Sharon’s Blog

Overcoming Writer’s Block

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:04:16 +0000

Has it happened to you today? You know what I’m talking about, confess! Staying schtum are we? There’s really no need to be embarrassed about it, honestly! I’ve been suffering from it the last few weeks, although for others it takes months, years, or never at all. The subject in question is writer’s block, when inspiration has dried up and you’re confronted by a blank piece of paper, or more likely nowadays a white computer screen.

Possible ideas you once thought promising are quickly dismissed and you start scanning newspapers, watching TV and browsing online all in the search for a seed of a story. Alternatively all those activities could be viewed as ways to put off writing, I’ve certainly used them for that purpose. I must say I could go on exploring Wikipedia for hours as you link from one individual or event to another. Yesterday I started on the Siege of Vienna and ended up on Gypsy Rose Lee, and no I’m not divulging how that occurred. Other distractions include shopping, exercising and happily making meals and doing household chores. Ordinarily of course the last two examples are things I have to force myself to do, it’s a pity my partner doesn’t act like my own personal Jeeves but we can’t have everything.

If you’re determined to get back into the swing of writing than there are a few tips I can offer that worked for me. I started following a daily writing routine, specifically Graham Greene’s dictum of writing 500 words a day. It’s not a huge amount if you think about it but if done each day it gradually builds up. How about skipping to another writing project rather than focusing on one that’s going nowhere? Who knows, by the time you get back to it you might have gained a new perspective on it and ideas will flow. You could investigate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as carrying out some of its techniques might prove beneficial, e.g. by listing your anxieties you could start balancing your thoughts. As I said before, don’t despair! Most writers have been in the same boat and I’m sure you’ll come out the other end.

Useful Tips to Begin Writing for Children

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:34:10 +0000

Writing for kids can be one of the most enjoyable, satisfying and indeed rewarding pursuits imaginable – not to mention rather lucrative if you can actually get it right! Sadly, getting it right is far easier said than done and no primary teaching courses in the world today will offer you the elusive magic formula. Successful writing for children is a fine art and not a science, though if looking to make the very best start possible, the following tips may prove invaluable:Try and go back to when you yourself were a child, so as to relive memories, times of joy, the things in life that made you happy, excited and indeed frightened. This is the first and foremost way to tap into the emotions of the audience.

Embrace pretty much any idea that comes to mind. Remember, what may appear over the top and a little outlandish to you is right up a child’s street, so turn off your mind’s natural filter and embrace the unusual. Grab a bunch of leading books for children and read them end to end – for fairly obvious reasons. Always keep a pen and paper on hand for jotting down thoughts, ideas and pictures – you never know when your lead-character’s name might come to you.

Look into community groups and workshops, as we all know some of the best inspiration in the world can come from those around us with similar passions. Read as many book reviews as possible so as to find out exactly what hits the nail on the head with the reader, along with which serve as examples to avoid. Involve family and friends as you will never, ever lose out by including as many vivid imaginations as possible. Expect rejections and setbacks along the way, as while you may never get used having your work refused or criticized, you must be able to bear the brunt and move on proactively.

The Horror of Being a Writer.

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:39:40 +0000

Writing is all well and good but it really can play havoc with so many other areas of your life. But unless you make a living from the written word yourself, then you probably won’t understand this. And that is exactly why I am writing this post! Most people seem to think that working as a freelance writer is a really cushy number. However, they couldn’t be any farther from the truth… because there are just as many disadvantages with this type of job as there are with any other!

Here are just a few ways that my vocation will so often interfere with my home life -

Sending Letters or Emails

Believe me, the last thing you’ll feel like doing at the end of a really long day is writing a letter or email to a friend. Unfortunately, emails are often seen as being the way to communicate these days!

ARRRGH!!! Sometimes I hate people for ‘dropping me a quick line'so much!

Playing Scrabble with Friends

At one time, I loved nothing more than to sit down and have a nice game of Scrabble with my friends… but not anymore! These days it is a case of ‘Monopoly or nothing'in my house. I simply cannot abide staring at a board full of words. Believe me; this is the kind of thing a writer will often have nightmares about!

Reading Books

Many people get an enormous amount of pleasure from curling up in their favourite chair with a good book. However, I simply cannot think of anything worse!

After writing endless articles and press releases for red diesel suppliers or furniture removal firms, I just cannot face the thought of a novel.

So there you go; just a few of the ways in which my career has a totally detrimental effect on my home life! And I’ll bet that most people wouldn’t even realise it.

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Writer’s Important New Year’s Resolutions

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:38:12 +0000

Every New Year once it arrives bring with it the hope that at the end of it our lives will be better and that we would have achieved a lot of what we sought. So to this end you as a writer make certain resolutions to move our writing forward. From completing that novel to writing short stories we want it done. But for some people their writing resolutions maybe hindering their accomplishment and progress. Here are some important writer’s resolutions you should keep in mind.

Go slow. Writers generally want to have their work publish right away. There is nothing inherently wrong with this desire but what happens to so many writers is that they tend to rush or even force their writing process. Rushing often leads to mistakes and poor effort.

Avoid the publishing news. Based on what is happening in the publishing marketplace, things are looking grimm. Many publishing houses are either closing or cutting back dramatically on the amount of material they work with. A lot of the fallout is being balanced somewhat by ebook sales. The news is not particularly good, so take a fast from it for awhile at least until you have done what it is you are working on.

Be as creative as you possibly can. When you start writing, do not stop to revise or edit until you have done. Just allow the story line to develop and go where it leads you. Take no care of how silly and weird a thread may be, just go with it.

Stay away from negative people. There are going to be a lot of naysayers who like those who run an Enigin scam will try to talk you out of your potential. Let what they say fall harmlessly on the ground. Try not to be affected by it.

Lean Green Recycling Machine.

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:08:54 +0000

I have a natural love and respect for old Mother Earth, so I can’t help feeling a bit miffed off when I happen upon other people who are not ‘doing their bit'for the environment. After all, it’s not that difficult, is it??? Being kind to our planet should come as second nature (excuse the pun). But even if it doesn’t, then learning to be ‘environmentally responsible'really is easy peasy!

Personally I am hot on recycling and I go out of my way to be green in every other possible way. I only use the car when I really have to, I will only buy bio diesel fuel, I do not allow my children to litter and I am always walking around the house turning off any unwanted lights.

So why can’t everyone else do the same as me? Why do I still see wheelie bins overflowing with rubbish when it should have been recycled? And why do so many of the other mums at the school still insist on using their cars for such a ludicrously short journey?

Now, please don’t get me wrong; I am not some kind of ‘hippy chick'and there are no tie-dyed skirts or kaftans in my wardrobe. I simply care about the planet that I live on, that’s all. And you don’t have to burn joss sticks or sit around strumming, ‘Kum ba yah'on a battered old six-string to do that!! I’m pretty sure I’m not the only ‘environmentally conscious modern mum'in the world… but it really does feel that way sometimes.

Oh well, that’s my weekly moan out of the way… but perhaps you can understand why it annoys me so much (or at least you will do if you are striving to pull Mother Earth away from the jaws of destruction too!).

The Zoo Tomorrow and Today

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:35:02 +0000

I know it is hard enough to plan enough activities to keep the kids occupied during school holidays, but don’t forget to keep some ideas back for the odd days when school is closed for inschool staff training sessions. These pop up at annoyingly regular intervals nowadays (of course, naturally I approve of our teachers getting up to date training), but it means taking days off work and organising something that will keep the kids happy.

Fortunately, I have a trusty stand-by that I am willing to share with others. It’s actually pretty obvious, but it works all the time: the good, old-fashioned zoo.

Actually zoos nowadays are not old-fashioned at all. Gone are the days when all you could do was traipse around small, smelly cages. Instead, zoos try to get young people (and us adults, too) involved in caring for the animals, as well as teaching us all about the species.

There are interactive games that educate you about wildlife while you play; there are plenty of electronic information points; and opportunities such as naming an ant in an anthill or throwing a fish to a penguin will delight children of all ages.

something for everyone

A good zoo, such as London Zoo in Regent’s Park, has such a great range of animals that even fussy kids who declare that they are not actually interested in seeing the animals will always find something to amuse and entertain them, or to wonder at. The sight of elephants spraying each other with water, or baboons thrusting their blue bottoms at you, will make even the most sceptical and cynical child laugh, and no one can look at the muscular power of a lion or tiger without being impressed.

Then there the houses that might make kids give a happy scream of horror: the insect houses with their giant spiders or the reptile houses with the evil-looking crocodiles.

The zoo is my advice for keeping the kids occupied, and trust me, it works.

Don’t be scared of computers: face YOUR fears!

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:05:03 +0000

I am now going to make an admission which would probably stun my boss…so it’s a good job he is illiterate and doesn’t bother reading his minions blogs, right? Only kidding Dave! I love you really!

The admission is this: I am hopeless with computers…yes I can work Facebook and use email, but that doesn’t mean much in today’s amazing techno land of marvels that even kids can operate, right?

Except the thing is, I bumped into an old friend in the street – a tech friend – and the following conversation ensure:

Her: “Hey, how are you? Where do you work now?”

Me: “Oh, not bad, still slaving away. I work at an IT firm.”

Her: “Great! Me too! What software you using?”

you CAN learn about computers. Stop being afraid. The only person stopping you is YOU!

Then it hit me: I really didn’t know the name of it. I could just about work it…something like XZ complete recruitment software package …but that was all I could remember. My old friend looked positively mortified with me, as if to say “YOU’RE recruiting people? You can’t even recruit yourself!” And I didn’t blame her. It was pretty tragic. In my position I was supposed to be the one telling others what to do!

Anyway, the point of all this is that I, don’t laugh, enrolled in a local course for senior citizens and those who aren’t great with computers. Everyone in the room was much older than me and knew much more.

I should also explain something: much of my work is about communicating with people, not actually handling computer stuff. Thank God…

My findings from doing the course? I reckon I am cracking it. It was a bit intimidating at the beginning, but soon enough I was getting the hang of it and getting to grips with things which had terrified me before. It felt like a serious breakthrough.

The best bit? Well, the next week my boss asked me to do a presentation with out software. And, while I will admit that I was no threat to Steve Jobs, I was on the ladder, and people liked the way I explained things.

Which meant something useful had gone in!

So the message here is simple: you CAN learn about computers. Stop being afraid. The only person stopping you is YOU!

(Update: there are now free courses in most libraries in England. Just visit yours or email them to find out more information and see when the next one is starting. Sometimes they are even one-to-one, which is pretty fantastic because it means you really get the most out of it.

Woody Dreams

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:03:53 +0000

Had enough of your wife’s nitpicking about “changes” that need to made to the house? Unfinished repairs, backyard woes or a new closet - it never seems to end. Well, its time you pulled up your socks and become the man in charge!
Running a home is like running a factory - something will go wrong every day and you need to be around to fix it. But, unlike in offices, every time you call a carpenter, a plumber or an electrician, your bank balance is likely to plummet. There is good news, though. Forget carpenters and the like, when you can do it all by yourself!
You don’t have to be an expert in carpentry or plumbing to be a handy man. There are several DIY kits available in the market that give out specific instructions on how to go about doing a certain task. So whether it is installing a window AC, repairing a broken down car, painting the whole house or adding a patio - its all doable. You will be told what tools you need, if its a one-man job, and safety measures to be taken. There are several websites as well that have a great deal of information of all kinds of home repairs and other concerns.
Doing a task yourself gives you a high - a sense of achievement and, of course, knowledge. It also is a great example to set in front of your kids, and telling them that nothing is impossible! Its simple, its fast and best of all, its always a cheaper option!

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There’s always room for unique business ideas

admin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:03:51 +0000

Thanks to TV shows like Dragons'Den and The Apprentice, the message that entrepreneurs can come from any walk of life and make it has been cemented into the minds of millions of people – young and old. It just goes to show that if you have a flair for business and a passion for what you do, almost anything can be achieved. Just ask Alan Sugar.

Alan Sugar, of course, is the king of doing things his own way. Although even he isn’t immune to disaster, in the main he has enjoyed a prolific career, making him undoubtedly one of England’s most loved doers.

do your research and look at designs from different time-periods and countries. It’d be a shame to spend all that time developing something, only to discover that actually it was already done in the 1980s

Feel like you have an idea for something cool and unique? Here are a few tips to get you going:

Make sure it is UNIQUE: this is probably the single biggest issue – after all, producing something unique is tough and not everyone can do it! So, if you’re going to produce Bespoke Packaging for your home-cooked dog food, make sure it’s really good and really different. This should ensure you stand out from the crowd and attract attention.
Be sure to have a plan: so many businesses fail and it’s a shame. What’s even more of a shame is that usually it comes down to one thing – lack of any kind of a plan. You need to have a grasp of the numbers and the vision, so if you can’t do that then maybe you should seek some help to make it all concrete.
Business partners are good, but don’t fall into the friends trap: many business fail when the partners don’t see eye to eye. It’s a classic problem and not something which is going to vanish any time soon, so be sure to go into business with someone who is trustworthy and you can really depend on!
Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it CAN’T be done: if you are creating a brand-new product, though, be sure to do your research and look at designs from different time-periods and countries. It’d be a shame to spend all that time developing something, only to discover that actually it was already done in the 1980s and didn’t take off at all…
Make sure there is profit: profit is not turn over, and without profit a business can’t survive! Make sure the figures are clear in your favour. After all, you’re not running a charity, are you?

Employing Online

admin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:35:32 +0000

It is surely an advantage to have a proper online recruitment software - it saves you time, money, human resource and space. Nevertheless, many people tend to believe that it is a nightmare for potential employees who rely on human reaction among all other things and a real interview if they want to stand out in front of recruiting managers. This article is in disagreement with such a statement - recruiting according to human reaction has been removed as a practice simply because of the competitiveness of potential employees and the online recruiting is currently the best way to impress someone and, at the same time, save your time.

How to stand out? Usually such software composes steps that ask you different questions. You input your academic and employment history after which you will be asked to answer different questions - they vary from “What are your personal aspirations?” to fictional scenarios to answer. Thus the recruiter can estimate your abilities, judge you by your interests and personal information and provide you with an answer to your request for employment. This saves up piles of money for employers and takes applying for employment to a completely new and more effective level.
Secondly, you save up money and time. You can apply for various positions at ones, for one day without the need to travel all day, to roam around, pay transport fees and so on. You can enjoy nice music, fill in the application while in your bed and simply wait for a reply. Is not that convenient.