The Redhead Writer

Mslexia Women's Novel Competition 2011

2011-07-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Oh if only I could manage to get that novel finished then I would enter myself into this competition.

I'm seriously wishing that I did a novel as the final major project on my degree rather than a radio serial script.

But if any of you did manage to finish it... enter.

http://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_active.php

For those of you that aren't local...

2011-07-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

You can purchase copies of the books I've been involved in online. CPO Media now has its own Amazon store. So for all you relatives abroad, there's no excuse!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/shops/cpomedia

Can you make a living from writing these days?

2011-03-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

I was about 9/10 years old when I first had the thought of writing for a living (although a teacher thinking your story was worthy of comb binding does not a pulisher acceptance make...) I remember how excited I was to design the cover - I even made up a blurb to advertise Tina and the Animal Prince. But how many writers get published?

How many writers actually make a living from solely publishing their work? Sure there's your big names like JK Rowling, Terry Pratchett and Iain Banks, but for every one of them there's thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, hell maybe even millions of us who love to write but cannot produce the books that readers whisk off the shelves of Waterstones.

So what can a person with a knack for putting words together slightly better than your average Joe do? What ways can you use your vocabulary and creativity to fulfill your needs in your work-life?

Forget trying to get a job with a publisher, it's practically impossible. Have a think about these industry sectors which have bred a few authors. I'm still considering these myself...

Journalism - Although there's a distinct lack of creativity sometimes, you do get to write on a daily basis. It normally focusses on the bad parts of society/life though as it appears the more interesting columns are only for celebrities these days. You do get your name in print though!

PR - Again you get to write on a daily basis but sometimes it's up to you to find the stories, to make the everyday characters compelling to an audience. Something to keep your brain active and you'll gain an excellent understanding of what makes a good story.

Graphic Design / Marketing - Who do you think writes that text on those posters, leaflets and newsletters? If you are lucky enough you might even get to work on a company magazine.

Career change?

SNOW

2011-01-26T00:21:00.000-08:00

I'm in Sweden at the moment, it's around minus five and there's practically a blizzard going on. The wind really bites your face, and icy snot trickles out of your nose which you try to wipe away with painful, tingly fingers.

And yet in my head I'm smiling and shouting SNOW!

I loved it before my brother moved here; I've always loved the way it makes everything look pretty, the way it makes children happy, the way you dress up warm or enjoy it from a cosy room.

I just wish the UK was more prepared to handle it. The country has a melt down and everyone complains about the disruptive, evil snow instead of enjoying it. It's an everday occurance here in Sweden, just part of everyday life. The children own snow gear and sledges, and they build snowmen and snowcastles.

Enjoy the snow! I am :)

New Year = lots of new writing?

2011-01-02T04:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

And as always everyone makes promises to themselves, me included, to do things which they just don't normally have the willpower to do.

So what have I promised myself this year?

1. To write more. A promise that I make every year.
2. To submit more writing. Ditto as above.
3. To read more. Ditto.
4. To be more involved in the local arts scene.
5. To go to more events/productions/talks etc. (Rather than going out drinking with friends)

And finally...

6. To make an actual plan for the year (and perhaps life) in order to be more successful and to think about where I'm going.

So wish me good luck!

Fathom '10 anthology

2010-11-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

I went to the launch of the Fathom Short Story prize last week at the Ropewalk in Barton. It was a great night with judge Frances Leviston reading some of her own poetry and prizes were given out for this year's Fathom Short Story and Poetry Prize.

It was a real celebration of local writing, and as the book also features work from Article magazine, yours truly has several pieces in there.

Check it out, 'tis only a fiver!

Opening lines

2010-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

I've always been one of those writers that concentrates on making an impact with the first line/ paragraph. So thought I would post a small selection of some openings, both new and old:

WITH THE TIDE 2010 (poem in progress)

They collide, the rock and the raging sea,
in a fusion match-made by nature.
On a mollusc bed, in salt stained sheets,
shrivelled toes clench and twitch
like seaweed jigging in the wash.

UNREAD (2005 short story)

She walked into the library with the impact of a firework in his groin.

DESERTER (2006 short story)

Bullets whizzed above him, looking for their next victim as soon as they'd exited the first, like ticks seeking flesh.

Mack the 'palette' knife

2010-11-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the launch of the Dale Mackie exhibition at Abbey Walk Gallery. So pleased to see our Distant Water front cover on display, and never a bad thing to have a blurb about the project next to it.

And much to my surprise and delight I came across my first project's book The Women They Left Behind on sale further into the exhibition.

So if you get chance to have a look please go, Dale is a great local artist whose work explores Grimsby's fishing past.

To plan or not to plan?

2010-10-31T11:09:00.001-07:00

I read an interesting article today (Mslexia Issue 47) which explored whether planning a novel was a necessity, a help or a hindrance to your creativity.

And, as in typical Tina fashion, I haven't yet made a decision about what I am going to start writing tomorrow, I need to decide whether to go with an idea I've loosely planned or go with something new off the cuff.

I think it's true that there's something exciting about discovering your characters and plot at the same time as would a reader, but it can lead to you writing yourself into a corner.

So a loose plot would keep the writing flowing, leaving me to imagine and create the smaller scenarios/scenes and the finer details of my characters whilst maintaining a steady direction.

So do I lose the plot and go off the rails? Or does slow but steady win the race?

NaNoWriMo

2010-10-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow and I've decided to give it a go in the hopes that I can turn my little scribbles into something bigger and, given my current project, something distinctly less fishy...

If anyone is doing it and wants to buddy up look for novel_nymph

The cost of heritage

2010-08-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

Having co-written and researched a local history book about Grimsby, I am quite proud and passionate about young people understanding their own heritage. I think it's quite important that they know where their town came from and perhaps why it is the way it is today.

I often find that dense facts, figures and statistics can be a barrier to this and it's stories and images which bring this history to life.

So how excited was I to discover some images that would perfectly accompany the stories we had collected, ones which would bring the reality of fishing to life?

But it is a shame to discover that they come with a cost, one that may mean they will never be seen by those who will value it most. A monetry value is high, but I feel there is a higher one - and we can't afford either!

Eeeeeek!

2010-08-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

I've just pledged to write 50,000 words in 30 days in November for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Maybe finally that novel will get done!

If anyone wants to link up with me please let me know

The Call of Poetry

2010-07-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

For sometime now I have been considering writing poetry...

Several people have described my own writing style as 'poetic' and I seem to have much more energy to work on smaller pieces.

However I feel daunted by the rhyme and structure indicative of so many a great poem. I don't understand how to construct, though I can create the images.

But this week I have been working (I mean seriously trying hard) to write a poem. It's still being drafted but watch this space!

Something different

2010-06-05T00:22:00.000-07:00

Well I spent yesterday afternoon in Mucky Muldoons, Cleethorpes filming the local band The Finest Hour. Much more interesting and fun than being in the office last thing on a Friday I have to say.

The Community Task Force guys based in our office did a great job helping TV4Change film and I think they did some real good work.

Only thing is now, after playing their single 'Move On' about 17 times while we took many different shots, I cannot get it out of my head! Perhaps I should buy the single...

Argh where's the brakes?!

2010-05-25T11:42:00.001-07:00

So the Distant Water project is picking up speed... I've got so many interviews and so little time to squeeze them into!

So far we've had a number of good interviews but we really need a bit of variety. I'd quite like to talk to some skippers, and some shore workers as we've had a lot of deckies.

And I'll let you in on a little secret but keep it shush, we've just commissioned a local artist to paint the front cover. Exciting but busy busy times!

Finally...

2010-05-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

After weeks of hounding the local press, Distant Water will be featured in the Grimsby Telegraph tomorrow on Pg 11 along with a not-so-perfect picture of myself and writer/editor Nick Triplow.

Speaking of photographs you don't want to see the light of day... my housemate has been digging around and scanned in some shockingly bad photos of yours truly. While she's right about being proud of where you've come from, and believe me I have changed a lot over the years, I am not proud of what I once was. Both in terms of the way I looked (don't we all look dodgy when we're younger, I hear you say) and my lack of ambition, drive and pure laziness.

But I am proud of who I am now and the work I'm doing. So forget the past, work hard in the present and dream of a better future.

Forgetful Freda

2010-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

The last week or so has been manic with all the new projects and just a slight shortage of staff (there's lots of sarcasm there). And when Tina's running round like a mad woman she becomes so very forgetful...

I went to an interview without interview questions, I was supposed to make a delivery but I didn't take the stock, I even became convinced it was a different day of the week and began doing the wrong things!

So errr what's my name again?

Let there be cake!

2010-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

First interview conducted for Distant Water, featuring some rather cheeky phrases which may need bleeping out!

It all felt a little rusty, and I forgot that the golden stuff often comes at the end once the dictophone has been turned off and the banter is flowing. NOTE TO SELF: Don't turn the dictophone off until you're out the door!

The family had some fantastic photographs set on ship which have real character and charm. They'll be a great edition to the book. Not to mention there were freshly made cakes... Yum!

Off to a cracking start!

Distant Water interview

2010-05-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

Just put up a new link under projects regarding Distant Water. Listen to Nick Triplow discussing the project on the Helen Philpot show and very skilfully dropping my name a few times.

Cheers Nick!

Distant Water project

2010-05-03T04:45:00.001-07:00

Distant Water project finally kicked off this week which I am Project Co-ordinating. I got my posters designed and okayed, we sent out press releases and have booked slots on radio humberside (links to follow).

First post

2010-05-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

Well here it is, my brand new spanking blog dedicated to my writing and my attempts to become an author.

I'll try and keep this up to date with any new projects and things that I'm working on, as well as news and general observations about life, love and the random universe!

There are some links to work and projects down the side, feel free to have a read and get a feel for my writing and the things that I've been involved in to date.

If you want to get in contact to discuss anything, email me through my profile.

Happy reading and writing to all!