Those first few words

 This last week I've been plotting in my head, and making some notes about a story that's been in my mind for a while now, but I've not got any of it down 'on paper'.

Or anywhere else

But I've read a lot of books and drunk a lot of coffee.

If I'm honest I've been struggling to get anything written. Lots of starts, no substance. (And not been that eager to make myself sit down and get on with it.)

However, this story I'm determined to write and finish. I like the idea I've created.

That's easier said than done. I've played around with the first chapter umpteen times and been dissatisfied with it. The delete button has almost worn out. 

I'm lucky that a good online friend is always happy to read and give me some advice. I'd written the first couple of thousand words—again—and asked her if she'd help.

Bless her, she said yes, read it and gave me some great advice. She'd picked up the bits I wasn't happy with, and a bit more that didn't work and suggested some ideas for me.

It's given me some good things to ponder. 

Helped me realise I do want this story to work, and that one of the things I'd missed was getting into the head of my character(s). They played a little role in an earlier book—Second Chances for Lottie Botte—. She's what we in the North East and Scotland would call a 'nippy sweetie'. 

As I read those few words over again, I saw I'd not shown that at all.

So, it's second chances for my new story. And maybe third and fourth. Until I get her character right, and a hook, that grabs the reader and keeps them wanting more!

Wish me luck.

Happy reading,

love, Raven xxx

The dilemma of what to take on holiday to write with

 Of course there’s an obvious answer…paper and pen! Except I couldn’t then be bothered to type it all up when I got home. (I know me!)

Which when you consider I love notebooks, is weird, maybe? But my notebooks have bits of stories in. Prompts and bullet points. Which as my handwriting is getting worse, (arthritis is a pain in more ways than one) have to be brief. So the thought of putting a whole book down in one of them is a big no no.

It has to be laptop or tablet. 

Usually, any holiday sees me with a tote bag over one shoulder, my carry on and a big suitcase. Cables, notebooks and of course, e-reader, laptop and tablet. Which is a pain at security as I have to haul them out.

I decided I needed to try leaving the laptop at home and writing on my tablet. I’ve got one with the ability to write all I want, so. I decided to give it a go.

The dilemma was should I take a keyboard or not?

The first break I left home, feeling I’d forgotten something.

Ah, ha, my laptop. Safely tucked away.

I can manage I thought, after all I had my keyboard, so wrote I could.

Except I didn’t.

It was a faff to sort the keyboard out every time I wanted to use it, and remember to switch it off when I’d finished. So half the time I didn’t bother. And writing on my tablet with a different keyboard to my laptop was (and is) frustrating. I keep hitting the wrong keys and getting silly words. Which if I don’t see immediately, I then have to try and fathom out. Yes, silly things I know but it all added up to very little writing getting done. And as often on holiday I would usually get up early to write, I found that just didn’t happen.

So recently when we had a couple of weeks in the Lanzarote, I swithered. Laptop or not?

It was only a couple of weeks. I could use my tablet, surely? And not take the keyboard.

So that’s what I did.

I sat near a palm tree. Got out my tablet…

Oh dear, too sunny. Better try later.

Oh what a lovely sunset. Can’t see properly to write.

Indoors and oh, there’s a puzzle I want to do.

The writing just didn’t get much of a look in. Which is my fault, no one else’s. But it is frustrating not to be able just to open laptop, open the doc and get stuck in.

So, I might just have to accept I’m going to have to unload half a tote bag at security, or not get much writing done, if we go away anytime soon.

It shouldn’t be such a big thing. I didn’t think it would be, but…

And now, after a lot of puzzling, I think, just think I might have a sort of a solution.

I was watching a video on my tablet the other day and I had a sort of a brainwave. Why not write landscape and have bigger keys? Okay, the area of type I can see is miniscule and I can’t actually see the last thing I wrote without scrolling. But I had a go! 

.

So the next holiday, it will be notebooks for notes with a big memo from me…

Turn the tablet sideways!

Happy reading,

Love Raven xxx

Ps to prove I could do it, I decided to write this on my tablet, and for the life of me I have no idea why the size of type keeps changing and I can’t sort it, it just glares at me every time I try. Sorry

, 

There’s w h a t in the search history? (Oops, sorry. This was last week’s blog. Guess who forgot to publish it?)

Every so often—although probably not often enough—think it’s time to clear my search history. 

It’s an eye opener.

How many times do I go to the same site for the same thing? Too many to mention.

Source: Pinterest 

But sometimes you just have to. It’s too much to scroll back for however long to try and find one specific search.

So I had a brainwave. Well a thought anyway.

I took photos of whatever I’d looked for.

Now all I have to do is scroll through umpteen photos

 Or just search…

After all it is so much easier just to type, ‘Regency silver’, or ‘what’s the name of the racecourses in Hong Kong and when did they open?’ than trying to find a photo.

Of course, I did, (eventually) think, “aha, a document. Or ten. Or thirty. Or…

But that would then mean I would need to remember what I had called the doc. And let’s be honest here, there’s no guarantee I would remember. I know what I am like.

Source: Pinterest 

So the search engine it is.

Which is a bit quicker than the encyclopaedia, or working out when the local library is open.

That’s it. Now when did those racecourses open?

Happy reading, Love, Raven xxx

Can't think what to call this ...

 Because I know it will be a bit of a hotch potch.

No, not hop scotch, 

(source: pinterest)

hotch potch.

(and that I can not find a picture for.)

This and that. With a bit of the other added in.

To that,

I can now thankfully say I am just about lurgy free.

(source: pinterest)

Very few sneezes and I feel, well if not 100% a good 90+

And, I have some energy.

It's a pity it's too icy to venture out. However, hearing and seeing the geese flying over in their various skeins, is fabulous and I never tire of seeing them. There's always one who refuses to conform. Does his own thing and then flaps—and honks—madly, as he (or she) tries to rejoin the rest.

(source: pinterest)

Luckily we did manage a couple of walks by the coast this week. Absolutely freezing, but gorgeous. It really made me appreciate how lucky we are. To live near the sea and to be able to visit it in all seasons, and weather. We've even been walking on the beach and had snow! Sorry, no I didn't take a picture, I was more concerned in dodging the tide and getting back to the car before I was totally soaked.

That's just the beach on a cold clear, day.

The upshot of all this is I'm now ready to get stuck into a new story. I just have to make my mind up on what.

But before I went round and round in circles, trying to decide and getting nowhere fast, I had some fantastic news.

One of my very early books, which has been out of print for years, is to be revamped. Revised, rewritten and brought up to date. Then published.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. I love the premise of the story but it definitely needs something doing to it.

Luckily, the lovely Deadra of Bastet's Quill Publishing agrees and is happy to help me to do everything we both think is needed to make it shine. In fact, it's all down to her and her insight that it's going to be possible.

I know I'm going to have a busy few months, but I'm really looking forward to it. And then hopefully, at the end, we'll have a m/m, mystical and very sexy book for you all to enjoy. Watch this space.

Apart from that I've a good few ideas to think about. I just need to concentrate on one and not keep rereading the lot!

Wish me luck.

Meanwhile, I'm having a whale of a time, playing catch up with an old series, because I've got an idea for another story in mind. Another book in the Devon trilogy.

Will it work?

Now, that I'm not sure about. but I bet I can have fun trying to find out.

On another tack, it's six years since the late, great, and fabulous author, my bestie, Doris O'Connor passed. Even now I talk to her in my mind and hear her advice. Usually it's along the lines of, 'stop waffling, woman and get on with it'.

So the only answer, is yes, I promise.

Doris I miss you,

love Raven xxx

Sorry all...

 The lurgy has got the better of me.

Coughing and spluttering.

All I want to do is sleep.

(source:pinterest)

See you in the New Year.

Thank for reading my ramblings over the weeks, it is much appreciated,

love, Raven xxx

When the best lad plans go awol, again

 As in, I was all ready to write this week’s blog, when we were called unexpectedly, ‘down south’ to look after an almost three year old.

Exhausted is an understatement. It’s over thirty years since we had a three year old to contend with. By the time we got him into bed, I didn’t feel like food, drink and couldn’t even summons up the energy to have a shower. I fitted that in after the nursery run and before the washing, drying, hoovering, tidying…

Don’t get me wrong. It’s been great fun as well. Going on a Christmas light hunt.

 Making shopping lists in a new dinosaur notebook. Watching The Polar express umpteen times and not being able to get that blooming Ra Ra the Noisy Lion theme tune out of my head.

Making up Christmas stories about Santa and the reindeer and the Christmas Angel, and having to think up reasons to answer the ever asked ‘why’.

Thinking about a story of The Snowman and his Family. Then trying to remember it!

Realising we are going to be away from home for Christmas and all our presents aren’t with us, but we will have the bonus of spending time with ones we love.

Discovering that half the undies I’d shoved in the suitcase were the ones due to go into the rag pile. What a good excuse to go shopping.

And thinking well at least I can wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Plus, remind you to look out for the Christmas Angel who helps fix Santas Sleigh. (You’d need to have been there to know the story).

Thanks all for reading these blogs,

Love Raven xxx

Thanks for this that and a lot

I thought this week it was time to thank all those people who over my life have helped me (and maybe hindered but it all came right in the end) encouraged me and not actually influenced me per se, but shown me that sometimes there's more than one way to do something successfully. 

Not always a big thing, but something that helped. meant a lot, and stuck in my mind.

From being a child and learning adults can be bitchy (oh yes they can) but your parents understood and accepted what you said.

To a schoolfriend standing up to a bully, to giving you a cuddle when your boyfriend ditched you.

And as a grown up (if I ever really grew up... the jury is probably out on that one) being able to moan cuss, high five and talk things over with someone you trust not to share what's bugging you.

I've been lucky that way.

Especially when fourteen years ago I met a group of people who all wanted to write and yes of course be pyblished.

We all entered a competition, none of us won anything, but we formed a group to help and encourage each other. 

Take a bow The NutHouse Scribblers.

Gradually a fair few of us got published. Great rejoicing all round.

When I finished my first full m/s then my fellow scribblers helped me edit it, researched the best place to submit it to and yay, it was accepted.

There was a lot of celebrating for each and every one of us.

(Not just at New Year)

They helped me more than I reckon they ever knew.

As did my publisher and editors. The late lamented, Breathless Press gave me the determination to try various sub genres of romance and at various heat levels. And the sense that I could and should carry on writing. Not just for them, but to spread my wings.

Which I did.

On the way met a lot more of those amazing people I'm thanking, without mentioning any names. Because I'd be sure to forget someone important.

Thank you all xxx

I DID!

forget someone or some thing important...

Doris O'Connor and my lovely facebook group,

The Ravdor Chicks

Take A Bow

Thanks all of you for your help and support.

You see it's not always necessarily help in a big way. Although when people give up their time to read over something you've written and can point out your errors etcetera, check your knitting for dropped stitches and fix them, sort out a lock that's stuck, a leaking tap or welcome you to a village, club, society or whatever, it is so welcome!

Sometimes it's as little as one word. Good, or even nah. Or just the knowledge they know what you are going through. Plus, if they can't help you knowing someone who can.

Therefore to everyone who has helped me in my umpty-tiddly years on this earth, and of course to you my readers, both here and of my books. Without you, there would be no Raven McAllan, author. Or indeed, Kera Faire, Katy Lilley or for YA J. Lilley, so

thank you

Love Raven xx