Authors Electric

My first collection of short stories that take place on Moon Meadow Farm Over the last few months the only writing I've completed has been connected to my day job - I teach writing and craft related subjects. So, it's been handouts and those dreaded schemes of work. It's taken a few months but I'm now missing my characters who live on Moon Meadow Farm. So, I decided to build a small library of non-fiction books that would help me write the third in the series (Hare of Moon Meadow Farm). The first book in my new library was 'The Inner Life of Animals (Surprising Observations of a Hidden World)' by Peter Wohlleben. A thoroughly enjoyable read, insightful and it confirmed what I already believed about animals. That in many ways we are exactly the same as they are. I have also added to my reading list one of his other books 'The Secret Network of Nature.' I have also read and enjoyed 'The Wood - The Life and Times of Cockshutt Wood' by Joh...

Large bracket fungus - home to an array of mini beasts I had something completely different planned for this month. However, whilst researching for a project I'm working on I came across the Woodlands Trust website. As the name suggests they actively conserve our woodlands and trees. We all know trees are an extremely important part of our environment, for a number of reasons including: Combating climate change by absorbing CO2 and other pollutants  Protecting against soil erosion therefore helping prevent flooding Improving soil conditions Helping keep cities cooler Reducing noise Supporting a huge range of wildlife and fungus So, I wanted to share the following:  Schools, community groups (even a group of neighbours who want to improve a local open space) plus not-for-profits can apply for a free tree pack from the Woodlands Trust - more info can be found at this link . Also did you know the government has put aside £10 million to help plant 130,000...

Over the last 18 months I've been studying poetry. I've learnt a lot of 'stuff' including that sonnets and I really don't get on. I've also discovered I love counting syllables. I think this is because for the last 20 years or so I've worked to tight word counts. When writing for magazines you're given a word count to work with. Some magazines even provide a word count for different sections of the feature. So, I'm used to counting and aiming for a set goal. Now although I like poems which rhyme I don't always like trying to come up with rhyming words. So I've been experimenting with Haiku and Tanka and mixing them with my photography. This is one of my first attempts: During my studies I rediscovered found poetry and have been exploring black out poetry. Now because I have this 'thing' about destroying books I was delighted when I found an app that lets me create this form of poem without harming a single book. Here's o...

Make their day and get the thumbs up for being the best guest blogger.  As a member of two blogs, this one and the  Picture Book Den  I have, on occasion supported a guest blogger by uploading their post on their behalf. Sometimes this has been a nightmare. The content I've received needed so much work that it took a long time to format correctly. However, recently a guest blogger for the Picture Book Den got everything right, and it took me less than ten minutes to put her post onto Blogger. As soon as I received the content I knew I had to use my experience as this months post. So, what follows are the things she got right plus a few things I've had other writers get right. Tip one: First and foremost send the post in plenty of time. Everyone I know leads a busy life and there's nothing worse than receiving content the day before it's supposed to go live. It adds to the stress of everyday life and means if there are any issues or questions about the content...

If you've read some of my previous posts you'll know I have a bit of a passion for hedgehogs. Well, some would say it was more of an obsession. Which, I tend to agree with as I run a hedgehog rescue from my back garden. Our brand new logo I do try not to be 'bang' on about them to much on here. However, as it's Hedgehog Awareness Week this week (5th May - 11th May) I felt it was a good week to ignore myself and write a piece about hedgehogs. Meet Doug, who I hand reared from a few days old last year. Now did you know hedgehog numbers have plummeted? In 1995 there were an estimated 1.5 million, now it's believed we have fewer than a million! Scary isn't it? However, there is a little ray of sunshine trying to peek through that thick grey cloud. It was recently discovered that although we are still losing hedgehogs in the countryside our urban population are fairing a little better. The speed of the loss of established populations is slowin...

What's your favourite?  When I write non-fiction, I tend to type straight onto my laptop, as the ideas come to me. Sometimes I use full sentences, even creating an entire paragraph. When I’m working on my short stories, I tend to use pen and paper to create a list of bullet points of action. These I then flesh out as I type up the story.  Now, for the last 18 months I’ve been plodding my way through a poetry course. Whilst exploring poetry I’ve found myself returning to writing everything down. This has allowed my ideas to flow. I’ve scribbled my half-baked ideas and half composed lines into one of my many, many note pads. (A writer can never have too note pads, especially if they are really lovely). It’s not until the poem is almost ‘there’ that I go to my laptop and type them up, ready for editing.   During the process of writing in long hand I’ve discovered I don’t like writing with a biro. Even if it’s the left handed ergonomic one that cost me an ...

The diary I'd received as a gift For the last three years I’ve been working as a tutor for my local council. Part of my departments remit is to reach those who’ve had a negative experience of education or haven’t had access to education as an adult. We cover a vast range of subjects and I’m lucky enough to teach the creative courses including writing. I teach two writing courses, one of which is designed to encourage students to discover their muse and write what they want to, for whatever reason they may have. Be it for therapeutic reasons or to make some form of income.  My courses are just ten hours long, two hours per week, for five consecutive weeks. In January I started a new creative course. At the beginning of the first session I asked, “what’s stopping you from writing?” I received the normal replies, including:  “I don’t have an imagination.” “I have no idea where to start.” “I’d quickly run out of ideas.”   To convince my students...

Over the last few weeks I've been teaching a five-week creative writing course for adults. The main aim of the course is to wake up their muse and inspire my students to write anything creative. Whether it's a story, poem or even a song. During one of the sessions I encouraged the students to come up with things they could use to inspire their writing. The list they came up with included: Newspaper features Songs Poems An overheard snippet of conversation A photograph A found object Family history A joke When they started to  falter  I added a few more  including  gravestones and blue plaques (the ones you see on the side of buildings which contain a name, a short description of that person and dates).  Now, fast forward a week and I was walking through an old graveyard. I had plenty of time, so when a gravestone caught my eye I stopped to read it. I was  surprised  it not only gave the name and the dates of those who lay beneath ...

Several years ago I was working on a story where I had a character reading aloud from a well-known book to an older relative. I wanted to include a few of the lines that were being read out. However I wasn't sure how much of it I could include, if any. I also had no idea how to get the permission I might need. So, when I rewrote it I still had my character reading aloud I just didn't include the words being read.       How many of you have been in a similar position? Wanting to include a quote from someones else's book, feature, article etc. and not knowing how to get consent for that use. Thankfully there's now an easy way to gain the permission you require, PLS Clear. Visit www.PLSclear.com to quickly and easily request permission for use of copyrighted material PLSclear is designed and operated by the PLS ( Publishers' Licensing Services ) who collect revenue generated by people/companies paying to use a publishers copyright  (similar to the ALCS , who...

My new updated cover I self published my first collection of short stories, Anansi The Trickster Spider  in January 2014. Since then I've self published a further four collections of short stories. With each one I've discovered something new. So, this month I decided to share some of my those things with you. So, in no particular order: One: It always takes longer than you think! So, be patient you'll get there in the end. Two: Take time to get the right cover and if you can then get someone to design it for you. Also remember to think about what it'll look like as a thumb nail image. Three: Keep up-to-date with all your paperwork. Especially the important stuff for example W-8BEN (this ensures you don't pay US tax). To find out how to complete this form  click here . Four: Keep an eye on your sales. The resellers for example KDP don't always get it right and don't be afraid to get them to check. I've done this three times and on one occ...

Getting ready to post Did you know if you publish a book (or other printed materials - click here to find out what) in the UK you must send a copy to the British Library, free of charge? This is called ' legal deposit '  and it's been law since 1662.  Since 2013, the legal deposit regulations were expanded to include digital content, as well as print publications. You not only have to send a copy to the British Library  but a copy may also be requested free of charge by a further five legal deposit libraries.  These libraries are: National  Library of Wales  National  Library of  Scotland Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford Cambridge University Library Trinity College Library, Dublin There are benefits to the publisher and author depositing books in this way, which include: The book becomes part our national heritage Publications are added to the online catalogues, which can ...

I was recently having a conversation with a writing friend and I mentioned I'd like to try something new. The response I received was "write about something you know." So I asked myself, "what do I know?" After a while I realised I may know a little about cozy crime, I've watch enough of them, including: Jonathan Creek Rosemary and Thyme Agatha Raisin Miss Marple Poirot Father Brown I know typically the lead is supposed to be an amateur sleuth but I think it's fair to say the following are also fairly 'cosy.'   Midsomer Murders Death in Paradise Granchester Murdoch Mysteries  Lewis And I think with most of the above I may have watched every episode. I've also found myself reading a fair few cosy mysteries including the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries by Debbie Young  and a couple of the original Midsummer Murders stories written by Caroline Graham. I also just started to read my first Agatha Raisin book.      ...