Saturday brings the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt from Linda.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “novel.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Well, as a writer, the first thing that comes to mind is that novel that you always wanted to write, or the WIP you have that is consuming every minute of your day and night.
Then you think, no, let’s not be so obvious, and use the word novel in a different way, and start thinking of a way to express what a ‘novel’ idea you have come up with…
But it’s not that easy!
I decided I would just write about my baby, my WIP, my novel.
Like many of us, I knew from an early age that I loved to write. I would always be writing stories, diaries, anything. There was a permanent ink splodge from my fountain pen on the ‘writers hump’ on my right-hand middle finger. (Do you have one of those? An affliction from the time when we didn’t tap away on keyboards, but actually used pens and pencils! I always did love a good fountain pen…. but I digress!)
Then, around 16 years ago, an idea lodged in my head. I was planning for my own wedding at the time, and was back home with my parents, with a new fangled computer at my disposal.
A little seed of a story planted itself in my head. A story about a young British Asian girl from Birmingham, who was planning her special day too. (Yes, I know it sounds like it’s going to be autobiographical, but that was where the similarities ended!) This young woman was going to be experiencing some real problems, and in coming through them, she was going to become stronger herself.
Cue a cheating fiance, a pair of overprotective brothers, and a headstrong best friend…
I was on a roll (well, I thought, anyway!) I wrote a few thousand words, then my own life kinda got in the way. Then newly married life meant that it was impossible for me to write. and I had nothing to type on at the time either!
A few years into marriage, the bug bit me again, and Hubby Dearest bought me my first very own laptop! I was excited! I excitedly uploaded the original version of my little baby and began to add words in earnest. I tried to write, 1000 a day was my target. And I got to around 15,000, before the trauma we went through of trying for a family.
Any urge to write went out of the window, as we battled with one bit of hard news after another. then a miracle happened, and I fell pregnant.
Well, those mommas out there can vouch for the fact that there isn’t much time for yourself, let alone writing, so my word baby got forgotten…again. Add 2 miscarriages and the arrival of another bubba and I was a gonner!
Until around two years ago when I was tempted into this blog writing malarkey.
I finally found the courage to publicise some of what I had written, and the feedback was really good! But it seems to be a time issue again. I never have the time to just concentrate on developing my story!
But I would like to get back on that writing pony. I need to!
Those who have read what I have produced so far have been so encouraging, and some out there (mention no names eh, Sasha Black!😉) even tried to impose deadlines on me, to get me back on it, but I still can’t quite do it.
One day, though, that novel will get written. It may end up reading like a vintage story, set in the 90’s, read way in the 21st century, but it will be done!
So, maybe to help kickstart my oomph to carry on writing it, I am leaving you with a link to where the main part of my WIP is, on my blog. I would love to hear any feedback from you. Is it worth me continuing? Would you change anything? Do you actually want to know what happens next?
I have coined the phrase ‘chick-pea curry lit’ to describe my genre. It’s romance, humour, with a big ole dose of masala!
Hugh's Views and News
Nov 08, 2016 @ 10:09:24
And please holding hands up don’t forget ‘Just Friends.’ I do miss the weekly catchup of Lara and co. That’s another great read you’ve got under your belt, Ritu.
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Ritu
Nov 08, 2016 @ 10:23:15
I still have list of prompts by my bedside Hugh!!!!
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Hugh's Views and News
Nov 08, 2016 @ 10:30:28
Good to hear. So it’s still on the cards then? 😀 👍
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Ritu
Nov 08, 2016 @ 10:36:34
I love my Lara story!! I just need time!!!!!!
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Sacha Black
Nov 09, 2016 @ 23:15:15
I think you should use weekly challenges to write snippets…. Geoffle does that for his Mary novel.
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Ritu
Nov 09, 2016 @ 23:23:37
I was doing that with the Just Friends one! I want to get back into it!
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Judy E Martin
Nov 06, 2016 @ 20:36:16
You have to continue with it Sis. It is a really good story, and you are a bloody good writer! 🙂
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 21:07:43
Bless you sis! I will…. I just need to get my head I to gear!!
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Elusive Trope
Nov 06, 2016 @ 05:17:44
can’t go wrong with over-protective brothers. 😉
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 10:51:30
All Indian brothers tend to have that quality about them!
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ellenbest24
Nov 06, 2016 @ 00:51:36
The response to the prompt is fine by that i mean “Fine” I would love to read your baby, i promise to be gentle Fifteen minutes a day is where to start, a pen and paper a notebook in the park a recorder on your phone. Any way is forward. X good luck Ritu.
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 10:49:01
Thank you Ellen. I really must get on that horse!!!
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my frilly freudian slip
Nov 05, 2016 @ 23:42:14
Head stories once written are novels! They marinate in the creative juices whilst you are going about life. Hey, I hear the next big “thing” is vintage chickpeacurrylit!
Good luck!
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 10:48:14
Ha ha!!! Here’s hoping!!! Thank you!
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Fourth Generation Farmgirl
Nov 05, 2016 @ 22:47:55
Best wishes, Ritu! Just remember what a creative a gifted writer you are. 🙂 💛
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Ritu
Nov 05, 2016 @ 23:20:27
I’ll remember your words Tonya, thank you 😙
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Fourth Generation Farmgirl
Nov 06, 2016 @ 01:17:39
🙂
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Erika Kind
Nov 05, 2016 @ 21:11:54
Sis, you are an amazing writer. You capture us into the world of your story and let us feel what the characters feel. I really hope from my heart that you will get it going. You are an author!
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Ritu
Nov 05, 2016 @ 21:51:07
Thank you sis!!! I hope I can kick-start myself again!
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Erika Kind
Nov 06, 2016 @ 11:34:49
You will, I know this. The time will come and when you feel ready, Sis!
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 11:43:00
When I get moments to myself I’ll be able to make it work!
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Erika Kind
Nov 06, 2016 @ 12:00:27
It is burning under your nails, right 😃
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 12:07:19
Oh totally sis! But being a mum to still dependant kids and teaching means less me time!!
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Erika Kind
Nov 06, 2016 @ 12:15:43
Exactly! That is the problem. Same over here! My manuscript still collects dust until I finally have the time to continue translating it. I might need to take a break for a month or so to only work on it concentrated!
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Ritu
Nov 06, 2016 @ 12:54:32
I wish I could take a break ..!!!
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Erika Kind
Nov 06, 2016 @ 13:20:01
Haha… I hear you, Sis!!! 😄
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willowdot21
Nov 05, 2016 @ 20:23:32
come Ritu you can do this!!
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Ritu
Nov 05, 2016 @ 20:35:12
Thanks for the encouragement Hun! I will get back to it!!!!
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willowdot21
Nov 05, 2016 @ 21:11:18
You can!!!
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Ritu
Nov 05, 2016 @ 21:50:16
😙😙
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willowdot21
Nov 05, 2016 @ 21:50:32
🤗
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dornahainds
Nov 05, 2016 @ 20:19:40
What a novel idea and attempt. If your story is still in the heart -it will come through later in print, no doubt. 😉
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Ritu
Nov 05, 2016 @ 20:35:35
I do hope so Dorna! It plays so well in my head!!!! 🙂
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