A number of my followers have already moved over to my new website http://terriehope.webs.com/ . For those of you that haven't, please go over and join. It will only take a few minutes. And you won't get mountains of e-mails from me.
P.S. For anyone who goes to my site: So that I know you've joined please remember to fill in details on your profile
If anyone has visited this blog over the last few weeks, you will have noticed that I haven't posted here. That is because I am now posting on my new blog site.
So please go and visit me there. You will have to become a member in order to post a comment, but I would love to have you join me there.
So, I will end by saying, Looking forward to seeing you in my new home.
I missed posting something last week. I've been busy.
First, I posted a while ago that I had sent a story for publication consideration. Well, I waited for weeks with not a word. Then last week I received a reply. I'm sorry to say it was rejected. But, you know, I'm not in the least bit bothered. Yes, it was disappointing to get a rejection, but life must go on. So my story is now ready to be sent out again. It will be winging its way out again in the next few days. One day it will get to the right place.
Next, I've been trying hard to get another story ready for sending out. It's no fun trying to juggle many diiferent tasks at the same time.
Along with that I've had to fit in housework. I'm sure the dust follows me around. I clean and the next time I look everything is covered again.
Lastly, I've been setting up a new website. It is one of those everything in one place sites. Once it is up and running, it will hopefully make life just a little easier. I hope you will all move there with me. So, if you want to have a look around, please follow this link http://terriehope.webs.com/
It is still a work in progress, and I hope that you will give me suggestions on improvements that I could make to the site.
A few posts back, I spoke about, blog interviews. There are so many blogs and so many bloggers doing interviews. Because of this, I decided to look for another way of interviewing people. I think I have found it.
So, all I will say at the moment is watch this space. I will soon have my first "interview" up. And, when I post the first one I hope to get some feedback from you so I'll know if it works.
Also regarding interviews, is there a question you want to ask me? If there is something you want to know, please ask. All questions will be answered (provided they are not of a too personal nature).
I look forward to posting more interviews and other writing related information.
I have found, since I started writing seriously, that pretty much everything I read has to be proof read. It is fun to point out the faults of a fellow writer. Reactions are also interesting.
Many years ago, my first task when I arrived at Church was to pick up the weekly bulletin, to read through it, and then to point out the mistakes to the writer. As you can imagine, at first this was seen as helpful, but as time went on, it was less help and more frustration. Why was he frustrated? I was only trying to help.
Well, that was the start of proof reading everything that came into my hands in the way of reading matter.
One time that I wish I didn't do this is at the moment. I have been "studying" for a test. The information is around history, dates, statistics, etc., ,my weakest points. I have been very half-heartedly reading, and yet, I find I'm proof reading with great enthusiasm. Determined to find fault.
Though a good thing when it comes to writing stories, books etc., I wonder if it is a good thing when reading other things. Unfortunately, the information I've been reading is from the government. They would, no doubt, not appreciate me pointing out their mistakes in a publication such as this.
Maybe I should just stick to proof reading and critiquing stories etc., it's safer. What do you think? Your opinions on the why's, when's and wherefore's of this subject would be interesting and greatly appreciated.
As I read through some blogs, my own included there is an increasing number of people doing blog interviews. I have been thinking recently about doing something different.
Don't get me wrong. I am not saying the interviews aren't good, I just think there are too many people doing the same thing.
So - within the next few weeks I will be doing something else.
What are the types of people information posts that you, my readers, would like to see?
What would bring you back day after day, week after week?
I want to bring you news, views, highs, lows, and other information from people who have the same love as you and me, to write for children, teens and young adults.
Until next time, I'm signing off. Please look out for something new, and happy writing.
As 2010 dawned, I made a promise to myself that I would add a post to my blog every day, well most days anyway, and I would write everyday, no question about it.
Well, as the days have changed to weeks, I still haven't added a daily post to my blog, and my writing has all but gone by the wayside.
The annoying thing is as I said in my title, life has got in the way. There is housework, shopping, a disabled son, telephone calls, to name but a few things. My best intentions never bring about the achievements I strive for.
But, although "Life" is a natural part of the day to day workings of the world, I know that one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, I will be where I want to be. I will not give up. We can all reach our goals, climb that mountain no matter how high, and just be who and what we want to be.
Do you have the problem of how do I reach my goal, how do I climb that mountain? I do it by carrying on carrying on.
Someone once gave me a picture - a stork trying to swallow a frog. The frog is hanging on for dear life head in the birds beak, and feet around its neck. He is doing everything he can to avoid being swallowed. On mention of the picture, the person in question told me that he felt it suited me as I never seemed to give up. No matter how hard things get, although I might moan about it, want to give up on it, or just forget about it altogether, I always find some way of bouncing back.
So, my question to you is:
When "Life gets in the way" how do you deal with it?
As writers we all have that time that we want to send that story or book manuscript out to a publisher. But once we get to that point, we wonder if we can let that baby go.
Have you had this problem? I have.
I wrote my first assignment and sent it in thinking I would get a letter back from my instructor telling me all the things she thought were wrong with it. Well, it had faults, but how many don't? As I took the envelope and opened it, my heart stopped. Is this how I am going to feel every time I send something in? I am being stupid. Afterall, its only a story, right? Right.
But this was just an assignment, a practise run.
Anyway, Having opened the envelope, and reading the comments from my instructor, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.
So, back to the reason for this post. That first assignment was written about six years ago. WOW!! And only now I have managed to revise it, edit it, and send it out. Gulp! Well, its a good story (of course I think it is, I wrote it didn't I?) The writing, the revising, the editing, the re-revising, re-editing, .........
Was I ever going to have it ready? Well, long story short, the process took a few weeks, thankfully with the help of some very helpful, more knowledgeable writer friends. I did and redid, and thought this would never end.
Well, I'm pleased to say, it is finally finished, and it is finally on its way. I went through the whole process, printed the manuscript and cover letter, put them in the envelope with the return envelope and relevant return postage. Then came the "part with it" time.
Do I, don't I. Of course I do, but I know that when I get to the mail box the envelope will mysteriously stick itself to my hand, and will stay out of the box. I'll have to go back home and try again later.
So activate plan B. My husband came home for lunch the other day, and was informed that my story was in the envelope and ready to go. He was happy to hear this, and told me that I could have the car. My response, oh, you can stop by the mail box and put it in on your way back to work.
I'm pleased to say, he agreed, and my story was/is winging its way to the publisher. So, now starts the waiting game.
So I suppose the best way to end this is to say please keep checking back to see if my submission was a success, or if it came back with that all too frequent, dreaded rejection form letter.
Welcome to my latest author interview.
My guest today is Canadian children's author Simon Rose. His novels include The Doomsday Mask, The Heretic's Tomb, The Emerald Curse, The Clone Conspiracy, The Sorcerer's Letterbox, and The Alchemist's Portrait.
He's also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction: Volume One and founded the almost legendary networking group Children's Authors and Illustrators on Facebook. Here's what Simon has to say about his work.
Welcome, Simon. Could you please tell us a little about your books.
My books are in the science fiction and fantasy genre for middle grades, around ages eight to twelve. You can see full details of each of them, including excerpts and synopses (and you can even listen to recording of my readings) at the Books page at simon-rose.com.
The Alchemist's Portrait is a time-travel story, in which Matthew journeys through the centuries using magical paintings which act as doorways into the past, in order to save the world from the clutches of an evil alchemist.
The Sorcerer's Letterbox, another time-travel tale, is based on the famous mystery of the Princes in the Tower about Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, who were supposedly murdered on the orders of Richard III in 1483.
The Clone Conspiracy is a science fiction thriller involving clandestine laboratories and secret experiments, while The Emerald Curse, based on my own reading of comic books while growing up, concerns Sam's adventures in a bizarre, and at times deadly, superhero universe.
The Heretic's Tomb is set in the medieval period once again, this time during the Black Death in 1349.
My latest novel, The Doomsday Mask, was published in the spring of 2009. It's once again for ages 8–12 and in the science fiction and fantasy genre. It's a fast-paced adventure about ancient civilizations, mysterious artifacts, and shadowy secret societies.
M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: Terrie Hope, Children’s Author
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://tbhope.blogspot.com
For Immediate Release
Guest Author, Simon Rose at Terrie Hope’s Write What Your Heart Desires
Terrie Hope explores the written word through your heart desires at http://tbhope.blogspot.com. Come along with Terrie on her weekly chats such as “This Business Called Writing” and interviews of professionals in the trenches of writing for children.
Stop by Friday, January 15th and visit with Terrie’s guest author, Simon Rose. Simon will be checking-in throughout the day to chat and field any questions you may have.
Thank you in advance for your interest.
We all make new years resolutions at the end of the year, and try to convince ourselves that we are going to keep at making them work. But how many resolutions are still being followed a few days after the beginning of January? If you're anything like me, they are all broken by the 3rd of January.
With this in mind, I decided this year that I would not make any resolutions. I am making writing goals instead.
I will start small - one submission a month. Possible, yes. Doable, definitely. Then there's my blog, and my critique group.
So, there's plenty to keep me busy.
What are you going to do make resolutions, or make goals? Whatever you choose, I wish you luck and success.
I am determined to make 2010 my best writing year yet. Are you?
As I write this the clock has just struck 8am on January 1st 2010. I sit here and think of the things I am hoping to achieve in this new year.
There are many things, that come to mind, but my greatest priority is to get my writing life in order. I have procrastinated through 2009. That voice has kept saying "Oh, tomorrow is another day", "Publishers don't want your stories, they're not good enough", " Just do this first, and then write".
There has always been something to stop me writing. And, yet, while that little voice nags me to not submit. There is that other voice that tells me to do more.
So which one do I listen to?
I could listen to the procrastination voice. I know where that will lead me - straight down the road to nowhere. But I will listen to the other voice. It is time to get my writing hat on, to put aside all the things that keep me from writing, and to get those babies on paper and out to those publishers who I know are waiting for them.
So, as I write this, I know that my first task is to set my goals for this brand new year. What are they? I think #1 will be to submit at least one story every month this year. Doable, yes, achieveable, definitely.
2010, here I come. No New Years resolutions. They are too easily made and too easily broken. This new year will bring dreams to reality, words to paper, and achievements to be proud of.
I thank everyone who has read my blog for taking the time to visit.
My wish for you all for 2010 is success in all that you do. May this be a happy and prosperous writing year for us all.
As I write this, the countdown to 2010 is well and truly underway. In a few days we will be looking back over 2009, and reminiscing over the things we have done.
When I look back, the only real achievement I have is finishing the advanced course, Beyond the Basics, with the Institute of Children's Literature. Well, I suppose that is, in itself a great achievement, but I would like to have taken things further, and submitted some of the manuscripts I've worked so hard on.
So, on friday it will be the start of a new year. The old will be gone, and I am hoping and praying that with the new year, will come the chance to submit - regularly. I will do it no matter what it takes. Even if I have to start small and increase slowly, I am determined to leave that starting block and race to the finish line.
In closing, I would like to wish all my followers, and anyone else who reads this, a very happy and prosperous New Year. For my writer followers and readers, I hope you have a very successful writing year.
Until next time.....
My last two posts were about the new critique group I have started. I am happy to say that at the time of writing this, there is a total of 18 members in the main group. From that we have 7 groups, of which one is now full.
And all this in two days. Am I pleased, yes. I never expected this.
Writing is a lonely business, but its times like this that you can find friends. I am grateful to those people who have joined up so far. I think I can safely say that this is turning out really well.
Come back to see where we go from here.
from my last post. I mentioned my critique website at http://critiquecafe.ning.com
Well, since posting, I have moved the site to the above address. So some of the members only stuff doesn't necessarily exist any more. Anyway, to cut a long story short. I found a place where I feel we can do so much more, and went for it.
We all need that support in the lonely world of writing. And, if you're anything like me, you are alone with your writing in the big wide world of life.
So, if any one is reading this, and wants to join, please go on over and take a look around. We would love to welcome you onboard.
There is so much more to writing than just putting words on paper or the computer screen. Just writing will not necessarily get us published. There is a small matter called editing, or to some revising.
We all want our story to stand out from the rest. We all want that "wow" factor. We all want that letter or e-mail of acceptance for that baby that we have slaved so hard to put out there.
So, one way that we can iron out some of those flaws that like to creep into our work, is to join a critique group. Yes, we are sharing that hard work with other people. But while they are reading, they are finding all those little faults that we have more likely than not overlooked.
That fresh pair of eyes, or should I say, those fresh pairs of eyes, are a godsend. And, if we can put our feelings about our story to one side, and reflect on the comments that others have made about our story, we are bound to have a better story than before they read it.
Writing is a lonely business. How often can we go to our family and friends for constructive, helpful and positive comment. In my case, the comment is generally the same, "Oh,it's okay".
Yeah, right, its okay. But can I improve it? Did I spell something wrong? Is my punctuation correct? Questions, Questions!
I write what comes to mind, and feel that I don't really have a specific genre to put my writing into. I suppose you could say I lean more towards adventure, but then I feel I don't want to be stuck in one genre. I want to go with my heart, my feelings.
So, with this in mind, I find that open genre critique groups are few and far between. And, if this is the case, I stand little chance of getting into a critique group.
So there was a solution to this. Yes, you got it. Start a group of my own. This group is very much in the early stages, but I hope that what I picture for the group will take me and the members that join to new heights. I hope that we will all take the comments made and use them to make our work even better.
In 24 hours, I have a membership of 7, including myself. I am hoping that more people will join, and we can have a multi genre, helpful, constructive, friendly community of writers whose main ambitions are to help others to get their work published, and through other peoples help, get our own work published.
New members are welcome. Groups sizes are four to six. The first group is already established, and I hope to see the group critiquing early in the New Year.
So if you are looking for a critique group, keeping in mind that this is a group for Children's literature, please consider my group. You are not obliged to join, but would be most welcome if you decide it is for you.
I have a web site for the group which can be found at http://critiquecafe.ning.com
Take a look. You need to be a member to see the forums, but the places you can get into will give you an idea if its for you. I look forward to your membership if you join.
Until next time, happy writing.
The month of November has raced by, I can't believe I'm writing this on the last day of the month. Only a month left of this year, WOW.
Well, you may be thinking that I've been pretty quiet on here lately. Yes, I have. November has been a busy month with Nano. But hey, it was well worth it. I did my 50,000 words. More to come on that in another post though.
So now that Nano is done, I can get back to concetrating on my writing - stories, my blog etc. etc.
My next interview will be posted shortly, so look out for that.
I look forward to posting my next news, so until then. Chow for now!
If anyone is wondering if and when I am posting another interview, the answer to the If is yes. When - well that may be a few weeks.
I am one of those crazy people who decided to take on NaNo, and it is taking up all my spare time. I do have another interview planned, and in fact the questions and answers are almost ready for posting. But there is still work to be done, behind the scenes so to speak.
Please do keep an eye on my blog, and I will let you know when my next interview will be up.
Otherwise, NaNo has taken up much of my time since november 1st. I am hoping to make it two wins out of two, but that remains to be seen. I am enjoying seeing how all the other participants are doing, both on the ICL boards, and on the NaNo site.
To all my followers who are doing NaNo, have fun. I hope to be able to support you through this month of madness.
Well, my second interview has been posted. I think I can safely say that it was a great success. Thank you to Jan for allowing me to ask her the questions I did. I really do appreciate it.
Thank you, too, to the people who took the time to read the interview. I really appreciate you all. I'm getting the hang of this now.
I hope to see my followers and others here for my next interview.
Thank you again.
It is my privilege to be able to post my interview with Jan Fields, Children's Author, ICL Instructor and Web Editor. I feel honored to know Jan, even if it is only through the medium of computers, message boards, and live chats. I hope you will enjoy reading my interview with Jan, and that you may learn just a little more about her.
Terrie: Please tell us something about yourself?
Jan: Something relevant or something weird? Let’s go with weird. I once rode on an elephant. I’ve also been licked in the face by a puma (it gives you a bad case of cat tongue burn). Oh, and I once almost drowned because a tall young woman was standing on my back in a pool (she was afraid of the water and I’m assuming she mistook me for a ladder.) How’s that for odd things?
Terrie: Where or how do you get your ideas for your books and stories?
Jan: At the idea store. Actually I’m not sure. A lot of times they originate from questions that come to me when I see something or read something that makes me think. For instance, I was dragging garbage cans out one day and noticed a spider had hung egg cases on one of them. I thought of how much trouble the spider had gone to in spinning this snug waterproof case, but then hung it on a garbage can – which seemed ironic. At any rate, thinking about egg cases and perception (my garbage can was her safe place) led to a story about a spider who won’t tell her neighbours what she’s spinning so they all guess based on their own perceptions of what is important. And that became “Spider’s Riddle” which eventually published in Spider magazine.
Terrie: You’ve adapted a few children’s favourites. Where did the inspiration come from to do these adaptions? From who’s POV were the adaptions written? And how many more do you plan to adapt?
Jan: Ah, the adaptations were all done as work-for-hire for an educational publisher. So the number that I’ll ultimately adapt is totally up to them. If I had to guess (and I love to guess) I would guess that I’ll probably do about a dozen ultimately. These were all classics and not necessarily children’s books, though I look for the things that the kids will most enjoy in each book and try to really stay true to that. For instance, Moby Dick and Great Expectations have parts that are laugh out loud funny and I wanted to make sure to keep that in my adaptation – that sense of surprise that makes a reader laugh. The point of view of the adaptations always match the point of view in the original.
Writers seem to enjoy talking about where they write, what their writing space looks like, and what computer system they like using, amongst other things.
Yes, I enjoy this subject too. I used to have a desk to write at, my writing space was filled with piles of books, papers, and other things writing. Now I have the end of my dining table, and no personal space to write. This is mainly due to a lack of space in our house. You can only put so much furniture in a shoe box, right?
Anyway, I didn't want to write about what my writing space looks like. I wanted to write about what I see out of the window while I'm writing. I am lucky enough to live in the country, so the views from all my windows are beautiful.
Those peo
ple who have been following my blog for a while may recognise this picture. I had it at the top of my blog until I decided to do a little decorating. Well, this was the view out of the window at my last house. Rather dark, rather misty, but beautiful all the same.
Now, when I look out of my window, I see a small pond with ducks peacefully gliding on its surface. I see trees and bushes surrounding the pond, and I see fields stretching far back.
At the moment, there is a group of water buffalo cows and a calf inhabiting the field directly behind our house. To think that in their natural surroundings these are wild animals, yet here they are so friendly. At times when I need to clear my head, all I need to do is to go and stand at the fence for a while. The buffalo are there to see what I am doing.
I'm lucky, I have a peaceful environment. I have the wildlife. I have the farm animals. But most of all, I have a beautiful view. What more can a writer want?
CONTACT: Terrie Hope, Children’s Author
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://tbhope.blogspot.com/
For Immediate Release
Guest Author, Jan Fields at Terrie Hope’s Write What Your Heart Desires
Terrie Hope explores the written word through your heart desires at http://tbhope.blogspot.com/. Come along with Terrie on her weekly chats such as “This Business Called Writing” and interviews of professionals in the trenches of writing for children.
Stop by Friday, October 30th and visit with Terrie’s guest author, Jan Fields. Jan will be checking-in throughout the day to chat and field any questions you may have.
Thank you in advance for your interest.
###
廢話不多，祝你順心~^^........................................