Mad Iguana

Daeds, as many of us are still finding their way around the Den, is it worth re-posting this? And, perhaps, giving a longer deadline? It’s a fantastic concept.

Thanks for kicking this off, Daeds. The theme couldn’t be more appropriate.

Congratulations Janette! What wonderful validation. Your ability to infuse deep emotion in such a short piece is impressive. 🙂

Never understood the filtering aspect of making friends, Jules, so thanks for that. The friends function never seemed to make any difference on the Cloud (that I could detect) but making friends here over recent weeks has felt more about reunion hugs and so-happy-and-relieved-to-see-you-again. 🙂

Love your talents Squidge, especially the striped rainbow-coloured quilt! I’m a huge fan of textiles and have often thought it would be fun to make a quilt using free-from sewing, but never got round to making a start. And yes, so very heartening that Cloudies have a new home. x

Thank you @Daedalus — I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks Philippa, that’s really useful especially your feedback about the scene after the big turning point, I can see how it can feel flat compared to what’s just before so I’m reworking it making it shorter and more to the point.

Also I’ll try to work it some more “wolf” reference about Jezza, maybe referring to him as the leader of the pack or…[Read more]

The easiest way to protect your writing from unwanted attention is to set up a private group. Explain what it’s about in the description and then people can ask to join or you can invite them.

That’s one reason why the writing challenge group A Room with a View will be changed to a private group as soon as writing begins.

If you are really…[Read more]

Starting with a sentence that gives away what is going to happen is something I do a lot myself. There is a stage in my editing process where I go through the MS and look for them and mainly remove or change them. I think they are sort of notes to myself that need to come out.

When writing that painful 1st draft always remember Hemingway wise words: “The first draft of anything is shit.”

Choose ring bound notebooks to scribble ideas in; you’ll never lose your pen if you keep one clipped down the inside of the rings…

Jane – yes, this is the start of number 2…

Will have a think about the success bit… If two peeps think it, you might well have a point. 😉

Wow, that’s a heck of a story Elle. Absolutely stunning from first line to last

Is this the opening to number two? It works really well whether you’ve read the first or not. Straight into the action and letting us know about Tilda and her situation without us feeling we are being told. I am inclined to agree with Mad about not giving away that she will succeed in creating an illuminorb in the opening sentence.

Oh I see! Sort of a ‘how much longer is she going to keep trying this?’ vibe?

Make time for day-dreaming. Fifteen minutes of doing nothing, except thinking about a particular scene, can help you visualise better.
Atmospheric music helps. As does wine. Or gin.
Okay, maybe not gin.

Thanks Kate, Mad.

Actually, I reckon your way would work too, Mad. I suppose it depends what it is you’re trying to emphasise in the opener – for me, it was the fact that Tilda’s been trying to get this bloomin’ illuminorb right for so long, whereas depending on how you worded the next bit, your suggestion might focus attention on Silviu and his…[Read more]

Ta, Jules. I’m working on the theory that this quilt can be reversible, in that the visible spirals on the ‘back’ are just as lovely as the mixed coloured stripes on the ‘front’. A lot still to do though.