Category Archives: Writing

Background to writing

March 28, 2011 · 12:36 pm

Internet v Bookshops – No competition!

My enthusiastic promotion of real bookshops does not mean that I underestimate the essential role of the internet in book sales, although I must admit in the early days of publication of Riduna I was totally oblivious of its power. In my ignorance I threw myself into book signings, personal contact to bookshops, whose customers I believed would enjoy the novel due to links to myself here in Bedfordshire or in Southampton and The Channel Islands. A friend had advised me that I could not rely on, or even expect my publisher to make contact to everyone. In fact, as a bookshop owner himself, he implied that even if they did, nine times out of ten their leaflets would be ignored, simply because I was an unknown writer.

So it was not until after the book was launched that I had a website up and running and it was not until later, in December 2009, that I joined up to Twitter and began blogging. As my previous posts have explained in more detail. See posts:     

Website Alright                                                                                   Blabbering Blog

                                                       To Meet and Tweet                                                              A Facebook Reflection

I now try to keep up to date with Media Networking, even though at times I find it munches away minutes I desire to focus wholeheartedly on my writing. Nevertheless I have enjoyed connecting with people, including writers though #amwriting on Twitter, and many have become on line friends.

My publisher have of course put the novel for sale on their website and launched it on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. too, and now Riduna is also for sale through Wizzbuzz, The Guernsey Society on line bookshop and the majority of online bookstores including Smiths, Waterstones, LoveReading, Tesco and Asda.

So if I was to give advice to authors it would be:

  • Have your website set up before the launch of your first novel so that it can go on any publicity materials
  • Build up a following on Twitter before the launch of your novel
  • Begin a blog getting your writing out there on the internet as soon as you can. It is a place where everyone can appreciate the style of your writing, from publishers to readers to book sellers
  • Let all your friends and family know via facebook what is happening and have a virtual launch as well as an actual one.
  • Make an author or book page on facebook. I have still not got to grips with this yet although I do have an author page. Some people say they have had difficulty finding it, so it certainly needs me to understand it more. Here is a link to Diana Jackson-Author on facebook.

Having said that, i am far confident that i’m more street wise for the launch of my next novel now, and the experience is a steep learning curve and an adventure. learning is half the fun.

 Finally I would suggest, especially if your writing time precious, that you try to set yourself some rules to avoid frustration, a blog theme I will revisit when i’ve got to grips with it myself.

How do you promote your work on the internet? I’d love to hear from you.

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March 24, 2011 · 10:21 am

Beware the signs of Writer’s Burn Out- 11 Personal Points!

Hi all

I’d just logged on to check emails, tweets etc and to write a new blog when my last tweet hit me like a tidal wave- apt with the depressing and very sad news we hear everyday and, as we are reeling in the shock of it all, we feel helpless as to what positive action we can take as individuals. What are we doing to our beautiful world? How insignificant each of us really is?

Outside the prunus and cherry blossom trees are coming into flower in dappled pink and white against the perfect, icy blue sky.

Here is the my last tweet and, I can tell you, after a stressful couple of days at college, the words flooded over me as the symptoms of stress seeped from my finger tips to my toes.

Riduna Diana Jackson.  

“Trying to get my head around blogging, tweeting and facebook leaves me baffled as to where I fit in the writing”

 A voice in my head nagged:

‘ Writing should always be a pleasure. If we allow the whole package of what being a writer has become (no longer sitting in a quiet spot with pencil and paper filled with pleasure and anticipation, scribbling out thoughts as they tumble on to the empty page), Blogging, Facebook, Tweeting, Phoning, writing letters, making contacts, Guest Speaking, giving talks…… overwhelm us, then we lose site of the essence at the heart of our writing – joy.

And so (the purist in me says ouch here as I begin a sentence with ‘and’) here is what I am going to do, in order to regain some perspective, and I will share with you my ten point plan: (I know I promised never to write in this style but I feel on this occasion it is apt. It is a style that works for other writers but since my blog is so personal, I have avoided being so prescriptive but here goes.

I am now going to:

  1. Switch off the computer (radical I know)
  2. Change into comfortable old clothes
  3. Open the shed door, take out a trowel and spade and go and spend a couple of hours in the garden
  4. Make a cup of coffee and sit in the sunshine under the arbour and look at the blossom, watch the antics of the squirrels, follow the flight of the tiny birds as they dance in their delight
  5. Take a deep breath and meditate on nothing particular for a while to clear my head
  6. In that spot, aware of the sounds around me, I am going to return to my roots
  7. Paper and pencil in hand I will think of my characters: Describe their appearance in the way they dress, their mannerisms which make them unique their flaws and strengths, what makes them likeable and makes me smile, what irritates me as some characters must; but most of all their raison d’etre.
  8. After that brain activity I will spend a few minutes meditating on nothing once more
  9. Then I will go to a garden centre and have a cup of tea, avoiding the computer which will be beckoning me from the study
  10. Then I will return and if I feel refreshed and willing to face this ten inch screen once more i’ll come back and tell you if it worked!
  11. If not i’ll return to you once more on Monday!

It amuses me that I have eleven points and not ten. There is something satisfying in being different, but before I finally take courage and direct my index finger to the ‘shut down’ I will set you a challenge.

Share with us all how you deal with moments like this and the most original, funny, poignant comment will receive a copy of ‘Riduna’.

Now I just have to make sure it has tweeted, Facebooked …………………

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February 7, 2011 · 4:02 pm

Book Reviews- Personally influencing my writing

Alderney by Victor Coysh

Published back in the 70’s you cannot be interested in the history of Alderney without reading this book from cover to cover.

First Victor Coysh tells us general facts about the island, its location, and ‘present’ day forms of recreation, communication and transport. Of course, much of the information is a little dated, but Coysh is in agreement with today in that, despite offering boat trips, ferries and even a hydrofoil service over the years with greater and lesser success, the main and most reliable form of transport to Alderney is to fly. (Having said this I hear that a new ferry service started last year and so I wish them well.)

Within his ‘rocks, fauna and flora’ chapter Coysh explains the controversial belief that the ‘Alderney’ breed of cattle never actually existed and he also mentions the harvesting of Ormers, recently highlighted by Visit Alderney. I was surprised that he omitted to mention ‘the famous white hedgehog’ of which the island boasts today, or even black rabbits, which I have seen myself, even though he does note an abundance of rabbits. This left me inquisitive as to whether these species are a new phenomenon. Can anyone update us here?

The next chapters share with us a brief account of Alderney’s history, beginning with prehistoric remains documented in detail by Frederick Corbin. He continues though the Iron Age to the Romans and then through the Middle Ages and on to the 19th Century, describing the finds of various archaeological excavations over the last three centuries and referring to documented evidence. Of great interest is the fact that Alderney, once part of the Duchy of Normandy, became linked with the English Crown in the thirteenth century, although not subject to it, and it is governed in much the same way today. His account of settlements over the centuries and the final establishment of St Annes as the main town on the island is quite detailed, and his mention of surnames of note fascinating, since many are still known on the island today and were certainly present before the evacuation in WW2.

The chapters on the nineteenth century and the building of the Victorian Fortifications including the Breakwater have been of particular interest to me in my research, followed by two poingnant chapters on the years of the occupation in WW2 and the islanders’ homecoming, the most famous period of Alderney’s history.

I was particularly inspired by the island’s customs and legends and many would find the descriptions of the numerous wrecks off the island’s shores interesting, although writers have covered this in greater depth since. Finally the book gives the reader a taste of the many delights a visitor can experience during their stay.

Alderney is timeless. With very little imagination you can walk along the cobbled streets and imagine the island as Victor Coysh experienced it andsee it through his eyes, but this book gives the most comprehensive account of the island’s history that I have read to date, written in an informative and readable fashion.

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