My Ziggy.

I’ve mentioned him here and there enough times so I thought it was about time that I introduced my baby properly.

I met Ziggy early April this year. With the news of my partner going into the army I informed him that I was going to get a horse then. I wanted a project to get me out of the house and focus on while he was away being shot at. I mentioned that I wanted to loan a horse to a friend who runs a livery yard. To which she said “loan or buy?” I shrugged and just said I can’t afford to buy. Anyway! Her friend had taken on a pair of colts (young stallions) which gypsies had left in a field to starve. She was keeping one and selling the other, if she didn’t get them moved soon they’d be shot. A completely wild colt was a bit different to the 6ish year old who’d already had the basics put in place that I originally had in mind!

So, I went and met them. I couldn’t help myself, he has such a beautiful face with soft eyes. I just fell in love! He was skin ‘n bone and absolutely terrified of people – we found a home made mace in their field so they’d clearly been beaten in the past. A couple of weeks later it took 8 people 7 hours to catch him and get him boxed up. But that was it, he was mine!!

I didn’t even try and touch him for the first couple of days, he went wide eyed with terror at the thought of it, poor soul. However, it’s a private yard but lots of grandkids and similar relatives visit so he had plenty of people milling around him and he got used to people quite quickly. After two weeks he went out into the field and he’s been such a star the whole time! Ok so it got a bit much when he kept jumping the electric fence to get to the mare… so he is now gelded. But! I couldn’t ask for a better horse.

Over the last 4 months ish I’ve been learning more about myself through him. It all sounds very cheesy but it’s been so good for me slowing everything down and watching every little detail. I’m using positive reinforcement methods and will clicker train him when I can get my hands on a clicker – I did have 2 but both vanished! I’ll break him in next spring. I’ve done various bits with other green ponies but never done the whole deal by myself before, so it’s a great project and fun learning curve.

Now for the pics! We concluded Ziggy’s an arab x cob, and he turned 2 in (about) July this year. He jumps the electric fence without any problems, that stands at 3’7 so I will be jumping him for fun and hopefully competing in Endurance.

This was taken the first day I got him (poor baby) –

My poor baby the first day I had him.

A couple of days after I got him -

A couple of days after I got him

Today!!

Taken this afternoon

Ziggy with Licquorice and Pepper in the background.

The first time I’ve put a rug on him! He was as good as gold and didn’t bat an eye-lid.

Very chilled out just munching his hay!

 

 

Print copy

As you’ve all been hearing I decided to self publish Twisted Fates through lulu. I held the physical copy in my hands yesterday! It was very surreal. I have to add at this point how pleased I was with the print quality from lulu. That copy only stayed with me about an hour though before I sent it off to O.T (after signing it).

What now? I’ve written a couple of poems which I’m pleased with and I think form a nice little pause before I continue on and write the next novel. This is where I’m a little unsure. I’ve started on Red Spiral and that’s a project I’m really excited about. I’m also taking my time with it as it’s got a very different feel to my two written novels. I do however have a sequel for Twisted Fates to be writing as well. I suppose we can’t forget that I still have my first written novel to edit and get out as well. So there’s plenty to be doing!

On a more personal note – things are going brilliantly with Ziggy. My baby’s turning 2 next month. I’ve started building up the groundwork some more now with hopes to be lying across his back in August. I’m taking things very slowly and carefully, given his start in life I want to be sure that the bond is built up properly.

Realistically the next move is to look more seriously into traditional publishing again and decide whether to hold back Red Spiral and go that route, or, push it out on lulu.

I know I should have confidence within my writing and I personally like Twisted Fates. I’m just nervous about getting feedback from my sales. I think this is quite a normal thing for creative folk, if we don’t have the little niggles of doubt surely we should be more worried?

For those of you who want a copy of Twisted Fates – (click pic)

If you’d rather have a look at my new poems -

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Fyreheart/751250/

Who do you write for…?

I’ve been on a break from for a while now – for a time there I seriously wanted to quit. I just didn’t want to write ever again; I’d lost any and all pleasure I gained from it. After plenty of friends telling me I absolutely, under no circumstances can quit writing I reluctantly started poking at the idea again.

This week just gone has been a mix of fantastic and thoroughly bleh! The weather has been glorious with clear blue skies and temperatures between 75 – 90F! I don’t think I’ve ever known such a fantastic April! On top of that, I got my first horse! The logical and sensible choice would have been a nice ‘been there done everything’ schoolmaster. Instead, Ziggy is (we think) a 2 year old wild colt (stallion). On the bleh side of things – I contracted a chest infection which resulted in me not sleeping all week due to coughing. I then got heatstroke while sat on the beach Friday and my hayfever was ridiculous Saturday!

However, I am coming round to the title and point of this post! A friend actually kind of hit it on the head for me about 10 days ago. He told me to stop worrying and just write for me! I had been pushing myself to try and write various things effectively for other people that I’d lost the love of writing for myself.

I don’t think I’m the first and I’m certainly not the last writer to fall into that trap. Particularly when we start pushing to try and get published. Once you’re published and you’re being paid – there’s a lot more pressure and you have to write for your audience rather than just for your own pleasure. You can’t forget that if you don’t enjoy it, neither will your readers. The simple fact remains you have to write for yourself first and foremost – if you really love that story/poem the chances are you’ll put more of yourself into it thus producing a much better product.

Now personally – I’ve got a few stories on the go in the back of my mind. I did a collab on a poem with Tommy which was a lot of fun. Although my erotica looks as though it’s going to be picked up by the publisher I’m quite chilled. I’m enjoying taking time for me, pottering about and recovering from these stupid illnesses!

Yes, when you’re published you’re turning writing into a job but remember to keep it fun and write for yourself! The moment you start loosing that is when it’ll all go wrong and you’ll crash. Keep switching things around, try something new, do something frivolous and purely for yourself. Also, take a break! You’re still human not a machine, you cannot push through and demand too much of yourself – it’ll only bite you on the ass!

While you’re at it, remember to help out your fellow writers. A few helpful and honest reviews go a long way, taking the time to beta read for someone or even play around with a fun collaboration. Give a newbie a shoulder to cry on and help them learn from your mistakes – we’re all in this together and that support network is so important. If nothing else, and you really are icy of heart – think of it as networking rather than offering help!

Remember to write for yourself, enjoy it, and keep it fresh. The rest will follow from there.