So, I just finished my week of unemployment. It's a weird time when I'm the slacker in the family.
Still, I have been using my time profitably. I've just finished the first draft of Saving the Unicorns, more or less. I want to go back and add in a couple of obvious scenes over the weekend, then I'll leave it alone for a little while before beginning a redraft. I'd like it to hit 30k when it's finished; I suspect it'll be around 25k by the end of Sunday, so we'll see what the read through throws up in a couple of weeks. My research tells me that anything between 20k and 40k is fine for books aimed at 8 to 12 year olds. Hopefully. It's only recently that they've started running a lot longer.
Monday, I start an ongoing temp job for the council, which will mostly involve photocopying, apparently. I've got a couple of interviews for permanent work coming up, which is good. Everything's slow at the moment because every company has vital people on holiday, I guess.
Anyway, at least we can pay the mortgage this month.
I need to get stuck back into the Snow Child rewrite. It's kind of fallen by the wayside while I got caught up with unicorns in South Wales. I also have a couple of non-fiction articles I need to work on.
But just for now, I think I'll take a break. Maybe have a cup of tea and a crumpet.
It is Friday, after all.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
London
No work done at all this morning, as I've been glued to BBC News 24 watching the coverage of the foiled terrorist attacks on UK to US planes.
My Dad flew into Heathrow from Cairo around midday, and obviously his connecting flight to Manchester has been cancelled. Mum and I have been on the phone all morning trying to figure out how to get him home quickest; he's been away working for a month, and just wants to get back!
I've found him a coach to Watford that should be quicker that taking the train into the city then across to Euston and back out again. He should be able to pick up a train to Crewe from Watford, and if they're too packed, I can go pick him up from there and he can stay with us tonight and try again tomorrow.
I was all set to drive down to Heathrow, but looking at the traffic, this should be quicker for him, I hope.
I've seen a few people complaining that the security measures regarding hand luggage are too strong, but personally, I think that anything that keeps people safe has to be done, no matter how inconvenient.
In other news, I spent yesterday in London with my cousin who's down from Birmingham, having afternoon tea at Selfridges and doing some shopping. Then we met up with her brother and went to see the stage musical of Footloose. It may have been the wine in the bar beforehand, but we thought it was fantastic! My cousin Phil bought each of us a Footloose bear, complete with logo tshirt. Mine's called Kevin.
May have to watch the dvd of the film this afternoon...
My Dad flew into Heathrow from Cairo around midday, and obviously his connecting flight to Manchester has been cancelled. Mum and I have been on the phone all morning trying to figure out how to get him home quickest; he's been away working for a month, and just wants to get back!
I've found him a coach to Watford that should be quicker that taking the train into the city then across to Euston and back out again. He should be able to pick up a train to Crewe from Watford, and if they're too packed, I can go pick him up from there and he can stay with us tonight and try again tomorrow.
I was all set to drive down to Heathrow, but looking at the traffic, this should be quicker for him, I hope.
I've seen a few people complaining that the security measures regarding hand luggage are too strong, but personally, I think that anything that keeps people safe has to be done, no matter how inconvenient.
In other news, I spent yesterday in London with my cousin who's down from Birmingham, having afternoon tea at Selfridges and doing some shopping. Then we met up with her brother and went to see the stage musical of Footloose. It may have been the wine in the bar beforehand, but we thought it was fantastic! My cousin Phil bought each of us a Footloose bear, complete with logo tshirt. Mine's called Kevin.
May have to watch the dvd of the film this afternoon...
Monday, August 07, 2006
Snow Child Revision
2000 words on Saving the Unicorns this morning, so now a short break, then onto the Snow Child revision.
Snow Child is a YA novel I wrote a couple of years ago, and have never got around to revising. Partly, I think, because I don't believe I could sell it anywhere. Still, I need the practice at the process of revision, and who knows what I might end up with.
I do love the story, and the characters, and the whole tone of the piece. Hopefully the revision won't be too much of a chore.
I've already been through the manuscript, over the last couple of weeks, making extensive notes of what needs changing/rewriting/tightening or just editing a bit. The first sections need quite extensive rewriting, which is what's making it so hard to start.
Still, I'm working on it this afternoon. Definitely.
Snow Child is a YA novel I wrote a couple of years ago, and have never got around to revising. Partly, I think, because I don't believe I could sell it anywhere. Still, I need the practice at the process of revision, and who knows what I might end up with.
I do love the story, and the characters, and the whole tone of the piece. Hopefully the revision won't be too much of a chore.
I've already been through the manuscript, over the last couple of weeks, making extensive notes of what needs changing/rewriting/tightening or just editing a bit. The first sections need quite extensive rewriting, which is what's making it so hard to start.
Still, I'm working on it this afternoon. Definitely.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Saving the Unicorns
This is a story I began last summer, that got derailed by a number of events that upset my life for a while.
It's aimed at the 8-12 year old reading group, so it's short. I'd already done about 8k on it last year, plus all the required planning, so now I just want to steam ahead and finish the thing.
I really like the story, the characters and the setting; I'm even fond of the plot. It should be a lot of fun to write.
I've just hit 10k on it, so that's 2k since I restarted it, and I'm already engrossed. Hopefully this will go quite quickly.
It can't possibly go as slowly as the Snow Child revision, but more on that next time.
It's aimed at the 8-12 year old reading group, so it's short. I'd already done about 8k on it last year, plus all the required planning, so now I just want to steam ahead and finish the thing.
I really like the story, the characters and the setting; I'm even fond of the plot. It should be a lot of fun to write.
I've just hit 10k on it, so that's 2k since I restarted it, and I'm already engrossed. Hopefully this will go quite quickly.
It can't possibly go as slowly as the Snow Child revision, but more on that next time.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
August
A whole new month, and my write-on novel off my back. What joyous days!
Except, of course, that I now have a new list of things to get done in the next 31 days:
Except, of course, that I now have a new list of things to get done in the next 31 days:
- Finish the revisions for Snow Child
- Write 20k on Saving the Unicorns
- Get a job I like
I expect that somehow 1 and 2 will be much easier than 3.
Other things happening this month:
- Family weekend in Porthmadog, with a lunch at Portmeirion (Italianate village where The Prisoner was filmed) on the bank holiday
- Dinner with the cousins in London tonight
- My mum and brother to visit on Thursday for a long weekend
- Weekend with friends in London sometime soon
- Trip to John Lewis to pick out items for the wedding gift list
- Probably lots of other stuff I've forgotten about.
I think I like August. Except that now I have to go get ready to head into the office to wrangle with financial reconciliations with the boss. Only technically employed there for another 13 days...
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