The Joy of Creation

Sometimes good things really do come in nice small packages...

Baby boy born a month early, weighing 2.83kg and 47cm long. And yes, he does have an older sister who bequeathed the wrap in this picture...but for the record, it isn't pink, it's apricot!

Very glad to be out of hospital after a stay of five weeks. But I can truly say this Mothers' Day present was worth waiting for.







xx

Is your writing overblown and verbose...or succinct to the point of being scanty?

I'm pretty sure nobody's going to admit to being overblown OR verbose. And let's face it, word limits touted by many publishers for their new acquisitions have a great deal more to do with the commercial realities of the industry than they do with reader preferences or literary quality.

Still - there are those of us who write long, and those who write short. And those who despite the best of intentions, and a wonderful art display on their hospital wall (forgive the poor quality iPhone picture)

...don't write very much of anything at all. (Any NaNoWriMo participant worth their salt would be horrified by my less-than-stellar writing progress this month. On the other hand I've completed some beautiful Swarovski crystal, pearl, and sterling silver wire-wrapped jewelry for my friend to wear at her wedding in July. Does that count?)

How to complete the A-Z Challenge in one day from a hospital bed...

I'm not a daily blogger and probably never will be as I'm too respectful of my blog followers to torture them that way; so I'm not officially participating in the A-Z blogging Challenge...but couldn't resist my own hospital-inspired A-Z post seeing as I'm in here for another four weeks. Yes I DID get to go home but went back by ambulance 13 hours later. Long story.

If you know anyone in hospital, THIS

...will cheer them up. Trust me. (big thank you to my baby sister for this)

Anyway, without further ado...

Blogging from hospital 102 - the Ultimate IT Guide

Okay, the title of this post is a little misleading - this isn't really a guide or a how-to. Basically I'm just going to share my fabulous portable setup with you...but as to how it's all configured? Well, I'm very lucky to have IT Man to deal with all the messy details. :-)

So...basically, this is what I'm working with.

iPad (with nifty case which flips around so you can stand it up) and wireless keyboard. No, it's not one of the new-generation iPads (people keep asking me that) but it's doing a great job.

And what runs the whole shebang?

Blogging from hospital 101 - food, glorious food

When you're desperate for some quiet writing time...get yourself hospitalized.

Okay, I know it sounds extreme, but hear me out.

Firstly, let me assure you that I'm not just spouting random theory based on something I read on Wikipedia. No, I'm actually trialling this approach myself...blogging from a hospital bed. And you all know hospital beds are not easy to come by, much like those coveted places in writers' retreats...so I see the fact I've managed to score one as quite a coup.

I'll be the first to admit there are some less than desirable features associated with my chosen method of getting some peace and quiet. I mean, firstly, you have to have some kind of illness, or a moderately serious health issue at the very least. They won't take just anyone.

And then there's the IV cannula thing. Also not so nice. I'm not going to post a picture of the one sticking out of my arm. If you really want to know what one looks like, feel free to google it.

But then there are the positives.

A word on Write Hope - raising funds for the children of Japan

We often hear about disasters on the news, and wonder if there's any practical way we can help. Sometimes, the bigger the disaster, the more powerless we feel about doing something which will actually make a difference.

Pretty much everyone will have heard by now about the critical situation Japan finds itself in; its eastern coastline ravaged by an earthquake and a huge tsunami, with entire towns washed away and thousands upon thousands dead, missing, injured or homeless. Now they're battling the additional threat of nuclear meltdown at a nuclear power station damaged by the quake.

A group of bloggers with ties to Japan have decided to take action in their own special way, and they're calling for involvement from us all, in a series of charity auctions to be held online at the website they've created: http://write-hope.blogspot.com/

All funds raised will go to their chosen charity, Save the Children, which is actively working to help Japan's youngest citizens through this terrible crisis.

So if you've been looking for a practical way to help, visit Write Hope, donate a book to their mystery box or bid in the auction.

Second Crusader Challenge post

I'm fulfilling a challenge in this post - to write a piece of flash fiction, 100 words or less, beginning with "The goldfish bowl teetered..."

Okay, this was much harder than I thought it would be and I'm very impressed by anyone who can encapsulate a complete idea with such a limited amount of words...because I really can't! Still, here is my short, short story - exactly one hundred words.

Ruin and Restoration

The goldfish bowl teetered on the edge of the mahogany table and fell.

Aurelie watched wide-eyed as it smashed on the parquetry floor.

Lord Black released her arm, and took a step backwards. His mouth crooked up in an unpleasant smile as he looked down at the mess of glass shards and squashed fish and lace doily.  "I will enjoy hearing you explain that to the Dowager Countess."

"Easily done," came a light voice from the doorway. "She was protecting her virtue from the unwanted advances of an unprincipled, lecherous toad."

Aurelie shuddered. The Viscount. Why him, of all people?