Barbara Elsborg's Blog: https://www.barbaraelsborg.com/blog, page 28

One day

I read the book One Day quite a while ago, long before the hoopla and I really liked it. Today I went to see the film and whilst there were bits I didn't like, generally I enjoyed it. I didn't flinch at Ms Hathaway's accent - it didn't detract from the film and I think critics were wrong to pick on it. Just as they were with Kevin Costner in Prince of Thieves.Even though I knew what was coming in the film - won't say what because I don't want to spoil it - gosh it made me jump!! I still prefer the book but I loved Dex in this. Just as I'd pictured him and he'd be perfect for Charlie in my book Strangers. I wish I knew a film producer to send Strangers to. Sigh.



But I did have a problem and it had nothing to do with the film. I've realised going to the cinema makes me feel ill. I was REALLY ill after 3D Avatar and thought it was just the 3D effect but One Day made me feel ill too and now I'm thinking maybe I can't go to the cinema any more. That's disappointing. I suspect it has something to do with my focus on the screen but unless anyone has any suggestions, I'm doomed to wait until films come on the TV.

A very long walk

Walked with son and his partner along the Leeds-Liverpool canal - a distance of around 10 miles. Winnie the dachshund came too and his little legs are now even shorter. Had to run to catch the train back and then walk another mile to get home up a long hill. Consequently - I might not be moving from this chair for the rest of the day. Did have one thought on the way - not easy to hide a body in a canal - too shallow and too clean.I like to keep a list of possible sites!

We do like to be beside the seaside

Went to Hunmanby Gap today for a walk along the beach. It's one that can be used all year round by dogs so we took Winnie - who had a bit of a mishap. Thought the water was a shallow puddle and turned out to be deep so he had to swim. We laughed. He didn't think it was funny. Had fish and chips in Filey and walked back again. Not long now before the kids emigrate so it was lovely to spend the day together. Now I'm shattered.

Out with the old

Sad day for my son today. When he was a kid, he spent a long time collecting videos of films that he liked - mainly ones no one else in their right mind would have any interest in watching. He bought them from closing stores, off the internet or from shops and then spent hours cataloguing them. He had hundreds!

Today he gave them all away to charity. He's going to live in another country and he can't take much with him. Certainly it's not worth the cost of transporting something that's technologically out of date.

He is taking his soft toy dog that he slept with as a kid though!!

The Creative Process

My ideas for stories come from everywhere - dreams, life, music, books. I usually grab the thought and run with it - I lie in bed in the moments between waking and really waking and consider whether the idea would make a story. If I think it will, I write it. No prep, no plot, no nothing - other than a few random notes of things that occur to me as I go along. I might end up with seven pages of ideas by the time I'm writing chapter two.



BUT - when I see the calls for specific submissions - I think - oh can I come up with something for that? Usually the answer is no, because I just don't think that way. I can't start with a premise and then write a story if it wasn't my premise. It doesn't even have to be a premise - even something like - we're looking for vamp stories with a twist - has me scratching my head - unable to come up with a single original thought. I did manage to write a story for ARe's competition but that was only after I reread the requirements and realised I could write any paranormal story I liked. I really want to write a one night stand story for Decadent Publishing - who are Soooo lovely - but can I think of anything? NO.

I'll keep trying but I've realised that I'm creative in a very specific way! My way.

Short versus long

Well, anyone who reads my stories knows that I write l...o...n...g. That's not to say that I can't write short - two freebies for Ellora's Cave, a short for Ravenous Romance and a slighter longer story for EC called Snow Play. Well, I've written two more short pieces. Pause for applause. One I've sent in for a competition. When I don't get anywhere with it - how's that for confidence!! - I'll offer it as a free read somehow. The other story is about 10,000 words - a paranormal romance that I hope is funny. I've tried to make it funny so of course, it won't be.

Rambling over - what I wanted to say - was how hard it is to write short stories. They are a different life form to novels. It's so hard to fit everything in and end the thing in a satisfactory way - a twist, an aaahhh moment -but definitely HEA>

A new book

Only as start writing a new book, do I remember how much I hate starting a new book. I lose faith in my ability, in coffee, in everything. Each word is a huge effort. Not helped by the fact that this book is a bit different. I'm sure the premise in the hands of Stephen King - would be a winner - but it's in my hands and it's struggling for life. The irony is for once I have a title right at the outset - A New Life.

31,483 Downloads of Saying Yes in May

Oh my giddy aunt. I could hardly believe that figure when I saw it!! Free is obviously popular. Now all I need to do is convert that to sales of my other books and New York Bestseller List - here I come! Or not, as the case may be.


Just in case there is anyone in the world who hasn't read it....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saying-Yes-eb...

Decadent Sale!!!

In a week's time, Decadent Publishing will be one year old. To celebrate they are making half their books, half price - Including mine - CHOSEN

If you enter the code given on the page below - you can get the book for half price!!!!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...

Endings

Trying to write the last chapter of my current paranormal menage and it's making me ill. I assume it's stress because I can't quite get my head around how to choreograph the finale. I know how I want it to end but I don't know how to get rid of my villain - or villainess as it happens. To kill or not to kill? Well, as usual, I'll put off the decision until tomorrow in the hope that inspiration will strike and turn me into a decisive authoress or more likely, I'll spend the day editing the chapters that come before, just in time to end the day without having finished - yet again.