K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 26
January 29, 2019
Prompt Me #5
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Did you know that I have a writing prompts ebook available from Amazon? Prompt Me is the basis of this series and will be just 99p for the duration.
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This series will run for 10 weeks. Each week I take a different prompt from the book and expand on it.
You can join in too. Whether it be a paragraph or a short story, follow me in getting creative, tag me to let me know, and I will feature a snippet of your interpretation on Writerly Bookish Stuff and send my readers your way.
If you are just here to read and not partake, that’s great too. Thank you for stopping by.
Prompt:
I’ve been called a villain and that’s fine. I find villains make the most interesting characters.
My Interpretation:
It takes more than an amiable personality to lead. In fact, it can require quite the opposite. I didn’t land this role by being everyone’s friend, I got it because I get shit done and can shoulder the responsibility of the big decisions.
My people know they’re safe in my care. Outsiders, not so much. Like I said, I’m not everyone’s friend, and I will protect my little corner of the world by any means possible.
I’ve been called a villain and that’s fine. I find villains make the most interesting characters. If someone writes a book about my life it will be a damn good read.
Remember, if you are joining in with this series, let me know in the comments, and tag me in your posts (whether they be blog or social media) to let me have a read of your interpretation. It can be anything from just a paragraph to a short story.
Content belongs to K.J.Chapman
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January 28, 2019
Teaser Tuesday
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These weeks are just flying by. I only post, on average, 3 times a week, and I’m still trying to keep up with myself. Note to self: sit down and schedule more posts.
I did a fair bit of writing this week, so I picked a teaser that might hold a little more insight. It probably doesn’t, and you’ll all be reading this post with confused looks on your faces, but anyhoo, I liked this one.
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I already know that this draft will need a huge rewrite, but I’m okay with that. Right now, I’m just happy to see the word count grow.
Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my Prompt Me #5 post.
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Word of the Year 2019
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I am such a cotton headed ninny muggins sometimes. I was perusing everyone’s word of the year social media posts etc, and someone happened to ask if I had a word of the year because they hadn’t seen it in my posts.
That got me thinking about what post I mentioned my word of the year in. I went back through my end of 2018 posts and my 2019 plans posts, and… I didn’t mention it anywhere. I was sure I had included it, but alas, I had not.
So, it may be a little later than I had planned, but I have been consciously working with my word in mind throughout January. I still want to share it with you despite it being nearly February.
My word of the year is…
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I chose this word because it focusses my 2019 goals in my mind. I want to build on my blog, my followers, my review team, my Amazon reviews… I simply want to market, grow, and publish books like a boss!
In my personal life I want to build more memories with my husband and kids. This year, we have plans to have mini, weekend breaks within Cornwall (and hopefully beyond). Going abroad is not an option for us this year, but we live somewhere beautiful and plan to make the most of it with family days, holidays, and adventures.
My son is 9 months old, so we want my daughter to have new, family memories with her sibling, and enjoy 2019 as a four.
Do you have a word of the year? Let me know. I love to hear them and the reasoning behind them.
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January 27, 2019
Sharing Sundays
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I have something fun to share with you today… #storycrafter on Twitter. It is run by Faye Kirwin (@writerology) and takes place every Sunday at 8pm GMT.
What is #storycrafter? It is a weekly, cyber get-together of writers. My favourite weeks are the roleplay chats where you answer all questions as one of your characters. It is a great way to get inside their heads.
Why not check it out tonight?
Do you have/know of any blogs, vlogs, or social media pages you think I’d be interested in? Let me know.
Content belongs to K.J.Chapman
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January 22, 2019
Prompt Me #4
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Did you know that I have a writing prompts ebook available from Amazon? Prompt Me is the basis of this series and will be just 99p for the duration.
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This series will run for 10 weeks. Each week I take a different prompt from the book and expand on it.
You can join in too. Whether it be a paragraph or a short story, follow me in getting creative, tag me to let me know, and I will feature a snippet of your interpretation on Writerly Bookish Stuff and send my readers your way.
If you are just here to read and not partake, that’s great too. Thank you for stopping by.
Prompt:
I’m not a total people-phobe, just the weird ones who tell me they’re extra-terrestrial.
My Interpretation:
Theres nothing better than a quiet bus ride; just me, an old lady with her small, fluffball dog, and a man in a suit at the back with a newspaper over his face whilst he tries to grab a nap.
The weather isn’t great, but I like watching the tracks the rain makes on the filthy windows.
The bus slows to let a passenger on. This bus stop has no shelter, just a pathetic sign, and even then you have to wave your hand to ensure the driver sees you. Luckily, for this chap, the old lady and her dog are getting off and rang the bell. There’s not another bus on this route for three hours.
The man steps up to pay, and I’m taken aback by his presence. He’s over six foot, broad shouldered, and in all black, combat-type clothes.
He shakes rain out of his hair and scours the bus, his eyes coming to rest on me. Something like recognition lights his face. “Oh, good, you did get on this bus.”
Who the hell is he talking to? I Look behind me, half expecting to see someone there. Nope, just me. I look back to the man, and he takes this as an invitation to come and sit with me. Out of all the seats in this near empty bus he picks the one right beside me.
“They said you usually catch the early bus,” he continues on.
“Excuse me?”
“Tom and Kelsa told me your morning routine. ”
I’m seriously confused. “I think you have the wrong person. I don’t know a Tom or Kelsa.”
Now, it’s the stranger’s turn to look perplexed. He rolls his eyes and sighs loudly. “No wonder they were keen for me to bring you in. Its difficult enough as it is for initiates, but to not know a thing…”
Initiate? This is bizarre, and he is clearly unstable. I slowly get to my feet, gently nudging his knees aside to skirt passed him. “You have the wrong person.”
He grabs my elbow and glances back at the sleeping man to make sure he’s still oblivious. “You have a weird birthmark on the base of your spine, right?” he whispers.
I tear my arm away from the man. “How do you know that?” I hiss under my breath. “What are you, some kind of stalker?”
He laughs now. “Don’t flatter yourself. I know of your birthmark because I have one too, so does Tom and Kelsa. You are like us, Jilly. We’re… extra-terrestrial.”
Oh, God, this crazy man knows my name. “I am not like you, because unlike you I am not unhinged.”
Pushing him aside, I ring the bell and wait for the doors to open. I’m still a good four miles from home, but I’ll call a taxi if I need be.
“Do not follow me!” I warn him.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “If Klark was still alive you’d know who you truly are,” he calls after me.
The doors close and the rain pelts on me as his words fully sink in. He mentioned Dad. I spin back toward the bus as it pulls away. The stranger watches me through the streaky glass. Something in his face says ‘now I know I’ve got your attention’.
Remember, if you are joining in with this series, let me know in the comments and tag me in your posts. Whether they be blog or social media, let me have a read of your interpretation. It can be anything from just a paragraph to a short story.
Content belongs to K.J.Chapman
Find me on:
January 21, 2019
Teaser Tuesday
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It’s teaser Tuesday, folks! I’ve written a decent amount this week, despite having an eight month old that decided to pull himself to standing using the furniture and start crawling in the same week. Fear not, the playpen was delivered quickly… phew.
I had a few teasers to choose from, but I have decided to go with one that has a tad more insight into my MC.
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It’s getting hard to pick teasers that don’t contain spoilers. As the weeks go on, I’m sure it’ll only get harder. Dont worry, I’ll hunt some out.
Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my Prompt Me #4 post.
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January 19, 2019
Sharing Sundays
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This week, I’m bringing a Youtuber to your attention. Emily Bourne has a channel on Youtube where she discusses everything writerly.
Here’s a look at one of her videos: What is Writer’s Block?
Her videos are fun and informative for budding writers, so head over and let her know I sent you her way.
Do you have/know of any blogs, vlogs, or social media pages you think I’d be interested in? Let me know.
Content belongs to K.J.Chapman
Find me on:
January 18, 2019
Book Review: Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly
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Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly 4/5
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Ten Days in A Mad-House, Was Written By Nellie Bly in 1887, after she lived, undercover, at a women’s insane asylum at Blackwell’s Island in 1887 for ten days. This was an assignment given to her by Joseph Pulitzer. The living conditions and treatment of the Patients were Horrible.
Review:
Although the story of Nellie Bly going undercover in an asylum is truth, it reads as fiction. The horrific treatment of patients is the stuff out of a nightmare: making all the women use the same towel, rotten food, staff choking patients for being noisy etc. The list of atrocious behaviour by those in a position of care is endless.
It was also shocking to read how quickly sane women were deemed insane for quite different illnesses.
Taking a look inside an asylum in 1887 is eye opening. Nellie was incredibly brave to put herself through that ordeal for ten days. It makes you think about the poor souls left behind in similar institutes.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review
January 15, 2019
Prompt Me #3
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Did you know that I have a writing prompts ebook available from Amazon? Prompt Me is the basis of this series and will be just 99p for the duration.
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This series will run for 10 weeks. Each week I take a different prompt from the book and expand on it.
You can join in too. Whether it be a paragraph or a short story, follow me in getting creative, tag me to let me know, and I will feature a snippet of your interpretation on Writerly Bookish Stuff and send my readers your way.
If you are just here to read and not partake, that’s great too. Thank you for stopping by.
Prompt:
What would you do if you heard your nextdoor neighbour giving your name and address to a hooded figure?
My Interpretation:
The build and height are that of a man. Who wears a hooded coat in this sunshine? Mr.Cathson points across the road to my house, directing the stranger right to me. I duck behind the wall. Why the hell am I hiding? This person is obviously looking for me, but something feels amiss. The fine hairs on my arms are standing on end.
Peeking out from behind the wheely bin, I watch the man shake Mr.Cathson’s hand and make his way back down the garden path. My heart thuds as he crosses the street, but instead of heading toward my house, he takes a left and disappears down the lane toward Parc-Rose Avenue that leads into town. Even Mr.Cathson watches on in bewilderment. Why ask after me and not call by?
As I straighten myself up, Mr.Cathson hurries over in his slippers and robe. “Lilah, a gentleman came to my house asking after you. He said he wasn’t sure of your address, but you left this at the pub yesterday.” He hands over my grandmother’s silver pin.
I touch my lapel, realising for the first time that I had lost my most important possession. “Oh my God, I hadn’t noticed. I wonder how he knew it was mine?”
Mr.Cathson helps me drag my recycling bins to the curb. “Oh, it was quite odd actually. He said he knew it belonged to a Helena Quinten, so assumed it was passed down to her only living family member.”
There go those hairs on my arms again. My mouth is suddenly dry and my tongue sticks to the roof. My grandmother died when I was seven. Mum had kept her pin under lock and key in a safe for years. I only found it once she had died and I sorted through her belongings. How would a stranger know anything about this pin or my grandmother?
Remember, if you are joining in with this series, let me know in the comments and tag me in your posts. Whether they be blog or social media, let me have a read of your interpretation. It can be anything from just a paragraph to a short story.
Content belongs to K.J.Chapman
Find me on:
January 14, 2019
Teaser Tuesday
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Today’s Teaser Tuesday has a little bonus. If you follow me on Twitter, then you may have seen my tweets from Sunday’s session of #storycrafter. If so, then you already know a little more about my MC, so it’s not really a bonus for you. You also know that this WIP involves cosplay. (Some of you messaged me asking if this was the case after last week’s teaser, and you are correct.)
If you haven’t seen my tweets, then head on over for a little look into the mind of my MC. Give me a follow and I’ll return the favour: KJ86CHAPMAN
Anyhoo, back to business. This week’s teaser is a snippet from what I’ve written this week.
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At thw moment, it is getting hard to pick teasers without giving too much away. I thought now you know there is cosplay involved, this teaser would be perfect.
Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to come back next Tuesday for another teaser. Better yet, come by tomorrow for Prompt Me #3.
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