Novel Kicks Writing Room: More Free Writing
Free writing can produce many ideas for fictional stories. If you’re familiar with the concept of morning pages then you will know that this is a valuable source of inspiration.
The writing exercise for the writing group this week is to try and free write over the next seven days for a minimum of five minutes a day or three pages of A4.
I’ve included a one word prompt list below if you wish to use them. Let yourself write without judgement or editing.
When you develop something in your free writing that interests you, just make a note of it.
Most important of all…. have fun.
Prompts:
Day one: Treasure
Day two: Orange
Day three: Mighty
Day four: Injury
Day five: Travel
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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Around The World
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.
Today’s prompt… Around the World.
Your character has some sort of life changing event (a break up, a near death experience. It’s up to you.) They decide to make a list of all the things they’ve wanted to do but never had the courage to.
The list includes places they’ve wanted to visit and experiences they’ve always wanted to take part in. Their journey will take them around the world. The experiences could include sky diving, joining a theatre group. Anything.
In order to pick what is done next, they pick six things out of a hat and use a die to choose what comes next. The only rule is that a deadline has been set.
Where will the adventure take them? Use this to write one place and experience they take part in.
by Book Review: Cold Feet: The Lost Years by Carmel Harrington
Hodder & Stoughton, September 2017
Reeling from the sudden death of Rachel, his beloved wife, Adam has no time to grieve. He has to keep going, for the sake of their baby son.
Jenny moves back in with ex-husband Pete, eight and a half months pregnant with another man’s child. Can their relationship overcome past jealousies?
Karen and David agree to an amicable divorce – but that’s before he sleeps with the divorce lawyer . . .
Cold Feet is one of my favourite TV shows. It has been for a long time. I was so pleased when they announced they were bringing it back for a sixth and seventh season. Then once I realised that there was also a book, there was much excitement but also a little trepidation. Could the book live up to the greatness of the TV show? Would the characters feel the same?
In a nutshell, in my opinion. Yes.
The Lost Years focuses on the few months after Adam leaves Manchester with the baby, a suitcase and the memory of Rachel. He is with his Dad, not knowing what to do next.
Pete and Jenny are trying to navigate around their resurrected relationship and then the impending arrival of the new baby whilst Karen, David and Robyn are not sure what to make of their new dynamic.
I won’t go too much further into the plot but what I will say is that this book retains the charm.
I loved catching up with these characters. After five series I had become so invested in them. This book was like catching up with old friends and so I couldn’t put this book down to be honest.
I loved the fact that Rachel is still involved despite the fact that she isn’t technically around. The humour and warmth of the TV show still comes across. Also, like the TV show, there were moments when I was in tears.
by Book Extract: Sun, Sea & Sex by Greta Horwood
A big hello to author Greta Horwood and the blog tour for her novel, Sun, Sea & Sex which was released by Author House UK in August.
About Sun, Sea & Sex:
The book tells of the trials and tribulations of Zeeta, who has overcome many obstacles and survived different relationships. A loving marriage led to a horrendous one. Her second marriage was to a man with a depraved sexual appetite.
The sunny parts were when everything was going well. There were choppy seas between when things were not going right, not just in a relationship but in general life.
Also there were times when the sea was calm and all three women were coping well. The sex within relationships was, in the most part, good to excellent. In Zeeta’s second marriage, sex was a nightmare.
She endured and suffered.
Happy ever after on a Caribbean island. Zeeta survived with the help of two friends—one from her school days, Sheila, and the second one was Peggy, her boss and a very good friend. Their relationships and stories are part of this book.
Greta has very kindly shared an extract from Sun, Sea & Sex with us today. Here’s a brief introduction to the scene;
Zeeta was at college, a new life full of new experiences. A chance accident where Zeeta was pushed to the floor, by a revolving door, led to an unlikely friendship with an Arabian Prince, Armaan. He was to advise her about men and gave her a sex education without the actions. Her time with Armaan left her wanting more, but she did not know what more meant. Being kissed by Armaan led to more feelings of wanting more. It left Zeeta confused. He abruptly stopped his kissing, that led to more confusion, he was pushing her away. Zeeta could not understand, she loved him, but having no experience of love, she could only guess the feelings she had were love.
Armaan appears throughout the book, during other relationships. Meeting him at these other times, Zeeta knew she loved and wanted him.
The Extract….
(Warning: Adult content.)
Armaan was back. I can’t explain my feelings in seeing him. I was overwhelmed by them. Yes I missed him, but what I was feeling was more than that. We continued with our easy friendship and he said he was delighted to be back. He was now married and his wife was expecting their first child. He was a different person now, I think the worry of not having a wife was bothering him, but now he was married, life had suddenly became enjoyable. He said he enjoyed my company and although he was 14 years older than me, I was not empty headed like the gigglers. We continued our friendship and I often felt he was preparing me for the life I would eventually lead. He said my blue eyes and personality would attract many man, but I would know who was right for me. He said beware of false promises, men will say they love, but often it is a way to easy sex, so beware of false promises.
He said he had stones cast for my future and these foretold of a happy life with two children. He said choose a husband older than myself, he would be considerate. That happened my husband was older than me and he was considerate.
We had many of these talks, he was the perfect gentleman and I loved him. Well I thought these feelings I had for him were love, I had never felt like this. I had limited experience, but hoped the feelings I was having, were love, they were very pleasant.
by October’s Novel Kicks Book Club: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis
Happy October. It’s officially autumn. Halloween is almost here, the days have already become shorter (boo,) and shockingly, Christmas has already started to appear in shops.
As a kid, I always loved this time of year (October is my birthday month so I am a little biased.) I used to love getting home from school and stepping into the warmth of our house. I would make a cup of tea and toast and would sit and either read or catch Fun House or Finder’s Keepers on telly.
This month I wanted to pick a book that reminded me of the autumns of my childhood. For October, I’ve picked The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Hands up the people who remember the BBC adaptation. That theme tune that will now be worming its way into your head right?
I love books and I love chatting about them even more. Who wants to join me to chat about Lions, Witches and magical secrets worlds?
I have posted a question to kick things off in the comments box below. The good thing about this book club is that everyone is welcome to take part. It’s open to all. You can read the book at any point in the month or if you’ve already read it, tell us what you think.
The best part… it’s all from the comfort of your armchair/sofa/bed/comfy place.
About the book:
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are sent to live with their reclusive Uncle in his mysterious country home. Lucy soon discovers a wardrobe that hides a doorway into the magical world of Narnia.
by Book Club
