Spider Diagrams

I am a borderline arachnophobe, so to have a spider picture on my blog is significant for me. I chose a friendly looking image as all the photos of real spiders were far too sinister!! I began to outline my book in chapters to develop the plotline and came up with some new ideas along the way, but I did it in linear form which is not good for me. In every written exam, essay or dissertation that I have done I have used the 'spider diagram' method as it has proved to be the most singularly successful method for me to write in a structured and coherent way, rather than endless waffle. I will go back to the chapters and do it in diagramatical form to help me. A couple of folk on the Wordpool suggested some Mind Mapping software, one of which is free, that enables you to do detailed spider diagrams on your PC. I am planning to look into these as they could be really useful for me in terms of chapter planning and details. I have begun to read "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver again, as she has written a quality historical fantasy adventure series, and I am taking some inspiration from her. I quickly realised that I will have to double my chapters and shorten their lengths to make them bitesize chunks of action that move the story and its reader on quickly without getting bored. It is true that you learn most about your writing and how to improve it by simply doing it.

It seems the whole world is writing childrens books at the moment. As well as my next door neighbour, I also know of a retiring head teacher, and a local lady who runs a pottery painting business who are writing or have written a children's book. I am also collating the information to market the Bodmin Blog to all my headteachers.

On a different note, my two children have been very excited today as all four of our hens laid an egg today, and although hugely variant in size, shape and colour, all four hens have joined the egg production line. There is definitely some mileage in our chickens for a smaller children's picture book, so I will muse on this for a while, probably when I have five minutes in the garden in peace and can observe them without being distracted.

Wordpool and websites

Connor enjoyed Book Day at school on Friday. The character he chose was not simple...Captain Teggs Stegosaur from the Astrosaurs series. It was a creative masterpiece but reinforced the truth that my creativity is largely with words and not fabric and cardboard!!! I have joined the Wordpool today, which is a discussion group for published and aspiring childrens authors. I am really excited about this and found the website of one of the ladies who post on the site. She is a published children's author called Paeony Lewis and her website is great and inspirational for a number of reasons. I hope she will not mind me linking to her site as I am planning to go back there for more reading. Her website is www.paeonylewis.com Sometimes it is encouraging to read the background of published authors as it reminds you that it is possible if you have the ideas, the passion and commitment. Looking forward to discussions on the site.

Also toying with the idea of writing a children's picture book for preschoolers about our four chickens. they are so funny and extremely entertaining and I think they caould make a great story...we also suspect our second chicken has started laying although which one it is remains a mystery. Bets are on for either Matilda or Rosie as the one that has joined Gypsy in the egg production business!

Poetry and Post

Enjoyed a good workshop today at Bodmin library. Run by a lady called Moira Andrews I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of writing about a person from my childhood and a day in my past that was significant. It is amazing how many new ways of approaching a piece of writing are uncovered when you take part in these workshops. Moira is a lovely lady and very good poet, she shared a number of her poems including a very moving one, written an hour or so after her husband passed away. Her website is www.moiraandrews.com and it was great to meet a local poet and take part in a useful time. it did confirm that my strength is prose and not poetry though!!! I managed to post off my manuscript to SU today www.scriptureunion.org.uk which was a strange feeling. I expected a feeling of immense satisfaction, excitement or even trepidation. It may yet come, but as I posted my work today I did feel that I had taken an important step. The work is a holiday programme written on the book of Daniel that I wrote about two years ago. (Hence the lion). I now have to sit back and wait to see what response I get, though I do need to keep writing and researching my Bal Maiden book.

Eggs, Notebooks and SAE's

Pictured is my one of my son's chickens, Gypsy, who has given us our first two eggs. Admittedly they are the size of Cadbury's cream eggs at the moment but it has been a momentous time in our household. Hopefully the others will be following suit in the near future. One thing I would love to capture in words is the expressions on my two children's faces when they discovered the egg nestled in the straw. I am blessed with very facially expressive children and the moment was like a photo you want to memorise and convey on paper. Will try to have a go I think as it is a memory of childhood I hope they will both have of owning and caring for their chickens.

I got an ebay parcel today that contained a lovely purple velvet notebook I had won. It is fab and I am considering what extra special project may grace its pages. The fact I have bought another A4 sized notebook from Woolies this week is neither here nor there. One can never have too many notebooks, or decent writing pens for that matter!

Finally I have my submission printed and ready to go to the post office tomorrow morning, proof reading got delayed by me having to count squillions of leaflets to deliver to Bodmin schools today. One thing about submitting work for consideration by a publisher is the dilemma of what postage do you put on a SAE? If you weigh your manuscript and put the postage on that would enable the publisher to return the whole thing...is that a defeatist message? On the other hand if I only put a first class stamp on the SAE and they do not like it, is it too self assured in its message? I am on the horns of a dilemma (not comfy either!!) however I guess the middle ground is that if they like it and it need revision I will at least get it back.

Feels pretty strange submitting this after talking about it for so long. I need to work on not building up my hopes and watching the letterbox every day for a reply.

I need proof!!

I have included Peppa Pig in the blog today as we have had so much rain here that welly boots and muddy puddles were the order of the day. I had the surreal but genuinely wonderful experience of watching my children let the chickens out this morning and then go on the swings wearing only their pyjamas and welly boots (prior to the rainfall I hasten to add). It reminded me of the innocence and carefree nature of childhood and how there is nothing particularly odd to a 3 and 6 year old about swinging as high as they can in wellies and pyjamas!!

Andy began to proof read my manuscript last night and got half way through before falling asleep (not a good sign I fear) but his findings reminded me of the importance of proof reading before submission. My degree training has meant that I have become a skim reader at times and need the more slow and steady reading eyes of my husband to ensure I do not submit a catalogue of errors along with my work. As a result the posting day is moved to Monday. Just a reminder that when it comes to my writing, I need proof!!

The Power of an Hour

Well today has turned into something special for me. Thanks to my friend Kat I was able to do some writing in a child free zone for two hours and it not only got my writing ball rolling, it sent it off down the hill and out of site!!! I have been meaning to write up a holiday bible club scheme I wrote for Grace Family Bible Week two years ago. The material was based on the first six chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. I was pleased with it at the time and thought I might well be able to consider submitting it for publishing.

Well needless to say, lots of things got in the way and it was all filed away on my PC and in foolscap files. Recently I have been determind to have a go and submit the material to Scripture Union, so today I finished it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have my first ever manuscript to send tomorrow to a publisher. It is not my Magnum Opus I grant you, but to actually have revised, edited and compiled a submission that I think is good enough to send to a publisher is truly an amazing moment.

Without being negative I am stalling myself for the rejection letter but I do believe in a God of miracles and also believe He is control of all things, so in His time and plan I will see whether it is a yes or a no. What I have determind in my heart today is not to give up and to keep on writing. Having been through a recent time of frustration and weariness I have again experienced the tingle I feel when I am writing and developing ideas. I am reminded why this was my lifetime ambition and I am not going to let it get buried under a mound of ironing, washing up or paperwork. The pen is mightier than the Persil!!!!

Bodmin Bookworm

I was excited to share the vision I have for creating 'The Bodmin Bookworm' through the schools and library service in Bodmin. I am aiming to set up a blog that will encourage all school children in the Bodmin area to post creative material on set topics and themes, creating a 'virtual' after school club.

I am excited about this as I have been feeling frustrated and a little disappointed at how little time I seem to have to write anything. I hope by doing this blog and through ventures such as The Bookworm I can develop my creativity while also encourgaing youngsters to pursue theirs.

Looking forward to sharing this with 'The Krazy Blue Kreators' (The Creative Writing After School Club) at Lanivet School.

Creating the detail for the Bookworm came as a 3am moment which in my view gives it far more validity!!!