Month: January 2017

Author Update (January 2017)

Posted on by arappleby

Hiya Guys!

So I drafted some of this month’s Author Update through the month. So lets get through the updates through the month and then towards the bottom, I have something I am adding, something new.

So we have made it through the first month of 2017! Surely I am not the only one who is excited? Yes? No?

I want to know how all of your New Year’s resolutions are going… What did you choose to do and are you still going at it?

So, so far this year I have had my appointment with the pain management team to try to help my ribs. The poked them. The day after a doctors poking they always hurt worse. But the thing is, we have tried nearly everything to manage the pain, so now the suggestion is, injections. And I know I know, for someone with many tattoos I still am scared of needles. It’s a completely different thing.

I am feeling more adventurous this year. I want to do something different. I feel like emotionally I want to take on the world. If I physically could I would love to learn belly dancing and go to ceroc and just breath new life into things. First off, the ribs need sorting first, but secondly, I need to put a priority on writing. So everything in moderation.

Writing accomplishments this month, roughly is a few thousand odd words or at least that is my hope and I’ve not just hallucinated and dreamed the words that never met the page. That could really happen with my new addiction to Pretty Little Liars on Netflix. Plus new Shadow Hunters this month. A very happy square eyed girl is sat typing this.

I must dash now to hopefully go and write some inspired words for The Diary of Elliot Parker for the part two that I hadn’t anticipated feeling the need to write.

Can you have a midlife crisis at 25?

I don’t know if it is really possible, but that is what I have been thinking lately. Writing is a passion, a vocation and I am not in anyway doubting it or not enjoying it. The crisis is really not writing related. It very much feels like writing is the really right feeling thing in my life.

But there is a part of me that is asking what the hell am I doing with the rest of my life? I am still single, people I know are getting married, starting families and then there is me. The ever dreamer drifting a little in every other way.

So I ended up having a heart to heart with my bestie Harry. I think the best way we described how we have been feeling is that we have this feeling our inner child is throwing a tantrum screaming at us. Did we really abandon all of our childhood dreams?

I know I’ve been trying to cleanse this year of bad habits, but maybe I should also be paying more attention to how I feel right now. I know as a child, my dreams were singing, musical related and lots of stories. The only one that I haven’t had to sideline for one reason or another is story telling. So Harry and I decided we would try to sate one of our childhood voices that wanted to do something music related.

So our plan is to learn guitar, he wants to learn piano, and I want to get some breath control back in my ribs again so that I can sing. I miss it. This might be a chance for us to focus on dreams rather than responsibility. Its a midlife crisis, we can be irresponsible and follow what we feel passionately about. It’s our prerogative, instead of watching everyone else living all their dreams.

Every mountain is climbed one step at a time, why not enjoy the steps?

Now for the new addition to this month’s author update.

I would like to say that all my thoughts and prayers go out to my friend and his family on the loss of his little brother Josh. I remember Josh in high school, safe to say he was a hit with the girls, but he was the goofy awesome kid that was eternally a rare and beautiful soul. He is missed, dearly. I haven’t done this before, but I would like to share the crowdfunding page with you all, Josh passed away in Australia and the family needs to raise £10,000 to be able to bring him back home to the UK for a proper goodbye. Josh was very loved, and he was a great comic. The world has lost a beautiful light. May his spirit be unburdened and in eternal happiness and peace. He is loved, and will always be remembered. RIP Josh.

If you would like to contribute, this is his brother’s crowdfunding page in the hope to bring him home https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bring-joshie-home?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socpledgedesktop&utm_content=bring-joshie-home&utm_campaign=post-pledge-desktop&utm_term=njWRVKPgP

 

And of course I need to throw a little plug in for The Diary of Elliot Parker 🙂

The Diary of Elliot Parker is out now!!! I am happy that it’s now launched.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG21QLX

And as always… I just want to remind you that there are books that are open, and available to you. So here is the link to my amazon author page, why not see if something takes your fancy?

May luck and adventure be on your side!

ARA xxx

Pet Peeves

Posted on by arappleby

Pet peeves.

Sure you know how it is, when you are single, the assumptions. Like the assumption I have noticed most have, that having a particular kind of “fun” is the only thing you want and is worth having. Yeah, no… walk away now if that is the mind set you have because I don’t want to sooth bruised egos. I know what I want, you know what you want, if it’s not the same, can we agree not to waste each other’s time? One last thing on it- don’t berate someone for not agreeing with your opinion no matter the situation. It’s just so not cool. No matter what.

There are other issues that get on your nerves. Sometimes it comes from something not related to a relationship status.

Like, dare I say, being a writer.

When you tell someone you are a writer, there is generally a few set responses but there is one that I know is the most irritating thing. Someone who goes “you should write this…” or do this or that or whatever.

It is simple, if I wanted to do that, I would, but I don’t, so I don’t want to do that however saleable they think that idea is.

Or the other annoying factor, the closed minded kind. There is only one correct way to do things, their way. Say for instance one person I talked to was insisted that you have to be at least thirty to have some life experience. It has to follow a specific style and sound a certain way. Because you know they consider themselves an expert- someone who has never written or completed a godddamn book in their life. But you know they are an expert.

So of course I am doing it all wrong, right? No.

Ok general things that irritates me as a writer…

– Being told what I should be writing-

Don’t just don’t.

– Being told that I am not following THEIR rules for what a writer is-

I don’t care what your rules are. I enjoy my process not yours don’t push your opinion on me, ever.

– Blatant insults-

No one likes it. Stop.

– The dreaded question “what are you writing about?” –

Because it will never be a simple answer. It’s complicated…

– Can you write a story about me? –

In short NO!

– Am I in your stories? –

In short- read the work and see if you can spot yourself, I hope that things have been good between us otherwise if you do find yourself in something you might not like the answer.

– When will you be finished? –

I don’t know… don’t ask me… its creative writing. Everything is always different.

– Judging, dishonesty and unrequested critiquing –

Don’t be those one of those people, it’s not cool, don’t judge me as person based on what I write. It doesn’t necessary mean it is a desire or request for that behaviour or scene.

If I ask for your thoughts on something, be honest if there is something you like or not.

However unrequested critiquing, I don’t care if my grammar isn’t perfect. If you can understand the thought just go with it.

 

Oh and spellings- no one is perfect and I am not pretending to be.

Yup I said it, don’t push an opinion on me, no one likes it. I won’t be happy about it. I probably won’t put up with it.

So erm yeah… May luck and adventure be on your side!

ARA xxx

Here is the cheeky little link for The Diary of Elliot Parker available now!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG21QLX

Writing Dilemma

Posted on by arappleby

Ok so I am hoping that writing this will help me to fix the problem I am having.

Ok so I am editing a piece that I wrote a few years ago, it’s a piece I love. It has a few twists to it. But here is the point, I have a female character who has a love hate relationship with her best friend, although they are more or less allies. But I have pre-paved a boy interest for her, you know one of those douche bags in comparison to the whole story he doesn’t have a focal point but he does have his eye on the girl. It’s going to be a predator prey type thing but who is what tends to be quite fluid. There is a natural divide. So is my main female character going to experiment with the friend (who for those that need clarity is female). It’s not to have a story of experimentation, it’s not even something I considered viable for her. A drunken kiss perhaps at most but I don’t think they blend together in a power couple way. Like personality wise, yes they have each-others backs. But no, they don’t feel like a happy ever after couple thing.

There is a lot of gratitude and affection between them. Sure that line could possibly be blurry. Probably an accidental kiss. But I think said friend is definitely hetero but the main, well there could be a question. An unease. I don’t know. It would make a simple edit/rewrite into a giant rewrite on the ending. I mean I would probably ship them, but ones straight for certain. So I think there is the opportunity for a confusion which could lead to very rushed decisions trying to conform back to the status quo.

I ship them, I can make ship happen. But friend doesn’t fit into the world that she is falling into, flirtationships and oh it’s just so sad. I think I will add that accidental kiss with Dutch courage. Get the ship going just to sink it and shut it down. The first main bi character I would write and she doesn’t get to be herself. It seems so real, like I am sure there are people that deny who they are. Oh this is a sad ship… sad, sad ship. Oh I am sorry, I am so sorry for anyone who reads this and knows how mean I decided to be. I feel sorry for anyone who reads this story and gets hurt by the ship. But the ship hurts me too.

It was never even meant to be an option, or a possibility.

I ship it.

But I am writing it.

So I am sinking the ship.

 

And just in case you are wondering if this is to do with The Diary of Elliot Parker, I am sorry darlings but it’s not.

 

Oh I am writing the scene right now…

Oh ouch “college experience”… heartless girl!

Oh ouch, they are still friends but someone’s still thinking about it.

Man it sucks to see like a movie in my head sucks more seeing how she really looks when she is alone, the thoughts she is trying to ignore.

Wow it kind of sucks.

#betthatwasanawkwarddinner

#swiftlychanging conversation

 

I wonder if this will create more tension in the original planned relationship? How does the new partner navigate the now messy friendship? Questions I need to answer for myself.

 

 

Looks like I gave a little commentary on the writing. But yes, its two whole new chapters that were never meant to be in the book at all… MAGIC…

 

May luck and adventure be on your side 😉

ARA xxx

Here is the cheeky little link for The Diary of Elliot Parker available now!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG21QLX

Consider me a mutant

Posted on by arappleby

So I have to tell you something. My friend (who for the sake of privacy I will refer to as J), well he recommended I read this book. So sure I didn’t take it seriously, it took me a few months to order the book from amazon. Then it took at least a month before I read the back (and by read I mean skimmed the first three lines) and put it back into my reading pile. Ok so the day comes when I think, ok time I should read it.

I WISH I HAD BEEN RECEPTIVE TO READING IT SOONER!

No word of a lie.

The book that was recommended? Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan.

I read the first chapter and thought hmm, this looks good. But then my attention wavered and gave it a couple of days. Then I read the rest of the book in one day. Yep that’s right. Morning to evening I didn’t put the book down for longer than two minutes.

I don’t want to give the book away. But I love how well written it is. I love that it is a book where you are able to take away from it as much as you are receptive to. I can see someone reading this book for entertainment and discovering their perspective altered just a tiny bit or a lot.

I came to this book with an understanding to a degree of the law of attraction. This heightened that understanding, underlined it and showed itself in a demonstrative way.

I can see why J thought this book was so important for me to read. I owe him a huge thank you.

Ok so basic story for someone not interested in the law of attraction: Woman goes to outback with a dying race, her life changes because of it, she has to go back to the real world.

Those of us interested in the law of attraction: Amazing journey, a woman ends up going on a journey where she finds her whole belief and life system tested. She comes to understand not only the law of attraction but the incredible details of the world to a very strong understanding of the world. Discovering her natural intuition. She returns to the society she came from and began to try to uplift the resistant. But finds more success on uplifting those closest to her with open minds and hearts.

This book is great.

I started recommending this book before I even reached half way I knew that no matter what the ending was going to be. Sad or happy it was going to be fulfilling. I just knew this book needs sharing. Had it not been for J, I would never have known. But now I do it cannot be ignored.

I would happily direct friends to this book. I genuinely mean it when I say “you should read this book”

Even if you don’t think you will take anything from it, even if it entertains you for a little while, that is great. Because you never know what you will end up taking away from this book.

While I can’t imagine myself doing the whole outback down under adventure of my own, my path doesn’t hold ground in that direction. But I do appreciate the values, the understandings, the teachings that it shows. The lessons and the tests. I know it is not my path to replicate the footsteps, I lived them however through the words on the page. They are as profound as the adventure itself. It is appreciated.

While it is fictitious that doesn’t diminish the possibility to extract something positive from this story. Whether you look at the world with a greater appreciation for the planet or you learn to trust your own instincts.

It is nice to escape for a while into another adventure where you can perhaps come to a newer realisation of self-trust.

Sure the world is probably going downhill. But to be honest. This book is a good read even if for entertainment. It has a very real feel to it.

The story is exactly that, a great story, if it helps you trust your intuition or encourages you to look for good in the world it has done its job.

Looking at the world with appreciation and gratitude is something that a lot of people would enjoy learning, to give up the struggle and resistance and just learn to live a positive life.

So to the author I send thanks and appreciation for the story.

To you readers, I strongly suggest reading this story, if even to find a place of peace or appreciation that you can take from this story and implement it into your everyday lives.

My challenge to you, name one thing each day that you truly appreciate, one thing that you are grateful for, one thing you are genuinely looking forward to tomorrow. Make that your daily challenge please. I’d love it if you all feel good more of the time.

May luck and adventure be on your side!

ARA xxx

Here is the cheeky little link for The Diary of Elliot Parker available now!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG21QLX

What is but a name?

Posted on by arappleby

How do I name characters?

 

Well that is a question that I am finding hard to answer. There are instances when characters are inspired by real people, this can be tricky, I try not to use real names for real people ever, as you may have noticed. To a degree I respect their privacy. But I also am aware that sounds like a contradiction. Yes, I still tell the story, it is my story, I make it principle that I still give the opportunity to have a degree of privacy. That being said, I am unlikely to use the names of people that mean a lot to me in general, just because again I respect their privacy and because they are precious to me. I am also unlikely to ever name a character a name I would like to name my kids if I ever have them. Partly because it would feel weird to me but partly because I don’t want to presume that it won’t influence who they become as adults. Weird huh?

Characters in a different sense still have that feeling of being almost children, it’s hard to describe. We create them. Sometimes naming them feels impossible, some characters go through a few names until there is one that fits them just right. Its natural.

So, originally I started searching for names via baby naming websites, that can be frustrating, you can however see the meanings which is something I often take into account. Although occasionally it really is just what feels right for the character and their journey. So it can also be easy to end up very split in a name no matter how hard you try. The most recent way that I have chosen to name the characters on a project is to go through a cheap (literally 2 quid) baby name book I picked up, go through and underline names I like and write down names that might be appropriate and to take note of the meanings. Once this is done I got cracking on the fun side of the work which is the writing and the plotting finished. But no once I had a list of names at least 20 to each gender. Then I got cracking on choosing the names appropriate to the story and then made a clear note. Some characters changed their original name in this process.

Sure it can be tricky, of course there are names that naturally appeal to being used for certain characters. I know for a fact there are maybe two or three names that have been used a few times for a few characters. It happens, there are certain characters that just appeal to those names. I do try to find other names but sometimes it just fits to re-use them.

There are odd characters with significant names. Sometimes they are just by nature a character who makes me smile that gets that names.

But not all characters are created equal. Much like when you read a book there are characters that you don’t like there are names you don’t really like so of course they go hand in hand with one another. That being said I don’t always use those names.

I didn’t realise how hard I would find this question.

I name characters in a way that I try to relate their journey or who they are or what they symbolise. That is the core of it. Some of it really is just fun, choosing a name that just feels like that is going to be the right choice.

I don’t know how people name their kids, but pets I can deal with sometime is just is choosing something that suits their personalities.

May luck and adventure be on your side!

ARA xxx

Here is the cheeky little link for The Diary of Elliot Parker available now!!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG21QLX