Category: Books

Places in NHNT

My novel, Neither Here Nor There, due to be published later this year, describes several places in Jerusalem that I’ve mentioned before on this blog. Like the market, Machane Yehuda.

Jaffa Road and the light railway (which has been going for two and a half years).

The German Colony, which I mentioned here.

Yemin Moshe, where I used to live, and which I described here and here and here.

There are some other places in Jerusalem that get a mention in the novel. I’ll have to photograph them, too.

There are also places in London that feature in the novel. I haven’t taken photos of them and they’re a bit far away from me for a quick snapping session.

Place can often drive a novel. It certainly drives mine.

Nothing can happen nowhere. The locale of the happening always colours the happening, and often, to a degree, shapes it.

~ Elizabeth Bowen

Tags Elizabeth Bowen, German Colony, Jaffa Road, Jerusalem, light railway, London, Machane Yehuda market, Neither Here Nor There, Yemin Moshe

Books

In the past, when people asked me what I did, I’d say, “Well, for a long time I was a computer programmer, and then I was a technical writer.” If they looked confused at that – and most did – I’d say, “I wrote manuals explaining how to use software,” and they’d nod, whether they understood or not.

Then they’d ask, or I’d feel I had to add, “Now I’m at home and I write.” With raised eyebrows they’d ask, “What sort of thing do you write?” and I’d mumble, “Oh, different things.” Then came the inevitable question: “Have you had anything published?” to which I’d mumble, “A couple of short stories in anthologies,” as if they don’t really count – not because I think that’s true, but because they probably do. Their question probably meant, “Have you had a whole book published?”

Suddenly, everything has changed. Now when people ask me what I do, I say, “Ani soferet” – I’m an author. They look at me with wide eyes. “Wow!” And I smile and nod.

But something bothers me about all this. Was it the signing of a contract that turned me into an author? Surely I’ve been an author since I started writing. Why couldn’t I ever say that before?

On the other hand, I suppose I couldn’t say it because I’d have felt I didn’t deserve the “Wow!” that followed.

Anyway, it’s happened now and I’ve taken a big leap and landed in a bed of Cats – Crooked Cats. There is even a catalogue.

Tags author, catalogue, Crooked Cat Publishing, what do you do?

Books

Revelation Number 1

In my last post, I hinted at two more exciting things that I couldn’t yet divulge.

I am now able to tell you one of them.

For those of you who haven’t seen any of the posts on Facebook and Twitter:

My novel, Neither Here Nor There, is going to be published later this year by Crooked Cat Publishing.

As you can imagine, I’m very excited and looking forward to being a published author.

Books

Exciting Times

2014 is proving to be an exciting year for me. If nothing else happens, it will still have been an exciting year.

Firstly, Morgen Bailey accepted my three six-word stories for publication on her blog. They will be podcasted on Sunday 22nd March.

When Morgen told me, on the very last day of 2013, that the stories would be published, I thought that might augur well for 2014 and I was right. I have two more exciting things that I would love to tell you, but for now my lips are sealed.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to tell you both of them very soon.

Tags 2014, Morgen Bailey, six-word stories

100-word stories Books

100 Word Challenge – Week #119

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Jan 27, 2014
14 Comments on 100 Word Challenge – Week #119

Click on the image to join the challenge

I haven’t done this for almost a year.

The prompt is:

… whenever I hear it, I think of you ….

I’m not sure I like my attempt.

Solomon and John

John Smith: Solomon! So glad I found you after all this time. Thirty years, is it?

Solomon Grundy: Forty more like. Isn’t Facebook wonderful? I’ve thought of you over the years.

John Smith: Me, too. There’s this rhyme. Whenever I hear it I think of you.

Solomon Grundy: What rhyme is that?

John Smith: It goes like this. Solomon Grundy, born on Monday, christened on Tuesday, married on Wednesday, took ill on Thursday, grew worse on Friday, died on

Solomon Grundy has gone offline.

“Oh, what a shame. Must be the end of Solomon Grundy. And we’d only just met up again. Back to the Saturday review then.”

Tags 100 word challenge

Books Israel

Ayelet Tsabari and Place

Ayelet Tsabari “was born in Israel to a large family of Yemeni descent. She grew up in a suburb of Tel Aviv, served in the Israeli army, and travelled extensively throughout South East Asia, Europe and North America. She now lives in Toronto.”

What better person to run a one-day writing course entitled: Wish you were here; writing about place? That’s what Ayelet did on Thursday and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend it.

These are the main points she made:

Research well.
Use details to introduce a place.
Don’t overwrite. Pick the most appropriate and vivid details and the most precise words to describe them.
Use all five senses.
Introduce a place gradually.
Let the description unfold as the character moves through the scene.
Place is deeply connected to the emotions of the characters. Their experience of the place is influenced by their feelings, state of mind, mood and judgment. In describing a place, choose words that reflect the character’s emotions.

All the points were illustrated with examples and there were also exercises. It was a most enjoyable and profitable day.

The Amazon page for Ayelet’s book – The Best Place on Earth: Stories – contains a link to an excerpt from one of her stories and I can tell you it’s good! You can read it at amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.

On the way to the course, I had my own struggle with place. The course took place in the small town of Beit Zayit, at the home of Judy Labensohn, another writer, who is running the next course in the series, which I’ll be blogging about soon. I decided to drive there via Ein Karem – not such a good idea as it turned out, although I had the best of reasons. I wanted to avoid the morning traffic jams, and the route I chose did look the shortest.

Two unrelated problems held me up. Firstly, the road to Ein Karem, one on which we have travelled many times, was not there. What a weird feeling! It wasn’t that the road was blocked off. It was as if there had never been a road there.

I had to come to my senses quickly enough to decide to turn left and get to the other road to Ein Karem – through morning traffic jams, of course.

Then I missed the road I wanted to take to Beit Zayit. In fact, I think I saw the road but there was no sign on it and it probably isn’t possible to reach Beit Zayit that way. So I ended up in Mevasseret and had to turn towards Jerusalem and turn off at the main road to Beit Zayit. Fortunately, I’d left plenty of time for this journey (or so I thought) and arrived only one minute after the starting time. Next time, I’ll make sure I find the best way of going, and one that exists!

I’ll be blogging about place again, soon – as a guest blog for my friend, Sue Barnard, whose first novel, The Ghostly Father, is about to be released.

Tags Ayelet Tsabari, Beit Zayit, Ein Karem, place, Sue Barnard

Blogging Books Social anxiety

One one fourteen

I realised what I want from 2014 when I commented on Annalisa’s blog: “I had fun in 2013. I want 2014 to be fun, too, but more productive and fulfilling. I want to push myself more.”

Last night I had more fun when we welcomed 2014 with a little celebration at folk dancing. The January New Year in Israel is always a bit subdued compared to many other parts of the world. Although we know it’s not religious, there’s a feeling that this holiday isn’t really ours. “Happy New Year” refers to a different time and today is a normal working day.

Before that I made a decision about the 100k in 100 days challenge. I’m going to do it. I’m going to write lots of blog posts and stories and more and hope to reach the target. I succeeded at NaNoWriMo in November, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to do this.

The only problem is that I haven’t done enough planning and will have to decide what to write as I go along. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

One of the ways I think I should push myself is by blogging more about social anxiety and how it comes into play in everything I do. Because not mentioning it is like trying to pretend it doesn’t exist, which I did for much too long. I started writing in order to raise awareness of social anxiety and I need to carry on doing that.

So that’s what my ‘Fourteen will be about: Fun, Fulfilment and Forcing myself to cross new boundaries.

What will your 2014 be about?

Tags 100k in 100 days, 2014, folk dancing, nanowrimo, New Year

Blogging Books

My Blogging Year

In 2013, I blogged about

memoir writing, from which I learned a lot
my three trips abroad
writing courses
various aspects of living in Jerusalem
a couple of books in review
social anxiety
snow

and more.

And I tried various challenges:

100k in 100 days
A-Z challenge
100 word challenge
NaNoWroMo

WordPress sent me my stats for 2013:

I posted 91 posts. This must be number 92.

My visitors came from 79 countries.

My 5 most active commenters were:

Thank you, Angela, Jean, Rachael, Rosalind and catdownunder and all the other commenters and visitors. Without you I wouldn’t be here.

And so, as 2013 draws to a close, I have to make a decision: will I attempt the 100k words in 100 days challenge again, starting tomorrow? If I do, I’ll have to come up with more ideas of what to write. Hmm….

What I’m sure about is that I will continue blogging in 2014 as long as I still have visitors.

Tags book reviews, commenters, New Year, snow, travel, writing challenges, writing courses

Books

NaNoWriMo Progress Update 4

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Nov 30, 2013
2 Comments on NaNoWriMo Progress Update 4

I did it! It was quite a struggle, but I made it. And this time it’s a novel that’s worth working on.

After having a well-deserved ~~rest~~ catch up with washing, ironing, etc. for a day or two, I’m going to start on it. Hooray!

Tags nanowrimo, winner