Pauline Barclay – her thoughts on ideas.

So you’ve decided that you want to write. Then start straight away. Start by jotting down all your thoughts related to what you might want to write about. I find that words grow words and the more you write, the more your word power will grow. Don’t worry if your words are not coming fast enough, they will. But most importantly don’t be put off by what is deemed as correct at this stage. Just go with the flow of your thoughts and imagination. Think of your writing as if it was a piece of music that makes you stand up and dance even if you don’t know the right steps or movement, it doesn’t matter because you just want to dance until the music stops. Approach your writing in the same way. Relax, enjoy and write. There will be plenty of time for tidying things up later. Just don’t be afraid.
Once I start writing, ideas, words, phrases begin to rattle around in my head, even characters can turn up unexpectedly. A character in one of my short stories was written from a conversation that I had with my neighbour. She suddenly started talking about a friend who had used a private detective to find her estranged husband. I knew this would make a good short story and as soon as I got back home, I wrote down all my thoughts. From this an outline of a story emerged. After much editing and rewriting, my short story was finished and I titled it, Without a Shadow of Doubt. It is one of the sixteen short stories I have written and will appear over the coming months on my web site.
For me, writing is not a switch that I turn on and off, the writing process is there all the time. I am listening and watching everything around me because something that I see or hear just might form part of one of my stories. So if you want to write, don’t be afraid to do have a go. Write with passion and energy and remember; write to enjoy and enjoy your writing!

For more information about Pauline Barclay and her writing, visit her web site: www.paulinebarclay.co.uk

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.