When characters disrupt your editing pen

When I read my work I read what I think I have written - not the actual words on the page. I've tried everything. Leaving it for a couple of weeks and months. Reading it aloud to myself or a group. I still tend to read what I THINK I have written.

 I've printed it out on coloured paper, a trick a lot of dyslexics use. I've read it one sentence at a time backwards, couldn't do it! I've tried not reading and editing until I have finished the piece. I have tried editing yesterdays work before I start writing for the day.

And it's not just the spelling and punctuation. Repetition! Holes in plots! I haven't given my characters enough time to complete a task. Sometimes my characters repeat the same action - putting the kettle on all the time. Worse of all, my characters forget they are educated and middle class and display working class behaviour. I can't think why?

Then an easy mistake to make is - making leaps. One minute they are in the kitchen the next, in the garden. It's enough to drive you insane.

The worse is when my characters flatly refuse to end up in the place they should be. They resist the ending in my head and finish in a place they think they deserve to be. 

Checklist for The Writers at Lovedean Anthology

Every year I produce an anthology of The Writers of Lovedean's work. I make it clear to the group that this is not a commercial venture. I also stress not to include any pieces that they may want to send elsewhere as some publishers won't accept a piece that has been previously published in any form. 

I think it's an excellent venture for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is quite common to have excellent pieces of writing that don't fit anywhere. To long to be flash fiction, not the right length for a short story. Perhaps the subject is unsuitable to send away. Secondly, some members don't want to be constantly trying for publication but want to see their work in print. Thirdly, it's a great place to put some of the work produced during the year from writing exercises and group exercises. Lastly, it's a nice reminder of hopefully happy times.

I'm actually cutting down on the amount of editing I'm willing to do. I'm not good at editing and I don't have time at the moment. So, I'm asking that the members take as much care as they would if they were sending it away. I'm also putting aside a little money from the groups fund to ask a member to proof read. 

In the past we have focused on spelling, punctuation, and the layout of dialogue. However, for the members who have been coming to the group for a number of years I would like them to look at the following list before they edit their work.

Do you start the story in the right place? Is there a hook, question or conflict?

Do the characters need to solve a problem or tricky dilemma?

If you have a sub plot to your story - is it necessary? Does it add anything to the central conflict?

Is there enough description? Is there too much description?

What's your vocabulary like?

Have you checked for cliches?

I hope that work is sent for this years anthology - the deadline - and this time it is a real deadline because I will be starting my degree is the 31st of August.

Writing and the HMRC - Part two

I'm currently in flux in deciding what to do with my 'writing life.' I am eagerly preparing for my MA in September, but I'm also keeping an eye on on the jobs pages. I am doing lots of festival performances, but I'm also open to new opportunities.

Yesterday, I wrote about whether your writing is an hobby or if you are self employed (even if you don't know it!)

However, should you decide to make writing your business, here are a few things to think about. If you decide to become a self employed writer the HMRC will see you as a sole trader. Unlike when you are writing for a hobby and you have to pay for things such as Writing Magazines, stamps, a couple of back issues of a magazine so you are familiar with the basic style - these can suddenly become business expenses.

There is a massive list of what can be called business expenses. Check out:

Www.hmrc.gov.uk/income tax/relief-self-emp.htm

Remember that you can only claim for items used solely for your business. Some of the things that a writer maybe able to claim for are:

- Proofreading and  copy-editing services

- Setting up a website

- Travel costs for business trips

- Postage, phone bills,  internet, software (grammarly) and stationery

You need to keep accurate records. Keep all bills, receipts, invoices, PayPay notification etc. 

Add up everything you earn from your writing - turnover. 

Then add up everything you have had to pay out - expenses.

If your turnover is more than your expenses you have made a profit.

If the expenses are more than your turnover you have made a loss.

You have to set this against any other income such as earnings from other employment and savings. If you earn less than your personal allowance (£9,440 for 2013-2014) you can carry that loss forward so you pay less tax the next year when you hit it big and get that three novel book deal from a leading publishing house plus film rights..

If you send work to the US that income can be affected by the IRS!

Remember - everyone's situation is different when it comes to tax. So if a fellow writer is not doing the same thing you are, they may not be doing anything wrong. It is more likely that the are in a different category to you. And it is another reason not to take tax advice from other writers and go instead to the HMRC help line. For example I know my personal allowance - I have no idea what it is if you were born before 5 April 1948 - it's all different.

Keep records - be honest - and ask for help from the HMRC

0300 200 3504

 

Writing and HMRC - part one

It's so much fun getting cheques for your writing, but you need to take care of yourself.

I was privileged enough that once my second child was born I was able to have a career break for a number of years, there were odd times when I needed to do supply or get an odd job to make ends meet, but for the majority of the time I was in the envious position of my husband being the sole bread winner. At that time, writing was a hobby fit in between school runs and PTA meetings. Any money I earned from letter pages, the odd article or competition wins was put into a separate account. I was proud that I paid for an holiday for four to Florida and a trip to Lapland to see Father Christmas. (Obviously the money was allowed to mount up over years!) 

For those years I enjoyed writing. I entered several competitions every month. I frequently wrote to the magazines I enjoyed reading with ideas. I did not take the money for granted. Similar to a lady I knew who was obsessed with entering competitions - IT WAS A HOBBY!

Some bitter writer once reported me to the tax office. Luckily, my husband has a limited company and I was already familiar with the tax situation. I had previous contacted the HMRC to see if it affected anything. As long as you are upfront and don't try to hide anything they are really friendly.

For the next few years my husband and I were self employed running a franchise, any money that came in from writing was needed immediately. But I was protected again because everything I earned was sorted and looked at by our accountant.

Things have changed again. There is an excellent article about it in this months Writing Magazine. Just remember that in any circle of life their is always someone unpleasant who may get upset by someone else's success however small. Don't think that because the amount you have won or earned is less than the income tax threshold that you are safe!

When you speak to the HMRC what they really want to know is your intentions.

Expect questions such as;

- Do you charge for your work?

- Is there a profit seeking motive?

- Do you have clients?

So keep records! I regularly publish a writing group anthology on Lulu and Kindle - I can prove easily that I'm not using this as an income because I would be able to show the number of sales.

If you want advice - don't take if from other writers because everyone's situation is different. Contact the HMRC 0300 200 3504. 

The real question is - will the government see you as self employed?

Ah you may say - but I'm not making any money. OK did you know that if you self publish a novel on kindle and are marketing it you can still be classed as self employed. Why? Because your intention is to sell your work - the fact that you are broke and only two friends have downloaded doesn't matter. Those tweets can be seen as marketing and 'actively seeking customers.'  If you are in the process of writing your second book while tweeting about the first you could be seen as 'looking for customers while continuing production.' Your family may think that you are wasting your time, but the government may decide to believe in you. How do you know that you won't be the next 50 Shades of Grey?

So keep records of everything you gain AND everything you spend and don't be afraid - be honest.

  

Southsea Show 2013

Yesterday was my first visit to the Southsea Show. I was a little apprehensive because I didn't do well at my last performance.  I always advise people that 'feel the fear and do it anyway' is the best approach to life - I knew I had to read. We went a little early and it was nice walking around with Simon, taking pictures of the girls on the Ferris wheel and different rides. The whole place had a lovely vibe.

Then I settled down in the beer tent. I thought I recognised the band from Tongues and Grooves and me and Jessica wandered over to say hello and to offer the guy a beer if he would tune her ukulele. I was sure I'd seen these guys at the RMA tavern. Is there anything more embarrassing then when you calmly start chatting to someone only to realise it isn't the person you thought it was! Basically I'd asked a perfect stranger to tune a ukulele - he must had thought I was mad! Anyway - Saltwatersun - fabulous, my nerves were just floating away as I got absorbed in the music. AND after their set the guy came over and tuned the ukulele - what a gentleman! I was just being a little cheeky and trying to get some of their music off sound cloud when it hit me!

http://www.saltwatersun.co.uk/

Where was Maggie, Margaret and the other Tongues and Grooves guys? There had been a change of plan and we were now performing somewhere else. I legged it across the field breaking both heels on my sandals desperately looking for the correct tent. I was so relived why Maggie shouted me over and I found everyone. Fate had stepped in and Tongues and Grooves was asked to read a little later which was good - I hadn't missed my slot.  Fate had also caused a thunder storm to blow away our tent last night which wasn't so good. I had a few of my 'loud' nerves, but I got up and did my piece.  It's always difficult reading in the open with lots of background noise. But I think we didn't let poetry down on Saturday! 

http://www.tongues-and-grooves.org.uk/

Lammas Day Festival - Worthing

My two girls have been bitten with the Storytelling bug, so currently I'm looking for smaller venues where they can perform as well. They were so excited about the event, even though it was well over an hours drive. So with kids in the car - their stage names Jelly and Elphinstone, plus one of their friends, off we went to sunny Worthing.

The Coast Cafe was a small but beautiful location. And if we had been any closer to the sea we would have got our feet wet. Organiser, Joe Bunn and friend, were extremely welcoming to all the performers. And then after he'd had a cigarette or three he lit the candle, took a loaf, made from the first grain of the harvest season (possibly), to be blessed. It was then distributed amongst the audience. Very nice.

Soon the poetry started flowing. Now I know I'm their Mum but, Jelly and Elphinstone were awesome! I really enjoyed their original take on the 'True Story of Red.' However lurking in the background was a strange, shirtless, tattooed man waving what I think was an Irish flag. And I mean strange even for us who regularly go to the storytelling/performance poetry events.

Anyway, I digress. It's my slot and the idiot starts shouting what I'm sure he believes to be relevant and profound statements.  And I lose my thread! Completely fluffed it. In a way I haven't done for years. Although anyone who knows me well knows that I don't do drunks - and I really don't do loud drunks. But I bravely got through it, even though I completely lost the plot. I hope it wasn't a case of 'pride cometh before the fall.' However, I now have slight butterflies over the fact that I'm performing at the Southsea show, a much bigger location on Saturday - in the beer tent! But surely, I reassure myself, there won't be drunks in Portsmouth?

On a mega plus side to the evening I found out that I really like 'Blue Grass Music.'

We hadn't been able to stop for a bite to eat on the way because of the three traffic jams we had to get through, and Jessica was starving so unfortunately we had to leave early and go home via MacDonalds. Then Jessica ate so fast she ended up with a tummy ache.  I was still ruffled from the drunk and managed to get lost twice coming home. I had just settled down for the night when I heard the 'Muuuuuum.' Jessica AKA the starfish snored loudly in my bed all night.

 But all in all - The Lammas Day Festival had a really good vibe.  We were all glad to be invited.

Time to come out Dear Writers

Yesterday I popped along to Diana Bretherick and William Sutton book launch at Blackwell's in Portsmouth. It was filled with people, wine was flowing, deviled eggs and prunes wrapped in bacon (interesting) floated on large serving platters. 

I wasn't feeling my best. In fact earlier in the day I had been wrapped in a blanket with an atrocious panic attack plus I'm gearing up to phone the doctor about a nagging problem that I've had since December which is clearly not responding to my treatment of ignoring it - it will go away.

But Diana and Will are 20 x 20 writer pals. They have both hit the gold publishing star, and if that doesn't deserve a slap on the back - what does? So I picked up Helen Larham, poet and member of The Writers at Lovedean and off we went. Hyper aware of the fact that when I'm depressed and stressed in a social situation I can be loud and play the joker I walked into the nightmare situation of a crowd. I carefully remember all my CBT training and the result was I had a great time.

I finally had an opportunity to thank Dom Kippin in person. Bumped into Zella Compton (also looking like a Mum in the school hols - tired and stressed), caught up with Annie Kirby - YME project and found out there maybe another author event in September. All hard working authors who I greatly admire.

Having a coffee in Mac Donald's on the way home I was discussing the new writing landscape. I was having the after shakes from a social event and knew I was in for a bad night. But our discussion did make me think.

In a lot of ways I am happier when it's just me and my imagination. I find the writing process, and making up stories an extension of the escapism I used as a child. It would be nice to quietly sit back and hope that one day I would be discovered. Wrap myself in my bubble - it's warm, comfortable and familiar.

However, the writing landscape has changed. Traditional publishing routes of just writing a manuscript, sending it of and then expecting the publisher to sell your work isn't a realist option anymore.

This is a time for writers, to come above ground, they need to adapt new ideas and search for opportunities. It is about sixteen months since I did a social media course and grabbed two friends, bought them coffee and demanded to know how to use twitter. The tears I cried trying to work out how to make a Writers at Lovedean Facebook page and a Writers at Lovedean closed group for informal chat. I am too much of a lady to describe the learning curve of creating my blog. I still don't know how to put more than one picture at a time on Facebook. I'm currently trying to work out google plus and pin interest. Every time you think you are getting somewhere you press update and it all changes. Learning about using tags has been on my to do list for nine weeks. It is difficult, frustrating and time consuming. I do most of my social media 'work' at 6:30 in the morning before I walk the dog so it's over and done with.

Technology is annoying and difficult but, I have found out about so many opportunities because of it. I've lost count of the number of things I have applied for through the Portsmouth Writing Hub Facebook page. I've made many friends online. I've learnt about new opportunities and writing techniques. At the end of the day, whether it is twitter or the Internet it is just a new skill. And new skills can be learnt with determination, practice and most importantly 'eHow.' 

So, it is time dear writers, to come out, come out where ever you are and learn about the new world. Because no one can do it for you. 

Five free social media courses:

http://www.edudemic.com/2013/05/5-free-online-courses-for-social-media-beginners/