Storytime

Don't know about you but some aspects of writing are boring, dull and no fun at all. Scrolling through looking for a place to send something. Changing word count, font, style to make sure you are hitting all the publishing requirements. Getting ready to hit send only to find that they are no long accepting unsolicited submissions. Scroll to find another publishing opportunity. Going through draft after draft, sometimes working on a manuscript for years, and then losing the whole love with the piece of work. This is when it's necessary to take a step back. Go off and do something. Potter in the garden. Mow the lawn. Weed a total garden bed. Go for a walk. Swim at the local pool. Hit the gym (if you are that way inclined). Perhaps take a joy flight. Do something you enjoy. Put distance between you and the piece of work that is dragging you down. When you come back, refreshed and hopefully energised....give that piece a very good looong look. Is i...

School holidays at work means lots of folks...lots of kids on console games and computers, lots of adults with lots of DVD's because 'there's nothing decent on the telly'. For us it also means school holiday programs. The January ones are always a hit/ miss. Folks are either away and numbers are low, or no one goes away and we have hordes. It doesn't really matter as long as we are providing something for someone. This year I am running a new program -  a Tinies Hands On...which incorporates the regular reading of stories and singing of songs but with an arty crafty ending. The hardest part of this is dealing with adult interpretation. We have to focus on the journey, it's not the end product that matters. So if, after reading a book about the sea and singing row row row your boat, if we attempt to make a fish.....it really doesn't matter what the fish ends up looking like. It could have five tails....seven fins or no fins...it could have two e...

As last week's blog terrified informed us that the year is half over, a few of my writing colleagues have gone into a mild panic ... state of setting goals and deadlines. I do know that seeing the year whizz by so fast has a sobering impact. It makes you realise what you have done..all good if in fact you HAVE done something. As we all know, I have done very little. So I've settled in front of the computer...and Yep..I've checked Facebook...gave a thumbs up and even a smiley face or two. I've checked my emails (shoe shop having a great sale!). It's not like I have NOTHING to write. I have unfinished pieces all over the place. Let's pretend that all of the above is 'unfinished works in progress' and not merely 'stuff'. I do have first drafts, unfinished drafts, sentences that I thought were pretty good and would lead onto something...well something do-able. But where to begin? Hmmm.... looking out the window isn't help...