Discovery Prompt 28: Stay Focused on WordPress

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Adventure, blogging, Blogging community, Discover Prompts, Discovery Prompts, Hiking, Love, WordPress, writing

Checking out what others do on WordPress has become an increasingly important part of my day. By reading the posts of others I’m learning new things all the time and I’m making connections.

We swap stories, poems and information. It’s great to be amongst others who have a shared interest in one art form or another. It encouraged me to come back and keep posting. Being here has boosted my efforts to keep on track to get published.

I love that I can learn about other places across the world from those who have seen it, breathed it and walked it. In a time when we’re all shut in our houses it’s so important to remember there’s so much beauty on this fragile rock we call home.

So, being on WordPress is so enriching to my mind and soul. It grants me a new kind of focus that makes me want to reach out in the world.

Thank you for sharing your journeys with me and letting me share mine with you.

Have a good week, everybody. 😊

Discovery Prompts: Hidden

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Adventure, blogging, Blogging community, Discover Prompts, Discovery Prompts, Time, writing

I liked the suggestion in the prompt regarding items that could be put in a time capsule. I remember doing writing activities like that when I was a kid. Another one was what ten things would you take for a year to survive on a desert island.

These exercises fire the imagination and begin to create the ideas of lives and futures – even if fictional – that’d otherwise be hidden from us.

Anyway, here’s my ten items to put in a time capsule:

1. A photograph of a toucan.
2. A spoon I placed in my neighbour’s flowerbed for about five minutes.
3. A signed copy of ‘Tick Tock Ping A Ding’ by King Henry X.
4. A packed lunch with some used staples.
5. A spanner with a small engraving of a shamrock.
6. A shamrock with several large engravings of spanners.
7. Geoff/Jeff.
8. Eagle Sawdust Soundclub Track.
9. A well acted scene from 4 films: you decide.
10. Crafty Lalbanor and his guide to packing spoons, shamrocks, staples and other stuff in time capsules.

The metal box that contains these items shall have a label on the front that reads ‘Open on 27th November 2156 or before if you want to watch Cagney and Lacey’.

The box will be buried by a rocky outcrop on some faraway moon about 3 minutes from my dad’s t-shirts.

It will be opened in a time of peace.

Learning More And More About Myself As A Self-publishing Writer

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Adventure, blogging, Blogging community, Book, creative writing, Discovery Prompts, Hiking, Mountain, Novel, Self-publishing, writing

Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all keeping safe and well.

I so wanted to put this post up earlier this week and to do some of the daily prompts. However, I’ve been so engrossed in working on my Ben Nevis story that I’ve sacrificed other writing projects.

I’ve had to rewrite a few sections of the book at the suggestion of my editor, e.g. adding potted histories of the places I’ve hiked to and focusing more on the mental health benefits of walking. I really enjoy doing research as I know it adds layers to my book. It’s meant developing discipline and being thorough. Gaining knowledge is a wonderful and if it gives more soul to what I write, then that’s a good thing.

Sometimes I feel that I should be slogging out the work every day and burning the midnight oil more. However, I’ve noticed that my better work comes when I step back occasionally – a day here or there – when I do no writing and just think through what I need to do. Others I know need to keep writing and writing each day in order to keep their work focussed. Stepping back helps me to maintain my efforts and look at things afresh.

When I first started to write more seriously I thought taking the odd day off here and there wasn’t good as it didn’t seem the done thing amongst other writers I know. Similarly, I felt pressure if I didn’t write a thousand words every day. To get around issues like this I realised that as long as I was dedicating myself to writing in some way each day, that’s okay. If it means stopping and thinking (most likely on a hike!) about what I’m writing and that makes me a better writer, then that’s what I’ll do.

I think when you work things like this out and your more comfortable with how you go about things, then that shows your maturing as a writer.

Slow and steady is definitely my modus operandi. I’m really only able to focus on one thing at a time. So, I feel that I need to get my changes done and sent to my editor for a final check for publishing before I can look at any other matters related to self-publishing -completing the blurb, sorting the cover design etc – when maybe I should be concurrently undertaking those activities along with my writing. Time and experience will tell if this approach is suitable.

But this is a journey and I’m willing to adapt and learn – and that inspires me.

Perhaps it’s just knowing that I’m learning more about myself and evolving more as a writer that encourages me to keep developing my craft.

And long may that continue.

I’ll look forward to catching up on everybody’s posts over the weekend.

Have a good weekend, everybody 😊.

Discovery Prompts: Distance

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blogging, Blogging community, Coronavirus, Discover Prompts, Discovery Prompts, Poem, Poetry, writing

I reach a hand out to future me

Five or ten years from now.

Looking for confirmation that all those I love

Got through this year somehow.

The gap of uncertainty grows wider and wider

Making all I knew worthless and obselete

There’s a growing mountain of boredom

That makes it hard for me to get off my feet.

But there’s wisdom to be gained in these times

An understanding previously untouched.

Learn to grow, educate, share and reach out

Time to make life something that means much.

Days and situations like these can define us

Shape us, evolve us and affect our daily lives

So please commit to what makes you happy

Commit to what makes you come alive.

Discovery Prompts Day 16 Slow – ‘A Short Story About Clive Dinsdale’

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blogging, Blogging community, Budgies, creative writing, Daily Prompts, Flash fiction, Life, Pickled onions, writing

My Dad hasn’t seen Clive in recent times. You know who I mean Clive Dinsdale. He reared budgerigars back in the sixties with Dustin Hoffman and Geoff Capes. Good old Clive. Clive The Dive they called him cos he was a great goalkeeper. He swooped like a budgie to catch the ball.

He wore bright clothes all the time. You could say that he dressed like a budgie. That time he worked as a helicopter pilot in 1987 was where his sense of fashion came in to it’s own; there he was clothed and flying around like his favourite birdy in a chopper.

He had this thing for putting pickled onions in his trainers next to the blade of grass in a canoe on the moon. The squelchy crunching sound as he quick-stepped down the main street told him much about how you could fill up a dry river bed with empty down down. Such is the life of a man who gives his life to budgies.

He considered selling his soupy bubble troupers to the local pet shop under duress from Jimmy. Virtual Quack Quack. Budgies do go quack after all!

So good.

So long.

Farewell.

Discovery Prompts: Books

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blogging, Blogging community, Books, Childhood, Comics, Discovery Prompts, Novels, writing

Comic books were my first reads. As a kid in the 1980s, on Saturdays I’d run to the local store and buy Buster, Whizzer and Chips, The Beano, The Dandy and Whoopee. If I wanted more, then I’d have to do a lot of chores.

I’d spend ages reading and re-reading them becoming lost in the lives of the characters. For one reason or another they were all my best friends.

Well into my teenage years I’d spend ages in the local library or first- and second-hand book stores. Each book was a separate world or universe daring to be discovered. At this stage in life I developed a love of fantasy adventure stories. Books evoke emotions, develop rational thinking and, obviously, help you learn new things. There’s nothing more rewarding than gaining a fresh perspective on something that you thought you knew or how one phrase – one small phrase – used by an author sums up a feeling you’ve found so hard to describe.

As I’ve gotten older I still read a lot of fantasy novels and comic books. Hiking has become a big passion in my middle years, and so now I read a lot of travel books as well. Plus, as a parent there’s no greater joy than sharing the countless worlds that books have to offer with your children.

My Self-Publishing Resources Guide

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Adventure, Author, blogging, Blogging community, Book, Discover Prompts, Hiking, Novel, Self-publishing, Walking

Hi Everybody,

I hope you and your families are having a safe and wonderful Easter.

I said in a post about a week or so ago that I was going to post up about the resources that I’ve used in my quest to get my hiking book self-published.

But then something wonderful happened: those wonderful people at WordPress HQ started doing daily prompts and I became distracted in that. I found myself writing poems and reminiscing over my youth. It’s been a happy journey doing that and connecting with new people. I’ll carry on doing the prompts over the next few weeks. However, it’s important that I remain focused on editing my book and learning about self-publishing too.

So, in part, this post is also an attempt to help me refocus, share a little knowledge and the resources I use. I decided to do this in a Q and A style as it seemed a good way to organise my thoughts.

WHY DID I CHOSE TO SELF-PUBLISH?

I chose to self-publish because over the the last few years I’d read books by a few authors that had gone down that route and it encouraged me to do the same.

WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?

The book is called ‘Adventure Dayze’. It recounts my hiking journeys in the build up to tackling Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest mountain – in 2018 and how I attempted to overcome my fear of heights and bad sense of direction. (‘Dayze’ is a mix of the words ‘day’ and ‘daze’ as I’m always in a daze on a day out).

Next, I look at 2019 and how, despite my poor navigational skills and fear of heights being issues, with the help of my friends I walked up the highest mountain in Ireland.

I wanted to write the book as a way to encourage the reader to get out and walk and know that they can overcome obstacles blocking the way.

WHAT STAGE AM I CURRENTLY AT?

I received my manuscript back from my editor, Jessica Grace Coleman (www.colemanediting.co.uk), about 3 weeks ago. I wouldn’t be where I am or as dedicated as I am without Jessica’s support and encouragement. I’m currently working on the changes suggested. I think it’ll take me about another three weeks in all. After that, it’ll be one final check for grammar and I’m ready to publish. I’m hoping for a release date of late summer this year.

HOW DID I GO ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING?

Firstly, I watched a lot – and I mean a lot – of YouTube videos on the subject. Two people stood out for me, so I watched their videos some more. The first person was Ellen Brock. Her engaging style left me feeling inspired after every video. The second was fantasy author Natalia Leigh. When I watched her video on her self-publishing checklist I was delighted when she recommended to signing up to her website to receive the checklist as a PDF (visit http://www.natalialeigh.com).

This checklist then formed the basis of my approach to self-publish.

Even though Ellen Brock and Natalia Leigh live and work from the USA, I feel a lot of the advice they give out is universal and was really helpful to me in the UK.

WHAT BOOKS ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING HAVE I USED?

I’ve only used two:

The first is ‘The Indie Author Checklist’ by Adam Croft. This was highly recommended to me by Jessica Grace Coleman. This has been extremely invaluable so far and will continue to be in the months ahead. The advice given in this book has stopped me feeling overwhelmed about the whole process.

The second is ‘The Writers Room’ by Rick Wood. This is a handy little book I found myself on Amazon. This book deals well with explaining the various pitfalls that may be encountered in self-publishing, so I find it really useful in giving me a reality check.

Both Adam Croft and Rick Wood are successful authors, and so I find their honest accounts of self-publishing a real bonus to my arsenal.

WHAT HAVE I GOT LEFT TO DO?

A lot!

I mentioned in a recent post that I’ve gone about matters in a semi back-to-front way. The absolute focus for me was getting my manuscript to a stage where I was happy to send it over to Jessica Grace Coleman. Only recently have I begun to look at other parts of the process whereas if I’d have been following Natalia Leigh’s checklist earlier I’d have a fair few more boxes ticked.

I’m so glad this website is up and running again. The true joy of WordPress is the connections that you make with other people.

I’ve written a blurb of sorts for the novel too.

I’m gathering info on cover design, ISBN numbers, formatting for different platforms, setting up mailing lists, marketing and a whole list of other stuff.

All of it can make me feel overwhelmed, I admit.

However, determination and perseverance are gathering pace within me. Jessica – who is also a self-published author herself – has been really great with encouraging me step-by-step. So, with her sage advice and the other resources I have, I know I can make this happen.

Admittedly, I’ve got a lot to learn. As I learn each of the component parts of self-publishing in more detail, I’ll share my findings and any other resources here.

Thanks for reading. If you’re really interested in self-publishing, I hope this article has helped. It’d be interesting to hear from anybody out there about any advice they may have.

Peace and love, Everybody 😊

Discovery Prompts Day 10 : Orchestra. Poem – The Orcish Queen

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blogging, Blogging community, creative writing, Discovery Prompts, Dungeons and Dragons, Goblins, Music, Orcs, Poem, Poetry, Role playing, writing

An Orcish orchestra played for their queen

As she sat on her throne eating the spleen

Of the goblin assassin who tried to take her life.

‘Oh, this melodic din shall free me from the strife

‘Of the little brute who tried to get at me

I’m going to enjoy eating him for my tea.’

The cacophonic encore reached its heady heights

As the queen demanded, ‘You’ll play through the night.’

Those orc musicians groaned and despaired

As a riotous symphony filled the air.

The Orcish Queen picked gristle from her teeth with a dagger,

Then rose to her feet and danced with a swagger.

Discovery Prompt: Day 6 Hands. Poem: Reaching For The Heavens

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Adventure, blogging, Blogging community, Discovery Prompts, Hiking, Poem, Poetry, Stars

My three friends and I lie on soft grass atop a hill,

Each one of us facing a different way:

North, south, east and west.

The vanilla moon imbues us with a calming light.

As stars flicker, teasing us with promises far away,

I attempt to grab a few and hold them in a clenched fist.

But as I open my hand I know they remain in place,

Winking back at me as they’ve done countless times before.

Discover Prompts Day 4: Street

Tags

Childhood, creative writing, Discover Prompts, Poetry, Prose poetry, Street, writing, Writing prompts

This prose poem is called ‘Halfway Down Our Street’. The start of each sentence starts with a letter from the title to spell out the name of the poem.

Home was in the middle of our street,

An equal distance to the shops or park.

Life for eight year old me began on

Friday night after school when I couldn’t wait to

Wake up with a fistful of pocket money

And run til I reached the comic store.

Yeah!!!!

Darkness seemed far away as

Once afternoon came I’d play in the park

With my friends at soccer or tennis or a

New crazy creation that passed for fun back then.

Out and about, exploring by the stream

Until we heard our parents call us to

Return home for our dinner.

Saturday night was alright: chips and the A-Team.

Then I’d ask politely to go outside and play again

Right up until the moon popped up

Ending another day of uninterrupted fun.

Eight o’clock was bedtime as I shuffled up the stairs

To read comic books and dream of tomorrow.