Trevor's Writing

Idiom #10: As dead as a dodo

No Comments »2nd January, 2007; Category: General, Idioms

This week’s idiom:

“As dead as a dodo.”

Meaning:

If something is “as dead as a dodo” it is dead, extinct, no longer working, obsolete or out of date.

Origins:

The dodo was a large, rather strange looking bird. It lived on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Its name is Portuguese and means “silly” or “stupid.” European explorers and traders in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries found the flightless bird to be both easily caught and delicious to eat. This eventually brought about its extinction.

Example:

“It is no use trying to use that old car,’ said James. “Its motor is as dead as a dodo.”

My writing goals for 2007

2 Comments »1st January, 2007; Category: The Writer's Life

Happy New Year to all my readers.

I hope that 2007 brings much satisfaction and success in your writing life.

I have never really been a person who makes New Year’s resolutions. I prefer to set some goals for my life, things that can be easily measured and where progress can be clearly demonstrated.

So here are a few of my writing goals for 2007:

My Writing Goals for 2007:

To maintain regular posts on my three blogs.
To write a total of 1000 posts on my blogs (up from 800 in 2006)
To write for a total of 1500 hours during the year (up from 1400 hours in 2006).
To average at least 1000 words per day for the whole year (up from 750 words per day in 2006).
To submit to publishers the three novels for children I have already written.
To submit to publishers the five picture book texts for children I have already written.
To submit 10 poems to publishers.
To submit 10 short stories to publishers.

What are your writing goals for this year?

Let me know in the comments section below.

Short Fiction #35: Vincent Celebrates in Style

No Comments »31st December, 2006; Category: Short Fiction, Short Stories

Vincent Celebrates in Style

Vincent looked again at the clock on the wall, and checked it against his wrist watch. He was accustomed to time creeping slowly at this part of his watch. Time seemed to slow down during the night. He stifled a yawn.

â€œI must keep awake,â€ he mumbled. He stretched, and yawned loudly again. He walked across the room. The coffee pot was his only companion on these long nights.

â€œAlmost there,â€ he whispered a little later. The minute hand seemed to crawl even slower as it approached midnight. It was as if the effort of pointing to the top of the clock face was too much.

Vincent watched as it reached midnight. He cocked his ear â€“ yes â€“ he could hear cheering, singing and laughing in the hotel across the road. He raised his coffee mug to the watching clock.

â€œAh, the exciting social life of a security guard,â€ he observed. â€œHappy New Year!”

To read more of my short stories click here.

Reflections on my year of writing

1 Comment »30th December, 2006; Category: Blogging, The Writer's Life

With the end of 2006 just around the corner, it is time for a little reflection on this year. It was a year of highlights and lowlights.

Highlights of 2006:

Trekking the Himalayas in January – simply awesome.
Getting serious about blogging and being able to write over 800 articles on my three blogs.
Writing over a quarter of a million words this year, more than double my previous best year.
Achieving almost 1400 hours of writing, nearly double my previous best year. This figure equates to a average just on four hours per day which is very pleasing seeing there have been quite a few days where I did no writing at all.
Spending several weeks on holiday with my son and daughter in law in Sydney.

Lowlights of 2006:

Being diagnosed as diabetic and having to come to terms with managing this condition.
Supporting my wife through some serious health issues, including several operations.

Over all, however, it has been a productive, though challenging year. I’ve learned a great deal about the writing life, and the blogger’s life in particular and this should help me get off to a flying start next year.

Looking forward to 2007:

Next year I plan to keep going on my three blogs. I see great potential in blogging, at least in the immediate future.
I also plan to get really serious about submitting to print publishers. I have quite a collection of manuscripts of novels and picture book texts which need to be submitted for possible publication.

That is the big challenge ahead for me in 2007.

Some Secrets for Writing Success

No Comments »28th December, 2006; Category: The Writer's Life, Writing Hints

Angela Booth has listed six very sensible hints on how to have success in your writing career. Most of these I have covered in one way or another over recent months, but it is always good to have a reminder.

Read the article here.