Arriving back from our week away in Dartmouth I’ve now settled back into writing. Once more I’m nearly at the end of a book writing journey; one which has taken longer than usual. This is because I wasn’t happy with my opening chapter. I didn’t just revise it, I completely rewrote it . This had a knock on effect through the rest of the book, meaning more time working on changes. For me the first chapter is the most difficult to write. It is also the most important if you are planning to hook the reader and draw them into the story. Therefore I have to be happy with it.
On 14th September I planned to leave my writing behind keen to take a complete break and spend some catch up time with family. However, there was one key scene I couldn’t leave behind; one I was sure distance and a new environment would help me sort out. The book was complete apart from one crucial scene where the two main protagonists get up close and personal for the first time. It was all there – the location and scenes leading up to that all important moment. All I needed was to sit down and hope sometime during that week I’d get the inspiration to write it.
For a couple of weeks prior to the holiday I’d worked through various options. On one occasion I’d actually written a scene I thought would work. To a certain extent it did, but not in a way that convinced me I’d cracked it. So Dartmouth I decided,
far away from domestic and other day to day distractions, was going to be my salvation. In those moments between our days out and evenings spent in one of the local restaurants I sat and watched the river from the window seat in our apartment. It was an opportunity to give the whole thing my total concentration. And eventually it worked – that light bulb moment arrived.
So now I’m sitting in front of my computer ready to write that final missing piece of the story. Wish me luck!
Wendy is a former Coroner’s Assistant turned crime writer who lives in the UK with her husband.
One of my meets was with an old work friend. We met in Bradford on Avon for a light lunch at the double award winning Bridge Tea Rooms near the town bridge. The building dates back to 1502, which means small doorways, low ceilings and beams – not forgetting a couple of well worn steps you need to negotiate as you enter the building.
years after moving to West Wiltshire. Fitzmaurice Grammar School was a smaller school than Marlborough, where I spent my first year. It was also lot closer to home – two bus rides each way as opposed to a daily 30 mile round trip by train. During my first year at Bradford on Avon our form room was at the rear of the school in a long wooden building known as The Gallipoli hut (shown behind the main building in the picture below), which had been erected in 1920. It housed both second years (year 8 in modern speak), the 5th form cloakroom and the male staff room. These huts were like freezers in the winter and saunas in the summer. Thankfully, by the time we reached the third year (Year 9) we
had moved up to classrooms in the newly-built Physics and Chemistry block. It was in there that the whole class of 3A fell foul of an American exchange teacher. I think the move from a US high school in Philadelphia to a small provincial grammar school was a bit of a culture shock for him. I’m sure this was the reason he appeared to have very little humour and even less patience. On this particular occasion while we were waiting for him to arrive from the main school building a large black Labrador wandered in. As two of the class tried unsuccessfully to catch it and put it out, he arrived. Not at all amused, he wanted to know who had brought the dog into the classroom. When told it had come in by itself he refused to believe us. He gave ‘the culprit’ the chance to own up and when unsurprisingly no one did the whole class was given detention.
In those days school rules were strict. Any pupil discovered beyond the school gates without their hats or caps were automatically given detention. Eating in the street was another misdemeanour which attracted the dreaded ‘D’. Once a month the headmistress would keep all the female pupils back after assembly. On those occasions we usually had a lecture about short skirts, nail varnish and wearing hair loose below collar length (neither of the last two was allowed). When I see schools turn out today it makes me wonder if she was still around what she would make of 21st century uniform and rules.
canal to the hamlet of Avoncliffe (picture right) a couple of miles out of town then back along the road and into school. Remembering occasions when the fog came down really thickly I sometimes look back and wonder whether it ever crossed her mind about the danger of sending young girls out in twos and threes along deserted tow paths (in those days the local canal was full of duck week and fallen trees). On really cold days we got into the habit of setting off only to spend our 
time in Tithe Barn (left) where there was a certain degree of protection from the elements. We had the whole thing down to a fine art; staying there for the right amount of time and then sneaking across the railway line and back into town,looking suitably breathless as we struggled back to the changing room!
really miss those school days. Most of the teachers are, of course, long gone. The school closed in 1980 and transferred to Christchurch Secondary School at the top of the town (a larger more modern campus with the potential to extend) to become St Lawrence Comprehensive. For several years after the school stood empty and neglected – a sad end for this lovely building. Nine years after closure it was eventually rescued. The main school was converted into accommodation and several new builds added in the grounds to provide 42 upmarket retirement flats with a new name – Fitzmaurice Place. A happy ending after all.
Originally from Lyon in France, Marie has lived in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire for the past few years. She writes both contemporary and historical romance, as well as short stories, always with ‘a French twist’. A SPELL IN PROVENCE, her debut contemporary romantic suspense, and historical romances ANGEL HEART, THE LION’S EMBRACE and DANCING FOR THE DEVIL, are published by Accent Press. Her latest contemporary romance, LITTLE PINK TAXI, is published by Choc Lit, and watch out for A PARIS FAIRY TALE, soon to be released by Choc Lit!
JO LAMBERT 