Sylvia Beckett Davidson's Blog, page 2

Apologies for the Delay of my Poetry Collection!

I’ve now got the confirmation that my book is now available, yet it’s not, if that makes sense. My collection is searchable (click here) and my author page is now up and running on Amazon too (here), but so far no one can put my collection in their carts. It should be available for purchase soon enough. Otherwise if you would prefer the Kindle version that one is now LIVE! 

I’ll keep everyone updated via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Apologies for the delay... I can definitely say I’ve learned a lot from this process next time, when I’m ready, I’m clicking the publish button regardless! 

Covers, Covers, Covers! - Notes on Uncommon Love Update

Well, 1 cover. 

I’m quite some ways ahead of my schedule in one area - the publication of my poetry collection - but a tad behind on my urban fantasy series’s. Either way, I’m making big strides on both main projects right now. 

This poetry collection has been a long time coming, and I’m enjoying the second draft process immensely. I’ve been trying to get this minuscule project published since 2015! I remember the promise to myself like it was yesterday! “Get it done as a reward for your dissertation!”

Of course, my dissertation was finalised the following year, but it was a the process that put into perspective that deadlines and creativity were my forte, even if the topic I chose so many years ago, would put anyone to sleep. I was proud of what I had written, how long it was, and how much poetry was the very thing that balanced out the stress I was accumulating.

Anyway, having collected and organised my selection of poems to feature, I swiftly moved onto the cover design. I’m no graphic designer, but I knew I wanted a simple cover for this poetry collection. Something unassuming but smooth enough to blend into any shelf. So, I got to designing and set up a small poll after my original choice of five covers was reduced to three:

Final 3 designs

The simpler designs caught my eye, and that of some of my closest friends. The poll ran for 12 hours only but almost everyone who voted both on twitter and Instagram voted for cover A.

A photo of a dying tree by me

Like I said, I wanted a fresh and simple design and remembered I had taken several nature pictures for my Writing Journal around my birthday. This bleak looking tree against a bold blue background was just the ticket to add flare to the cover, and the overall meaning of the collected works about the bleakness of love and the ultimate perseverance of it too.

I’m not sure what it was about the tree but I agreed with many of the voters! Now I have my cover, I just need to focus on a bit more editing, moving onto formatting, marketing and then publishing. I don’t have an end date in mind yet, but I know it’ll be very soon!

I can’t believe it, a second book, my first line title. ♥️

Thank you for reading! Which cover took your eye?

Birthday Update and DFW Gifts!

Relocation/Moved Abroad:

I have finally moved to Canada, and I’ve been here for a little while now. Landing on the 4th August I was (and still am in a minor way) unable to get internet access. I had shipped a ton of items over to my in-laws, which stupidly I forgot having plug adapters in, so I didn’t have any way of connecting my laptop to any power for days. Not writing was so difficult! I don’t yet have a phone, number or data until I get ID arranged and sorted to actually be a registered individual here, which will take a few weeks.

Thankfully, I have my laptop power sorted! So now I’m able to write and get creative again. I’ve been able to rework older chapters and scenes I’d written some time ago, which was a great reminder for why first drafts are meant to be horrible collections of work that will be amazing. The pressure of rushing out a manuscript seems to fade and the enjoyment of writing, and the process toward completion is sound, again.

I’m not sure how long I have until I finally find a job so I’m taking this precious time to write and complete as much as I can whilst being distracted, very cutely, by my dog who I have missed greatly. I’ll get back to focusing! As for moving in general, it was fine. But being a new person all over again, and trying to navigate through these experiences, alone, has proven difficult. Like I stated, I’m going to focus on my blessings; my love, our dog & my writing.

Yesterday was my Birthday:

So my darling got me a wonderful selection of David Foster Wallace books from one of our local BMV’s (partly because moving abroad meant having to donate so much of extensive library that I’d built since I was small, and so he replaced a couple), and I cried. I ugly cried so profusely I couldn’t find a tissue fast enough. He stood in mild shock, watching a grown woman crying over a birthday card and a pile of books, with a tiny confused smile across his face. It was pure wonderment.

Also, be sure to check out my poetry tab up top! Let me know what you think! Poetry is a hard topic of discussion for so many writers, as most don’t read or write it, nor do they see the value in it. Poetry for me is the basis of “show don’t tell”, its the basis of where I see the most genius ways of using words to describe the most innate and most human desires, wants or rejections, and I’d like for others to see and feel that too.

Thank you for reading!

‘The Broom of the System’; ‘Oblivion’; ‘Everything and More’; & ‘A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again’ - all by David Foster Wallace

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So… I Made a Channel Trailer

First of all, I apologise! It’s an awful first attempt at a super quick channel trailer. I can edit a whole lot better, but I shipped most of the things I wanted for the trailer off to Toronto this morning! So, again, I’m sorry for all the cringe.

It’s a little something, something for my channel that I’m slowly building up. It’s also fantastic being back on YouTube. For those who don’t know, this year would mark my ten year anniversary if I kept my main channel going - I had to quit due to intense stalking. One thing I have enjoyed is growing my numbers organically, and making friends with strangers I hadn’t met yet (obviously this time around that won’t happen so much), so we shall see how it all unfolds! Enjoy!

SBD, xoxo

Bard of the Isles | New & Upcoming Online Literary Magazine

Logo by Emily O’Sullivan (c) 2019

I’ve been a member of the ever growing British and Irish Writing Community across a few social media platforms since the beginning of the year. It’s a vast and varying collective of creative and passionate writers of all genres who have major things in common: we’re British and we’re writers! 

After the amazing growth of the network, Phil Parker, the founder, has recently decided with his team to launch an online magazine/literary journal. That would be amazing! We all voted for the magazine to be named, Bard of the Isles, which tastes so quintessentially British that it’s rather exciting! 

Writers will be able to showcase their short stories (not vss365!). I really want to see this community grow and develop in such a huge way that it’ll be hugely popular in the coming months and years. Think, a LitHub for British readers. 

This seasons theme: “The Prequel”, which will be a nice creative challenge. What is the prequel or backstory of your work in progress (WIP)? If you have something, or a tingle to be extra creative, join our Facebook group, say hello and get ready to submit something we are all dying to read!

It’s a hugely inclusive group of individuals too, so if you’re a Brit living in Australia, Spain or Canada, etc you can interact, network, make friends with and join the official Facebook group (here). If you’re not a Brit but you live, work or study in Britain, you can do the very same! We’re all Bards of the Isle!

Meet new folks, share tips and advice about writing, and even give beta reading a go! It’s a lot of fun! It’s given me an idea about creating a sub genre of sorts for the hashtag (#BritishIrishWritingCommunity & #BIWC) to reach out to writers of the commonwealth too. It would be great to see what’s developing out there! For more information check out the hashtag, and Phil Parker. You’ll enjoy Motivational Monday too. 

Example of a Motivational Monday post from the Facebook group.

Writing is, and can be a daunting, challenging and lonely process. So join up, there’s only a handful of us so far, make friends and share your works. It would be great to finally meet you.

Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2O5iqlj

Phil Parker on twitter: @PhilSpeculates

New Video! My First Book Review for my AuthorTube

Let me know what you thought, and please purchase a copy of the short story collection. I’m so proud to have bought and read a copy. It’s such a great collection of stories that leaves you wanting to know more, much more. With the added beautiful texts, the stunning imagery Sisamis has described, and the essence in how immortality is explored is mouth-wateringly stunning. Check both out! 

 

Thank you!

My BookTube is Also Live!

I have also set up a YouTube channel for this journey too, to record various experiences I will learn about writing and publishing. I’ll also discuss books and poems I will come across, as well as performing my own awful poetry. Join me, help me, enjoy!

Thank you for taking the time to watch and follow along. More coming very soon so watch this space!

Sylvia B. Davidson

Welcome!

I have finally set up my website! I have set up other social media accounts, so be sure to check the links at the bottom of the site to follow me and say hello.

The site is kind of basic at the moment as I’m still trying to get to grips with it all, and I’m also spending most of my creative time writing my novels, poetry and working on my next lone essay collection, Uncommon Love. I’m not yet 100% sure what I’ll present and how often, but anything major will be hosted here and on my YouTube channel, though I know I’ll be sharing my writing journey and the various processes I’ve discovered and learned about self and traditional publishing where possible.

This is just a short post, but thank you so much for checking the site out! If you have any suggestions do not hesitate to let me know! I’m also far more active on Twitter!

Twitter Hashtags: #WormwoodWitches #Polygon5 & #MysticMoon - which are working titles for my main three WIPs.

S. B. Davidson

Sylvia Beckett Davidson

July 2019 Update: I’ll have an introduction video uploaded at some point!