comment

Writing Relaxation

It's nice to be back doing something I love. I took a break from blogging in August and got some well deserved rest mingled with fun, spent time trying to organize a better working schedule again, and caught up on a few of my writing assignments and chores which were neglected for so long.

Each time I decided to write and submit an article for my blog, something always came up, or I procrastinated and told myself "later." When people constantly delay doing certain tasks, it will become more difficult to accomplish them. I didn't want to give myself another excuse why I couldn't resume blogging. So here I am!

I wrote a different article for my post, intending to return last week, but my plans changed. Regrettably, one of my favourite uncles passed away and was buried on Saturday. His death, as well as Tina Downey @ Life is Good, also made me aware that our time is so precious. It should be spent wisely, doing things we like while enjoying the company of those we hold dear.

I missed the blogosphere and decided that it was indeed time to return to a place which has brought me happiness and great friendships.

I am refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to write again!

Images courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.org

Please feel free to comment.

My Writing Journey

I was recently tagged by the lovely Vidya Sury in her post "On Writing" @ http://www.vidyasury.com/2014/06/on-writing.html. This is my first writing progress blog hop and I'm very pleased to be a part of it. Thank you Vidya Sury for making this happen!

My Writing Journey

I began writing poetry and prose when I was about 7 years old. Some of these were published in my church and school magazines. My mother encouraged me to write after reading a booklet of poetry I had made from construction paper (Otherwise known as cartridge paper.) Keeping journals was the norm in my early teenage years, but lost interest for a brief time. That could be blamed on the moody adolescence changes I was experiencing.

My love for books didn't fade though, as I seemed to read more than interacting with other kids. I knew from that early time in my life that I wanted to become a writer, and am now a freelance writer and contributor on a few writing sites.

The blog tag rules states we must answer the questions given and tag three other bloggers. Vidya gave me four questions and here are my responses to them:

What am I working on/writing?

One of the services I offer in my freelance business is writing professional book reviews for companies I am associated with. Most reviews are not posted on my blog, but are published on sites such as Goodreads and Facebook and a few others by these companies. May and June are very busy reviewing months. It often puts me behind in my own writing, and prevents me from reading other bloggers' posts regularly.

There are two novels I started writing sometime ago, but put them on hold to spend more time establishing my business. That was a wise decision on my part, although it didn't seem that way at the time. Things are moving in the right direction for me, and I recently revised my schedule which allow me extra time for my personal writing. I wonder how long this will last.

One of my favourite work in progress is called Dreams. It's about a teenage girl whose happy world is shattered when her father dies, and her jealous mother makes drastic changes in their lives. My muse feels inspired to complete this particular book and I agree. The chapter I was working on had me stumped and frustrated. An absence from this story was good, as I am now refreshed with new ideas that will be included in the development of the plot.

How does my work/writing differs from others in its genre?

Writing mystery/suspense is my favourite genre, but am able to write in most categories. I'm not really sure my writing differs or is unique from other writers, and didn't give it much thought anyway. Creating mysteries is fun, and thinking of the weapon of choice is one of the things I like most. Killing characters isn't as easy as it looks. Most of my protagonists are women, and the victims are men. That was unintentional in my writing. I noticed the pattern and decided to balance the scale. Both sexes should get the chance to be villains and heroes. Equal opportunity for all imaginary characters.

Why do I write what I do?

I write because I like blending words like a good cocktail. I write to release the ideas and imagery that float around in my head. Writing allows me to accurately express my thoughts and feelings in a more creative way than just talking about it. Writing content that will captivate a reader can be challenging, but I enjoy what I do and love a challenge. Hope this answers the question.

How does my writing process work?

I write whenever I'm in the mood or inspired, which is most of the time. My brain works overtime thinking of plots, even when I'm in the middle of another project. That can be distracting, but I pay close attention when it happens. Anything can trigger an idea, so I try to keep a pen and notebook handy.

Coffee is one of the aids that helps my writing advance to the next level. This can be mostly seen in the early mornings and evenings when I do most of my writing. It keeps me focused and energised.  I can't think of anything else to write, so let me introduce you to 3 persons I admire very much, and decided to include them in this blog tag. They will also get the chance to answer the questions as well, so here we go!

Natasha Duncan-Drake - Natasha is a British author with Wittegen Press and has been publishing genre fiction since 2011. Her work includes everything from horror to young adult fantasy, and she has never met a genre she didn't like. A prolific producer of short stories and novels alike, Natasha currently has over twenty-five novels in her back catalogue with further releases always imminent.

Natasha has been writing since she was a young girl ever since she read The Hobbit at primary school. She is a big fan of science fiction, fantasy and horror in all their forms, and is a big advocate of fan fiction as a great tool for writers to polish their skills in a welcome and supporting community. Before establishing Wittegen with her sister, Sophie Duncan, Natasha was a database and systems consultant. She combines these skills with her writing to create and manage her career in the bold new eBook market.

Links:
Website: http://www.wittegenpress.com/natashaduncandrake
Blog: Tasha's http://www.tashasthinkings.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: @ beren_writes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/natashaduncandrake
Google+: http://www.google.com/u/0.+NatashaDuncanDrake/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/tashaddrake

My name is Meglena Ivanova - I live in NYC with my husband, bearded dragon,/lizard and abnormally strange cat. When I'm not writing, reading or blogging, I enjoy gaining insights into the psychologies of of other cultures and times. I'm also into dancing, movies and Apple products. Occasionally, I like to write short (usually about mystical, mythological creatures and old but sacred objects that are described in ancient legends) fiction stories.

At my Blog, you will find interviews with remarkable authors about their life, books and writing experience! Also a few articles about self publishing, guest posts and book recommendations/reviews. At my website you will find information about my fantasy novels, short stories and the creative ground it grew out of: gems and mythology. Why gems and mythology? I suspect because both hold inherent mystery and intrigue for me. And perhaps because I'm a big fan of mythology and legends about innocent times and objects.

Connect with Meglena Ivanova:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meglena-Ivanova/5059042094580
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg436PmQrwY
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/megidivam/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7216923.Meglena_Ivanova
Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/118088705452693219921/posts
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377347
Website: http://www.meglenaivanova.com
Blog: http://www.meglenaivanova.wordpress.com/




Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside to play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing. When she isn't crafting fiction, Stephanie is indulging her gadget geek side by writing for on line technology sites. Her work is regularly featured on a wide variety of blogs and websites
http://www.stephaniefaris.com and as a ghostwriter. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Neil.

Here are the four questions for my three bloggers:

What am I working on/writing?
How does my work/writing differ from others in its genre?
Why do I write what I do?
How does my writing progress work?

Well, this completes my blog tag. I hope you'll  find these bloggers and their posts as interesting and wonderful as I have found them to be.

I apologise for its lateness, but had unexpected difficulties that prevented me from blogging for a few days.

Image courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.org
Please feel free to comment.

The Calabash International Literary Festival 2014

Jamaican Beach

I'm unable to participate in the upcoming Calabash International Literary Festival, which is held at Jakes, Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach. Jakes is located in the parish of St. Elizabeth, on the south coast of Jamaica. It is situated on a spectacular beachfront property with white sand. The property is owned by the Henzell family, who are actively involved in producing Jamaican films and literary productions.

The property also includes the popular Jakes Hotel and Jakes Restaurant located further on the compound. Earlier this year, friends and I spent a day at Jakes Restaurant, eating seafood and swimming. It's not always easy to swim at this location, due to the rougher currents, sea weeds and rocks that are sometimes embedded in parts of the sand.

The south coast is not as developed as the north coast, where tourists tend to gravitate, and the sea is much calmer. That's what makes the south coast more appealing to me. I get to swim in more natural surroundings, where turtle nests and other wildlife can be found among the rocks and bushes.

The 3 day festival is open to anyone who wishes to participate and share their writing, and simply have a good time, enjoying the variety of talent that this festival is known to produce. Salman Rusdie will be one of the authors who will be coming to Jamaica to perform in this cultural show.

I would have posted this sooner, but the festival dates were published late April, and just got the time to write about it, as the AtoZ April Challenge was in full swing. That's why I'm not prepared to enter this festival either, but may attend as a spectator. Next year I will certainly be on schedule and make the announcement much earlier.

I have seen a lot of talent on various blogs, and on Google Plus. The link below will share more information on this popular Jamaican festival. It would be terrific to have you join me on stage in this exciting event next year, or in one of the workshops that they host.

Stephen Marley

Link: http://www.calabashfestival.org

Images of the Jamaican photos courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.org


Please feel free to comment.

Quintet of Radiance Award

Unbelievable!! There I was, responding to comments on my blog and re-read Vishal Bheeroo's comment stating that he nominated me for an award on May 9th, 2014. Convinced I had misinterpreted his reply, I hopped over to Vishal Bheeroo's blog @ http://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com to scan his post again.

My muse reminded me that I had left a congratulatory comment on his post. I read the post again and was surprised to see that he had in fact, nominated me for the Quintet of Radiance Award! It appears I had overlooked my name ( #2) on the list of nominees in my happiness to congratulate Bheeroo. Who can blame me as I wasn't expecting it to be on the list either. This is my second award since May 1st 2014, so I'm feeling overwhelmed right now, but humbled with gratitude. What have I done to deserve them?That is the question that puzzles me.

Vishal Bheeroo is a blogger whom I admire very much with his bright upbeat personality, and interesting blog posts. I believe that the AtoZ April Challenge made me more aware of how talented bloggers like Vishal really are. I saw more of their work on a daily basis, thus making me appreciate what they wrote, as their personalities shone even more from the words.

The award was given to Vishal Bheeroo by Ananya Kiran @ http://www.ananyatales.com. Thank you too Anya for making this happen.

The Rules for the Quintet of Radiance Award:

1.   Display the badge in a post.

2.   Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back - Vishal.

3.   Using the alphabet, describe yourself in a word or phase.

4.   Nominate a few bloggers.

The AtoZ About Me:

Adventurous
Baker

Creative

Doting Mom

Enjoys solitude

Fun loving

Gardener

Hates uninvited visitors
Impulsive

Jovial

Kind

Like coffee and sweets

Make a mean rum cake

Not a quitter, but a twitter

Optimist

Patient

Quiet

Reserved 

Stubborn

Tale teller, not tattle teller

Unyielding to peer pressure

Voracious reader

Willing to try new things

Xmas lover

You want a romance story, don't check me! I get writers block with this genre.

Zippy person

This part is difficult with so many wonderful bloggers. I've been poking my brain deciding which bloggers to select. The decision is even harder than the first nomination I received.

My Nominees are as follows: 

Teagan Tearney              
http://www.writingmynovelnoworkingtitleyet.blogspot.com/

Morgen Bailey                
http:/www./morgenbailey.wordpress.com/

Debi Oneille
http:/www./debioneille.blogspot.com/

Chris Graham  
http://www.thestoryreadingapeblog.com/            

Christine Campbell  
http://www.cicampbellblog.wordpress.com/

These bloggers that I have chosen have been significant influences in my life. Their writing advice have helped me to improve my writing skills, and other areas pertaining to writing. Thank you!

Please feel free to comment.

Liebster Nominations

I was pleasantly surprised when I woke this morning and discovered that Gwynn Rogers @  http://www.gwynnsgritandgrin.com nominated me for the Liebster Award. May sure started off with a bang for me, as the buzz of the AtoZ April Challenge hasn't worn off.

The award was given to Gwynn Rogers, and she in turn selected me. The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by other bloggers, and I am thrilled to be a part of this tradition. Thank you Gwynn Rogers!

The Rules

1.   Link back and thank the blogger who nominated you in your post.
2.   List 11 facts about yourself.
3.   Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
4.   Pick 5 - 10 new bloggers (must have less than 300 followers) to nominate.
5.   Ask them 11 new questions. Do not re-nominate the blogger who nominated you.      
6.   Go to each blogger's site and inform them of their nomination.

11 Random Things about Myself

1.    I am a shy person.

2.   Don't talk to me unless I've had my morning coffee.

3.   Cooking and baking are 2 of my favourite things to do.

4.   I placed 2nd in the parish finals of the Jamaica National Reading Competition.

5.   A Taurean with a very stubborn streak.

6.   I love to write stories, mainly mysteries. Romance is difficult to write, but will happily
      kill a character.

7.   Listening to music relaxes me - reggae, calypso, soca, hip hop. Most music genres.

8.   I started writing when I was about 6 or 7 years old.

9.   Actively involved at my son's school as a class parent.

10.  I am a Die Hard, James Bond, Indiana Jones fan. Big Time!

11. I am a HOGAHOLIC! Ham. bacon, chops...as long as it's pork. Is there a Hogaholic
      Support Group?

Questions Asked:

1.   Name three secrets you never told anyone.

      If it's a secret, why should I tell it? I can't think of anything secretive anyway :)

2.   If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do?

      Have a drink, give my father and siblings money, and travel.

3.   Looking over the last ten years, what is one goal you have achieved, and goal
      you have not achieved?      
      
     Writing full time and having my own blog are goals I achieved. I wanted to be a writer
     years ago, but illness prevented that. Better late than never.

4.   What are your plans for retirement? And will you travel? If so, where and why.

       I intend to blog away when I'm too old to write :). I want to tour the U.K.
     
5.   Favourite drink on a Friday night.

      An iced cold bottle of Smirnoff Ice (red cap). I also like a glass of red wine.

6.   What do you think the secret is to a good marriage or relationship with
       a significant other is?

      There has to be strong communication between couples. Spending quality time
      together is vital, even a lunch or dinner date without the kids (if any) helps.

 7.   Name three words that describe your personality.

       Caring, humorous, stubborn.

8.    Home cooked meal or take-out?

       I love to eat and try new foods at restaurants, usually on weekends.
     
9.    When was the last time you blogged and what was it about?

       Ha! My last blog post was yesterday, when I posted my Z story for the AtoZ April
       Challenge. I am proud to say I survived it. Love this question.

10.  What do you think is the key to happiness?

        Loving family, good friends and a positive attitude. Negativity kills happiness.

11.   Who is your favourite poet and why?

         Difficult question. I like Helen Steiner Rice, but there are too many to choose from.

 My Liebster Nominations:

I have decided to nominate the following blogs:

1.      Sara C. Snider                    http://www.saracsnider.com

2.      Tony Payson                       http://welcome2thewritersbloc.blogspot.com        

3.      Tanya Miranda                    http://www.tanyamiranda.com

4.      Tom MacInnes                   http://www.cobourgcobbie.com

5.      Marci Koski                       http://www.fuzzyundertones.com

6.      Cybele Moon                     http://www.cybeleshineblog.wordpress.com

7.      Beloo Mehra                      http://www.letbeautybeyourconstantideal.blogspot.com

8.      Pheno Menon                     http://www.throodalookingglass.com

9.      Preethi Venugopal              http://www.tulipsandme.blogspot.com

10.    Eli Z                                    http://www.expatliv.blogspot.com

My AtoZ Theme Reveal 2014

Hello bloggers,

Being a part of the AtoZ April Challenge is an exciting, new experience for me. My original plan was to post random stories and articles, but it became puzzling for me deciding the topics to write for this challenge.

The deadline was coming up. I kept returning to the AtoZ  community to read and re-read the regular updates and useful guides that seasoned participants shared, as well as the questions that other newbies like myself had.

Participants are encouraged to create a theme, but although I was not particularly interested in doing this, I'm now glad I did. It's a more organised method for me in this challenge, not to mention the fun that goes with it. My theme (the 3rd one) which I'm sticking to, is mainly a collection of stories relating to fairy tale characters. Have you ever asked yourself "Where are they now?" "What are they doing?"

Well, you'll certainly find out what a few of your favourite characters are up in the tales I'm going to post on my blog. I'm really excited about this and have written a few already. If I can't find any characters to match the letters, such as Z, then I'll include other items and poems from my collection.

Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this theme will be entertaining for you to  read!

Here is a poem I wrote for a senryu contest sometime ago. I thought it perfect for this post.

writers faith

writing a story

must be very creative

reviewers hold fate

Wishing everyone an awesome, fun-tastic AtoZ Challenge!

Feeling The Write Vibes

Yesterday I wrote a 150 word story for the Glipho prompt. After writing it, I edited and was pleased with the outcome but did not submit it. Someone refrained me from doing so. It was my newly employed muse. She didn't think it was the right story for the prompt.

Sure, it was nicely written and we agreed on that, but she wasn't feeling the connection that Glipho wanted. Back to the drawing board, and I typed another story that was entirely different to the first. Again, another good article, but my muse was still hesitant about me posting it.

Why? She explained that writers should always feel comfortable and confident with the content. Never be too hasty to post, especially if it is for contests. I confess I have been guilty of this a couple of times, and regretted my quickie posts.

After writing an article, think about the content and ask yourself if it feels right for the occasion. She though the two stories would be ideally suitable as daily blog posts. That makes sense, I thought. She's earning the pittance I haven't paid as yet.

With the help of a good cup of coffee to stabilise my patience, I sat at the desk and began to type again, clueless to a plot. My fingers moved swiftly, churning out 58 words per minute. You want to feel the damn vibes. Well, I'll give them to you! 

The third time was the charmer, and as much as I hated to admit this to my muse, she was right again. I actually felt the vibes she spoke about, and knew this was the one I wanted to post on Glipho. It was a success, and received great reviews!

With this being said, it made me wonder if other writers have similar problems, or am I being too fussy. This is not the first time this drama occurred, but for some unexplained reason, I actually paid more attention to my muse. The added plus is that there are two completed stories I can use anytime, and will add them to the other ones that are waiting to be posted.


Image courtesy of wikimediacommons.org.
Please feel free to comment.