Tom – Page 145

What’s new? The painting I’ve used for my graphic for one thing. I finished it today and thoroughly enjoyed producing it. I based it on one of the series of photographs I took on a recent visit to Blair Castle. I was with my wife for a short break in Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands.

Blair Castle - Stream through forest — Stream through the forest – Blair Castle, Perthshire

On the castle grounds are a network of paths, some leading from the main path up to a beautiful walled garden. Crossing the bridge takes the visitor to the impressive garden.

Apart from that, I’ve had another minor writing success. A few days ago I got my copy of Writers’ Forum delivered and right there on the Writers’ Circle (readers’ letters) pages is my letter about reading a ‘chick lit’ author’s book. I was raving about ‘Want To Know A Secret?‘ by Sue Moorcroft, which after reading recently, I wrote a review here. Having that letter published got me another Moleskine notebook, so it can go with my other two. They’re too expensive to buy … don’t ask me how I know.

Early in July I had a readers’ letter published in Writing Magazine. That one was to extol the virtues of Wunderlist, the task/project management program. It’s a FREE download so check it out on my Blogroll. You don’t have to be a writer to use it because it’s a useful program for anyone who likes to keep track of what’s going on in life without resorting to a diary on their phone.

I’ve now progressed to Chapter 6 of ‘Ten Days’, my romantic novel. This is the second draft which has seen a change of viewpoint from omniscient to third person. As I’ve said previously, I’ll soon be posting a jacket blurb to let folk know what it’s all about … apart from being romantic fiction set in Central America. There’s always more to life than love. Isn’t there?

Scotland - June '12 001 — Pitlochry Fish Ladder – viewed from the Hydro Electric Power Station on the River Tummel

What has the superbly designed Pitlochry Fish Ladder in Scotland and a book by a respected author have in common? Answer: They both offer an alternative to being stopped on a quest. The Fish Ladder was built in 1952 alongside the Hydro Electric Power Station. It means that when the trout and salmon return to the River Tummel after their arduous trans-Atlantic journey they have an alternative to being stopped at the reservoir dam.

Scotland - June '12 004 — Pitlochry Fish Ladder – viewing some of the 34 tanks (or locks) from the pathway over the dam.

Thanks to the ladder they can continue their task, swimming upstream so the life cycle goes on. The fish follow their natural instinct to swim upstream but they use the large plastic tubes fitted into the locks of the fish ladder. There are even three ‘rest’ tanks which must surely be appreciated by the fish. Anyway, I digress.

‘Write to be Published’ by Nicola Morgan is a ‘How to …’ book like no other I’ve read. It’s not written in the accepted format of telling the writer what makes the recipient say ‘yes’. It helps the writer leap over the hurdles by presenting what provokes the recipient to say ‘no’. When I say recipient I mean agent, editor or publisher. In other words, instead of the writer being stopped in his or her tracks having completed their writing mission, Nicola has offered sufficient advice to help the writer move on.

This book is written with a real sense of ‘been there, done that,’ and Nicola’s humour shines through page after page as she makes many relevant points. I’m sure she’d agree that much of the information is logical or common sense, but she presents it clearly.

I read this book in three days if I include the time I spent going back to make notes whilst certain things preyed on my mind. This will join my small shelf of ‘must have’ books for writing reference.

Nicola takes the writer from the point before writing, through the various stages of writing and editing and on to submission. Four main sections followed by a resources list make it easy to return to an area of particular interest. The language and tone are aimed at writers of all abilities which is always a positive step and there is no preaching to the newer writers.

I’ve already made changes to my new novel purely by heeding advice given in this book and I thoroughly recommend ‘Write to be Published’ to writers, no matter how much you think you know about the writing process. Thank you Nicola.

Before I leave the subject of common ground, which is where this post started, I think it’s only right that I mention The Watermill Bookshop in Aberfeldy. It’s only a few miles south of Pitlochry and it was during my visit to that bookshop that I found Nicola’s book. Now with any luck, as the trout and salmon go on to procreate thanks to the ladder, I’ll go on to have my book, ‘Ten Days’ published, thanks to Nicola’s advice and guidance.