Category Bit of everything

Jan 19 2014

Writing that dreaded Synopsis

A great post by Cat Lumb, wonderful tips for us all. 🙂

Cat Lumb's avatarCat Lumb: Writer & Writing Coach

I think putting together a synopsis for a novel is one of the most challenging aspects of writing for ‘new’ writers. I am certainly finding it very difficult. How am I expected to sum up a story that it has already taken me around 90,000 words to tell in only a page or two?

There are numerous methods and techniques out in the either of the web that can help you write a synopsis, and most of these are centred around the various basic story structures that should come together to form a novel.

Here are a few that I’ve been finding useful*:

  • If you need to be taken through every step – maybe because you aren’t clear on your plot, or like to be thorough – try How to Write a Synopsis of Your Novel by Glen C. Strathy. This is a Seven Step Programme that will help you identify…

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Jan 19 2014

Wowser…

Hey everyone,

Last week is almost over. I’ve done so much and worked really hard with everything. But sadly the holiday must end and back to work it is.

We’ve been busy this morning, making sure all the house is clean, and that the birds and ponds are off to a good start. Everyone is A okay. 🙂 so looking forward to getting back into a solid work and play routine.

For everyone who loves pictures, here’s my fav of Bobby. 🙂

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The last four months with breaking my elbow have been so tough. Emotionally and physically, but I am back in there, almost 90% better. I think it might still take a while for my arm to be totally up to what it used to, as my dominate hand, it really just isn’t dominant anymore.

I had my first real training session at Burscough Wellness centre yesterday, met a great trainer called Dave, who ran through all the machines for me, first time ever on a treadmill… EEEK! but the other resistant and weights were good. I can really tell where my arm is lacking, so some exercises I will have to do more than others. I only managed 20 mins of cardio. But for a first attempt I don’t think that was too bad. I will continue with my walking that is 30 mins, but obviously not all on the same days, that would be too much.

Actually had a really good chat about everything with the owner of the club. We had way more in common than I knew, the lady we met on Wed, is her sister, and they used to own the static butty van on the corner by Hopwells, lol. So we kinda knew each other anyway, it was good to chat. 🙂

I do have a very busy week ahead, so everyone who normally gets lots of attention off me, might not this week. I’ve a couple of very important projects, bar my own which require my undivided attention to help get them done and dusted and off the ground. It may be a tough one, it may hurt, (painkillers in my bag already) but I will get through it.

You’ve all been amazing while Iv’e been off, and for those of you who have really been there for me thank you. Everyone else, well they know where they can go take a running jump from. The saying is you when the crapper hits the fan, you know who your friends are, really true. So, this year means not only a new change on many fronts, health wise, contact wise, and person wise. It means a big change on my front too, no longer will I let others walk all over me, I am here to fight…

Now, got two jobs left to do, take a load of pictures. And then onto some editing. I’ve homework to get done for EJ, before I head into the busiest week ever.

Catch you laters. 🙂

Dawn x

Jan 15 2014

Good day.

So, as I mentioned yesterday, mum and I went alone to the Wellness Centre in my local village. There we met a lovely lady, who alleviated all my fears. (even though I had to get weighed) and made us both feel very comfortable. 

The actual machines are really easy to use. They’re a gentler way to exercise, doing some of the work for you but you get more benefits from them if you actually push and pull. They do have treadmills and cycles and all other kinds of equipment, and because it’s a smaller more personalised setting I didn’t feel as intimidated as going along to a busy gym. 

Because they monitor everything, I got told not only my weight, they included BMI, visceral fat levels, hydration, bone density and muscle. All of which were pretty interesting to learn about. 

I know what my weight is, and that my BMI is high, but I wasn’t expecting to hear that my muscle weighed in at more than my mothers whole body weight. That I am dehydrated and need more fluids. (will have to see how that one might work as I head back to the day job next week) so now that I got to see what it all entailed. I am really looking forward to a positive start to the year. 

And yes, the house scales are getting wizzed. Am going to give them to my mum to look after for me. They’ve agreed to monitor me watch my weight doesn’t fall too low, or that I become overly addicted to it. 

My plan would be to walk there use the machines and walk back. More likely when the weather is nicer, but I will use their machines for the more aerobic stuff for now, and get used to it. 

I’m not going to talk all figures and numbers, as I know it triggers myself off and others. This is a lifestyle change. Not a diet. My aim is to continue on with what I eat, go back to work and see what happens. This is a slow thing. Hence why the scales are going. Its aimed at my general condition. 

🙂 

 

 

 

 

Jan 14 2014

Into week 2 :)

Okay, so I am slacking a little this week. I had a day off. I mean come on, it was past busy day yesterday. 10pm when we sat down last night. And I had a whisky, thought I’d be okay as we also ate late, but nope. Bit of a headache this morning. 

So yeah a day off. Not that I seemed to do much. By the time we were up it was already late. Hubby got some outside things done, and I edited for a while before I had my Skype session with EJ, wanted two this week as Chap 10 is a pretty tough one. A huge space battle. 🙂 so fun, but tough. 

Tomorrow I am heading out to the https://www.facebook.com/wellnesscentre.westlancs?ref=ts&fref=ts 

I joined a gym last time only to have to stop because of a sprained ankle. So, I’m trying something different this time around. Mum and I are booked in for a trial and talk through at 10am so I will defo have lots to report from there. 

 

I am hoping it’s a more reactive training that just going to the gym, they use toning machine and do have other treadmills and stuff at the back. So, I think I should be able to get in a good hour, hopefully not each day though, perhaps 3x a week. I guess it will have to depend. I want to make sure I don’t neglect the birds, so it will have to be worked around them, hubby and my editing. Wow, sounds like I will be pretty busy, but I have to make the change, and going back to work should help lots too. 

Mum has plans for Friday so I’m really enjoying my last week off. 🙂 

 

 

Jan 11 2014

Week 1 of get fitter/healthier

Hey guys. 

So this has been a very quick week. Like the countdown to a holiday well I’m counting down going back to work. 🙂 I might feel nervous and it will be weird. But I am really looking forward to it. 

This week, I opted for a few changes to the way I’ve been doing things. I kicked my butt off the couch for one. And started to walk. It takes around 15 mins to my local village, so walking there and back has been a good start. I’ve done it 6 out of 7 days. 

I changed some of my cups of coffee for herbal tea, Chamomile an hour before bed, and green tea after dinner I’m actually surprised at the effect this has had on me, because I’ve felt much more alert. I do still need the ‘coffee’ in the mornings or by 2pm I am just gasping for one. But the fact that I feel more energised is great. 

I am not focussing on the weight loss side of things, but I can report that I have lost a good few pounds. Considering all I have done is walk everyday, I think that getting back to work should alleviate the rest of the excess I am now carrying. But I do want it to go further than that I need to shift it all off this year. 

The craziest thing I’ve done, is I bought some silly sweat suit from a pound shop. It’s kinda like dressing up in rain gear, then going running. But, after 5 mins on my twister and then 10 more mins step exercising, I really was sweating, so maybe that will be a good thing. 

 

No, there will defo not be any pictures of the big girl in a silly sweat suit. 

 

I am pushing ED to the back of my head, with the way I am tackling things I am not listening to him, even though he is there. Nagging. Yes, I am the heaviest I’ve been since 2000 when I bust my knee in, but I CAN deal with this. I WILL not starve myself, or go backwards. I am a healthier person, inside and out, and you can go ShooT Yourself….. right? Right! 

All in all, positive result, so I am really happy. 🙂

 

I am going to write my ‘editing/writing post’ later,  because I want to keep the two things separate. So, catch you laters. 

 

Dawn x 

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