Wednesday 23 March 2011

What I've been writing lately

Things have been a little crazy over the last couple of weeks. Things are really coming together, quickly, at work. More importantly though I'm just happier. (Probably because I'm financially more secure than I was this time last year.) But one of the things I'm happy about is that I've managed to get some different types of writing done.


Over the last fortnight I've managed to get my first guest post done. I'll tell you more about that later. (Its not being posted till July.) What I can say for now though is once I knew what I was going to do it became easy to write.


I've also been writing a private diary. Something I've not done for many years. Took me right back to feeling like a teenager again. (Without the moods :) and homework though.)


I've also been able to find my love again for blogging. At the end of last year and start of this year I was really starting to fall out of love with my baby, my blog. But I've been enjoying it a lot lately and I think I think it shows.


Hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday. I'd love to know what you guys have been writing lately.

Friday 18 March 2011

Top 5: Things I value in a friendship

All of my friends know I love them a lot. They know that I will be there for them any time, anywhere. This Friday's Top 5... blog post is what I value in a friendship.


(In no particular order.)



No 1.) Trust
I'm not the most trusting of people. But the people I do have, I trust a lot. What type of relationship can you have with anyone if you don't have trust.


No 2.) Someone who is there for you.
Every friend you have in your life should be someone you share your joy with, or can go to when you NEED that shoulder to cry on. Friends, true friends, will be there for you through the good, the bad and everything in between.


No 3.) Someone who will listen.
If you have something on your mind a good friend will sit and listen. All night if they have to.


No 4.) Honesty.
A real friend will tell you the truth and be honest with you. They will call you out on your shit. They will tell you the truth about things, especially when they know you don't want to hear it.


No 5.) Someone who accept you for who you are.
Your friends should accept you for you are. They don't try and change you. They push you to be better but still let you be true to yourself. Even though you might not have everything in common with your friends, you still love them for who they are.


Hope everybody has a good Friday and a great weekend!

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Do you prefer blogging or writing stories?

It's Wednesday. 'Writing Wednesday'. I'm having a pretty good week so far.


This weeks question would probably have had a different answer 12 months ago. But here we go. This week's 'Writing Wednesday' is blogging or writing, which do I prefer.


My true answer to this weeks question is they are both very different. I get something very different from both 'experiences'. I have come to really like blogging. Much more so over the last 12 months. At first I found blogging a little awkward. I wasn't sure what to do. I had really found 'my voice'. But as I have gotten into it more I have really come to enjoy it. Dare I say love it. I also like the sense of community you can find through blogging (like joining 20 Something Blogger). I think I also like blogging because in college I always fancied going into journalism. One of the best two weeks of my life was getting the opportunity to spend two weeks with the lovely people at the Manchester Evening News.

When writing my stories, however, I love thinking of a story and characters and bringing it all to life on the paper/screen in front of me. Unfortunately my 'writing' has taken a bit of back burner of late. With working (and blogging), I've not really been able to invest my free time in my stories.


I definitely prefer blogging at the moment though.


Happy Wednesday!

Monday 14 March 2011

X-Factor Tour Pics :)

Yesterday I spent a lovly afternoon with my mum at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, watching the X-Factor tour. Here are some of my pics :)

Friday 11 March 2011

Top 5: Things I find attractive in a man

Every Friday is 'Top 5' Friday. So here are five things I find attractive in a man. Anyone who was knows me well will not be surprised by this list.




No 5.) Older Men
So all my friends know that I find guys so much more attractive if they are older me. (Not too old though :) it's not like I find guys on there death bed attractive ha ha.) Some women do prefer guys younger than them. I have never been one of those people. Guys my own age and younger are so much more annoying. It's like they haven't grown up yet.

No 4.) Sensitivity
I don't think being too sensitive is a turn on either. But a guy who has a heart and can be a real shoulder to lean on when you need/want it.

No 3.) A Job!
Okay so I know the job market is bad at the moment. There is nothing attractive about a guy who is jobless. This is a must. It puts a strain on a relationship when only one of you is in employment. Trust me.

No 2.) Confidence
There is nothing less attractive than a man who is not comfortable in his own skin. I'm talking about people are over confident 'cos that is not attractive at all. There is difference. But if a guy is happy in his own skin, then he's going to be more confident.(The same really applies to women as well.)

No 1.) A sense of humour
This is an absolute must. I'm prone to doing some rather daft things in my time. Anyone who knows me well knows that in a week I will have done any number of 'silly' things. But anyone who can make me laugh (or find the funny in me) is a huge turn on.

Hope everyone is having a good Friday.  What do you find attractive in the oposite sex?

Wednesday 9 March 2011

What is the hardest thing you have wrote?

Every Wednesday is 'Writing Wednesday'. This week's blog post, just like its title, was one of the hardest blog post's I've wrote. It's personal. I almost chickened out on writing it. So much so that I have shown this to one person before posting it. As I've mentioned in the last few weeks. Writing is personal. Sometimes it can help you. Sometimes it might help someone else.







So here we go.






Over the years I have got upset over killing off characters I have cared a lot about. You grow attached to these 'people' you have have created. But that was nothing compared to the story I wrote a few years ago. A story I wrote to get me through the worse time of my life. If it wasn't for an amazing support system and writing I'm can safely say I wouldn't be here today. As a way to cope with the crazy and nightmarish time, I was advised by a psychologist at the time to write it out. Express my feelings. Getting it out be it in spoken words or the power of the written word. Because writing has always been my passion. It was so therapeutic. Only one person has ever read it. I have never read it since I wrote it. And have no plans on doing so. Its the only story I've wrote that is not crumpled at the corners. Its also the story I am most proud of. Knowing I was able to get through it has made me a better person but it has also made me a better writer.






Anyone who has ever had to get through a bad situation be it a bad break-up, death whatever it is, write it out. Get your feelings out. If there is nobody for you to talk to write it.

Friday 4 March 2011

Top 5: Oscar Winning Movies (not all Best Picture winners)

So last Sunday was Oscar Sunday. So here are five of my faveroute films. Some won for the film itself and some for the level of acting.

No 5.) The Blind Side

No 4.) Million Dollar Baby

No 3.) Jerry Maguire

No 2.) A Beautiful Mind

No 1.) Titanic

There is a wide range of films on this list. Each one I love for different reasons.

Hope your all having a happy Friday. What are some of your faveroute films that have won an Oscar.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

When did you know you loved writing?

Every Wednesday here on my blog is Writing Wednesday. Over the years my family and friends have asked me questions about my writing. Every Wednesday I answer one of these questions.

So. When did I first realise that I loved writing? That is a hard question. Mainly because I'm not too sure. Looking back at old Primary school work (that mum and dad still have in the garage) I can see early on I was interested in the art of storytelling. As a child I could play for hours alone and make up stories with my dolls and teddy's. As I got older and it was no longer 'cool' to play with these toys I was introduced to writing. It was here I found my love of writing and the written word. This love is present now (if not more so). I would say my art of writing though definitely became something I needed to do after the age of 15. And not something I had to do because I needed to do it. It was something I wanted to do. And still love doing now.

Writing was my first true love. It has been loyal (if not always present). It has been an outlet for me when I have needed to get things off my chest. It has never strayed or disappointed me.

So when did you know you know you loved writing and the art of storytelling? Is it something you've always loved or is it something that came to you later, as you got older?