My Writing Process Blog Hop

Before telling you my writing process, I think it best to explain what #MyWritingProcess is about

“We writers share these things, but informally during workshops and at conferences (and, for a handful of established writers, in printed interviews), but not so much through our open forum blogs. With the hashtag #MyWritingProcess, you can learn how writers all over the world answer the same four questions. How long it takes one to write a novel, why romance is a fitting genre for another, how one’s playlist grows as the draft grows, why one’s poems are often sparked by distress over news headlines or oddball facts learned on Facebook...”

So I was asked to participate by a good friend and talented writer Daniel Kaye, thank you Daniel for the invitation. To read more about Daniel you can do so at http://daniel-kaye.blogspot.ie/

What am I working on?

Well presently I have a number of projects on the go. My second novel which has a working title of Room to Hell, is a story which pitches Fr. John against Satan, a story that takes place within the confines of a room in the old abbey where Fr. John lives. I am also putting the final touches to a play which I hope will be finished shortly and I am also writing a novella in a genre that I have not written in before, so this is a refreshing challenge.

My local library where I write.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

This question is thought provoking to say the least. I suppose my writing is my voice, the style is mine alone so in that sense, my work differs from others. My genre over the years has been general/women’s fiction, family playing a big part. My experiences with family and with friends give me thoughts/ideas and so I form the base for my novel/short stories/plays.

Why do I write what I do?

I honestly don’t know. My stories can differ greatly in content. My 1^st novel, My Husbands Sin, which is due out on July 1^st 2014 with Tirgearr Publishing, is a story revolving around the Taylor family and then my 2^nd novel is about a priest pitched against Satan in a room with no way out until John has rid the room of Satan. I think when I get an idea or a character pops in to my head for a story and having thought about that idea/character, I question how I feel, a plot has to grip me and get me thinking, yeah that would be a good story. Does that answer this question?

How does my writing process work?

Like I mentioned earlier, when an idea or a character for a story comes to me, I think about it for awhile and then once I’m comfortable with it, I make notes. I like to use the spider map or mind map as it is called too. The characters name or the idea is put in to the centre circle in the centre of the page, then coming out from this are other characters, their relationship to the central one, places/locations in another outer circle and so on. This would not be very detailed just the bones of a story. I know the end, I know what i want to happen so then I must figure out how to reach that ending and as I write the story, it is revealed. So although I put down some details, this is only to whet my appetite for the book and those in it, after that, the characters take over and they bring me to the conclusion of the story. There is no right or wrong way to approach writing, it is what works for you is the important thing.

There you have it. Some thoughts about my writing and how I go about it. I want to thank Daniel again for asking me to take part. The good news about a blog hop is that it continues and I want to introduce to you a writer who I know you will want to read more of.

Introducing David O’Brien, a fellow Tirgearr author, I shall let you read Dave’s bio to find out more.

David J O’Brien is an Irish ecologist, poet, fiction writer and teacher. He currently lives in Pamplona, Spain, where he teaches and writes. His poems have been published in several anthologies and journals, such as such as Albatross, Houseboat, and Misty Mountain Review. He has written about deer watching for Ireland’s Wildlife and deer management for the Irish Wildlife Trust. His first novel, Leaving the Pack, will be published in 2014 by Tirgearr Publishing. He is currently seeking homes for his four other novels and working on his next four. More of his writing, including blogs about re-wilding and wildlife management, can be found at http://davidjmobrien.wordpress.com/

My next post is in fact an interview with David, where he will reveal more about his writing to us and links to interact with him.

  

Six Word Stories

Every now and then I and my writing friends go through some exercises to challenge our word-play or get the creative juices bubbling. It was time for a few six word stories, made famous by the late Ernest Hemingway. The following are a selection of which I came up with. Why not give it a go and have a bit of fun with your writing?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Pretty seashells, echoes the oceans song

Exhaustion, one final push, new life

Morning sunshine promises family day out

Magpies gather, calling loudly, treasure found

Storm clouds roll, warnings go out

Breaking and entering, Goldilocks charged, guilty.

Guest Interview with Jeff Gardiner

I had the pleasure recently to chat with Tirgearr author Jeff Gardiner and ask him a bit about his writing. Below are some of the questions I asked him.

Mary Bradford: Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, do you still live there?

Jeff Gardiner: I was born in Jos, Nigeria, but left when I was young (my parents were missionaries out there). I’ve lived most of my life in the UK, mostly in South-West London. My teenage years were spent in Ealing, which is considered the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’. I now live in West Sussex. Other than writing and spending time with my children, I listen to a lot of rock music and watch films. I love films from every decade and culture.

MB: Have you a favourite author?

JG: Michael Moorcock is a big influence because he breaks down genre boundaries. He’s always considered to be a fantasy author, but his mainstream fiction such as ‘Mother London’, ‘Gloriana’ and the Col. Pyat sequence are really his finest achievements. My book about his works will be coming out later this year, entitled ‘The Law of Chaos: the Multiverse of Michael Moorcock’. Another writer whose books excite me is Haruki Murakami.

MB: When did you start writing, are you a full-time writer?

JG: As a teenager, I wrote smug, self-obsessed poetry that I really should consider destroying, before someone else sees it. I won a fiction competition and had another story published in my early thirties, then a collection of my stories published (horror, romance, humour – an eclectic mix). My first novel, ‘Myopia’, is a finalist in The People’s Book Prize, which is exciting. I wish I was a fulltime writer, but I teach part-time. This leaves me one day a week to concentrate on my writing, which is great, but also very frustrating.

MB: Do you have a set time for writing? Are you a morning or evening writer?

JG: I have children, so it’s a matter of working around them. Evenings work best for me because the kids get up early. I’ve realised how important it is to use every moment you have. Procrastination is your greatest enemy.

MB: Tell us a little about your latest work.

JG: ‘Treading On Dreams’ (Tirgearr Publishing) is a coming-of-age novel about obsession and unrequited love. Donny is a sensitive man, in love with Selena who is too perfect for him. He quickly learns that he’s going to have to toughen up if he wants to impress her. It’s the eternal question: how do you respond when someone doesn’t feel the same way about you? Do you give up?

‘Igboland’ (Crooked Cat Books) is set in Nigeria during the Biafran War. Lydia is a missionary’s wife who gets caught up in conflict and passion as she attempts to create her own identity, thousands of miles from her home in England.

MB: Do your books require much research?

JG: ‘Igboland’ required a great deal of research into Igbo culture and beliefs, which

are fascinating. The protagonist, Lydia, becomes inspired by two Igbos she gets to know – Grace, a victim of the war, and Kwemto, a local doctor. Igbo spiritual beliefs, known as Odinani, are very interesting. We in the west could learn a great deal from their profound view on life and the world around us.

MB: Where can we buy/see your work?

JG: Below are the links to my various author pages and sites for my books

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

Jeff’s Blog: http://jeffgardiner.wordpress.com/

Jeff’s Website: http://jeffgardiner.com/

Igboland Facebook Page

Treading On Dreams Facebook Page

Crooked Cat

Tirgearr

Barnes and Noble

Twitter

MB: What an interesting life you have Jeff and your books sound wonderful. It was very good of you to give us some of your valuable writing time to do this interview, it is much appreciated. I hope you will come back again to keep us up to date with your work. 

JG: Thanks for inviting me over to you blog. All the best.

B is for Blanket of Birthday Blessings

It was my birthday. It is a time to ponder the past and wonder at the future. I am sitting in a hotel foyer and there are strangers around me. I am in Co. Mayo, 3 hours journey from home.

Before Christmas 2013, I sent out a play for a competition, my first, it was shortlisted for the Claremorris Fringe Drama Festival 2014. It is exciting to see my words that I committed to paper come alive on stage. This is a new experience for me. The play is called Something About Her. The actors bring their own understanding to the story and to see their projection and my words married together is strange but delightful. 

But on the eve of my birthday I lay in bed and thought about the year past. I do not plan for the future, I don’t really worry about it, it is out of my control so let it be.

But the year past had so many blessings. No trip to hospital or to my GP for me, with my heart history a rarity indeed. My youngest daughter moved to Germany. I went to visit and saw the beautiful Christmas markets, a must go to for everyone. 

All my other children enjoy good health as does my extended family. My short stories continue to be published. I joined a mentoring group for playwrighting, which led me to being here tonight. I signed a contract for my first novel, My Husbands Sin, with Tirgearr Publishing in Ireland, a champagne moment. I attended christenings, weddings and other celebrations. 

Looking out the window, I grew sleepy and admired the navy darkness of a frosty night. The twinkling stars dotted the inky sky, all of them winking at me, my blanket of birthday blessings. I am thankful for my life.