The Secret Life of Characters
Ever Googled your characters to see what they get up to when you’re not watching?
I was revising a scene where a character of mine was toying with the idea of Googling another character and I wondered what he’d find.
So I did it.
It turns out that Rosalind Abernethy has left school and is very happy with the used car she purchased recently from the Waikato Used Car Yard in New Zealand.
Even more shocking is that Ben Abbot seems to have run off to star in another series of mystery books! Now, where’s the loyalty, I ask you?
As for Dr John Morgan, he’s currently starring in his own YouTube video giving his argument for the legalisation of marijuana! I wonder what the school principal would think about that?
(Father) Marc Ammon has abandoned school, and the church in order to become a mathemetician! (I actually can’t believe I found a Marc Ammon – I made-up the surname based on the Greek for ’something hidden’ but apparently it’s real!)
So Google your characters guys, you never know what they’re up to!
I’m sorry, God, a slug ate my sermon.
Honestly, it’s true. And if I tell you that said sermon was languishing on the fireplace in my bedroom, you might get some idea of how horrific this incident really was.
A SLUG WAS IN MY BEDROOM!!!! *shudder*
And we’re not talking little wiggly thing, we’re talking big, fat, squidgy disgustingness!
So I’ve really had it with them now. Sliming around the downstairs of the house at three in the morning is one thing, but actually traversing the stairs in search of an alternative menu is quite another. I point-blank refuse to sleep with the slugs!
HELP!!!
Does anyone have any bright ideas as to how to get rid of these disgusting, squidgy pests?
The end of literary YA?
The other day I got a critique of the first two chapters of In the Shadow of the Oak that suggested it was too literary.
I can’t tell you how disturbing I found that.
Now, I’ve taken huge amounts of criticism in the past for all kinds of things, all of which was well deserved and, in the end, lessons well learned. But for some reason this one comment really got to me.
At first I thought it was because of what it said about my writing – i.e. a polite way of saying ‘I think your writing’s crap’. But on reflection, it was more what it said about the process of attempting publication.
Yes, it’s true that we’re experiencing what’s been described as an ‘economic down-turn’ (amazing how many ways governments can say the word recession) and that publishers aren’t taking the risks they (apparently) once did. But does that mean we should stop using big words and punctuation? Because there are one or two best sellers out there, who not only use big words and punctuation, but also have paragraphs of description that go on for more than half a page… gasp! See Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, for example.
Today I found myself staring at the YA shelves in Waterstones (I’d gone in to get something for work – honestly!) and there was a woman putting out some stock. I asked her what was selling at the moment in the world of fifteen year old girls. At first she thought I was looking for a present and immediately handed me Twilight. So I asked her what she thought of it. It turned out she happened to be the regional children’s manager who was incredibly well versed in the kiddie publishing world. So I, perhaps foolishly, identified myself as an aspiring writer. It turned out she was really enthusiastic about new writers and had pushed another local woman through to the final of Waterstones’ writing competition. The manuscript didn’t win, but she very proudly handed me a copy of the book, published by Barry Cunningham’s Chicken House, no less!
We went on to have a great conversation about the fabulous (and best selling) YA books of recent times. Of course there are always the Pink Books that teenage girls love, and always sell well. But she picked out the books that had sold well over the last couple of years, all of which she described as literary cross-overs (whether they be YA/adult or 8-12/YA). Interesting, huh?
Anyway, I walked out of Waterstones with a spring in my step, her email address in my pocket, my faith in young adult readers restored, and the offer of free sample copies of new releases! All I can say is Meg Rosoff of…
Chain bookstore staff are generally clueless
…fame, you ought to meet this very clued-in member of Waterstones staff – you might be surprised!
Let’s try that again…
Lots of things have happened since my last post – not least an ontological change (a whatna? I hear you ask… )
But I think I’ve settled into my new life sufficiently to get back to writing which is great. This month I’ve managed to churn out about 20000 words (on top of work stuff), not all of it rubbish. It’s felt great – like I’m getting into the swing of things.
But today is the 1st of September, the month when all the meetings and courses crawl out of the woodwork, and suddenly my diary doesn’t look as happy as it once did. The writing schedule will doubtless get tougher and my temper will get shorter! But I’m still hoping to have a complete draft of Shadow by November – not to mention a workable synopsis by the end of September when I need to send it away to the nice people organising the SCBWI conference in Winchester.
So please send all your spare organisational skills my way – I’m going to need as much as you can spare!
Oh, and here’s a great post on writing a pitch from the lovely Hélène Boudreau, that I’ll definitely be referring to in the next few weeks!
The Return – An Attempt…
I’m a bad, bad blogger. But there are reasons (aren’t there always?!)
I think it’s been fair to say that I’ve been somewhat preoccupied with work. In fact, it would be fair to say that I still am. However, the times they are a-changing. I need to get back to some routine of writing or there is a very real possibility that I will descend to even more troubling levels of madness. If the words won’t come, then I’ll just have to sit here until they do – even if they are a load of rubbish.
So, come on guys – tell me what y’all do when reservoir runs dry??????
How a writing workshop can turn your life around…
Of course, when I say turn your life around I actually mean turn your life upside-down.
There I was, happily writing my 1,600 words a day in order to meet the NaNoWriMo challenge of a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Then I go on a Cornerstones writing workshop. Now I’m dumping my NaNoWriMo novel in favour of an old project – but I’m trying to keep up with the word count aim because clearly I’m unhinged.
But on the subject of writing workshops I can heartily recommend (in a pirate yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum kind of way) those run by Cornerstones. Lee Weatherly and Helen Corner really know what they’re talking about and are sincerely generous with their time and advice. If anyone is looking to hone their writing skills and understand the publishing game I would recommend signing up for one of their workshops.
It was also a delight to meet great people who are dedicated and talented writers. It was such a boost to spend time with them.
Right – back to the writing…
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20,585 / 50,000 |
So, if you think this post is for any other reason than to see my pretty word count meter then you’d be very much mistaken. Sorry – but I’m off to buy a lawnmower (as if that’s going to keep my lawn like some sort of college green!) Then I’m coming back here to up my word count before the hell that is the youth group sleepover.
Words not substance, words not substance – it’s my new chant.
NaNoWriMo Update
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17,267 / 50,000 |
It may all be complete trash, but I’m choosing to be pleased with the numbers. Having said that, I haven’t written a word today. Well, when I say I haven’t written a word, I’d written 1500 words before 8am – but for work, not for fun. Although it was pretty funny, if I do say so myself. Nothing wrong with a bit of stand up from the pulpit I say.
Anyway, I’m off to do some writing because in an hour I want to watch the new Stephen Poliakoff drama Joe’s Palace on TV. I love his writing – it’s just about weird enough for me! I’ll also get a weird thrill out of the mere one degree of separation between me and the leading man. Don’t look at me like that, I live a very boring life!
Words, Words and More Words
I’m well and truly back from holiday. Dublin was a lot louder and busier than I remember – there are at least a million too many people crammed onto the streets, leaving no room to sing Cockles and Mussels while doing the Irish Jig! And finding actual Irish people became a sport.
A certain fellow KidCritter and Blogger has pulled me into madness (at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) 50,000 words this month? A completed novel? Yup, complete madness. But how can you resist the NaNoWriMo challenge?!
Who knows if I’ll make it, but it’s worth giving it a go!
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11,262 / 50,000 |
