Following through on commitments

Here I am, a day late, posting my next entry. I had expected to strike problems in maintaining my promise of Friday updates, but I hadn't expected one to hit so soon.

Bugs!

One of the banes of a teacher's existence. My daughter has been off sick for three days this week. Being a kind and sharing chicken, she wasted no time in giving me a serve of whatever bacteria have taken up residence in her system. I struggled through a full day lightning carnival of volleyball yesterday with the help of copious amounts of cold and flu drugs, but promptly died in a most uncreative heap on my lounge chair last night. Nothing of note could possibly make its way out of my extremely muddled brain in that state. I felt so bad that I even 'watched' a movie - a pleasingly predictable rom-com that made me realise the last thing on this planet I want to write is something pleasingly predictable.

Reading

I have been indulging my passion for excellent erotic fanfic this week by trawling through the entire LiveJournal of one of my favourite writers. I'm constantly amazed at the diversity of work this gorgeous lady delivers. I'd love to mention her here, but I'll get her permission before I go there, just in case. Some of you will know exactly who I mean without even mentioning her name.

 I've also managed to finish a book series that I've been sitting on for months. If you want to feel extraordinarily uncomfortable, I recommend you go and pick up the first of this series, Gone by Michael Grant. It's one of those book series that I've loved and hated in equal measure and absolutely NEVER want to see made into a movie because it would be way too disturbing. The final book took me a good six months to finish because I just couldn't see how it could end in a way that made me happy. I'm pleased to say that it did, although I was left in tears. Be prepared for a six-book addiction!

Holidays

We have only five days left of this term before the mid-year holidays. With my UK trip pending in October, I don't plan to do very much at all during this two-week break. I've been keen to experiment with my wonderful camera, so I might take my daughter exploring in some pretty places around Perth to hone my skills. I really must do some sort of course to extend my skills and learn how to use the functions on my camera. My pics turn out fairly good, but I'd love to be more knowledgeable. These were taken from my usual position behind my computer, so I'd like to see what my camera can do when I actually go searching for great images. That way, I'll be ready for all of the wonderful scenery in the UK.

Writing

Speaking of skills development courses, I'm planning to attend a creative writing course in Perth run by the Australian Writers' Centre and one Natasha Lester. Natasha's website has proven most inspiring, but I feel rather guilty about being unfamiliar with her writing. School holidays can rectify that problem. Unfortunately, I will have to wait until after my trip so I can afford to do the course, but I believe it will be a good investment in my writing future. I'll make it my November goal.

The good news is, I will not be resting on my laurels. Now, you won't get to see any of this...yet. I am fulfilling my promise to write something towards my personal novel project.  I already have ideas scribbled down in my notebook. Some of these will never be used but some will evolve into the real deal. At this point, with mixed feelings about how I want the plot will go, I feel the need to get to know my characters. I'm going to give each character a page (to start with at least) and try to flesh them out. I need to find out all about them. They will have physical attributes of course. I can already 'see' some of them clearly in my head. But they don't yet have substance. I need to find out how they will react in the situations that will arise in my story. They all need to be distinct from each other. They need their own agendas, their own flaws, their own attitudes, philosophies and personal histories. They need their own style, speech affectations, mannerisms, emotional baggage. There are going to be major cultural differences and foreign ways of thinking. I need to see how they will conflict and complement to bring this story to life. Wow, I'd better get cracking.

So, with this thought, I'll sign off this post and pull out my notebook. Thanks so much for taking the time to read. See you next Friday! 

The first step of the journey...

It has taken a ridiculous amount of time, but I have finally come to the realisation that I am, indeed, an author trapped within a teacher's body. While my current profession does allow me to sometimes indulge my passion for creative writing, it is also rather limiting. I'm sure you can appreciate the importance of a teacher keeping all writing firmly within the realms of PG ratings. Yes? Well, I find this rather...stifling, shall we say. I do tend to enjoy writing that leans towards the dark side when it comes to ratings. I like to keep things a little bit saucy, a bit naughty and well outside of my personal life experiences. 

I hadn't intended to go down the path of fan-fiction, but fate has intervened and provided me with this safe and supportive training ground in an unexpected place. For those of you who have already made your way through my earliest writing, I thank you whole-heartedly. Your support so far has been astonishing and inspiring. Your encouragement has been overwhelming in the best of ways. I have plans to step outside of the genre that I have dipped my toes into. Fantasy beckons rather enticingly and my novel ideas are on the grandiose scale. I must confess to being a little intimidated about getting started, but I'm determined to travel this path. I hope you are willing to follow me into new worlds.

Luckily I have discovered that my imagination is a rather colourful depository for bizarre ideas. I have also opened up my senses to everything that the world has to offer in terms of ideas. Little things that would have previously slipped by unnoticed have suddenly become the catalyst for writing ideas. Not always successfully, granted, but that's the idea with training. Try it, learn from it.

So, the plan is to use this blog as a pacing tool. I will endeavour to update on Friday nights before writing. Friday nights will be dedicated to my novel while Saturdays (yes, I have such an active social life) will remain the property of my fanfic fun. This is my commitment to you and to myself. Feel free to nag me if I wander.

My blog is likely to consist of whinging about school, gushing over cats and laughing or anguishing over my children as well as other assorted life incidents. I will try to keep this space free of my Muse obsession, but I won't make any guarantees in that regard.

A few pieces of news for this week then, as a starter.

Yet another cat

My gorgeous nephew has come to live with me and my two kids for the next few months. He brings with him the very fluffy Theodore, bringing our cat population to four! They are all getting on surprisingly well, though our youngest, Tinsel, has taken it upon herself to go into heat and is offering herself to the new boy with great enthusiasm. I don't know that he has realised that certain parts of his anatomy are no longer present judging by his response. Between the two of them, they are intent on educating my kids about cat copulation, usually under the dining table during meals.

Holiday countdown

Thankfully, school reports have been submitted and the stress of that time is over for another semester. School hols are a mere 8 school days away, paving the way for 2 weeks of freedom which might just be spent in front of the heater if the current temperatures persist. 

UK Trip

My travel buddy and I are off to the UK in October. That is the plan. We haven't booked anything yet, but we have certainly started to get serious about our itinerary, so it won't be long before I have a countdown to take-off underway at which point I should become totally unbearable.

Something to make you laugh

Well, I found it funny...

It's not about the nail...

There you have it. My first blog entry. If you have taken the time to read this, thank you! I really appreciate it and hope you will stay with me to be a cheerleader as I take this journey. Talk to you soon.