Category: Competitions

Am I crazy … or not? – Part 1

On By TomIn Competitions, General, Insight, Novel, Poetry
Ryman – Newcastle Upon Tyne.

I know that several people think that I am crazy, and that was before I made the decision.  Which decision?  I hear you ask.

It could be my stepping down from a management position, or perhaps reducing to a three day working week.  In the eyes of different folk it’s one or the other, but for most I suppose it’s because I’m doing both … at the same time.  My graphic is an acrylic of the Ryman, Newcastle Upon Tyne store where I’ve worked as a Deputy Manager for the last four years.  I completed the painting in 2009 to celebrate Red Nose Day.

Mainly thanks to my wife who is continuing to work, I have no major concerns regarding cashflow.  Olive (the wife), is the unsung hero in my situation, because I have her support.  She understands how much it means for me to devote quality time to my writing.  My motivation is based on several factors but I’ll mention more detail on that in my next post.

I am now well on the way with the third (and final) draft of my romantic novel ‘Ten Days’.  My sample readers will have their copies of the manuscript within a few days and a hard copy is already with my son, Andrew.  He has agreed to help me with the design of the cover and I know his design expertise will better anything I could come up with.

The Inkerman Writers writing group has recently re-established itself in a new base and I am in attendance once again every week.  The group is working on short stories for inclusion in an anthology which we aim to have published in the Spring of 2013.

At the time of writing I have two other short stories underway for competitions.  My writing schedule is rounded off by my attempts to write at least one poem a week for posting on thestarlitecafe.com/  For the purposes of posting poetry on that site I’ve retained the pseudonym of Tomfoollery.

What’s new?

On By TomIn Competitions, General, Insight, Novel

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.

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?