Children’s demands

How do you keep up with your writing wants and your children’s demands? These holidays I’ve managed to keep up with blog posts and my novel. These holidays we have been to town, unfortunately, on the day it rained hard. Last Tuesday we had lunch in the garden and we did some reading. My six year old adores water and managed to soak the summer house and make mummy upset with her. A nice calm day became stressful.

Despite the challenges though, I have enjoyed my break from work. I am back tomorrow, a little break away from home but at the same time, I do love my home comforts.

The balance of children’s demands for attention, food, and drink.  They seem to eat more in the holidays than at any other time.  Those days where usually I’m alone with my thoughts but in the school holidays I’m frequently hearing “I want”.  My six year old will often help herself, even when I tell her “no”.  My eight year old will protest waiting for me to fetch food for him.   We all love our children and we all often have to sacrifice our wants for them.

What we are reading?

I’m still reading ‘G.X Todd – Defender’. My reading has slowed right down due to the children being home.  It is also harder to read late at night with a paperback as it does not have a light like my kindle.  Once I’m ordered to turn out my light that’s it.  Though admittedly I have in the past, got out of bed and read in the bathroom until my chapter is finished.

I purchased ‘Julia Donaldson – Stickman’ for my daughter which she is enjoying reading. My son has given up on ‘The Boy who sailed the ocean in an armchair.’ Last night he was reading ‘Dinosaur Cove’.   Being a reader I’m finding it frustrating when my children refuse to read.

My Novel

So, I am now at 67000 words and my word count is increasing steadily.  We have hit a crisis point in the book which is good and I’m working hard at creating tension.  Everything right now is coming together, maybe to early as the word count is a minimum of 90 000 words.  However,  I’m aware that there is much along the way that I have missed.  I’m sure though there is also a lot that will be edited out of my second draft.  I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Right now all my characters are at a point where they need to work together – Moral questions have been raised.

Last Friday’s post on, Just muddling through life was part 3 to my series of short stories about friends, Freda and Ruby – ‘Support of good friends and music’

Facebook live

New blog post, updates and today, part 1 – 20th August 2019

New blog post, updates and today, part 2 – 20th August 2019

A New blog post. Freda and Ruby and holiday, part 1 – 23rd August 2019

New blog post, Freda and Ruby and holiday part 2 – 23rd August 2019

We have had a new Sky router delivered today so I’m hoping that the WIFI is now more stable.  I am hoping to go live again later today.

Newsletter

I’m planning a monthly newsletter sent at the beginning of every month. I will be emailing blog posts from both blogs.  So, if you miss anything it will appear safely in your inbox.  If you do subscribe and need to contact me please do through the contact page or email on my blog.  (My P.O box is a pay as you go address which means I am charged for all paper mail received.)

Today

My last day off from work, I’m trying to make the most of the day now. Cuddled up with my six-year-old watching a YouTube video on television, we are watching cars fall down a hill. The children are laughing and I’m feeling confused as to how this is entertainment. The children’s demands to go a bike ride are still there and I’m feeling guilty for not taking them.  It is hot outside and yes I am feeling lazy.  I mowed the garden last Tuesday and I still need to pull the weeds.  I’m finding it hard to find motivation.

For more see, School holidays, novel writing and books

School holidays

The holidays continue and once again I am sat on my laptop writing as my eight-year-old is screaming at ‘Alexa’ as his game on the IPad keeps cutting out. The reality of the rest of the world outside my three-person bubble is within my tablet sat next to me. Messenger is bleeping at me with my colleagues going about their workday. I can’t help replying despite not being at work. Does anyone else find it hard to switch off? I even check my work email and will often reply. This is the danger of the modern world. Once upon a time, you went on leave and there was no communication with work, there was no regular email conversations or messenger. Modern technology is not always a good thing and maybe I really need a break from it.

Yesterday we got out of the house and walked to town. We left with the sun shining on us in our shorts and t-shirts. Half an hour later it started to rain and it was cold. My son had refused to take a jacket or jumper. I had grabbed my daughter’s jacket walking out of the door. No waterproof coats though and we all got soaked.

Our mission was to spend my sons £5.00 gift voucher in WH Smith. My head was set on buying a book, his head was set on buying a toy. This was then a lovely argument as he wanted a soft toy and then his sister wanted one too. I had tears and loud crying in the shop. The consequence was two soft toys and me buying him the book which is cheaper on Amazon. Yes, my mobile data would not work in WH smith so I could not check the price, but very frustrating.

Books

They say a book’s title is very important. As we were scanning through the shelves. ‘Toms Midnight garden’ was a no. ‘Gangsta Granny’ by David Walliams was a “err maybe.” Then we saw, ‘The Boy who sailed the ocean in an armchair.’ He was happy with this and I’m wondering why he sailed the ocean in an armchair. I think I will be reading it before he does. It’s for children age 8 – 12 so at least it will be an easy read for me, but yes the title sold the book to me.

I’m now being pestered for ‘Stick Man’ by Julia Donaldson.  My daughter is going into year 2 after the holidays and she is quite a good reader.  I’m reluctant to buy it as she knows the story and its maybe to easy for her.  However, I’m wondering if I will have given in by the end of the day.  At least she is wanting to read, that’s a good thing.  She wanted me to renew Mr Stink – David Walliams at the library.  Renewed for the fourth time as my son will not read it.  I think she is a bit young for it but her reading intention is there.

What we are reading

We now have Darlene Foster’s, ‘Amanda on the Danube – The sounds of music’ to read and yes I’m sure that it will me that reads it first. With it being school holidays I had hoped that the children might read more.

Ritu Bhathal’s poetry book – Poetic rituals is still sat by my bed. It is a book that you can jump in an out of. Ritu is currently writing a book as well which you can read about on her website.

I am now reading G.X (Gemma) Todd’s – Hunted, part two of the Voices series. It starts with different characters to part 1 – Defender but they come into it later as are all related to the story.

My novel

My book is now at roughly 64000 words, I keep reading about the number of writers that have ditched their first novel as rubbish. I’m hoping this does not happen to me as it is a lot of work. Being a pantser my book keeps taking surprising turns, right now it is becoming darker than I ever thought it would. Trying to keep up the tension, to maintain the reader’s interest is actually really hard.

I hope that all my short stories on my other blog – Just muddling through life, are helping to develop my writing skills. I received some nice feedback on my recent short story for Writers Unite – Murder in the Amazon Rainforest. The photo is possibly Louisiana, as that is what the photograph was called when I saved it,  but I looked at it and thought Forest. This last term my son has been learning about rainforests, so this could be why my brain jumped to the Amazon rainforest.

My garden

With it being school holidays and not being at work I am hoping to finally weed the garden. I need to actually get out there and do it though. At the moment I just want to cuddle up with my book and books I want to read. I still need to read the Time Travellers Wife. I hope to read this soon, I keep being told how good it is.

Facebook live

Today, shopping and blog – 13th August 2019

New blog post and school holiday – 16th August 2019

Newsletter

I am now aiming to send a monthly newsletter.  I am hoping to link to all my blog posts on both blogs for the month, I will also add some other thoughts.  Is there anything that you would like to see in a newsletter?  If you are interested please subscribe on below link or the link on the right-hand side.  I also suspect that the email I sent a few days ago with July’s posts may have gone in people’s spam boxes as it went in mine.

I am learning Mailerlite and finding it confusing so please excuse the amateur look.  I’m sure this will improve as I learn how to use it properly.

Today

I am hoping to get more of my book read. It would be great if the children would settle down and look at their books but, they are now asking to either play the WII or ride their bikes.  Yes, I really need to get off my behind and be more active, make the most of the holidays and good weather.

I am hoping to do another Facebook live this afternoon.  My daughter is now asking for help tidying her room and my son is wanting help with the WII.   The holiday drama continues but it is lovely to spend time with them.

For more see, Time travellers, writing and reading

Time is ticking by

My word count is now at 62000. I have Secret Agents, Scientists and Time Travellers now trying to work towards the end.  I haven’t yet worked out what is going to happen and I have so many questions, one being is this just rubbish? Is my reader going to think what’s the point and give up?  I know that I can’t give in to negative thoughts and I need to keep going.

Reading about book lengths, I was under the misconception that a novel is minimum 75000 words.  I have now read for Sci-Fi it is 90000. However, there are many things in my draft that I need to elaborate on and hopefully, once I do reach 75000, I may have more to write.

Different writers have different opinions about how long a first draft takes.  I’ve been writing mine for about six months so far.  That’s slow to some writers and maybe fast to others.  We are all different, different commitments and priorities.  I also work and have two small children, so trying to maintain balance with writing and being a mum.

There is also so much I still need to work out.  I still need to get to know my characters – my agents, time travellers, and scientists and try and get inside their heads.  Once the first draft is finished I intend to take a break and have a proper think about them.  I need to know their different mannerisms and how they talk.  I’m sure this manuscript is going to take quite a few drafts before it is completed.

What else have I been doing?

I’ve been reading more, since mid-June I’ve read the following,

Ravens Gathering –  Graeme Cumming – One of the strangest novels I’ve read, but I felt compelled to read as needed to know what was happening in Ravens Gathering.  Between living in  Midsomer and Ravens Gathering, I think I might choose Midsomer.

The Daughter in law syndrome – Stevie Turner – Discusses the relationship between Grandmother, Edna Deane and daughter in law, Arla.  She explores the complex in-law relationships, an interesting read.  Maybe a relationship that some of us can identify with.

Instructions for falling in love again – Lucy Mitchell – When Pippa’s husband, Dan, passes away he leaves her a little red notebook.  Inside instructions for her future.  Advice on who she should be spending the rest of her life with, a very unlikely character who turns out to be perfect for Pippa.  This book is funny and heartwarming.  It’s one that you can really relax with.  Mug of tea or coffee next to you.

Brief encounters of the third kind – Janet Gogerty – Susan Dexter fears that she will never be a mum.  Till one day she is visited by a space ship and soon finds out she is pregnant with baby Emma.  The perfect child who never gets ill.  A famous talented musician with a talented husband Paul.  All this is then complicated by the spaceship returning and the arrival of baby Adam.  It tackles the question of alien visitors or time travellers from the future? This is the first in a three-part series.  The book goes into great detail about Susan and her family, it is an interesting read.

Poetic Rituals –  Ritu Bhathal – A book of poetry that you can keep returning to.  It is currently sat by my bed.  Ritu’s poems are well written and enjoyable to read.

Currently reading –

Defender – G.X. (Gemma) Todd  – This is Gemma Todd’s debut novel.  The first in her voices series. This tells the tale of Pilgrim – The boy scout, Lacey, Alex and Ruby. From the back cover ‘On the cusp of sleep, have we not all heard a voice call out our name?’  If you enjoy reading Stephen King then you are guaranteed to love G.X Todd.  The next book in her series is Hunted, which is my next book to read and the third Survivors, is due for release at the end of October. The limited signed edition can be pre-ordered now from Goldsboro books.

As you can see, I have still not read The Time Travellers Wife or Lee Child – Past Tense.  They are still sat in my wanting to read pile.  I am aware that I need to read more Science Fiction due to the genre of my novel.

My Facebook live videos

Today blog and a walk – 6th August 2019

Blog battle and holidays – 9th August 2019

Today

We have been shopping for school shoes and right now I feel like my son’s beloved eight-year-old teddy bear in the picture above. I’m tired and worn out.  Trying to establish the correct shoe sizes, whilst they are rolling around the floor and demanding bags and trainers as well is not easy.  I was sat quietly in the kitchen typing whilst the kids were playing.   They are now demanding Apple crumble and ice cream and the washing machine has now indicated it is finished.  Yes, I rarely get a real break.

I am now going to tend the demands for apple crumble and I’m hoping to write more of my novel tonight.

For more see, Developing my novel and school holidays