Tuesday 11 August 2009

New look blog

Not a post about the clothes store telling us when to buy cheap tops (now! Buy now!), but a post about this blog. Me, in other words (blushes slightly). I know I am a bit of a shy old soul on here, but recently I have started to think that if I want to be taken seriously as a writer then I need to start treating this outlet for writing in a serious manner. By this I mean having a way for people to contact me, linking to previous published work, and slowly coming out from behind the screen. This latter part may be very slow!

The first part of this was customising my header, and making it more personable to me. So the pages are from my story, and the lovely stylish lady pictured is my Aunt. She grew up to be a very glamorous blonde lady, but my favourite photo of her is this early one, a cockney girl on the brink of promise. My Aunt is a real force of nature. You always know when she is in the room, as she wouldn’t have it any other way. She is incredibly good company even if she does often swear like a trooper and I have been told I look like her (I wish!). The only thing I perhaps have inherited is also being good company, on occasion. At least, I like to think so.

The reason I used my Aunt’s picture was because I designed a mixed media postcard that illustrates my story, and wanted a picture of a lady in the 1950s who could potentially look like ‘Florence’. I am going to use this postcard when I send my chapters off to agents and publishers (as they usually ask for a stamped self-addressed postcard to be included that they can send back when they have your manuscript), and am hopeful that it will catch their eye and entice them to read my words.

The second part was putting up an email contact, should anyone wish to get in touch, and also having a little introduction here on the blog that introduces me, or at least ‘this me’, the person I present to you.

When I started this blog I decided to keep myself anonymous. No one that knew me read this, and no one could find me. I could just pour feelings out and get rid of some of the clutter in my mind while trying to write. I also decided that I would only send this blog to friends and put up my pic and real name when I had a book deal – how innocent I was back in 2007! The result being it is still 2009 and I am still ‘Jayne’. I’m not as brave as some of you, not as open. But that all needs to change doesn’t it, if I want people to take me seriously? I cannot think I will jinx myself by making this real. It is hard though, to strip everything away and just stand here as me, all my hopes and fears on the table for scrutiny. I applaud those of you who do admit who you are on your blogs, and admire you all greatly. Hopefully one day I will join you. Until then, I’ll stay ‘Jayne’. I hope you don’t mind.

PS - there was a bit more here, but I edited it - sorry!

6 comments:

music obsessive said...

How fascinating! Love the header - it really seems to define you. The trouble is, whatever happens, you'll still be Jayne to me...

Law and Order said...

I think it's brave of you to post about it. I like Jane just the way she is. It's even more brave to take on that company and I applaud you! Your header looks awesome, and inspires me to do something about my rather uninspiring header. Lovely post. :)

Rose said...

it's always interesting to find out more and I agree a blog can be a great tool. I think being anonymous is quite fun and maybe allows you to write what you wouldn't otherwise write- which is surely a great thing!

Jayne said...

Hi MO! Glad you like the header, I am really happy with it - can't think why I didn't do it before! And I am happy to stay 'Jayne' for now - I can see why writers use a pseudonym - so much freedom! But then of course you end up with two names, and having to remember to answer to both.

Jayne said...

Hi AW! Thank you, that did make me smile. That company deserved it - hopefully now they are more thoughtful to the folk that work for them!

Jayne said...

Hi Rose! I am a great believer in writing something down and getting it done because it is announced in black and white. Hence 'I will write a novel' and being here on this blog - but by staying a little anonymous I have given myself less pressure I guess. A strange private/public sort of diary!