A short post today as I am off on my holidays. We are going on a canal boat from Aldermaston to Hungerford. It will be our third canal boat trip and I can't wait - especially as it appears a heat wave is predicted. You never know, I might even get a bit more of the novel done, in between locks.
In writing news, this was a good week magazine publication wise, as I had two historical stories in The People's Friend Summer Special and a modern one in the weekly. I'm getting to like writing historicals more and more. I choose a subject, choose an era, do my research and then start to think up a story.
Other times, as with my story, The Snake Stone, set in Lyme Regis, it will be the illustration that I've been given that will start the creative juices flowing - how could I resist writing about this man created by one of my favourite illustrators, Andre Leonard.
It is often the more recent past, which people might have lived through, or places where readers have lived, that catch people out if the writer doesn't know the area well. To get around this, I will often create a fictional town in a real county. That way nobody can say, "There was never a Woolworths in Carpet Street in Lidbury."
I set my Quaker story, Finding the Light, in a fictional town. This is the beautiful illustration Ruth Blair did for it. The green checked waistcoat is just as I described (you see it's not just the writers who have to pay attention to detail).
Having said all this, I like to hope that a reader will forgive small errors of factual accuracy if they are enjoying the story enough!
My story, 'Speed Dating' in the weekly is, once again, slightly autobiographical. Not that I've speed dated! In fact the story isn't about speed dating at all, but about a woman who finds she has a two hour limit on everything she does - shopping, dinner parties... you name it. I am just the same and it amuses my friends greatly. Whatever I'm doing, I'm fine for up to around two hours and then that's it... I just want to be back home. Alone.
This, of course, will make the RNA conference that I'm going to in a couple of weekends time very interesting. I am really looking forward to it but how will two days test my two hour tolerance? I could well be the one dropping her glass slipper or turning into a pumpkin on the stroke of midnight...I'll let you know.
Now, though, after a post that wasn't so short after all, I'm off to pack my shorts as the Kennet and Avon canal is calling. When my husband and step-son miss me after two hours, they'll know where to find me.
Great post, Wendy
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely holiday x
Thank you, Pat. I intend to :)
DeleteEnjoyed this, Wendy. Funny how your 2hr limit doesn't apply to afternoon tea & cake ... Have a fab holiday. Hope you've packed the suncream :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha - you're right there!
DeleteHave a fab holiday, Wendy. I'm sure it'll provide a wealth of inspiration. Congrats on your recent publications! I can relate to your two hour limit. At the RNA, perhaps pretend you are back at school and have to last eight hours plus! How did we do it? Nevertheless, it is a great opportunity for you to present your novel to agents etc. Go for it! Wishing you lots of fun over the next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicola. I'm just thinking I'll probably just get carried along with it all. Interesting you mentioned school as when asked how she managed there, my heroine replies that she used to just switch off and think about other things. I'm sure I won't be doing that though. It's more the social aspect I have a limit for.
DeleteHave a great time. Shall see you at the conference.
ReplyDeleteOh yes. See you there, Julie.
DeleteHave a lovely holiday Wendy. Sounds idyllic x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue.
DeleteHave a wonderful time! (I spent a fair bit of my childhood on or alongside the bit of the canal between Thatcham and Newbury - and my brother now lives in a narrow boat on the same canal.)
ReplyDeleteI remember you telling me when we were on the barge Kadt time. It's very hot in here though!
DeleteEnjoy your holiday, Patsy. The weather looks as if it's going to be good. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan.
DeleteWill you be anywhere near Devizes? Do let me know if you are. We have a famous flight of, I think, 22 locks, which would keep you occupied for a bit, and I could,come and watch from the pub garden, and throw you crisps. Have a lovely time, anyway.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind offer, Frances - but we're only going as far as Hungerfiird :)
DeleteI mean Hungerford
DeleteHave a wonderful holiday, Wendy. Canal holidays are so relaxing. I'm interested in your comment about enjoying writing historicals. Do you think this might be the route your writing takes in the future?
ReplyDeleteNot from the point if view if a novel, Susanna. Much too much time consuming research needed!
DeleteThe solution to your potential conference problem is...no single activity will take longer than two hours (unless there's a really good party going on!) In any case, Wendy, we won't give you time to think about it
ReplyDelete... and I'll always have my hot little room to retreat to :)
DeleteLovely post, Wendy, and I do understand your need to go home after two hours! There's so much going at the RNA that you won't have time to dwell on it but you can always go off for a rest somewhere. Hope you're having a great holiday.
ReplyDeleteI am thank you, Rosemary, but yesterday doing the locks in the heat was a challenge.
DeleteI always getting a peek behind the scenes at other writers' inspirations!
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning my blogpost about research, Wendy - we do get red faces sometimes, though we've also learned who our greatest culprits are (not you!). But it's good to raise awareness of this as an important issue and you have more followers than me! - Shirley, PF
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it's not me Shirley - although I'm sure Alan would be quick to tell me if I made a blooper! Thanks for popping over.
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