When you’re a writer, scenes from your stories spring to mind like memories rather than something you imagined into existence.

I wrote a scene which took a slightly different direction from what I intended. Love it when that happens.

I often realise I’m talking to myself in the most inopportune moments. I brush it off as a writers thing.

Don’t over think things. Just get it down on paper and fix the plot holes later.

If writing begins to feel like hard work, I know I need to step away and recharge my mind and spirit.

You know you’re a writer when you talk about your characters as if they are family members.

I woke up this morning feeling accomplished and excited.

I have been obsessing over a certain scene for some time now and I have been anticipating writing it with both dread and excitement. I knew what I wanted to portray but it was going to be a challenge because I was eager to experiment with a different technique. 

I have always admired pieces narrated using stream of consciousness. For this particular scene, I wanted to convey a sudden switch in my protagonist’s experience. My aim was to reflect this transition through the tone and pace and evoke the change in the reader as experienced by the character.

I was damn near ready to abandon the idea because although I have dabbled with the stream of thought method in earlier shorter works, I doubted whether I could pull it off or if the end result would be good enough to include in the final manuscript.

I’ll be honest, I still don’t know if it is good enough or pages of nonsense I’ll eventually scrap and pretend never happened. I do, however feel satisfied that I attempted it and didn’t give into fear and self-doubt. That in itself, is an accomplishment for me and the process of trying something new has left me rejuvenated. I had enormous fun with it and found the technique quite liberating. If nothing else, it was a great creative exercise.

 

The Start To All Things

When I started writing my current novel, I was mainly focused on completing it. Like every other writer, as the word count increases and an end to the story now draws closer, I have started thinking what next? As frightening as the thought might be, I’m going to want someone to read it!

Of course this led to a little research and advice from fellow writers which proved to be a little daunting and overwhelming at first. So much to consider and a hell of a lot of work involved. I wasn’t sure if I wanted the distraction, after all I have a novel to complete.

I was inspired to finally take the plunge and start this blog. If nothing else, it will be somewhere to empty my random thoughts and musings about writing, my work in progress and what happens after the final chapter.

Like any writer, I am attached to all the characters I create. It is never easy deciding to end a character’s life including my villains. To create and then destroy is a bittersweet thing.

I like experimenting and ignoring rules when I write. Creativity shouldn’t be defined or limited. It’s ok to break the mould, it can lead to your very own individual style.