The scary idea of pitching and a shortlisted story

It's taken me a couple of months but I decided to order a print copy of Gold Dust magazine in which a story of mine was published in December. I wanted time to read the rest of the magazine, and though it is freely available to read online I was struggling with the small print despite zooming in. Yesterday my copy arrived. I'm glad I spent money to get hold of it. It is concrete proof I was published there! I was that excited opening it.

I can also tell you that I was shortlisted for the Retreat West Prize (short story). I heard a while ago that I was longlisted and thought that would be the end of it. I was thrilled even so. I then got through to the next level - shortlisted. Unfortunately I heard the other day that I didn't get into the top three. I am disappointed but then again I got further than I ever thought possible and it has given me encouragement. My story will be published in the anthology due out in the summer and I believe there is a cash prize and an invite to the launch. So, when I have recovered from the disappointment I will see what a great run I've had with this story. I am proud of this achievement.

February has been a busy month for me. I've been going crazy with submissions - competitions and a few magazines. I seem to have reached a stop now. Maybe I'm out of steam. In April I am attending Write By the Beach run by The Beach House Academy. I went along last year for their first writers' conference on a Saturday (held in Brighton). This year is over a weekend and every delegate gets the chance to pitch to an agent/publisher (two if you are there for the weekend). So, I've been tearing my hair out over a sixty word document for a novel to pitch. It was hard to condense an 84,000 word novel down to 60 words and hope it sounds irresistible. I know pitching is a great opportunity and everyone suffers with nerves but I felt ill just preparing this. Sometimes I think I should opt out and just enjoy the weekend because I know I'll worry the whole time. But then again that would be stupid. It's at these moments I think my writing is rubbish and no will be interested, yet I've had great feedback from ladies from my book group on stories I've shared with them  - they are so supportive - my first fans! God bless them!

The last minute submission and the yearly review

Don't write something at the last minute and submit it at almost the final hour. That's my advice. Do I take it? Er....no! This is just what I have done today. My success with poetry this year has been pitiful and I've more or less given it up. And then I saw my local library was advertising their yearly poetry competition. Now, I've been quite successful here in the past - one year I came second and another I had a poem commended. The competition is also free and has the added advantage of being local, so no global entries into their thousands.

I saw the competition late, picked up the leaflet and pondered it. Now and then I thought about it again and then yesterday (deadline is 31st December!) I decided I'd look and see if I had anything fitting this year's theme. I did! You can enter up to four poems. I had three and then dismissed one. And then.,,,,,,oh dear....I decided to write one specifically for it. The idea came quickly. It's amusing (amusing poems don't win prizes but it's a free entry so what the heck. I like them). I re-read my poems again and then sat on them overnight. I don't have longer to ponder them. I read them again this morning and still liked them, including my last minute write. So I've shot them off this morning. The good thing about this competition (and entering late) is that I shall know one way or another by the end of January if any have sunk or swum into the winning zone.

Now I wouldn't recommend writing this way - last minute - because one day you go back and look at it and think what the hell! But now and then I like to take risks. It's anonymous, who's going to know! So there we have it, my last submission of the year.

And now we come to my review of the year. It makes an interesting read but will probably bore the pants off you. Still here goes.

• January - three poems submitted - no acceptances
• February - three poems submitted and two flash fictions - one flash fiction accepted
• March - one flash fiction submitted (accepted) and three short stories
• April - four flash fictions submitted - one accepted
• May - one flash fiction submitted and accepted
• June - A poetry pamphlet competition entry with 20 poems, 5 other poems submitted, one flash fiction and one short story - short story accepted
• July - nine poems submitted and three short stories - (one short story still waiting result) 
• August - three flash fiction submissions and one short story - one flash accepted and one was shortlisted.
• September - Two flash fictions (both accepted) and two short stories
• October - nine poems submitted, (one accepted, four waiting result) four flash fictions (two accepted, one waiting result) and one short story
• November - Two flash fictions submitted - both accepted
• December - three poems submitted (waiting result), one flash fiction (accepted) and two short stories (waiting result)

What I see here is that flash fiction has been my forte and I intend to plug away with that. Flash fiction is anything up to 1,000 words in my book. The shortest published flash I've written was 50 words. I have to thank Paragraph Planet for liking my words enough for me to appear on their website on average once a month! (I love it that my name appears alongside my favourite author Elly Griffiths). Thanks PP. Their 75 word challenge is a great one. Another flash fiction I wrote was originally an exercise from the Open University FutureLearn online writing course. I always liked it and though it wasn't picked in a competition I entered Gold Dust magazine liked it and it can now be read in their latest edition online! (Issue 30) I was thrilled to be told this story entitled High Noon had made it. It has that certain humour I so much enjoy writing. I only found out on Christmas Eve that it was published, though I'd known for a couple of months it was to happen.

My very first short story to be published came out in an Anthology by Eyelands (a Greek based competition). This was an other long wait. My story Reading the Auras was a shortlisted entry appearing alongside the winning ones. The book due out at the end of November was delayed (and then there was postal strike in Crete!). It arrived on Christmas Eve. So, you can see I was in rather a good mood for Christmas!

Deciding to write more flash stories and short fiction is paying off. I adore writing them and people seem to like them. I thought it would be good practice for novel writing as before attempting my first novel I'd only really written really short flash fiction. I did send out one of my novels to two agents. Both returned it and I have since re-written the first chapter and am trying to get some professional feedback on it. While I can get feedback on shorter stories through my writing group a novel is different. I have no one to read those at all so I haven't a clue if they work.

Having completed all my goals for 2016 by not aiming too high I am now thinking about 2017.
My goals look like this:

1. Continue writing and submitting flash fiction and stories widely
2. Get professional feedback on one novel
3. Edit one novel and try and find an agent
4. Continue writing longhand in my special notebook using the prompts from Writer to Writer (I'm so enjoying this right now) and type up some of the stories for submitting once edited
5. Finish the humorous novel (it's very close to the end)
6. Take time away from writing sometimes (I've found the pressure of not writing a novel at the moment so good!)
7. Have a sort of writer's retreat just to relax and write without the burden of chores and family
8. Probably book a place at Swanwick Writers' Summer School in August

I think number 3 will be the tricky one!

I have no desire (right now) to write another novel, though that doesn't mean I don't have ideas. I would like to write a sequel to one and one other humorous novel so I have a set of three! There are other ideas, notes and profiles but I'm not going there yet. I have to consolidate what I have with lots of editing and submitting. This will be the year of the flash and the short!

Looks like it could be a busy year and hopefully a fruitful one. Wishing everyone luck with their own writing in 2017. And if you feel brave tell me your goals.

STOP PRESS I've just found out that I have been longlisted for the Retreat West prize (short story category). That was my one waiting from July! This doesn't mean I'll get on the short list and I have to wait another month for this. Oh the waiting, the waiting! Wish me luck! HAPPY!

What have I been doing in the last month?

I haven't posted here in a few weeks and I've been trying to remember what I've been doing all this time in the writing world!

Well, I've been drawn back to poetry. I can't even remember what sparked it off now. All I know is that I've written a few poems. Ah, I know. After purchasing the most excellent book How (Not) to get you Poetry Published by Helena Nelson from the most excellent HappenStance Press I decided to sign up as a subscriber. I chose my free poetry booklet and received a bundle of free goodies which arrived on a day when I was feeling a bit off colour. That perked me up!

While working through the book (why have I never read this before?) I did some of the poetry exercises and there you go! Before I knew it I was looking at my better poems and sending them off to small press magazines and entering some competitions. I haven't yet finished reading the book but I am learning a whole lot about the poetry business.

I received a second rejection for my novel and my current novel writing has ground to a bit of halt. It's not that I don't know where it's going. I have scenes ready to write and I still like it. It's just that the momentum has ceased for the present. It will get written, that I know.

Also in the post recently came the new issues of Brittle Star and Popshot Magazine. I've already devoured Popshot. I adore it - the stories, the poems and the wonderful artwork. If you like a mixture of stories and poetry both these magazines are worth checking out.

At the end of last month I also went along to a small writer's group which meets in the library of the town next to mine. There are about four members. It's been going about two years and was started by someone at the library, I think. They meet for one hour once a month. All ladies. All doing various courses (Literature or writing courses). They were very welcoming. I took along a poem and part of the first chapter from the novel I am currently writing. We shared what we had brought and gave feedback. It was certainly nice to have others to talk to about writing and I shall go again, though I might not make the next one as I may be away.

A lady who I play sport with on a Friday goes to a writing class run by Adult Education. She complained that the group was now so big that sharing pieces was difficult. I jokingly said perhaps I should start my own group and she was quite enthusiastic. It got me thinking and I'm still thinking.

I have been buying some poetry too but I will come back to those books another day as I am either still reading them or, in the case of two, waiting for them to arrive in the post!

Finally, I have been writing short stories and a 500 word flash fiction piece. All are or will be submitted in the next few days.

So there we are. While I thought I had been doing nothing much in the last month I have in fact been quite busy. So, what are you reading? What are you writing?

A submission....finally

Finally submitted!

In between looking after my son, the one with the broken knee, I have managed to finally get my first 5,000 words edited and sent it out yesterday, along with the synopsis and covering letter. I have entered a first drafts thriller/crime competition. It took far longer than I imagined to get it all right. The March issue of Writing magazine provided a good model for synopsis writing, and that came at the right time. It meant I re-wrote mine and managed to get it to one page. The competition didn't state a word limit for the synopsis, but I felt keeping it short and to the point would be best. It's now tightened up and hopefully it's written in a less confusing way! It was a huge relief to get it sent. I'm not expecting a miracle, but it's been good practice.

I am also glad that this draft is out of the way now because I have just brought my son back from hospital. After a new assessment on Monday at the Fracture Clinic it was decided to operate (the joint had moved out of alignment during the week). So I had to order a car for 6.30am yesterday (we don't have a car) to get us to the hospital by 7am. He had the operation near to lunchtime and hubby and I went to see him last night. They had fixed a brace to his knee and the kneecap is wired together. He was in great pain. It was hard seeing my son like that knowing there was nothing I could do to help. While we were there he was given two more different painkillers, the last liquid morphine and he at least seemed less agitated when we left.

I didn't sleep well, but went to choir practice even though my head was all over the place, and I was getting a running commentary from my son as to the latest (I did switch my phone off while singing!). He text me not long after I got back from choir to say they were discharging him. So, after lunch and changing his bed I set off back to the hospital. He is now ensconced in bed surrounded by his remote controls, painkillers, drink and pillows for his leg. At least he is relieved to be home, as am I. Maybe both of us will get some sleep tonight. It's going to be a long haul. It will be back to the Fracture Clinic in two weeks time for them to adjust the brace. With my manuscript out of the way I won't be tearing my hair out wondering how I will get everything done (chores have piled up).

The next thing on my list, when I feel ready, is to do the next edit of the comedy novel. This is the one I'm hoping to submit to an agent this year because it's nearer finished than anything else.

Now, it's back upstairs to see if 'his Lordship' is okay. There has been no text so maybe he is sleeping.

Start, stop edit.

I was going to do some editing this afternoon but time is running out now. Having boxed up the Christmas decorations, sent the emails I needed to write, written on my other blog, I now have the wet washing to hang and tea to think about.

Still, I did make a start on editing yesterday. I know I will still have to go back and change the beginning again, but this is the first edit when I see if it all works.The beginnings of my novels are never my strong point. It seems to take me a couple of chapters or so to really get into writing, find my voice, be my characters. I know with this one there are a couple of early chapters which appear sluggish. This novel is a comedy which drifts into dark humour and sometimes keeping up the humour can feel rather staged. Keeping it natural comes easy at times, so much so that I'm laughing as I type. Other times I'm searching for the right level. All the chapters are short but I might consider merging several chapters if it works better. At least I've made a start and that is always the hardest part. The first edit is always the worst. To me it's like the blank page. Then I look at my words and think 'this isn't as good as I remember it!' Perhaps that's good. There's a long way to go yet.

What do I do now?

Well, my patience didn't last long.Then again inspiration comes when it does. Over the first mug of tea of the day I worked out the last few scenes for my novel. I had decided I wouldn't type it up because I needed to go out....but there I was booting up my laptop shortly after 7am and it was done!

Afterwards I thought, now what do I do? Well, I suppose I should do the ironing which has been growing all week, catch up with the washing (basket full), do some shopping, speak to my family for more than ten seconds at a time, do all those jobs that haven't been attended to and then there's Christmas! I have actually bought one present now....it's for the guinea pigs! Well, everyone has to start somewhere.

Have a good Sunday (what's left of it).

Wrapping up the novel and a very busy day.

It's been a long day. We had our Christmas Fair at church today. The group I lead was doing the lunches and refreshments. But before I headed off this morning at 9.15am I'd already been writing! I am coming to the end of the novel, the comic one which has a darker context. I was getting to a big scene and wanted to get as much done as I could.Thankfully, I was able to leave it at decent cutting off point.

The fair was a big success (from our group's point of view). We took just over £400 on lunches and refreshments (main hot meal was cottage pie and apple crumble). We were very busy. I managed to get a break to wander off to the book stall (bought three books) and grab myself a mince pie and a mulled wine! I came home and watched the tennis which was very exciting and then hubby switched to another channel and there was one of my favourite films - Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home. I especially love the humour in this one.

I have since revisited my novel and written some more. I'm so close to the end now but struggling with the actual ending. This could take a while! I mean, I know what happens. It's just getting those final paragraphs written - how to leave it. The twist in the story works well, I think and I have gone with it so now. It is just how to finish up. There's a part of me that want to get it done and another part that knows it will miss my characters. My main one has been through a lot. I won't know until I edit whether I've been consistent enough or wandered him off too far from his original person. I did feel as I went along that I needed to dig deep into him or he would appear very shallow and though funny, not too likable. I hope I've managed it. I certainly found him an interesting character to write and at times I wanted to see how outrageous I could make him without losing the plot, so to speak.

As I've written I've seen certain patterns becoming evident in my writing. I have a theory on some of it but I am not saying what!

I think I may leave my novel alone for a few days now and mull. Often I find this helps and I come back ready to write again. I need to think this out in my head. It will come. I just need to be patient - not my strong point!

Thinking outside the box and visual writing

At cafe Eighteen 71, Winchester -
hard at it blogging!

While I was away did I write anything? No! I did some reading but no writing. That is not to say that I wasn't thinking!

The novel I am writing at present was on my mind. I had left my character somewhere and I was mulling over what he would do next. I do a lot of mulling, working out scenes in my head before I write them. Even the dialogue is in my head. Do I lose something in looking at things this way? Sometimes, yes, and sometimes when I come to write them they don't quite work, or my character wants to go another way. New things may occur to me and I generally go with it.

I've had a scene going around in my head for days. It sounded great in my head but when I typed it up yesterday it lost something - the atmosphere. In my head I was there and could feel it, but on paper it was too bland, just words. When I come to edit I will see if I can use this small piece, improve it to make it work. Otherwise I shall leave it as it was and not include the new scene.

I am a very visual writer. I play out things in my head like a film. I am there - I see the location and I am all my characters! I set my scenes in places I know, have been to, or at least know of (so far). I research things I'm not sure of. I love to build up a picture of locations so I can visualise my characters there seeing what I have seen or researched enough to feel I've been there.

The thing about writing what you know is true to a certain extent but in the last year I have begun to think outside the box and nothing is a no-no anymore.

My husband was filling in some survey on Ancestry yesterday and one of the questions asked if an exhibition on gay, lesbian, transgender etc would be of interest. I said 'as a writer anything that I can use in the future would be interesting!' I have an inquiring mind. I get excited by odd things and gather bits of information as I go along, like a hoover. Maybe I won't use it all, but then may I'll write something and think - ah I can use that now. I read avidly and that helps a lot.

So just because I am not writing does not mean that my brain is inactive. My brain does not know when to stop! And today I think I will find my character again and set him off into his next scene.

The blank page of NaBloPoMo!

Sculpture - Gardens of Dulwich Picture Gallery

Writing a post every day for a month is hard. There comes a day when you feel there is nothing to say. It's a bit like the blank page when you struggle to find any words at all. Today feels like one of those days.

In the life of the average person things tend to be routine. You get up, go to work, if you have a job, or do those things you usually do - the washing, the cleaning, the shopping etc. So then I guess one then looks to the outside world for inspiration.

Today on my agenda is a trip to the library to take back a couple of books. This time I have to leave without any new books because I am currently reading a book from my backlog and the new book club read is due in very soon.

The book I am reading is Capital by John Lanchester. This book has been adapted for TV and the series begins next week. When I heard this was happening I rushed to start it. I don't normally watch something I've read or if I've seen it I don't normally then read the book. Having been given this book I knew that if I watched the series on TV (which I might well do) I won't read the book. This time I want to do both! So I am around 160 pages into this 570 odd page book and I'm loving it.

With so much still to read here I cannot afford to be sidetracked with  library books (and I know I will which is why I have to be strong!). I must finish, or at least read the majority of this book, before the series starts - which I think is on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, back at my novel - the humorous one - I'm fearful that the humour is getting a little bogged down in something darker. Comparing the first chapters with the recent ones there is definitely more deeper stuff. I guess it had to come to bring out the character. I'm also grappling with an ending - not the ending, but something towards the end. It's an idea I had and I'm not sure whether it will work. Maybe I should go with it and see how it runs, even if it means re-writing certain sections of the last few chapters.

I am now well on the way to the finish. Keeping the humour is hard. Sometimes it just comes and I have sat here laughing out loud as I type. It's brilliant when it goes that way. Other times I struggle. There will be time to re-assess it when I edit. I began this not really knowing where the story would go or who my character was beyond his basic personality. Now things are unravelling and I've got to know him. Maybe I will visit him today and add to his story. Sometimes I leave him places while I have a break from him and do other things (I recently left him to write a short story!). Coming back afresh helps.

Well, this is my day today - library, a few chores, a little writing, reading, an hour of belly dancing and finally watching the football tonight knowing my son is somewhere in the crowd.

Self doubt (again)

I seem to be in a quandary. I am writing virtually everyday, sometimes for several hours, yet I am unsure what to do.

The writing itself is going well. I have chosen to publish early short chapters on Scriggler.com. I've had some positive feedback which is encouraging. I'm just not sure how much to publish there. Do I keep most back and then try sending it to a publisher/agent?

I started this particular story after I 'scene wrote' in my head one night when I couldn't sleep. It's a mapcap account of one man. I had no proper plot but the words kept coming and I published the first short chapter almost straight away on Scriggler. Since then I have an ending and notes (most of which are being superseded!) as the story has taken a turn I did not see from the outset. I have gone with it and so far it is working. Although I want it to continue as a comedy, this adds some depth to the character. I am just having doubts about my methods of publication. I have in fact written 18 short chapters, about half way through the novel.

I already have one 'free-to-read' story on a blog which is ongoing. Should I continue or am I burning my boats? I have no writing buddy to share work with, I don't belong to a writing group and most of my friends while encouraging have not even bothered to look at my blog. One said to me, 'if you ever bring out a book, I'll read it, but I don't read stuff online.' I guess I've become discouraged (again). The only motivation I have is mine. If I didn't love writing so much I'd have given up long ago. However, is this type of self promotion damaging? Thoughts please.

On a slightly different note I was speaking to a lady at church the other and she is considering writing a book set in the Spanish Civil War. She already has a degree in Spanish (it may be literature or history, can't remember which) and she was given the advice to maybe do an MA and then she might get some help with the book. She couldn't contemplate it after years of study and I told her not to. I really don't think doing and MA will get you a book deal. At least I was able to have a decent conversation with someone about writing and books. Chats like that are a lifeline.

Next time I put up a chapter of my comedy novel I'll try and link it here and to Google+ Some feedback would be greatly appreciated (all previous chapters will then be found by clicking on my name).

This is what I'm doing

I have been obsessively writing over the last two weeks. I have gone back to an earlier project and aim to finish it by the end of summer, hopefully. More on that at a future time.

This lunchtime I actually wrote a short poem. It's been some time since I did that as poetry has taken a back seat lately. It's just a wee little thing:

Untitled

I seek the light place
where sun streams,
warming skin,
bringing life to flesh and bone.
Blood bubbles and flows
as I unravel, stretch like a cat,
settle like a lizard, heating up.


I have subscribed to two magazines to get an insight into what is being written and published in the small press, getting to know new writers. Bare Fiction is one, Brittle Star is the other. I have to admit that to save money I opted for the online version of Bare Fiction. This could be a mistake as I tend to forget about them and find the next issue comes along and I've not read the last. I much prefer something to hold and take with me, to snuggle up with. But I must make the effort.

Brittle Star arrived this morning. I love it's size. I could stick it in my handbag. I've already started reading it. It contains fiction, poetry and articles and I like what I see.

I've subscribed to a couple of blogs too, but the biggest thing I've done lately is to book a place at the Winchester Writer's Festival in June. I've wanted to go along for years, but it is only in the last year that I have started writing fiction again, so it didn't seem worth it before. There was little for poets. Of course in September was the fantastic inaugural Winchester Poetry Festival which I attended. I'm pleased to say that is back for this year. Anyway, I decided that this was the year to try the Writer's Festival. Am I ready, I ask myself. Hopefully. I've booked two workshops and a full programme of talks. I have also taken the step of booking two one-to-ones (very scary). The first is with an agent, the second with a poet. I am now frantically putting together a synopsis for my first novel (still in editing mode) and a covering letter. I've had to research both as I've never done them before. These things have to be submitted before the festival. I also have to submit a poem in advance. All this is new to me and I am, to say the least, very nervous.

If you are going to the festival too, let me know.

Finally, I have found a competition for my piece of writing that has so far fallen between the categories, due to its word count. The Penny Dreadful is running a Novella competition (open for entries on 1st June). I shall be submitting!

See you next time.

Editing - the good times

My working space (yes, that is my YouTube music choice
and I have dusted the laptop since then!)

Editing has been going well. Things seem to be coming together. Into the last quarter of the novel, I have been cutting like no body's business. I've found several parts that I'm not happy with and ended up taking out about 400 words. I moved those deleted parts into a file just in case I decide to reinstate them in some form or other. As yet, I'm not sure how it will affect what follows and I might have to re-write other sections but I'm not worried about it as long as it improves the story.

I was thinking about the process of writing and how each story pulls me into different worlds. It's a bit like reinventing myself over and over - a bit like Madonna! I can live through different personalities of my characters. I'm not saying that I do but there is scope to do things with characters that I'd never do myself. That's exciting.

I am going through a good period of writing/editing at the moment. While attending to the novel I've found my interest in poetry has waned. I'm sure it's only temporary. Spending so much time in the world of my characters I guess its inevitable. It's been good because I've found myself mulling over the story again, seeing things I hadn't considered before, including a few more inconsistencies and ends to tie up. Silly things. like what happened to an object that was mentioned once and would have been important to my character, but I failed to mention again. That at least has been rectified. It's like I've stood back and seen some things for the first time. You'd think by a 3rd draft a lot of this would have been picked up first or at least second time round. It also begs the question - when will this novel ever be ready? Will it be like a poem that I can never leave alone?

The good thing is that I have got my second wind on the novel now. I went through a time when I had to drag myself to the laptop. Then, for a few days I didn't make it to the novel (though I made it to the laptop!) I hate feeling like that. My feelings change so quickly (I've always been like that) and no sooner had I wanted to leave it for a week, than I was back to it. Another fifty or so pages to go through. I wonder what happens then!

Reading at Croydon Library and feedback arrives

Having booked a spot at Croydon Library's Poetry Hour I went along with two poems. There were around twenty or so people and we each had the chance to read one poem to start with. A friend came along to support me but I was as nervous as the first time I read there. I was third or fourth on the list. Unfortunately, the microphone wasn't working well and it was a strain to hear sometimes so I tried to make sure I projected my voice. My first poem was an amusing one about being in space, written especially for this session (theme was universe). It seemed to go down well and certainly created some laughs and my friend loved it.

After everyone from the list had read others came up to read and then people could go up for a second time. I read a sonnet about Easter which I'd had published by Areopagus. There was a guy sitting behind me who just turned up to see what it was all about. He actually wrote throughout the hour and eventually was persuaded to go up and read, even though he said the poem wasn't finished. We all enjoyed his rap-style poem about the universe. He was very brave to perform with a quickly thrown together poem and I can see talent there. I think it likely he will be back.

All the hand written edits from the second session, now on computer and being edited again!

Last time I blogged I mentioned that I'd emailed the first two chapters of my novel to a friend. I now have her feedback and was amazed to find positive comments. Keep writing, she said. She also said she'd be happy to read more. I know the genre is perhaps not her favourite and I think she was a little confused by the second chapter but she read it blind - no synopsis or blurb to help (her choice). I was pleased that she identified with the main character and she had already formed an opinion of one other particular character in the way I'd hoped. I guess I keep going then! I've taken on board her remarks and will look at one particular scene. This is good news. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed with it all. it seems there is never an ending in sight. Another friend asked me how many edits I will do. I just don't know. I never set out to aim for any particular number. There will definitely be a fourth. After that, who knows? It all depends. At present I'm not quite half way through the third edit but it is coming together. Yesterday I deleted a whole section which I put in on another edit because I I decided I didn't need it. It did not add anything to the story.

A few days ago I opened up the file containing the novel I drafted for NaNoWriMo in November. I haven't looked at it since I finished it. My first reaction was - this is better than the first novel! Probably I feel that way because it is a totally different genre, very different characters and it comes at me new, whereas I'm working on the current novel virtually daily. I couldn't resist a few tweaks and had to stop myself going on. I really should get one thing done at a time, I think. I could feel myself being drawn into that story and I have to be in the zone for the current one. I can switch between poems and stories but I think it's too confusing to switch between novels. Anyone have thoughts on this?

The editing goes on....

I've just completed the second edit of my novel and added another seven thousand words to it. I had intended to have a break from it but found myself back at the opening chapter revising it. So, the third edit has begun. This one I'm doing on the computer (the second edit I did on the hard copy, pen and paper and then transferred the amendments to the laptop).

I also decided to get some feedback. Last year a friend offered to read my manuscript when it was done. Yesterday I emailed her and said it's not done but would you read the first two chapters? She agreed. I whisked them off with a set of questions. Now I am waiting nervously to hear what she thinks. All sorts of thoughts are going through my head - it's rubbish, amateurish, it's boring or maybe she even likes it? As always my confidence is scraping the floor.

I've realised it is a year since I first began writing this novel. I still like the story line and there I parts I love and still enjoy reading. What I worry about is how well written it is. How does it actually sound to others. I'm particularly worried about the beginning and feel it might need a complete re-write. But I'm so close to it that I may not be seeing things clearly which is why I decided to let someone else take a look. Now I have the agony of waiting.

I'm tempted to enter the Mslexia short story competition as I have one story that fits the length (now I've done some edits). It is ready to go but it's a £10 entry fee. All my money seems to go on competition fees these days.

I have also sent out a few more poems - no results from anything from the previous batch yet - but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile I have booked a slot at Croydon Library for their Poetry Hour on 21st March.

The trials of editing

Coming down to earth after NaNoWriMo (though the novel is still on my mind), I decided to do a little editing on previous writing. Went back to a story I'd written at least a year ago which I'd previously edited quite heavily but still wasn't happy with over the ending.  In fact I did yet another edit as well as changing the ending! Now I'm not sure what to do with it. The piece is a little over 15,000 words so too long for a short story, not long enough for a novella and seems to sit in the less likely area of a novelette. To get it to novella stage I'd have to write an extra 2,000 words. The piece is a mystery/ghost type of story. Where do I go with it now?

Ah the dilemmas of writing. Before I do anything else perhaps I should now run off a hard copy again and see how it looks on paper. Maybe there is another edit in there! Perhaps I should try and find someone to read it.

Titles are always something I struggle with. It's bad enough with poetry but stories are harder. This current piece I'm editing has had a working title which is awful. I've come up with something a bit better but I'm still note sure it has the right feel for the type of story so I suppose the whole thing is still a work in progress. It would be nice to have one of my stories at a point when I could submit. They take so long to write and edit!

Character profiling again!

How I long for a room with a huge pin board right now. I've returned to my novel and immediately realised I'd forgotten the name of a character! Flicked through my few pages of notes on my characters to find it and wondered how I could forget such a name......it was my dad's name!

Decided some proper profiling was needed and boy have a got myself into a muddle but I'm getting there. One thing to come out of this is how certain things link together to make the story better (hopefully) and I'm finding that the characters are coming to life more and I'm beginning to understand where they are coming from. Found some good tension spots between two characters which will be useful. I've had to expand on my characters' family trees and I have been going through the first part of the story and editing a little. I need to get a feel for the story again and add more detail before I continue with it.This seems essential at this point, especially now I'm putting flesh on my characters. Of course further edits will be needed but this will be  a better draft.

Another thing that's come out of looking at the novel again is the similarities to my 'soap' style story. I realised that both are mainly set in villages (one not exclusively) and the names of the villages are similar! Not only that but two names appear in both stories. None of this was intentional and I am wondering whether I just don't have much imagination, whether it was subconscious or I like writing things based on similar ideas. Probably it's down to not profiling characters properly first! Well, Victoria Hislop writes similar things - all her books have two timelines (with back story dominating) and look how successful she is! Oh well, I think it's time for a break - my head is overloaded with dates, names and places. I'm off to wash up and then watch the footie - come on Costa Rica!

Novel in real time

Here's a novel idea (excuse the pun....or not!).  Want to see a novel written live online?  Well, you can at www.novel-by-sjs.blogspot.co.uk

Just had a read myself.......lots of unanswered questions in the first post so you want to go back for more.  Like the style. You can leave comments for the author.  Brave lady to do this but what a good idea. So all you fiction writers hop over there now and take a look.