Tuesday, December 19, 2006

25,051

And that seems to be where it wants to stop. Little bit more fiddling, but no more big chunks to add in. Still seems to fit within the usually given guidelines for children's (9-12) novels in Britain.

Query letter, incidentally, is also substantially written. I keep messing around with it, but I think it's time to stop.

Synopsis still to do. Blergh.

Most Christmas presents wrapped, now, and laundry for going home mostly done.

Today was the first day it's been really cold here (minus 2 - 5 depending on who you ask) and I had to scrape ice off my windscreen this morning, before I left for work, and this afternoon, when I was trying to get home.

Tomorrow night we're going to a friend's for mulled wine and minced pies, and to Hitchin town centre for some carol singing!

It's all so festive.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

24,342

I've finished typing in everything I had. Now I just need to go back and fill in a few bits I identified on my trip through.

Not until we've been back to John Lewis to argue some more about the gift list.

Parcel, incidentally, still hasn't arrived.

Printer is finally working though, so I'm feeling a little calmer.

Friday, December 15, 2006

15,694

That's over 10k today, and over half way there.

Actually, I think it will run a little short, even when I add in the scenes I know it needs, but that's okay.

Still no parcel. Still can't leave house. It's pretty dark outside, already.

Think I might take a little break now.

12,045

But still no parcel.

Damn Parcelforce. I can't go anywhere until the bloody thing arrives - its my Mum's birthday present, and this is the only day I'll be here to sign for it!

7640

And cheese toasties for lunch

Revision Timetable

So I'm home alone, with the next twelve hours stretching ahead of me.

I've got some errands to run in town at some point, and I'm waiting for a parcel to be delivered. I want to wrap presents this evening, preferably while watching some bad tv. Same sort of schedule for the next couple of days. I need to go down to London, and I need to do some house sorting, but they're only half day errands.

The rest of the time? I'm revising.

It's midday, and I'm starting at 5132 words. It's a novel for 8-12 year olds, so it doesn't run long. Ideal length is 30k.

How far do you think I can get today?

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Only ten more Christmas Cards to go! The last ten are for the people in my immedate department, and I need to make the cranberry shortbread to take in with them tonight.

I stayed up last night to finish writing the family and friends ones, while watching the Royal Variety Performance. They had the cast of Wicked! on doing a few songs from the show - it looks really good. Also they had Spamalot, so I suspect I'll have to take Simon soon.

I'm working on goals for next year. They're still nebulous, and keep being spoiled by certain items in the shiny new idea box being shiner than usual, when they're supposed to stay dull for the time being, while I do other stuff. So. Possibly a slight rejig of next year's schedule.

Of course, first I need to finish 2006's goals. For example, the Saving the Unicorns rewrite etc. I have Friday off work, as it's Simon's birthday, but as he's going to London for his work's Christmas do at lunchtime, I'll have all afternoon to work on it. And wrap some presents.

Right. Off to work!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Close of the Year

We're heading into the dregs of 2006 now, and the Christmas rain is setting in here in the South East of England.

It's been a pretty huge year so far, what with the changing of jobs, doing up of house, oh, and the getting married. I finished the first drafts of two novels - one romantic/mystery fiction, one children's - and a few articles and bits here and there.

But I still have things to do before 2007, and the new progress bars will be going up very shortly:

  1. Write Christmas cards
  2. Buy and wrap Christmas presents
  3. Finish type in edit of Saving the Unicorns, write synopsis and query letter and send out to selected agents

Not much, then, really. How many days do I have left?

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Normal Service Will Resume Eventually

For the last few months, all I seem to have been saying is 'After the wedding, things will get back to normal, and we'll have time to actually do things again.'

Now the wedding is over? Not so much. Guess I forgot about Christmas.

I love Christmas - mostly because I have the most fantastic family to spend it with, and we always have such great fun.

As a rule, my Christmas preparations are ready by early December at the latest, allowing me to enjoy the last few weeks of anticipation without worrying.

This year, I've done nothing.

On the plus side, the thank you notes are finally finished, just in time to start on the Christmas cards.

And believe it or not, I've actually been getting some writing work done, too - mostly on a very long train trip to York this weekend, but it still counts!

More on this next post...

In the meantime, I expect Normal Service to resume for 2007.