Sunday, 23rd December

Today has slipped through my fingers. I've looked at a friend's first chapter and a pupil's story, but other than that and a quick nip down the shops for some air, not a lot but then  it IS Christmas.
If I had a 'proper' job I'd probably be on hoiday for nearly two weeks. As I don't have a a proper job, I think I'll work tomorrow and Boxing Day (I'm at Good Nieghbours most of Christmas Day), then see how it goes.
Louis the wonderful labrador arrives on Thursday so I don't have to wait that long for a Christmas cuddle.
I'd like to wish everyone a happy Christmas.
Some of you may be dreading spending time with friends and family, but so long as you concentrate on the pluses, you'll be fine.  Most of the time, the thigns we argue and fall out over really aren't worth the bother.
It's the last part of Homeland tonight. I haven't enjoyed it as much as series one but at leats I can stare at Damien Lewis. That man can act.
I watched the latest Bourne film yesterday, hired the DVD from Blockbusters. It was action packed and the opening was great to look at, but in the end I was left feeling disappointed. Bring back Matt Dmon is all I have to say. 

Being kind to me

I took some time out yesterday. What a horrible day! All that rain, and a biting cold wind too. Just right for a  trip into town for a Christmas concert, then crossword class. I got wet going and wet coming back. It was great to get back indoors again. I COULD have done some work then, but I didn’t. It’s all about being kind to me, at least until Christmas has been and gone.

I finished a Christmas Wasgij (number 8). I’ve  done it before, but that didn’t matter. Now I can start a new one to give me something to do when I need to take a break.

I also went through my book of recipes. I like to cook so as a treat, I’m going to try some new recipes, again that will keep me positive and stop me dwelling too much on the (supposedly) good time other people are having.

Now I think abut it, I  DID do some work yesterday. I went through another pile of magazines, tearing out useful bits and jotting down any starting points for ideas. My Christmas file is almost full so I will have no trouble writing festive stories next year.

Today, I plan half a day’s work, half a day other things like going to the shops to get the missing ingredients for those recipes. I also need to work on a quiz for Christmas Day at Good Neighbours. If anyone can recommend one, or can email something to me, I’d very much appreciate it. My email’s akacatherinehoward@yahoo.co.uk

I’ve fiddled with the blog settings thanks to Jacula’s comments. I’ve no idea if the problems fixed, but fingers crossed. I’ve also allowed anyone to comment (I didn’t even know there was a setting for that so eternal apologies to anyone who’s struggled to post comments and been unable to do so).

Something strange going on.

One day I can’t be bothered to do very much at all. It seems like too big an effort. The next day, I’m ready for action again.

I’m guessing it’s all part of the recovery process. They say it takes time to get over a death, but they don’t say how MUCH time. I do feel so much better, but every now and then, I get stuck. I think it’s my strange way of making myself take the time I need. Whatever it is, so long as I get the good days, I’m fine with it.

Last night, the shuffle with Spice, wasn’t good. The venue, Tiger Tiger in Leeds city centre was a young person’s venue, by which I mean the music was way too intrusive (i.e. deafening). OK so I’m over forty but it’s not that. When I’m eating, that’s’ what I like to be doing, that and enjoying whatever company there is. When you have to shout to make yourself heard, I just don’t like it.

Here comes a grumpy old woman bit. When I was young, places where you ate often had background music, but that’s all it was – background. When did it suddenly become OK serve food in what amounts to a disco? The food wasn’t much cop either.

Yesterday, I sent a couple of old (reworked) stories to The Weekly News and that was about it really. Today I’m getting on with the new book for writers. I could really use an agent right now so if anyone knows a good one, please put them in touch. At the moment my plan is to write two versions of the book – a shorter ebook which Byker Books will put out under the profession writer series (they’ve done a brilliant job with my other short guides which are selling well), and a longer version that I will have printed via Lula and sell direct. That way I can have it available when I need it.

Today is the last meeting of 2012 of East Leeds Writers, a small group who meet in Seacroft Library (3.15 prompt if you want to go). I’ve missed a few meetings recently so need to make the effort to get there.

Now back to work on the book. After I’ve checked my emails….

Had a bit of a wobble

Sorry for going quiet. I had a bit of a wobble.

I’ve never been a big fan of Christmas. All my life, I’ve dreamed of a big family do, complete with arguments and disagreements but suffused with love. Each time another Christmas goes by …..

I’m still struggling to work out what I want to do.

I know I enjoy writing short stories, now they’re finally coming out all right again, but what else? I guess I’m looking for a reason for my existence. Is it enough just to write stories that add a bit of interest or sunshine to other people’s lives? I don’t know.

I spent yesterday having a big clear out, mainly of magazines and paperwork as I don’t want to take it all with me when I move.

As I don’t plan to move in to the bungalow immediately, I’ll have time to make sure everything’s where I want it to be. I can also decorate without any furniture in the way. As I really do enjoy hanging wallpaper, that will help pass some of the winter days.

Meanwhile I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone I know a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. There are quite a few people I’ve neglected or lost touch with (S. Bee, Helen Y spring to mind) and all I can say is I’m sorry. I was in a  bad place. I’m not there anymore but it’s going to take time to put all the pieces together.

Back to talking about writing. It’s that time of year when al the papers are full of holiday ideas. What better time to start collecting various snippets and pictures ready as prompts for when you need to start writing holiday stories.

And as it’s Christmas, and we’re surrounded by seasonal films and programmes and adverts and calendars and cards with winter scenes, now is the time to start making notes of possible starting points for stories, or titles that have promise, pictures, cards, Christmas stories from magazines. Keep them all, and put then away in a drawer. Then in June, when you want to start writing about Christmas, you have a stock pile of items and ideas to get you going. It works for me. I have had Christmas stories published every year since I went full time in 2003. This year I have one in Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special and another out next week in The People’s Friend. You can do it too but you have to start NOW.

A Christmas message

Families can drive you mad, especially at Christmas. People give you useless presents, they turn up at your house, eat all your food, decimate your stock of booze, then vanish with hardly a thank you. Nieces and nephews abandon presents minutes after they’ve unwrapped them. Your partner starts to get on your nerves when they’re under your feet, instead of safely out of the way at work. Your in–laws, well, what is there to say about them? You have nothing in common. They don’t want to play any games, all they want to do is veg out in front of the TV. It’s enough to drive you crazy.
I say, think again. Imagine what it would be like if you had nobody in your life. Nobody to buy you the wrong present. Nobody to slave away over a hot stove for. Nobody to buy presents for.
Think of the good things. The reasons you like your family and friends. Nothing is ever perfect, especially not people.
Christmas should be about love. It should be about the good things not the bad, so when you feel yourself starting to get irritated by somebody, be grateful they’re there in the first place.

Missing Raffy, badly

Now Raffy’s gone home, I’ve crashed. I know he’s just a dog, and that a dog isn’t really company but…

I feel so bad, I’m even thinking about moving back in with my ex just to have somebody close by. This is, in case anyone’s wondering, a SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA.

The lady whose bungalow I’m buying is moving into a flat on the same development as a friend of mine. You have your own space but there are communal areas too. Since my friend moved there, her social life’s improved so much. It’s such a great idea but you can’t move to one of those flats unless you’re over 60. I’d like to know what people like me are supposed to do.

I know why I’m getting fed up. Christmas.

This will be my first one, completely alone. I don’t mind that so much, what scares e is that it will be the first of many.

I joined match.com about six weeks ago, and so far, zilch. I’ve sent emails and winks to loads of people but so far, nothing apart from a couple of men looking for quickies.

Workwise, I checked today with Womans Weekly to see if they really did want ‘more sensual’ stories, and the answer is yes, they do. Nothing too exciting of course, that would never do. I had to check as I’m about to start work on the story I drafted a couple of days ago which would benefit from the odd, sensual scene.

I don’t expect I’ll get round to it until Thursday though. I had a couple of Writers Bureau assignments to mark today, and reworked an old story to send back to Fiction Feast. I’ve had enough sitting here, watching the world pass me by, so I’m going to turn of the pc and catch up on reading some of the magazines in my (ever growing ) pile. I might even see if I can conjure up some more story outlines.

Tomorrow morning, weather permitting, I’m going to Heydays until lunch time, then a have a quick tour of the market and head home. Then it’s the Christmas quiz at Spice so I’m not going to get much work done tomorrow.

NAWG Open Short Story comp results in full

Full list of finalists for the 2012 NAWG Open Writing Competition.

First Prize £250

‘A Gift from the Horse Chestnut Tree’

Veronica Bright

Second Prize £100

‘The Golden Gears’

Edward Easton

Third Prize £50

‘Roses Round the Door’

Janet Baldey

Fourth Prize

A signed copy of The Writers Treasury of Ideas

by the competition judge, Linda Lewis

‘Harvesting’

Andrea Stephenson

Fifth Prize

A signed copy of The Writers Treasury of Ideas

by the competition judge, Linda Lewis

‘In Time’

Rachel Dunlop

Short listed

‘Princess and the Frogs’

Judy Hodson

‘The Runner Stone’

Nemone Thorns

‘A View of the Acropolis’

Adrian Hallchurch

‘The Spy’

Cyril Gracegirdle

‘A Walk at Midnight’

Orian Norfolk

‘A Yellow and Blue Day’

Bob McNaughton

‘Rhododendrons’

Janet Baldey

Long listed

‘Temptation’

Edith Anderson

‘Three by Three’

Jean Lees

‘Playing for Change’

Jane T Marsh

‘The Witch’s Child’

Jo Tiddy