Barbara Willis's Blog
November 25, 2014
That's the spirit!
Despite my best intentions, I haven't blogged in a while. This is partly due to the finishing of my second novel (I'll get back to that in a minute), the wonderfully busy life of a mum and the fact that I'm very new to blogging - this is only my third post as you will see.
Now the question I need answering is this; how often should a blogger blog?
I've read numerous instruction blogs on blogging and fact sheets for the novice blogger and I'm still not sure. I think there must be a fine line to tiptoe between boring people by over zealous bloggage and losing people by the wayside with underactive blog traffic. To blog or not to blog, that is the question as they say. If you could advise me please...
I set myself a reminder (creatively titled blog) and it was shouting at me for quite some time; I kept ignoring it for fear of having nothing to say that anyone would want to read. Anyway, today I silenced it and decided to risk a blog. By the way, how many times can I use that word and get away with it?
So now I've probably waffled for too long, bloggedy blog, bloggedy blog. And another thing; how long is the optimal blog?
Today's news is that Sunshine Spirit will shortly be available in digital format via Amazon with the paperback to follow soon after. It took me longer than I hoped to feel happy with the story and it morphed considerably along the way; the plot I planned out-plotted itself and took a new direction. But that's ok. I'll link to the book as soon as it's available and post a taster next time.
As anyone who writes a book will know, finally saying it's finished and letting it go can be hard. Then the anticipation of its release to the world is a churn up of excitement and fear; I can't wait to hold the book in my hand, but I also dread its baby steps into the big wide world.
So that's it for the moment I suppose, just a heads up to expect my second book very soon and more ramblings of an unsure blogger...next time I shall devote my blog to Sunshine Spirit where there lies deception and love and possibly a spot of murder.
Now the question I need answering is this; how often should a blogger blog?
I've read numerous instruction blogs on blogging and fact sheets for the novice blogger and I'm still not sure. I think there must be a fine line to tiptoe between boring people by over zealous bloggage and losing people by the wayside with underactive blog traffic. To blog or not to blog, that is the question as they say. If you could advise me please...
I set myself a reminder (creatively titled blog) and it was shouting at me for quite some time; I kept ignoring it for fear of having nothing to say that anyone would want to read. Anyway, today I silenced it and decided to risk a blog. By the way, how many times can I use that word and get away with it?
So now I've probably waffled for too long, bloggedy blog, bloggedy blog. And another thing; how long is the optimal blog?
Today's news is that Sunshine Spirit will shortly be available in digital format via Amazon with the paperback to follow soon after. It took me longer than I hoped to feel happy with the story and it morphed considerably along the way; the plot I planned out-plotted itself and took a new direction. But that's ok. I'll link to the book as soon as it's available and post a taster next time.
As anyone who writes a book will know, finally saying it's finished and letting it go can be hard. Then the anticipation of its release to the world is a churn up of excitement and fear; I can't wait to hold the book in my hand, but I also dread its baby steps into the big wide world.
So that's it for the moment I suppose, just a heads up to expect my second book very soon and more ramblings of an unsure blogger...next time I shall devote my blog to Sunshine Spirit where there lies deception and love and possibly a spot of murder.
October 9, 2014
I'm at it again...
Yep, time for another blog.
I've been (almost) incommunicado recently, as I've reached the end of writing my second novel.
Writing, for me, is a little like climbing up a hill; I have to stop now and then to catch my breath and check out the view. Then, when I get to the top and the book is nearly complete, I seem to find a metaphorical skateboard which takes me to the end of the book in a wildly unstoppable freewheeling scare fest of epic speed...
Ok, skateboard comparison over.
What I'm trying to say is that I've cancelled catch ups, rejected reading and side-lined sleep for a few weeks as I've checked over, edited, re-checked and scrutinised.
But now it's done and, if I'm honest, I'm feeling the post-finish deflation. This will only last a short while though, as I'll soon be sending said novel to my most marvellous publisher and then feeling the anticipation and excitement of its release.
I've loved writing book 2, just as I did Family of Strangers. This one has taken me to old motorcycles and cars, the Blitz, recipe books and the movies and possibly to murder and subterfuge. I'm still struggling with a title, so watch this space for that.
Of course, I'll be starting book 3 any day; I just need to decide which of the stories that are fighting for supremacy in my head will be 'the one'.
I had hoped for book 2 to be complete in the Spring but better late than never as they say, whoever they are! I shall set my sights on a speedier write next time!
Right, time to referee the book battle in my grey matter...
I've been (almost) incommunicado recently, as I've reached the end of writing my second novel.
Writing, for me, is a little like climbing up a hill; I have to stop now and then to catch my breath and check out the view. Then, when I get to the top and the book is nearly complete, I seem to find a metaphorical skateboard which takes me to the end of the book in a wildly unstoppable freewheeling scare fest of epic speed...
Ok, skateboard comparison over.
What I'm trying to say is that I've cancelled catch ups, rejected reading and side-lined sleep for a few weeks as I've checked over, edited, re-checked and scrutinised.
But now it's done and, if I'm honest, I'm feeling the post-finish deflation. This will only last a short while though, as I'll soon be sending said novel to my most marvellous publisher and then feeling the anticipation and excitement of its release.
I've loved writing book 2, just as I did Family of Strangers. This one has taken me to old motorcycles and cars, the Blitz, recipe books and the movies and possibly to murder and subterfuge. I'm still struggling with a title, so watch this space for that.
Of course, I'll be starting book 3 any day; I just need to decide which of the stories that are fighting for supremacy in my head will be 'the one'.
I had hoped for book 2 to be complete in the Spring but better late than never as they say, whoever they are! I shall set my sights on a speedier write next time!
Right, time to referee the book battle in my grey matter...
September 22, 2014
Work in progress blog tour...
Ok, here goes...my first ever blog...
Hang on, deep breaths...
Right, try again. My first ever blog. Scary. Scary for me, hopefully not for you. Blogging is something I know very little about but I shall remedy that I hope; with the help of search engines, guides for the uninitiated and the tutelage of my revered fellow authors who already do the blog thing...
My first blog has been forced out of me by Mr Doug Lamoreux, my fellow Creativia author and friend. He's invited me to join the work in progress (actually known as a WIP, which is good as I'm too lazy to keep typing it out) blog tour. What's that you might or might not ask. I had to ask.
Well, 'tis this: I tell you about my current WIP and you also check out Doug's WIP by visiting his brilliant blog as below:
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
I am supposed to enrol others in this tour but, as yet, can't entice anyone. Watch this space though as I hope to add someone soon.
Anyway, if you're still reading, here's some information about my WIP.
My current WIP is about Jane. Jane lives in the West End of London and it's 1940; the Blitz is hitting the city and its people. Jane meets Will in the aftermath of a bomb that destroys her home and the two, hotel receptionist and actor, fall in love.
Will has a family to support and needs more than his actor's wage so he accepts a seemingly simple job that will bring him the extra cash he needs. Sadly the job turns into something sinister and the young pair become embroiled in something deeper and darker than they thought and their story continues as they flee the city. With a sabotaged motorbike, poison, murder and spies, I've found the research for this book rather varied and quite fascinating and I must thank my dad for his amazing knowledge of old motorbikes!
I have other projects that can't yet be titled WIPs; they're mostly PIMs (projects in mind!) and are currently scribbled notes in a book - a homeless genius, a box of buttons, a ruined boys' school, an old station...the list goes on a bit and is the basis for two novels and two children's books.
So there you have it. Phew! I enjoyed my first blog, but I'm glad it's over. Until next time...
Hang on, deep breaths...
Right, try again. My first ever blog. Scary. Scary for me, hopefully not for you. Blogging is something I know very little about but I shall remedy that I hope; with the help of search engines, guides for the uninitiated and the tutelage of my revered fellow authors who already do the blog thing...
My first blog has been forced out of me by Mr Doug Lamoreux, my fellow Creativia author and friend. He's invited me to join the work in progress (actually known as a WIP, which is good as I'm too lazy to keep typing it out) blog tour. What's that you might or might not ask. I had to ask.
Well, 'tis this: I tell you about my current WIP and you also check out Doug's WIP by visiting his brilliant blog as below:
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
I am supposed to enrol others in this tour but, as yet, can't entice anyone. Watch this space though as I hope to add someone soon.
Anyway, if you're still reading, here's some information about my WIP.
My current WIP is about Jane. Jane lives in the West End of London and it's 1940; the Blitz is hitting the city and its people. Jane meets Will in the aftermath of a bomb that destroys her home and the two, hotel receptionist and actor, fall in love.
Will has a family to support and needs more than his actor's wage so he accepts a seemingly simple job that will bring him the extra cash he needs. Sadly the job turns into something sinister and the young pair become embroiled in something deeper and darker than they thought and their story continues as they flee the city. With a sabotaged motorbike, poison, murder and spies, I've found the research for this book rather varied and quite fascinating and I must thank my dad for his amazing knowledge of old motorbikes!
I have other projects that can't yet be titled WIPs; they're mostly PIMs (projects in mind!) and are currently scribbled notes in a book - a homeless genius, a box of buttons, a ruined boys' school, an old station...the list goes on a bit and is the basis for two novels and two children's books.
So there you have it. Phew! I enjoyed my first blog, but I'm glad it's over. Until next time...
