Can you tell when I'm taking a break from writing?

Today has been another day in a long list of days that have been busy with writing. I've done, on average, 2,000-3,000 words per day, which isn't too bad. I don't think I've had a single day in over a week where I wrote nothing. I really like this stage of writing a book when all the plot is mapped out and it is just a case of writing away. It puts two fingers up at all of those days where I was stuck for inspiration between books last year. I'm passing 50,000 words overall the moment I come back off this little break.

I can't remember whether I blogged about it, so I'll blog about it again. About a week ago I got an email from another agent in London interested in my work. Apparently he had been delayed by Christmas and illness, and apologised for taking a while to get back to me (I sent out to him in November, the day before I sent out to my current agent). He read the first three chapters and synopsis and loved it, and wanted to read the rest. I had to email back and explain it had found an agent, but I thought it was a tremendous vote of confidence that another completely independant agent loved BHTS. Hopefully the sequel I'm writing at the moment will be just as good. I have vowed that I will not write a third to make it a trilogy though. Though never say never - if the cheque was right I'd go and cheerleader in a skimpy outfit for Tony Blair when they prosecute him for war crimes (it would have to be a cheque with a lot of noughts after the first figure and before the decimal point though).

One of these days I think I'm going to wear my way right through this keyboard. Luckily for me, I don't have very corrosive sweat, so I don't dissolve keyboards and mice like some people do. I've had this keyboard since around 1999, and I love the feel of it (despite it only having been a dirt cheap replacement for the Cherry keyboard which died after only a year). Some of the keys are starting to change shape though. I was debating with Zoë just the other day how many words a year I probably write on this thing including books, articles, letters and blogs. We reckon over 600,000 at the very least, every year. I think what this suggestsd is that I was bored when I brought the topic up. These days keyboards that are available look terrible. What happened to cheap ivory coloured basic keyboards? It's a good thing I bought a spare a good few years ago in case this one dies, because I find it very hard to get used to typing on different keyboards.

And finally: 'Filth Pigs' by the group Ministry is a great album. That is all.

Name check the side projects.

Just letting people know (in case they had not yet realised) that the webcomics have now finished their combined crossover story, 'All over the Mouse' and are back to three panel gag-a-day strips.

They can be found at:

http://www.alloverthehouse.net for All over the house
http://www.nobmouse.net for Life of Nob T. Mouse.

The words fall into place.

There comes a critical point in writing any book when all of a sudden all becomes clear. It may surprise you to know that I don't have a Grand Plan when I start writing a book. I hate notes almost as much as I hate writing with a real pen or pencil (I'm one of those computer generation who would rather tap on keys). There's an idea in my head, of course, but from then on I'm almost ashamed to admit that I make it up. No, really, I do. Actually - all fiction writers do. That's why it's called fiction. But it helps when suddenly all the pieces fall together and the story can from then on almost write itself.

I have reached that point with BHTS2 (new catchy title will be worked on later). Today I had an epiphany, and I finally worked out where the plot is going and how it will all fit together. That's a pretty good feeling to have, which makes a change from the rest of the crap illness and bad luck laden week I've been having. I've discussed the plot and key points with Zoë, and I'm pleased to say that she does rather like it. Either that, or she is just homouring me so I don't cry in front of her.

Progress has been very rapid, notwithstanding the fact that I have been suffering with bad migraines as well as a resurgance of the bad depression that I suffer from. How strange the world is. I wrote nearly 6,500 words on Friday, and a further 4,500 words today. To put that into perspective, that's the equivelent of having just written the number of words contained in the average undergraduate dissertaion, in two days. And I even found time to play through Rock Band on the drums for breaks (note to self - does not help migraine recovery very well). It's good writing too that I'm proud of. I had worried that I hadn't quite got a handle on getting enough horror into this horror book, but I seem to have found the shit-your-pants scary button and am not afraid to use it.

Medical insurance - pay us money and your fingers won't get broken.

How many times do you have to send letters back with "Not known at this address" written on them before companies get with the program that the former occupant and owner of this house - repossessed some four years ago - does not live here? Aparently, there is never enough times. They are all nasty debt collector letters, and it has been clear for some time that Mr Feckless (not his real name, though financially it would be a more apt one) was not good with money.

The thing is, that with the aid of a bright light, it isn't difficult to read what they say. Demand after demand comes for debts that have been shuffled from one debt management company to the next. All make threats about sending heavies to make "doorstep collections" or court actions, but none ever do. I suspect that each firm is just selling the debt on as soon as they realise that they have no hope of collecting. In all the time we have lived here, only once has a debt collector knocked on the door. He at least was happy to learn that Mr Feckless was long gone, apologised for disturbing us, made a note then left. Is it too hard for other companies to actually do some leg work? One wonders how any of them get their bills paid when nothing happens when no-one pays the debts.

Still, it isn't our problem. But considering Mr feckless also gets post from the "Please rush me my shaft-my-financial-future-plus card" and personal loan people offering to lend him yet more money hand over fist at a sky-high APR, one ceases to wonder at the mess the banking sector got itself into, and arguably is still storing up for the future. A Monkey that has been strategically shaved and placed in a suit could make better financial decisions than most bankers. And they would - literally - accept being paid peanuts. But I digress

Today's writing progress has been dogged by writer's block. It happens. I've written 2,600 words and still counting, but I have to say that very little of it has come easily. Hopefully tomorrow will be an easier day when the words flow. I do find that often there are sticking points in writing a book. They are the bits that need to be written to somehow link the good stuff together, but at the same time you don't really feel all that motivated to write them. Still - who ever said this writing for a living lark was easy? Certainly not me.

Everyone knows dance music reached a pinnacle over the winter of 1999

I have come to the conclusion that I now know what it is like to be old (yet again). In my opinion, having listened to a naughty two-in-one white label dance mix album I did in early 2000, that club dance music reached its pinnacle over the winter of 1999 in time for the 2000 Ibiza summer scene.

Everything that has come since sounds like, well, plagiarism at the very best, and talentless noise at the very worst.

That's the name of the game.

BHTS2 (I really ought to come up with a proper name for it) has passed the 20,000 word milestone. Now, writing should not be measured in black and white targets, but I have to say that in my mind I do like it when I pass each 10,000 word mark. I usually aim for the 90,000 word mark, so that puts me at two-ninths complete. What an awkward fraction! Go Jenny! (Deploy the cheerleaders....)

It's been a busy old day today. Actually, I'm quite pleased with myself. As part of the "oh-shit-I-weigh-what?" dieting regime I've done very well. All those sneaky chocolate bars have been cut out, and the midnight shove-a-plate-of-chips-in-the-oven snacks are history. I've also made myself more active, walking a little bit more than usual, much to the annoyance of Zoë I guess (her poor walking stick is wearing out I suppose).

The parts came for upgrading my laser printer. I discovered whilst printing stuff off for the agent that its internal memory of 2Mb, whilst fine for the average print job, is rather overtaken when sending over 5Mb to be printed. This manifests itself with the printer eventually printing blank pages, probably because - like me - it forgets what the hell it was supposed to be doing. It has one of those old archaic 72pin SIMM slots, so I utilised the joys of Ebay to track down some of these obsolete things and slotted one in. Lo! My printer can now handle 10Mb with ease! (Don't spend that all at once). It's strange how quickly technology moves on.

We have discovered the joys of baking here at Jenny towers. I suppose that with Zoë being allergic to wheat, it was only a matter of time before baking reared its head. We've discovered that chocolate sponge sandwiched with whipped cream and jam is rather fine, as is fruit cake. Before you say: "And why were you wondering where those few extra pounds you are carrying around?" we are doing them in moderation. Well I am. I let Zoë eat most of them. As much as I wanted to have more I was a good little girl* (for a change).

*Contents may vary from description.

State of BHTS

Coming on well.

I need more cannon fodder.... I mean, people.

It's been a slow start today on the writing front. I find that writing, particularly fiction, is a funny old business. Essentially, I'm sat here making it up as I go along - how many jobs can you do that in, and from the comfort of your own home too! Of course, there's the old dreaded writers' block, and that hit today. I spent a lot of the morning and some of the afternoon with barely three words strung together, and I wasn't particularly happy about those either.

That's when I did my usual couple of tricks. The first is to try and talk through the plot with some-one. I've got a rough idea of where the plot is to go (so it isn't entirely made up on-the-fly) but it helps to talk it out into the open, and flesh out the ideas. I find it makes things an awful lot clearer in my head. The second thing I do is lie on the bed that is in my office (some writers have a couch, I have a bed - it's handy when there's visitors staying over too) and just daydream, steering the daydream through the plot of the book. Sometimes I nod off and snooze. Hey! There has to be some perks of this stressful job!

It seems to have all worked, and I finally sat down and managed to start writing this afternoon. When the inspiration strikes, it certainly does come. I haven't really stopped since, except for a meal and a couple of plays on the drums on Guitar Hero 5 for a break - you can't write non-stop without going crazy. I've exceded my daily target, and I'm pretty happy.

One of the important things I've been trying to do today with BHTS2 is to introduce extra charectors. Tehre is, of course, the main charector, and a second one that I've had in almost from the start. But I thought it would be best to start getting a few more introduced and streamlined into the plot fairly early on. One of those extra charectors has been fleshed out today, and I've talked over the idea for two more who will be introduced and have a part to play later on. I'm really pleased with progress so far. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Insert vaguely amusing post title here.

It has been a busy week and one that has had its fair share of difficulties. Luckily the biggies are now sorted, so I won't labour them on the blog. Safe to say for those who follow my Facebook status updates, the problems with publisher submissions have been fixed, and we are back on track with BHTS! One day, many years hence, I may look back on this week and laugh. Whether that laugh is manic or otherwise remains to be seen over the next few months.

Yesterday I got the all-clear from the agent with regard to moving BHTS on to the next step. Editing is done, and I mailed today ten copies of the synopsis plus first three chapters to the agent for him to work magic on with publishers' editors. I have my fingers (and toes, etc, etc...) crossed but I am assured by a number of people who have read BHTS that it is an astounding piece of written work, and will undoubtedly challenge for the bestseller's list once on board with a publisher. Oooops - I think my head is in danger of getting too big to get out of this room without a squeeze. Doors to manual.

It means that work on BHTS2 has slowed to a crawl. When things went up in the air, it removed the urge to write on it. After all, I was spending all my free time frantically sorting out problems. Still, those problems are sorted now, so we'll chalk it down to experience, shall we? I hope so. Hopefully now that the huge (It cost £8.40 to post which is quite a lot for a parcel) parcel is away to the agent in London, I can settle back into the rigours of writing BHTS2. The agent knows that I've been working on it, so I can only hope that it will be a sweetener in any deal ("....this astounding book already has a sequel on the cards....").

In other news, Valentine's day approaches. You know that you've been together a good few years when the card says: "I love you soooooooo much! Please see last year's card for details". Still, any old excuse to pop the cork off a bottle of Cava and serve booze in bed in the morning whilst dressed only in a basque set and stockings with a tacky red heart motif. I'll put a couple of bottles in the fridge to chill.

"Book II - this time it's biblical!"

I'm really enjoying writing the new book. As I have said many times in the past, starting a book project is always the most difficult thing. Tehre is nothing more off putting than looking at that empty page template in MS Word, wondering what you are going to fill it with.

There have been times when I've gone straight from one big project to another without gap - but those times have been rare. I finished the actual writing process of 'Bringing home the stars' back in around February/March 2009 I think. I then leapt immediately into writing 'The long summer of war' (novella) and several short stories without even pausing for breath. After that, I seemed to get bogged down with my nemesis, editing. I edited BHTS more times than I care to imagine, honing and honing it. When it found an interested agent, I moved on to editing another of my older works, so that I had at least a few things on standby in case commercial success was quick in beginning, and they wanted more books and quickly.

In the last couple of weeks, the most up-to-date draft of BHTS has resided with the agent and there was nothing for me to do. I've been meaning to write a follow up since Na NoWriMo last year, but Lady insperation was not in the mood. You see, contrary to what my Mother thinks, you cannot just turn 'the writing' on or off on a whim. I have to actually want to write something. Yes, I did some stuff written to order in days gone by, but I hated it and I make no bones about it being a real chore. The idea of writng a whole book on a subject I hated and only tackled because I was told to fills me with dread.

But always on the cards were a couple of projects. In the end I plumped for a loose follow-up to BHTS. Why? Because my theory goes that BHTS is far more saleable and attractive to a mainstream publisher, if there is a follow-up ready to go in the same style and genre that can be seen and read and its quality is a known quantity. I've been pondering the plot for a while, but now it really is starting to take shape. I'm over 11,500 words now and it grows steadily by the day. Actually, I've got an enthusiasm about this that I haven't had since writing BHTS over the Christmas of 2008/9. That is good, because there is nothing worse than writing to a deadline and hating every word of the text you are typing. It also shows in the finished product to some degree.

I'm not going to think about a completion date. All going well, I'm aiming for about the same length as BHTS (approximately 90,000 words) but there is no hard and fast rule. Fingers crossed that the sequel will be as well received as the original. Ticker tape on stand-by...

I can see my car from here.

My car is in this picture, I assure you.

Google Earth isn't the most up-to-date of images, I'm sure we all know. I've found on it satellite images that can be confirmed (though location of new buildings / places being redeveloped and so forth that can be up to five or six years old.

Of course I can find my house (because it never moves, silly) but this is the first time I have been able to confirm something that has a greater connection to me, because it moves around a lot, hopefully with me driving it. Finally, I have left my mark on Google Earth! (Sort of)

Now I just have to find myself on the street view. Well, I have driven past the van taking the pictures. Unfortunately that road isn't on yet. These things take time. Incidentally, I may add, I moved from this location in October 2007 - thus proving that this particular Google image must date from before then.

Progress report, Skipper.

I'm still listening to good old JMJ, as per my last post. I found the track 'Waiting for Cousteau' on the LP of the same name so useful as background scene setting music for what I was writing that I've recorded it to the hard disk of this computer just so I don't wear out the needle. It's around 22 minutes long, so it isn't quite as repetitive as you might think.

So far I've written around 2,750 words today. That's better than a kick in the you-know-whats. In the past when I've been writing books, I've usually aimed for anywhere between 2,000 and 4,000 words a day, depending on the urgancy of the deadlines for the project. I think having a target is helpful, because it gives you a framework with which to work to as well as giving you an idea of how long the damn thing is going to take. As a rule of thumb, I tend to aim for the 90,000 word mark for the complete manuscript - a strange figure perhaps, but it has stood me well for nearly ten full-length manuscripts.

I'm going to be preparing to head out in an hour or two. I've spent a couple of nights a week sorting out boat stores in preparation for the upcoming 2010 sailing season. Where I've been doing this no-one seems to have ever tackled the mounds of stuff they have. One of the main thing has been to identify which type of boat each sail of tiller or such like matches to. So far I've managed to find decent equipment for every boat that is either in useable condition or likely to become useable over this year. On top of that, I can't believe quite how much other stuff I'm finding. Set of racing sails and spinnaker for a GP14? Well that would be nice if we had a GP14 hull. We have every other damn thing it needs except that. Tonight I shall see what else I shall uncover.

Last night I had a bit of a shock when I ventured onto the Wii fit. Quite apart from the fact that it has been 120 days since I stepped on it last (how time flies) I am 12 pounds heavier. WTF!!!??? Not that I exactly look like I'm 12 pounds heavier, but it is a shock. It does at the very least explain why the sports skirts I have feel somewhat tight now when going on the Wii fit. I suspect bad eating habits are to blame, so it is going to be a good few months of cutting back. Why does food have to be so nice?

Zoolook

My ears have gone all 1980s. I'm diligently tapping out my book on the computer, with a set of headphones on and a stack of Jean Michel-Jarre LPs taking their turns on the platter. Right now the LP 'Zoolook' is there. Christ on a motorbike, this stuff screams 1980s like no other bouffant poodle permed mullet could. Get out the animal print pink lycra leg warmers and the puffer jacket over the boob tube, because we're going to party like it's 1989!

In around 1995/6, long before any of the books that I currently have in print were written, I was writing a book that was simply called 'Syndicate' (Scenes and the core ideas of this book later went on to be reused in bits of a later book entitled 'Syndicate Dawn' which wouldn't appear in print until 2008). I had a tape of a compilation of various JMJ tracks that I liked. They were all moody and suggestive of dark emotions. I used to play them over and over again as I wrote and they were helpful for helping to set the scene. The tape is long gone, but my record collection now contains most of JMJ's albums from Oxygene in the 1970s through to Chronologie in 1993.

It is strange how inspiration can turn full circle; here I am writing a book and listening to JMJ once again to set the scene and the mood.

Progress report, el presidente.

Can you tell I've been fending off the urge to install Tropico on this computer yet? I tend to find that all sorts of work avoidance schemes seem like a great idea when there is real writing work waiting to be done. I guess then that it is obvious that the sequel to 'Bringing home the stars' is underway. I've done just over 4,000 words in the last few days. It's amazing really - that sounds to me like a pitiful amount, but my final year dissertation that accounted for one third of my entire work that year was only to be a maximum of 12,000 words. Such is the different standards of adult life. These days on a good day I have been known to right 8,000 words in just one day with ease. Still.

I mentioned the lure of computer games. Ever since I first began working as a writer, I purposefully removed all games from my computer as I worried that I would just end up frittering my time on them instead of, you know, working and all that. Back then I had just completed Unreal, and was beginning Half-Life. To this day, I haven't found out what happens after halfway through Half-Life. Still, I've managed to live without that knowledge up until now.

This may be a replacement for the replacement for that computer, but it still has no computer games on it. Not even Solitaire - that's one of the first bits of bloatware to be ripped out when the operating system is installed. Still, there is a Wii and a PS2 downstairs and I may have completed GTA San Andreas (for the Grove, man) but that's something that's a bit harder to flick onto from the desk in the office upstairs. Out of sight is out of mind, and all that.

Have you noticed I blog a lot when I should be writing books? I'll get back to work...

Employment Law.

Employment law, despite good legislation, is an area that seems to be rife with fuckwitage. So many managers do not have a clue how to manage adequately, or more importantly, within the law. There are also companies that assume that they cannot fire an incompitant worker, despite said worker really taking the piss with their conduct. There are a number of books that I have found over the years that have proved invaluable:

*Employment Law by Melanie Slocombe (ISBN: 1-904053-92-0)
Employment Law, Nutshells by Andrew C. Bell (ISBN: 0-421-78370-2)
*Employment Law, Nutcases by Andrew C. Bell (ISBN: 0-421-87100-8)
*Employment Law by Jacqueline Martin & Chris Turner (ISBN: 0-340-88947-0)
Statutes on IT and e-commerce by Steve Hedley & Tanya Aplin (ISBN: 0-19-927303-0)
Discrimination Law by Aileen McColgan (ISBN: 1-84113-484-8)

The above are all useful texts in this area, and an invaluable resource. Those marked with a star are especially recommended for covering case law examples and a clear outline of laws and practical in-depth study of their workings and implications. They aren't necessarrily too expensive either, with the third starred one only costing £5.99 when I was buying them and available from all good book retailers (and probably a few bad book retailers too!). This price may well have increased over the four years since I bought them, but they are still worth every penny.

Music whilst you work.

Now here is a first - I'm listening to classical music whilst writing bone-chilling sci-fi/horror. It seems a weird juxtaposition of Elgar's Pomp and circumstance, but it seems to be working: 1,000 words done in the last two hors, and that's with frequent breaks to smurf through Wikipedia doing research.

Usually I will put on records when I write. I find they serve two useful purposes: Firstly they cover up any annoying background noises. There is nothing worse than being distracted by the sound of the neighbours or cars revving it up at the traffic lights at the end of the road. Secondly, when chosen carefully, the music can suggest the mood of the piece that you are writing and make it easier to write what you want effectively.

Clearly at the moment the LP copy of The Classic Experience that is spinning is only serving the first role. But hey! It is sort of working. I now just need a montage of hard rock to blow away any semblence of my mind whilst I write a particularly gruesome scene...

Hair we go.

I've hated body hair on me ever since it first arrived. I wasn't a quick starter. Actually, I seem to remember getting body hair turning up late on compared to everyone else I knew. HRT in my late teens for a couple of years stopped the hormonal confusion my body was going through for a while, and it was all staved off even longer.

But it returned, bringing reinforcements in my early twenties. Given the way that I also started losing thwe hair on my head at the same time, I had a suspicion that it was marching southward in the night. Either that, or I was managing to grow through the hair on my head. I had a fear of ending up with nothing but seventies style sideburns.

Hair issues was something that I started to address when seeing a lovely man who immediately spotted the evil dihydrotestosterone was probably to blame. It is a weird hormone that when present in some people causes the hair on their head to disappear whilst the hair everywhere else attepts to turn that person into a Gorilla who has had a bad hair day. Luckily the anti-androgen Finasteride stops it being made in the body. That and a return to the wonders of HRT finally started to reverse the damage already caused to my body.

The hair on my head came back. Mostly. Well, at least I've got enough that I look normal again, and as long as I don't try for a council facelift style of tying it back, the world at large doesn't have to know that I have a slightly higher hairline at either side than I would like (fringes are a wonderful thing in moderation). It also got rid of the love rug hair on my back, arms and chest that had rather bothered me. I mean, no girl wants to look down and see John Travolta's chest with breasts poised somewhere about their person.

The one area all this seemed to miss was my legs. I've always had hairy legs; it was one of the first places hair sprung from in puberty. HRT made it slightly thinner, but not much. Now, I like wearing skirts a lot; especially short skirts. The problem is that I almost needed a lawnmower to keep up with the hair. To add insult to injury, any kind of shaving or epilation left me after a couple of days with what looked akin to acne on my legs. Ingrowing hairs were a nightmare. I tried waxing strips once (a good job no-one told the gestapo about these, or else every British military secret of the second world war might have been quickly divulged under 'questioning'). I also tried those chemical hair removal creams. If the smell of ammonia ridden dead goat wasn't enough to contend with, the acne was ten times worse helped no doubt by almost third degree chemical burns.

Laser was out of the question unless I could find that money tree at the bottom of the garden that the taxman and my car seem to act like I have (haven't found it yet or maybe the Blackbirds stripped it bare before I arrived?) so it was never tried. At any rate, my body hair is notoriously resiliant, as the stuff that came on my face has taken around twenty sessions of laser and a dozen sessions of electrolysis to deal with so far.

Recently, the wacky funky Jenny Laboritories have devised a new method. This involves Oestragel, and desperation (which can be a powerful thing). I used to smear it on my arms for some obscure reason lost in the mists of the NHS. I have a repeat prescription, but the stuff was less use than an umbrella in a hurricane. Recently I tried using it on my legs. Well, it might do something, I figured. On the other hand, pigs might fly out of my arse. Pork chops anyone?

It has worked bizarrely and against all odds. I've been applying it without fail for over three months day in, day out to my upper and lower legs. The results have been staggering. I don't need to shave for over a week, and the hair growth is thinner and finer. What is more, my skin seems more resiliant to shaving (no doubt because it isn't put under the blade every day any more) and the post shaving acne irritation is no more. It is really working!

The thing about Oestragel is that there is a lot of bollocks that surround it (in a medical rather than physical testicular nature, you understand). I've heard too many people to mention try and claim that it cannot act locally to where it is applied on the body, but the results prove otherwise. Maybe flooding an area with a high level of Oestragen might have something of an effect?

It seems then that Oestragel can work as part of a balanced and controlled hormone diet and that expensive options like nuking your skin with medical lasers ("...no Mr Bond, I expect you to die....!") or zapping them with electricity with electrolysis aren't necessarily the best way to deal with any little hairs that aren't on your face. Currently Zoë is seeing whether the same technique will have the same effect on her.'t on your face. Currently Zoë is seeing whether the same technique will have the same effect on her.

Come in number 70, your time is up!

Incidentally, a big hello to the seventieth member of the fan page - don't forget to invite your friends and massage my ego.

Real meat, how I miss thee.

Last night my Mother came for tea. I decided to cook lasagne, which is a dish I love and used to make a lot until Zoë developed a wheat allergy. As a home made lasagne's size is dictated by the size of the jars of ingrediants, and also the Pyrex dish used to cook it in, I never contemplated cooking one all to myself.

I made one - first in over a year - and decided to use real meat instead of Soya mince as Zoë wasn't anble to eat it regardless.

Oh real meant, how I miss thee! It was truly wonderful! There was a lot left over, but I've experimented with freezing it in small portion sized Tupperware boxes. It works beautifully. So I have enough lasagne now to feed me all through the week. The best thing is that I don't have to eat it all at once (as was previously the way when I cooked a lasgne and it all had to get eaten within two days) and can space it out around other meals to vary my diet.

So lasagne is back on the menu here at Jenny towers. I love cooking interesting food.