Sarah's writings

You may have heard me mention a few times on here that I love notebooks, currently at the moment I'm using four. FOUR?

Yes Four.

Old notebooks

I did a spot of tidying as I had lost an important book that I needed for work just had the urge to have a spring clean, or should that be summer clean ;-) Anyway, I found one of my old notebooks from last year. As you may have realised I am one for writing lists and as such people think I am very organised. Although friends know this isn't always the case as I can be quite scatty. Which I guess illustrates why I need the lists.

Sarah Loves...Books

I love books, I always have a book next to the bed but I have been known to get into quite a lapse reading pattern. Admittedly it does depend on the book, some I can take a few days to get through and others can take me weeks and dare I say it months.

November seems a good time to write a Novel

I wrote a blog post back in September about my failings of being able to write a book and perhaps writing a screenplay. Well since then it has moved on quite a bit but maybe not as originally planned.

I had planned out the story in full that I'd been thinking about for a few years now and found the actual starting to write a book quite daunting. I had started to write it as a screenplay but found it didn't seem easy either, and then for a few weeks did nothing with it. Probably waiting for a day in the future when I would find my notebook with all the planning in it and try and start again. But then I came across this website which every November runs a competition called National Novel Writing Month.

Every November 1st participants start writing with the goal of a 175 page (50,000 word) novel by midnight on November 30th. In 2008 they had over 120,000 participants and more than 20,000 of them made the deadline. So I've entered!

Now I'd said I found it difficult to start to write my story down as a book, well not now. As soon as I opened my Word document to start writing, I just started and it seems to be going well so far. I've got an amount of words to do a day but I try where possible to go over this amount as much as I can. Maybe it's because there is a deadline that it seems easier to write or maybe it was just time to get it all down - Who knows?!?

So anyway this story that I had all planned out, and I mean all planned out eg, characters, what happens in each chapter, has changed. Only a few of the things that I had planned are still relevant now as I continue writing a few days later. Strange really...maybe planning wasn't a good idea and then maybe it was? As I type it seems the story is pulling me into a new direction which is exciting as I have no idea where it's going. Maybe this is a good thing? We'll soon see.

I'm not saying that I'm writing a masterpiece, far from it. It'll probably not be very good but at least on November 30th I'll be able to say that I have written a novel and I will feel super proud of myself!

Is anyone else doing the competition? Or anyone else writing a book at the moment?

Trying to write...

I feel I should apologise for the Football posts that I have put on here recently as it's been quite a lot. I'm not saying that there won't be more as Football is important to me, but I will try to blend it in with all the other posts that I do.

I have been planning my long awaited first foray into book writing, the more that I planned it the more I was worrying about if I could actually write the book. Lots of people had suggested to me about writing it as a screenplay maybe first and I was thinking that maybe this would be best. In a blog post by Stephen Fry he was talking about writing, and mentioned that it is difficult to overcome the fears of writing a book, mainly worrying about how difficult it sounds rather than actually trying to write one. If you understand how difficult it is, it becomes easier to understand the theory (apparently). I admit I haven't actually ever started to write a book, so this much is true, I am only imagining how difficult it must be to write one. I hope that I can write it as a book but will just see what happens with it I guess, I feel putting myself under pressure of doing it will not make it any easier to happen.

This being said someone I know has just finished their first book and I have been asked to proof read his book. I personally see this as a great honour to him, I know nothing about the story and should be receiving the first few chapters this week. I'm quite excited by it and cannot wait to see what he's done. At college we wrote a script together for a project we were doing and I remember him coming up with lots of weird and wonderful ideas and always knew he would get into writing of some kind. He has since been working as a low paid journalist and this could be his big break. I will also pick his brain on how he started writing his book too, hopefully he might have some tips to share. Are any of you trying to write a book?

This week I also have my first Tai Chi class, I have been VERY lapse on the Wii Fit and must also get back into the habit of using that too.

I have also decided after buying many different styles of notepads that I am going to get a little creative and decorate my own. I'll let you know how I get on.

As for TV programmes, The re-runs of The Wire and ER are now over. I still have a few more episodes of House until that Season ends (Season 6 is apparently due to start in October with my other favourite Lie To Me returning also), this is by far the best Season of House and I think this Season end could be particularly interesting if it's headed where I think it is.

I'm watching The Unit (Season Two will start in two weeks time on Five) and Without A Trace (Season Six, on Channel 4) is now on and is a welcome addition to my week's TV viewing. Of course there is still One Tree Hill (Season 6 on e4) and I still love Economy Gastronomy (BBC2).

A little while ago I posted about my favourite character from ER, the Aussie hunk Doctor Simon Brenner and it has been noted by some friends that there is someone I know who is not totally unlike to the actor David Lyons (sadly without the accent). Make of that what you will...

I will end this post with the below image that got sent to me in an email from a friend this week. it is pretty widely available and used, but came at a time when I needed a little pick-me-up, hope it does the same to someone else!



That's all from me for now.

Take care

Inspiration to write?

Is it weird to have a new notebook to be able to write?

When I was younger every school year there would be the school uniform shop (Boring!) and then there was the shop for new pens, folders etc and that was always more fun! Ever since then at college and beyond I have always bought a new pile of stationary for each needed occasion or project.

I have a special pen and pencil that take replacements so have no need to look for others, so my main vice is for notepads. The other thing that amazes me is how many different styles of notepad there are now, which is bad for me as there is even more temptation now.

So before I start to write I must purchase some new notepads. Amazing how inspiration can come from things so pretty and yet so small...

What Have I Been Doing?

First of all on my trip to ikea yesterday I was after a few things but mainly a new mug for my hot chocolate and soups and bought the one in the above picture, yes it is huuuuge! But I love it! Although it reminds me of the teacups ride at fairgrounds!

I rather stupidly have purchased Zoo Tycoon Collection (PC CD) and have become completely addicted, this version has the original Zoo Tycoon game with the additional expansion packs of Marine Mania and Dinosaur Digs. I used to have years ago Zoo Tycoon and Marine Mania, but Dinosaur Digs is all new to me and playing it makes me feel like I'm in Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Collection 4 DVD Boxset.

Another game that I have been playing again recently is The Settlers IV: Gold Edition (PC CD), although the dark tribe are quite a formidable force, I still enjoy the hours (and I mean hours) of preparation before you are ready to fight.

I'm thoroughly enthralled into The Monster of Florencebook, although it is a harrowing account of Italy's own Jack The Ripper it is written with such tension and detail that you want to find out more. Have read 3 chapters of this again today, should have it finished next week I think.

A while ago I posted a blog piece about having a notebook and the types of things that I write in mine, having seen this Go Stationery A4 notebook Blue Cupcakes, I am trying to write a lot more in my present notebook to use it up so I have the excuse to get this one! Looks good enough to eat!

At the weekend I will be making some banana cupcakes from my favourite cake book 500 Muffins and Cupcakes. Speaking of food I love my new cookery book arrival this week of Economy Gastronomy: Eat Better and Spend Less, has some great tips on how to spend less on your weekly shop and this doesn't mean dull meals.

I treated myself this week to something else purple...for my iPhone U-Bop Maclove Face-Off Series Rear Leather Feel Protector Patch For Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS (Purple) + U-Bop Invisible & Mirror DefenderGUARD Screen Protection Kit (Full-Face) "Twin Pack". So as well as purple on my new look blog here and on my twitter page (@blissbubbley), I also have purple iPhone. It does actually mean that I don't "misplace" it as many times as I have done recently!

I'm off hunting new things in the world of twitter and well life in general really. Speak to you all soon

Taking note...

Do you use a notebook?

A friend suggested that I got one and now I can't live without it! Here's what I write in mine -

1 - Ideas for my blog- titles, ideas, draft copies of posts

2 - My idea for my story I'm writing - characters, plots, chapters

3 - Recipe Ideas I find - cupcakes mainly! Although I follow Jamie Oliver on twitter and he's always posting pictures of what he's cooked so I'm always getting recipes from his website

4 - Tips for fish care - any handy tips I read or hear. Currently researching live plants for my tank

5 - Butterfly list - Jot down any butterflies I see in the garden. On the look out for a painted lady (very rare)
 
6 - Things to do list - hate looking at this list sometimes to see how much I haven't done!

7 - Songs I hear to later buy, recommended films and TV programmes to watch

8 - My fantasy football and formula one teams

9 - Doodles - always doodling! It's the nearest I get to fine art!

10 - Any quotes I read or hear.

What do you write in yours?

Sarah
x