Writing from the heart

Over the years the expression 'Write about what you know' has passed my ears on many occasions, and generally my writing revolves around subjects that I enjoy.  History, archaeology and travel to name a few.

Lately my mind has nagged at me, often at the most inconvenient times, telling me that I have a story to tell.  A story that is highly charged and emotional, that will take all of the strength I have to write it.  A story that needs to be told, not for my sake but for the sake of others, so that others can feel they are not alone, so that others can see that there is hope and so that I can try and help break taboo and stigma.

I have wrestled with the idea for a while now.  I was reluctant and also embarrassed, it would mean bearing my soul completely, it would mean others knowing the full extent of my life, it would mean asking friends and family to recall details they may rather forget.  I would be opening myself up and laying myself bare.  A scary thought.

After much consideration I finally made the decision.  I finally began writing last week and am already ten thousand words in.  I have already been on an emotional roller coaster that has been hard to stomach and had conversations with people I love and who love me that have brought situations flooding back, some of which I'd rather forget.  It has been hard and at one point I asked myself if I was really making the right decision.  But I know now that I am and I'm determined to continue.

The story I am talking about is a hard one but I need to tell it, you see I have Epilepsy. A condition that is incredibly mis-understood.  I am not alone and there are many others like me, but I am fortunate to have been supported by a wonderful group of people over the years.  My story may take a while to write, it may be hard, and at times upsetting, but I am determined to do it.  I'm determined to publish it, and get it out there for people to read.  It is important that people who have the condition know they are not alone, and that is my sole purpose.

When writers write, they write about what they know.  I am doing that, but on this occasion I am also writing from the heart, and it's the hardest thing I have ever done.

My writing Assistants

This is a cheeky/fun post today.  I thought I'd introduce you to my two gorgeous writing assistants.  Every day they assist me with their own particular style of 'helping' and I love having them around.

                                                                  

Luna
Luna is named after the Roman Goddess of the Moon.  Her favourite duties are sleeping nestled against the back of the laptop, or sleeping on top of the keyboard adding her own brand of typing to whatever it is I'm working on!

Flora
Flora is named after the Roman Goddess of Spring and Flowers. Her favourite duties are sleeping.  She is also excellent at cuddles and often interrupts work to nuzzle my hand, sit on my lap and cuddle whilst purring loudly.


I highly recommend getting a couple of assistants, they make you smile and make the day a worthwhile one!

Why do you write?

Many people always ask me why I write and it's such a difficult question to answer.  

I could just leave it at 'I write because I love it,' but that never seems like a good enough answer.  Writing is hard, many people think that writers just sit down, let the words flow and Hey presto! you have an instant book.  

It's not quite that simple.

For me writing is about an idea that buzzes around my brain, pestering me like an annoying fly, it takes hold and threatens to overwhelm.  I have this happen at the most inopportune times, whilst I'm talking on the phone, as I'm trying to go to sleep or whilst out with friends.  I spend hours wondering what I can possibly do with this one little idea, how can I even begin to make an entire book out of it?

Suddenly when I least expect it the story blossoms, I scribble in my notebook or send my fingers flying across the keyboard, and all of a sudden the characters come alive and take on a will of their own, the plot shows itself and begins to grow and a (long) while later, I finally have a story. 

It doesn't just stop there though.  I write about specific places, with historic themes and archaeological facts running through the story, I have to fact check and research like mad.  Once I've a completed draft, I then have to re-write, check, edit, and repeat a number of times before it gets to my editor who will then repeat the whole process.

All of this can take months of hard work, and determination.  At times (like today) your motivation leaves you for dust and you spend the day feeling annoyed because you should be working but can't.  There are other days where you sit at your desk and nine hours later you have to literally tear yourself away from the keyboard.

So, I hear you ask.  Why do you write Chrissie?

Well the answer is simple.  I do write because I love it, but I also write because I'm a creative person that needs to get all the ideas that buzz around my head out of my system.  I write because because I enjoy being immersed in what I write about, the history, being absorbed in another Country and it's culture or being part of an archaeological site.  My characters become like friends, I get mad at them when they don't do the right thing, I get sad when something bad happens to them, and share their joy when good things happen.

Most of all though, I just feel I need to share.  I want to entertain and despite it sometimes being a long drawn out process I love what I do every single day, even the non motivated ones like today!

Juggling with words

When people hear that I write, the reaction is often "Cool that must be amazing!" and I agree, it is.

What they are unaware of though is how intensive writing is and how at times, it can seem a lot like juggling. 

I am currently in the process of what will hopefully be a final edit of my Novella Integrate, the cover is almost signed off and then, once the final tweaks are done, it will be published.

In the meantime, whilst Integrate is with my editor, I am working on my full length novel (with working title of 'Thebes'), the full draft is now complete and I have started editing.  It is a long process of being critical, fact checking, re-writing where necessary, all in preparation for it to then go to my editor who will do the same. Then we will more than likely repeat the process a few times...

I have also started researching the next novel 'Elena's Island' which will involve both historical research as well as research about the Island on which it is set (Zakynthos).  This can be grueling as I need to ensure that the facts are 100% right, I don't want any mistakes. 

In the background I am also working on my branding, my tagline, overhauling my website and book cover ideas for 'Thebes' and 'Elena's Island'.  I also have a Facebook author page, twitter and this blog to keep up to date.  It is true when they say a writer's work is never done!

Despite the above I enjoy what I do and am grateful to have support from family, friends, fellow authors, and my followers.  I love my characters and enjoy delving into the interesting lives they lead and seeing the fantastic places they visit.  So yes what I do is amazing, and I am thankful that I am able to do what I love, despite occasionally having to juggle.

100 Women - International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. Women around the world are celebrating, and being celebrated for their achievements, however large or small.

Today one of my friends Deena Lees, a talented actress and voiceover artist, performed my poem 'Maisie' from my Collection of Poems and Short story book, at the 100 Women event at the Bath International Literature Festival.

I am very proud to have 'Maisie' read there as it is my favourite from the book, but even prouder that my friend chose to use a piece of my work, at such a renowned Literary Festival, I can't begin to thank her enough. 

If you have a spare five minutes today, take the time to help Women around the world celebrate, it is after all their day!

It's all about research...

As well as putting pen to paper (or in my case fingers to keyboard!), I spend a lot of my time doing research. My books are set in far flung destinations that have a long varied History and so I like what I am writing about to be accurate.

With Nabataea I was very lucky, I have been to Petra in Jordan and have memories, photos and video to refer to, the same is also true of Egypt. I have also done an Egyptology course and am due to do an Archaeology course in January.

This doesn't stop me from researching though. The world of Archaeology and History is fast moving at times, and things constantly change. When I first visited El Khasneh in Petra, you could walk inside and view the building in its entirety, nowadays the entrance is blocked and special permission is required to enter. At the Valley of the Kings in Egypt stills photography and video cameras (including mobile phones!) are banned from the site. Changes like this means I have to constantly read up and double check facts to see if they have altered.

I love research. I love learning something new, whether it be by using the internet, visiting a library or Museum, or reading one of my many books in my own mini library. I am currently researching Volcano's, Earthquakes, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius and the Roman Empire. This is in preparation for the groundwork for 'Vesuvio'. I have not yet had the chance to go to this part of Italy, but it is on my list and I hope to add to my pages of notes soon by seeing the real thing. 

Some may find research tedious and boring, but to me it is not only incredibly important for the type of writing I do, but as a history buff (all though my friends may term that 'geek') it gives me a chance to continue learning and expanding my knowledge of the Ancient World. 

Spoilers...

A lot of you have been asking me about the forthcoming work 'Integrate'. So here is some more information / spoilers.

'Integrate' is a short story, that is currently (dependent on final re-writes) about 50 pages (or approx 13,500 word) in length. It was originally a screen play written in the mid to late 1990's and has been gathering dust in the loft for over 10 years.

I decided to do something with it, but alas didn't have any spare money laying around to make it into a film, so I have taken a year to painstakingly re-write it as a story, which has proved to be much harder than writing a book or story from scratch. I have had to, re-think, re-work and fill, no easy job when you have an original piece of work you love, I wasn't even sure it would work, but at the end of the last re-write I felt it did, and was happy with the transition.

I'm not going to tell you much about the story as I want you to be able to read it without the story being spoiled. The plan is to publish in the lead up to, around Christmas, on both kindle (see kindle users I do listen to you!) and also on paperback. What I can do however, is provide you with the blurb (technical name for the text on the rear of books). So here goes:

Grief stricken by the loss of her identical twin sister Helena, Corinne struggles to come to terms with life without her. Visions of her sister’s last moments on earth, begin to plague her, growing ever stronger and more vivid as the days pass, jumbled snapshots that she must try and piece together.

Jack’s own life has been spiraling out of control since the tragic death of his girlfriend, he feels he has little to live for, his only solace being self destruction. In him Corinne finds an ally, someone she can open up to, in the hope that he can help her through the grief and suffering, but Jack hides a terrible secret that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.

A secret that sees Corinne plotting revenge for the sister she loved and lost.
A secret that sees Jack paying the ultimate price.

Integrate © Chrissie Parker, Oct 2011

More news follows soon, until then, it's back to final re-writes  / checks. Wish me luck! 

C x