Lucy Mitchell's Blog, page 34

Find Your Writing Mojo By Writing a Short Story #Writer

You have been working at the literary coalface for months. Your latest draft novel has taken far longer than you expected.

At times working on your draft novel has felt more like going to war than embarking on a wonderful journey of creative discovery.

You know far too much about your characters and after spending an unhealthy amount of time together, you know a break from them could not come sooner.

Weary and suffering from novel-writing fatigue you put your latest draft away and then dive into another draft. The draft novel production line must keep going. *Exhausted face*

But things don’t feel right.

Your writing mojo has left the building. You feel sluggish and writer friends comment on how you appear to be lacking your creative spark.

A magical person on Twitter tweets about how energised they now feel after working on a short story.

You stare at the word, ‘energised’ and wonder whether you will ever feel like that again.

The thought of writing something short and fresh gives you a little rush of creative excitement.

Word length fantasies you didn’t know you possessed start influencing your thoughts; 5,000 words feels too heavy, 1,000 feels too light, but a 3,000 word short story brings an instant smile to your face.

Having a brief but intense relationship with just one or two characters in a short story sends a lovely warm sensation shooting up your spine. They will not have the heavy emotional baggage your novel characters are carrying.

The freedom a short story brings makes you feel a little giddy. You can write a short story from ANY genre, experiment and more importantly let yourself go.

A short story makes you feel like a writer again and gives you that wonderful feeling of being able to create and FINISH something. We often lose this when going through the drafting process of a novel.

Perfecting a small story is good training for mastering a bigger piece like a novel.

Working on a short story will help you fine tune your prose. Writing a short story is like your own author training session.

Short stories can lead to other things. These short and snappy pieces can be quite demanding once written and can urge you to turn them into a novella or even a novel. I have written a blog post on this. Click here.

From a short story new and exciting characters can emerge and beg you to take them into your next novel.

As Neil Gaiman says,

‘short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.’

With a smile on your face you decide to take a break from novel writing and start a short story.

Say hello to feeling energised again!

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#BookReview A French Affair @jenniewriter #Bookish @BoldwoodBooks

This delightful book was like taking a little mini break over to Brittany in France without the need to leave my armchair.

I think armchair travel fiction should become a new genre and I think Jennifer Bohnet would be up amongst the bestsellers as she knows how to bring her settings and characters to life.

Here’s the blurb:

What will be will be…

Belinda Marshall’s idyllic teenage life in Brittany, France, fell apart when her parents dramatically separated and her mother took her back to England.

Fast forward thirty-five years when Belinda’s world is once again turned upside down.

It’s the week before Christmas and Belinda’s employer ‘surprises’ her by asking for her help to rejuvenate their latest investment, a run-down campsite in Brittany.

Memories and anxieties that had lain dormant for years suddenly begin to resurface.

As secrets from a lost life threaten to overwhelm her, there is a realisation that maybe she wasn’t told the whole truth by her mother all those years ago.

Can Belinda reconcile her emotions and find happiness once more in the place she so loved and called home?

Here’s my review:

A delightful read!

I’m new to reading this author’s books so this was an experience.

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous.

The standout for me was the setting and the detail the author went into in order to create it in the minds of her readers. A really strong sense of location and setting.

I loved the journey of self discovery Belinda went on. She was a great character and I too became caught up in all the ghosts from her past.

The theme of friendship was weaved throughout and I thought Fern was great fun.

The story was good with lots of sub plots and I was glued to my kindle.

I will definitely read this author again.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/2N4AiJO

Author Bio –

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women’s fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

Social Media Links –

http://www.jenniferbohnet.com/

http://facebook.com/Jennifer-Bohnet-170217789709356

Tweets by jenniewriter

http://instagram.com/jenniebohnet

Newsletter sign up link: http://bit.ly/JenniferBohnetNewsletter

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-bohnet

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x

Essential Skills For Bookish Friends

Bookish friends are special people

As a bookish person myself I think finding people who are mad about books is one of life’s many pleasures.

Here are the essential skills that I believe are required for bookish friends.

They must agree with you that happiness comes from reading books and talking about them.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a beautifully crafted love scene.
Crime / thriller bookish friends – must be able to pause to appreciate a well crafted believable murder / crime.
They have a book reading list as long as yours or even better twice the size of yours. We all love friends who inspire us to do more!
They must excel at tweeting or posting thought provoking GIFs about the plot or characters of a much loved book.
They must spend their life in the gap between the real world and the fictional world.
They must be able to send supportive and reassuring words when they know you are feeling sad after the death of a much loved book character.
They must savour the idea of having a ‘bookish lunch’ where you both talk about the books you are reading, the books you want to read and the books you are looking forward to reading when they come out. You both agree this type of lunch would last a few hours, drinking a glass of wine or two would be optional but book humour would be guaranteed.
They must be able to share your pain of having to work before you can return to reading that great book.
They must enjoy tweeting the life out of great book quotes.
They must be fluent in bookish speak and must be able to talk books for hours and hours and hours…
They must go quiet on social media when they are engrossed in a good book.
They must excel at snooping the social media feeds of authors to find snippets of gossip as to when their next book is coming out.
They must appreciate the beautiful sight of a stack of new books.
Romance bookish friends – must be able to express their strong feelings for an attractive male character in a series of emojis.
Crime bookish friends – must be able to express their appreciation of a bone chilling plot twist via a series of emojis.

A big shout out to all the bookish people out there!

Lucy x