Using Twitter to Improve Your Writing

There is an old saying that states, 'practice makes perfect.' I'm a great believer in this and feel it's also true with writing. But practice doesn't have to be boring. This practice time can be used to have fun with your writing and hopefully inspire a few new ideas.

So here is a challenge for you. Next time you have ten minutes free choose a fairy tale and become one of the characters. Create a series of tweets that tell that characters side of the story.

Note:

A tweet is a message using just 140 characters, including the spaces.

To demonstrate what I mean here is my retelling of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' from the point of view of the troll. If you've never read the story then follow this link:  

Woken this morning by a small goat trying to cross my bridge without paying a toll #angrytroll

This morning caught a second goat trying to sneak across my bridge without paying toll. Can't believe how rude goats can be. #angrytroll

Discovered a third goat attempting to cross bridge without paying toll. He even head butted me! #angrytroll

How do these goats expect me to stay in business? No toll, no bridge, no way to cross river to eat delicious grass! #angrytroll

Reluctant sale of bridge, been in family for generations. License to charge toll. High daily foot fall. #angrytroll #businessforsale  

Note: using a hash tag before a term allows other Twitter users to find your tweets by using the same term.

I'm hoping you can see how you can have fun with a well-known story, make it your own and practice your craft. This process may not lead to a published book but it does give you the opportunity to exercise your writing muscle in a fun and you never know a productive way.

So go on give it a go, it's fun!

I have the following online classes with WOW starting in March 2014:

How To Write A Children's Picture Book And Get Published (beginners)

5 Picture Books In 5 Weeks (advanced)

How To Write A Hobby-based How To Book   

My Writing Space

As you can see my writing space is fairly business like.  I've seen images of other authors writing spaces and they're filled with things that mean something to them, inspire them etc. 

The only item I could say fills that category is a credit card sized picture of a hedgehog (I'm known for my love of these prickly creatures) and a little mouse (just twigged my first book was about a hedgehog and a mouse). As you can see on the front are the words "lots of times in lots of ways..." and on the reverse are the words "friends mean more than words can say." 

It was given to me by a friend years ago, who is five days younger than I am. I've been so lucky, she's always been there. We shared our entire school life even sitting next to one another during story time in our infants class. Although we now live a three hour drive from one another we're still in contact. But that's it, everything else is connected to my craft of writing. So the shelves are filled with reference books, books on writing and loads of note pads filled with scribbled ideas. 

However I don't occupy this space alone. When I am sitting at my desk working on a new magazine feature or book I'm often tapping to the sound of a snoring dog. And as you can see Tasha does like to get comfortable.   

The Next Big Thing

I would like to thank Savita Kalhan for inviting me to take part in this series of blog posts where authors share what stories they are working on. If you'd like to discover Savita's 'Next Big Thing' then please click on this link.
  


What is the working title of your book?

Magic of Light


Where did the idea come from for the book?

From the shared love with my late father of the entire process of black and white photography and how old photographs can link generations.


What genre does your book fall under?

Steam Punk - think the new Sherlock Holmes films or Hugo where the world is filled with clockwork gadgets and things run on steam.


Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Sam (the lead) I'd nominate Jude Wright who currently plays Marcus Elliot in the TV show 'Spy.' I'm not sure on the second boy character but the lead female (mother and grandmother to the two boys) would have to be Julie Walters.


What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Sam is catapulted back in time, giving him the chance to save the life of his father and the grandmother he has just lost in his time.   


Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I'm looking for an agent at the moment so would love this to be traditionally published.



How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'll be honest I really can't remember the first draft was started in August 2005 as part of a creative writing I was studying. It sat for many years on my computer until I rediscovered it and started a total rewrite which has so far taken me three months.
  


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

• The Orphan of Hugo Cabret by Brian Seiznick
• The Juniper Chronicles - The Secret of The Red Spot by Leonardo Ramirez
• The Steampunk Detective by Darrell Pit

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I'm not sure about the original idea as it was so long ago. However I decided to send the manuscript to a professional proof-reading/editor and she highlighted some issues. At the time I was reading a steam punk novel. It occurred to me if I re-wrote in this genre the story might just have a chance of working. 


What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This is my first novel for older children so I'm just keeping fingers crossed that a child who enjoys the steam punk genre may just take a chance on my work. 


If you would like to discover what other authors are working on then why not check out:
Children's author Sanda Ann Horn's website by clicking on this link  

Where I Found Inspiration For My Writing

Normally I exam mark over the summer period however this summer I worked for a language school and helped run a student residence, something I've never done before. The building was just weeks old and had a large number of teething problems including lifts not working, the basement flooding due to heavy rain, toilets mysteriously flushing etc. etc. Although the hours could be long and some of the issues frustrated me the experience has fuelled my imagination. I have so many new ideas I just don't know where to start.

Idea one: A picture book story about packing a case that came to me as I packed my bag (I had to stay on site at least three nights a week).  

Idea two: Another picture book idea which popped into my head whilst I took the picture on the right showing members of staff saying goodbye to another. 

Idea three: Yet another picture book idea which is based on a conversation I had with another member of staff. This one I've already written and sent off to my editor, so fingers crossed.

Idea four: An idea for a non-fiction title which was prompted by a chat with another member of staff. The exciting this is I already have an editor wanting to see the synopsis and it will mean I'll be writing with a co-writer for the first time.

Idea five: With each passing day more ridiculous things happened and I found myself madly scribbling things down in the note book I carry everywhere with me. Now I feel I have enough material for a mad-cap sit-com. I've never written one before but I now have the urge to give it a go.

So next time you're stuck for an idea go and give something new a go. Work outside your comfort zone. Meet new people. You never know it may fuel your imagination as mine has been. Now I'm off to work on the story for idea two.  

Unashamed plug for my latest children's writing course starting 6th October 2012

As Cool As A Cucumber

Whilst I was working on my book The Greatest Guide to Green Living (available as an eBook and a physical book) I collected the best hints and tips for reducing, recycling and reusing as I could find. I also found uses for everyday items for example I discovered baking soda and vinegar are great items to help you clean your home and help cut down on the use of cleaning chemicals.

I am still an avid collector of such useful tips and thankfully family and friends still send them to me. I recently recieived an email from a friend containing tips for alternate uses for the humble cucumber. Although I've only tested the results for tips one and five (both of which worked for me) I still wanted to share them with you. So here are five of the most useful tips she sent me:

One:
Fed up with your bathroom mirror misting up each time you enjoy a hot bath or shower? Then cut yourself a slice of cucumber (or use the end you would normally put into the composter), rub over the mirrors surface then buff with a soft cloth or tissue. It should cut down on the this annoying little problem.

Two:
Do you love your garden but hate to use chemicals to wage war on those bugs and slugs that are eating your plants? If you place a few slices of cucumber in an aluminium tin those little critters will move next door. Apparently the chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium and this reaction gives off a revolting scent humans can't smell but garden pests can.

Three:
Rather than reach for the shoe polish reach for a cucumber. Cut a slice of cucumber and rub over your shoes for a quick shine that also repels water. Obviously this does not work on suede or similar textured surfaces and doing a small test patch first is always advisable when trying something new.

Four:
That squeaky door hinge driving you crazy? Rub the offending hinge with a slice of cucumber and the problem should be solved.

Five:
Sinks and taps in need of a shine? Again reach for that cucumber. Slice, rub then buff with a soft cloth or tissue and your taps and sinks will regain some of their lustre.

As I've already said I've only had a chance to try tips one and five and found they worked for me. If you decide to try any of the above please note I take no responsibility for the results.

However if you try any please let me know the results (good or bad), so I can update this post. 

Water, Water No Longer Everywhere

As I enjoyed a walk with the dog in the glorious sunshine I noticed one of the ditches had a few mounds of frog spawn in it. Looking around to check no one was watching (friends and family think I weird, I don't want the locals to also think I am) I got on all fours to get a closer look. I watched in awe as the little black bodies wriggled in their transparent shells. It then struck me that water is something we take for granted. However for these little creatures water is life, no water is certain death. 

As I watched I decided three things. 

Firstly I'll keep going back to that ditch and if needed I'll lift the frog spawn and try to save those little tadpoles. 

Secondly I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage people to look after the wildlife around them by taking action when needed. This could be a simple act of taking a dolphin by the tail and dragging it back into the water: 

In less that four minutes 30 dolphins are saved 

To making small changes in lifestyle. For example as water is my theme here are three simple to follow tips that will hopefully reduce water usage:

No butts!

Take a look at your guttering and see if you can find a place to safely situate a water butt. If you can take a few measurements and invest in one and install. Then during dry periods use the water collected to care for your precious garden plants.

Drinks for all

How often do you not finish an entire glass of water? Don't just throw that water down the drain use it to water your indoor plants or add to your newly installed water butt. Also remember when you have a party and keep drinks in a large bucket of ice don't waste the water. Once the ice has melted give your plants a drink.

The right time

Try to avoid watering during hot periods of the day to reduce evaporation. Also cut your grass slightly longer than the regimented 0.5mm (1/4"). You'll have to water less as the soil will keep the moisture in for longer.  Also cover flowering borders with bark chippings or similar, this should also reduce evaporation.

If you've found this interesting and feel the urge to make a difference, however small then why not check out my book The Greatest Guide To Green Living or spend a little time researching on the web. As the video shows we can all make a difference. 

The Story Behind the Stories

In October of 2011 I finally published a collection of stories featuring the character Anansi The Trickster Spider as an eBook. I say finally because it was in 2003 when I was asked to work on a project to help promote a local cultural venue called Aklowa.

Aklowa

Aklowa was an African village set in the Hertfordshire countryside, within minutes of Stansted Airport. A friend's friend, Felix Cobson, had set it up some twenty years before. Originally born in Ghana Felix moved to the UK and had spent his life teaching children about African heritage. This included traditional clothing, cooking, music, crafts and stories. This is where I came in. I started my writing career writing for craft magazines and I was asked to write a book that would appeal to children about African crafts.

Felix

Knowing little about the subject I jumped at the chance to visit Ghana. I spent a wonderful week with friends visiting villages known for their pottery making, Adinkra block printing and Kente strip weaving. I also visited markets and talked to makers of musical instruments and carvers of masks. Based on this trip I created a synopsis for a book and approached The British Museum Press. To my delight they liked the idea and in 2005 they published African Crafts: Fun Things to Make and Do from West Africa.

Now you may be wondering where Anansi came into all this. Well Felix relished in his retelling of the traditional stories featuring the trickster character Anansi. Being a collector of words I scribbled the stories down. Knowing how I enjoyed the stories Felix was kind enough to lend me a couple of books. From these scribbled notes, borrowed books and research, I began to write my own retelling of these stories. As with many such personal projects other things took me away from it. So these stories sat on my computer, almost forgotten. However in the middle of 2011 I had time to return to them. Finally after eight years my collection of Anansi stories was published as an eBook and is now available on Amazon.

Unfortunately I'll never be able to show Felix the fruits of my labour, as he passed away before I had time to complete. However knowing Felix he'll be looking down, with that wonderful broad smile of his, trying to decide which story to treat me to next.

P.S. If you'd like to purchase a copy please click on the relevant flag (top left and top right of this blog)