A litttle rough, but that's about it. I don't know exactly how it would sound, unless someone actually manufactured one. A little similar to the dulcimer, I guess.


It's played on the lap, as there's no neck. Like this...

http://www.richardandmimi.com/collaborators.html

Kailee meez

Heheh. Thanks to Kimber for introducing me to Meez.com. That was fun.

So here's a more light-hearted Kailee than in the picture I drew myself. Clearly she has no idea what lies ahead...

Edited to change from bow & arrow to sword.

Edited again to add - if you want to make you own meez at www.meez.com please quote _Kailee_ when asked who referred you. That way we earn five coinz each.

Digging Deeper - How Literary Criticism Helps

One of the many things I struggle with while crafting a tale is how to find the deeper themes, the message. The point.

So you want to write a story that really moves your readers, and not one that they'll put down, and think, 'so what?'

Well, help is at hand. Visit The Toasted Scimitar, where Ardyth (the Dreaded One) discusses how Literary Criticism can be an invaluable tool in the revision of your work; something that helps you to dig deeper, and unearth those hidden messages you never knew were there. This is a clever, well executed article with a wonderful illustration demonstrating how to find and draw out the deeper themes of your story.

Don't pass this one by. I've added it to my writing resources folder. :)

http://www.toasted-scimitar.blogspot.com/

Keys to Death

In memory of Claire & Jenny Stoddart, two wonderful girls from Lowestoft who died together with their best friend and two other people in a car crash on 1st July 2006.

http://www.myspace.com/keystodeath

Please do not leave your comments here - leave them on the Keys to Death blog where Claire and Jenny's family and friends can see.

So far so good...

My scanner doesn't want to play greyscale games, which is why my sketches have a sepia tone. Here's what I have so far. The outline around the fret board looks rather like the traditional lute, but I haven't found a design I'm happy with yet, despite a myriad of notes - all of which are in the bin. The problem is, while the real Dulcimer has a beautiful sound, I wanted a richer tonal quality, one that would carry further. That means I need to have a deeper and wider body. This lute shape would work for that, but I also have to consider ergonomics. If the instrument is to be played on the lap -- which I wanted -- a wider, guitar shape wouldn't work, and neither would the rounded back of the lute. It looks like I'm going to end up with something very close to the Dulcimer after all.

Still haven't found a name. Any tips on making up names, anyone?

Sweet song

I don't think I've seen a more beautiful instrument. This is the Dulcimer, and the inspiration for the instrument in my story. Isn't is wonderful? I love the name, too, which means sweet song, although I still need to find my own name.

Find out a bit more about it, and listen to a sample of music here

http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om11400.html

Cyber Book Launch - Magic Lost, Trouble Found

If you never heard of a cyber-launch book party, pop over to the Star Captains' Daughter sister site, http://www.enduringromance.blogspot.com/ and find out what it's all about. Here, Star Captains' author, Kimber An, reviews and heralds new releases, joined by other writers and authors from the blogosphere.

It took me a couple of days to recover from the last one, and then we had to clear up, repaint, replaster the ceiling...

Today Kimber reviews Magic Lost, Trouble Found, and features an exclusive interview with the book's author, Lisa Shearin.

If you've just been published, enduringromance is a great place to get seen. Despite the title, it's a genre-friendly blog. Just ask for Kimber An. She shouts louder than anyone else I know. ;)

Strange instruments

So, this new story centers around a musical instrument. I had a name for it, but it has hard consonants and clipped vowels. Doesn't work. I need something softer. It's a stringed instrument. Perhaps I should draw that, too, and see if I come up with any names. *pauses to Google 'strange/unusual musical instruments' for inspiration*

Heck... http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om13110.html
Goodness... http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om24750.html
The best... http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om25500.html
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om33250.html

Hmm... needs to be easily transportable, something handheld. But at least now I have somewhere to start. :)

So I did...

I had to put aside the book I’ve been trying and failing to write for the last six years. I made so many changes to it, and got so tied up in knots over it, that I forgot the point of the story. I’ve spent a long time trying to press on with it, but it has feelings of deep inadequacy attached to it. My decision to put it aside wasn’t easy. I like to complete something once I’ve started it. But someone recently said to me, if it’s not working, move on and do something else. Seemed so simple put like that.

I’ve left it having written a couple of chapters I’m happy with, so I look forward to going back to it another time.

So I've just completed the first two chapters of another story I’ve been brewing, and I feel better. Those six years are not wasted time because I've been on a steep learning curve. My writing has improved, and my approach to this one is entirely different. Nothing is ever wasted.

Oh, the pic? My new protagonist.

My choice

Here's a little known secret, and one that recently saved my marriage of fifteen years: love is a choice. If you practice it even while you don't feel it, it's entirely possible to experience a gradual restoration of what was there before, and you wake up one day and suddenly it's all come back.

Sometimes things can slide. I haven't done much of my own writing over the last nine months. Plenty of essays, but not much for myself. So over the last couple of months I've been looking forward to finishing my study so I could get on with writing my novel, and work on the couple of short stories I have on the boil.

Only now my final paper is out of the way, and study is over until September, I find myself in a kind of involuntary hiatus. What happened? Four weeks ago I was itching to write, and now I just can't be arsed. It's not writer's block - I don't believe in that - I just don't feel like doing it.

Someone said to me once that you should only write when you feel like it, otherwise the pleasure quickly goes. But I think sometimes it's important to push on through that. Because what if the desire never comes back? That's not a nice thought, is it?

Time I choose to write, I suppose.

~

Why Critique Circle?

I recently took a look at some of my writing from this time last year. It was cringeworthy at best. But the last story I put up for review at CC, a few weeks ago, had some very positive feedback, and my writing has clearly improved.

Why? Well, firstly because I bit the bullet and put it up for review in the first place. If I'd never done that, I'd never have known how awful it was. Secondly, I took to heart the advice I was given, and worked on the aspects of my writing that needed improving. Thirdly, I kept on writing, even when I couldn't see any marked improvement. And I critiqued. Critiqueing other people's writing is a wonderful way to learn to spot the errors you make in your own, because it's hard to look subjectively at your own work.

I made friends, and my confidence has improved. And I've read some very good stories, too. Critique Circle is a community of writers from all levels, from those new to the craft, to seasoned, published writers, and in my experience, the feedback is always useful, no matter who critiques.

If you're interested in writing, click on the link at the side and go have a look. You'll be glad you did.

Mother ducks & Marshes

Me & Mr. B took a picnic to the marshes today.

This beautiful place is a five minute cycle ride from our home, so we went on our bikes. Gorgeous weather.

Mother duck...

...and ducklings

Very dramatic.

Beautiful poppies.

Sleep Matters

For those of you who suffer from insomnia, real insomnia, who have tried the lavender and chamomile, tried the relaxations techniques, tried the diets, and can lie awake all night after taking enough sedatives to knock out an elephant for a fortnight, and who have a sleep deficit running into years, this machine might be the answer.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1264358,00.html

It seems the device not only produces a good night’s sleep, but can also cram the benefit of eight hours sleep into just two or three.

If the idea of trascranial magnetic stimulation – magnetic signals sent through the scalp and skull into the brain – puts you off trying it, then you don’t, and probably never have really experienced insomnia.

I know I’d give it a go.

~~~~~~~

DESTINATION

When the moment you have been waiting for is torn away...

Jennifer had almost reached him. She reached out with her hand. Their fingers touched. Their eyes locked. Then she was gone.

~

Jennifer slipped an arm around his waist. ‘Let’s get you some help.’ Jensen noted her raised eyebrow as she took in his firmer, fitter physique. He held back a smile.
'I brought something back for you.'


Military-base cleaner Eugene Jensen is in love with physicist Captain Jennifer Stanford. But will she ever notice him? The two excerpts above are from the beginning and end of my short story Destination. Track its progress here as I submit it to online publications, and find out how Jensen gets from A to B.

12/06/07 - Submitted to Aberrant Dreams

I took the approach to this first post that I take to the first line of one of my stories. It's got to hook. But after working on it a week, and having nothing to show on my blog, I figured I'd better just get on with it. Hook who, anyway?

So, here's the virtual version of my home-base. This is for me, really, to help with my writing, my study, and other things that matter, but if other people stop by and get help for themselves, then that’s good too.

What matters? Well, in no particular order, writing and study, as I mentioned, also sleep, global warming, restless legs, and learning to play the guitar. Other things will pop up along the way. I believe everyone learns/does something new everyday, so here's mine for today - never had a blog before. My thanks to good buddy Kimber An http://starcaptainsdaughter.blogspot.com/ for helping me get started here.

What else? I’ll also review books as I read them, aka Kimber, and put up the odd interview related to those things above that matter, with links to useful sites/other blogs.

Oh, the study – I’m aiming to start a BA (Honours) in English Language and Literature in 2009. I’ve just completed An Introduction to the Humanities, and this year will be taking Approaching Literature. So, 10 texts to read over the summer:

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Top Girls, Caryl Churchill
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen
Othello, William Shakespeare
King Henry V, William Shakespeare
As You Like It, William Shakespeare
Frankenstein:1818 text, Mary Shelly
Fathers and Sons, I S Turgenev
The Color Purple, Alice Walker

I’m looking forward to this.



Edited to add a picture for Kimber. It's hard to find one without the kids in. Here's one of the canal my brother lives on.