Annette V Hart's Blog: The ramblings of Annette Hart, page 11

Getting on with writing, come what may...

I am determined to write this afternoon and trudge through my current stumbling patch. I know what I'm writing might not be brilliant but I keep reminding myself that as long as I get down the bare bones of my storyline I can flesh it out, rewrite and rework at a later date. I often find if I force myself to work consistently (sometimes with gritted teeth) then a more flowing and bountiful period of writing will follow.

The art of illustration...

I'm not bad at drawing and have had the opportunity to add my own illustrations to my books but I always do so with trepidation. I worry if I'll have the ideas or get what is needed done in time. I certainly not yet had the courage to tackle a front cover. Maybe it's because I have the habit of comparing what I do to the best and my favourite was always Pauline Baynes, especially her depiction of the Narnia books.

Strike action...

I do not like the way our media and politicians frown on the right to strike and denegrate those who do. They try to isolate those who wish to do so and make out that they are not also a part of society. Yet few do it unless they really have to - especially professionals. As a result my daughter does not understand the right to withdraw labour, a fundamental right we should be able to hold on to to protect ourselves.

I had considered helping out on strike day in school (as a parent only, not as a teacher) to help my husband the head but since Mr Gove's inflamatory comments there is no way I can bring myself to do it!

Writer's stumble...

I know it's probably not a big problem but at the moment I'm not writing because I'm not sure which story I should concentrate on. I have one, a part of my Athlandia series, which I need to finish but I also have a couple of different ideas I'd quite like to start tackling. I get spurts of ideas and need to sit down with a note pad. But they're very different to the genre I've been currently working in and need research. And I'm dead lazy, I guess.

So today, instead, I've been dipping into The Mammoth Book of King Arthur and pretending it's research. Very interesting, though.

Have I missed the boat?

Thinking over this old story of mine I get a little depressed. I finished it in 2004, showed it to someone well respected in the publishing world and was told something along the lines of 'King Arthur is old-fashioned and nobody wants to read about him now'. Then along comes Merlin and the rest, as they say, is history! Have I therefore missed the boat? (Grinds teeth and thumps her fist into her palm!) If I publish now will it seem like I'm jumping on the band wagon?

Who says the experts know what the next big thing is going to be?

I just can't see space for growth...

While I wait for my 2 published books to go digital (very exciting and technical - not me at all!), I am looking at an earlier work with the possibility of having that turned into an e-book too. Although it was written for a slightly younger age group than the others and therefore is shorter, I've got a niggling feeling that it needs expanding. I just can't see where I could sensibly add to the story. I guess I'll keep reading through and wait for inspiration to hit (early morning walks again!).

Feeling incompetent...

OK, so I have low self-esteem issues! As a result I haven't been writing. I know it's silly but when I have really enjoyed a book recently, ("Sister", "Poison Study"), and admired the style of writing, I have a tendency to think my own writing is inadequate. Hence the delaying tactics in putting pen to paper.

I know I've got to bite the bullet and return to my current story, Athlandia #4.

A Day at the Races...

I had a wonderful day in Epsom for the Derby yesterday. We always go but it was lovely to be surrounded by so many members of my family and the weather was glorious (sunburn...). Even if we had little success at picking winners, (although I think my sister and her partner were the only ones in the Queen's Stand to pick the French winner rather than the Queen's horse - is that treason?), we had a fantastic BBQ with great company afterwards. More, I want more!

Much Ado About Nothing...

I have wanted to go to The Globe for years. With my daughter keen to see "Much Ado About Nothing" this proved the perfect opportunity. I have just got back and the play (and theatre) was wonderful. And I don't care that the snotty critic in The Guardian wasn't so impressed as his arguement (playing up to the crowd too much) seemed to completely miss the point: The Globe is not a conventional theatre and it is all about connecting with the audience just as they did in Tudor times. This production managed it wonderfully and the actors playing Benedick and Beatrice put in a great performance.

I want to go back and enjoy the atmosphere of an evening show now.

adj. powerful...

It's late at night, I've finally wrestled the conputer off the children, and I have just succombed to eating a chocolate bar to help me write...

Tolkien has Faramir describe Aragorn as 'puissant'; I had to look it up to check it wasn't a rude comment, a Middle Earth style laddish remark. No, it's a word from Old French (bloody Normans) meaning 'powerful'. I think there are times when us girls could always do with one of those around!