It’s all coming back to me now!

… my life, that is. Finally, my last written assignment for university this year is completed (but not yet submitted), and my final performance is a week today. Then it’s a case of sticking around for an open day a week on Saturday, going to see Hairspray in the evening (yay!) and then home for the summer!

Am I excited…. yes and no. I can’t wait to be home, because there’s so much exciting stuff going to happen, but I’ll miss my friends. I’ll miss having my own space, but I won’t miss having to kill my own spiders (found the first one of the year yesterday, a giant one that made me cry until I threw a box of washing powder at it, and I’m still not sure it’s dead). I’ll miss my course, but I won’t miss being weighed down with the work of it all.

Has university changed me? Definitely. For the better? I certainly think and hope so. More on that in a later post, though.

As for what this means for me, it means I can focus on getting better – and maybe getting a scan organised, if the doctors ever get around to it, so someone can actually stop me from being in so much pain. It also means I can do more writing – both fiction and my new venture, a comedy singer/sort-of-songwriter thing that I tried out at a comedy night. It went well, which has spurred me on to write more – videos to follow. It means I can relax and spend more time with Daf, my family and my friends, and I think that’s what I’m looking forwards to most of all 🙂

Unexpected Plot Twists

So it’s quarter to one in the morning. I have a busy day tomorrow – a meeting, going to find out about getting a new tattoo, a (hopeful!) blood donation, and then I need to get some nice food in and cook for my poorly other half, who is coming up to visit for the weekend and hold my hand as I find out if I can give blood or not. But I’m not tucked up in bed, where I should be. I’m sitting at my desk (in a relatively tidy room; proud of myself!), writing away because inspiration has ensnared me in her vice-like grip. 

Where’s this inspiration come from? I have absolutely no idea. It may be a combination of finally relaxing after a stressful few days (an assessment deadline as well as a few other factors), tiredness and the incredible Spotify playlist I’ve created. It could also be just from somewhere in the depths of my mind, where my characters live and have decided to embark on this delicious plot twist. Who knows? 

In the grand scheme of things, the effect of this plot twist on the story in general is minimal. It’s actually more of a relationship twist than a plot twist, because it will have no effect on how the story ends – it just has quite a profound effect on one character; the main character, who finds it will change her perception of something quite important (I’m not going to explain in too much detail because I’m hoping to publish this eventually). 

I’ve just written a section of a chapter, and quite honestly I think it is one of my favourite pieces of writing ever. There will be more along the way in the course of this story – after all, there’s three books to write, and a lot of big moments I’m really excited about writing (or re-writing, as the case may be) – but I am a little bit in love with this section I’ve just written. I’m usually overly-critical of my writing, because I don’t go in for prose as much as most other writers – I like to focus on the people and the plot, rather than using flowery language, which was why I hated “Wuthering Heights” so much. However, in this section, I think my style of writing really works, and I am unbelievably proud of it. 

So this is really just a post about my unexpected plot (or relationship, whichever word works best) twist. Turns out the best ideas really do come along when you’re not expecting it. The moral of the story – if you want complete control over the characters you’ve created, don’t write about them. The moment you start writing, they will develop a life of their own – and you will not be responsible for what they choose to do with their lives. All you can do is observe it and write it down. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s the best part about being a writer. 

Wanna read some sci-fi?

Then head over to Christopher Maine’s blog and check out his short stories – the Runner chronicles. They’re brilliant short science fiction stories, I’ve been hooked on them – and if you enjoy those, check out some of his other writing and buy his books, “Tales From The Terra Firma Fleet”, on Amazon! 

Science fiction has become a bit of a buzzword for me just recently; I can’t get enough of it. I don’t know if it’s because at the moment I’m alternating between writing science fiction short stories (set in Christopher Maine’s universe) and also a science fiction novel set (also set in that universe), but I really love it. I’ve also just finished watching the series of “Firefly” (I’ll hopefully be progressing to the film at some point soon) and I love it; so much so that I’m dedicating my next assessment to it by giving a presentation about the series. 

So I’m on a bit of a sci-fi kick at the moment. I’m making my way through the book of War Of The Worlds and my next television show I’m going to watch which I should have watched years ago is Stargate Atlantis. Let’s see where that one takes me!

Stay shiny x

My Weekly Publicist Turn!

Yes, it’s that time once more where I slip on my publicist hat and tell you all to buy Christopher Maine’s books if you haven’t already – they’re available for Kindle or any device compatible with the Kindle Reading App eg iPad, smartphones, most tablets. They don’t cost very much at all and they’re fantastic books, and I really recommend them, it’d be great if you could buy them and support a fledgling independent author!

You can also follow his blog where he actually sticks to the description of a writing blog, unlike me where I chat lots about my life and boring stuff and rarely actually talk about important stuff like writing and news and charities. Please follow his blog – http://www.christophermaine.wordpress.com – and buy his books, at – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2 and http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Wrath-Tales-ebook/dp/B0089CLIT8/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2 !

A Letter To My 13-Year-Old Self.

Revision is not going well – my mind just really isn’t in it today – so I’ve decided to change things a little bit, and I am going to write a letter to my 13 year old self. The power of hindsight is a wonderful thing, and there are many things that I think would have turned out better had I heeded the advice I’m about to give myself. That said, I’m so happy how I am today, so don’t read this and assume I’m not happy with my life. This is partly a writing exercize, and partly because I’m bored.

Dear 13-year-old-me,

The next few years are going to be tough on you, and right now you’re not prepared for them at all. You’re still drifting through school, not really paying much attention to lessons other than ones that interest you and you have a few friends, but you’re not exactly popular. So, here’s my advice for you over the next four years, to wind up as awesome (if not awesome-r) as your current, 17 year old self.

• Pay attention in Maths and Science lessons. Yes, it’s boring. Yes, we hate science and maths, but you will regret not paying attention – I find myself wishing I understood maths and science better because I struggle with it, I’ve forgotten virtually everything I used to be able to remember and I think there’s a few times where it could’ve been handy. Had I listened more when I was your age, I could have gotten As in the sciences and a B in Maths. I’m happy with the Cs in Maths and Physics and the Bs in Biology and Chemistry, but I know it could have been better, if I’d gotten over the fact that I find them boring and paid more attention.
• You’re too young for boys. Disregard all boys that come your way until December 31st, 2010 and you’ll end up very happy and not with a load of self-esteem issues that still bug you to this day.
• If someone whose name begins with “D”, who enjoys science fiction, writing and acting reveals that he likes you a lot on December 31st, 2010, don’t hesitate to admit that you return those feelings, because by the time you’re my age, you will have had the best 17 months of your life.
• Learn as many musical instruments as possible! Start playing the guitar and ukulele early, I only started a couple of years ago and I regret not learning earlier because I could be so much better by now. Keep going with the singing, regardless of what people say – in the future, it will open a lot of doors for you.
• Take every opportunity to perform that you get, and don’t let confidence issues convince you out of it.
• Don’t bring your problems home and take them out on your family. They’re struggling with your teenage mood swings enough, let alone having to put up with you being a royal pain thanks to other things happening in your life.
• Don’t wait as long as I did to get a sudden confidence boost. When you’re in a situation with new people, introduce yourself. Be friendly and be yourself, but for god’s sake, CALM DOWN A BIT. If you’re hyper it’s only going to scare people away. By the time you’re my age, you’ll have found a happy medium – when you need to be, you can be serious, but you’re also not afraid to be goofy and go a little crazy, especially when you’re scaring pigeons away and screaming as crabs chase you.
• Don’t spent your time worrying about what other people think about you. One of the most stupid things I’ve ever done is change myself into a quiet, reserved person because I was worried that people would mistake my… well, I like to think of it as quirkiness … for special needs or something like that. These days, people can think that about me if they want, it just shows their ignorance because they don’t take the time to get to know me and find out that I don’t have SEN, I’m just making the most of being a child before I turn 18.
• School isn’t the be-all and end-all. For all I said about paying attention in Maths and Science, don’t let it take over your life! Chill out a little bit or you’re going to get stressed and over-worked. Do all your homework when you get it, do work in the lessons rather than chatting and messing about – which, by the way, doesn’t help with the whole “People assuming you’re special” issue – and you won’t have to spend hours at home trying to do it but failing because you didn’t listen to the teacher.
• Don’t stress about not becoming a prefect – at the end of the day, the teachers were right. The prefects ended up as basically targets for the misbehaving students, and you can do without that stress in your GCSE year. Plus, I don’t think it turned out to be quite as good as people thought it would be. And hey, most of your friends didn’t get to be prefect either, so it’s not like you’re the only one. You’ll end up having an amazing Year 11 regardless, and no matter how many times you say you can’t wait to leave, as soon as you get to college you’ll be wishing you were back there again!
• There are certain people you shouldn’t bother with, and others who you should bother with more. I’m not going to name them here out of respect for their privacy, but when someone is a friend to you, don’t be mean to them – and when someone is mean to you, for heavens’ sake don’t try to build bridges, it’ll only lead to more trouble in the long run. Small arguments are going to happen, especially when some of you have such personality clashes, but there are people you still speak to today who you had arguments with in the past and got over them, and that’s worth it. On the other hand, there are people you ignored the major arguments with and insisted things would change, and now there’s irrepairable damage. Still, don’t assume that’s a bad thing.
• You are going to miss your friends a hell of a lot when you go to college, so make sure you stay in touch with them over Facebook! Never underestimate the value of social networking; for all its faults it also has advantages.
• Deefer is going to die, and it’s going to absolutely break your heart, but don’t worry and DON’T blame yourself. You’ll have another dog and she will change your life completely, so much for the better.
• Stop wearing make-up earlier than I did. You’re beautiful without it, it can destroy people’s skin and you’ll feel so much better for it. Special occasions will feel more special when you’re getting ready and putting make-up on, and it’ll save you money when you’re not wasting £5 a time on foundation.
• Don’t worry about the future. When you’re 13, university isn’t something you need to worry about. You’ll go through ups and downs of wanting to go and not wanting to go, and you won’t know what course you want to do and at times you’ll just feel like giving it all up, but don’t! As I’m writing this, I’m looking at a box by my window which is slowly filling up with things ready for university, and it makes me smile because I’m going to university – despite everything, I’m going to go.
• In short, to borrow a favourite quote of mine, live like there’s no tomorrow. Laugh every chance you get. Learn from your mistakes – and don’t make them again! Love the people who will love you back. Live the life you love and you’ll love the life you live.

Don’t worry. Life’s going to throw some nasty stuff at you, and you’ll have the scars to show for it when you get to my age, but you’re going to get through. Nothing can get you down – you’re strong and you’re beautiful and, one day, you’ll be writing this post to your thirteen year old self, looking back on the years and realizing that regardless of what is thrown your way, you’re stronger than you seem, braver than you believe and smarter than you think, and I think you’re going to be just fine.

I speak to you today…

… not as a blogger. Not as a friend. But as a publicist. 

Friends. Blog readers. Commenters. Lend me your eyes (and your trust in Twitter recommendations).

If you have any taste at all, follow @CMaine_Official on twitter. It is the Twitter page of Christopher Maine, the writer whose fanclub I am self-elected president, and it’s only just started but follow him – it contains probably the most creative countdown (for something incredibly exciting!) I’ve seen, and don’t forget – you can read and follow his blog at http://www.christophermaine.wordpress.com , and you can buy his first novel “Dragon Flight: Renegade” at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336334468&sr=8-1 .

And Another Thing…

No, I’m not referring to the book in the Hitchiker’s Guide series – I’m talking about a fellow author who, if you’ve been following my blog for a while, you might know a thing or two about. I consider myself his biggest fan and unofficial president of his unofficial fan club, which is why he has his own page on this blog if you look at the menu across the top. His name is Christopher Maine, and he’s recently published his first novel in a series of ten, “Dragon Flight: Renegade” for Amazon Kindle. It’s a fantastic book and, if you haven’t already, I recommend you read it – and last night he hit his first quarter century, 25 books sold! So I’m very proud of him today 🙂

Putting on my shameless self-designated publicist hat on again, you can buy his book at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329694430&sr=1-7 and you can follow his writing blog, in which he (unlike me) doesn’t blather on about his personal life and instead focuses on his writing, challenges he encounters and the way he overcomes them. He also does something very interesting on there, he writes character biographies and posts them up, to give the readers some insight into the characters of the story without spoiling it for potential readers.

I think he’s going to be a big name in science fiction novels in the future so check him out and read his book! You can follow his blog here – www.christophermaine.wordpress.com

*puts on advertising hat*

I’ve taken it upon myself to take on the duty of being a publicist for Christopher Maine. Whether he approves of this (indeed, whether he even knows I’m doing it) remains to be seen, but I’m quite excited about his new series, and his blogs are great, so it’s time for….

*fanfare*

MADDY THE PUBLICIST!

Yes, so we have Tawni the writer and Maddy the publicist. I can live with that. So, if you have an Amazon Kindle (and if you don’t, I recommend one – they’re brilliant!), or any mobile device on which you can download the Kindle Reading App (I believe all smartphones, ipads, laptops and computers can), I would like to recommend this book –

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329694430&sr=1-7

and this blog –

http://www.christophermaine.wordpress.com

The things he posts are quite similar to my writing blogs (although he posts rather less frequently, so far his pattern seems to be one a day, so if you subscribe he won’t be bombarding you with sporadic blog posts in the way I do), in that he discusses issues and factors he’s had to think about whilst writing. So, if you like blogs about creative writing or science fiction, I suggest you check it out and follow him 🙂

 

*removes advertising hat*

That is all.

 

 

For Now!

 

Just a friendly reminder ;)

Christopher Maine’s book, “Dragon Flight: Renegade” is doing quite well but he still needs your support and I’d be really grateful if you could, if you have a Kindle or any device with the Kindle Reading App, buy the book! It really is very good. Alternatively, if you don’t have a Kindle or any device with the Kindle Reading App, or sci-fi isn’t really your thing, please share the link everywhere you can – internet forums which allow advertising, Facebook, Twitter, your own blogs. He deserves to do really well 🙂

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329694430&sr=1-7

Also, check out his blog 🙂 he posts about the writing process and some of the challenges he’s found 🙂

www.christophermaine.wordpress.com

Thank you 🙂

YO!

I know I keep bugging you guys, but SERIOUSLY! Check out Christopher Maine’s first published novel, “Dragon Flight: Renegade”, available now on the Kindle. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Flight-Renegade-Tales-ebook/dp/B007B3CZF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330108854&sr=8-1 if you have any taste in reading material, you will not be disappointed by this! I’m really excited for the rest of the series and I really recommend it.

Also, the author now has a wordpress! http://www.christophermaine.wordpress.com , it’s in the building stages at the moment and is very early day, but check it out – follow him and BUY THE BOOK! A really promising up and coming author!