The Next Big Thing - Sea of Ink

I received an invitation a couple of weeks ago from the lovely Lynsey May Lynsey May writes down the night to join a blog promotion called The Next Big Thing.  It gives Scottish writers a few questions to answer about their work and a chance to link with other writers who are doing the same.  After your own post, you nominate other writing bloggers to join in and tell the world about their own 'Big Thing'.  So thanks Lynsey - now I have to think about what I want to say!

Unlike Lynsey, I'm not yet at the full-blown novel stage (although I do hope to get there one day).  I have been writing a number of short stories recently and I thought this would be a great opportunity to promote a new publication which will include two of my stories.

1. What's the title of your latest story?
I'm going to cheat a bit and talk about two stories.  One is called 'The Music of Longing' and the other is 'Incoming'.  They are completely different - to the point where I feel a bit schizophrenic.

2. Where did the idea(s) come from?
'The Music of Longing' is the story of a young woman who makes a sudden decision to take her future into her own hands, having previously been docile and accepting, and quits her job to move to Lisbon.  The idea came to me during the ironing (not my favourite job) so it's not surprising perhaps, that I was drawn to the idea of throwing it all up to re-make yourself in one of Europe's great cities.  Luckily the urge was temporary for me and I went back to enjoying family life after a short fantasy escape.
'Incoming' is a very different story; the true(ish) tale of moving to a small east coast of Scotland fishing village in the 1970's.

3. What genre does your story fall under?
Romance with a touch of humour for TMOL and life-writing for the other.

4. What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie?
Well, that's a tough one.  'Incoming' is based on my own life so I'd love to think I was like a young Karen Gillan.  Sadly that would not be true.  The leading character in TMOL is called Caroline.  She's rather quiet and non-descript so, with no offence intended, I think Anna Maxwell Martin would do a fabulous job of bringing her to life and finding the spark within.

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your story?
Bear with me here - breaking the rules again!
TMOL- Quiet girl with no distinguishing features, surprises everyone, including herself, by taking charge of her life.
'Incoming' - My parents ruined my life by moving me from bog-standard Glasgow suburb to beautiful seaside town (I'm nearly over it).

6. Will your story be self-published or represented by an agency?
The stories are in a brand new anthology of creative writing which will be self-produced by a group of Open University students with a range of talents and contacts in the publishing business.  The group is called Ink Pantry Publishing and they hope to produce further works in the future.  'Sea of Ink' will be published on 10th December 2012.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft?
I find my ideas come quite quickly for initial drafts but the thinking part before I actually start writing can go on for a ridiculously long time.

8. What other stories would you compare it to in your genre?
The life writing, I would love to compare with Janice Galloway, but I think I would be stretching it a bit.  I've certainly enjoyed her recent autobiographies. 

9.  Who or what inspired you to write this story?
A recent birthday reunion made me think about my childhood in Anstruther and that's probably what prompted me to write about how the move there affected my life.  I should say that I still live in the area and love it now.

10.  What else about your story might pique a reader's interest?
In TMOL, Caroline is struck by the sound of Fado music which is everywhere in Lisbon.  It's a fascinating part of Portuguese culture and gives an intriguing insight into the character of the city.

Published on 10th December 2012

I'm trying to persuade some of my fellow authors from the anthology to join in with The Next Big Thing - watch this space ...

I recently discovered a new way of working on a story.  Much helped by the fact that I was frantically trying to finish for a deadline, I took the laptop with me on a camping trip.  Camping?? I hear you say, how did that work?  Well, it helps if you have a folding camper and electrical hook-up and, I've also found, it helps if you can't access the internet and get fatally distracted.  With the side wall opened out, a glass of wine beside me and the table set up for typing, I sent the boys out to guddle in a stream and just got on with it.  Job done, deadline met, and a smile on my face every time I looked at the view.  Thoroughly recommend it.

Writing from life

We're on to a new theme on the OU course - Life Writing.  Sounds deceptively simple but the hardest things often do!  I don't feel that I have any shortage of material in my own life but it's a fine balance that makes it interesting to others while keeping it close to the truth.  What is the truth after all?  There's my version of events and then a myriad of other versions from others who were there but seeing things from another perspective.  There's emotional truth which sometimes requires a re-jig of the facts.  There's sensitivity to the other people who share my own stories - especially if they can't answer back.  So, all in all, no pressure.  I'm working on some tales from childhood and may have to change some names to protect the innocent!

Creative Writing course

I'm now nearly three months into a Level 2 course with the Open University which is stretching me in all sorts of ways.  It's not the first time I've studied - someone asked me at an interview recently if I was 'collecting qualifications'.  I didn't think I was but I can see how it might look that way.  Anyhow, the Creative Writing course is the first one I've done in a long time for no better reason than I wanted to do it.  It's not for a job (although I would love to earn some money from it).  It's not Continuous Professional Development (a phrase to make your heart shrink). It's not anyone else's suggestion, just my own personal interest.  I have to say that I find the OU materials, tutorial support and peer support absolutely brilliant.  I quite often find myself engaged in exercises which I would never have dreamt of doing on my own and I know that I am definitely learning from the experience.  I have been writing on and off all my life but I have never felt comfortable sharing what I have written.  Now I'm hoping to break the mould and, for the first time since the school magazine, have the confidence to show people what I want to write.