Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Prompt of the day

 Still with Romantic Fiction Month. A lot of the prompts have been what you write, but today's is about how - by hand, on computer, dictated to your secretary. Okay, so I don't actually know anyone who does that last one, but apparently the legendary Barbara Cartland wrote that way.

Me, I'm an advocate of handwriting. That's how the first draft gets done. After that I get it into typing by reading it to my Dragon (dictation program) which is also the first round of my own edits.

I can think onto the typewriter for short things, like this blog, but not for a novel. Writing by hand has advantages. corrections and changes of mind are easy, though not always later when I am trying to decide whether that additional paragraph comes before this one. I've always used handwriting in work - as a committee administrator, taking notes, hand writing was the only mean possible, and I am old enough that a large chunk of my working life took place when there was still such a thing as a typing pool. The same applies to my academic career, notes, pages and pages of them. Hand writing is what I am used to. And they say that the connection between hand and brain is greater and better for the creative process when you hand write, which is a nice idea.

And, of course, you can write anywhere. At the moment it is mostly in my posh orthopedic chair, which was actually made to measure - and priced accordingly, but we won't go there. It is very comfortable and it reclines! Trains are also a favourite place for writing too. And in the summer in the garden, but not at the moment. The paper would get too soggy. 

The big thing is that you should write how and where you are most comfortable. A book takes a long time to write - or for me it does - so the process has to be enjoyable. And that, I think, comes through in the words, however they get on the page.  

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

And today's prompt is ...

 I'm not officially taking part in the romantic fiction month, except for liking and sharing posts and reels from lots of friends -and there are some really fun and informative ones out there, I hope you have found and enjoyed a few - but I couldn't resist today's prompt, which was 'What would your characters wear?'

As a well known clothes horse, this is right in my wardrobe, so to speak. Clothes are my thing. And they are also an important element in my writing. A short hand for character and a fast way of setting a scene, introducing a personality, and generally having a bit of fun. Dress your hero in a  black leather jacket- and you know there is going to a bit of the bad boy in there. A brown one is a whole different story - upmarket and well dressed. A heroine taking time over her appearance, whether it is for a business meeting or a date, and you know it is important to her. Clothes are fast clues - dowdy, over revealing, age inappropriate tell you so much about a supporting character without having to go into a lot of detail. 

The IDEA, currently brewing, has a number of places where clothes are part of the story. Art is involved, so there is an element of costume. I have a feeling that Tarot cards will be involved too, so clothing that echoes elements of the card deck may well make an appearance. I've just made the acquaintance of a woman who I know is going to be a minor villain - very expensive and rigid in her tastes. The hero has quite a significant life change after the first third of the book, and the change in the way he dresses is a big part of it. And, of course, I am aiming to incorporate an element of Dark Academia - although I have to say that the moment it is heading closer to Raiders of the Lost Ark!

But Dark Academia has it's own dress code - tweed and wool, dark muted autumn colours, vintage pieces and  classic and tailored styles, leather shoes and accessories, heavy knitwear, blazers and trench coats - everything that says scholarly and traditional. I'm looking forward to enjoying myself  with that. 

Wednesday, 4 February 2026

Coming to Social Media near you.

 Currently lots of author friends are celebrating Valentine month by posting a series of prompted posts all about their romance writing. Not everyone will post every day and not on all social media but you should be seeing some posts and shares on whatever your scroll of choice is. Today's prompt is a question on whether you write in other genres except romance, so there will probably be fewer posts from the die hard romantics, but you might learn something interesting about  one of you favourites? More genres for the TBR pile. I've threatened to try my hand at cosy crime, but it ain't happened yet. Not sure if Dark Academia counts, but that isn't written yet either and it is going to be still heavy on the romantic suspense, because that's who I am. 

Anyway, I hope you see some of the posts and enjoy them. You'll know what you are seeing from the hashtag 

RomFicFeb26