I love looking at opening lines of books, it can be the make or break stage on whether it grips you enough to read on!

Here's 100 best opening lines from children's books according to stylist magazine:
http://www.stylist.co.uk/books/100%20best%20opening%20lines%20from%20children%27s%20books

Simon Says!: Where Do You Write?

Simon Says!: Where Do You Write?: Where do you write? This is a photo of my desk, where some of my writing is done. It's where most of my administration stuff is tackled: ...

Random

Spring cleaning has turned to summer cleaning in our house, hence a un-writerly summer! I have been working on a couple of ideas for children's novels, and I did enter the Greenhouse Funny Prize, but alas, I wasn't funny enough. Next big goal to work towards is getting my entry ready for the Mslexia Children's Novel Competition, it's almost ready just a few more tweaks to go.

http://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_active.php

I'm going to have to start writing down some of the random nonsense my children ask me, they come up with some fantastic ideas. My 11 year old often looks pensive then fires off questions at me, the other week it was "Do moths have hearts? If they had hearts like ours their chests would explode in seconds!"

The things that trouble a young boy's mind!

Jane Wenham-Jones' book Wannabe a Writer is free on Amazon Kindle today :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wannabe-Writer-hilarious-informative-ebook/dp/B008J0BTGW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342902221&sr=1-1

womagwriter's blog: Public Lending Right petition

womagwriter's blog: Public Lending Right petition: Please take a look at this petition to protect the organisation which handles Public Lending Right in the UK, and sign it if you agree with...

It's been a busy time since my last post, with birthdays and a funeral and life in between! Life definitely gets in the way of writing. My daughter Poppy, at the tender age of 5 will be making her first entrance into the world of writing very soon. She is having a review of a Babar the Elephant book published in the next issue of Anorak magazine for children. I shall post as soon as I receive a copy.

I've started work on another children's book. This time I'm aiming to have it ready for The Greenhouse Literary Agency competition, who are looking for something humorous. I'm surprised I've never actively attempted humour seeing as my biggest inspiration to write from an early age was Roald Dahl.

I must go and finish my writing for Wombourne Writer's Group tonight. I've had a month and as usual it's a last minute affair!

For a bit of inspiration here's Roald Dahl's writing chair...

Loony?

I've had a very writerly productive bank holiday weekend :) I'd like to think this was all down to me just knuckling down and getting on with it, but I can't help but notice that it coincided with a full moon. I've noticed I'm increasingly more productive and creative during the full moon stage of the moon cycle. I'm sure my other half will agree that it also seems to have the 'loony' effect on my behaviour! Oh well, positives have to have their negative counterparts, but every cloud has it's silver lining :)

Senior moment!

So much for me getting myself organised and writing more. I was all geared up to enter the NAWG competition in several categories, then a senior moment has spoilt it all! I forgot to post before the deadline, and they don't accept email entries :( Oh well, maybe next year then.

I am determined I will have my children's novel finished and edited and revised by October ready for The Times/Chicken House competition :)

"Once upon a Munch Time..."

If you write for children then this competition is ideal for you. Starting with the line "Once upon a Munch Time, there was a cow called Munch..." you have to write a story between 600-800 words.

More details and writing tips are on the website: www.munchtime.co.uk

Closing date is 4th June 2012

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to the blog of Emma Finlayson-Palmer, Writer, Artist, Childminder and full time Mommy

Anorak Magazine for Children

I have a story entitled 'Homework' in the current issue of Anorak Magazine for Children :-)
www.anorakmagazine.com

The story has been illustrated by Kyle Platts, you can see the complete illustrated story on his website here: www.kyleplatts.com it's listed under Anorak Magazine on the left hand side.