Every story starts somewhere

Competitions

I've entered two flash fiction stories with the theme of 'winter'

But I'm waiting for spring.  Imagine leaving the house without a coat! Hands free of gloves!

Oooh I've won a book...

Just found out I've won a copy of 'A Book of You' by Claire Kendal thanks to Harper Collins via a Mumsnet comp. Can't wait to start reading it!

Currently am reading Lemony Snicket 'The Bad Beginning,' and it is even more awful for the poor Baudelaire orphans than the film!
Jim Carrey was an excellent Olaf though...

Get it Read

A big learning I had recently was to get my work read.  I used to be quite precious about it, wanting to keep my privacy.  Then I realised other opinions on my writing are REALLY interesting.
Even some of my 99 words entries have been interpreted in wildly different ways...which has inspired me further.

It is oddly terrifying and exhilarating to show my stuff to people;  just remember that opinions are only that, there are no right or wrongs.

I asked my dad for his thoughts on a recent short story, and he emailed me back with one word.
''Odd.'' 
I am choosing to take that as a compliment.

Short Stories in every shape

#amwriting today when the baby allows it

have done a very sad children's story and an ancient horror.
Good mix!

follow @Viking_Ma  for more
Happy Sunday

                                              Time to let your imagination carry you away

My Fave Books

My top 5 books Ever

these are books that, for different reasons, have stayed in my head...haunted me...or altered my life somehow.
Some are just stories with writing that I deeply admire.

5...The Charm School by Nelson DeMille.  So exciting, I have read this book about 10 times

4...Timeline by Michael Crichton.  I LOVE his mix of science and imagination. Brilliant book.

3...Lord of the Flies by William Golding.  This was part of my dissertation; I love the psychology.

2...The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.  The best ghost story ever written. Menacing, cruel, sinister....creepy, dark.....

and my number 1 has to be:

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.  Just a delight to read.  My heart breaks for Holden. ''Roller-skate skinny'' phrases from this book will stay with me for ever.


Interesting that my top three were all written in the 1950s hmm?

My top 10 would include at least two by Stephen King... and Maya Angelou.. and definitely John Grisham.  I will decide my top 10 children's books too - <Hello, Mo Willems...>


As an aside,
There is a book out there that I lent my sister and she lost <boo!>
about an unmarried mothers' home, where one character works in a bakery and makes cream cakes.  It is a beautiful story and desperately sad.  Can't remember title or author, I'm afraid.


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Write a FLASH

Am totally addicted to flash fiction; (thanks to fellow writer Emma Finlayson-Palmer) - short little bursts of creative writing.  If you fancy a go try 99fiction.net ... they have a fresh competition every month and you only need 99 words.


these mini stories could inspire something longer...

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE? 
your dignity? -- that went years ago


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The First Post

1st Post! Unbelievable.
 I am a mum of three... and have come back to writing after a few years off.
I enjoy penning short stories, children's PBs, and have a YA fantasy novel currently out trying to snag an agent.
Between all of this internet faff I have started a MG project too... 



for more #amwriting and #amediting nonsense
follow me on twitter @Viking_Ma

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