Lucy Mitchell's Blog, page 15

#BookReview Before I Saw You @RandomTTours

Some stories you read leave your head the second you finish them and some find a quiet, secluded spot at the corner of your mind and set up camp. This book is one of those.

l read this on Netgalley last year and have not stopped thinking about it.

Here’s the blurb:

A poignant and moving novel about two patients who fall in love as they recover from traumatic injuries in the same hospital ward…all without seeing each other.

Alice Gunnersley and Alfie Mack sleep just a few feet apart from one another. They talk for hours every day. And they’ve never seen each other face-to-face.

After being in terrible accidents, the two now share the same ward as long-term residents of St. Francis’s Hospital. Although they don’t get off to the best start, the close quarters (and Alfie’s persistence to befriend everyone he meets) brings them closer together. Pretty soon no one can make Alice laugh as hard as Alfie does, and Alfie feels like he’s finally found a true confidante in Alice. Between their late night talks and inside jokes, something more than friendship begins to slowly blossom between them.

But as their conditions improve and the end of their stay draws closer, Alfie and Alice are forced to decide whether it’s worth continuing a relationship with someone who’s seen all of the worst parts of you, but never seen your actual face.

A tender novel of healing and hope, Before I Saw You reminds us that connections can be found even in the most unexpected of places—and that love is almost always blind.

Here’s my review:

I read this last year and became obsessed. I can’t believe I am now on the blog tour.

This book is next level emotional romance.

Despite it dealing with strong themes of survival, guilt, and pain and is focused around two characters who have suffered serious physical trauma, it is one of the most uplifting books I have ever read.

Alfie and Alice’s friendship blossoms as they sit in their hospital beds, separated by a curtain and begin to process their lives which will never be the same again once they leave hospital.

The two characters Alfie and Alice are adorable and I immediatley become invested in them. I loved the hand holding through the curtain when things got tough, the banter and the puzzle books.

Alfie is such a hero. His humour and cheeky banter through the curtain draws Alice out of her trauma. Everyone who is in hospital for something scary should be in a bed next to an Alfie.

It’s such a moving story and for most of it neither gets to see the other. They are just voices from behind the curtain. I take my hat off to Emily Houghton.

If you want to read next level emotional romance – read this.

Please can this be turned into a film!

‘Our scars are simply the marks of our stories. They show we’ve lived a great life, and most of all that we have survived it. Don’t hide your story away in the shadows.’

#AmWriting Tips For New Romance Writers @zoeallisonauth1

Here’s a Sunday treat for all of you out there thinking about writing romance. One of my favourite romance authors is taking over my blog today – Zoe Allison. Her last book was so good that on my book review I developed an obsession with the emoji because her character was so hot.

Hello all,

Here are my tips for new romance writers Tips:

I consider myself new to this game. I only began writing around six years ago, in my late 30s (I’m not trying to hide my age by being vague, I’m just so old that I can’t remember!). My first book was published in 2020 and my latest book, Sun, Sea and Summer Vibes, is my third novel of 2021. I don’t consider myself an expert by any manner or means. I’m a doctor by trade and I have no qualifications in English or writing except for my trusty GCSEs in English Literature and English Language (yes, GCSEs. That’s how old I am). However, there are some things I’ve found helpful, which I can share.

Firstly, the post important thing is to write. Get your ideas down on paper. It doesn’t matter that it’s unpolished and rubbish to start with, practice makes perfect.Read craft books. I had never written anything substantial before, so to start with I read a book about writing romance and another one about writing dialogue, because that was the area where I felt least confident. What’s a beat? What’s a tag? How do you separate different characters’ speech?Don’t start off a book with description. It’s doesn’t capture the reader’s attention. Start with action or dialogue. Enter the story as it’s underway.Don’t include stuff about the non-central characters unless it’s driving the main characters’ stories forward. Otherwise it can make the story drag and the reader gets bored.Show don’t tell. Don’t explain things to the reader as the narrator, show them how someone feels or what their backstory is through action and dialogue.Read your work out loud. When it comes to self-editing, you catch so many more repeated words, missing words or errors of flow if you read out loud. An editor recommended this to me and I’ve found it invaluable.Whatever path you want to take for your romance book, I’d recommend trying to get a place on the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme. The RNA website tells you more, but at the start of each year you can apply for a place on the scheme which has many benefits and a mahoosive one is the opportunity to submit a manuscript once per year to be read and critiqued by a professional writer. This is a big deal in order to improve your writing in general and also to a publishable standard (no matter what sort of publishing path you want to go for).Get a copy of The Writers’ and Artists’ yearbook. This is a helpful resource for writers, and contains information on how to go about getting an agent and getting published. An up to date one comes out every year.Get on social media. Join the writing community on Twitter. There’s a lot of mutual support out there and getting to know other writers virtually helps you along the way. I’m mainly active on Twitter and now also TikTok, which is video based. I’m also on Instagram and Facebook but don’t find those quite as much fun, however there are many choices and you can delve in to see which suits you best.Make a website. This s a good idea no matter what stage you’re at, you have control over the content and you can use it to display your brand and pop a link on your social media to direct people to it.There is no one path! If you ask one hundred different writers you will not find two stories which are the same. Everybody’s journey is different and there isn’t one more valid than the other.

Now get writing!

Author bio:

Growing up, Zoe Allison loved stories about falling in love. But rather than being rescued by a knight in shining armour, she imagined herself fighting dragons alongside him, battling supervillains as heroic allies, or teaming up to dive into perilous waters in order to save a loved one from drowning. Once Zoe did grow up, she became a doctor. But as time went on, she craved a creative outlet to counter the soul sapping burnout that her career inflicted upon her, and also to achieve those happy endings that were so often lacking in the real world. She wanted heroes who truly love and value women, who find their true love inspiring, are fascinated by her, want to connect with her as a soulmate and fully open themselves to her on an emotional level. And so, Zoe began to write her romances.

A Zoe Allison novel promises a heroine who is not only her hero’s equal in ability and intellect, but whose hero equals her in emotional intelligence. Her characters overcome conflict infused with spine tingling sexual tension to forge a deep connection as soul mates as well as lovers, and ultimately, they both rescue each other emotionally. Even if they might begin their journey as enemies…

Zoe has a new book out which sounds fabulous. Click here to find out more.

#BookReview The Little Blue Door

This book has left with me such a crush on Anton, the male character. At the end I found myself drafting an email to the author, Francesca Catlow, about whether she could write a sequel…just for me and Anton. Also it left me with a longing for a beach in Corfu.

Here’s the blurb:

Fly off to Greece with Francesca Catlow’s Greek romance novel set in Corfu. If you like Patricia Wilson, Karen Swan and Victoria Hislop, then you’ll love this heart-wrenching love story, that will take you on an unforgettable journey of discovery.

In the post-pandemic world Melodie feels lost and alone, desperate to find something to remind her of her previous life. She sets out on a trip to Corfu to reconnect with happier times, only to be haunted by memories and events from the past.

While travelling Melodie meets an intriguing and handsome man who has the potential to change her future. However, will the young girl from the plane with piercing green eyes be the one to open the door to Melodie’s fate?

Here’s my review:

A gorgeous read and I definitely recommend this for a beach holiday.

The author brought to life Corfu for me so well I lost all track of the rain drizzling down outside and my husband doing DIY. Some beautiful and vivid descriptions in this book and now I have finished it I feel like I went away somewhere in my mind.

In parts it is an emotional read especially as Melodie starts to piece together the secrets from her past. This book does have themes of loss and grief running through it but it’s also full of warmth and hope.

The standout for me was the characterisation. The relationships between Anton and his fourteen year old daughter, Gaia, was beautifully crafted. He is a great father and I think this made me swoon for him more.

A great read and one I will be recommending to book friends.

Author bio:

Francesca Catlow loves to travel. Born and raised in the heart of Suffolk, Catlow has travelled extensively in Europe with her French husband and, more recently, their two young children. Of all the places she’s been it is the Greek islands that have captured her heart. She visits as often as family commitments allow.
She has previously written plays alongside being a lyricist and performer. This book is the first in a series.

Purchase link:

Click here.

#BookReview In Just One Day #WeekendReads @knackeredmutha

You’d think after recently losing my lovely dad I would not be drawn to books which are about emotional journeys through grief. Well, the exact opposite is happening to me. I currently gravitate towards books where all my heartstrings are tugged, where I can relate to the loss of someone close and where characters navigate their way through the darkness and come out the other side into the light stronger and ready for a fresh start.

I loved this book because I could tell the author was writing it from her heart. She’s lost someone very close to her and she knew the emotional course to plot for her characters.

Here’s the blurb:

Flora has always adored her brother Billy. Born just eighteen months apart, their childhood was spent like two peas in a pod – no one could separate them. Now, as adults, they remain the best of friends. And as Flora is immersed in family life, Billy is always there to lend a hand.

But, in just one day, everything changes.

In just one day, Flora’s life falls apart.

In just one day, Flora has to learn how to live again.

From the nostalgia of seaside Britain to the breath-taking beauty of Venice, in tears and laughter, join Helen McGinn for this emotional, uplifting and joyful story about love in all its guises. But above all, this is an unforgettable story of one little girl and the brother she adores.

Here’s my review:

Throughout the book I kept thinking – excellent TV family drama!

This wonderful book is poignant, atmospheric and centres around a family coming to terms with loss. It is an emotional read however I also found it uplifting and full of hope.

The standout for me was how the author showed through her characters that everyone has their own grief journey to go on. This is so true and relatable.

I thought Flora was an excellent character and she had my full support as she tried to process what had happened to her brother, Billy. The family dynamics were well crafted especially the tension between her and her mother, Kate.

It did break my heart as essentially its a story about a little girl who is missing the brother she adored. If this was on TV I would be sat with a box of tissues and glued to the screen.

You can tell this author knows a lot about wine and I even learnt a thing or two about wine.

Great read

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3piy6R2

Author Bio – Helen McGinn is a much-loved wine expert on TV and in print and an international wine judge. She spent ten years as a supermarket buyer sourcing wines around the world before setting up her award-winning blog (and now best-selling wine book) The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club. She is the drinks writer for the Daily Mail and regularly appears on TV’s Saturday Kitchen and This Morning. Helen lives in the New Forest and Boldwood are publishing her debut women’s fiction title in Spring 2021

Social Media Links:
Twitter https://twitter.com/knackeredmutha
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/knackeredmother/
Newsletter Sign Up Link https://bit.ly/HelenMcGinnNewsletter
Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-mcginn

#BookReview Cornish Gold at Summer’s End @PaperDollWrites

I was thrilled to be invited onto this book blog tour.

Here’s the blurb:

Rumors of a ghostly presence haunt Julianne’s Cornish autumn in the series’ charming fourth installment.

What began as a bit of teenage mischief in the village quickly became stories of spooky lights and ghost sightings in the wood. Being sensible, Julianne is more worried about whether she can finish her kids’ costumes in time for the annual Halloween contest—and whether husband Matt and his eager assistants will be selected for the exclusive Brookshire Garden Design Competition. So when everyone in town begins flocking to the local ‘ghost walk’ tours Julianne assures her wide-eyed children it’s just a case of imagination run wild…until she experiences her own brush with the supernatural, that is.

Real or imagined, Julianne can’t shrug off what she saw, or even bring herself to confide in sympathetic Matt for advice. Best friend Kitty is on hand to help, despite her usual family battles, including that of her cousins’ shady new scheme to profit from the town’s ghost mania. But even Julianne’s friends can’t fully understand her need to find a solution this time, one that leads her on a quirky quest from local lore, to meetings with the village’s ragtag paranormal club, and even a creepy abandoned cottage hiding secrets in the woods.

Join Julianne for suspense, surprises, and (of course) heartfelt moments as book four in the series brings an autumn like no other to sleepy Ceffylgwyn.

Here’s my review:

This book has a lovely autumnal feel to it. Autumn is my favourite season so I lost myself in this story which features the run up to Halloween, costume making, crunchy yellow leaves, giant pumpkins and spooky occurrences.

Laura Briggs knows how to create village life for her readers. She knows how little villages work, their gossip networks, the strong personalities and how there’s more to the sleepy looking ones that meets the eye.

She also has a talent for giving her stories that wonderful sense of community.

I loved the characters of Julianne and Kitty in this story. Kitty is a great character and brought a smile to my face with some of the things she came out with.

Some good twists in this book and one in particular tugged on my heartstrings.

An enjoyable read especially for those readers like me who love the season of autumn

Purchase Link – https://smarturl.it/cornishgold

Author Bio – Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.

Social Media Links –
Find Laura on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1JjeMoI

Follow her on Twitter at http://bit.ly/1ME9ivJ

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of Cornish Gold at Summer’s End (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

How To Clean a House Like a Writer #AmWriting

House cleaning is a useful activity for writers.

The amount of house cleaning a writer does depends on a number of factors:

Stage of WIP. If the writer is in that euphoric writing stage (up to the first 5k words for most of us) house cleaning will be de-prioritised. On the other hand if the writer is knee deep and wading through the mid novel swamp then house cleaning will happen. If the writer hates their WIP (can happen at any stage) or just wants to avoid it (again this can happen at ANY stage) then house cleaning is guaranteed. Twitter. If Twitter is down it is more than likely the writer’s house / flat / room will get cleaned. Deadlines. If the writer is in a sweaty, deadline-induced panic then the state of the house will be ignored until the writer has met their deadline and spent a few days recovering. Procrastination levels. When experiecing high levels of procrastination a writer can spot two books out of place from across the room, a spec of dust on a bookshelf and a spice rack which urgently needs a new colour code system.

If you are looking to adopt the writer’s approach to house cleaning then please follow these top tips:

Your creativity levels will need to be reflected through your choice of cleaning clothes. Wild and wacky cleaning outfits might not seem appropriate to non-writers but to a writer they are a reflection of how imaginative they are feeling. A writer will struggle to turn off their creative mind even when they are cleaning a house. So make sure your cleaning outfit is thought provoking, vibrant and creative.Writers like to obsess over stuff like first chapters, names for characters and annoying paragraphs which never sound right regardless of how many times you revise them. This will need to come through in your cleaning routine. Spend ages scrubbing the hell out of one tiny object and refuse to put it down all day.Writers can get bored easily with their creative work and the same applies to house cleaning. Make sure you combine house cleaning with episodes of staring out of the window, lying down when no one is watching and regular surveillance of Twitter.Under the guise of ‘house cleaning’ rearrange bookshelves to make room for those extra books on order which your loved one doesn’t know about (as they think you have far too many books as it is) and never will know about them as when your extra books are delivered they will magically fill up the new gaps on your shelves. Also under the guise of ‘house cleaning’ keep an eye out for potential places for new bookshelves or book cases. Writers can never have enough books.This is important: adopt a writer house cleaning style according to your chosen genre:Historical fiction. Ideally you want to rise before the birds wake up. The entire house and everything inside it needs to be scrubbed. Take all your rugs outside, beat them a lot, sweep floors and then scrub them…twice a day. Make sure you aim for hours of back-breaking cleaning chores. Thriller / Crime Fiction. Move in mysterious ways around the house and keep looking over your shoulder a lot. Whilst dusting your extensive collection of books on serial killers, with an ear to ear smile, think up new and unqiue ways for murder methods and shocking twists. Kidnap the hoover and leave a ransom note plus a trail of complicated clues for your loved ones.Science Fiction. Make science integral to your cleaning methods. Whilst cleaning think about parallel universes, black holes, technology, supernatural events and in the middle of house cleaning…disappear. Romantic Fiction. Float around the house whilst caressing and stroking the furniture. Twirl around the living room with your duster imagining you and your fictional crush are dancing at a lavish ball. Make sure you dust, polish and rearrange your bookshelves according to the intensity of the romance. When the house cleaning gets too much for you (after a good half hour for most of us) either run back to your WIP or curl up on the sofa for a quick nap.

Happy cleaning to all those writers out there.

#Writers 8 Steps to Side Characters #BookReview @sacha_black

This book, 8 Steps to Side Characters by Sacha Black is launching TODAY and it is a writing game changer.

I can liken the experience of reading this book to Sacha Black shining a monster sized torch on all the side characters I have ever created, arching her perfectly sculptured eyebrows at me, clicking her Laboutin heels under the table and whispering, ‘WTF is going on here with this lot – Mitchell?’

She then grabs my side characters by the scruff of their necks, hauls them out into the light, teaches them (and me) about their purpose in a story, gives them some much needed conflict, sharpens their blurry edges and tells me to stop letting them loiter in the dark corners of my stories.

Here’s that all important blurb?

Do your characters fail to bring your story to life? Are they flat, boring or have no depth? Is your story lacking a little cohesion or sparkle?
In 8 Steps to Side Characters, you’ll discover:

A step-by-step guide for creating side characters that bring your story aliveThe main types of side characters and what you should do with themThe key to crafting character depth that hooks readersHow to harness your character’s voice to deepen your reader’s experienceTips and tricks for using details to enhance characterizationMethods for killing characters that will help deepen plot, theme and storyDozens of ideas for creating conflict with your side charactersTactics for differentiating characters and making them feel real to your readerCharacter archetypes and functionsThe most common pitfalls and mistakes to avoid

8 Steps to Side Characters is a comprehensive writing guide that will help you create the side characters your story needs. This book is packed with tips and tricks for polishing characters for writers at any level.

If you want to power up your characters, eliminate dull and lifeless archetypes, and perfect your characterization, this is the book for you. By the end of this book, you’ll know how to strengthen your characters to give your story, prose and plot the extra something special it needs to capture a readers and fans for life.

If you like dark humor, learning through examples and want to create better side characters, then you’ll love Sacha Black’s guide to crafting supporting roles with intention, purpose, and power. Read 8 Steps to Side Characters today and start creating kick-ass stories.

Here’s my review:

I am not the same writer who first read this book a few months ago.

This book opens your eyes to the fascinating world of side characters. As Sacha explains, side characters are those ‘conflict generators,’ and ‘sub plot fulfillers’ of a story. They are often busy ‘bringing information’, ‘hindering the protagonist’s growth’ and ‘creating conflict’ and so much more. Once Sacha has pointed out all the different roles side characters play in a story and the reasons why they should be actively managed by the writer you do find yourself casting your eyes over your own motley crew of unmanaged side characters.

What I loved about this book was that it was crammed full of useful hints and tips and it also digs deeper into those juicy topics such as theme, anchoring and conflict.

It was hard to put down as Sacha Black’s style of writing is addictive. You want to keep reading and learning. I found myself rapt in what Sacha Black had to say about side characters. She really has opened my eyes.

I have now read this book twice. The first time I read it in awe of Sacha Black’s writing brain and the second time I read it before editing my draft novel. I don’t think my side characters knew what was coming ha ha!

A writing craft book which will change you as a writer. This comprehensive guide should definitely be in your writer toolkit.

To get your hands on this book please click here.

Author bio:

Sacha Black has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. She also has the mind of a perpetual sixteen-year-old, only with slightly less drama and slightly more bills.

Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

When she’s not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, blogging, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.

You can get Sacha’s free villains mini course by visiting her website: http://www.sachablack.co.uk

To stay up to date with her latest fiction works, sign up here: https://sachablack.co.uk/signup

You can also find her on Instagram @sachablackauthor
And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sachablackauthor/

Before I go I am also a HUGE fan of Sacha’s podcasts. She’s a fantastic podcaster and her podcasts are packed full of useful stuff about writing. Click here for more info.

10 Different Writer Reactions To The Question – ‘How is Your Book Coming Along?’ #MondayBlogs

I love this question – how’s your book coming along?

My reaction to this simple question can change daily, sometimes hourly.

Here are 10 different writer reactions to that question.

They are a mixture of some of the reactions I have overheard during my time as a writer and my own. I will let you work out which are mine

1. ‘Great thanks!’  Beaming smile and twinkling eyes. All is well in Writing Land.

2. Awkward silence on the writer’s part. There are no words to describe how that book is coming along.

3. ‘I will let you know when it’s finished. Lovely weather we’re having at the moment – don’t you think?’ Writer uses clever distraction technique.

4. ‘It’s NOT coming along,’ snaps the writer, with bulldog chewing a thistle expression on face. ‘It’s about a musician and I keep spelling the word rhythm wrong. You wouldn’t believe the wild and wonderful ways I have attempted to spell that damn word! The next time I decide to write a book make sure I can spell key words relating to the subject matter.‘

5. ‘Oh my goodness,’ the writer gushes, closing their eyes, shaking their head and owning that look of writer bliss. ‘It’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I can’t wait to get past ten thousand words.’  

6. ‘Struggling with the writing part of it,’ says the writer, looking hopeful. ‘In my head it’s finished.’

7. ‘What book?’ Followed by false laugh and touch of nose. ‘Did you think I was writing a book? Oh my goodness I have better things to do than write ninety thousand words…for fun!’ This writer is in denial. After rushing home they will head to their laptop and carry on writing their secret book.

8. ‘I quit writing it 5 minutes ago. I’ve decided to grow watercress out of my own hand painted egg shells instead.’ Pokes head inside the fridge and lets out what sounds like a muffled scream into a lettuce. This writer is in denial and needs to return to their WIP.

9. ‘I finished it!’ Eyes dancing with excitement.

10. Writer scratches head and lets out a sigh. ‘I spent all day rewriting the hell out of one tiny paragraph, I have a strong urge to dress in tweed, I have a crush on my fictional character, I tweet a lot about my writing droughts which would probably not occur if I spent less time on Twitter, I’m terrified about writing an intimate scene in chapter thirty-two and my coffee machine is suffering from extreme exhaustion. Yes, my book’s coming along just fine.’

How’s your book coming along?

Take care out there writers.

Why Shelved Stories Are like Old Flames #AmWriting

Let’s talk about one of my favourite subjects in the writing world – shelved stories. Those writing projects which used to make your heart beat faster when you sat down to write them but are now gathering dust in boxes in the loft, in notebooks, drawers or are languishing in your electronic writing folders.

Writing a story is like starting a relationship. We have all experienced those first heady stages of story love where we have a goofy smile spread across our face, we have sleepless nights thinking about our amazing story and there is a golden aura around our laptop / notebook.

Our relationships with stories can last weeks, months and even years. You and your story endure both good times and bad times.

Not all story relationships work. There will be characters who we care too much about and don’t want to let go. We will spend hours writing the story that works better in our minds than on paper. Sometimes we need to develop our craft more in order to write a certain story.

Sadly in story world there comes a time when you find yourself tearfully shelving your story, eating a lot of cake to mend your broken writer heart and wandering about a lost ghost…until a new shiny story idea starts flirting with you.

Time passes (undefined period of time – can be years in some cases) and then one day your old story reappears just like an old flame.

Here’s why I think shelved stories are like old flames:

Your writing history together will never disappear. Time does heal in writer / story relationships. It is amazing how after a few years you begin to view your shelved stories in a different light. Those characters who you were reluctant to let go of years ago mean nothing to you now and you can spot the weaknesses of your story structure.The memory of your shelved story will reappear in a matter of seconds after hearing a song on the radio, looking at a photo or flicking through an old notebook. Those old feelings you had whilst writing it will bubble up to the surface. Somedays it might feel like an old shelved story is trying to contact you. During the washing up, ironing or something unrelated to writing you might experience a sudden longing for your shelved story. This will come out of nowhere. When you are reminded of your shelved story you might already be in a happy and secure relationship with another story. You will be able to ignore those memories and tell yourself there was a reason why you and your ex-story were not meant to be together. Sometimes you will not be able to resist the advances of your old shelved story.

I used to cringe at the sight of my shelved stories but now I read them with fond memories…and struggle to resist the advances of one or two They are my old story flames and we will always have history together.

Sometimes you have to give story love a second chance.

Here’s a tweet you might find interesting. Writer Victor Lavalle. Check out his old flame from 1997.

Where Do Our Stories Come From? #amwriting

Have you ever been asked where your stories come from?

I was asked the other day where my stories originate from and my mind quickly came up with a rough list; bizarre thoughts (fuelled by too much sugar and caffeine), hormonal fluctuations (useful when writing romance), years of daydreaming at school and college and unexplainable lightbulb moments, which don’t happen that often, but have a habit of appearing in a supermarket in the frozen food aisle (results in a strange dance around my trolley).

The person who asked me the question cast me a puzzled look. I think he was expecting something mind boggling or scientific from me. *Wrong person for that*

Later I started thinking some more about the sources for ideas. I went through all my old notebooks to see whether I could come up with something more intelligent than my sugar addiction, where I am at in my menstrual cycle, what I saw out of my high school window and the odd things I get up to in supermarkets.

Here’s a list of where some of my stories have come from:

Life experiences – rich fodder.A dodgy thriller I wrote years ago. It didn’t work as I posted the first chapter on my blog and one of my readers guessed who committed the crime in the comments (lol). A career in writing thrillers awaits me – yes I know. Anyway this story has been broken up into pieces and they have become the foundations for three of my stories. Visiting the Welsh coastal town of Tenby with two squabbling children. You will be amazed what ideas come to you when you are trying to ignore your kids. Dad’s record collection.My childhood. Overhearing an argument in a cafe.Out of thin air – there’s one story which is so mad I have no idea where that came from.A lift in a carpark.

It’s not very scientific is it – my list? It feels quite random.

I don’t really have one definitive answer to the question. Sorry.

What I do love is this quote from Stephen King on story ideas:

‘Let’s get one thing clear right now, shall we? There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.’ –Stephen King.

Where do your stories come from?

Keep recognising those ideas when they show up, writers!