UK Song Contest

I recently entered the UK Songwriting competition with my Cancer Research UK single ‘It Wasn’t Meant to Be’. At the time of entering, I wasn’t really sure what score to expect, but when the results came out I was more than happy with my result.

The competition gave each song a score between 1 and 10 and, although I didn’t make it as a finalist, I was super excited to have received a score of 6. This is what the competition said about this score;

‘A score of 6 indicates that the writer has demonstrated real songwriting ability and understanding and songs with these scores will receive a Commended Entry Certificate.’

Me and my certificate...woohoo!!

 

How cool! However, I had mixed feelings about the next bit…

‘A score of 6 can be regarded as a borderline semi finalist score and indicates that the song nearly made it into the semi finals’.

So close but didn’t quite make it. However, what I did get from this competition was confidence in my songwriting abilities. The fact that I was a ‘borderline semi finalist’ has encouraged me to keep on writing and the knowledge that I am a good songwriter.

To listen to the song, follow this link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoXoptiiHpk

Keep chasing your dreams!

@steffiemarie28

Gigs Update

In my last Blog I mentioned a couple of gigs that are coming up. It's really exciting as my husband and I haven't gigged together for a while due to family commitments. We're definitely ready to start again! We perform as Folk/Rock duo Despite Water. So here's what's coming up -

Relay For Life - This is a Cancer Research UK event which will be taking place in Braunton on Saturday the 8th of June. We will be opening up this event with a half hour set starting from 2pm, but the main point to this gig will be to play my Cancer Research UK single 'It Wasn't Meant to Be' live. As if this isn't exciting enough, we even get to try out our very own, brand new PA system!

Despite Water's Yamaha PA system



CalvertStock - This is another charity gig which will be raising money for  Calvert Trust Exmoor on the 22nd of June. It includes a great line up, and we will be playing a half hour set at 1:30pm. You can find more details about this event here - https://www.facebook.com/events/553348468028819/?fref=ts

Our band Despite Water on a poster!!

So that's what's coming up for us in June. We hope to see you at one or both of the events. But for now, back to rehearsing!

Keep chasing your dreams!

@steffiemarie28

And now back to the writing!

It's been a while since I last posted anything, due to completing two more modules towards my English Literature degree, but I'm finally free to start blogging again...well at least till October anyway! So here's a little update of what I've been up to over the last few months:

April and May have been very busy months completing a Level 1 module towards my degree which required a three hour exam to complete the course. Needless to say, I was very nervous about this as the last time I sat an exam was thirteen years ago when I took my GCSE's. I feel confident that I've done enough to achieve a pass though and will keep you informed of the results when they come out in June...fingers crossed.

I've also just completed my level three Creative Writing module, which finished with a 4000-Word short story to write for my end of module assessment. I was very excited about writing this as I had a great character in mind that I wanted to develop. As soon as I get my result back for that I look forward to sharing my new character and story with you all.

Hmm, what else have I been up to? Oh yes! On the second of February, my husband and I travelled up to Plymouth to perform live on BBC Radio Devon for a second time. This time we performed as Despite Water and played two original songs live on air. However, I think the highlight for both of us was joining in with the end of show Jam with a full band performing one of our favourites, 'Folsom Prison Blues' by Johnny Cash. Click the link to have a listen -
https://soundcloud.com/bigjgproductions/folsom-prison-blues-jg-jam?in=bigjgproductions/sets/jg-jams

Despite Water at BBC Radio Devon

On the 10th of February we had another road trip. This time to Torquay to perform live on Riviera FM. I really enjoyed this interview and performing my Cancer research song 'It Wasn't Meant to Be.' This interview was a great opportunity to get my Cancer Research story back out there.

Me rehearsing for my live performance on Riviera FM

Now that I'm free for a few months before my last few modules start, I'm going to concentrate on finishing my children's picture books and sending them off to Publishers. Also my husband and I intend to expand our band Despite water and add a lead guitarist and a drummer. We're currently rehearsing for two charity gigs coming up which I'll tell you about in my next blog.

Keep chasing your dreams!

@steffiemarie28

The Unwritten Haiku

I've recently started a writers page on facebook so I can share my work and hopefully inspire others to share their own. On Tuesday I started 'The Unwritten Haiku' where I invited people to be creative and write their own Haiku, and then share them to my wall. I think we came up with some really creative poems so I thought I'd share them on this blog. I hope you enjoy them!

A small seed waiting                                          Take me out to play
Beneath the earth to blossom                            Outside where the people throng
To become unique                                              Desperate to belong

By Steph Lott                                                     By Melissa Jackson


Never ending stream                                           It is great to fly 
Flowing always onwards. Or                              When the spirit takes you high 
just our perception?                                             Don't O'er let it break!

By Rob Lott                                                         By Melissa Jackson


Life begins; through our                                     Thunder and lightning 
tears we start to grow then back                        Take over the skies; But the
to the earth we go                                                Sun will always rise

By Steph Lott                                                      By Steph Lott


Hold me close and tight
never let me go from you
you're special and mine.

By Melissa Jackson

Keep chasing your dreams!

@steffiemarie28

My goals for 2013

2012 bought for me some unexpected achievements. From my single I wrote and composed in aid of Cancer Research UK to becoming a published poet; both started out as just goals I was planning on working towards that year with no expectation of actually achieving any of them. I proved to myself that hard work, motivation and perseverance pay off. I can’t wait to see what I can make happen in 2013. 

So here is a list of projects I have on the go and goals I am hoping to achieve this year. If I make just one of them happen I will be satisfied. 

CR UK Single – This will be an on going project for me until I complete my quest in finding an established artist to record it so we can raise maximum funds for this amazing charity.

Chocolate Shop Epidemic – Again this will be an on going project. I’m going to make sure my poem ‘Chocolate Temptation’ is displayed in as many chocolate shops as possible, including some of the big ones in London!

English Literature Degree - I’m looking forward to completing my diploma in Creative Writing in April. This will count towards my final mark to complete my degree.

Teddy’s Tales – This is a work in progress. It’s a children’s book that includes a collection of tales about Teddy and his friends and their adventures. I’m going to try my luck at having this published this year. I will keep you updated with its progress.

James and The Dragon – This is another work in progress. It’s going to be a full children’s novel. My seven-year-old son Joe inspired this story just because he wants me to write a book for him. (He even gave me the title).

My first album – 2013 will hopefully be the year that I record my first album. It will be an album of country/folk original songs to be titled ‘Heart, Soul and Guitars’.

Poetry – I’m determined to have more poems published this year starting with entering my poem ‘Waves’ into The Cardiff International Poetry Competition. Fingers crossed!

On top of all of this I continue with the biggest challenge I have ever faced, and that is bringing up my four boys. This is probably the most stressful challenge ever but definitely the most rewarding.

So there we have it. Looks like another busy year ahead for me and I cant wait!

Keep chasing your dreams!

@steffiemarie28