Sue Ransom

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#OctNo – Getting back in the habit of writing

November 1, 2019 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

I’ve not added much here lately. For various – mostly family-related – reasons my writing has slowed over the last two years, and although I have projects in progress, I wasn’t making much actual, well, progress. I decided I needed a motivator, something to get me back in the habit.

My husband coaches teams to perform, and he has told me that it takes 60 days to form a habit. After that time you don’t need to remind yourself to do something, it just becomes part of you. I’d lost my writing habit, and I needed to get it back. In the past I’ve tried NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month, where you set yourself the challenge of writing 50,000 words during November. That’s about 1,600 words a day, quite a lot if you have a day job, and it’s not really sustainable long term. I wanted something less stressful, something to be viewed as a treat, not a challenge. I decided to do #OctNo.

My plan for #OctNo, an entirely made up concept (but then we’re writers, we make up stuff all the time :)) was to do something to do with writing every day in October. I wouldn’t beat myself up about it, and I’d be very flexible on what I considered could be included. I gave myself the added incentive of posting my daily progress on Twitter. I reckoned that if I was writing, 500 words would be a good target. That’s about a page of A4 on a reasonable font (this post is about 760 words in total). And if I was editing, or reviewing, or just pondering, well, that was all progress too.

I currently have two projects in progress. One is a completed manuscript of about 100K words which needs a refresh. The other is a new project. I’m about 40K words in, and considering whether to add some additional voices. If I was going to do this, I thought, I needed to know more about the characters. I set about writing backstory for each of them.

This was the most fun I had during #OctNo. I loved finding out about these people. One was very sweary, one a complete scally, and one was just – well – dull. Luckily she dies early on.

The big manuscript was more of a chore. It needs work, but I’d had differing opinions on what that work should be. I took the advice of someone I trusted and invested in a couple of text books. Some of my #OctNo activities involved reading the books and taking notes, and then reviewing the manuscript. I broke it down into scenes and put a post-it for each on a large bit of card which turned into The Big Pink Plan. Then, when I could see it all, I started adding other post-its to show where things need to change (if you’ve ever read Asimov’s Foundation, it felt like a bad Prime Radiant moment). Once I had that, I was able to think of a way to tweak the story to solve one of the problems I’d uncovered. I’ve re-written the outline, I’ll ponder it a bit more, and then get onto re-writing.

The Big Pink Plan
The Big Pink Plan with many changes!

Other activities in the month included reading (well, listening to audiobooks as I commute), drafting a short story, and going to see the inspirational Margaret Atwood talk.

So if you don’t have the capacity to keep up with the needs of #NaNo, I can recommend an #OctNo approach – do plenty of what you love about writing, and don’t beat yourself up. Sharing also helps, because the lovely people of Twitter are always there to support us.

Keep writing!

 

Final #OctNo Tally

Here is the day-by-day summary of what I managed to achieve:

1          520 words

2          507 words plus review of edits

3          515

4          828

5          733

6          Editing

7          538

8          127 plus short story notes

9          659

10        304

11        529

12        Editing

13        Editing

14        Editing

15        Editing

16        527 plus editing

17        Re-planning

18        Re-planning

19        Reviewing the plan and discussing with fellow writer

20        Despairing about the plan

21        Pondering

22        Reading textbook on re-structuring

23        Reading textbook on re-structuring

24        Reading textbook on re-structuring

25        Just reading

26        reviewing the plan

27        reviewing the plan

28        670 (revised outline)

29        575 (revised outline)

30        Talk by Margaret Atwood

31        Summarising #OctNo activity

 

In total:

5,787 words of new project

1,245 words of revised outline for current project

About a billion post-its on the Big Pink Plan

3 audio books

1 text book

1 short story idea

1 inspirational talk

Filed Under: Writing

Seven Years

January 11, 2018 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

Signing books at the Queen of Teen awards

Today, in 2011, Small Blue Thing was published after a whirlwind year of edits, choosing covers, translations and photoshoots. I had never expected to write a book of any kind, never mind one that ended up as award winning, or that I’d be voted as finalist (twice!) for the awesome Queen of Teen. It was the start of a new chapter in my life. I’ve now had four books for teens published, written one other (still at first draft) and currently have my debut adult thriller out with agents. I still have my day job, as most authors do, but I have a fantastic new passion and have met some brilliant people. I’ve also discovered a love for school visits. There is nothing quite like a room of 400 kids to focus the attention, and I’m constantly amazed at the questions they can come up with!
My publisher, Nosy Crow, is also seven today, as Small Blue Thing was their launch publication. They have gone from strength to strength, and I’m really proud to have been part of their journey. (Their latest news is here.)
So if you have been one of the many readers who have contacted me over the years, thank you. Your feedback is more precious than you know. Happy Birthday, Small Blue Thing – I can’t wait to see what the next seven years bring!

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Meet Bailey!

December 21, 2016 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

If you’ve read any of my books you might have noticed a theme running through them – each one has a dog featured somewhere. I wrote the first one before I had a dog – my parents were always much more fond of cats – but eventually my children wore me down and I agreed. Within a flash Bailey was part of the family. She has invaded my life and my heart, and I thought you might like to meet her.

 

What sort of family are you – dog or cat?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

YA Shot!

March 29, 2016 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

I’m delighted to be able to finally announce that I’m going to be participating in YA Shot this year. This is a huge event on October 22nd, and it’s open to all. A link to the site is here, and a summary of what’s happening is below. I’ll give you’re info as I get it, and I hope I’ll see some of you there!

 

cropped-yashotcolourlesssmall

YA Shot is an author-run, author-led Young Adult and Middle Grade festival that raises the money and resources to run a year-long programme pairing libraries and schools for free author events to foster a love of reading, inspire a passion for writing, and encourage aspirations to careers in the Arts. We believe in equal access to books and opportunities for all – YA Shot brings UKYA and UKMG authors together to pursue that goal, supporting libraries and young people across the country. At present, we’re a not-for-profit organisation but we’re seeking to become a charity.

YA Shot is a one-day annual festival based in the centre of Uxbridge (London). The 2016 festival will take place on Saturday 22nd October 2016. Around 70 authors are involved in a programme of workshop, panel and ‘in conversation’ events (plus book-signing sessions) in the Uxbridge Civic Centre, Waterstone’s Uxbridge and Uxbridge Library. There is also a programme of fantastic blogging and vlogging workshops. YA Shot is run in partnership with Hillingdon Borough Libraries and Waterstone’s Uxbridge.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Beneath has been longlisted for the Amazing Book Awards!

January 31, 2016 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

I was really chuffed to hear that The Beneath has been longlisted for the Amazing Book Awards being held by the Sussex Coast Schools – it’s great to be part of such a brilliant list. See who I’m up against –

ABA 2016-Long-List-1

The shortlist will be announced in the next few days, and – whoever makes it through – I’m so proud to be included. These awards are voted for by the students themselves, not the teachers or the librarians, and that makes being a part of it even more special. Details of the award and the process are here.

So thank you, Sussex. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I make it onto the shortlist!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2015 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

I hope you’ve had a great Christmas – mine has been really busy with lots of family things. I’m sorry that I’ve not had much time to post on here recently, but along with all the family stuff I’ve been busy writing a new book. In fact, I’ve been so busy with all of it that I’ve pretty much had to abandon social media. It’s amazing how much more time I’ve got in my day to crack on with everything else.
But I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year. Thank you for all your support in 2015 and I hope to speak with and meet lots more of you in 2016!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

UKYA Extravaganza

October 3, 2015 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

Next Saturday – on the 10th October – there is a brilliant UK YA event going on in Nottingham. Around 30 authors – including me – are going to be at the main Waterstones store, talking, answering questions, signing books and providing cake!

The day starts at 1pm, and there will be a series of panels throughout the afternoon. Groups of four authors will say a bit about themselves and their books, and will then answer questions. I’m on with a great crowd – David Owen, Helen Grant and CJ Skuse. I can’t wait! The full  line-up is shown below. I bet some of your favourites are on there.

There are still a few tickets left (only £3 – that’s just 10p per author 🙂 ), so if you can be in Nottingham next weekend, we’d love to meet you. Just call the number on the poster below.

 

UKYAX October Poster FINAL (1)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Give a Girl an Education

August 15, 2015 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

 

Amber

Amber is a blogger who loves books and wants to be a writer, but she can no longer go to school. I’m supporting her in her quest to find the funding to get an education.

You can read all about her story here.

She’s giving away some fabulous things to entice you to spare a few pounds, including some of my books ( – signed too!). The copy of The Beneath has already been snaffled, but an opportunity to get your hands on a signed copy of Small Blue Thing will be on the site shortly. Follow the link above to the crowdfunding site to see all the details, or check out her award-winning book blog – the Mile Long Bookshelf.

Go and have a look, and if you can spare it, please invest in Amber. Help to give a girl an education.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Do you need a Small Blue Thing quote mug?

May 2, 2015 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

I’m sure that you’ve seen all the brilliant stuff which has been going on under the banner of UKYA, and now we have another exciting initiative – our very own UKYA shop!

Organised by the fabulous Susie Day, you can buy various branded items – T-shirts, tote bags, phone cases, and lots and lots of different mugs, each with a quote from one of your favorite UKYA authors. I was given the chance to provide my favourite quote from the book, and after much pondering, decided on the moment when Callum first speaks to Alex.

So if you’d like to be drinking your tea out out of a rather special Small Blue Thing mug, you can find it in the on-line shop here.

And check out all the other merchandise available here.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The winner!

April 13, 2015 By Sue Ransom Leave a Comment

….And the winner of my giveaway for #UKYADAY is the lovely Viv Dacosta, from Serendipity Reviews!

 

Well done Viv – you win signed copies of all my books, including The Beneath. I hope that you enjoy them!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Sue Ransom, author of the Small Blue Thing series and The Beneath. Read More…

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