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Articles by Linda Mitchelmore
A WRITER'S MORAL COMPASS
A WRITER'S MORAL COMPASS Picture the scene ... for a writing exercise given by my writing group we were asked to write the opening pages of a novel set in war time. No specific war was given. It didn't have to be a romance. I prefer to call my books relationship novels but there will almost always be a romance in there somewhere. I chose WW2. I'd never written an historical before. I didn't know that I wanted to but I set to with the exercise with absolutely no view to publication.
DEDICATION .... IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.
DEDICATION .... IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. So, you've written your 80,000 or so words. You've edited them. Your editor has edited them. The blurb for the back of the book has been sorted. If you're lucky enough to have famous friends then you'll have got a puff quote too. You've done the acknowledgements - fingers crossed you haven't missed out anyone who will chop you off their Christmas list.
A WRITER'S WRITER - MY MEMORIES OF JANE
Last weekend I was given the saddest news that Jane Wenham-Jones - novelist, short story writer, journalist, and so very much more - had lost her battle with cancer. I first met Jane in the mid 1990s when we shared a short story agent, Midland Exposure. Through the publisher, Accent Press, we both contributed to the Sexy Shorts Antholgies, raising funds for Cancer Research.
SO, WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE PANDEMIC, GRANDMA/DAD?
SO, WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE PANDEMIC, GRANDMA/DAD? The Covid pandemic has been a funny one for writers, I think. There are those who clapped their hands with glee and pumped out a book or three, glad of just about zero interruption and not having to do the daily commute, and not having anyone knock the door wanting a chat or a coffee or to borrow a cup of sugar.
STEP FORWARD THE ROMANTIC HERO By Linda Mitchelmore
STEP FORWARD THE ROMANTIC HERO By Linda Mitchelmore As the world takes in the news that HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has died the writer in me can't help thinking that he was a hero none of us could ever have conjoured up. A real life hero in more ways than one. A role reversal of the Cinderella story, if you will.
A WRITING JOURNEY BACK THROUGH TIME
I didn't set out to become a novelist, although now with nine published novels under my belt - and five more written, three of which are pending publication - I think I can call myself that without having to stretch the truth too much. Novel publication came about for me after writing serials for My Weekly.
NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER ...... OR LINDA MITCHELMORE
NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER ...... OR LINDA MITCHELMORE ... or do you? OK, so I know this doesn't mean, literally, judging books before we've read them but more a metaphor for not taking things at face value. I know a fabulous cover could be the gilding on a load of poo within or, conversely, a cover that's more bland than porridge could conceal a hidden gem.
PASSING ON THE BATON
Life under Covid has given us all a bit of thinking time, and one of the thoughts that came to me - Linda Mitchelmore - was that I have no idea if any of my ancestors had been published or if I am the first to do the honours. I do know my paternal grandmother was illiterate at the time of her marriage and signed the register with her mark - x - so no baton-passing there. My father - ever an avid reader - left school at twelve but passed on his love of reading to me and my brother.
TO GIVE BOOKS AS GIFTS? OR NOT?
TO GIVE BOOKS AS GIFTS? OR NOT? Few sentences will make my heart sink lower than when someone hands me a very prettily packaged parcel on my birthday that's obviously a book and says 'Linda, you will absolutely LOVE this book.' Friends and relatives tend to assume that becauee I write I also read voraciously and in genres in which I do not write. There's a reason for me not writing in other genre ...
EVERYTHING COMES IN THREES LINDA MITCHELMORE
EVERYTHING COMES IN THREES LINDA MITCHELMORE Everything comes in three, as the saying has it. I can't be the only one who holds their breath when told of two deaths quite close together, wondering when news of the third will come. I remember reading in a newspaper article many moons ago that every man should have three careers. It was a long time ago and probably not very PC to say that now but my cousin, David, took it to heart and has been an Army Major, a criminal lawyer, and now a playwright.
THE ONE STAR AND TWO STAR REVIEWS ..... REVIEWED. Linda Mitchelmore
THE ONE STAR AND TWO STAR REVIEWS ..... REVIEWED. Linda Mitchelmore There's nothing like a pandemic, I'm beginning to find, for putting those irksome moments in life into perspective. Take the one star and two star reviews. I've had a few. Sometimes I take a look on Amazon for really big names to see if they are similarly afflicted. They are. Some of them are truly terrible. But they write on. Which is what I've done. However ....
PROCRASTINATION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME LINDA MITCHELMORE
PROCRASTINATION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME LINDA MITCHELMORE Oh dear, now I have all the time in the world I'm finding the impetus to write has left the building. I don't have a deadline - maybe if I did that would help. Who among us knows what the book scene is going to be like when we come out of this coronavirus nightmare? How many of us will have lost someone near and dear to us although, of course, I hope with all my heart we don't. But it's a possibility.
Our first guest author of the decade, Kate Furnivall, talks all things research.
When I found out I was to host the first guest author of the decade there was no contest. Happily, fellow Brixham Writers member, and acclaimed Times best-seller author Kate Furnivall, agreed to take part. I have been privileged and thrilled to attend every one of Kate's local booksignings, and have also heard snippets of every work-in-progress read out at our weekly meetings. How lucky am I?? So ... here she is with 'Let's talk research'. "It sounds dull, doesn't it? Dull, drab and dusty.
ALL PRESENT AND CORRECT .............................. LINDA MITCHELMORE
Well, it's that time of year when most of us are knee deep in wrapping paper and ribbons and glitter and sticky labels, and decorations, and exhausting ourselves blowing up balloons. And it got me thinking. I've had more than a few short stories published that were inspired by presents. The good ones and the bad ones. And once, not even getting one at all.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE ..... Linda Mitchelmore
TO BE OR NOT TO BE ..... Linda Mitchelmore There can be few writers who haven't had a rejection at some point in their careers, and I've had a fair few myself. How, I wondered, do my fellow novelpointsofview contributors deal with a thanks, but no thanks, letter? Here's what Jennie Bohnet has to say:- 'It's not personal, it's business'. I've lost count of the number of times I've muttered that famous quote from The Godfather to myself in an effort to keep yet another rejection in perspective.
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION Now then, I am totally, totally unlucky when it comes to the lottery, or draws, or pick-a-straw at the fair and all that sort of thing. It's all chance, isn't it? But what about writing competitions? I'm thinking short story ones here, not novels. Do you have a go? Do you think - as many do - that they are all subjective?
Readers Reviews Of The Foundling School For Girls By Elizabeth Gill
Written by Jan Rosser in Books on 14 Sep 2019 | Views: 105 Ella from Quercus very kindly sent out copies of Elizabeth's latest novel to reviewers and here are their posts. Sandra Blower Lovely story of a Nun and a kindhearted man who bring hope and faith to the people of the north east.Of the highs and lows of every day life in the Durham Dales,it is a very enjoyable book and worthy of the 5*. Patricia Humm Just finished the Elizabeth Gill book.
A MATTER OF LIFE ..... AND DEATH - COMPUTERS GET ILL TOO!
A MATTER OF LIFE ..... AND DEATH - COMPUTERS GET ILL TOO! Like many of us when we get that ache, that niggle, that uncomfortable feeling that something's not quite right and we ignore it for a while, so it was when my computer began to go so sloooooooooooooow. I'd be typing away on the work-in-progress, totally in the zone, look up and see that the last half dozen words I'd typed just hadn't appeared - yet.
SO WHAT'S NEW? Linda Mitchelmore
SO WHAT'S NEW? Linda Mitchelmore I make no apologies for saying I like new things. That's not to say I spend endlessly - I do cherish the old as well; the favourites, the sentimental things. But there's something about new things - shoes, clothes, jewellery, bags, a food mixer even - that can lift the spirits. Finding a new author to read and enjoy can be one and I well remember 'finding' Elizabeth Berg and then devouring just about everything she's written.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND .............................................................. By Linda Mitchelmore
A MATTER OF LIFE AND .............................................................. By Linda Mitchelmore ...... I think you all know what word comes next - yes, the 'd' word. Picture the scene - I was sitting, drinking a lovely glass of chilled Prosecco and chatting to my cousin Barbara who had been asking me about my writing .... what was coming next, plot and so on. We moved on to ALCS (Authors Licensing Collection Service) and PLR (Public Lending Rights) and then onto Royalties.
EDIT is a four letter word
There's only one possible topic for my blog this time - edit. Even though I've just finished my ninth (THE LITTLE B&B AT COVE END - HARPER-COLLINS)and this one was nowhere near as scary as my first it's still about as much fun as cleaning drains - it has to be done whether we like it or not. I had a deadline for this one ... and just under five weeks to get there. So plenty of time. Of course, I wasted time getting started as per usual.
BECAUSE I CAN ....... LINDA MITCHELMORE
BECAUSE I CAN ....... LINDA MITCHELMORE I don't make New Year Resolutions ..... not since the time I bought a very expensive, leather, diary vowing to write something in it every day and didn't get past 11th January. But I do have a little homily for a bit of forward-thinking. I call it my BECAUSE I CAN principle. I apply it to all sorts of things .....
Families in need get holiday boost from Newcomers Club
Submitted by Linda Mitchelmore December 17, 2018 Submitted by Linda Mitchelmore December 17, 2018 The Christmas Families Project was started in 2002 by the Newcomers Club of Nevada County and has grown from two families and four gift certificates to 60 families (145 children) and 60 gift certificates. Most of the funds are raised at the club's October Live and Silent Auctions, with additional donations from some of their 286 members.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM? Linda Mitchelmore
'Where do you get your ideas from? Oh for a ten pound note for every time I've been asked that. I've now had over 300 short stories published, plus serials, articles, and now my eighth novel is to be published next month. I can't say I've ever analysed where my ideas come from, but for the purposes of this blogpost I thought I'd give it a go. CHRISTMAS AT STRAND HOUSE is set, well, at Christmas. a time for families and friends to get together. What if you have no family? Or friends, only acquaintances?
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SEX: HOW EASY - OR NOT - DO YOU FIND IT TO WRITE SEX SCENES?
Sex - a topic that's not been covered on this blog before. So here goes ..... first up is Brenda Hawkey, who writes as Victoria Cornwall. 'I don't have a problem writing sex scenes, partly because I find describing the easiest part of the writing process. I am also a former nurse who taught sex health promotion to teenagers for several years so if I can cope with that, I can cope with most things.
WHIPPING THE WIP INTO SHAPE ..... Linda Mitchelmore
It's been a funny old year for me, so far, writing wise. For the first six months I've lived off my Blue Peter moments - you know, the ones I wrote earlier. I've seen two novellas go to large print with Ulverscroft and come out in paperback. And HarperCollins have just published my first novel with them, SUMMER AT 23 THE STRAND. There have also been half a dozen or so short stories published in various magazines, some of which I wrote and submitted well over a year ago.
OTHER WEDDINGS ARE AVAILABLE ........Linda Mitchelmore
Anyone unaware the UK (and in particular HM The Queen) hosted a Royal Wedding last weekend must have been on some other planet. Love the royals or not (and just for the record I am an unapologetic royalist), I couldn't help thinking the whole shebang was a bit Mills & Boon romance come to life. I am not knocking Mills & Boons, their publications or their authors, but there do seem to be a lot of words like wedding and bride, and more than a few royals in their titles.
Summer at 23 the Strand
A delightfully uplifting holiday read, perfect for fans of Lilly Bartlett, Tilly Tennant and Eve Devon. Escape to the seaside this summer! A delightfully uplifting holiday read, perfect for fans of Lilly Bartlett, Tilly Tennant and Eve Devon. Escape to the seaside this summer!
SO, WHO'S A CHOCOHOLIC? LINDA MITCHELMORE
So, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, it is Easter and I give you .... chocolate! Yes, I know it's a Christian festival but ask any primary school child (and possibly more than a few senior ones) what they associate with Easter and they will say, 'Easter eggs!' - preferably chocolate ones. The history of chocolate begins in Mesoamerica. Fermented beverages made from chocolate date back to 350 BC.
WRITING .... WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY LINDA MITCHELMORE
Now then, I rarely post personal stuff in the ether ..... certainly not on Facebook or Twitter unless it's to urge people to buy my books or the magazines in which I have stories. But this blog is, I think, different - albeit in the ether as the others. Writers can't just stop being writers because life gets in the way of things like deadlines and ideas that strike in the middle of the night.
WHERE IN THE WORLD Linda Mitchelmore
Okay then, here we go .... a question for you. How many times have you been told on writing courses or by those who have gone before you in the world of writing to 'write what you know'?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO .....
Yesterday would have been my mother's birthday - she would have been 103 years old, had she still been with us.
THE LOST ART OF LETTER-WRITING ......
...... or is it a lost art? Today it is pouring down with rain as it has been for the past two days. My grandchildren - Alex who is ten, and Emily, who had her sixth birthday yesterday - are staying for the weekend. The trip to the beach has been cancelled so what are they doing to entertain themselves? Well, they've built a post box out of giant Lego, that's what. Emily has taken a fancy to a hessian bag I was given for my birthday and is postman. We are all writing letters to one another.
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