Struggling Writers discussion
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Chat (Up Until 5/4/2013)
Retirement seems to keep ccreeping higher here. I will probably be 80 before I can finally relax!
Sharon wrote: "Retirement seems to keep ccreeping higher here. I will probably be 80 before I can finally relax!"Yep if I hadn't been widowed with a small child I would have still been working till at least 65! Though how I have no idea because I can sometimes hardly stand never mind walk!
I have now started treating the Arthritis one of the herbs treats both problems and with glucosamine and another Harpo something or other and the maca, but they have given out rain and my knees are foretelling it! Lol if I went to live in the desert somewhere I would be better off except for dying of sunstroke!
I bought some squashy cream cakes in Guemene, not good for the diet but who cares! My motto is now live for today, within reason.
Damn, save me one. Fiona just bought me a Daim bar. Naughty but lovely.
Sharon wrote: "Damn, save me one. Fiona just bought me a Daim bar. Naughty but lovely."Black Forest Gateaux or Pear and Almond?
Sharon wrote: "Black forest of course - lol"Yep me and Sophie too! Alain prefers the pear and almond.
I am going to try and do the hypnosis now and hope I don't nod off today!
Sharon wrote: "LOL - ok."Managed to stay awake this time, I feel so much calmer, less stressed afterwards and for the last few days my blood pressure has been totally normal, despite everything that's happened. Jo's downloading hers onto her telephone too!
And she is also looking at finding herself a homeopathic doctor, like you she has Asthma, like me she has IBS and all you both need to take to calm these illnesses is passiflora and hawthorn I can buy them here in a combination tablet of which all you need to do is take two per day!
MorningAlain stayed with his mother last night, and he is bringing her for lunch in a little while, I'm making pork stroganoff I was going to make beef stroganoff but I can't find the beef! I need to sort my freezer out I think! That way I may have room for the pack of pork chops I bought yesterday too!
This afternoon I am going to see his brother in the chapel of rest with Alain, I get the feeling he wants a shoulder to lean on. I hate seeing dead bodies I am going to take a stress calmer before we leave here.
I think I would be the same.I have pork chops in the fridge ready for dinner tonight, not sure what to have with them yet though. I have some veggie rice for lunch.
Sharon wrote: "I think I would be the same.I have pork chops in the fridge ready for dinner tonight, not sure what to have with them yet though. I have some veggie rice for lunch."
You could cover them with sage and onion stuffing with half an apple finely chopped and added to it and the rest of the apple sliced up and placed on top!
Or make a pocket in each chop and put st agur blue cheese mixed with a little butter inside then close with a cocktail stick, caramelise an onion with marmalade add a little water and a pear peeled and quartered put your chops in an ovenproof dish and cover with the mixture cover with foil and cook until tender adding a little water if it sticks.
Hmm they both sound nice, but when I get home from work I just need it to be quick. That sounds like a meal I can do at the weekend when I don't have to rush.
Sharon wrote: "Hmm they both sound nice, but when I get home from work I just need it to be quick. That sounds like a meal I can do at the weekend when I don't have to rush."The second takes a little time but the first is as quick as the kettle boils to make the stuffing! You can buy stuffing mix with apple and sage in England! Asda do one with orange and cranberry and walnuts that's nice on a pork chop too!
Hmm, I might try that one. Go with veg and pots - perfect ;o)
Sharon wrote: "Hmm, I might try that one. Go with veg and pots - perfect ;o)"Both Sophie and Alain love that one, another good quick meal that looks and tastes as though you spent ages making it is Chicken Roulades, butterfly chicken breasts and beat them with a rolling pin to flatten them out, mix St Agur with unsalted butter and then spread on the chicken tuck the ends in and roll, taking slices of smoked streaky bacon wrap the rolled breast like a parcel, one lengthways and the other round the middle. Brown in a nonstick frying pan to seal then place in a saucepan and add red wine, about half way up the breast, add a cube of sugar a sprinkle of pepper and cook for about 20 minutes (deglaze the frying pan with a little of the wine and add to the pan. Turn about halfway through the cooking time and remove the breasts from the liquid and thicken with either arrowroot or cornflour. Put the chicken back in the sauce and keep warm.
For extra special occasions cut slices from a baguette and cook in butter until golden, place chicken breast on top then spoon a little sauce over it. Serve the rest of the sauce seperate. Goes lovely with green beens and new potatoes!
I usually buy a pack of 6 breasts and prepare them ready for cooking and then freeze them, that way you have a cordon bleu meal at hand for those unexpected dinner guests!
And yes I know I'm making you hungry!
yes and might have to go and cook my rice now ;o)
Sharon wrote: "yes and might have to go and cook my rice now ;o)"Sorry, if it's any consolation my dinner is cooked except for the rice and there's no sign of Alain and mother! So I'm getting wafts of lovely smelling stroganoff and can't eat it!
Oh dear. I have Birds Eye Fusion Rise, goes straight in the microwave, perfect for lunch ;o)
Sharon wrote: "Oh dear. I have Birds Eye Fusion Rise, goes straight in the microwave, perfect for lunch ;o)"I love rice, if I ate it every day it wouldn't get sick of it, there are so many things you can add to it!
Wild mushroom rissotto goes with just about anything!
My favourite would have to be Chicken Fried Rice ;o)
Sharon wrote: "My favourite would have to be Chicken Fried Rice ;o)"Hi there, busy morning making arrangements for Sophie and the dog for tomorrow. A funeral here takes all day, 10.15 we have to be at the funeral parlour to follow the hearse to the church. Then a full mass that should take us up to lunch, which we will have out somewhere. and then on to the Crematorium which is some 70 kilometres away, where we have to wait and then follow the hearse with the ashes back to its final place of rest!
I should imagine tomorrow we will all be mentally and physically exhausted, don't worry I am going to make sure Alain takes the Passiflora to keep him calm. Its his mother I'm really worried about, she was in a fair state yesterday after seeing her son in the chapel of rest. Understandable.
Wow that is a long day.It's a long day here as well. Doing the rest of the accounts :o(
Sharon wrote: "Wow that is a long day.It's a long day here as well. Doing the rest of the accounts :o("
Poor you, I now have to wash up after lunch and then go into town and get Sophie some new trainers!
Alain's having a nap, he's exhausted.
I just had a mushroom risotto and I just want to go to sleep. I am even tempted to go home early ;o)
Sharon wrote: "I just had a mushroom risotto and I just want to go to sleep. I am even tempted to go home early ;o)"Well it's nearly time to go home now anyway and I am 30 Euros worse off, a pair of trainers and a pair of sandals for mademoiselle Sophie!
LOL - oh dear. I have to buy madam breakfast tomorrow morning for her b'day. It also makes her get up early ;o)
Sharon wrote: "LOL - oh dear. I have to buy madam breakfast tomorrow morning for her b'day. It also makes her get up early ;o)"Yeah well, I can't have her going barefoot to school, I gave a pair of trainers to her friend the other day brand new that she had worn once, they were only 8 Euros in the sale. Her shoes were letting in water, and they were no good to Sophie, too small, her feet grow so quickly! Lol nearly as fast as her mouth!
Hey, does anyone here know how to/could help me out with some questions I have on dialogue formatting. If so either just reply or send me a message. Please and Thank you
Carls wrote: "Hey, does anyone here know how to/could help me out with some questions I have on dialogue formatting. If so either just reply or send me a message. Please and Thank you"What do you want to know Carls?
Morning HunI am glad last week is over, Saturday was horrendous sadness and despair from 9 in the morning until 7 pm, leaves you physically and mentally drained.
Alain is off work today and I have lunch duty today so no chance of doing any writing until this afternoon when he goes to his mothers. He's gone off to the doctors, Andre's untimely demise has frightened him into going for a full check up, blood tests the works.
How was your weekend, better than mine I hope. It's miserable here today, cold,wet and windy I've got a nice roaring log fire here. According to the weather reports 'summer' is due on Wednesday!
Weekend wasn't too bad, at least it was dry. We had another BBQ yesterday as it stayed nice and dry. We have been told the nice weather may start tomorrow for us (fingers crossed).I have the ballet again in 2 weeks, taking Renee and going with Fiona from work with her 2 nieces.
I was going to attempt some writing over the weekend, but I regret to say it didn't happen again. No inspiration this week.
Sharon wrote: "Weekend wasn't too bad, at least it was dry. We had another BBQ yesterday as it stayed nice and dry. We have been told the nice weather may start tomorrow for us (fingers crossed).I have the ba..."
That's lunch over with until Alain arrives he still hasn't come back from the doctors!
At least it's stopped raining now and the sun is trying to come out it's still windy but a bit warmer at least.
I made Lancashire hotpot for lunch it was that cold outside, a winter warmer, or as my gran used to say 'it puts hairs on your chest it does!'
No all I did was download my emails, all rubbish as usual, after standing and walking alot on Saturday I am paying for it now, my knees are giving me hell, the left worse than the right, but only when I walk or stand for long periods.
I am in a funny mood today. Not sure what it is but do not want to be here any more. Think I might start looking for another job later. I think I might be stuck in a rut, making me slightly miserable being here at present.
Sharon wrote: "I am in a funny mood today. Not sure what it is but do not want to be here any more. Think I might start looking for another job later. I think I might be stuck in a rut, making me slightly mise..."I thought you were looking before Christmas, my sister changed jobs about a month ago, best thing she ever did she says now she has her life back.
A drop in pay and working closer to home would be better for you, that's the conclusion Claire came too.
What ballet are you taking Renee to see?
English National Ballet with Flawless (dance crew).I was looking then I stopped again, but now I feel the same as I did then. The only thing with taking a drop in pay, is that it is quite a drop in pay which is accounted for in my bills. Nearly £16,000 drop which is far too much to drop.
Sharon wrote: "English National Ballet with Flawless (dance crew).I was looking then I stopped again, but now I feel the same as I did then. The only thing with taking a drop in pay, is that it is quite a drop..."
Ouch, yep that is a big drop, it's a whole salary for people over her in France. The rates of pay in the burbs are penible the minimum wage is about 10 Euros an hour, skilled tradesmen only pull in 15 Euros an hour! Our mason (builder) charges 30 Euros per hour, could you see an English builder working for that?
Well that's the second sitting for lunch over with, Alain brought mother again. I thought he might after I said we need to make sure she's eating properly and not making do with a sandwich or cake.
And anyway I always make extra, and you know when someone else cooks for you it always tastes better!
I had a weightwatchers, chicken and mushroom pie, quite tasty and very filling.
Sharon wrote: "I had a weightwatchers, chicken and mushroom pie, quite tasty and very filling."The Lancashire hotpot impressed mother, I said it was English working mens food, just the thing to warm you up on a winters day in May!
Alain's bp is high not ridiculous but higher than mine and he's off work until the 5th June! Blood tests and xrays tomorrow, for him.
And very famous in Coronation Street ;o)
Sharon wrote: "And very famous in Coronation Street ;o)"Betty's hotpot, but surely Betty Turpin is no more, she can't still be working in the Rovers?
Both the character and the real person.
Sharon wrote: "Both the character and the real person."Do they still have Betty's hotpot even though she is no longer there? 91's a good age when you think Robin Gibb was just 62 and Donna Summer at 63, both with cancer.
Not sure, have not watched it in years now
Sharon wrote: "Not sure, have not watched it in years now"No me neither, I gave it up before Sophie was born along with Emmerdale and Dead Enders!
Sarah R wrote: "Carls wrote: "Hey, does anyone here know how to/could help me out with some questions I have on dialogue formatting. If so either just reply or send me a message. Please and Thank you"What do you..."
So when you have two characters talking does each one get a new paragraph when they alternate?
For example
1
2
1
2.
And then like say you hav a discriptive paragraph on something thats happening and at the end of that paragraph a character says something, which is going to lead into dialogue. Do you put it at the end of that paragraph or start a new one.
Example
The day was hot and dry. The streets were deserted, except for the ocasional dust devil. Over at the store, the doors flapped lazily in the hot afternoon breeze. "it sure is a terribly hot day out there."says the bartender.
Dialogue reply
Or would you move that beginning dialogue piece down for a new paragraph?
Please and thank you
don't watch any soaps, but can not miss my Mentalist ;o)
Carls wrote: "Sarah R wrote: "Carls wrote: "Hey, does anyone here know how to/could help me out with some questions I have on dialogue formatting. If so either just reply or send me a message. Please and Thank y..."Okay, 1, With each character you start a new paragraph. ie
"John, pass me the sale board please."
"Why, it's not valid now the address has changed." John walked over to the window and looked out over the city lights twinkling below them.
"Sure looks pretty down there, don't you think?" Shrugging, he leaned over.
"Suppose it's okay, if you like that sort of thing."
If it's relevant to the dialogue yes, a conversation between two people for instance like above.
Another piece of free advice for you overstating the obvious, ie he shrugged his shoulders, he nodded his head. Make the reader work, he shrugged the reader will automatically assume it's his shoulders he's shrugging.
Second piece of free advice, always put your characters thought in italics, don't use capitals to emphasize someone shouting. All capitals would be used in in essay, never in a novel.
"
Sharon wrote: "don't watch any soaps, but can not miss my Mentalist ;o)"We haven't got the new Mentalist here yet, we are due to get it in the Autumn I believe.
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Struggling Writers
Books mentioned in this topic
Faking Grace (other topics)Faking Grace (other topics)
Naked Heat (other topics)
In The Devil's Own Words, Catedral Cronicles (other topics)
No I know, and no age,60 last November age of retirement here in France for some.