Operation Transformation

I’m loving Operation Transformation on RTE. For non-Irish readers of my blog its a show following people as they aim to lose weight. The food and exercise plans of each person (called leaders) is on the RTE website. I’m not following any of the leaders as I’ve just started Weightwatchers (again) but its inspiring to watch. They’re training with the Irish army. I really felt for the guy who had to dive from a height when he’s scared of heights. I’m terrified of heights, and water.

I’m being weighted tomorrow and for some reason I’m very hungry tonight. I’m out of teabags but I don’t want to go to the shop in case I give in to temptation and buy chocolate and/or cake and/or sweets and/or biscuits. So I’m eating veg and I’ve sugar-free jelly waiting to set in my fridge.

I’ve not done a lot of writing this week. My Kindle is distracting me. I’ve to send all my pdf files to the kindle address and then wait until the converted files are sent back. And each file I send comes back in a separate email. Grrr! Its taking ages. On my first attempt I sent the documents to my kindle email instead of my kindle free email. So the documents were sent to my kindle via whispernet and I was charged a dollar per mb. Not a big deal you would think but they round up to the nearest megabite on each document. It cost me about 15 dollars. I do love my kindle but I’m suffering from a lot of internal conflict about it right now.

I’ve submitted to yet another agent today. Then I’ve to finish my Enchanted Conversation  submission based on Beauty and the Beast and my submission to Abbey Hill contest. Then I’ve… Oh, I’m getting a headache just thinking about it.

Take care

Ax

Add a comment January 27, 2010

Galileo Galileo

Went to see ‘We Will Rock You’ at the O2 arena (still think of it as The Point) in Dublin for the opening night with my youngest brother. I saw it about 4 years ago and its been updated well.

Ten minutes into the show and they had to stop because of technical difficulties. Oh dear. Starts up again. Singers were amazing. Particularly the female lead Scaramoush. Wow! She belts out ‘I want to break free’. My brother said it was like the female reincarnation of Freddy Mercury.

Killer Queen is suitably dominatrix-like and an amazing singer. Galileo, the male lead was great. Britney Spears, head of the Bohemians was amazing. The Charlotte ‘Bleeding’ Church joke is not quite as funny as it was 4 years ago as its a little dated.  

Half way through the second half the microphones went. In fairness to the actors they kept going and its a tribute to just how strong their voices are that we could hear them as we were sitting way back close to the back. It took about half an hour to sort it out which wasn’t nice.

It started back up again with Scaramoush saying ‘As I was saying’ which was funny. Lots of girl power in it which is great. About two swear words and some adult humour but kids would love all the flashing lights. Everyone knows the lyrics so everyone sings along which is fun.

What made it extra special is that the guitarist, Brian May and the drummer (sorry, can’t remember his name) from Queen joined the cast and played on most of the songs.

Script written by Ben Elton, music, obviously from Queen. The story is totally daft but you could almost see how it could come true. Cleverest thing about it is that the music almost seems to be written to fit the show rather than the other way around.

The O2 arena is not very comfortable but with the show in full swing you dont really care. Expensive, 45 euros a ticket with 5 euros booking fee added on by Ticket Master (Grrr, how the heck do they justify that) but definitely worth it.

Ax

1 comment January 22, 2010

A Cautionary Tale

Night duty, credit card and ebay, a very bad combination. While under the influence of sleep deprivation I bought an Amazon Kindle. And a cover and a screen protector. Ouch! Not good! Have to buy books for it now. My bank loves me.

On the good side my children’s story is about 3/4 of the way done. The bad news, its starting to read like the Perils of Penelope Pitstop. Anyone remember that one? Not good. I’m writing long hand at the mo’. I do that when I’m having problems making it flow. Its working but the flow is heading for the toilet. Oh well! The first draft is supposed to be rubbish.

I’ve got my submission ready for Little Black Dress. Well, it was ready a week ago but I’ve just been faffing around with it. And my two short stories. Its amazing how, as a writer I can justify my  procrastination by moving a word here and a word there.

Time to go to work. Only 3 more shifts to go until my week off.

Ax

Add a comment January 15, 2010

Oh Dear

Back to earth with a bang!!! Got a rejection from an agent. Albeit a nice one. She said my voice was endearing. That’s good, right?

Feel a little bit sorry for myself. The publishers thought it was good enough to ask to see the full ms and they haven’t rejected me, yet. But then two agents rejected it.

Oh well! I’ve lots of short stories to work on and then I’ll go back and review it again. Could be worse, I could’ve got the rejection from the publisher.

Ax

Add a comment January 11, 2010

Dancing Bare Foot Around My Flat

Yay! If I drank alcohol I’d be sipping champagne. As I don’t I’m guzzling tea. Am not a rubbish writer afterall.

I entered the Short Story Radio Romance contest a few weeks ago. Today is the day that the short listed entrants are notified. I kept checking my email all day but didn’t get an email.

Then, at 18:30 I get an email telling me Im on the short list. Am squealing with delight. Now I have to produce the second half of the story by 27th of January. Fingers crossed.

Ax

1 comment January 7, 2010

Writing Quagmire

Okay, I spent almost two hours searching through my computer for my Cally Taylor contest entry. EEKK!!! Then I got a rejection from Flashfiction. Oh well!

I’ve almost got my second entry ready for Mslexia. Does writing ever get any easier? I got two lovely comments for my story on www.enchantedconversation.org. If any of you are interested they’re looking for submissions on the theme of Beauty and the Beast

I love Desperate Housewives. I just wish my dialogue was as good.

Ax

1 comment January 5, 2010

Great contest

Check out this link. Sounds like a great contest for anyone who writes for children. Its one way to get an agent to look at your stuff quickly.

http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/

Ax

Add a comment January 4, 2010

The Great Slashfest

Well, I got the story in and within word count. The editor told me she loves it. Its not quite right for the next issue but she wants it for the September one they’re doing on Steampunk.  Yay!

 Try chopping away a third of your story some time. It takes some doing. I’m still moping up the blood and sweat from my floorboards.

I recycled my story from Varilux for the Mslexia short story competition. Any of you interested, the prize is pretty fantastic, two thousand pounds sterling, a writer’s retreat and a day with an editor, and publising in Mslexia. www.mslexia.co.uk

I haven’t done any writing all weekend. I’m so sick. My head thinks its a foot ball being kicked around a field.

Take care and keep warm. Its still freezing out there.

Ax

Add a comment January 3, 2010