• Home
  • About
  • Blog

Fleur Blüm

~ writer, performer, musician

Fleur Blüm

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Romance Guest Blog

24 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by toearlyretirement in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Big things are happening behind the scenes here at Fleur Blum HQ – especially with regard to the show. But, I managed to find some time to write a guest blog for the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild.

Find it here and tell them I sent you.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google

Like this:

Like Loading...

Continuous Improvement

05 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by toearlyretirement in My Journey, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

improvement, Inspiration, Learning, Meeting new people, NaNoWriMo, Writing, Writing Group

The day job that I have at the moment is working in Quality. That means that I spend all day reviewing, rewording and proof reading policies, and doing what’s referred to as continuous improvement. It’s my first job in Quality and I don’t have a strong background in it, but I think continuous improvement comes from manufacturing.

My birthday was last week, I turned 32. I don’t know how to feel about it. One of my gifts, from my family, was to pay for a writing short course. My mum was worried that I would take the course as a criticism,  that’s not a helpful way to look at learning.

So we looked at a few options and I have enrolled in a course starting tomorrow. I’m hoping to get a few things out of it.

  1. New perspectives. The feedback that I’ve been getting from one of the writing groups I’m in has started to feel like the same stuff every time.
  2. New contacts. Writing can be a solitary pursuit and it’s always good to meet people who do the same thing you do. Networking is always good. People who share that passion and can help to reignite the fire.
  3. New techniques. I’ve done a couple of short courses in creative writing before, but this new course will be five hours a week for ten weeks. That’s 50 hours at least of concentrated writing time. I’m sure there will also be homework.
  4. Renewed enthusiasm. I’m probably still coming out of the post-Fringe slump, but I’m feeling a bit lacklustre. Hopefully fresh  faces will spur me on.

The course also runs over November, NaNoWriMo time. This year I am planning to do it again. Perhaps I’ll be able to workshop the structure and plot with the class. I think my plot and character development would probably benefit from a more structured approach.

I don’t have an idea or story yet, but perhaps I’ll try to stick more closely to a genre than I have in the past. I’m also kind of obsessed with crime at the moment, in TV and podcasts, and maybe I’ll bite the bullet (if you’ll pardon the pun) and write a crime novel.

I’ve been reluctant to do crime because of the research involved, but maybe I can get most of it out without needing to get deep into research mode. Otherwise I’ll probably go back to romance, which is where most of my other stories have been. I’d also like to do young adult some time. So many possibilities!

I hope this course be an opportunity to consolidate the things I already know, and to learn some new things. I hope to meet some cool new people and get inspired by them. But I also hope that prioritising my writing, setting aside time specifically to work on it, will provide the motivation and stamina I’ll need to get through NaNoWriMo one more time!

I want this journey to be one of continuous improvement: always learning, always curious. A journey where I can learn from, and be inspired by others and where I can also teach and inspire others.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google

Like this:

Like Loading...

Blasphememes*

28 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by toearlyretirement in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

In the last week of NaNoWriMo, I’ve been having a poorly photoshopped war with my sister…

Dances with Cucumbers

*deface religious art with a visual pun, it’s a Blasphememe!

We’ve decided that the ‘art’ we’re creating by mashing art works and puns together should be called Blasphememes. Here are some more.

Berry Caesar

We start with Jacqui’s “I came to Berry Caesar, not to praise him”.

Primavera

Then we have Fleur’s “Primavera”, after Botticelli. It’s a bowl of pasta, not a pizza, by the way.

lamb of god

Next, Jacqui’s “Roast Lamb of God”, served with roast pumpkin of God.

Saint Sebastan Speared with Asparagus

Fleur’s “St Sebastian Speared with Asparagus”, sticking with the food theme.

st asparagustine

To which Jaqui’s reply was obviously “St Asparagustine”.

Judith Warheading Holofernes

Then Fleur got a bit more expansive in her definition of food, “Judith Warheading Holofernes”.

et tu

Going for the King of all puns, the Latin pun, Jacqui’s “Et tu Brighteyes?”

Venus and Mars

Fleur seems to be rather obsessed with Botticelli, again, here’s “Venus and Mars”.

parsleyfal

Then we went a bit Arthurian, Jacqui’s “Parsleyfal” (this guy’s name is Percival…

View original post 64 more words

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google

Like this:

Like Loading...

Roasted Beetroot and Feta Salad

31 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by toearlyretirement in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Adventure, Balsamic vinegar, Beetroot, Chickpeas, Feta, Food, Inspiration, Sweet Potato

I haven’t posted a recipe before, and I feel a bit awkward that I don’t have a picture to go with this one either, but here goes, this one’s for you Ben, in case you want to make it for yourself.

 

Ingredients:

  • Fresh beetroot
  • Sweet potato
  • Chickpeas (canned/fresh soaked)
  • Red onion
  • Feta
  • Balsamic vinegar

 

Method:

Chop the beetroot and sweet potato into 2-3cm cubes, and roast until soft and slightly crispy. The beetroot will probably take longer than the sweet potato, so maybe but the beetroot in about 20min before the sweet potato.

Once roasted, allow to cool before assembling the rest of the salad.

To assemble, but into a bowl, place the cool roasted veg, drained chickpeas, finely chopped red onion and crumbled feta.

For dressing, add balsamic vinegar to taste. You can probably add salad greens if you want it to be a bit more, well, green.

 

It’s a pretty easy recipe, but it’s so, so tasty and pretty healthy I think. I should have taken a picture, but we ate it all before I could.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Pre-order ‘Discovering the Franklins’
  • Goals for 2019
  • Reflecting on 2018
  • The Australian Dream
  • Inspiration and Planning
  • Post-wrimo comedown
  • Just Keep Writing
  • Letters from abroad
  • Show Review and Other News
  • Next on the list

Categories

Archives

Contact me

Melbourne, Australia
fleurblum@hotmail.com

%d bloggers like this: