Inspired by blog reading

This week, I have been greatly enjoying reading Sarah Salway's 50 word photo stories. It's a genre (?) that I've only briefly flirted with, being by nature a verbose writer, at least until a good editor gets their hands on my work!

Inspired by Sarah's creative efforts, I thought I'd have a go. Let me know what you think.

Renaissance

Six months into his recovery, his good friends threw a party celebrating his renaissance. He was leaner, fitter and the gaps in his memory were now plugged.
‘Here’s to sobriety,’ he toasted. Everyone raised their cranberry juices.
He smiled to himself, thinking of the Veuve Clicquot chilling in his refrigerator.

Self Indulgent Posting

I suppose self-indulgent posting is the part of the nature of a blog - or at least a temptation, anyway.

Last night's post, Flux, was a moment of self-indulgence.

Sorry.

Be indulgent with me.

I do, most of the time, realise how lucky I am.

I do, most of the time, recognise that writing is not as important as the events of the world.

It's just...

Sometimes, it feels that way.

Sometimes, I have to shout about the joys and the lows of making sense of my own world through the use of words.

Flux

I know there are times that life has to be like this, but tonight I'm feeling like a kid whose lolly has dropped from his mouth!

It's the process of applying for things that's getting me down.

Not the process of the application.

The waiting process.

Which, unfortunately, is an inherent factor of a writer's life.

This time last year, I was waiting for the publication of Being Normal.

That was easy. The publication was secure.

Now everything's up for grabs. The PhD. A possible commission. Writing a story worthy of the latest Tonto anthology. Finishing the novel. Finding an agent.

I'm longing for a clear path through the murk.

I don't deal well with flux.

Even More Tonto Short Stories

If this cover doesn't get your creative juices flowing and get you scribbling your entry for the Even More Tonto Short Stories competition, I don't know what will!

More details at: http://www.tontobooks.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Even-More-Short-Stories

Good News

Yes, for a change, I have some good news to report!

Remember the awful thing?

Well, it looks like it's gone away.

Yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

(Sorry, but I am very excited!)

In other news:

I will be signing books at Borders Gateshead, next Sunday (28th June) from 1pm.

If you're in the area, please come and say hello.

Remember: Authors don't bite.

New Writing Competition

Tonto Books is running a new anthology competition with a deadline of 27 July, 2009.

The anthology is being brought out to mark Tonto's fourth birthday.

Details can be found here: http://www.tontobooks.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Even-More-Short-Stories

A week of both halves

It's been a funny week - I've always been a fan of 'Open All Hours'.

Exam week at school - I hate these exams. I was very good at exams because, once upon a time (before I fell in love with alcohol), I had a near photographic memory. But that's what most exam are - a test of memory. Therefore not a test of learning. Stop testing our children in this way!

Monday, I went to see the Head, to tell her I was applying for a funded PhD studentship. I'd love to get it and have had wonderful help off friends in applying for it. But I hate waiting. So we'll see.

Wednesday - the Awful Thing was re-judged and it seems it's not as awful as we thought. Still, a tense time ahead.

Thursday - saw me send off my PhD application.

Friday - marking papers and ending up at Whitley Bay Ice Rink - don't ask.

Saturday - polishing my proposal for the Durham Mystery Plays. Trying to finish my story for the BBC Short Story competition. Beginning my next collection of short stories, as well as working on the new and personally satisfying novel.

Sunday - the road resurfacers are supposed to start @ 8am. Our new neighbours move in downstairs. They're a family with a young daughter.
Anything's got to be better than a drug-dealing prostitute and her club music obsessed son! (oh yes, there's material for another novel in there!)

Monday - an assembly about Lego and marking the papers I didn't bring home over the weekend.

I long to be a full-time writer!