Excuses, excuses.......

Writing is a little bit like going on a diet –you make a commitment to lose 10kg or whatever. Sadly, you can get into really bad trouble if you tell all and sundry (like posting on a blog, Facebook or Twitter) and then you get sprung feeding your face in public – or maybe not finishing the blog you promised to write faithfully every week. Once you open your mouth and tell the world you are in for it – Well, when you don’t perform someone is going to send you an email saying “So, what’s happening?

On the other hand, you could tell no one about your obsession – get thin, write the story and then burst into the world brandishing your sure to be world famous manuscript. (Sounds a little like JK Rowling). Whatever plan you decide on, it is going to take time and commitment. Perhaps you will have to give up something like drinking, sleeping or watching television. I’ve noticed Husband and friends quickly become bored reading your drafts and listening to your plots. Writing is a solitary occupation.

Recently, I began a creative writing course which involves writing one or two assignments every couple of weeks and a huge amount of reading. That folks is my excuse for the lack of recent blogs on this blog. I spent 4 hours today dealing with the intricacies of dialogue. My main character is a young petrol head. Sounded an easy enough plot when I first put my mind to it –however, the dialogue has proved tricky to sound convincible. Mum’s a boozer and Dad a lawyer (well, they said write about what you know) – with a twist at the end.

As they say, a quick blog is a good blog. The photograph below has absolutely nothing to do with my writing. It is a snap taken last year by my husband Brian. I am riding north on the Pan American highway out of Lima, in Peru. The weather was hot and humid – we rode into a sandstorm that encroached to such an extent to almost obliterate the tarmac. The scenery was surreal and we felt as if we were cycling in the desert. The reason I am including it in my blog is because it won 3rd place in a photography competition – The title being “Highway to Hell”. Follow the following link if you are interested in the other submissions.

http://www.dpreview.com/challenges/Entry.aspx?ID=455023