June Writing- Return to the Grave.

I’ve had a good writing month in June, and am feeling accomplished having completed my rewrite of  ‘Beneath Anubis’ short story/ novelette. I wrote most days, even if only for a half an hour. I’ve finally got into a regular writing schedule outside of November’s NaNoWriMo. Just hope I can keep it up once I start home-working for my day job!

Tackling some of  trickier scenes encouraged me to slog through the mess I’d written. Some days were ‘slightly less pants’ (to quote my journal). The last couple of scenes were especially tough,  though I think the main barrier was psychological.  I was terrified at the prospect of the still dreadful writing I’d have at the end, despite all of my hard work. The closer I got to finishing this run of edits, the more anxious I became. I forced myself to concentrate on each scene sentence by sentence, so as not to get overwhelmed. In the past I would have psyched myself out, given up, and started a shiny new writing project. This time I persisted.

Listening to The Creative Penn podcast helped unstick my mental blocks with Joanna Penn’s insights into author mindset,  as well as giving me practical advice on editing and productivity.

Of late I have been following Horror Writers Association, and watching horror booktubers. I also reread Stephen King’s On Writing. This inspired me to go back to my roots and write in the genre I love most, but am most intimidated by.

As a (probably inappropriately) young reader, I devoured anything by the likes of King, Clive Barker, Richard Laymon, and Peter Straub. The gorier the better. My Lovecraft and Poe inspired early attempts at writing horror fiction were of horrendous prose, more purple than a(Artist Formerly Known As) Prince concert.

Now I’m feeling brave enough to delve into  writing horror again. Always my favourite genre to read, but historically all of my attempts have felt mediocre, never able to live up to my favourite scary reads.

 

I have dipped my toe in the water, and started following the Horror Writers Association in preparation for when I have  polished work ready for submission. I have found my subscription to Writers magazine invaluable to find publications and competitions to submit my work.

The first step in my publishing plan is to finish Beneath Anubis (working title). Then I look to outline my Wychwood novel for NaNoWriMo this November. Yes, this pantser/ plantser is planning to be fully planned out!

I’m currently on the home leg of CampNaNoWriMo. I’ll give an update on that soon. Is anyone else doing July’s Camp?

 

 

 

Midyear Book Freak-out Tag.

I wasn’t tagged in this, but watched Typical Books and thought it looked fun. The original #midyearbookfreakout tag is from Chami and Ely at Earl Grey Books.

Most, if not all of these books are not new publications from this year. I don’t often buy books as soon as they are released, and even when I do they often sit in my TBR pile for a while. A little late for midyear, but here goes!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020. Stephen King’s On Writing .I first read this nearly twenty years ago when it was first published. It was well worth revisiting. visit. While there is practical advice and  writing exercises, the real lessons are in his  own journey as a storyteller. His wisdom seeps through the pages almost unnoticed, as you read the memories of his childhood, through to his life as a bestselling author.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020.  This is not really a sequel, as I accidently read the second book in the series first (doh!). Big Damn Hero-a Firefly novel, has all of the fun action and lovable rogue characters of the Firefly television series.
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to. There are so many books on my tbr list! I’d say the Foxfires trilogy by E.C.Hibbs . However, as I want to finish reading The Mortal Instruments before starting another series, I’ll chose a standalone instead. Unboxed A play, by Briana Morgan. I find the premise intriguing; a paranormal blogger who unleashes an entity into his life when doing an unboxing.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. Definitely The Saviour’s Sister , by Jenna Moreci. The Saviour’s Champion was the perfect mix of violence, magic, and intrigue (and romance, for those of you who enjoy the mooshy stuff).I look forward to reading this next instalment, which is a retelling from the perspective of Layla. I would normally be sceptical about alternate POV retellings, but the first book left enough gaps for there to be more revelations. Plus, Jenna is awesome!
5. Biggest disappointment. Anne Rice’s  Blood Communion. I was super excited to have another Lestat novel, after years without my favourite vampire tales. I am not sure if it was me being jaded, or the writing which has changed. It just didn’t move me or scare me the way I remember the old Vampire Chronicles.
6. Biggest surprise.-The Fens This is a non-fiction book. A surprise find at our local  library here in Pendle. This account of fenland history and geography is beautifully written. Francis Pryor captures the essence of the fenlands, while imparting knowledge of its origins, landscape. I learned new secrets, the facts behind folklore and urban myths I heard growing up in the fens, as well as enjoying this as an academic study of the archelogy and geography of the region.
7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)–Lydia Peever I devoured her short story collection Pray Lied Eve , and her debut novel is currently on my e-book tbr (though I am thinking I need physical copy with the new cover). Fair warning, her YouTube channel Typical Books is a gateway for us horror junkies. My horror book collection is growing exponentially since I started watching!
8. Newest fictional crush. I’ll have to cheat on this one, as not really a new character to me. A favourite character who I unexpectedly stumbled upon reading Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman.  The short story Black Dog, with Shadow Moon. As always he tries to do the right thing and help others, only to find himself deep in the brown stuff. Bless him.
9. Newest favorite character. Another cheat.  I haven’t got to reading the books yet, but I can’t wait to start reading Michael Jecks’ A Bloody Mary Mystery series. I read an excerpt from the next book in the series (on the author’s Patreon I think), and was so amused by the main character Jack Blackjack. He seems like a hapless antihero who gets himself into all sorts of nonsense. The book covers look beautiful too. I’m not allowing myself to start any more series until I have rounded off my current one. I would also recommend Jeck’s Knights Templar series  if you are into historical crime fiction. His characters Simon and Baldwin are a great duo.
10. Book that made you cry.-Stephen King’s Bazarre of Bad Dreams I am currently reading this.  Attempting to avoid spoilers here. The short story Premium Harmony, involves a dog and two neglectful owners. It’s not really about the dog, but needless to say it didn’t end well.
11. Book that made you happy. Snuff by Terry Pratchett. It’s always good to have a belly laugh, while enjoying a clever twist on history, literature or both, with a generous dollop of imagination. This is one of a few Pratchett books I have yet to read. I’m rationing them as I know, sadly, there will be no more.
12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received) Bad Romance-both alluring and gruesome. I’m hoping the stories inside are the same.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. I have enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series so far, but much preferred the Infernal Devices series, as I loved the Victorian setting and steampunk technology. My goal for this year is to finish reading series I  started. I had a few on the go from 2019, and it was getting difficult to keep up.  I usually need something different in between books, as I read according to my mood, so I rarely if ever marathon a series. If I leave too long between books I’d need to go back and reread the earlier ones (there are too many books in the world to spent time rereading).                                                                                                       I’m not tagging anyone. Please feel free to join in!

 

 

This Hermit’s Journey-A Catch-up.

Recently I marathoned Space Force. I near split my sides laughing at this Trump-baiting, satirical fun. Steve Carell and John Malkovich are a great pairing as General Mark R. Naird and Dr Adrian Mallory. Lisa Kudrow is fantastic as Maggie. See [spoiler alert-]. This show is so funny, but scarily relevant given current politics.

During the wash-out that was our week’s holiday from work (only outside spaces to get drenched in, as nowhere else had opened) we snuggled in and re-watched Lord of the Rings first two movies. I love Tolkien, and love Jackson’s interpretation of the books. I never tire of reading the books or watching the movies.

My partner and I watched a few episodes of the funny, kooky, spooky ‘What we do in the Shadows’. It appealed to my IT Crowd, Mighty Boosh, ridiculous-loving side. I’ll need to watch the rest of the show solo, as I think it was a tad too weird for my partner!

Back in May we had a magical walk in Nostell Priory woodland. National Trust had only just opened a few outside spaces, and visitor numbers were very limited, so we had no stress with social distancing. We were spoiled with scorching hot  weather. It was freeing and strange to be away from home in an unfamiliar environment, out of the confines of our tiny one bedroom flat. We had a lovely picnic in the park grounds, faraway from any potential lurgy.

 

I’m missing  live music at present. Our last outing to see Sabaton at Wembley, seems a lifetime ago. Remember those times when we stood shoulder to shoulder in a packed stadium, not a care for the danger of catching this damned plague? Thankfully, Download tv Festival provided a welcome dose of metal and mayhem. My partner  and I had our own at-home beer festival, tasting some sours, staying up past our bedtime to see Iron Maiden. I have added Download and Bloodstock to our wishlist for next year.

After decades on my wish-list, (I had fake DM shoes at school-thankfully without the Bros-style bottle tops) I  got my first ever pair of official Dr Martens. I hadn’t realised that breaking these bad-boys in is a right of passage! After no issues first couple of times out (wearing thick socks, and keeping laces loose), I was complacent, thinking I could wear them with super-thin socks. All went fine with my right boot -comfy as a slipper. Half-way around our local park and my left boot was not so good ,cutting into the back of my heel. That set me back a few days wear while it healed up.

Since Covid isolation and waiting to start homeworking I have been gaining new skills and revived some old ones.

No longer getting up bleary-eyed at 6am for the commute, I’ve had time to get competent in applying liquid eyeliner again.

I’ve taken up yoga, which is challenging my range of movement, though in a slow gentle way.

I am attempting to relearn how to draw. I was  competent at school, then became an expert at drawing Power Rangers for my young son.  At the age of 5 my son felt competent enough to draw them himself. I haven’t drawn much since. He’s now 29, so it’s been a while! My latest attempt, from Stalenhag’s ‘Scrappers’ illustration is acceptable. I do need more practice, and a refresher on techniques. Now worried I’ll make a mess of the shading and colouring.

There is a web series based on Stalenhag’s ‘Tales from the Loop’, which I am finding intriguing and different.  Part sci-fi, part mystery. Set in an alternative 70s/ 80s past. It’s comfortingly retro for me, a child of the eighties. I am enjoying the ‘Stranger Things’ vibe, mixed with the Nordic Noir feel.  Very original!

Harking again back to my past, I have regained my love of reading horror (as opposed to paranormal) fiction. I  stumbled across Stephen King’s ‘Christine’ at the age of 8 or 9. For years after I was  terrified  walking or roller-skating near parked cars alone, though would never admit it. Still, this only ignited my love for the terrifying and gory.

I’m optimistic I will  get through the current situation having found what is truly important,  and shedding what is negative or unhelpful. Here’s to coming out the other side with new skills and ignited old interests.

[Spoiler alert-

GYM GRIEF & YOGIC CROWS

With gyms closed until later this month, I  resigned myself to the fact that I’m likely to have lost muscle and strength. With space limited at home, I have been doing some low-weight conditioning programs, and using a sandbag, but this is no substitute for gym weights and equipment. I felt as if I was fighting the inevitable clawing onto my previous regime. Also, strength training had caused me to focus on linear movement patterns, so something to  increase flexibility and mobility would be beneficial.

Have taken it down a gear done something completely different.  Being about as supple as an iron bar, would be a challenge, as well as help calm my stress in the current situation. Hopefully the focus of flexibility and form will also be of benefit when I do get back to lifting weights.

I’m  partway through the 30 Day HOME series from yoga with Adriene, which I am really enjoying. Adrienne gives clear instructions, allowing for all level of ability. Her voice is very soothing too, making it easy to relax into the movement even when some can be very challenging.

I’ve had  fun attempting certain movements. My Crow is more like a dive-bombing pigeon, and I managed a toe-stand for 0.1 milliseconds.

Aside from the physical aspect,  yoga has helped me stay in a positive  mood, focusing and quieting my racing thoughts (what Adrienne refers to as  ‘monkey mind’).

Adriene’s dog Benji is an adorable companion for her classes. He’s usually flat-out relaxing, sighing deep doggy breaths. I’m so jealous when Adriene pets him during the workouts. It is lovely having a gym-buddy pup .My two dogs would copy me stretching out, or ‘helpfully’ climb under and over me during workouts.

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A post shared by Adriene Mishler (@adrienelouise) on Jan 31, 2020 at 4:56pm PST

 

So far yoga has been sometimes relaxing or thought provoking, sometimes tangled-limbs and falling-over tough. Will see how I progress.