Bridesmaids-the movie: Laughter really is the best tonic

As you know I've been struggling a bit lately to get myself together over my writing and various projects.  Successful attempts to get myself back up to speed have been patchy and it's frustrating.

I love my writing, but perhaps sometimes I think I do take it all way too seriously. So I've been taking more time than usual away from the computer and it's been great because when I come back I'm focused on what I need to do rather than procrastinating on the Internet.

In my re-discovered real life I try and go to the cinema once a week, and last night I saw 'Bridesmaids'.  Although not really my kind of film (chick-flick) I have to say the trailers were hilarious and it was hard to find an excuse to my cinema buddy not to see it when I'd been laughing so hard at just a few clips. 

I'm so glad I saw that film.  I have not laughed so hard or so long at a film in quite some time.  With a virtually all-female cast, every female in-joke was covered as well as all the stuff like camaraderie, bitchiness, and the bonds between women. 

You might think that an all-female film would be a good excuse to bitch at men, but actually there wasn't one anti-man joke in it.  There was plenty of true-life observational stuff, but nothing that would antagonise or alienate the male audience.

It was touching, funny, frantic, excruciating to watch in some parts and quite gross in others but it never failed to deliver a laugh.  I left the cinema literally crying with laughter and with a remembered appreciation for the group Wilson Phillips.  I've never seen so many women in a cinema audience all leaving with such buzz.  This film was a tribute to women over 30 everywhere.  Must see, must see!!

And the best part... I am in such a good mood today, I quite literally feel like there's nothing I can't do.  In fact, since seeing the film I've submitted a story and written a bio for an upcoming publication... so you see, laughter really is the best tonic!

Finding the Light Switch - published today.

My short vanilla erotica Findng the Light Switch is published today by Oysters and Chocolate.

This story marks a milestone for me as it was the first story I wrote outside of Hothouse that was accepted for publication.

You can find the story here Finding the Light Switch by Lorraine Sears

Getting to work - the situation so far...

Struck with a post holiday cold and still trying to catch up on sleep I've been writing lots, but as yet there are no new stories from me.  I'm working on my review of the Book Thief, as well as a light hearted memoir of my holiday.  And while so creatively enthused I've also been searching through my USB files for previously written stories which I'm reviewing with the aim of improving them to a publishable standard.

In addition I'm coming along nicely with the editing of Soul Reunion having finally broken the curse of chapter five, which seems to be where I get stuck every time.

Sadly the Ripper Project is once again on hold due to the practicalities of me and my writing partner living 5 hours apart, real life commitments and work etc.  However I am ready and willing to restart as soon as mutually agreeable working sessions can be found. 

My other joint project, also with a writing partner in a different time zone--this time 7 hours behind me-- (note to self, next time maybe write with someone in the same time zone) is also on hold due to his seasonal commitments.  However as we are dangerously close to the end of the story there's no rush.  We need to take time to consider whether its a one-off or if its something we want to develop it into a serial.

As for my reading, I'm sorry to say that although I find Virgina Woolf's writing to be a breath of fresh air, and incredibly observational, Mrs Dalloway is not really my thing.  The plot is very slow and not very engaging.  I fear this may be the second book of the year which will not get finished.  I hate that.  However there are so many other books on the shelf that are tempting me this is not a huge disaster.  I'll give it a few more days.  Next week I'll be back at work and can more easily find time to dedicate to reading as I take the bus and that may be the focus I need to get my teeth into book.

Back from a break!

Last time I wrote I told you I was feeling a bit worn and lacking in commitment with my writing.  I felt like I had lost the enthusiasm to finish any new projects and I was dejected by the lack of critique on my recent postings on WB.  So, a week or so later, after great holiday with my family and nightly infusion of garishly decorated alcohol (just the one per night however, as we were with the children) how am I feeling?

I'm feeling good!  The separation from the PC has been good for me, as was the complete change of scene, on an international scale.  I had no ability to write other than pen and paper, and no choice in what I read other than the books I packed for myself.  I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak beside a swimming pool, under clear blue skies and, when it came to writing my thoughts about it, I got to completely indulge myself in an uneditable (unless you could crossings out) ten-page scribe-fest with a large glass of sangria beside me for refreshment.  It was a real treat.

With crisp white pages in need of filling it was once again a joy to write... anything, be it holiday musings, thoughts about the books I was reading or rantings about how the British ability to queue in an orderly fashion puts you at a total disadvantage in a European theme park.  At the end of our busy days enjoying Spanish sunshine, sea and wild rides it was nice to just sit down and scribble away. 

Also, helpful critique appeared on my stories in my absence and I'm now looking forward to reworking the pieces ahead of a couple of submissions.  With normal service, hopefully, resumed and my inspiration renewed... watch this space! 

Break Time

The feeling creeps over me as I lie in bed staring up at the ceiling that's half hidden by the gloom of midnight.  A tiny idea is born, nothing more than a fleeting thought really.  But as I grab it, holding on for dear life, it settles.  I nurture it and feed it with my imagination until I have the perfect start to a new story.  My fingers itch in anticipation of tap, tap, tapping on the keys.  I'd get up now if not for the heaviness of my eyelids and the argument it would provoke should the desk lamp disturb anyone else in the house during these small hours.

The next day, family fed, housework done I switch on the computer and ready myself to pour the contents of my epiphany into the machine which seems to dominate me... except three paragraphs in, despite seeing the story clearly, I start to bore of the typing. Enthusiasm has deserted me and the journey from beginning to end has become slow and laborious... It's not writer's block (1: I don't believe in it and 2: the story is already formed from start to finish in my mind). I just don't have the go get it attitude I used to.  I've gotten tired and lazy.  My desk becomes uncomfortable, distractions pull my waning attention too easily.  I'm tired and so ashamed of my own failings.

This time last year I was writing on average three short stories a week!  Of course I was in HH and it was a short-story sweat shop.  But now I'm on my own ,with other literary obligations, my writing has become second best.  In the last four weeks I've started no less that eight new short stories that I've not been able to finish.  It's depressing.  I have theories behind what could be troubling me:

1. I'm tired and in need of a break
2. Unlike HH, there is no guarantee of quality critique on WB.  So there's no encouragement.  I don't mean that in a derogatory sense, because I value every piece of feedback I get.  But I wrote a story a while ago that I submitted to the forum for critique and it hasn't received a single comment although other stuff I've written since has.    What's really frustrating is that it was for a submissions call, so I needed the help.  I know this is the nature of the forum, and reasons can vary as to why readership fails, but I can't help wondering what was wrong with this piece.  Word count too high, subject matter to weak...what?
3. Distraction.  I have things going on in my personal life that are on my mind a lot and steal enthusiasm from me.  Some can be small and trivial, easily resolved.  But others take so much more time and effort...
4. Procrastination and lack of discipline.  I love my Facebook account for keeping in touch with people and I enjoy being a moderator on WB very, very much.  But with a wireless internet connection it's too easy to turn on the computer for a writing session and keep my favorite pages open in the background.

My inner optimist (yeah I have one, but she's normally pretty quiet) is telling me to take a break.  Not only will it let me recharge my battery but it will resolve some personal life issues too, killing two birds with one stone so to speak.  So that's what I'm going to do... not a long break, I don't think I could manage that if I tried.  Just a short intermission where I don't beat myself over the head with a dictionary if I don't write.