Who's The Daddy ...?

I wanted to talk for a little while tonight about how our stories etc take on a mind of their own.  Take The Epic.  It is now close on 25,000 words but it is not happy.  It keeps sending me back to parts already written and telling me to add more or make changes.  Only two days ago, it opened up several entirely new threads which will be vital to the story.  But how am I supposed to carry on moving on and writing it at all when it keeps taking me back to earlier chapters?  Every time I pick up the pen, the ink and the paper act as if there is some psychic link between them and suddenly I find another 1000 words have appeared from nowhere.  Yet all the time there is this weird niggly feeling that I am writing beyond where the story itself wants to be!  Now I know that J K Rowling had written the last page of the seventh Harry Potter book long before the first book was actually published - and that the rest of it came along as and when, so maybe she had the same ... problem.  As for me, well, I think I am discovering for the first time ever, after a writing career spanning almost forty years, what it is like to actually be a writer.  I don't mean that to sound facetious.  But I can pretty much honestly say that until The Epic, I thought I was the one who made all the decisions about scenarios and characters.  I am now fast coming to believe that it is actually The Epic that's in charge.  Totally bizarre!

Last week - to change the subject - I had my first coaching session with the young boy - let's call him Michael - and tomorrow night we have the next one.  We spent the first half hour or so up in his room as his little brother slept on the top bunk, just talking and getting to know each other a little.  I gave him a short questionnaire to fill out and his answers will help me to shape how future sessions will go.  This is something I have never heard of happening before.  There are tennis coaches, dance coaches, football coaches, you name it - but I am yet to come across another Writing coach, especially for an almost 11 year old like Michael.  It seems I am destined to spend my life pioneering creative writing for children.  How exciting is that?  And to get the chance to work so closely with one small boy with an outsize imagination is pure joy.  I can hardly wait till tomorrow night!  I could really have done with this kind of guidance when I set out on this Rocky Road.  Anyway I will keep you updated.  I know how much you all care for all the fact you are silent - otherwise why would you keep reading my blog?  And I appreciate that, I really do, so Thank You.

If you decide to break your silence and get in touch maybe you can tell me if you are encountering the same obstacles as I am with The Epic?  All comments gratefully received.

Good Writing everyone.

Back Back Back - Back From The Emerald Isle ...

Took The Epic on holiday.  Is this good or bad?  My husband insisted.  I told him - with dogged determination - that I was going to leave it behind.  But he protested with "And supposing you get a flash of inspiration whilst we're away...?"  So into the travel bag it went.  And out it came during the course of our lovely two weeks in gorgeous Ireland.  Three times!  It is now at around 15,000 words - and still growing.  And on top of that I kept a fairly detailed Holiday Journal, too.  So even while I was on holiday, I was writing writing writing.

Was hoping to be in the local park with the Young Writers this weekend - but there is something else going on, a local festival or something, so it is likely I'd only have three turn up.  So it will be the following Sunday (21st July) now, all being well.  Between now and then I have to finish composing the parents' questionnaire, getting the Big Young Writers Short Story Competition finalised, catching up with all the Young Writer admin, coaching  Writer To Be (which starts next Wednesday), proof-reading a poem that has been accepted for publication in an anthology, sorting out where I go next with The Book, trying to find a solution to a Publishing Situation That I Can't Speak About Just Yet and adding to The Epic.  Oh yes - and The Article should be out mid August.  And I still have a full time job to fit in as well.  But you know what?  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Quick question to finish on.  Shall I join Facebook?  I know you won't answer - a writer respects the space required by her Readers.  But I just thought I'd ask....

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!

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!

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!

The Article - Publication

Found out today that The Article is likely to appear in Writing Magazine's September issue - available from August.  Just need to get the photo sorted so the camera is coming to the AYW session with me on Sunday.

Ordered some more business cards last night.  My last lot became null and void when The Hacker got into my previous email and corrupted it because nobody can access that one anymore.  Very pleased with the new design - quite striking.  What's more I found I could order a pad to tie in with them, a pen - I could have even ordered a t-shirt if I wanted to - all with the new image on.  Regret not getting the t-shirt now. Might have to go back and order one.  Never considered myself a brand before - but I am suddenly finding that if I want to improve my profile, I have to be a brand.  It has come as the same kind of shock I felt when I found out I'd somehow become akin to a commodity to my publisher.  That was weird.

Hope to set up a website soon - someone has offered me one free for a month so it might be worth a try.  I'd ask you what you think - but you never seem to reply for some reason or post a comment - even though I know this blog is being read quite a bit now. Please get in touch.  I don't bite you know!  All us writers have to stick together and support each other.  I sold two of my books today by the way and was asked to sign them.  That felt good too.

Come on Mr and Mrs Secretive - give Jilly a call.  Or at least just say hi in the comment box.  Who knows what kind of amazing creative power we could come up with working together!  First one to reply will get a free Reading and Evaluation for their latest story.  Now I can't say fairer than that can I?  And I speak as an experienced professional Creative Writing tutor.

Good writing!!!!

Write An Excerpt ...

Just thought I would add a new post tonight - even though it is already almost 11pm and I should be heading off to bed.  Got some good news earlier this evening - the Editor is pleased with the redrafted Article, so that bodes well.  Just trying to sort out an accompanying photograph then hopefully I will find out when it is likely to be published. 

The Book ??!!?? (What shall I do...?)

The Epic?  Going GREAT GUNS - estimnate I am at almost 7000 words now and still srcibbling madly.  Only been writing it for a fortnight so guess that isn't too bad.  I am finding I get most done at Caffe Nero's in Sutton - so love working in those places - and also during Lunch at the Day Job.  Got a little tip by the way for any aspring writers passing through.  You know how sometimes, short excerpts of books already published sometimes appear in writing magazines?  Or you catch a page of something in a Kindle advert?  Well next time you are feeling Blocked (as in Writers Block, not a blocked nose), then find a pen and some paper and write a short excerpt straight out of your head.  Believe it or not, several months before The Epic came into being, I actually did this when I heard a couple of my yet-to-be-invented characters chatting in my head one day.  Furthermore, even though it took me several months to actually get started, I am convinced that Excerpt is what actually set the Creative Wheels in motion.  I don't even know if that short piece will actually make it into The Epic.  But the two characters certainly have, so it is a good exercise.

Better go.  Keep yawning and getting up before 6 tomorrow.  Good Writing, Each!!