S. McPherson's Blog: On my way to being a writer - Posts Tagged "s-mcpherson"

Oops! Did I call this post, 'Book Fails'? Of course I meant 'Book Sales'. All ten of them in a fifteen hour day; sat outside, squinting in the sun, baring my teeth and trying to wipe away the sweat, smothering myself in perfume disguised as sunblock.

Obviously, I was thankful for every book sold and when combined with the internet sales, I was doing quite well. But to me, "well" is never well enough.

I stuck it out for as long as I could but eventually my enthusiasm to have a numb backside at yet another book fair waned thin. The rose-coloured glasses came off and some much needed clarity came into view. Something had to change...

For a while I was content; convinced that this time would be different, that I'd learnt from my mistakes. This time I would make sure the images were clearer and that the text was easier to read. I would talk to all the right people and I'd appear in all the right magazines.

The journey officially restarted and I was ready for the hike. But, somewhere along this metaphorical road, I came across a crooked sign and written on it were the words of Henry Ford: 'If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.' That's when I realised that this time wasn't going to be any different at all because I wasn't actually doing anything different.

That was when I took a step back and decided to enter a new chapter of my life. Here I introduced a much-needed plot twist. Things were certainly going to be different this time!

Unruly waves fling themselves at my ship. Rain barrels down from the sky and lightning meets the sea in a jagged electric blaze. The harsh slap of the wind stings my lips and smothers them in liquid salt. I watch the wheel spin; veering this way and that. Somewhere along my travels, I have taken the wrong course.

Scrabbling in my pocket, I pull out my compass and realise that the arrow is pointing North, away from the storm and towards my first true love; novels. It is time to go back.

‘Land ho!’ I cry as I steer the boat in another direction.

It isn’t long before I am carried away on the current of my imagination. Diving in and out of waves of fantasy; words flooding my mind like the tumultuous crests of high tide on the shore.

Forever a hopeless romantic and a vivid dreamer of the unbelievable, my route is clear. There is only one channel for my tale to take; a fantasy romance one. I stand on the mast of my stories ship, telescope in hand. Perhaps on the lookout for a romance I can never find; I start to invent one.

And so my voyage begins again…

There is something inexplicably romantic about a perfect imperfection; something that is so wrong it is somehow equally so fitting. ‘The Faults in our Stars’ had a tumour take the life of a seemingly perfect romance. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ let a name tarnish the blade of their swords. ‘Titanic’ had its iceberg, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ had incompatible personalities that could surely never make it and 'Twilight' had its fangs. So what is it about these imperfections that we, the audience, devour? Is it perhaps because just for a moment it allows us to hope that love can conquer all; and that even in death, love is lasting?

Either way, many of our greatest love stories include one very large imperfection; one impossibly giant hurdle that the audience so desperately want the lovers to overcome.

In my story, I chose distance. I introduce Dezaray, the heroine, living an unwanted life in a little English city called Islon, so desperately in need of an escape. And then we meet Milo, the hero, a further escape than Dezaray can possibly imagine. He introduces her to freedom, to love, to another life in another world…Perfect. However, Dezaray doesn’t belong in his world and it is only a matter of time before she has to go back…thus tangles the web of perfect imperfection. They say love can cross oceans but can it cross worlds?

After defining my perfect imperfection I open up to that blank page and my fingers stretch across the keyboard. The words pour out of me like water from a faucet; tumbling down and drenching the page in sentences I never knew I wanted to say. I let the characters take me to where they want; their personalities steering the story to its apparent end.

The beating of their wayward hearts becomes the tempo my story follows. The continuous shift in their ever-changing moods brings to life the melody. And every interaction between the lovers; hushed whispers and gentle grazes, becomes a lyric. After I’m done with the first draft, I move on to the next and the next and the next.

My aim: To write a story that feels like a love song; just as powerful, just as memorable; just longer.

Innocence lost

My innocence betrothed another, many years ago,

I tried to be its mistress but it left me in the snow.

'Let me in, old friend.' I pounded on the door,

Innocence replied, 'You can't stay here anymore,

Your body may be young but your eyes have made you old,

You no longer believe that life is butterflies and gold.

Take what you have learnt my dear,

Take the truths you know.

No longer remain buried in the wreck beneath the snow.

You have outgrown my wonder, but one day you will see,

that other wonder waits for you,

as long as you believe.'

This was another blog untold. A poetry blog I toyed with in the hopes of gaining a following. 'Innocence' was an unfinished poem I had written shortly after my sister died and now; with a more positive eye, seemed like a good time to finish it. But then I realised the followers I want, don't have to like poetry; they have to like romance and lots and lots of fantasy; just like what's in my book; At Water's Edge

It was then I finally realised that I didn’t know what to blog about or how to tell the world ‘I’m here!’

I didn’t know how to draw in my target audience; what they wanted to know; what they wanted to read. It was also then that I decided that if I didn’t know what you; my audience, wanted, then I should probably just ask.

Thus www.smcphersonbooks.com was born. I told you all about me; the book I am writing and I asked for your opinion. I hopped on twitter (an account I had made and neglected eons ago) and decided to be more active. I posted tweets, added pictures and followed like-minded people. Slowly but surely my idea was developing. Nothing was or is set in stone but it looked like there was hope for me yet.

My aim was transparent; the task more convoluted. I had to define and find my target audience.

There were many things to research; so many things to consider. Where they might live, what languages they might speak, what lifestyle they might have or perhaps their upbringing. I had to consider their age, gender and ethnicity. For a while I wondered if I should look into their blood type! Or perhaps a favourite colour would determine what books people read?

It took me some time to regain my sanity but soon I had it sussed and I began to visit websites and look at magazines that my audience might.

And now at last, my target is clear. All that’s left is to aim, fire and hope I make a hit.

As the end of the year approaches,

It’s time to reflect on this year’s tales,

Of family and of laughter,

Of successes and of fails,

Remember how you cried,

Remember when you fell in love,

Remember how you tried,

And when you thought you’d had enough.

It’s been a rollercoaster with its ups and with its downs,

It’s been a crazy ride, with its smiles and with its frowns.

Now here’s to resolutions,

Time to welcome a new you.

Shy away from all illusions,

Seek out something that is true.

Time to go for what you want;

don’t let your dreams just disappear,

Say a toast and be with loved ones as you bring in this new year!

The January lull has come to an end. The resolutions and the vows of a healthier lifestyle, starting to feel like the remnants of a distant dream. Did you say: Never drinking again?? Only whole-wheat toast from now on?? You want to lose how many pounds by the end of the month?? All very admirable tasks but the chore of sticking to news year’s resolutions usually results in them dissolving close to the time new year begins.

That’s why this year, I threw in a few things, I knew I would stick to. Things that I already wanted and was working towards; I just reminded myself of them when the clock struck twelve.

As you may have guessed, many of these re-resolutions revolve around my book. Resolution 1: PUBLICISE! A feat I am a stranger to and no fan of. Publicising the book is like parading your new-born on the red carpet whilst the umbilical cord is still attached. You’re haggard, sleep deprived and both covered in substances you pray will wash off and yet the worst is not over. You have to smile and bellow over the baby’s cry, hoping to be heard over the arrival of Jennifer Lawrence and Kim Kardashian.

Publicity almost seems unkind. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to clean yourself up first; put on a nice dress? Surely your little one can enjoy a few hours’ sleep, have some food before the showcase begins??

Absolutely not! The publicity train is a fast paced and unforgiving one. You miss your stop and you may never get another ride. So pull out your sad little Kleenex, wipe the blood off your face, hook your babe on your bosom and let’s do this! ALL ABOARD!