When Talli agreed to be a guest on my blog I knew we were all in
for a treat. What I wasn’t expecting was to laugh out loud as I read (and
related to) the following. Enjoy.
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| Talli Roland - in between snacks |
Writing from home each day, most of
the excitement in my life revolves around food. From the second I sit down at
the computer to start writing, I’m already fantasising about burnt toast
o’clock, when I get to munch on yummy carbon slathered with butter. We all know
the benefits of cupcakes and chocolate, and how they can lift us from the
doldrums when things may not be going so swimmingly with our writing efforts. But
what about all those other mood swings writers experience? What should we munch
on then?
I've developed a handy-dandy guide to help with just that question.
Stuck on a plot point. If your
creative juices aren't flowing, why not encourage a little saliva? I'd suggest
munching on something sour; perhaps some of those super-mouth-pursing penny candies
from the corner shop. Or, why not try sucking a lemon?
Bored with the MS. No matter how
excited we may be when we begin a new project, it's inevitable that at some
stage, boredom will set in. At this point, I'd recommend a bracing bite of a
durian. It tastes like feet and I can guarantee you'll feel alert after eating
it!
Restless and anxious. Sometimes,
reading over one's own writing and the thought of showing it to others can be
vom-inducing. I'd suggest a lovely cup of chamomile tea, paired with a
digestive biscuit. Ahhhh...
When that character just won't behave! Don't
kill them off with abandon. Instead, I recommend cooking up a piece o' meat
then stabbing it over and over to release frustration. (Note: I haven't
actually done this – yet).
I suck.
I’m finished. No-one will ever want to read this rubbish. There’s only one
thing for it: sugar sugar sugar! Chocolate, liquorice all-sorts, or even just
some granules straight from the canister (I’ve done it in desperation) –
whatever you choose, rest assured that in about ten minutes, you’ll get a rush
that will banish the blues.
The
Amazon one-star review. If you’re published, only two things are certain: 1. your
mum will buy your book; and 2. at some point, you’ll receive a one-star review. Such moments are crushing and even
soul-destroying . . . until you drink some wine and put it all back into
perspective again. Someone doesn’t
like your book. So what? They
probably can’t read, anyway.
The
elusive 'this MS rocks' moment. Grab whatever food is handy and stuff
your face fast, 'coz I can guarantee that moment probably won't last!
Happy eating! Oh yes... and writing.
Talli Roland writes bittersweet and witty
contemporary women’s fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in
London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine).
Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found
she preferred making up her own stories—complete with happy endings. Talli’s
novels have been short-listed in Best Romantic Reads at the UK’s Festival of
Romance and chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites. Her
most recent book, Marriage to Measure,
was published in December 2014.
When Serenity Holland proposes to her long-time boyfriend
Jeremy, she’s certain ‘forever’ is a perfect fit. As the wedding train steams
forward, though, Serenity starts to wonder if they really are an ideal match.
From a crusty old ring to a dilapidated house she’s left to renovate on her own
– not to mention the appearance of Jeremy’s clingy ex-fiancée – engagement
feels more like disengagement.
Delighted you could join us today, Talli…and thank you for the
permission to indulge in what might before have been considered forbidden
fruit. And speaking of fruit, I had to look up durian. Not sure I'm quite ready for that one yet. Next time I have a guilt trip I shall think of this post.
Natalie
