Author: intrepidjane

Adventure 124 ~ Visit The Dark Hedges

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O Pic (2)For today’s adventure, I am visiting a local area of interest for the very first time : the Dark Hedges.  The weather wasn’t ideal for filming and my video camera couldn’t really pick up the eerie beauty and unusual atmosphere.

I did manage to take some pictures though and , whilst I was taking them, I realised how much I have slowed down over the last 4 months of adventuring. There is something very slow and present about the writing I am doing at the moment ; there is something very slow and present about taking photographs. I seem to be noticing much more … about much more 🙂 .

I have posted some of my photographs, which I took with my phone, below the video. (I am really enjoying “playing” with Instagram at the moment too!) The main image was taken by my son : he’s a keen photographer.

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I  am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

 

Adventure 123 ~ Be Like Anton Chekhov [Day 6]

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Chekhov QuoteFor today’s adventure, I start to get real with the leading lady in my romantic novel! A quote from Anton Chekhov, and yesterday’s interview with my friend Tiffany Kay, got me thinking about how true to the “real” female protagonist I was being. I spent the morning putting myself in her shoes and inviting her true character to unfold.

Chapter one has been edited : the action is the same but the character’s responses now feel really authentic. I sense I have something more stable from which to launch the rest of the story.

Now that I am no longer ” lying” about who the heroine really is, I can relax in the knowledge that all I have to do now is follow her all the way to the end of the tale. Well, that’s the plan anyway 🙂 .

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 122 ~ Jane’s Brilliant Friends [Episode 7]

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In this rescheduled episode of “Jane’s Brilliant Friends”, I’m talking to Tiffany Kay : author and transformational coach . In this programme, Tiff talsks about her soon-to-be-published book  “From Pursuit to Presence” . Her book’s key message  is that most of us are living under a misguided cloud of unworthiness that dominates much of our thinking and behaviour outside of our conscious awareness. That’s what causes us to pursue life : our pursuit is an attempt to close the illusionary gap. Tiffany suggests that when we reconnect to the inherent worth we were born with, all the struggle and suffering disappears. We can let life come to us; a life which is joyful and contented.

In our conversation, Tiffany shares her own journey from pursuit to presence and offers some simple yet effective ways to become more present to who we really are and to life. The free video series she mentions can be found here.

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 121 ~ Get Emotionally Connected To Fictional Characters [Day 5]

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Phew : that was a toughie! I am just emerging from a 2-hour writing session and I’m emotionally wrung out. Romantic fiction might be a light read but it is far from a light write :).

I’m not only learning that writing brings emotions to the surface (and that those emotions can be used to move a story forward), I’m also learning that to write romantic fiction, you have to fall in love with your own fictional characters. And when you fall in love with them, you care what happens to them.

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 120 ~ The Further Adventures Of A Romance Writer [Day 4]

/ intrepidjane

infographic adventureWow – it’s the last day of April already and that means guest adventures and a monthly adventure summary! But first to the action of the day.

Today’s adventure into the world of romantic fiction reminds me of the universal appeal of men in uniform (I just want you to know that it was my lead female character that demanded the uniforms and not me.)

With a much shorter writing window available to me, and in danger of feeling the pressure, I have carried my lessons that my previous adventures have brought me into today’s experience ~ placing my awareness on presence, connection and the opportunity for personal discovery kept me well and truly in the flow today 🙂 .

Looking back on this month of adventuring, I am amazed at what happens when you are prepared to pay attention to the “call to adventure”. I’ve received advice from Richard Branson, JK Rowling and Tony Robbins (my Invisible Counsellors) ; I’ve learned how to make video trailers ; I’ve hosted my own TV show and now I’m writing a book! These are all things that I had not even imagined last month. A real pattern is emerging and I’m beginning to piece together a way of sharing my adventuring experience and my adventuring philosophy with a wider range of people. This is far too good to keep to myself 🙂 .

Now let me introduce you to todays’ guest adventurer : Ian Barnfield who is a fan of the Paleo way of eating. In Ian’s video, you can watch thei thoroughly modern cave man try his hand at foraging for wild food . It’s really worth a watch.

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 119 ~ The First Chapter Of My Romantic Novel [Day 3]

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So. I did it! I’ve written my first chapter today and learned quite a bit in the process. And that learning is mostly about me : I found myself creating a ball-busting all-action heroine. Nothing feminine about her. Nothing soft about her. All too keen to take control and show the men around her how weak they are.

Oops. That is definitely not the stuff that Mills & Boon heroines are made of. I’ve taken on the challenge of adhering to the genre “rules” , so a small (okay quite large ) rewrite was required! The heroine is now much softer, more feminine, full of vulnerability, welcoming of protection. I can safely say that not only does she feel very “Mills & Boon” but she is also teaching me a thing or two about being a woman. I am watching and learning 🙂 .

With chapter 1 concluding with the tragic and untimely death of a gorgeous hunk of a man’s man (and with the added bonus of a vulnerable soon-to-be-guilt-ridden heroine in definite need of rescue) , I can feel the next chapter in my fingers already.

Here’s today’s video. I made 3 short videos over the course of my writing day and ventured into the world of merging 🙂

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

 

 

Adventure 118 ~ Write A Romantic Novel [Day 2]

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A heavy day of coaching has meant a late adventure for today! On day 2 of my romantic fiction writing adventure, I make my final preparations before putting digits to keyboard 🙂 .

I spend some time today finding a “way in” to the story. In addition to plot development (well, I didn’t actually “develop it”, I invited a loose plot  to appear and it did!), a  light bit of YouTube immersion helped me to get a better understanding of my heroine’s back-story and of  the source of her unbearable guilt.

Conditions are looking good for tomorrow and we have clearance for take-off 🙂 .

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 117 ~ Write A Romantic Novel [Day 1]

/ intrepidjane

Cherry Tree 1Today’s the day I start my romantic fiction adventure 🙂 . This first day has been all about getting my actors and theatre organised : I’ve even come up with a title!

I am noticing some interesting changes in me already. The most noticeable of those changes has been a desire to draw as part of the writing process. At this point it is important that you know that I was told by my art teacher at school that I had no talent for art at all. I never draw, paint or sketch. It just hasn’t been my thing. I believed the teacher.

Yesterday, I had the urge to buy myself some coloured pens and pencils when I bought my notebook. I respected the impulse and bought them. This morning as I “summoned” my characters to the theatre, I began to draw. It felt like the drawing was all to do with me “seeing” the story more clearly. The act of drawing felt like a bridge between my world and the world of this emerging story.

Here are my reflections about my first day as an author 🙂 ~

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

 

Adventure 116 ~ Pinning My Colours To The Mast

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Today’s adventure sees me stepping into a whole new world : Pinterest! I also start making my preparations for my romantic fiction adventure 🙂 .

If you’re a “Pinner” , you’ll find me and my Pin Boards here 😛

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT

Adventure 115 ~ Jane’s Brilliant Friends [Episode 9]

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In today’s show, I am talking  to my brilliant friend, Kate Trafford. Kate is a coach and a speaker : she’s also writing her first book on the subject of  “Effortless Success”.

Kate explains what she means by the term “effortless success” and shows us how it’s possible to navigate the journey of life in an authentic and meaningful way. WARNING : this video contains JOY and LAUGHTER.

I am just going outside and may be some time.

JT