Tuesday 18 June 2013

WTF.....?

I totally surprised myself today when I started the next chapter of The Epic and it totally ran away from me!  It seems there is some secret telepathic bond between my pen and the notebook, to which I am not privy.  Do other writers find this?  My pen is creating unbelievable sentences and paragraphs which actually have a life of their own - and which have a quality to them that I cannot, in all honesty, say I recognise as mine.  So where are they coming from?  When I first began this story, I had no idea where it would take me (and I still don't) or how long it would be (and I still don't).  But I do know this first 12,000 words plus are Part One.  What will happen when we get to Part Two and beyond is anyone's guess.  It feels a bit like it did when I read the first Harry Potter book (before it became the phenomenon it has I am rather proud to say).  I didn't have a clue where that would lead me either - but I know that several years later I queued at W H Smith's at midnight in order to catch  the first hard back copies of The Deathly Hallows when it was launched.  Maybe next time I queue at midnight outside W H Smith's it will be for the launch of my Epic?  Hey - why not?  I walked into Foyles in London just after my first Yucketypoo book was published and came out with a copy of it clutched tightly in my mitt (and a very stupid grin all over my face!) - so stranger things have happened!

I love being a writer, you know.  I mean just in case you haven't guessed yet.  Even when my pen (and my creative juices) dry up and I get all cross and frustrated - I still love it.  It truly is my passion.  I can talk for hours - not specifically about my work - just about Writing.  To me it is the very essence of me and all that I hold precious.  And if I can share that and help others to feel that magic, then I will do so with all my heart until my last dying breath!  Okay I never made it big.  Nobody has ever heard of me (although I was once asked for my autograph which was quite an experience).  I have never - or probably ever will - reached the dizzying heights of J K Rowling, Philip Pullman or Stephen King.  But you know what?  I am honestly rather pleased about that.  Because it means I have time to engage in my dream.  I never said I was a famous writer.  Just a Writer!

Monday 17 June 2013

The Writer Returns

Hi - sorry. Didn't mean to neglect you for a couple of weeks but there is just SOOOO much going on in my life right now.  I don't know how I cope sometimes!  First of all - something amazing has happened!  Someone has asked me to privately coach her son in Creative Writing.  This is pure nectar to me and I feel very proud and honoured (okay - I am absolutely chuffed if you must know) that she asked me.  So the past couple of weeks has seen lots of emails and texts flying about as we cross all the 't's and dot all the 'i's, and we met up a couple of weeks ago for even more discussion. I think we are pretty much there now and we start in July. Can hardly wait!  Will let you know how it goes.

Had to cancel yesterday's young writer session.  Bit unfortunate but could not be helped as it was out of my hands.  In a way it helped me out a bit because since I got my weekends back, Hubby and I seem to be fully booked all the time!  On Saturday just gone for example, we were at Wembley Stadium bopping away with The Boss (aka Bruce Springsteen) who was on stage for three hours solid.  No intermission.  No break.  Just three hours of excellent Boss music. What a showman!  Where does he get his energy?  Okay so we were up in the gods and he looked about four inches high but his voice filled that place and blew the minds of around 60,000 people!  Then - yesterday, we got the front lawn done, plus I got in a visit to my old mum (bless her) and we had tea at Hubby's aunt's place which was lovely as his mum and dad were there as was his other aunt and her husband.  Our weekends have never been so chocker!

Off to Ireland soon for two amazing weeks of touring the Emerald Isle.  So excited about that as it is a holiday we have dreamed about for ages and we are really looking forward to it.

Hit my first bit of Block the other day with The Epic.  Maybe I had done too much too fast, I don't know.   I have seriously shied away from it for a few days and I think it is coming back now.  Must be because I am only a couple of hundred words short of 12,000.  That isn't bad for three weeks work!  Anyway will deliberately leave it behind when we go away.  Give myself a complete break from it and then pick it up again when I get back.  Sometimes it is true that a change is as good as a rest.  Big thanks to Keith by the way who is looking after the place whilst we are away.  Appreciate that, mate, thank you.

Next Young Writer Session is on Sunday 14th July, 3 - 4, at Ashburton Park in Addiscombe (weather permitting) so come along and bring your friends.  Be nice to see you.

Good writing everyone!

Wednesday 5 June 2013

OKAY - I Get It ..

... you have no wish to communicate with me.  That is okay.  I'm happy just as long as people are reading.  And you could always change your mind later.  The offer of the free Evaluation still stands, so if you have second thoughts ...

Did a stupid thing last night.  Stubbed my toe - the second one in on the left foot.  Don't laugh.  It ain't funny!  It really hurts and this evening - despite being in a cold compress for several hours - the toe remains swollen and is rapidly going purple.  Mind you it probably wasn't helped by my hobbling around on it or day.  And when I put my shoe on this morning - the toe protested violently, throbbing and hurting from then on.  Poor toe.  We don't give toes the recognition they deserve really.  We don't even acknowledge them - unless we happen to stub them in the middle of the night!  I hope I haven't broken it.  If it gets any worse I may let my guard drop and go to the doctor.

Before the Stubbed Toe Incident, I had a mighty fine evening yesterday doing nice, safe, writerly things.  I sent some emails.  I picked up my 2013 Writers and Artists Year Book.  Flicked through it. Put it back down again.  But I did find two publishers I am going to pitch The Book to (no - not The Epic - that comes later).  I sent an email to one (as per W & A instructions) and a letter to the other (including the obligatory SAE - which has almost become as extinct as the dodo), so fingers crossed.

All right - I relent - I know you are dying to find out.  I am almost 9000 words into The Epic.  Two bizarre things yesterday presented themselves to be included in the story, neither of which I had even considered.  They just turned up out of the blue.  One of them is a character who, I am convinced, is destined to become Someone Very Important to the story.  I won't tell you what the other one is just yet; you'll find out soon enough.  But it is so curious, don't you think?  I just sit there writing merrily away when BANG! New Character arrives and demands to take top billing.  In fact that is the fourth new character to gatecrash the party since I began!  I mean, who is in charge here?  Clearly the characters.  I am their mere tool!  Keep 'em peeled (as Shaw Taylor used to say on Police 5) because I think other things are going to develop over which I have no say...

Good Writing!