Using the resources around you

An idea has been floating around in my head for a few weeks now and so I acted on it. A murder mystery. For some reason I couldn't help myself. So the hard work has begun. Rough outline of the plotline is done and I have my list of characters names. I am now working on the descriptions and then it is a case of working out the scenes and chapters. I love doing this bit. Not that I don't love the writing of the book but I feel like I have started when I am doing this bit. It is this bit that feels like the hardest bit for me; although it is all hard. With this book I feel really lucky however. I work for the NHS and come into daily contact with nurses and doctors and although I may get funny looks from them when asking questions I know that it is for a good cause. I don't try and hide the fact that I am working on a new novel. I tell them what I am up to; I alsotel them the questions are in relation to me working out the finer details of the novel. They are great when they know the reason for what could otherwise seem like the most peculiar questions ever. But the doctors and nurses are a great source for research. If I want to use a particular method for dealing with the murder victim at least I will know if it is feasible or not. For this particular research I honestly don't know what I would have done without the closest resource I have other than the internet.

Where I left off.

Good grief I haven't written in goodness knows how long and suddenly I am blogging twice in a short period of time. What has come over me? Actually I am putting off the inevitable. Doing the writing part. It is not as though it is anything more complicated than I normally do. It's not. But I, like others, have difficulty in actually getting down to the nitty gritty of it all. I am working on a short story. But it seems the mind is just not for having it and is trying to find ways for me not to get started on the end of the short story I am attempting to write for a competition.

I do know that once I get started on it things will begin to flow. But it is those first few seconds when I have opened up the word document, and find the end and re-read the last thing I wrote all of two hourse ago, and I have completely forgotton what I was going to write next. My mind will panic and think I should really be getting on with the novel I have started to write to which I am sorely tempted but my hand, which is resting on the mouse, doesn't move. I know that I have to get this done one way or another. If is not as good as I thought it would be I can always delete it and then try again. But somehow I can think of all the things I want to put into the novel. Flipping typical. Come on Christina you can do it. Time to sign off and get the mind working on that short story for the competition.

Keeping on an Even Keel

It has been just over three weeks since I've returned to work after a long absence due to illness and I have to admit it is tough getting back into the swing of things. The early starts; the travelling and the catching up with all of those people who I haven't seen until now. Things have certainly changed in the time I've off, not that I expect things to stand still, that just doesn't happen, but some of the faces that were there last year aren't there now and it is strange coming back to not seeing them. It is not only that has changed. I have too. Well I'm bound to amn't I after everything that's happened. But with so stark a reminder of how things have changed it makes me a little nervous.

There has been two things which have kept me going over this period of time. One is my husband, family and friends who have all be so marvellous in being there for me and the other thing which has kept me on an even keel, so to speak, is the fact that I am still writing. Something which I pushed to keep up whilst I was off as it gave me something to focus on, something that was a constant comfort and gave me a feeling of reassurance as I tried to get through the difficult times and which even now is still keeping me on the straight an narrow. So many more ideas for short stories has come to me over the past few weeks which has been great. The only trouble now, other than the early starts, is getting all the ideas down onto paper. There now seems not enough time in the day for it all. Not that there was enough time even when off. I best go and get on with it.

Back to Work

I have been off work for about ten months and this week I returned to work. I am doing a phased return to work which allows me to get 'shoehorned' in behind my desk once more without feeling as though I have to know everything right this minute. So with it being my first week I worked on Tuesday and Thursday.

I was amazed on Tuesday morning when I got back into my office just how much I had remembered. They may seem like simple things to those who have been working whilst I was off but for me it is a bit of an achievement. You see remembering where the key to my desk drawers was, the code to the photocopier and how to run the electronice risograph was like second nature to me a year ago but with such a long period of time not doing I thought I would have forgotton it all. But no. I was in the office all of ten minutes and felt as though I had never been away. But life goes on and there have been changes. Even though I don't know everything yet I am sure I will catch up pretty quickly and before I know it I will have caught up with all the changes going on.

Even though I have been in for two days, I still haven't seen everyone. I have been to busy trying to get into the swing of things in the office that I haven't had the chance to get round the place to see everyone. I get the feeling this might take longer than I expected.


Maybe now the creative juices will start to sort themselves out now that my mind is elsewhere for a few hours a day.

Long time coming

I can only apologise. This blog has been a long time coming to say the least. Over the last few months I have found myself in a lull. I have finished one novel and am still attempting to get it published, fingers crossed. I have done the background work on novel number two and have started writing but this is happening in fits and starts. I don't know why but for some strange reason I just haven't been able to get movtivated.

In the mean time I have been writing my personal journal to try and keep the writing up in some form or another. This seems to have worked to a certain extent. Even though I am not writing my novel everyday but my interest in short stories (my first love) has been rekindled as an idea came to me. The first one I have sent off to a woman's magazine only today. Not only have I don't that but I have come up with a second in what has now become a small series. This one I have written (I like to write long hand and then type up) and am in the process of typing up, with the idea for a third short story in my head. All along a similar vein, and so here is hoping to something happening. If my interest in my short stories has been re-ignited, then maybe the writing of the second novel will pick up pace. I will be forever living in hope of that one.

With work calling me back to the white page I best go and try and get this next short story finished and make sure I have backed it up. Until next time.

Happy New Year

Yes, I know it is a bit belated, but better belated than not said at all. What can I say. I haven't been near the computer for a few days and so here I am a few days late but I couldn't not do it.

Christmas and New Year were fun and I really enjoyed myself over the festive period. But now reality is beginning to creep into my life again. Not so pleasureable.

I haven't got any resolutions this year. I haven't done that for a few years now. But here is hoping to a productive year of writing. With one novel already written the second one is now underway and I would like to finish this one too. Here's hoping the momentum takes an up swing and I can get back into the rhythm of writing again.

Names

I can't believe it is here again. Another December of us all going somewhat crazy trying to get the Christmas presents bought, wrapped, remembering who was getting what so you put the right label on the present, partially unwrapping the present to see which present I've just wrapped so I put the right tag on it. Getting gifts so that everyone gets the same.

I am one of these people who likes to try and make things a little different for the young people who I generally referr to as the kids. I know they may be adults to many but to me they are always the kids. I just can't help it. I'm sure it is because of how I was referred to by my dad.

I had two nicknames given to me. The first Iwas referred to all my life as it was how I called myself when I was young. I couldn't say my christian name so it came out as Nina and so that is always what I was called. Very few call me Nina now. My sister's kids call me Nina and that is how I refer to myself when I'm around my friend's kids, especially if I've known them all their lives. The other name was 'The youngster'. This name I wasn't given very much. I was sometimes referred to as this when dad was talking about my sister and me. As the name would suggest I was the younger of the two and so 'The Youngster' came into use. I'm sure this one is used by many when referring to their children.

I always find myself, at this time of year, checking myself so I don't put the wrong signature at the bottom. At home with hubby and at work I'm Chris. To my sister and In Laws I'm Christina, to my niece and nephew I'm Auntie Nina and to another friend I'm Tina. Funny how when dealing with Christmas cards and presents just how many different names we use in reference to just ourselves.