Menna Van Praag's Blog, page 30

‘The secret of getting ahead is getting started.’ – Agatha Christie

Most people who want to write a novel put it off because it seems like such a big task. Like running a marathon across America. And it is daunting if you think about it like that. The trick is to take it one sentence, one paragraph, one page at a time. If you wrote a single page a day, by the end of the year you’d have a good sized novel. The second trick will follow tomorrow…

83 Days to Write A Novel

HAPPY (really) NEW YEAR!! Today is the day of resolutions (which I don’t believe in, since they usually end up making me feel inadequate) but I do believe in heartfelt dreams & desires. As some of you may remember, last year I wrote a FB blog: 99 Days of Inspiration (to celebrate the publication of Hope Street). Well, this year my beautiful book is coming out in paperback (March 25th) and to celebrate I’ve decided to do 83 Days to Write a Novel – starting tomorrow! So, if that is something you’ve always wanted to do & hope 2014 will be your year to do it, I hope to inspire you!

Happy (nearly) New Year!!

I wish you all an absolutely wonderful 2014 – may it bring you great bundles of love, passion, contentment and delicious amounts of delight. I heard a lovely quote yesterday: “think on the past only as it gives you joy & the future only as it gives you hope” – otherwise just enjoy the moment you have in your lap right now Lots of Love to you all!

“Either life entails courage or it ceases to be life.” ― ...

“Either life entails courage or it ceases to be life.” ― E.M. Forster

I believe that courage is at the centre of everything. Our courage, or lack thereof, determines our whole lives. It takes courage to write – to believe that what we want to tell is worth telling. It takes courage to connect to strangers. It takes courage to persist despite disappointments, to keep going & smiling & being ourselves. Remember this & praise yourself. You have courage, even if you don’t believe it. If you’re living, instead of merely surviving, then you are brave!

Pic: a magnificent display of chocolate cakes at Choccy Woccy Do Dah, London.

Happy (nearly) New Year! Have you always wanted to write ...

Happy (nearly) New Year! Have you always wanted to write a novel? If so, I’d love to support you! My first writing group (international teleseminar) – £25 for one hour – is only a week away. It’s 4pm (UK time) on Sat, 4th Jan & limited to 12 participants so, if you’d like my feedback on your writing, along with lots of fabulous literary insights & inspiration, then sign up now! Only a few spaces left!

http://www.mennavanpraag.com/writing-...

Pic: some Christmas reading with O.

“Believe there is a great power silently working all thin...

“Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good and never mind the rest.” ― Beatrix Potter

Do you worry about the future, about all the things that could go wrong, that might not work out, instead of enjoying today? In my experience (as a reformed worrier everything is working out for the best, even when it doesn’t seem to be. We don’t need to struggle & strive, we don’t need to sweat blood and tears to make our dreams come true. We just need to keep showing up (at the page, or on the stage, or wherever it is we need to be) and be our brilliant selves (the selves that emerge naturally when we let go of worry and stress) and all good things will emerge in time…

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas! Here’s hoping you had a gorgeous day!! We mostly spent our time watching how thrilled O was with everything. Now, at last, sleep has caught him. So we’re sitting down with a big box of chocs, to watch Love Actually. Bliss… Lots of love to you!

“Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look ...

“Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realise they were the big things.”

Happy Christmas Eve! I love this day, full of delicious anticipation and delicious cakes. A’s already made three cakes today and I’ve eaten vast quantities of all of them. I took O for a walk so I’d be able to fit in my pjs. We both wore hats I’d knitted. I felt very proud It’s often the “little” things that bring the biggest smiles. Wishing you ALL a wonderful evening of sweet, little things that touch your heart.

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the...

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know.” ― Ernest Hemingway

Often, when writers are starting out, they write too much – in terms of plot, description, backstory etc – because they’re not confident in their story. I know I did. I used to think: who am I to be offering my poor scribblings to the great libraries of literature? It took me many years to be okay with not being able to write like Austen or Dickens but just being able to write like me. It took me longer still to embrace and enjoy it. So Hemingway’s advice is perfect. We can all write what’s true to us, just as we can all be true to ourselves. And, ultimately, this is the greatest gift we can give to the world and the greatest joy that we will know.

Pic: O meeting his first illuminated snowman

NEW Writing Class – only £25 for one hour group class!

Exciting News! My first writing group international tele seminar is now open for booking! It’s 4pm (UK time) on Sat, 5th Jan and limited to 12 participants so, if you’d like my feedback on your writing, along with lots of fabulous literary insights & inspiration, then sign up now!

http://www.mennavanpraag.com/writing-...

Pic: Christmas shopping at Choccy Woccy Do Dah, Covent Garden, London.