Tag Archives: writing

Miranda Writes 37 – The Importance of Daydreaming

All this year, I’m vlogging about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, why being a daydreamer is crucial if you’re a writer and I answer more of your lovely questions!

At school, all of my reports said I would do better if I ‘did less daydreaming’. But today I’m proud to daydream for a living… In this week’s vlog I’ll explain why I think you have to be a daydreamer if you want to write and why, right now, I’m in my ‘daydreaming stage’.

Also this week, I have fantastic questions on the influence of childhood on my writing (from Simona Elena of Sky’s Book Corner blog) and my first three steps to writing a novel (from Katie Marsh). If you would like to ask me a question, leave a comment below this vlog, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com, tweet me @wurdsmyth, or visit my author page on Facebook

Enjoy!

p.s. This week’s YouTube-inspired freeze-frame is entitled, ‘The Chin Rub of Thoughtfulness…’

Miranda Writes 35 – How do you write when life is tough?

This year, in addition to my regular vlogs, I will be posting a series of special vlogs, each focusing on a specific aspect of writing. For the first one, I’ve tackled something really personal: how do you write when life is tough?

This year has been a mix of highs and lows already. Right in the middle of doing a big edit on my seventh novel, A Parcel for Anna Browne, my beloved 93 year-old Gran suffered a massive stroke and passed away.

It broke my heart and stopped me in my tracks.

I didn’t want to write. I couldn’t think about my book – even though I loved it, even though I’m so excited to be getting to tell the story I’ve been wanting to write for a very long time. How do you write when something like that happens?

I hope this vlog gives some answers.

I’d love to know what you think. And if there’s a question you’d like me to answer in a future special vlog, please comment below or email me: mirandawurdy@gmail.com


 

Miranda Writes 34 – My vlog is BACK!

All this year, I am keeping a video diary about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, my vlog returns after quite a long break…

I’ve been editing A Parcel for Anna Browne and I’m really pleased with the result. It turned out to be a huge edit – the equivalent of a structural edit (getting all the key themes and scenes in the right places) and line edit (going through the book with a fine toothed-comb, making sure story arcs are complete and the flow is right) combined. It’s been interesting finding out how my new publisher, Pan Macmillan, works differently to my previous publisher, Avon HarperCollins and, like any new job, there’s been a steep learning curve. But it all helps me to understand what kinds of things Pan Macmillan are looking for in the stories I write.

So, have I seen the cover yet? You’ll have to watch the vlog to find out!

What would you like to know about my books, writing in general or anything else? Ask me a question and I’ll answer it in the next vlog! Just leave a comment below, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com or tweet me @wurdsmyth.

Enjoy, lovelies!

p.s. This week’s You Tube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘Cheesy Grins R Us’…

WriteFoxy! Writers’ Inspiration Day – the highlights

My third WriteFoxy! Writers’ Inspiration Day has just taken place and it was a phenomenal event. If you missed it (and if you were one of the lucky ones actually there), here are the highlights…

CLICK HERE TO SEE A REPORT OF THE DAY ON STORIFY

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#Wurdy5k BONUS TREAT: Merry Christmas, lovelies!

We-ell, I couldn’t finish the #WURDY5k treat bonanza so close to Christmas and not offer you a festive treat or two, could I?

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments about the past five days! I hope you’ve enjoyed the fun!

And so, as an extra bonus treat, I have a singalong EP to download for free and a very special Christmas Short Story, PLUS read on for an exclusive competition!

To help your festivities go with a swing, here’s my Sparkly Christmas Medley, featuring seven of my favourite Christmas songs. Click on the cover below to download for free:

Sparkly Christmas Medley EP cover

 

And here is a lovely, sparkly, magical Christmas story, The Christmas Window, to warm the cockles of your heart! Click the cover below to download for free:

The Christmas Window by Miranda Dickinson

 

And last, but by no means least, here’s a special competition to round off my #WURDY5k celebrations nicely. I am offering one person the chance to appear in the acknowledgements of my seventh novel, A Parcel for Anna Browne, which will be published by Pan Macmillan in September 2015.

To win, all you have to do is email me: mirandawurdy@gmail.com and tell me WHY you should appear in the thank you section of my book.

I will announce the winner on Twitter after Christmas. Best of luck – and have a very happy, merry and jolly Christmas! xx

#Wurdy5k Treat Five: Short Story – Remember

I promised on Twitter that when I reached 5,000 followers, I would do something very special. So, welcome to #WURDY5k – five days of exclusive treats to say thank you for your support!

For your fifth treat, here’s Remember – a spooky short story I wrote with the sole intention of scaring myself. It’s about one woman’s fascination with memorials – untended graves and roadside tributes. Discover how it shapes her life in more ways than she could ever have imagined… Click on the cover below to download the story for free, with my thanks!

Remember Cover

That’s officially the end of my #WURDY5k treats…

…but you know me, always one with the surprises! SO, watch your inbox at 3pm tomorrow for a bonus surprise!

#Wurdy5k Treat Four: Short Story – First Steps in Selfishness

I promised on Twitter that when I reached 5,000 followers, I would do something very special. So, welcome to #WURDY5k – five days of exclusive treats to say thank you for your support!

For your fourth treat, here is First Steps in Selfishness – a short story I wrote about a woman who wants to lead a double life. But what would her family think if they found out she’d lied to them? Will she go through with the daring thing she intends to do? Click on the cover to download the story for free, with my love!

First Steps cover

Watch out for your fifth #WURDY5k treat tomorrow…

 

#Wurdy5k Treat Two: Short Story – Son of the City

I promised on Twitter that when I reached 5,000 followers, I would do something very special. So, welcome to #WURDY5k – five days of exclusive treats to say thank you for your support!

For your second treat, here is Son of the City – a story I wrote for my friends at Gallery Church, Birmingham about how hope can be found in the hardest situations. Click on the cover to download it for free, with my love!

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Hope you enjoy the story! Watch out for your third #WURDY5k treat tomorrow…

#Wurdy5k Treat One: Short Story – New York Spring

I promised on Twitter that when I reached 5,000 followers, I would do something very special. So, welcome to #WURDY5k – five days of exclusive treats to say thank you for your support!

For your first treat, here is New York Spring – a nostalgic New York story with a hint of mystery that I wrote for the lovely Sabine Edwards as part of the Authors For Japan auction. Click the cover to download it free, with my thanks!

New York Spring by

Hope you enjoy the story! Watch out for your second #WURDY5k treat tomorrow…

 

It’s Here! I’ll Take New York heads into the world…

START SPREADING THE NEWS…

I’ll Take New York is published TODAY – and I’m over the moon to share my sixth book with you!

ITNY P-Day cover You can buy your sparkly paperback, ebook and audio editions from:

Waterstones
Amazon
The Book Depository
Hive.co.uk
Tesco.com
Sainsbury’s

It’s the story of Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James and Manhattan psychiatrist Jake Steinmann, who meet at an engagement party as the only two singles and swear a Pact to avoid relationships for ever. Instead, they share their love of the City That Never Sleeps with each other, swapping their favourite places in New York as their friendship grows.

But will the magic of New York City weaken their resolve…?

If you’ve read my first novel, Fairytale of New York, there will be some familiar faces to welcome back: Rosie, Marnie, Ed, Celia, Stewart and Zac are all here, playing their part in Bea and Jake’s tale. It’s my way of writing an ‘almost-sequel’ – letting you know what happens to the original cast of characters without breaking anyone up (or killing anyone off!) Also, if you loved my second novel, Welcome to My World, you’ll meet Harri again and find out what happened next for her! I love the idea that old friends are popping up to join the party and I hope you like discovering their new stories in I’ll Take New York!

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It’s a very strange feeling for me this year as I’ll Take New York hits the shelves. This is my last book for Avon (HarperCollins) and it feels like the end of an era. It’s partly why I wanted to return to New York and revisit the Kowalski’s gang from my first novel, a kind of full-circle journey that represents the last six years of my life. During that time everything in my life has changed: I was discovered on Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and signed a three-book deal with Avon in 2009, followed by another three-book deal in 2010. I’ve become a Sunday Times Bestseller five times over! My books have gone around the world, to date being bestsellers in four countries and translated into seven languages. My total sales number just below three-quarters of a million books worldwide – which is absolutely amazing! I got engaged in 2011, married Bob in 2012 and we welcomed our gorgeous daughter, Florence Wren, into the world this year. In September last year I finally achieved my dream and became a full-time published author after writing with the day job for five years. And next year, I move to embark a whole new chapter of my writing adventure with PanMacmillan…

Most importantly, more than five people in the world have read (and are reading!) my stories – something I secretly dreamed of from being very little. I never thought I would be able to say that, so having readers around the world is the biggest dream come true for me. If you’ve read my books, thank you. You’re amazing. If you’ve yet to read my books, I hope you enjoy my stories.

So much has changed, so much awaits – so, as I celebrate my sixth novel heading out into the big, wide world today, I’m so utterly grateful for everything that has happened. I really hope I’ll Take New York is a fitting tribute to everyone who has been involved, from my lovely Twitter and Facebook followers who had so much fun suggesting things for the book, to my fantastic agent Hannah Ferguson, who has been the biggest, brightest supporter of my work for years, to the lovelies at Avon and my editor, Katy Loftus – who is an absolute sweetheart and a dream to work with – and to everyone who picks up a sparkly paperback, nestles my book in their e-reader library or snuggles up with the audiobook.

Happy P-Day, I’ll Take New York!