Category: Non-fiction

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

My Editing Process

When thinking up material to put on my blog, I always think about what I would love to read as an aspiring writer. Some may find my advice incredibly boring. For some it might not work or it could be the complete opposite to what others do but this is me and this is how I edit.

So, I have 65,000+ words on a page.

I know that this has to increase. I also know that some bits must be cut in order for the end product to be of my best ability.

Firstly, I set myself a goal. I put the pressure on. This goal is therefore usually unrealistic but I make myself slightly stressed out in order to edit at my best. For example, I have just finished my second novel and I am well into the editing process on that. My end goal is the end of this month which was initially the end of last year so that the pressure remains.

Next I read through chapter by chapter and as much as if I were reading it as a novel as I possibly can. This is done on my laptop. I make changes as I go. I note down ideas on a separate document to look at later regarding the piece as a whole. This might be to check that a certain character is consistently a girl or to ensure that the timeline of events works.

Once I have completed the first read through, I turn to the trusty editor button on Microsoft Word and I complete all amendments there if I agree.

I then print it out. Bind it.

Having it nicely presented somehow helps and it also makes for a good keepsake in the future when I reminisce about past works. This is partly for my own satisfaction, but partly because I find that my brain works in an entirely different way when it reads something printed as opposed to on the screen of a laptop. It also makes for a nice and easy presented version to give to proofreaders.

I send to any proofreaders that I have in mind and keep one copy for myself to read. I read again on paper, marking in pen any changes and again filling in my notes doc on the computer.

Next I take back any proofreader copies as well as my newly changed hardcopy and make all changes.

Finally I go over my notes doc and complete all task there.

Then it goes off to the publishers.

That’s it. That is how I edit. In case you were wondering. Apologies if you weren’t!

Happy Friday all.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

Where I’m at…

I couldn’t think of a blog topic this week. I think it is because my head is so busy. It makes no sense really as I’d have thought the busier my head, the more ideas flowing about. In fact it is the opposite. I have nothing.

Instead I thought it would be an interesting exercise to write down where I’m at. A stream of conscious style piece. My exact thoughts and feelings at the very moment.

Here goes…

Today I am in a good place. I’m feeling positive despite the news. Having just enjoyed a lovely cuppa accompanied by a slice of raspberry flapjack, I am feeling very content.

The week has been busy so far. We’re not even half way through and I’ve written an article for publication in a glossy mag, organised a giveaway and not completely failed at wrapping some presents on top of working full time. Not bad.

It’s birthday week. I’m feeling good about my twenty seventh trip around the sun. Being twenty five has been different to say the least. A global pandemic would make it somewhat different, obviously, but there have been plenty of good bits.

  • The summer was hotter than usual.
  • I noticed more, especially the birds and nature.
  • Appreciation has been a constant throughout.
  • My managerial development has come on.
  • I’m a published author!

Bring on twenty six.

I am on my break from work and as soon as I got in I put my sausage dog in his harness and took him for a walk. He’s in training. Though he is almost two. He gets very anxious about walking on his own. Put another person or dog into the mix and he is immediately fine but alone he is terrified. I’m trying to fix this. We didn’t get very far at all but we got further than the last time. Progress. Positive progress is what it is all about.

I have a longer break today and it is lovely. There we go with appreciation again. I’ve not had a day off in over a year which I think has made me more grateful for time off. Time out. Even just an hour to myself is total bliss.

I’m reading Us Three by Ruth Jones. It is a great escape. A huge page-turner. Perfect for these times. I have plenty of break left today so I think I’ll continue to indulge in escapism. I love reading and I love books.

There, that’s where I’m at.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

SPRING has almost sprung and so has our gloominess

…out of the way!

Let’s face it, the past year has been full of doom and gloom. Everywhere. It has been relentless. Keyworkers are on their knees without much energy left to continue. Those who have been shielding long to see the outdoors. People on furlough are praying they still have a job at the end of it all. Dogs are praying that their owners never have to go to work again.

News. We can’t get away from it. It is the main topic of every day conversations because we don’t have much else to say. It is hard to plan because we must rely on data that we currently don’t have. We are still very much living through the pandemic.

Not only has Boris’ announcement on Monday brought a wave of optimism into this otherwise shit show, but the weather seems to have brightened with the news. Working last Saturday was almost like a spring day and I nearly didn’t take my coat with me for a dog walk after.

We all know having lived through a number of lockdown situations now that staying home in the summer is a lot more pleasant than during January and February. They are the worst months of the year in normal circumstances let alone lockdown during a global pandemic.

I think usually we aren’t aware of the sluggish feeling that comes with getting through these two months. March arrives and we instantly feel better unaware that we were feeling bad before. This year that feeling has been ever present and the thought of March and spring and sunshine and birds and being outdoors feels like heaven on earth.

Well. I’m pleased to say that this feeling certainly came a week early and the weather has boosted the country. It’s brighter, lighter, the birds are louder, people’s smiles are bigger, everyone is outside.

Long may it last!

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Seasonal

Happy Love Day

wallup.net

Valentines day can be lovely. Huge bouquets of flowers, champagne for breakfast and a celebration of the many strong relationships out there. #couplegoals

It can also be sad, lonely and make you feel sick to the stomach. I have heard people in long term healthy relationships wretch at the gushy messages they see or extravagant presents for this commercial celebration.

I’m pretty chill about being single because for the past few years I’ve been working on myself. I now can say I feel I’m better at being me than ever. I’m happier in my own skin and not relying (too much) on others to make me happy – the healthiest way to be. Yet on valentines day afternoon I found myself avoiding social media due to the constant stream of soppy status’ and displays of perfection.

While scrolling and inwardly weeping – mostly due to the fact that my car battery was flatter than a flat thing and I had spent my entire weekend trying to fix it – I found a few gems hidden among the gush. One was from Fearne Cotton. Another from Dawn O’Porter. A third from Charlie Mackesy and all were expressing the same, wonderful idea.

‘Today I’m celebrating all the love in my life,’ said Fearne. ‘The family, the friends, the special people who turned up later down the line, the ones I can’t see or hug.’

This is just it. Everyone has a little love in their hearts. Some more than others but everyone has something. Even, heaven forbid, those who are ‘on their own’ at valentines. And this year this notion is more important than ever. I’m going to celebrate love on valentines day for years to come. Even when I’m in a relationship I will continue to think of it as a day to celebrate treasured relationships that portray, Charlie Mackesy’s words, love in all its forms.

Happy Love Day for a week ago to you all. Love wins, always.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Stories Writing

How my subconscious influences my writing

So far I have been receiving great feedback after my debut novel, Dear Brannagh, was released. In fact, so many who I least expected to enjoy it have phoned me with glowing reviews. Men and women of all ages have become gripped into the life of Mary Carter. This is everything that a writer asks for.

One particular piece of feedback that is cropping up on loop is how I have written about so many different life experiences. Ones that I’m not meant to know about aged twenty-five.

“If you were fifty,” one man said, “then fair enough. You might have been through events that you describe or know of someone close to you who has. The fact that you are only twenty-five years old makes it so much more remarkable.”

I think I just absorb. I’m a huge listener. Much like my dad. If we’re sitting at a bar we would much prefer to be listening to those telling stories rather than the spotlight being on us telling them.

Until dad gets drunk and starts with the wide mouth frog joke!

It might sound odd because I write for a living (almost) but I really do listen to everyone in all walks of life. My day job involves conversing with so many different people every day. On my travels and during university I met all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds. My subconscious, as with everyone, is alive and I find it fascinating how much of this comes out when writing a novel.

Of course, I interviewed people and literally asked their experience but I think that a lot of it comes from the conversations I have had in the past unknowingly being stored within my subconscious brain.

Amazing.

So often I am reading back over my work and I can pinpoint where certain phrases or analagies come from. For example, I can remember giving my fingers a break once while writing about Mary struggling over the loss of her mum. She twiddles her ring on her finger as I did but for a very different reason.

It is very fascinating indeed.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Recommendations

My Lockdown day

I haven’t really experienced lockdown in true stay-at-home-for-days-weeks-months-on-end style. I go to work six days a week, try to lay in on my one day off and usually wake up at 5 a.m. due to my body’s inability to break the routine. Today (it is a Sunday, I am writing this on a Sunday but when I post it most probably won’t be a Sunday) I questioned whether I would have enough time if I were to experience true lockdown. Enough time to fit everything in.

I say this partly in jest as I do realise that many people out there are seriously struggling with the endless hours during the never-ending weeks of lockdown 3, but today was an example of me adoring some time to myself.

I had already decided, having sent off my second novel to the publishers mid-week, that I wasn’t going to pick up my laptop and do anything regarding further editing of said novel or writing of the third. In fact, I wasn’t going to do any writing at all and here I am…

Blogs are fun and the ideas buzz around my head like an irritating fly so sometimes I just have to get them down.

I digress.

Today was going to be a day for me. I finished work at around 5 p.m. yesterday evening and chilled out with beers and Saturday night TV. Just before bed, as is often the case, my head began to spin with ideas of things to do on my Sunday off.

Throughout the week I always see things on social media etc that I note down to watch or listen to. It might be a podcast, a video interview, an article, a book, a film, a TV programme… I rarely find the time in the week and if I begin watching in the evening I have usually had too many wines to stay awake and finish watching/ listening/ reading anyway.

My list for this Sunday went something like this:

  • A video interview by Dawn O’Porter with Kate Winslet (Conversations at home SAG-AFTRA Foundation, I found on her Patreon channel)
  • A video interview by Dawn O’Porter with Jason Segel (Conversations at home SAG-AFTRA Foundation, again on her Patreon channel)
  • Finish reading Demi Moore’s Inside Out, a memoir
  • An interview with Marian Keyes on Laura Whitmore’s BBC 5 Live show (Found on BBC Sounds App)
  • An hour on the exercise bike (needed)
  • Two walks

I mean, I’ve done it! I loved every single moment of it. Yet when walking with my sister this morning and listing aloud all that I planned to do that day, I never thought I would complete it. Chill, I kept inwardly telling myself. Chill out and stop cramming so much in.

I love days like this becasue I consume lots. I learn lots. Even if I’m not consciously listening or watching I somehow take it in. Exercise makes me feel good especially when I have the time. And none of it – NONE OF IT – is work or pandemic related. Everything is removed from my life but also enhances it. It gives me such a sense of meaningful escape.

I have no other reason for writing this post other than to give others some good suggestions of material to consume while in lockdown. That and the idea for this post was running over in my head on loop so I needed to get it down.

During this week, in my continuation of listening to Laura Whitmore’s podcast, Castaway while on the exercise bike, I have also added Emma Gannon’s Ctrl Alt Delete (podcast) and In Writing with Hattie Crisell (podcast) for all my fellow writers.

You are welcome.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

My Lockdown Google.

I think at some point this year we’ve all been in one or more of these places… GOOGLE THE CONFUSION! Here goes…

Nearest OPEN takeaway near me…

How to wear a Facemask…

Which face coverings are acceptable?

Is it acceptable to guide others on how to wear a face mask?

What are the COVID rules?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

McDonald’s breakfast times…

Weather forecast for Sunday…

Gift ideas for cancelled weddings 🙁

What is the recommended daily alcohol intake?

How many calories in a Corona beer?

What are the current COVID rules?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

Are we going into another lockdown?

Is it all too late?

Is Boris ok?

Does Trump really have Coronavirus?

Is this all a nightmare?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

How to drink tea with a visor on…

How to drink tea in a mask…

Notonthehighstreet

Amazon…BUY NOW

What did I order last night?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

(for retailers) what’s a healthy level of frustration towards someone you don’t know?

Is wine one of your five a day?

Will this ever end?

Local small business gift ideas…

Is wine an essential retailer?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

When will I get the vaccine?

Is there ever going to be any good news?

How long will this go on for?

Why did he eat a bat?

Book recommendations for lockdown?

Netflix best shows…

Is crochet difficult?

How many jigsaws in one year is the record?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

2020, we’ve all googled it!

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Recommendations

Podcasts picked from a podcast

2021, a third national lockdown and barely an end in sight means we’re all searching for things to do. Many are furloughed still and have plenty of time on their hands, others are working and need an escape but whatever your personal situation, I have an idea for you!

I’m a sucker for Podcasts. Sometimes even I prefer them to music. I love music, but sometimes I want to learn things, to engulf myself in other people’s conversations and to hear about things to which I relate.

I’ve started using an exercise bike because going to work in the dark and arriving home in the dark leaves no time for running. At least, that’s what I love to tell myself. I hate running. For January, at least, and hopefully beyond, I have vowed to cycle for ten minutes on the bike before I do anything else each day. It is January 8th and so far I have stuck to it.

Mostly, I’ve done this to music. Occasionally, I have done it in silence. Yesterday I did it listening to Laura Whitmore’s Castaway Podcast. The Podcast about Podcasts.

So far I have only listened to one episode with the lovely Giovanna Fletcher as a guest and I have already gained so much from it.

Obviously, the first podcast recommendation is going to be this one. Castaway by Laura Whitmore.

My to-listen-to list already has on it:

  • David Tennant Does A Podcast With… (I’ve heard he has fabulous guests and fabulous conversations) Since writing this post I have listened to James Corden and begun Catherine Tate – both brilliant so far.
  • Giovanna Fletcher – Happy Mum Happy Baby (An honest discussion about motherhood)
  • Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed – Chris and Rosie Ramsay
  • Ctrl Alt Delete – Emma Gannon

If you’re thinking of ways to usefully while away hours of yet another lockdown then, you’re welcome 🙂

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

I never would have imagined

I never would have imagined a year with no contact. No hugs, no emotion, barely any guests at funerals and weddings.

I never would have imagined a year with no holidays. No travel within your own country let alone outside.

I never would have imagined a year with lots of closures. Barely going to the pub at all, no drunken memories or nights that carry on and on.

I never would have imagined a year being surrounded by it. On the news, Saturday night tv shows, in general conversation – everywhere.

We can look at it and think what is missing, what have we lost, see all that is wrong.

Or we can notice what we have gained, build up hope to continue on…

An appreciation for living in the very moment, zero planning.

Amazement at human adaptation, how everyone, almost everyone has found new ways, new avenues.

Strength in carrying on. Hope in the future.

True gratitude for the front line fighters, the NHS staff and essential workers.

‘2020 wasn’t all so bad,’ I’ve seen in many a status today,

Entering 2021 steadily and carefully because the virus hasn’t gone away.

Yet in 2020 we learnt about finding the rainbows in the storm,

We can enter the new year with this mindset, approach everything in this form.

Happy New Year’s Day, I really think, sometime soon, it will all be ok.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

My Perfect Writing Day

On my own terms. Preferably a day off from my day job. Waking up on my own accord and consuming two lovely hot beverages; be it tea or coffee, equally lovely, before doing anything else. I would usually begin with reading something entirely unrelated to whatever it is I plan to write. For at least one hour. It gets the creative juices flowing. I then need to change. Even if it’s not a shower-and-get-ready-for-the-day type change, I just need to change. It puts me mentally in the right head space. Next I must walk or inhale some form of fresh air, ideally by the sea. Set up. A desk like setup but not necessarily a desk. A kitchen table, an upright chair and table, I’ve even been known to work at a kitchen breakfast bar and work well. Now I’m ready to begin. Write write write. Until the creativity fades. I often find it useful to have blog post ideas to flit back and forth to. For some reason mixing up what I’m writing so that my mind isn’t solely focused on one project really helps to keep the creativity alive. If my focus is fading after three chapters of novel writing, writing a short blog post or piece for something entirely unrelated helps to recharge the batteries. I don’t know why.

That’s how I do it, that’s my perfect writing day.