My dear friend Becky recently contacted me to ask me to join the Writing Process Blog Tour. Becky’s blog http://pagetoplate.blogspot.co.uk reveals her exploration and recreation of food in literature.  Having been fortunate enough to sample some of Becky’s fabulous cooking, and being aware of her great knowledge of literature, I can think of no finer person to enlighten readers of the wonderful relationship between food and literature.  Do pop across and have a look at her blog.

As part of the Writing Process Blog Tour bloggers answer four questions about how they write, and then introduce fellow bloggers, who will continue the process.  Here are my thoughts about my writing process.

Question 1: What am I working on?

I am currently studying an MA in Professional Writing, and this blog, Mook & Lulu’s Blog, forms part of the body of work for those studies. I must confess, I had been thinking about writing a blog for some time, but I was quite daunted at the prospect.  The requirement of the course to produce a blog, I think, gave me the firm push I needed to get on with it – but what to write about?  My friends know I have always been interested in homecrafts and have dabbled in various craft and baking activities over the years.  In recent years, creating parties for my children has provided a wonderful outlet for my creativity, so I felt this was a good starting point for my blog.  Mook & Lulu’s is a blog about my ventures in home-styled children’s parties – creating magical cakes, exciting themed party food and spending time trying out craft activities for decoration and entertaining party guests, and I hope it will be inspirational to other people looking to do something a bit special for their children.

Question 2: How does my work differ from others of its genre?

There are many wonderful blogs about food for children, or party cakes, or craft activities to do with kids, but extremely few that put the all of these components together to help create fabulous children’s parties – that is my aim.  Though I have always had a hand in some sort of craft throughout recent years, many of the ideas on the blog are new to me and my creative partner (and sister) Claire. We try out our ideas and suggestions, often from scratch, and so can give genuinely helpful tips and instruction.  We can also point out when things just don’t work – the fake bunny roll pinterest post is still a rather sore point for us!

Question 3:  Why do I write what I do?

As I’ve said before, I really hope that this blog will be an inspiration to others looking to use their creative talents to create great parties, and everlasting memories, for them and their children.

Question4: How does my writing process work?

The nature of the blog means blog posts are frequently dictated by seasonal events and special occasions.  In advance of a particular event, Claire and I meet up and plan what we are going to do.  The subject demands plenty of visuals, and to be really useful to our readers we have to get our suggestions up in advance of the big day itself – unless it is a birthday party and then we prepare in advance, take lots of photos of our finished work and post retrospectively.  It requires an awful lot of organisation – something I’ve yet to truly master! But it is tremendous fun. More time would, I think, improve the planning, creative and writing processes, but who doesn’t wish for more time!

The writing process itself usually begins with a short whimsy about what we’ve been up to before giving a step-by-step tutuorial, or themed recipe.  Personally, I spend a day or so thinking about what I’m going to write before sitting down to commit it to a post. This particualar post is an exception – I thought this one might be better appearing before me (and you) as I write.  I hope you’ve enjoyed my musings on this blog and I look forward to hearing about the process from my recommended blogger, Jacki Humphries.

Jacki will write her post next week, answering the same four questions and introducing her recommendations – I do hope you will check out her blog.

Jacki Humphries writes her blog http://jackihumphries@wordpress.com about spiritual matters. Things that give her pleasure and raise her spirits, like uplifting sayings and writing about being a clairvoyant & a psychic, and channeling thoughts she gets from her Guides and Angels. Jacki runs classes and workshops through The Angelica Centre. Jacki is a Consultant Member of British Astrological and Psychic Society, and has been since,1994 for Intuitive cards. Jacki is often asked to do a guest spot on local radio and was for 10 years GeminiFM’s resident psychic in Exeter.

Jacki Humphries

Tagged: children's parties, craft ideas for kids, Entertaining, from page to plate, jacki humphries, Mook & Lulu's, party food, Party Styling, writing process blog tour