Boys' weekend to the Lakes

Just spent Friday, Saturday and part of today in the Lakes with my mates Mark, Martin, Dave and newboy Steve.

Got there Friday lunchtime with Mart and Steve. Checked in at hotel (http://www.crowpark.co.uk/ we all recommend this - reasonable price, decent rooms and good breakfast) and after a pub lunch and then a coffee at the coffeshop we managed to convince ourselves that we should still do a warm up walk in the afternoon! (We did waiver for a while and I thought the coffee was going to be the end of it but we managed to get out there!)

Nice little stroll down a local valley - 3 hours in all and then back to wash and meet up with Dave and Mark. Dinner at pub and a few bevvies (but not too many cos we knew Saturday was the "biggie").

Saturday morning headed for Ennerdale with Dave revved up to take us up mountain, down dale, up mountain again and then who knew where!

Sadly, half way up the first mountain it went misty and rainy and all we could see was each other. Dave guided us across the ridges until we got to the point overlooking the end of Ennerdale valley. Lunch was much welcome.

I found that my knees were shot particularly going down hill. Had serious worries that they might just stop so I decided to take the easy way back along the valley path - Steve also had a prick in his knee (phnarr, phnarr!) and decided to keep me company. I had to keep walking without stopping cos when I did my knees seriously seized up. The signposts were most useful in telling us it was a mere 6 miles back to the car park - two hours minimum and the ibuprofen was wearing off!!!

Mart, Dave and Mark went up the other side of the valley and to cut a long story short had a few issues with their positioning and took a lot (I mean a lot) longer to finish than anticipated. Finally got them off the mountain at 8:45pm in the dark. Needless to say there were some aching legs. Mind you the curry later tasted great!

Had a lazy day today (a lot to do with my legs not really wanting to take me anywhere! Typical really when the weather was fabulous today! Not too worry, did a bit bit of "gear" shopping in Keswick, had decent coffee and then came back home - big struggle to stay awake in the car (no I wasn't driving).

Lots of pictures at the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/LakesKeswickEnnerdale2008#5245895479278809746

Another new high for Dark Tales

Now up to 21,532. If you've been contemplating buying then please do so now - 20,000 is sooooooo close.

The scaffolding is down!

Four weeks to the day and the scaffolding is down! Grass looks a bit sad but it's been very kind of the weather to test out the waterproofedness of the work before it was taken down (continuous rain does have some benefits). Of course, we all know that these things wait until it is going to cost you the most money to sort before going wrong again. Sod's Law I suppose - that should probably be "Sodden's Law" ho-ho (sometimes I make myself laugh!).

Poo pants naa naa nee nee

My flash fiction "Footprints" submission dropped back through the front door today - it didn't win. Never mind, gotta keep putting stuff out there.

The cheque's in hand!

Polly and I went to pick up the cheque from the Vale Royal Arts Grants Council on Monday. Seems there were quite a few grants given out to various groups around the area. All gave a bit of an overview of what they do generally and what the grant will be used for. Caught me by surprise but I got through it! Picture is of us receiving the dosh from the Mayor, Malcolm Gaskill.

Just got to spend the money now!

I really am famous now!!

Typing chris gough writing into Google now puts me at position 1,2, 5 and 7 with loads of other mentions in the top 100! Even just typing chris gough gives me a top 5 ranking with other mentions further down.

Fame and fortune is coming my way!

Dark Poetry leaps again

A new record position in Lulu charts. Two more books sold on line pushes it up to 22,848 - I can taste the 20,000 mark now!!!!!!!

VRWG September meeting

The 1st was also the first Monday of the month so that meant VRWG meeting. Bob was away so Yours Truly was in the Chair. More new members tonight (it just keeps on growing!).

Round up of the Poets and Pints night - we all agreed it was a great success and that included the landlord who would really like us to do it again. So we are! It's been agreed that it will be on Tuesday 9th December so put it in your diaries.

St Deniol's day is also looming so everyone needs to sort out with Joyce if they want to go.

I set a bit of a writing exercise to try and get everyone's writing gland activated. This month you had to think of a piece of work you wanted to submit and write your biography associated with the work in less than 50 words. Then in another 50 words write the teaser for the piece. I got stuck ordering 2,567 hot chocolates from the bar (ok only 9 but that sort of number did merit a blimey from the staff!), so I only got as far as the biog - here it is (rough and not-so-ready),

Gough's work gets under your skin and makes it crawl. A barrage of shocks bowl you over and leave your body behind to be feasted on by carrion. And as for your mind, his use of vivid imagery will push it beyond the extreme.

When Gough writes it's from the heart; and liver; and spleen! His pen spits blood and bile and smears them across the page in words that float through your mind in the dark of a sleepless night.

You're going to need something beyond prescription strength to survive this work!


Not a submission to Mills and Boon!

We will also be picking up the cheque next week from Vale Royal for the grant to produce prose workshops so lots of ideas needed so we can start planning! Also support is going to be needed for the actual sessions themselves so do please come along and take part when they are announced.

Quite a few good bits of writing and feedback - more needed each month so don't be shy please.

Next meeting 6th October.

A sample of my writing - about time too!

It dawned on me earlier that this blog is about my general efforts at writing stuff and getting it published (mmm it's almost September Mr Gough - any sign of progress?), but I've not actually put anything on the site for anyone to read.

So here's a poem I did a while back (actually it was started during an exercise at a day at St Deniols) based on another poem by some chap whose name I have forgotten (Marian if you ever read this perhaps you could put a comment as to who that was please). Anyway, this is actually one of my personal favourites and it's in the Dark Poem book as well, (and just to sex it up a bit for the blog I've added a picture!).


Enchanted Box

In my enchanted box
I’d squeeze in delights of all kinds.

Whispered words of comfort,
a hint that fairies are true,
a glimpse of tomorrow’s results.

A frozen spider’s web
Seen from a warm bed of downy quilt.

A small space reserved for the one word that makes people smile.
A slot for the walkway to the moon
And a switch for free power to the world.

My box is mahogany brown
With cracks filled with fragments of time
It jaunts on a fancy, on a whim
And knows just where I want to be.





Leave a comment please, good or bad, I'm a big fella and can take it!

On top of the world - well the roof anyway!!!

I've been working with my Dad to do some repairs on the roof of the house. I live in a Victorian house which is very high and the adrenalin really flows when you get a ladder to the roof. So, we've had a scaffold put up at great expense to help with health and safety - mine!

It seemed a shame whilst up there not to take a few photos of the views as it's not very often you get to see what the pigeons do. The pictures below give an idea of the view. What's intriguing to think is that 103 years ago when the house was built (yes I know that Victoria died just before that but the house is definitely one you'd call Victorian, not Edwardian), there would have been clear views right across the Cheshire plain and into the Welsh hills as well as clear sight of the local church. Not anymore, there's just a smidgen of a proper horizon in just one of the pics and the spire just about peeps out. Ah well, progress - there must be a story in there somewhere!

Don't you just love the sexy outfit I'm wearing! It got so hot at one point I had my shirt off - proper builder-like, wolf-whistling at the lovely ladies passing by (not really!). That spire thingy now looks a lovely shiny black, as do my hands, face, neck, shirt, trousers etc.

This is the one where you can just about see the Welsh hills (with x-ray binoculars!)

Across to St John's Church on Delamere Street. Looking down Swanlow Lane south.Hopefully it won't need doing again while I still live there!!!!!!!!!!!!

VRWG Poets and Pints - a fantastic success!!!!

Last night the VRWG held its first open mike night at the Bluecap pub entitled Poets and Pints (no prizes for guessing what went on there!). It turned out brilliantly. 50 people turned up with approaching half of that performing in three sessions during the evening. Six guest poets of some standing took part in each session and you could hardly move around the place for past Cheshire poet laureates!




Well done to all the first-timers, all excellent. Thanks to Karen for MCing and big thanks to Tonia for doing the detailed work in pulling it all together.

I even sold two of my Dark Poem books!!!!

We also did a presentation to GOES of the money made from the anthology and ran a raffle for some donated books.

Lots of pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/VRWGPoetsAndPintsAugust2008 and I'm sure there will be more on the VRWG site and blog when the takers have chnace to put them up there. Watch this space for the next one.

Google ranking revisited

This ranking thing really works - the more you get links to your site and get referred by search engines the higher your ranking. Searching chris gough writing now puts me at #3 and #6. I even have an entry at #27 if you search for just my name now. Previously it was well below 100. One day all searches will be just about me!!!!!

Good news from GOES !

Check out the GOES blog http://gambiagoes.blogspot.com/ The money raised from the Cheshire Collection was put to good use helping a young boy there with medical issues. He has now been passed fit!!! More details on the GOES blog. Writing does help people - must do more!!!

Flash fiction submitted

Whilst on hols I noticed a flash fiction comp in a writing mag. A 150 word submission on the subject of Footprints. Well my eyes lit up (or was that the vino?!), I'd had a weird idea in my head about footprints for years and to have the opportunity to get it down was perfect. And it didn't need many words.

Of course, it's easy to equate less words with easy. Big no-no. Less words means every one of them counts. No fillers, no waffle, just succinct word play. Not easy at all. Anyway got it down in rough on the beach (steady now) and spent some time over the weekend at home tidying and tightening it up.

I said it seemed perfect and it was but there was a small problem re the submission. I'm not going to reveal what it is yet but I will do so when I know the result. I know you're intrigued now so keep watching!!

VRWG gets the money for a second year!!!

Well it's good news for the creative writers in and around our area. We got the grant we asked for from the council. This means that we can set up at least four workshops over the coming months with specialists to teach on various aspects of prose writing.

Lots of organising required so anyone wanting to volunteer just go to the VRWG yahoo group listed on the right and let us know!

New giddy heights for Dark Tales

While I've been away my Lulu ranking has leapt forward to reach a new record high, 23,010. Thanks to everyone for their support. Still loooking to break the 20,000 mark!

I've been on my hols!!

Yes, I know you've missed me (oh yeh), but I've been away in the South of France on holiday with the family. Was it hot? - oh yes indeed, very hot, not officially a heat wave (but apparently it is now so we got out just in time!).

Of course, having almost two weeks of no work worries and just sitting on the beach soaking up the rays is the ideal time for writing, isn't it? Well sort of. I had to fight the guilt most days but I did do some, on the sand, at the snack bar and back at the ranch.

Don't believe me? Well check out the pictures (they have been censored to protect the innocent! and I can confirm that no body-double was used in the pictures - unfortunately!).

And if you look closely you'll see I wasn't on the same page all the time!

Cool glasses dude!!

Even more places to find this blog!

I've registered the blog with blogcatalog to extend the opportunities of being found. Lots of other blogs categorised here so why not have a look! You can also find the link on the right.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/

Submitted picture to Country Walking

Country Walking is a mag for country walking (durrgh) and each month they feature reader pictures in "Perfect Moments". Sent off a short description and the picture of me doing Helvellyn (see earlier in the blog). Chance to win a pair of high tech socks, weyhey!

I'm listed on Author's Blogs

I mentioned a few posts ago about a site which has a long list of Author's Blogs which is monitored to ensure continued activity is taking place. Well I submitted this blog to it and it's now listed! Hopefully this will extend the possibilities of readership further. To visit other blogs by authors (after you've read this one of course) go to:

http://www.authorsblogs.com/index.php

Entered a competition!

Finally got around to sending off something somewhere. Spotted a competition in the Writer's News mag for a nightmares and dreams comp. Right up my street. So I've sent one of my lovely fluffy poems off there to see what happens!

If you fancy a look at the comp it's at www.winterwitch.co.uk and costs £4.00 to enter.

VRWG July meeting - what a lot of new faces!

Just when we thought we were down on numbers for the night we had no less than seven new faces turn up at the Blue Cap on Monday for the Writers Group July meeting. Six newbies from Karen's creative writing classes at Sir John Deane's College and another gent who met us at the Borders event a few weeks ago. Welcome to you all (but a gentle reminder to the couple who turned up at 9pm - we start at 7!!!!!)

I set a bit of a tongue-in-cheek exercise this month (I'm sure the newbies must think I'm mad!) - we had to imagine a fantasy world where monkeys and apes could talk, where humans had the keen sense of smell of a dog and where breaking wind was socially acceptable.

A few wrinkled noses at that one!

Anyway, everyone had a go and it certainly helped to break the ice.

 

 

 

Tonia told us about the upcoming poetry event next month that we are hosting at the Blue Cap and Joyce set the organisation of the next St Deniol's day in motion.

 

Usual reading and feedback. Again welcome to the new people - we're going to have to get a bigger room at this rate!

Google top 10 revisited

It's all very exciting. If you now type chris gough writing into Google I am number 3 with a second mention at number 11!

And even more exciting, if you just type chris gough I'm now mentioned at number 102! I'm almost giddy!!!!!

Last minute but fingers crossed for grant application

Vale Royal Borough Council offer arts grants for projects across the area. It's not much but last year the writing group, VRWG, were successful in getting some money to produce its first anthology, The Cheshire Collection (which you've seen mentioned in other places in this blog).

Well we'd all forgotten about it until I noticed the ad in the local paper for this year's applications. Of course, the due date is very soon, Monday, so I've spent this evening putting together our official application.

This year we're going for enhancing writing skills by proposing a series of workshops to extend the prose writer's art (there are already lots of poetry things going on out there!).

So fingers crossed that we get something towards the project. Watch this space!

VRWG Summer Social - a big success!

Thanks to Bob for hosting this year's writer's group social at his house yesterday (of course you know this is a permanent event location now don't you Bob!). Good turnout with a big selection of goodies to eat and drink.

Of course, the Girly Mafia (Joan, Celia and Liz) were in attendance and kept their glasses on even though it was dull! Mind you they aren't that tough cos they had to put their jackets on when the sun went in!

Bob came up with some entertainment for us in the form of a couple of quizzes. The first involved all of us writing on a slip of paper a fictional character who we admired or would like to be. Then, they were all read out anonymously and we had to guess who had put who. I was useless and only got two out of 16, one of which was me! Celia Swotpants got eight right and won a bottle of plonk!

Then we had a "guess the book and author" from famous first lines. This time I was actually on the winning team, but if we hadn't had Marian we wouldn't have got anywhere! Karen got all excited cos her team thought they knew loads of them - sadly they didn't!

A good time was had by all so thanks again to Bob and Carol for hosting.

More pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/VRWGSummerSocialJune2008

Seeking Inspiration - Return to the Cloud

Earlier this month I went for a walk up the Cloud near Congleton. Well last night I returned there again with a few more friends looking for writing inspiration. I was hoping the weather would have been better to improve the views but it was basically the same as last time - dull and grey. However, the gang made it to the top without issue and we hit the pub again for a late tea (I think there was a couple of pints of alcohol involved also!).

Lots of ideas from the walk, Martin and Jane want to walk across the North of England next year to celebrate 25 years married (are you sure Jane wouldn't prefer somewhere a little more romantic?), so maybe there's a story there, or at least a celebratory note for the local papers when the time comes.

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/TheCloudRevisitedJune2008

VRWG Borders Book Shop Event

Sunday was mostly spent at Borders book shop at Cheshire Oaks with the VRWG gang selling the Cheshire Collection to the unsuspecting public! Borders let us have a table top at the entrance to the store to display our wares (or ware, as there was only one book!), they even announced the event at regular intervals over the tannoy.

The upshot of it all was that we sold eight books to the public and a further three to Borders for the shelves. Of course, being writers and being surrounded by thousands of books and magazines for several hours meant that temptation was rife and I don't think any of us got out of the place without some purchase or other!

In addition to selling the book, we also had some interest from new potential writing group members so we hope to see them at the next meeting on 7th July at the Blue Cap pub in Sandiway and furthermore, interest in the GOES charity itself which the book was being sold to support. See the GOES blog in my list on the right for an update of the good work being done with the money raised so far.

If you'd like to see the Borders store go to http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=400 where you can purchase a copy of the book.

More pictures of the event are at http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/VRWGAtBordersBookShop

There is also an alternative write up on the VRWG blog at the link on the right.

Loads of blogs on writing - Author's Blogs

I've discovered an interesting site which lists a whole load of blogs about writing. They monitor the blogs to ensure they stick to writing and are active (if you don't post to the blog for a few weeks then it will be removed), this guarantees that the content is up to date.

Of course the cynical amongst you (which includes me) would suggest that this is just another distraction from real writing! How do you think I found it in the first place!!!

Link is below and in the list to the right

http://www.authorsblogs.com/index.php

Lulu still on the up!

Another book sold this week and I rush up the ratings to 23,664 from 23,843. This just beats the previous high of 23,677! I've also sold some of my stock through Ebay by listing them alongside the Heavy Metal magazines I'm selling and ensuring that the price is covered by the starting price. Will need to buy some more soon so let's watch that ranking race forward. Still aiming for the 20,000 mark!

Even more walking!

Went for another Friday evening short walk this week up Frodsham Hill with fellow writers. Didn't get any writing done though, although to be fair that wasn't the point.

Never been up that way before but it gives you a good view of the Mersey and Helsby Hill (commonly known as "the one that sticks out" - cos it does stick out and it's the one you always see when you're on the M56.

The hill is part of the Cheshire Sandstone Trail (and guess what - it is mostly sandstone) and a lot of it is through the woods with sandstone outcrops and lots of easy climbing bits. To see more detail about the Sandstone Trail go to http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside/Walking/linear_trails/sandstone/

Some more views are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/gough.chris1/FrodshamHillJune2008