Becoming A Gold Medal Keyboard Athlete by Tessa Shapcott

Have you been watching the Rio Olympics? There is a debate here in the UK about what has been helping the British and American teams top the medal tally.  The Department of Sport and Performance Psychology at Loughborough University has made a list of the behaviours needed to become a winner, and it made me think about how you can apply them to writing. Here are my three favourites.

The psychologists say ignore the competition.  I think that’s a good one.  Comparing yourself to others is demoralising and futile.  Far better to just concentrate on your writing and seek out industry professionals who will give objective reviews of your strengths and weaknesses.

Get in your bubble.  This means focusing on what needs to be done and shutting out irrelevant tasks.  I work as an editor and the most successful authors I know do this incredibly well.  They are tough about ring-fencing their time, delegating when they need to and being a wee bit selfish about their writing because it always comes first.

Stick to your plan.  This sounds quite rigid, but actually requires a combination of knowing your goal and not wavering from it, but being able to be flexible if you encounter a fork in the road.  The journey may not be straightforward but you get to your destination in the end.

The takeaway is: grit, determination, resilience and desire are what separate winners from losers!

Joanne Walsh: The Write Stuff

Despite the fact that Portugal has had the wettest, coldest spring on record, my writers’ retreat there went well.  Perhaps the weather was a blessing, as we weren’t lured out to the poolside or onto the beach. Instead, we huddled up in sweaters and fleeces, lit the log fire and hit our laptops (except for my friend who writes the first draft of her novels by hand).

In fact, the rhythms and habits of my fellow writers were really interesting to observe.  The hand-writer was the most prolific, maybe because she had less opportunity to go back and re-write and correct?  Another retreater would start writing in her pyjamas as soon as she got up because that was when she felt at her freshest and most inspired.  Another lady we had to install in a room of her own, as she likes to read out loud while she’s writing—it works because she does great dialogue.  As for me, I would write in twenty to thirty-minute bursts, followed by a few minutes’ timeout in the villa’s pretty garden (when the rain allowed), where I would noodle over tricky emotions or plot developments that I was wrestling with in my head.

The best bit was in the evenings when we settled down after dinner and read out what we’d written that day to receive feedback.  I really wish I had could have this on a daily basis—together with that amazing view over the Atlantic!

Resolutions for a Writer’s Retreat by Joanne Walsh

I am feeling so excited—and lucky!  Next weekend, I leave for a mini-retreat in Portugal with the writing group I belong to.  Four of us will spend a week in a villa by the Atlantic Ocean with the intention of write, write, writing.  For me, it’s a key event, because I’ll be starting work on my next novel for Tule Publishing, the first in a trilogy about three Greek millionaires (titles to be decided).

While this is definitely a welcome break from everyday routines, a chance to focus without the usual interruptions, I am mindful that being in such a lovely location could bring distractions of its own! As Brits who live with a fair bit of rain and grey skies, just being in the sunshine will cause us to go slightly crazy and just want to sit (or lie) and soak it up.  Then there is the food, the wine, the pretty places nearby to visit and walks on the beach…

So, the group has agreed that each morning over breakfast we will discuss a daily timetable, where some downtime is allowed, but our novels will take priority.  I know we will also spend time talking about writing too, which personally I find really stimulating; it’ll be great to have other heads on hand to help brainstorm plot and character directions.  But I shan’t forget to raise a glass of Vinho Verde to you all while I’m there!

Staying Focused and Productive – the Power of the Writing Workout Partner by Joanne Walsh

Dieting or exercising alongside a partner can be really beneficial for keeping committed to and focused on your goal.  You have to show up at an appointed time because the other person has, and there’s someone you have to be accountable to.  When one gets tired or discouraged, the other can keep things going.  It also can be a lot of fun doing it with somebody else, rather than inching along on your own.  Is it the same for writing?

By nature, though I can relish solitude, on the whole I am sociable and want others’ input.  I am a member of a creative support group of four writers—we call ourselves The Diamonds.  We meet regularly to talk about writing and what we’re working on.  We set aside time for each member to read out a few pages of their current novel and then offer constructive feedback.  We listen to one another’s successes and setbacks with publishers and agents, and share valuable insights into the publishing business.  Sometimes, we break out to write together or in pairs.

Getting together with The Diamonds is the highlight of my month.  We keep each other on track and from sliding into the despair when a character or plot thread won’t come right, or if life is getting in the way of writing, with gallons of supportiveness and laughter. This is one productive writing habit I’ll be sticking to!

Joanne Walsh became hooked on romance when her grandma gave her a copy of Gone with the Wind for her birthday. The teachers at her strict girls' school didn't approve of reading such a 'racy' novel and confiscated it. But Joanne had been introduced to Rhett Butler and so began her life-long love affair with the rogue alpha hero. She became a voracious romance reader and, later, enjoyed a long career as an editor for one of the world's leading women's fiction publishers, where she collaborated with some wonderful writers.
These days, Joanne lives in the south of England and divides her time between working as a freelance fiction editor and writing romance, and spending time with her very own real-life hero...

How to Stay Focused and Produce When you are a Writer by Joanne Walsh

I’ve spent some time gleaning words of wisdom from fiction writers, both published and self-published, about staying focused.  I’d like to share what I’ve harvested with you.

·         Identify the time when you will be most productive.  For some, very first thing, before the day gets going, is when they’re at their most creative.  For night owls like me, evenings are when the juices run.

·         Nail down the time span or word count in which you can stay focused.  This will vary from person to person. Very few can work for more than 4 to 5 hours straight, and it seems that most will produce 250 to 2,000 words in one session.  It may mean you write less, but more frequently.

·         Try to get something down every day. Even if it’s a few sentences, or a re-written paragraph.  It keeps the writing habit going and you in touch with your characters and storyline, not to mention ideas bubbling.

·         Make sure you take breaks away from your computer.  Many writers talk of the value of even 5 minutes apart from their manuscript for giving a fresh perspective on what’s just been written.  Some will break their daily allotted writing time into two or three parts just to get that view.

·         Don’t edit while you write. Just let it flow. You can always go back and refine later.

Do let me know how you stay focused!

My New Year’s Writing Resolution, Continued by Joanne Walsh

So January is almost done – how did I get on with my resolution to sit down every day first thing and write, with email and other distractions shut off?  Well, it hasn’t turned out to be quite that disciplined, but I am doing better and have accumulated 5,000 words more of my next novel.  And I have discovered something about myself and how I write best.

My big challenge is to balance what I do for a living—I work as a freelance book editor and writer—with my dream of writing romance. Therefore I have deadlines to meet, and also must immerse myself in other people’s novels as well as my own.  I realised I was struggling with that—becoming involved with other writers’ compelling characters, then having to tear myself away to go back into my own fictional world.  The structure of writing a little every day doesn’t work so well for me.  Instead, I have come up with a different plan, of one day writing for myself, one day doing freelance, and so on.  It seems to be rolling out okay.  I find I come back to my book feeling more energised and refreshed.

I am also talking a lot to the authors I work with and asking them for their tips about how to stay focused and produce.  I will be sharing my findings in my February blog.

You can email Joanne/Tessa about freelance editing at tessashapcott@gmail.com.

My New Year’s Writing Resolution by Joanne Walsh

At the last meeting of the writers’ group I belong to, the members were agreed: share our New Year’s writing resolutions and then our progress through the coming year.

I’ve always liked the concept of New Year’s resolutions but I’ve never been very good at keeping them, mostly because I tend to throw myself into new things with huge amounts of enthusiasm and then find I can’t keep up the pace or the interest; either I become distracted, or dispirited because life inevitably gets in the way.   

The resolution I really need to make for 2016 is to write regularly, as I want to complete at least two new novels by year’s end.  I’ve got the ideas, I just have to find the means to keep the passion flowing!

I’ve taken a look at the advice that’s out there about keeping resolutions, and the consensus is that you need to do the following things to succeed: focus on one goal; take small steps; have a mechanism of accountability; celebrate success; work on changing thought and behavior patterns.

So I am resolved to write for 30 minutes a day, every day, with email and every other intrusion shut off.  First thing every morning. I will be accountable to my friends in my writer’s circle, and they will be my fellow celebrants.  I will train my brain to adhere to this routine of application and reward.   Will I stick to this?  Watch this space!

Romance and Rays of Hope by Joanne Walsh

A week ago, the world was stunned and saddened when Paris was viciously attacked by extremist terrorists, and so many citizens lost their lives or were seriously injured. It seemed inconceivable that this city—an eternal, global symbol of love and romance—should be targeted in this way.  As the waves of shock and sorrow continue to ripple, I’ve been talking with my fellow romance writers and editors about what our response should be—do we have anything useful or meaningful to offer when something terrible like this happens?

We all agree that, during the darkest days, what better way is there to leave behind the madness than to lose oneself in a good romance? Romance equals pure escapism: it can ease our shock and calm our minds, be relied upon to bring us light and laughter and lift our spirits—and remind us that love is everything. Which is maybe something that those misguided souls who were so cruel and vengeful lost sight of.

At tough times like these, I salute my fellow romance writers for what they contribute. It helps to know that there are many wonderful romance novels to curl up with, to seek comfort in and reaffirmation of people and relationships, when the world seems so uncertain and humans unpredictable.

I know that you, like me, will wish Parisians healing, peace and strength.

Taming the Italian Bad Boy and A Wife in Every Sense by Joanne Walsh are available on all good digital platforms now.

CJ Carmichael: If You Could Spend Christmas Anywhere In The World...?

Where would you choose, if a generous fairy godmother offered to send you anywhere in the world for Christmas? Would you pick someplace sunny and exotic, like a beach or, say, Waratah Bay, Australia? Until I bought Marion Lennox’s Christmas at Waratah Bay,  I had no idea this place existed, let alone that it offers a pristine 20 kilometers of white, sandy beach. I have spent every Christmas of my life in Canada, with cold weather, evergreen trees and usually a fair amount of snow. There is no question that lights look prettier when they are sparkling against a blanket of fresh, powder snow. But I think I could do a beach at Christmas. I really do.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OSAWTSO/?ref=lee122014

Maybe you have a romantic, moody soul and you’re thinking the highlands of Scotland would suit the holiday better? If so, why not throw in a request for a castle while you’re at it? And...perhaps...a sexy Laird as well?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZQONHQ/?ref=lee122014

If something more traditionally English is appealing, you could always try Yorkshire. Can you see yourself in a cute stone cottage, sipping tea from a porcelain cup while munching on traditional minced pies, or plum pudding, or tiffins? (Don’t ask me what these things are. You’ll have to check the recipe, referenced below.) 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZQOINK/?ref=lee122014 

For a truly magical and beautiful Christmas...could anything be more divine than Venice? Maybe being invited by a gorgeous Italian to stay at his ritzy palazzo apartment and experiencing Christmas Venetian-style: including gourmet meals,  seasonal markets and exquisite musical concerts. Sigh. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZSED88/?ref=lee122014

If you’re a country girl at heart, perhaps you hanker to be out in the mountains for Christmas, snug in a comfy ski lodge, sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa...and a rugged ski guide? Of course there will be snow. Lots and lots of snow! 

http://www.amazon.com/Snowbound-Montana-Carrigans-Circle-Book-ebook/dp/B00OJRQJJQ/ref=lee122014

I’m sorry I can’t wave my wand and send you to any of these amazing places. I really wish I could. But I can invite you to be transported by your own imagination and the wonderful joy of reading.

While these five Christmas Stories take place in very different areas of the world, there is one thing that unites them. The heroine of Snowbound in Montana, Eliza Bramble, owns a bed and breakfast in Marietta, Montana called “Bramble House.” This year she has done such a special job of decorating it for the holidays that she decided to write a blog about it. In each of these books, one of the characters finds this blog on-line and uses one of Eliza’s recipes or decorating tips in their own story.  If you read these books, see if you can spot all the connections. Then you might want to check out The Bramble House Blog on Pinterest where you’ll find the recipes and decorating tips from the books.

I hope you enjoy your holiday season. Wherever you may choose to spend it!

Very Warmest Wishes!

CJ Carmichael

Taking it on the Chin by Joanne Walsh

When my first book, a novella entitled THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE, was published on 25th April by Montana Born Books, I was incredibly excited. It was the moment I’d dreamed of for so long.  But now it was actually happening, I also became a little fearful and anxious: my book would be up there on Amazon and if anybody did read it (which of course I really wanted them to), they might leave a review—and not necessarily a good one!  Could I deal with the criticism?

You may wonder why I was getting my knickers in a knot about getting feedback.  Well, partly because it’s kind of a boot-on-the-other-foot situation.  For years, I was the one handing out the criticism, as an editor for a well-known publishing house.  Then, I did try to be constructive and encouraging when I gave edits to authors, because that was the way to get buy-in and manuscripts revised.  But there were times when I got it wrong, usually because time pressures or frustration, and I learned the hard way how a few ill-chosen words were all that it took to crush the recipient.

But it’s also because I had witnessed authors being torn apart on internet platforms.  We’ve long been trained by famous critics of literature, film, theatre and art to expect pithy comment.  There’s a certain vicarious thrill in reading a really excoriating review.  But at least the critic is standing up and being counted. However, in our super-communicative, digital times, it’s so easy to let off steam relatively anonymously about stuff that we dislike and throw it out there into cyberspace.  If a book annoys us, it’s cathartic to have a good old nit-pick and hide behind a handle.  And there does appear to be an effect; if one person gives a sneering summary, others seem to willingly jump into the pool of poison and join in.

As it happens, I needn’t have worried: most of the reviews so far for THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE have been good and really encouraging. The criticisms have been thoughtful; real pearls of wisdom that I can take on board and use to make future books better, from genuine readers who love the romance genre, and who have generously shown support to a new writer.

Perhaps it’s a sign that the Internet is coming of age?

Joanne Walsh’s romance novella is published by Montana Born Books/Tule Publishing and is available now: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+unexpected+bride&sprefix=The+Unexpected+Bride%2Cstripbooks%2C236