YIKES! The Squeaking Noodle is coming back!

The Squeaking Noodle has left the building!

Writing: Need a Break? Here's Your Excuse to Down Tools!

There's nothing like a bit of deadpan humour on Tuesday!

Here's a great google vid of Steven Wright. He's a funny, funny man! Good excuse not to do some work for a few minutes.

For more info check out Steven Wright's website.

The Squeaking Noodle Competion: We Have a Winner!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to take part in The Squeaking Noodle Competition to win a hard back copy of A SPOT OF BOTHER by Mark Haddon. It was a tough choice, but we have a winner.
Well done Brenda Oig. The book is in the post to you.
For more info on the book please see this earlier post Great Read: A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.
See you all soon and keep the emails and questions coming in. The Squeaking Noodle will be giving away more of its favourite books in the run up to Christmas.

FINALLY!!

Would the person who admitted to just wearing TIGHTIE WHITIES or KNICKERS in The Squeaking Noodle Poll: Working From Home? The Truth - You're Wearing... please step forward.

At last, we have one writer, working from home, brave enough to admit that they work in their pants. Good for you!

Come on who are you? The Squeaking Noodle would like to introduce you to everyone else - as for the 'look what the cat's dragged in' pollsters...I won't tell if you don't.

To the brave TIGHTIE WHITIE OR KNICKER wearer - email the Squeaking Noodle a pic to post and you'll win a night out for one at MacDonald's - courtesy of the noodle.

Online Publishing: Ready, Steady - GO!

(Sorry, if you saw this post six times - it all went a bit wobbly jelly.)

Okay, I'll admit it - I like the name Trip Adler, it should be a character's name in your next book, but what I like even more, is that here's someone, who is actively encouraging people to publish online.

It's easy to forget that writing isn't all about freelancing or getting book deals, it's also about people doing what they're compelled to do. We can scoff and many do, but come on - let's admire anyone who does what they love.

NOTE: Don't go on and on about it when I'm around, but do it! I like anyone who is passionate about what they do and I don't care if it's manually sorting chopped liver on an assembly line or writing TV sitcoms. Find what you love and the rest will follow - mental rest that is.

Moving along - John Trip Adler from Harvard, no less, has set up this very professional looking site Trip's Online Site / Name to Follow- the techie side is all a bit over my noodle, but do check it out. Trip has come up with an online space where you can publish your work. It's still new and we don't want to abuse this fledgling site, but do go over have a look; if you think it's for you, drop Trip an email.

I like it - I think it's clean, easy to use, a good idea and void of all that advertising rubbish.

Good luck Trip!

Doesn't anyone want a FREE book? A few more days left for The Squeaking Noodle Competition - see post below. Thanks for all the enquiries about contributing to the Squeak of the Week - keep them coming.

Don't Forget The Squeaking Noodle Competition

Just a quick reminder to have a go at The Squeaking Noodle Competition to win a free hard back copy of A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. Good luck!

New SQUEAK OF THE WEEK below...

SQUEAK OF THE WEEK: Fiction Writing Ain’t Rocket Science! By Nadine Laman.

Want to know what it's like writing fiction?
Get reading - this is great advice from author Nadine Laman. With two books under her literary belt - Kathryn's Beach and High Tide, and more on the way, this Californian author has every right to be 'eternally optimistic that we can have a better world'.

Please email The Squeaking Noodle if you would like to be the next SQUEAK OF THE WEEK. The chosen guest blogger will be informed by email.

Fiction Writing Ain’t Rocket Science!
By Guest Blogger Nadine Laman.

What’s the trick to writing fiction? There is no trick. There is no magic formula, which everyone else knows, and you don’t. There wasn’t a memo sent out, there is no secret decoder ring, no muse (I hate that word), or anything else, everyone is selling to writers.

Here is how it works. An idea comes, a sentence maybe, an image of a scene or a scene opening. Sit down and write it out. Don’t think about it. Don’t go on a forum and spend days “talking” about writing. Don’t write out the whole outline – this is fiction!

Sure there is work and preparations to be made for nonfiction, but in fiction, it is as simple as sitting down and starting to type. Don’t believe me? Watch Finding Forrester (Columbia Pictures © 2000) - if Sean Connery said it, it has to be true!

Sit down and write. That’s it. Write the scene that unfolds in your mind. Otherwise, the writing is stilted and has a forced feel to it – who wants to read something like that? The ideas and freshness, the ease of the story unfolding, are all lost in writing an outline. Save all that for your MFA class. Outlines make professors happy. Forget it in real life writing, though. It messes up the pacing and the natural arcs in the story line. Trust me on this - I’ve watched Finding Forrester!

I cranked out my first 80,000-word novel in twenty-one days, just writing a couple of hours a night. Fiction is story telling. The writer’s job is just to write it down. After the first draft is written, then you can sit down with all the writing books on your shelf and tweak it. Just don’t mess with it too much or it will be dry as a bone.

Here’s what I do, not that anyone has to do what I do, I write the first draft without looking back. I don’t edit or look back at anything, until the entire draft is written, which might be why I get them done so quickly – so I can go look at it again. Then, start from the beginning, read through and fix things; cut the rambling, tighten the prose, make sense of the dialogue – leaving in the dialogue tags until it can stand on its own.

Next, send it out to a couple of willing pre-readers. The last thing pre-readers should say is that it is “masterful.” Their job is to point out the parts, that aren’t masterful. When they send back comments or questions, consider each one very carefully. Don’t defend the writing or argue with the pre-readers (they did you a favor), consider whether the comments lead to an improvement.

I don’t always make the changes they suggest; usually the problem is bigger than they think. Sometime the whole “masterful” paragraph has to be cut. It stinks and their polite suggestions aren’t going to fix it. This isn’t about a writer’s ego, this is about writing your best book.

I often read the whole manuscript out loud in a week’s time. Stopping only to underline or star something to revisit. (Print drafts on the back of used paper.) Once I make all the changes and enhancements, then off to the editor. Since I’m dyslexic, this is a necessary step for my work. So, there it is – something to shop to the industry. Write your best book!

(Thanks for sharing the wisdom Nadine!)

Feel free to Email Nadine Laman or pop along to her website Nadine Laman Books

Here's what Amazon readers had to say about Kathryn's Beach by Nadine Laman.







More from The Squeaking Noodle on writing: Writing a Book - In One Hit!

Books Glorious Books!

Journalist and Author Carleen Brice emailed the noodle this morning and has kindly offered Squeaking Noodle readers the following:

"First person to pop over to the Pajama Gardener and tell me you heard about it at the Squeaking Noodle gets a free copy of Age Ain't Nothing but a Number."
(The Pajama Gardener)
For more info see yesterday's post below.
Thanks Carleen!

Don't forget The Squeaking Noodle Competition to win A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.

Many of you have already started taking part in the competition - thanks for taking the time, and yes I should be giving away a shelf. I know - giving away a free book to writers is like giving free fish to fishermen (you know who you are).
Good luck - will post best entries next Monday together with the Winner!

Spreading the Word: Carleen Brice - Age Ain't Nothing but a Number!

Age Ain't Nothing but a Number: Black Women Explore Midlife by journalist and author Carleen Brice. Looking forward to reading this one.

Modest Carleen makes the writing life look simple, important and great fun. Check out her blog - Pajama Gardener - a published author blogs about writing and gardening, both of which can best be done in pajamas. This looks to be a great anthology and I can't wait to get stuck in.

This is from the inside flap - wish they'd call it something else if you know what I mean. Moving swiftly along:

Finally, a collection that celebrates, contemplates, even criticizes midlife . . . but from a black woman’s point of view. Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number is the first anthology of its kind. Featuring the writing of 40 of the finest black women writers, this anthology ranges over every aspect of black women’s lives—family, friendship, love, sex, beauty, health, spirituality, work, and many other topics. Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Patricia Raybon, Elyse Singleton, April Sinclair, Rita Dove, Gloria Naylor, Jewelle Gomez, Nikki Giovanni, Tina McElroy Ansa, Terry McMillan(...and Alice Walker)—these are just a few of the many writers showcased here. Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number tells the real story of midlife. Spirited, candid, moving, funny, and immensely readable, this anthology should make every reader stand up and dance.

Here's what readers over at Amazon UK thought of Age Ain't Nothing but a Number by Carleen Brice.

And...here's what Amazon readers in the States had to say.

Regards to Denver Carleen!

The Squeaking Noodle is always keen to hear from you. If you have a book, link, tips or anything you want to share, drop me an email or comment. Questions? I'll put those up too...if I can't help, someone else will.

Don't forget The Squeaking Noodle Competition to win A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon.

Squeaking Noodle Competition - Fantastic Book for Free!

Along the way The Squeaking Noodle wants to give away some of its favourite books.

To start off with, it's one I read and loved recently. Have a look at this earlier post Great Read: A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon for more info.

All you have to do, is answer the following questions, then leave your answers as a comment (just click on the line that says press to have your say below this post) or Email The Squeaking Noodle. You can give your name or stay anon., but do let me and others know what you do ie. writer, author, journo, gerbil tamer etc.

Here goes:

1) If all your emails for one year were published into a memoir, how accurate a reflection would it be of your life that year and how much cash would you want for it to stop you from leaving the country?

2) If you were invisible whose email inbox would you raid?

3) What's your best writing tip?

I'll put the best answers up for you to read next Monday; the very best one will get Mark Haddon's new book (the hard back edition) sent to them. Make sure to leave me your email, so that I can let you know if you've won.
Good luck!

Hot Gossip: Sssh! Don't Say a Word!

I had to buy this limited edition print by the wonderful artist A.V. Phibes. I found her fabulous site recently and just love her work.

You may have seen an earlier post - First Edition Books - Worth Taking a Look!. I think as writers, we all need something to pep us up occasionally and this did it for me. Do pop along to A.V. Phibes' site and have a look. I couldn't keep this one to myself. Her art is so colourful and the HOT GOSSIP 2002 limited edition print I bought is spot on.

I’m always looking for good ideas and stories, and, of course, hot gossip for my work. Instead of some boring pic of writer with keyboard – I think this will do the trick on the wall beside my desk, laptop, coffee cup and millions of bits of paper and junk that sit around me while I work.

My friend bought a great limited edition lithograph of Iggy Pop by David Bowie - I really wish I'd bought one. When he tipped me off, I ummed and argh-ed for ages. I think I missed out. These artworks go quite cheaply and are worth looking out for. They're beautiful and a great investment for anyone who like me, likes art, but doesn't want to sell their family, partner, friends and furniture to get their hands on it.

About A.V. Phibes: "Raised on Mad Magazine and Looney Tunes, A.V. Phibes had no formal art training (unless you count those ten years of art classes.) Raised poor in the deserts of New Mexico, she moved to The Big City in 1998, bought a Mac, taught herself Photoshop and within two years was working full time as a commercial artist. Two years after that, she had her first solo art show.Today she is an award-winning artist, fast-talking businesswoman and gal about town.

Here's more about A.V. Phibes from her website.

Do let me know if you have found something or someone you think we should all hear about and the Squeaking Noodle will pass it on.

Pic courtesy of A.V. Phibes © 2002 HOT GOSSIP - Thank You!