I don't predict much work getting done today... It's 11.20am, and I'm still in bed, sitting up, swigging tea and watching Moto GP with himself... And the motorcycle coverage doesn't finish until 2.15pm!!! As I've said before, I'm not a biker myself, but I do enjoy watching the races, as much for the droll commentaries as for the racing itself. I don't think I'll stay in bed and watch it all... I'll have to get up and get dressed in one of the breaks, but I still don't think I'll be getting much ticked off my ponderous to do list until tomorrow...
Am still thinking about that first person/third person quandary for my novella thingie. Have received some excellent advice on a list I'm on from a writer who does first exceptionally well... and she has also used dual first, and other combinations too. I started changing the text I have so far to third, and it was a right mare of a task, and I was convinced it was turning into a giant pile of poo... but... on reading back the bit I'd transformed, it didn't actually read too badly at all. I think the struggle was colouring my feelings about the outcome... if that makes sense. I think it's quite likely that I'll go with third throughout but I may experiment with first for the heroine and third for the sort of hero... I seem to 'hear' him in third, although I can hear her in both first and third...
So today, when I get up that's what I'll be putzing about with, as well as doing a bit more on a web site update job I have in hand. I say 'get up' in the loosest possible way, as a lot of the time, I actually work on the lappie while sitting up on the bed. But when I get dressed and switch into 'work' mode, those are the things I'll be doing...
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Saturday, 14 October 2006
why does this not surprise me?
| Your Wrath Quotient: 83% |
 You have the makings of a very evil dictator. If you don't want to go that route, you should consider anger management! |
I've won the pools!
Yes, believe it or not, I've won the football pools! But before you all get too excited, I'm afraid my prizewinning cheque is only actually for £27, so I won't be rushing out and buying any fast cars, mansions or yachts just yet. Still, twenty seven quid is better than no quid at all, so I'm ahead of the game already today... :)
I think my little win must have been a good omen too, because thanks to a suggestion from my angel of a critique partner, I've finally got a bit of direction on what to write next. She suggested I try a novella, 'cos they're shorter and not such a commitment, and I remembered an idea I had a while back, for which I already had a vague outline [very, very vague] and even a bit of text. Which isn't actually too bad, but I'm not sure about the POV/tense... For this story, short as it is, I think the reader needs to know the hero's POV, but, the stuff I've done so far is in first person present. [Can't believe this, actually... the text I have was written several years ago... and it's in first present... long before Mr Stone was even a twinkle in my libido!!!] Anyway, I think the thing should be in third person, past... but the first person stuff is very immediate. So, I have a question... or questions...
If you're a writer, have you ever written in two first person viewpoints? And if so, did it work to your satisfaction? And did reader feedback indicate that they thought it worked too?
If you're a reader, have you read any books written in dual first person lately - or ever - and did you like that way of doing things? Did it seem natural... or weird?
I'd really like to hear some opinions on this one, and would be very grateful for feedback.
In other news, my results for the How Gross Are You? quiz were not faked! I really am that disgusting!!
And finally, as there hasn't been much chocolate news in this new blog, here's a recommendation....
Tesco's Finest Swiss Plain Chocolate with Espresso Filling.... it's bloody fantastic! Get some!
I think my little win must have been a good omen too, because thanks to a suggestion from my angel of a critique partner, I've finally got a bit of direction on what to write next. She suggested I try a novella, 'cos they're shorter and not such a commitment, and I remembered an idea I had a while back, for which I already had a vague outline [very, very vague] and even a bit of text. Which isn't actually too bad, but I'm not sure about the POV/tense... For this story, short as it is, I think the reader needs to know the hero's POV, but, the stuff I've done so far is in first person present. [Can't believe this, actually... the text I have was written several years ago... and it's in first present... long before Mr Stone was even a twinkle in my libido!!!] Anyway, I think the thing should be in third person, past... but the first person stuff is very immediate. So, I have a question... or questions...
If you're a writer, have you ever written in two first person viewpoints? And if so, did it work to your satisfaction? And did reader feedback indicate that they thought it worked too?
If you're a reader, have you read any books written in dual first person lately - or ever - and did you like that way of doing things? Did it seem natural... or weird?
I'd really like to hear some opinions on this one, and would be very grateful for feedback.
In other news, my results for the How Gross Are You? quiz were not faked! I really am that disgusting!!
And finally, as there hasn't been much chocolate news in this new blog, here's a recommendation....
Tesco's Finest Swiss Plain Chocolate with Espresso Filling.... it's bloody fantastic! Get some!
Friday, 13 October 2006
in a similar vein...
| You Are 60% Gross |
 You're more than a little gross, but probably no more gross than the average person. Maybe it's time to drop some of those disgusting habits that could eventually embarrass you! |
my little problem
Well, I did manage to throw out some magazines and papers etc yesterday, but there's a long way to go yet. The photo above of the 'problem' beside my bed isn't before... but after!
Thursday, 12 October 2006
Ack!
Ack, I've done nothing today... well, not exactly totally nothing, but certainly nothing particularly productive and inducive [sp?] to the furthering of my writing career and progress. I've probably done less for the advancement of my career than Kuffer did yesterday on the washing... sigh...
Things I have done today:
Actually, that looks quite productive, but in reality, it isn't when set aside the time spent lolling on the bed, reading magazines and surfing to purely entertainment web sites... including this one...
Stuff on my Cat
Now, I'm not sure putting stuff on your cat should be applauded... but I've done it. I occasionally drape a garment or two over Kuffer, or place the remote control for the telly on his side when he's stretched out. He doesn't seem to mind...
I've also been feeding a serious addiction of mine. I said when I went up into little town that I would *not* go to the newsagent, thus avoiding entirely buying any magazines. I bought two computer mags in Tesco last night, and so I don't need any new mags today. However, I am weak, I went in to a newsagent, and bought FOUR magazines. Two women's, one erotic, one computer... and the worst of it was, when I got home, I realised that I already had a copy of one of the women's magazines! Looks like my good buddy will be getting an unexpected little extra when we next meet together for lunch... One of my most recent resolutions was to pledge that every time I bought a magazine, I would put one or two of my existing mags out for recycling... but as yet, I haven't been able to part with the six [or a dozen] that I'm supposed to be turfing out today!
As I said, I.am.weak.
Things I have done today:
- paid in some cheques
- posted some books to a buddy in thanks for a kindness
- posted my Sex... with a Stranger story
- did a mini bit on some web design... a very mini bit...
- did some reformatting on a chapter of 'a very old book'
Actually, that looks quite productive, but in reality, it isn't when set aside the time spent lolling on the bed, reading magazines and surfing to purely entertainment web sites... including this one...
Stuff on my Cat
Now, I'm not sure putting stuff on your cat should be applauded... but I've done it. I occasionally drape a garment or two over Kuffer, or place the remote control for the telly on his side when he's stretched out. He doesn't seem to mind...
I've also been feeding a serious addiction of mine. I said when I went up into little town that I would *not* go to the newsagent, thus avoiding entirely buying any magazines. I bought two computer mags in Tesco last night, and so I don't need any new mags today. However, I am weak, I went in to a newsagent, and bought FOUR magazines. Two women's, one erotic, one computer... and the worst of it was, when I got home, I realised that I already had a copy of one of the women's magazines! Looks like my good buddy will be getting an unexpected little extra when we next meet together for lunch... One of my most recent resolutions was to pledge that every time I bought a magazine, I would put one or two of my existing mags out for recycling... but as yet, I haven't been able to part with the six [or a dozen] that I'm supposed to be turfing out today!
As I said, I.am.weak.
Wednesday, 11 October 2006
quickie...
Have had some fabulous feedback on my Sex with Strangers story from my critique partner! I had a good feeling about this story... and her comments confirm my optimism over it. She loves it! Now all I have to hope for is that the editor likes it too! :)
Mini extract here!
Mini extract here!
Tuesday, 10 October 2006
substitutions
Am feeling rabidly curmudgeonly, dyspeptic and malcontent this morning, so to save inflicting my bile on others... and give me more time to sharpen my machete and plan a terrible fate for all those that irk me... I'm presenting some fluffy loveliness instead
Cute Overload
Kitten War
Cat of the Day
Cats in Sinks
Enjoy!
Cute Overload
Kitten War
Cat of the Day
Cats in Sinks
Enjoy!
Monday, 9 October 2006
a minor moral dilemma
I've got a minor moral dilemma... and it goes like this.
Every so often, a person emails me, asking for advice and about my experiences in a certain area. They want my help... and I give it. I reply to the questions as best I can. But... this person never thanks me for the stuff I tell her. This person never even replies to my emails or acknowledges them. Last time, I hinted that I'd like a reply, however short, and all I got was the email receipt thingie... But, this person must receive the info I send because she keeps sending questions.
Now this is making me angry. My natural response is to help. And not just, I'll admit, out of the saintly goodness of my heart. I'm a great believer in what goes around comes around, and if you help people, someone will help you in return when the time comes. And when someone helps me, my reaction is to thank them, as any normal person's is.
I don't expect fulsome praise and fawning plaudits from this person, just 'thanks, that helped' would be sufficient. But I know I won't get it, so I'm wondering whether I should supply any info this time... I keep thinking 'why should I?'... but I suppose I'll crumble in the end, and send some info.
What would you do, gentle reader?
Every so often, a person emails me, asking for advice and about my experiences in a certain area. They want my help... and I give it. I reply to the questions as best I can. But... this person never thanks me for the stuff I tell her. This person never even replies to my emails or acknowledges them. Last time, I hinted that I'd like a reply, however short, and all I got was the email receipt thingie... But, this person must receive the info I send because she keeps sending questions.
Now this is making me angry. My natural response is to help. And not just, I'll admit, out of the saintly goodness of my heart. I'm a great believer in what goes around comes around, and if you help people, someone will help you in return when the time comes. And when someone helps me, my reaction is to thank them, as any normal person's is.
I don't expect fulsome praise and fawning plaudits from this person, just 'thanks, that helped' would be sufficient. But I know I won't get it, so I'm wondering whether I should supply any info this time... I keep thinking 'why should I?'... but I suppose I'll crumble in the end, and send some info.
What would you do, gentle reader?
what happens in books when your memory is shot
Actually did more editing yesterday than I was expecting to. Especially when I spent a lot of the day watching World Superbikes with himself [some great racing though!] Am now part way through scrutinising the long, kinky scene, using both paper and screen editing... and I'm finding it's far more humane somehow. Definitely a love type scene... the growing bond between the two characters is really coming out, even though the action is very pervy. And I'd almost forgotten this, despite the fact that I only wrote it just over two weeks ago!
That's the problem with having a crap memory! I can't 'hold' the story of a novel in my head these days... I used to be able to once upon a time, esp. when I was engaged in my futile attempts to write Mills and Boon novels [only 55K] but nowadays, the RAM inside my head must have degraded or something, because five minutes after I've written something, I've more or less forgotten it!
Which can create inconsistencies if I'm not careful to scrutinise and edit work several times... although having a critique partner can be an enormous help in spotting the funnies. An instance I encountered in yesterday's editing was... Annie describes making a phone call to someone in the narrative, and then later, when talking to Valentino, she describes the same incident as an actual meeting!!! Ack, nearly a nasty accident there... And also there have been one or two minor occurrences of things being said or done or not said or not done that have impact on the story later on, but which I've completely overlooked...
You can pick up other things in 'repeat runs'... For instance, it suddenly occurred to me that Annie might have behaved like a complete bitch to a secondary character, Charles. But in the editing, it's possible to make her seem less so... by the simple expedient of inserting one, single sentence, that shows that in fact Charles was the one behaving badly.
Anyway, hope to finish this 'pass' today, and maybe do a few more little tweaks... and then hopefully I can send it off to my CP [her time permitting...] and also my agent. And they'll spot even more things that I've missed!!!
That's the problem with having a crap memory! I can't 'hold' the story of a novel in my head these days... I used to be able to once upon a time, esp. when I was engaged in my futile attempts to write Mills and Boon novels [only 55K] but nowadays, the RAM inside my head must have degraded or something, because five minutes after I've written something, I've more or less forgotten it!
Which can create inconsistencies if I'm not careful to scrutinise and edit work several times... although having a critique partner can be an enormous help in spotting the funnies. An instance I encountered in yesterday's editing was... Annie describes making a phone call to someone in the narrative, and then later, when talking to Valentino, she describes the same incident as an actual meeting!!! Ack, nearly a nasty accident there... And also there have been one or two minor occurrences of things being said or done or not said or not done that have impact on the story later on, but which I've completely overlooked...
You can pick up other things in 'repeat runs'... For instance, it suddenly occurred to me that Annie might have behaved like a complete bitch to a secondary character, Charles. But in the editing, it's possible to make her seem less so... by the simple expedient of inserting one, single sentence, that shows that in fact Charles was the one behaving badly.
Anyway, hope to finish this 'pass' today, and maybe do a few more little tweaks... and then hopefully I can send it off to my CP [her time permitting...] and also my agent. And they'll spot even more things that I've missed!!!
Sunday, 8 October 2006
not in the mood...
No progress to speak of yesterday. I felt rather under the weather, and the last thing I was in the mood for was the long, complex and somewhat ritualistic sexual set piece I had to edit... Plus, between the meds for my head, my sinuses and my stomach I was feeling pretty spaced out and unable to concentrate on anything, never mind polishing an intense scene of psycho erotic power exchange.
Feeling very chuffed with the initial responses to the extract of Suite Seventeen I posted over at Portia's Prose though... My chums of the VDO persuasion seem to be enjoying certain special little flourishes. :)
Feeling very chuffed with the initial responses to the extract of Suite Seventeen I posted over at Portia's Prose though... My chums of the VDO persuasion seem to be enjoying certain special little flourishes. :)
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