Author: Morton S. Gray

Haven’t blogged for a while as I’ve been deep into my edits, to the extent I now have eye strain! I can visualise the end, but a little while to go yet. Meanwhile patriotic fever has overtaken the country. We have a “Last Night of the Proms” event at school this afternoon and the children… Continue reading Union Jack

Thirty poems written! My poem a day in April challenge is complete. Admittedly, some of the poems are a little rough round the edges, but some I am really pleased with. Now I need to polish a few and send them off to competitions, etc. The challenge taught me a lot about my writing and… Continue reading Poetic Diarrhoea

Day 21 of my ‘Poem a Day’ challenge and yes I have 21 poems written, plus a few extras that didn’t quite get finished. I am not normally one to praise myself, but feel pretty pleased with myself over this. I just need to find some way of challenging myself to finish my novels. I… Continue reading Wow!

As if I didn’t have enough to do, I’ve agreed to take part in a version of NaPoWriMo. I am writing a poem a day for the month of April. It is going very well so far and I’m enjoying the light relief from editing. The poems are by no means masterpieces, but they are… Continue reading My Poetry Muscle

Faye Robertson tagged me in this fun little thing making the rounds on the writing circuit. Here are the rules: 1. Go to page 77 of your current MS 2. Go to line 7 3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating. 4.… Continue reading Lucky Seven

The winners of my blog picture competition are….pause for drum roll… Caption: When Eskimos watch ‘The Wizard of Oz’ by Sarah Pearson. Book Title: Bound by Laces by Gwen It was a difficult choice as Ellie and I loved them all. Sarah and Gwen – please direct message me on morton.s.gray@btinternet.com with your addresses and… Continue reading And the winners are.

Competition Time Take a look at the picture below. In case you are wondering Ellie Swoop and I ended up buying the same boots! We thought we would celebrate with some competition fun. The competition is free to enter, but you must be a follower of my blog. Either 1. Give me a caption for the… Continue reading Untitled

Good News Thought I’d share some good news today – 1. My editing of the story I shall submit to my RNA New Writers’ Scheme is going well. 2. Attended my first RNA Birmingham Chapter group on Saturday. Haven’t been into central Birmingham on my own for many years, but I made some new friends and thoroughly… Continue reading Untitled

Sorry I’ve been quiet, but to be honest that sums up how I’ve felt lately. I’ve been battling with editing and I don’t enjoy it as much as the luxurious free writing of a first draft. Having said that, I seem, fingers crossed, to be getting somewhere. I switched the manuscript I was working on… Continue reading Starting in the Middle

Ploughing on with my editing of Wickenham Court. Inspiration photo below. Observations on my first draft include:- Did I write this? I can’t remember half of it! If it reduces me to gales of laughter, will it do the same for my reader? I hasten to add it isn’t a comedy! Note to self: Don’t… Continue reading The Mysteries of a First Draft