Writing Tips in Tumultuous Times

Trying to settle into writing has been slightly - ok, not so slightly! - awkward this week. But only from the point of view of new writing. I've had a super busy week in the realm of author and part-time artist! Here's some of what's kept me busy...

I took part in the Writing Community Chat Show's #WritingCommunityBedtimeStory challenge. So now you can, if so inclined, listen to me reading Chapter One of Caledon. Authors, if you haven't already done this, please give it a go. It's great for readers to hear a story in its conceptual voice.

I've also signed up for Our Own Write, a virtual book fair which takes place on 22nd and 23rd April. I'm on at 8pm BST, followed by Judith and then Clemency.

And, since I've mentioned Clemency, she's offering everyone - readers, bloggers, reviewers - a chance to join in with her next book. You can find more about it here! So I did her a little picture (above) to celebrate.

Finally, I'm still on with my New Year resolution. If everything goes according to plan, these are the four competitions/submissions which I'll enter in April. Why don't you have a look and see if there's one you'd like to enter?
The Trench Coat Chronicles
Didcot Writers
Parsec
87 Bedford Anthology

Remember - writing is not just about new writing. Take time to re-read and edit your earlier writings.


Find me here: www.stompermcewan.com
www.twitter.com/DaysDyingGlory - follow me there!

A Room to Inspire - The Living Room

As most of you who have read any of my previous blogs will be able to attest to, I am prone to lots of writing. So this time, I'm sharing a pictorial blog of inspiration. In fact, except for this paragraph and a pretty-please-buy-my-book paragraph at the end, I'm only going to use pictures and captions of a room which has inspired me. It's my living room and, as you might imagine, it has a lot of books in it. So here are some of the books and some of the decor that have helped inspire my writing.

There is something truly inspiring about trees in winter, and this picture
always makes me wonder where the bridge leads to and from. The other
picture was discovered in the loft of an East Yorkshire barn. It is clearly an
illustration of some kind, hand painted on a wooden panel, but I'm not sure
whose story it is telling (only it appears to be a 17th century one).

An 18th Century hand-coloured engraving of Captain Cook landing at
Tanna hangs over our little bookcase.

A picture which fascinates me. At first glance it is understated in
mediocrity, but the closer you look, the more you are drawn in.

Proud sister moment here - no apologies!

A selection of books, some of which were my Granddad's when he
was a child, and my copy of The Three Musketeers, one of my
absolute favourite books!

Elinor's notebook. A unique and greatly treasured find from an
auction. This is a sketchbook from the early 20th century of a
girl who illustrated day-to-day life and stories she loved.

My Great-Granddad's pipe and a tobacco tin. This is not his
tobacco tin, but it fits nicely with his pipe. The care and
affection that this object inspires is incorporated in "To Reason Why",
my novel set during the Crimean War.

Antique Belgian tapestry, depicting a desert scene, hangs over the fireplace.
These were produced on industrial looms, but there are now few of them left.

A plaque commemorating the little known
"Battle of Flamborough Head" in 1779.
My great-great-great-great-grandfather
(quite a way back!) was the coastguard there.

A statue of General Napier which we bought for a pittance
at auction after he failed to sell for several weeks. He was
then incorporated into my novel (it is at his house where
the two balls are held). Behind him is a stick with an
'orse's 'ead 'andle, a reference to Marriott Edgar's Albert.

An old tea chest whose three panels were painted by Holly.
It is now full of antique music.

One of a pair of double handed vases. Not being terribly
conventional they are on completely different shelves.

A tankard in the style of a Toby Jug. This was a gift to Dad, because
it looks like him! He hates boats, though, so the fisherman part
doesn't work quite as well as the beard!

My Dad's dad, who I never knew, and the calendar
our lovely German friend made for us.

A German chalice, gifted to Judith from her friend, and a skilfully
repaired figurine stand on one of the poetry shelves. Not sure how
the Gibbons's stamp books sneaked on there...

A pair of elephants which my parents bought for each other. This is as
close to symmetry as our house comes, and the tusks are deliberately
not matching. On the shelf above is my great-great-grandmother's moneybox
in the shape of a house. There is something which rattles in there, but I
don't want to open it to find out what. I like the mystery.

The runic grave marker, and assorted Harry Potter books.

"Easter Island Dad" created by Alex

The second deer vase in front of my university books.

A hand painted bud vase by Clemency in front of two series of
books which inspired me as a child.

A Scunthorpe tankard. A random find, but topical
for Dad who grew up there.

A fairing - a prize given out at travelling fairs in the days before
teddy bears and neon bracelets. Much cuter, I think.

Mum's Great-Grandmother and her children, At the extreme left of the
picture is a nursing chair which is now upstairs in our house.  At the time this photograph was
taken, the father, Reuben Temperton, was fighting in the Boer War with the Lincolnshire Regiment.

A Ukrainian folk doll bought at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
and a rose-entwined horseshoe made by Judith.

A candle holder with a fairy tale theme in front of
a collection of German books

Another vase on the railway shelf, with another uncomplicated
scene depicted. Creeping into the shot is a red panda snow globe -
we're proud adopters of the red pandas at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Signed edition of Alfred Gilbert's book, complete with a working sketch.
Gilbert is most famous for creating the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountian
(more often known as Eros) in Piccadilly Circus.

A 19th Century collection of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels.

Winter landscape of a country road, beehives
in shady summer glow, and the market square of
Weissenburg where I visited in 2013

A collection of antique stamps from across the world.
This selection was also bought at auction.

So many of these little things - and there are a lot more I haven't pictured! - which seem insignificant on their own, have inspired my writing. Some are more easy to follow than others, sometimes it is an emotion, sometimes an actual object, but they have come together to create a room in which I love to write. I love having objects that relate back to the time I write about. Being able to handle antiques, whether they are worth pennies or pounds, can transfer me back in time as easily (and far more safely!) as the Tardis!

Want to see what these inspired? Find it here for eBook or here in paperback.
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