It's been a little while since I updated here. That's because I've been ill. Really ill. Ill with bells, whistles and nobs on. It's the illness I mentioned before, that has been brewing for a while. It seems to evolve as it goes and whilst I don't think it is flu (I have at least been able to get out of bed when a ten pound note has been left at the foot of it on the floor) it has certainly laid me low. It seems to go from a sore throught, to aches and pains to a chesty tickly cough, then it works back through them all again with slightly different symptoms. Right now I feel quite a lot better, but I am certainly not fully back up to speed. I've only just got my voice partially back (it's not fully better and is still a little croaky). Some might say that's not a bad thing and can they have a few more days of silance. We slap them though.
Consequently I haven't been able to do the sales yet. That's a little annoying, as I hear they are really good this year. I still have high hopes for snagging those basques in the Ceriso range in Marks and Spencer. Annoyingly their website refuses to acknowledge that these basques appear in the Ceriso range, but I know they were there as - if you will rememeber from a previous post - I browsed them whilst stepping over a perp who was busy being kneed in the groin and handcuffed.
Tomorrow I'm back at work. It's the second day back since the major illness, and whilst I'm not looking forward to it. Zoë will testify that I only ever turn down work if I'm either already working (the little workaholic I am) or busy on my deathbed with illness (so far I've turned down only one day of work in the last six months this way). However I keep telling myself I need the money, so I'll do it. Judging by the contents of my car's sump though on the dipstick, I may well need it yet. There's some water contamination in there and depending upon how it is getting in, that could be expensive ranging from engine repairs to new car needed. Right when I could do without it. Then again, enforced car change through mechanical issues is never welcome by anyone I suspect. I shall be driving it gingerly until Wednesday morning when I've roped Daddy into changing the oil and filter. I only hope that does not show up some nasty problems (like a sump full of mostly water - though the coolant tank has not lost any more than a tiny amount) and maybe even fixes the issue. Fingers crossed.
Writing work progresses well. I'm on target for reaching the halfway point of 'Bringing home the stars and the stars came home' by New Year's eve. I'm really getting a handle on the story, which is always a good sign. I hope it turns out well by the end of January so I can pack it off with a hopeful smile to this agent. Zoë has suggested that its working title is a bit long, and perhaps I should just shorten it to 'Bringing home the stars'. What do you think?
Sunday 28 December 2008
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Why does illness always strike at the least oppertune times?
Ill, just in time for Christmas. That's always the way. Well, it's been creeping up on me a little bit. I've felt worked into the ground for over a week, but last night was terrible. It was made worse by being the last night shift in a run of ten broken only by one day off. Still, I felt I needed the money. Co-dydramol and Ibuprofen seem to be doing the trick though, and I feel better now. I'll need to get some sleep when I get to Durham though. Yes, that's right: after driving nearly 400 miles last night to finish at 7:00am, I now have to drive a further 140 to the North East. Gah! Still, at least I'm off work now until the day after Boxing day. It also means there probably will be little progress on the book, and much less updates here. But that's kind of what I was budgeting for anyway.
Thursday 18 December 2008
How bizarre I say!
Yesterday produced the most bizarre experience whilst I was finishing off my Christmas shopping. I was in Marks & Spencer looking for a nightie for my Mother. Browsing away minding my own business, I suddenly found myself being pushed past by a high-speed scrote. The scrote was closely followed by two 'Community support' officers. For simplicity, we'll describe these people as Police, even though technically they are not. They look and act like them.
I thought "how odd" then returned to my browsing. I had just found the perfect present and was about to go to the till to pay when the scrote went past again at high speed followed by the two Police. It left me thinking that had I known the chase would be this long, I could have saved the two Police the run with a careful placing of a foot as the scrote passed the first time. Oh well. They apprehended the fiend in lingerie. That is, in the lingerie department rather than wearing it. Though you never know what was under that Duffel coat.
Incidentally, Marks & Spencer are really trying this year in their lingerie section. There are basques and suspender belts galore, and at a reasonable price too. I was going to buy one, but browsing seemed too difficult when having to straddle a scrote pinned to the floor as two Police officers handcuffed them. I decided that I'd go back after Christmas when the sales are on as they seemed to have plenty of stock. They are in the 'Ceriso' range, by the way.
I thought "how odd" then returned to my browsing. I had just found the perfect present and was about to go to the till to pay when the scrote went past again at high speed followed by the two Police. It left me thinking that had I known the chase would be this long, I could have saved the two Police the run with a careful placing of a foot as the scrote passed the first time. Oh well. They apprehended the fiend in lingerie. That is, in the lingerie department rather than wearing it. Though you never know what was under that Duffel coat.
Incidentally, Marks & Spencer are really trying this year in their lingerie section. There are basques and suspender belts galore, and at a reasonable price too. I was going to buy one, but browsing seemed too difficult when having to straddle a scrote pinned to the floor as two Police officers handcuffed them. I decided that I'd go back after Christmas when the sales are on as they seemed to have plenty of stock. They are in the 'Ceriso' range, by the way.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Stories and a bang in the night (is your microwave on fire?)
I've been happily working away on the new book, 'Bringing home the stars and the stars came home'. It strikes me that now the short story of 'Bringing home the stars' has been extended into this work, it makes the anthology that I was planning rather a flimsy affair. I don't think that it would now be right to use a story that is now part of another book in it; it would feel rather too much like I was padding it all out. Dropping it leaves me with an anthology that is a little too short.
I've therefore been wondering about this, and as some of the short stories still left have been published elsewhere, and other stuff is cut material from published books, it really only leaves 'The long summer of war' as out on its own as not having been published anywhere else (apart from the first little bit on the portfolio section). So I'm sitting here thinking during a break from writing that it might be an idea to serialise it on the portfolio section over a number of months so that I can at least do something with it. I might even put here the cut scenes from 'Syndicate Dawn' and The Atlantic connection'. It's just a thought.
I'm pretty busy until the New Year now. I'm going to try to write what I can, and there is some good progress coming along, but I doubt I'll get to anything more than 30,000 words done by the beginning of January. I'm still planning on finishing it - all going well - by the end of January, but then January is always a quiet month for other work.
Finally, the bathroom light broke last night. Zoë has not had much luck in the last week with electrickery stuff. She set fire to the microwave by putting a potato in for far too long, then made the coffee machine blast milk all over the kitchen. Then finally I got a text from her last night when I was at work to announce that she had pulled the cord off the ceiling leaving the light stuck on. We fixed it by removing the bulb, but sometimes I do wonder what she will have a mishap with next? ;)
I've therefore been wondering about this, and as some of the short stories still left have been published elsewhere, and other stuff is cut material from published books, it really only leaves 'The long summer of war' as out on its own as not having been published anywhere else (apart from the first little bit on the portfolio section). So I'm sitting here thinking during a break from writing that it might be an idea to serialise it on the portfolio section over a number of months so that I can at least do something with it. I might even put here the cut scenes from 'Syndicate Dawn' and The Atlantic connection'. It's just a thought.
I'm pretty busy until the New Year now. I'm going to try to write what I can, and there is some good progress coming along, but I doubt I'll get to anything more than 30,000 words done by the beginning of January. I'm still planning on finishing it - all going well - by the end of January, but then January is always a quiet month for other work.
Finally, the bathroom light broke last night. Zoë has not had much luck in the last week with electrickery stuff. She set fire to the microwave by putting a potato in for far too long, then made the coffee machine blast milk all over the kitchen. Then finally I got a text from her last night when I was at work to announce that she had pulled the cord off the ceiling leaving the light stuck on. We fixed it by removing the bulb, but sometimes I do wonder what she will have a mishap with next? ;)
Sunday 14 December 2008
Of music and neighbourly mayhem.
Writing is a funny oldf game really. Sometimes the words come, and sometimes they don't. You cannot really anticipate when and how. However what I have learnt over the years is that when inspiration strikes you do not ignore it or put it off for later, because Lady Inspiration is not generous at all.
When a writer talks about writers' block, it is often about inspiration, motivation and just finding the words to get out onto the page. With my new project, I've had a few of these problems over the last month or so. Partly, I suppose, it is the long hours I work on other commitments. But also it is about being in the right mood.
I use music to set the mood when I write. I think I have mentioned this before. I know one author who is completely opposite and demands silance to be able to work. I personally prefer music for a couple of reasons. Firstly, a well-picked piece of music can help set the mood for what you are writing and actually help the words flow. Also it screens out background noises that can in themselves be quite distracting. There is nothing worse than being half way through a tender love scene (just given as an example) and having your train of thought derailed by the ignorant woman who lives nextdoor in the terrace swearing at her young children. I find I lose what I was doing and start sitting wondering about is it really acceptable for a Mother to use the f-word as every other word to her eight year old child?
The last two days though have been very productive. 'Bringing home the stars and the stars came home' has now passed the milestone of 20,000 words. I tend to measure progress mentally in multiples of ten thousand; I'm not sure why. I may decide to put a preview of the new material on the portfolio section of the website, but no promises.
Next week however might see progress slow down a little as another mammoth 70+ hour week at the day job beckons. *sigh* However, I'm starting to get a good grasp on where the story and plot are going and am getting motivation to write. That means that if it is like the period that I wrote 'The Atlantic Connection' and 'Orb of Arawaan' then I shall be able to manage a few thousand words each day regardless of whether I am also working twelve hour shifts. Here's hoping.
Incidentally, a few people have asked me about the title for this one. Well, originally the idea started as a successful short story called 'Bringing home the stars' that has now been recorded and broadcast as a radio drama as well as appearing in print in a magazine. I had to keep it relatively short, because of the word limit constraints of the magazine I was writing for, but it was clear that the story had far more mileage and that's one of the reasons why I decided to shelve the anthology in favour of getting this book done first.
The second inspiration for the title comes from Alfred Bester's 'The stars my destination' which I think is a great title. I love slightly abstract sci-fi titles like that. The world of sci-fi is filled with them, so I thought I would get in on the action. Simple.
When a writer talks about writers' block, it is often about inspiration, motivation and just finding the words to get out onto the page. With my new project, I've had a few of these problems over the last month or so. Partly, I suppose, it is the long hours I work on other commitments. But also it is about being in the right mood.
I use music to set the mood when I write. I think I have mentioned this before. I know one author who is completely opposite and demands silance to be able to work. I personally prefer music for a couple of reasons. Firstly, a well-picked piece of music can help set the mood for what you are writing and actually help the words flow. Also it screens out background noises that can in themselves be quite distracting. There is nothing worse than being half way through a tender love scene (just given as an example) and having your train of thought derailed by the ignorant woman who lives nextdoor in the terrace swearing at her young children. I find I lose what I was doing and start sitting wondering about is it really acceptable for a Mother to use the f-word as every other word to her eight year old child?
The last two days though have been very productive. 'Bringing home the stars and the stars came home' has now passed the milestone of 20,000 words. I tend to measure progress mentally in multiples of ten thousand; I'm not sure why. I may decide to put a preview of the new material on the portfolio section of the website, but no promises.
Next week however might see progress slow down a little as another mammoth 70+ hour week at the day job beckons. *sigh* However, I'm starting to get a good grasp on where the story and plot are going and am getting motivation to write. That means that if it is like the period that I wrote 'The Atlantic Connection' and 'Orb of Arawaan' then I shall be able to manage a few thousand words each day regardless of whether I am also working twelve hour shifts. Here's hoping.
Incidentally, a few people have asked me about the title for this one. Well, originally the idea started as a successful short story called 'Bringing home the stars' that has now been recorded and broadcast as a radio drama as well as appearing in print in a magazine. I had to keep it relatively short, because of the word limit constraints of the magazine I was writing for, but it was clear that the story had far more mileage and that's one of the reasons why I decided to shelve the anthology in favour of getting this book done first.
The second inspiration for the title comes from Alfred Bester's 'The stars my destination' which I think is a great title. I love slightly abstract sci-fi titles like that. The world of sci-fi is filled with them, so I thought I would get in on the action. Simple.
Saturday 13 December 2008
Thought for the day.
I've been reading today news stories about the big three US car companies being potentially days from bankrupcy after the US government refused to sanction a bail out. It is interesting to note that like the banks, the huge profits gleefully announced in previous years have conveniently disappeared. I mean, where did all that profit money go? Lining the pockets of the rich few perhaps? And now they want the hard pressed and often low income taxpayer to bail out their extravegant lifestyles? Give me a break.
It really sums it up that the cheif people from these firms arrived in Washington on large company jets to beg for cash handouts. If they had come economy on a scheduled flight I might have had more time for them (as I suspect politicians might have too). But they did the equivelent of pulling up at the Salvation Army soup kitchen in a 58-plate Rolls Royce asking for free meals because they were strapped for cash.
It is said that so many jobs rely on the car giants that if they go bust so millions will be put out of work. However to me the sums do not add up. This assumes that the World stops buying cars because GM (Vauxhall in the UK and Opel in Europe), Chryslar (Who knows who they are in Europe) and Ford go bust. I can really see the world walking instead. Not. Market forces will ensure that some-one will still make cars. After all, the western world is determined to sit in traffic chaos rather than catch the train.
I think there is a lot of scaremongering going on. I also suspect that politicians are going to call the car companies' bluff and say: "Well go bust then". I don't think they actually can shut down and disappear at all. Administrators would carve up the business, and better management teams and owners would move in and new cars will continue to be made because there will always be a demand for them. It will just be a case of being 'under new management'. Well, about time. If only the incompitant and greedy elite who have shafted the world economy could be shut out so easily.
It really sums it up that the cheif people from these firms arrived in Washington on large company jets to beg for cash handouts. If they had come economy on a scheduled flight I might have had more time for them (as I suspect politicians might have too). But they did the equivelent of pulling up at the Salvation Army soup kitchen in a 58-plate Rolls Royce asking for free meals because they were strapped for cash.
It is said that so many jobs rely on the car giants that if they go bust so millions will be put out of work. However to me the sums do not add up. This assumes that the World stops buying cars because GM (Vauxhall in the UK and Opel in Europe), Chryslar (Who knows who they are in Europe) and Ford go bust. I can really see the world walking instead. Not. Market forces will ensure that some-one will still make cars. After all, the western world is determined to sit in traffic chaos rather than catch the train.
I think there is a lot of scaremongering going on. I also suspect that politicians are going to call the car companies' bluff and say: "Well go bust then". I don't think they actually can shut down and disappear at all. Administrators would carve up the business, and better management teams and owners would move in and new cars will continue to be made because there will always be a demand for them. It will just be a case of being 'under new management'. Well, about time. If only the incompitant and greedy elite who have shafted the world economy could be shut out so easily.
Monday 8 December 2008
It's been a busy week; too busy.
Doesn't time go by quickly? Well, of course it does when your 'day' job commanded 75 hours of your time last week, not including commuting. Add to that a day and a night spent in South Wales to attend a funeral, and you have a recipe for Jenny not having written an awful lot indeed! Last night was my first night 'off' for over seven days, and forgive me if I flaked out and slept for around ten hours instead. In the run up to Christmas I suspect there will be more weeks like this I am afraid.
The anthology is on hold now, and what little work I've been doing has been on the new sci-fi/horror book. It's going all right, and even if I don't have much time to do the tappety-tappety keyboard thing, I am getting all the plot sorted out in my head, so that's all right.
We've been talking a lot of late about house buying of late at Jenny towers. With house prices crashing we want to pick our time to buy well. We have the advantage of being able to pay a lot in cash from savings (house prices have been greedily overpriced for too long, so we saved instead) and if we buy at a repossession auction we'll only need a small mortgage. Of course, as neither of us is salaried, but instead works freelance, that makes getting a mortgage quite hard. Still, we aren't likely to be doing anything until the Summer as prices continue to crash and burn, so there's time yet.
Today is mostly going to be spent catching up on houshold stuff that has been neglected whilst I've been working mammoth hours. Zoë may keep up with all the washing up (which is much appreciated) but I have never seen her weild the vacuum cleaner yet in over three years. She also uses a 'first available surface' system of filing which means there is also a lot of tidying up that she seems blind to! Oh, but I love her anyway!
The anthology is on hold now, and what little work I've been doing has been on the new sci-fi/horror book. It's going all right, and even if I don't have much time to do the tappety-tappety keyboard thing, I am getting all the plot sorted out in my head, so that's all right.
We've been talking a lot of late about house buying of late at Jenny towers. With house prices crashing we want to pick our time to buy well. We have the advantage of being able to pay a lot in cash from savings (house prices have been greedily overpriced for too long, so we saved instead) and if we buy at a repossession auction we'll only need a small mortgage. Of course, as neither of us is salaried, but instead works freelance, that makes getting a mortgage quite hard. Still, we aren't likely to be doing anything until the Summer as prices continue to crash and burn, so there's time yet.
Today is mostly going to be spent catching up on houshold stuff that has been neglected whilst I've been working mammoth hours. Zoë may keep up with all the washing up (which is much appreciated) but I have never seen her weild the vacuum cleaner yet in over three years. She also uses a 'first available surface' system of filing which means there is also a lot of tidying up that she seems blind to! Oh, but I love her anyway!
Monday 1 December 2008
A change of direction for the moment.
I've decided to temporarily push back the date of release of the anthology. The reason for this is the new piece I'm working on that I've mentioned in recent posts. The anthology was diverting some of my time, of which I don't seem to have an awful lot.
The plan is to get a finished manuscript together by February time next year at the latest so as to be able to go back to the agent I approached and show him new work that is slicker, better, more grabbing and takes on board points that he raised. It is doable. The hardest part is making sure I write every day and keep writing.
So a big sorry to those people who may have been waiting for some of the previously unpublished stories that were going to be in the anthology. It should appear later on next year, but I really want to give over all my time at the moment to this new project.
The plan is to get a finished manuscript together by February time next year at the latest so as to be able to go back to the agent I approached and show him new work that is slicker, better, more grabbing and takes on board points that he raised. It is doable. The hardest part is making sure I write every day and keep writing.
So a big sorry to those people who may have been waiting for some of the previously unpublished stories that were going to be in the anthology. It should appear later on next year, but I really want to give over all my time at the moment to this new project.
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