Awards | But I Smile Anyway...

Writer’s Tag

13 Oct 2018 33 Comments

by Ritu in Tags, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Writers Tag

Thank you Simon, of Planet Simon blog, for tagging me in this Writers Tag!

☆ Post the Tag and Image on your blog (see above).

☆ Thank whoever nominated you and give a link back to their blog.

☆ Mention the creators of the tag and link back to their blogs.

☆ Nominate 6+ deserving bloggers and notify your nominees by commenting on their
blogs.

This Writers Tag was created by Lorraine Ambers and Ari Meghlen. Click on the highlighted names to check out their blogs and don’t forget to leave a comment to tell them that you’ve played the fun Writers Tag so they can connect with you too.

So let’s get started with this fun, quick-fire Writers Tag and get to know each other a little better.

The Questions!

Name one novel that inspired you to write – I have to say Enid Blyton’s books carried me to another world as a child and made me want to write stories!
What’s your favourite genre to write and read? – pre-blogging I was a bonafide Chick Lit reader. the stories I wrote seemed to have that chick lit flavour to them too. But since blogging, I have been introduced to so many different genres, I don’t think I can actually say I have a preference to read any more! Writing-wise is the same. I have tried a few different styles and find that they all satisfy me as a writer!
Do you prefer to write stand-alone or series? Having only been in this writing game a short while, I can honestly say I have only written one full-length novel, and it was designed to be a stand-alone, though since finishing, there is a possible novella spin-off that could be written!
Use 3 words to describe yourself – eclectic, positive, loopy
Reveal your WIP aesthetics or an image that represents your MC or setting. Ooh, this is hard! On my mock-up cover, I used this image…
How long did your first MS take to draft? Mine was an epic journey and the idea and first words were written in 2001. The last words of the first draft were typed in April of 2018… my teenage WIP turned adult!
Who is your author idol? Having had the pleasure of getting to know her, my author idol is Amanda Prowse, best-selling author of over twenty books. Her story of how she got to where she is now is inspirational. She started out as an indie, like many out there, and her sheer graft was rewarded by an agent approaching her and a fantastic publishing deal… and the best thing? She is so down to earth!
Share a writing memory that made you determined to carry on. Reading my WIP out aloud to my children, and them wanting me to carry on reading this story!
Tell us something surprising or unique about yourself. I don’t think there is anything surprising, or unique about me! I’m a run of the mill British Indian, born to parents of Indian descent, but born in Kenya, themselves!
Share the hardest part about being a writer and how you overcame it. Time. I think time, for me, was the biggest factor, and I knew with my teaching career, that things like NaNo, though amazing, would never work for me, timing wise. So instead, I created my own writing month, RiNoWriMo, in August last year, which was when I managed to add 50,000 words + to my now finished first draft!
What’s your favourite social media and why? Share your link. Oh I have to say I love far too many! Facebook for the camaraderie and interaction, Instagram because I love sharing and looking at photos, and Twitter for the ease of sharing!
Share some uplifting wisdom in six words or less – Never give up on your dreams ❤

To my nominees, here are the questions for you to copy should you wish to play this tag. I’ve left them the same as the question I was given…

Name one novel that inspired you to write.
What’s your favourite genre to write and read?
Do you prefer to write stand-alone or series?
Use 3 words to describe yourself
Reveal your WIP aesthetics or an image that represents your MC or setting.
How long did your first MS take to draft?
Who is your author idol?
Share a writing memory that made you determined to carry on.
Tell us something surprising or unique about yourself.
Share the hardest part about being a writer and how you overcame it.
What’s your favourite social media and why? Share your link.
Share some uplifting wisdom in six words or less

I nominate:

All my writer friends that are out there in the blogosphere!!!!!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 190

07 Oct 2018 33 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Anton Checkov, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Imagination, Quote, Serene, Spidey

“If you don’t imagine, nothing ever happens at all.” John Green, Paper Towns

Thanks, Spidey!

Think, dream, imagine.

Build your future, aiming for those dreams.

The above quote says it all.

If you don’t even dream it’s possible, how can you make it a reality?

Tell me your aims 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 189

30 Sep 2018 31 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Anton Checkov, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Quote, Serene, Spidey, writing

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Anton Chekhov

Thanks, Spidey.

The whole writing thing is on my mind at the moment.

After not hearing anything back from the First Novel Competition, I was tempted to fall into a wallowing muddle, but because I had the charity walk to do, I wasn’t allowed to.

Instead, it made me think back to the fact that I LOVE my story, and I know the couple of people who read it for me in its unaltered state, enjoyed it too.

The biggest thing was to read through and do that whole ‘show, don’t tell’ thing. I was very guilty of it at the beginning as I started writing this piece as a young, inexperienced writer, and I have grown so much since then.

So, this is my next step.

Really combing through it and working out where I can do more showing, and less telling, and tweaking the plot where certain suggestions were made.

It’ll still involve a lot more work, but I know it will be worth it…

Because it is my dream. My story will be told. My book will be out there soon enough!

Tell me about a dream of yours that you have worked really hard to try and achieve 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 188

23 Sep 2018 37 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, foundations, Learning, Life, Quote, Serene, Spidey

“Your illness does not define you, your strength and courage does.” – Unknown

Thanks, Spidey.

A quick shoutout to all those Cancer patients and survivors out there.

I’ll be recovering from my fundraising walk for Cancer Research UK when you read this.

(Actually, I hope we will have actually finished…!)

But no matter!

We have raised a great amount to help this charity continue doing the amazing work they do.

We have all been touched by this disease, in one way or another, either knowing someone who has suffered and come through, or sadly lost their fight, or even been one of the warriors against it ourselves.

Here’s hoping there will be a time when Cancer is a thing of the past…

If you were to fundraise for a charity, which would it be? 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 187

16 Sep 2018 44 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, foundations, Learning, Life, Quote, Serene, Spidey, Teaching

“The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” – Khalil Gibran

Thanks, Spidey.

This.

This is what I feel teaching is all about!

As a teacher of the youngest in the school chain, the Nursery and Reception classes, I have always said, and continue to utter, my job is to create a love of learning.

It’s not called the Foundation Stage for nothing.

We are building the foundation for the rest of their school careers.

We, as educators of the first-timers, have a responsibility to instil the importance of education and school within these little mites, make their learning interactive and fun, so they go on to have successful school lives, where they feel prepared for all the curriculum is going to throw at them.

We should make them realise they have all the capabilities within – they just need to work out how to tap them.

They need to realise that there isn’t just one way to do something, but there are myriad ways to solve problems.

We need to grasp their thoughts and help them go with the flow, sometimes losing all track of the planned lesson, when someone poses a question that can ignite further exploration and learning.

We need to teach them how to learn.

I haven’t forgotten.

Miss Wilson.

She was my nursery teacher and the most wonderful teacher ever, making my first days in school, a three year old with English as a second language, such a joy.

So much of a pleasure that I went back to her as an sixteen year old, and volunteered in her class, where she was, by then, known as Mrs Haynes.

I felt so happy, and secure there, it impacted upon my whole school life, and going forward, because of her, and some other amazing teachers, I realised that this was what I wanted to do.

And I hope that I am one of those teachers, remembered for her impact upon children’s lives, but something that irks me, when you ask someone about their teachers, the comments are always about secondary teachers, or late primary ones. Does everyone forget those that shaped their educational futures?

Tell me, do you still remember your Nursery/kindergarten/preschool teachers? 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!