Stephanie Patterson's Page

... about my writing course!

A year ago, I began to study a module 'Novel Writing for Beginners' online, which I found very useful at the time, as it pointed out some vital issues (layout, pov, etc). I successfully completed it, quite proud of myself, and started the follow-up module in November.

While at first I found that module useful, I now begin to despair. It appears our tutor (with a Creative Writing PHD but only published a short story, no novel) is such a stickler to writing rules tha… Continue

Just completed another successful Sunday afternoon writing. As the day job doesn't leave me much time to sit down and write during the week, I've made Sundays my 'writing days'. My poor other half has to entertain himself - though that's quite easy with an xbox360!

So Sundays are spent between work for my Novel Writing course and getting on with my writing. In the past year, I've changed the first four chapters twice, each time taking into account issues I'd come across in my studi… Continue

Christmas day seems so long ago. The build up to it was endless - with the first themed items on sale in early October. I tend to ignore them until December - the 'right' time IMHO to start preparing for Christmas.

Then, five days before the event, came my 39th birthday. This, my first day on a fortnight's leave, was a crisp winter's day with frost covering the car, garden fence and even the grass. My other half took me to a German Christmas market in Edinburgh, sampling food and m… Continue