It's Friday!!!!!

 Another Friday has come around again, so it's time to celebrate something from your week. 

Brought to us by VikLit, together with her co-hosts Diana Wilder, LG Keltner, Cyborg Mom and CaffeMaggieato, it's a great chance to celebrate with everyone and spread the joy. Check out these blogs to find out who and what else is being celebrated.





Today I'm celebrating that our house move has been confirmed, we finally exchanged and will be moving next Wednesday. Yippee!!!

It's all hands on deck this weekend for the final round of packing and organising, and next weekend I'll be able to unpack it all again.

We won't have any internet after Wednesday, and goodness knows when we'll get it back on again, so I'll be absent from the blogosphere for a little while.

I will be back though, and I look forward to catching up with you all again!

Have a great weekend all!!!

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Welcome to Wednesday and the WWBH!

Welcome to Wednesday everyone, and the latest edition of the Writer Wednesday blog hop.

I'm glad to give you this offering of the WWBH this month, I will be a bit busy over the next couple of weeks (moving house, giving birth, nothing major he he) so it may be a while until I'm here again. Don't worry though, you'll be in perfectly good hands with my co-hosts Leanne Sype, Tena Carr and Debb Stanton. They'll take good care of you while I'm away!

We had a bumper amount of submissions for last weeks prompts, the most we've had for a while I think so thank you very much to you guys for taking part. Here are the stories for your enjoyment:

Mr. Chester ... A Short Story  by Scott Taylor

Feline Monologues-Recipe for Happiness by Leanne Sype

Hallucination by Sally Scribbles

Predicament by Tena Carr

Millie and Tillie and Tom by Debb Stanton

Tastes Like Chicken by Tony Roberts

Unknown Cargo by Heather Musk

Thanks you guys for making this week so successful! Make sure you head on over and leave some commenting love for their efforts, as you know we all like encouragement ;-)


Before revelaing the new prompt for this week, here's a quick reminder of the rules for any new folks out there:

• There is either one picture and five random words or two pictures given out, which are to be used in the story.
• The word count must be 500 words or less.
• The deadline to link up is Tuesday of the following week.
• Link up at the bottom of this post with your entry for the week. 
• Most importantly, have fun!

The prompt for this week is one picture and five random words:

Vegetable, ladder, value, varnish, laugh

I look forward to reading all the stories to emerge for next week, here is the linkup to get your stories included:

  

Good luck everyone!!!

Are you a celebrity twin? - Express Yourself

Express Yourself is a weekly meme run by two lovely ladies, designed to help us all get to know each other a little bit better. Not always about reading and writing, the topics vary from one week to the next, and the girls give us a set for each month to keep us going.

To find out more for yourself, head on over to Jackie or Dani's blog and check out what everyone else is up to.

For this weeks topic: Have you ever known someone or dated someone who could be a celebrity twin?

www.telegraph.co.uk

The first one that comes to mind is my husband, who I think looks quite like the England footballer Michael Owen. He always jokes and says he's the plumper version, but he looks just fine to me ;-)

www.purepeople.com

My old boss also looks like Zara Phillips, who's big in the equestrian world and 15th in line to the throne. She's been called Zara a few times over the years.

Do you know any celebrity twins? Maybe you're one yourself ...

Have a good week all!

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The first rule of WRiTE CLUB is ...

... you MUST talk about WRiTE CLUB!

Hello everyone! How are we all on this fine Friday?


 
 As it's Friday, I'm indulging in that well known blog hop that is Celebrate the Small Things! Hosted by VikLit, it's a great opportunity to celebrate the smallest or largest of things that are going right in your life at the moment. So, why not head over to her blog to check out who else is involved, and maybe join in yourself to share the good feelings of the week!





As you've probably guessed, this week I'm celebrating the return of the brilliant WRiTE CLUB.

The submission period for entries is now open until the end of the month, and then the fun truly begins on 16th June!

For those unfamiliar with WRiTE CLUB, it was put together by the amazing DL Hammons and is an opportunity to submit your flash fiction and potentially battle it out, Fight Club-style, with other writers until an eventual winner is crowned.

And the first rule of WRiTE CLUB, you must talk about it! 

There are many more rules to this event, and for all the details please head over tot he official website. 

I'm polishing up my entry and will be submitting for the first time, gulp! Are you up for having a go?

Have a great weekend all!

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Are you ready to join the WWBH?

This weeks Writer Wednesday blog hop is brought to you courtesy of Tena Carr at Jottings and Writings.

She has all the details for this weeks photo reveal, plus the stories from last weeks prompt.

Tena, it's over to you ...

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Okay, I admit it.... I'm totally brain dead and completely forgot to put out the WWBH Kick-Off for this week. Is there an alarm (or app or something) that screams, yells, jumps up and down and then reaches out and smacks you upside the head??? Ohhh welll better late than never write (I mean right)...

So let's get the 

 

started... 

Just a reminder for you guys and gals who have played along before (and too for you new folks),

The rules are as follows:

 

1) Try to keep your word count down to around 500 - no worries, we're not  

     counting. Just try to keep from getting too lengthy.

2) You must use the 2 pictures OR the 1 picture/5 words in your story  

     (depending on what the host decides to use - I'll be revealing mine in just a bit, 

     I promise).

3) Link your story up using linky tool below. Stories submited will be announced 

     in next week's blog hop kick-off

4) This is most important... Have fun with this and let those creative juices flow

This week, by luck of the draw... We're doing 2 pictures. As per rules above, you must incorporate both pictures into your story (and please try to keep within, or close to, the 500 word limit - really makes it easier for people to read if not to lengthy & we are doing short stories here :-) )

So here's your two pictures for this week:

 

When you're done with your story be and sure and link to the linkzy frog below. 

You can always contact the host (where your reading this blog hop kick-off) for assistance if your having trouble or leave them a comment with url to your story and they'll get you entered in.

   

After you're done, be sure and check out these stories from last week's Blog Hop: 

The Waiting Game by Sally Scribbles  

Hidden in the Storm by HJ Musk

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Who reflects you the most? - Express Yourself

  
Welcome to another topic from the Express Yourself girls. This weekly meme is hosted by Jacqui at Bouquet of Books and her partner in crime Dani at Entertaining Interests.

Each week there is a new topic to discuss and share, all in the name of getting to know your fellow bloggers a bit more. We don't all have to be strangers do we? 

To find out more, head over to either of their blogs where there is a full list of this months topics.



As for today, we are discussing:

Which fictional character do you think reflects your personality?

Questions like this usually take me a little while to answer. Although I love reading and watch plenty of films and TV, not everything stays in my head for a great length of time. I have to wrack my brain a little to sift through all the possibilities.

For this one though, the character I think is like my own personality is Monica Geller.

www.fanpop.com

Apart from her OCD tendencies, which I've been told I also have, like her I don't always have time for people that faff. Just get on with whatever you're supposed to be doing instead of dancing around it man! 

(I've just realised how ironic this is coming from someone who can take an age to sit down and get to writing something!)

I also like to be in control of things, although perhaps not quite to the same extent as she does. I do have to know what's happening, when and where though, and have plans and itineraries for everything. I can't just wing it through anything, no matter how much I'd like to.

I do have a tiny obsession with food, too, but we won't go into that ...

How about you? Which fictional character do you think reflects your own personality? Answers on a postcard!

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Oh, and just so you know ...

I've been having problems with spammy comments lately so I'm temporarily turning on my comment verification thing to try and deter them.

I know they're annoying but please don't let it put you off commenting. Thanks!!!

Last day celebrations!!!

 

It's Friday, and the A-Z Challenge is over which means normal blogging duties will slowly be getting back to normal.
So it's time to celebrate something today with VikLit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author and all the lovelies currently on her linky list.

It can be anything you like, as small or significant as you fancy. Everything counts, and it all helps to spread the joy of whatever we've all been up to.

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Today I'm celebrating it being my last day at work, yippee!

In three weeks time my new baby is due, and I'm not sure how I've lasted this long to be honest. I'm tired a lot and I just ache everywhere! I don't know if they're hangovers from my daughter, but I'm sure it's all a lot more uncomfortable than the last time.

I have two weeks to myself now when little one's at school so, providing this one doesn't make an early appearance, I will be able to put some focus into some actual writing time. I can't remember the last time I got to do that.

I'm just excited to be able to live the life of a writer (whatever that means anyway) for a few months before having to go back to the boring grind of my actual job.

What are you celebrating today? Any plans for the weekend?

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A new WWBH photo reveal, and a new ad winner!!!

Happy Wednesday everybody! As well as being IWSG day (you can check out my post for that here) it's also the day for a new photo reveal with the Writer Wednesday blog hop.

 

This week it's Leanne who has taken the lead, and she gets to share the wonderful news about our latest ad winner with you all.

I didn't get around to submitting my own story this week but there are still plenty to keep you entertained, so Leanne, it's over to you ...

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Oh, can you believe how lucky we are today is Wednesday!? I love the middle of the week almost as much as I love Mondays.
In the story of our week, Wednesday begins the climax of adventure that can send us into a great ending on Friday and Saturday. So exciting! Plus Wednesday is Blog Hop Photo Reveal day! :)

And we have a new featured blog hop author for the month of May. Every month we choose a random blog hop participant (anyone who has participated in the hop within the last year) to feature on our blogs. It is another way for our community to support and promote our writers!

This month I am so excited because we get to pay homage to one of the original founders of the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop--Nicole Pyles from The World of our Imagination!

Congratulations! 

Here is her button to display in the side bar of your blogs:

  

Next up are the stories from last week's prompt. Be sure to read through these and leave some comment love for the authors--(and welcome our newest participant, Karen!) 

Our Vacation by Karen Knapp  

Rescued Memories by Scott Taylor 

Missing Pappa by Tena Carr 

Untitled Short by Sally Stackhouse  

Follow your Dreams by Debb Stanton 

Here is a friendly reminder of the rules for the prompt: 

 

1) Use the photo(s) and prompt to write a story; all elements of the prompt must be a feature in the brief story you create.

2) Stay with the 500-word limit.

3) Craft and link your post by the following Tuesday.

4) When you have finished your post, link up your story using the inLinkz frog at the bottom of the prompt. If you are having trouble linking up, let us know in the comment section, and we'll help you get linked up!

5) Have fun! Let the creative juices flow!

Here is your prompt for this week! Write a story incorporating both of these photos:

 

Enjoy!

A-Z Blogging Challenge - A Reflection and IWSG post

 

So, have we all recovered from the intensity that is the April A-Z Blogging Challenge? If you have, then why not head over to the main website and sign up for the reflections post, which is running from 5th-9th May.

Share your ups and downs of the whole experience, what you've learnt, what you'd do differently next time and if you'd even come back and do it again!

I'm rolling this post in with my IWSG post for this month, as the Challenge has left me with some insecurities about my blogging practice.

I enjoyed the Challenge much more this year than in previous years. I had a clear idea of what my theme was going to be and had scheduled more than half of my posts before it had even begun. This was a huge improvement for me I must say. I always have great intentions of getting super organised ahead of time but it never usually comes to fruition.

I was pleased with how my theme worked too, the posts were nice and short which I think is key for something as huge as this. I for one will revisit more blogs if I know the posts aren't too lengthy or involved. There are a lot to get through on that sign up list!

There was one aspect of the Challenge where I know I failed, and that was the social and networking side of it. I didn't get around to visiting half as many blogs as I would have liked to on the list, but hopefully the list will be around for a little while yet so I can work my way through and catch up with them over the coming months.

My commenting was also pretty rubbish. I managed to comment on a few of my regular follows who were taking part, and I commented on a handful of new blogs too, but it was a pretty poor show really.
I was also very slow to reply to all you lovelies who took the time to comment on my posts, in fact there are still plenty outstanding. Add to that the new people who discovered my blog through A-Z and commented, to which I still have to respond ...

All in all I'm feeling pretty lousy about the whole commenting thing right now.

But still, I'm going to pick myself up as best I can, I know where my weaknesses are now and all I can do is try and improve.  I must say a huge thanks to anyone who did comment on any of my blog posts, you truly are the best and have given me the kick in the Yaris I need to sort myself out!

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For more information on the amazing entity that is the Insecure Writers Support Group, click on the link and head over. Here you will find everyone else participating and it's well worth a browse to see what's everyone's insecurities are. Trust me, you're not alone, there are plenty of us on the same wavelength.

 Happy IWSG Day!

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Express Yourself is back!

After a month's hiatus in April during the A-Z Blogging Challenge, those lovely ladies at the Express Yourself headquarters are back once again with some new topics for the month.

To be honest I was quite glad they'd taken the break. I've enjoyed posting for their topics but the Challenge alone sent my head into a spin at times, so it was nice to have fewer things to focus on.

For those new to Express Yourself, it's hosted by Jacqui at Bouquet of Books and her partner in crime Dani at Entertaining Interests.

Each month they list topics to get the blogosphere talking so we can learn a little bit more about each other, with a week for posting each one. The topics for May are:

 

So, this weeks topic: Choose one of your favourite books, and turn to page 89. What are the eight and ninth sentences?

Rather than my favourite book I'm going to use the book I'm currently reading. This is mostly because we're getting all packed up for moving and the books were the first things to be put away!

 

I'm reading George R R Martins, A Clash of Kings at the moment and about a third of the way through. 

On page 89, the eight and ninth sentences are:

"They smell of summer," Jon said as Ser Endrew bullrushed his foe and knocked him sprawling. "Where did Conwy find them?" 

Are you up for Expressing Yourselves with the blog hop? What can you quote from your favourite books?