Although I’m working hard on my third novel (in between packing boxes!), and I think it’s important to focus on your main work, I’ve found it useful to tackle other, smaller projects. It stops you getting fixated, helps you draw breath mentally and makes you use different writing muscles in your head. You use different style, voice, vocabulary and register. I find the general effect is to refresh my writing as well as my dedication.
I recently sent off an article about why I love my bit of France for the French Magazine, a lifestyle mag, and also completed a diary for the Mass Observation Archive for 12 March. Two completely different styles from my romantic adventure novels and, almost as important, from each other.
As a side note, I used the MassObs Archive when I was researching material for my MA, so I was more than happy to contribute something in return.
Happy diversification!
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I went along to the RNA Summer Party held at the library of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Birdcage Walk, in London. The weather has been dreadful; thankfully it was a sunny, but still blooming chilly, evening.
As at the lunch in March, the atmosphere was genial, friendly and lively; the sound of chinking glasses, good conversation and laughter flowed through the room.
We duly toasted the this year’s winner of the Joan Hessayson Award – for a published novel through the New Writer Scheme – Lucy King, in absentia; she was about to give birth, which we conceded was a reasonable excuse for not being there in person.
It was fun to meet people again, especially fellow Twitterers/Tweeters, to strengthen friendships and make new ones.
Roll on the conference…!
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Confession time. 
I wrote my last two blog posts on 26 April, posted one straight away and scheduled the last one (with chocolate!) for three days later. Many bloggers do this so that when they put fingers to keyboard and inspiration flows from brain down arms and into fingertips, they don’t end up flooding the blog with a load of new musings in one hit.
But on 28 April, a massive event intervened which slammed all blog writing against the end-stops. We exchanged contracts on our house. After a trail of buyers with broken chains, we achieved sale of our lovely house with buyer number seven. Numbed doesn’t describe it. We were shocked into total inactivity to have arrived at this point. At last.
Recovering, we unearthed the long lists and big spreadsheets and the magnum opus of address changing, chucking stuff out and packing started.
I’ve tinkered with my work in progress (draft of third book) and sent off another submission to an agent for my first, read and commented on a few blogs and Twittered, but I haven’t been able to lock myself away all day and write. I am experiencing appalling withdrawal symptoms…
So apologies today to my readers for the gap and future apologies for future gaps in the next few weeks.
Must try harder…
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Yes, essential to the writing environment are:
- a working computer with appropriate software
- a supportive chair
- warmth
- light
- peace
But the most important adjunct is CHOCOLATE.
 
So what does chocolate do for the writer?
1. Flavonoids
Chocolate is chock-full(!) of flavonoids—naturally-occurring compounds found in the cacao plant, as well as in red wine, tea, fruits, and vegetables. Flavonoids may have potentially beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. They may also act as antioxidants, which are believed to prevent or delay certain damage to the body’s cells and tissues.
2. Good cholesterol
Chocolate and cocoa butter contain two main saturated fats (palmitic and stearic acids) and one mono-unsaturated fat (oleic acid). Unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid is a neutral fat and does not appear to raise bad cholesterol (LDL). Oleic acid is the same type of fat in olive oil and may actually raise good cholesterol levels (HDL).
3. Vitamins and minerals
Chocolate contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium and potassium, and vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E. Cocoa is also the highest natural source for Magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is linked with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension (PMT or PMS).
4. The feel good factor
Chocolate contains small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a mild mood elevator. It’s the same chemical that our brain produces when we feel happy or in love. Chocolate stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runner’s high” a jogger feels after running several miles.The mild rush we get from this substance may be why some people say they’re addicted to chocolate
(No comment from author!).
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is out early summer 2014.
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At the RNA SE meeting on 24 April, Nicola Cornick gave us valuable insights on constructing heroes. Taking Robin Hood as an example, she showed how universal the hero values attached to him were: anti-authoritarian, good versus evil, romantic, skilled in fighting and weaponry. The mythic Robin Hood was a construct, an icon, created mainly in the 15th and 16 centuries. Quite who or what the real Robin Hood, Robin of Locksley, Robert atte Hoode was is anybody’s guess.
Heroes such as Nelson, while a genuine fighting commander with outstanding achievements, were also celebrities of their times. After Cape St Vincent, Nelson gave a press interview about how well he’d done, and duly wrote his book describing his battles at sea. His philandering and private life didn’t seem to have detracted from his celebrity, but gave it an attractive, dangerous edge.
Celebrity – the attribution of glamorous or noteworthy status (from Celebrity by Prof. Chris Rojek ) – was an old idea: Roman gladiators courted fame and public acclaim. Byron, who glamorised piracy in his poem The Corsair was a prime self-publicist and wildly fashionable author, but in contrast to Nelson, he didn’t have a solid foundation as a British fighting hero.
We tended to pick heroes from the past to suit our needs in the present, but one outstanding requirement was loyalty. From questions, answers and discussion around heroes, other ‘heroic’ characteristics emerged: the attraction of the bad boy/rebel, the anti-hero, the insider up against the system, the flawed hero, the early death of heroes at their most heroic moment.
Plenty to think about when putting fingers to keyboard!
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