Tuesday 18 September 2012

Moving Forward

So, we've finally moved - by this I mean no more interim moves, no more storing things in people's garages and attics - we have moved lock, stock and barrel into a proper family home! It's been a long time coming, and yet, now we're here, I think it will be a while before I feel settled. Over the past 20 years, I've moved house far too many times (I've lost count but reckon it might be around 30) and so have got used to feeling almost rootless (thank goodness my parents never moved or I really would be lost!). So, it feels alien to have reached this point. But I'm looking forward to being 'normal'. The first step was getting R's name down for a good pre-school earlier today.
And, although we still have far too many boxes to unpack and we have to get our 'old' house ready for rental, I'm looking forward to making some headway with the second draft of my children's novel. I've summarised the plot chapter-by-chapter, examined the story arc and begun looking at the character arc. After much deliberation, and a bit of experimentation, I've come to the conclusion that the story should probably be changed from the third person to the first person, or it should be at least mostly in the first person with some in the the third (if I can make it work?!). But it's going to be one heck of a job, especially as the first draft's around 80,000 words. My alpha readers mostly agree with me, but B thinks it's a totally mad thing to do - maybe he's right, but if that's what it takes to write a good book...
Last night I saw John Connolly the crime author at our local town hall. He was highly entertaining and insightful and when I'm less tired I'll try and summarise the evening properly in a blog post. K and N, two of my writing friends, met him aftwerwards and told me later what a genuine and honest bloke he was, which I found refreshing for such an established author.
October is going to be a cracking month for writing/literature festivals with events at Morley, Ilkley, Wakefield and Hebden Bridge. Although why they have to be at the same time of year as each other is a mystery, as surely they would have more attendees if they were spread throughout the year? Just a thought. Anyway I've booked myself onto various workshops at Morley and HB, which will (hopefully) spur me on to finish my second draft during the autumn and winter. Now that really would be moving forward.

4 comments:

  1. Congratulations, can't wait to see the new house and I agree, all these Yorkshire-based Literature Festivals SHOULD be spread out across the year, that way, not only would they get more attendees, but we could attend more than one Festival without a clash of dates.

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    1. Thanks Karen! Yes I really wish the festivals could be more staggered - it would work better for everyone involved :)

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  2. Good luck on your revisions! Let me tell you... it's hard work, but it'll all be worth it when your manuscript is all nice, shiny, edited, and beautiful because even if it doesn't get published, you will know it's your best work. And if it does get published--yay!

    Anyway, I just stumbled onto your blog and am loving what I see! You've got yourself a new follower!

    What's in a Name?

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    1. Hi Jessica! Thank you for following and for your words of support! I'm guessing that you have been through it all before and have a nice, shiny, edited MS? If so what did you write about and have you had any success in the publishing world so far?
      I'm glad you like my blog and will do my best to update it more often now that we've settled into our new home! :)

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