Category Archives: I am writing

I am writing

I am writing-seven

Today’s creativity and writing has been centred on film making. Specifically having a discussion with Producer Chris about Pink Sari. There has been revisions and amendments to the script and we are still looking at recruiting half of the cast.

Film making has been something of an adventure over the last three years. From learning and teaching myself how to write a script to casting, getting to a set and directing. Producer Chris often tells me that it is rare for Authors to be so closely involved in filming. As such, there are lots of things to negotiate.

Whilst I’ve written stories, there’s a whole developmental process in putting a script together. There’s a casting process, trying to determine who may be the best fit. Getting everyone together and also then having a set in choosing locations. There’s a lot of think about.

The only experience I had of anything Filmy was an AS level in Media Studies nearly 20 years ago. That has been useful to be honest. Also, in making one’s own movie, you watch and listen to movies differently. To seeing scenes unfold, to listening to the sound track. The experience of creativity is different.

I have done this before, the once and that was real eye-opening experience. You will have seen references to Devan Coultrie is Unwell. What was half an idea, a short story in a collection became an eleven minute film that was entered in lots of film festival. The highlight of which was entering and being part of Birmingham film festival. There were a number of awards. For a short film and suprisigly, the music.

That said, I love the Devan Coultrie theme tune and the scene in the gunmakers pub. The piece of music in the pub is called shot gun run way and was perfect for that scene really.

I am currently trying to gain the leading actor and his film wife. In a city of 1.1million people, I need to find two who will fit the bill for this movie. Perhaps then, we shall have a movie!

I am writing, Uncategorized

I am writing-Six

How do you know that I might be writing?

Inky fingers, usually.

Don’t worry, I do wash my hands. I’m not a complete heathen.

Most of my books are handwritten. I have a clutch of ink pens and a box of Diamine Fountain pen inks. Currently, there is magenta, imperial purple and a several shades of blue. I think I finished a bottle of midnight today as I sat down and wrote a few chapters.

Ink has a tendency to stain. Becomes a testament to creativity in covering my fingertips and accenting finger prints. Most of my pens have converters, the rest are filled with a variety of cartridges.

There has been progress today, with a couple of chapters written. Whilst each chapter has a heading that is a vague plan, there is a joy when the ink flows to unexpected quarters and avenues. I’m not entirely a seat of the pants planner, but I do smile at times when The Muse discovers unchartered territory.

I won’t reveal the WIP just yet. I would like to get the first draft complete and knock it into some sort of decent shape before going public. It’s a risk crafting something, putting some part of your soul into it, before releasing it. It’s scary and exciting but can also contain feelings of vulnerability. Especially when you’re not everyone’s favourite cup of tea.

When readers find my work and invest, it’s a joy and I appreciate them all.

Not a big fan club, not yet anyway. I live in hope. Never say never, you know. I shall write what I can and I hope readers will find it. In a world where we are presented with the ‘tik tok sensation’ tags and ‘USA Today bestseller’ captions, it’s difficult being an indie author.

Even the greatest of writers, living and long gone, have once upon time been a writer who has a pen, with a dream that someone, some day they will be asked-may I have your autograph, I loved your book.

Dreams and hopes. The most curious facets of the human condition. The most powerful though. For a dream, a hope, can anything.

I am writing

I am writing-four

Good music might move you; inspire, encourage and motivate. Just look at the Chariots of Fire music. Vangelis and Conquest of Paradise is an epic piece of work. Music has meaning and can shape, create so many facets of the human condition.

Most, but not all, of my books have a playlist. Songs that are inspiring, might be a theme tune for a character or evoke something that needs to be titrated into a story. I listen a range of music, and sometimes it hits on something that stirs writing.

Even the Devan Coultrie movie had what felt like an epic soundtrack, Was really useful actually to help the film. Devan has a theme tune, but my favourite is most definitely the sounds in the Gunmaker’s Arms scenes. I only have to hear the theme tune and I am thrown back to memories of filming, of standing next to the real Devan Coultrie. I did have the writing playlist, but in a fit of pique, sadly it was deleted. I tried to recreate it, even had a paper version somewhere.

I think we all feel good music when we watch a show or a film. Just think of the theme tunes that have become iconic over the years. To think that two chords, make us think of a dangerous fish. You know the one! Or the guitar riff for a Spy on Her Majesty’s service.

The image above is an anthology, a work in progress that has been paused for some time. You’ll note that there’s a fair bit of Bollywood on there. There were a lot of movies in my childhood that left deep impressions and have found themselves somehow woven into my stories.

That said, The Beyond Kangana Series has Hallelujah and The Carol of the Bells in it. As does Padmi’s Christmas Carol, I think. One day, perhaps I should pop the songs onto the online song provider outlet thing for readers to enjoy.

I am writing

I am writing-Three

Have had some time to do a little writing in the last couple of days. Not reams and reams, but a couple of thousand words to get things going. Hopefully there is time to over the weekend to add to that tally. I don’t tend to give myself categorically imperative words counts. I find this unrealistic, and there can be a feeling of undue pressure as well. I would rather enjoy writing, retain some motivation and also go with a flow.

My current project is an expansion of corner of my writing paracosm. You may note that I have distinct Universes. I have the Fragments Universe, The Beyond Kangana Universe and then there’s the Devan Coultrie Universe. There is a picture at the top of the post of that collection as it is for the time being.

The current writing project is technically a sequel. Development and a bit more detail of the first book. I don’t want to give too much away just yet; I would rather have more concrete information before I do that. I also feel rather protective of it. To work on it, get it done and dusted before any public exposure. What I can tell you, that it is indeed set in Birmingham, once again.

Whilst I am trying to get back into writing, I am also keeping an eye on film making. There is a script, a plan and ongoing discussions with producer Chris. We are currently looking for actors with this project as detailed below.

Pink sari is a short story from Behind The Scenes and fresh off the back of the rip roaring success that was Devan Coultrie, here we go again!

We are looking for actors to participate in Unpaid/Volunteer Opportunity

Great for portfolio development/gaining experience

Actors based in Birmingham/West Midlands

‘Pink Sari’

Life is full of memories and moments. Anand is trying to remember, before he starts to forget. Trying to hold on to precious memories and moments of love and family. A moment with a pink sari, that became a life time.

Characters required?

Anand-main character (60’s)

Dipti-main character’s wife (60’s)

Contact via website.

I am writing

I am writing-Two

There was some writing yesterday. A well as a bit of organisation of writing projects. There are a number to look at.

It’s not easy to pick up a notebook, pickup where I might have left off and hurtle off at full throttle. Some of these have been sat stacked for nearly a decade, others a few years. I tend to write things down with a full head of steam. The Muse gets titrated and emptied; it all feels very hopeful. Alas, one is human and with that energy depletes.

I also never throw any writing away. I choose to come back to it at another time. This does then lead to an inevitable log jam of books and ideas. However, this does, in my opinion at least, stave off writers block a little. I have had the ideas, these have been decanted. I can go back to them, sometimes with a fresh set of eyes and have another crack.

So I have inventoried and made a vague plan of what to do over time. Each book tends to be written over a year. Typically, I start on the 6th of January, Epiphany. A good a day as any to have a bright idea. To aim for a finish on New Years Eve. Not all projects might take a year. This does depend on how long I would initially like them to be. Padmi’s Christmas Carol took a week to write. Devan Coultrie can take up six weeks. I once wrote a script for a short movie in one morning. I hasten to add, these are only ever the first drafts. I do not profess to be perfect. Not by any length of chalk. All depends on a work/life/creativity balance.

Previously, I mentioned that I would be attending book events later this year. I did post those, for information.

Book events are a really interesting part of being an indie, self published author. I get to meet new readers, readers who have decided to invest in my books; I also get to adventure across the country. Mama F or a soul sister usually accompany me and act as my glamourous assistant. I’ve been very lucky to have gone to events in Montana, USA and then across all corners of the United Kingdom. Should we get to Cardiff, then yes, I will have covered the whole of the sceptred isle.

It’s not easy reaching readers, promoting work and hoping that there will be positive reviews. In fact, I have had my fair share of one and two star reviews. These can be soul-destroying and horribly demotivating. This has been on my mind quite a bit over the last year, it’s very difficult to shake off the feeling of being diminutised. Alas, I’m trying to reconcile myself to the fact that I won’t be everyone’s cuppa tea. My books will find people, and there are readers who invest and take things from the Figments of my Imagination; reading that, is always lovely.

This year, there is a full ticket of events. Only a couple pencilled in for 2027. Nothing yet, for 2028. The future is yet to be determined.