Writing

Bungee jump sweepstakes – a left and right Christmas story

Bungee jump sweepstakes – a left and right Christmas story

6 min read

Last year I shared a Christmas game / story by one of the members of my writing group. The details of ‘how to play’ are in last year’s post – but essentially it’s a pass-the-parcel game requiring participants to pass the ‘parcel’ to the left or right each time one of those words is mentioned. (I still prefer the notion of a drinking game… but that’s just me!)

I’ve actually not been attending the Writers’ Group meetings of late but still see the lovely Julie (author of last year’s story) and Pam on a regular basis. And Pam has very kindly shared with me HER left and right Christmas Story. Game. Thingy. Click here for a print version. 

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Interview with Dan Newman, author of The Clearing
Overwhelmed and confused. And stuck

Overwhelmed and confused. And stuck

3 min read

After last year’s Problogger Training Event I returned home in a funk – confused about who I was, as a writer and blogger, and as someone poised to pursue their passion. Of course the conference was in early October and I’d just taken a redundancy from my government position and was in the midst of selling my place and indulging in a seachange. In retrospect I was a tad numb and struggled to actually process anything I learned.

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Bloggers malaise – four key causes

My now-defunct YA novel: an excerpt

5 min read

A few years ago I did an online Year of the Novel course. The intent was that we received advice and instruction on a regular basis – sharing stuff with other participants and our tutor – until (hopefully) at the end of the year, our novel was finished.

I mostly enjoyed the course although the tutor went AWOL about 8 months into the course and all twenty-odd participants slowly dropped the ball. My young adult novel made it to 30,000 words before being shelved. 

Obviously having been anorexic (then bulimic and then a binge-eater) I decided to ‘write what I know’. The main character however, isn’t based on me and nor are her family based on mine, but I have drawn on old feelings and specific events. This particular excerpt below is taken from the novel and adapted so it is kinda stand-alone(ish) as I entered it unsuccessfully in a recent short story writing comp.

I’m closing comments again cos I know I’ll be paranoid that any compliments (about the writing) are just platitudes and I’ll be equally fearful of criticism. Plus… with a bit going on at the moment it means I can stress less about comment numbers! 

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The great novel. Or memoir. Or something
Becoming a writer

Becoming a writer

4 min read

Since finishing work and embarking on my seachange I’ve pondered on my passion for writing.

I’ve said I blog because I like writing. But… if it was that simple I’d just keep a personal diary (and I know there are some of you who may think my diet blog is basically just that!!!). But, it’s more than that. I wouldn’t press the ‘publish’ button several times a week if that was the case. I obviously want to be read. I want to be heard.

And I’ve generally been proud to call myself a blogger. “I blog,” I say, when anyone asks. But… is that enough, I’m now wondering?

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Avoiding criticism

3 min read

Today I’m guest posting for the lovely Satu, at Body Capable, so please pop over and show (us) some love!

I’m always a bit nervous when I send someone else a guest post or sponsored post. There’s that moment, just before I hit ‘SEND’ that I worry about their reaction.

Will they shake their head with regret they’ve asked me to write something for them; or will they clap excitedly and think, “Oh that Deborah is a genius and should be knighted!” Or something!

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