Tuesday 29 June 2010

Foggy

My friend asked me the other what writing I was working on at the moment and I had to be honest and say that I wasn't really working on anything. It made me realise that I've been in a bit of a fog (for want of a better word) for the last few weeks. I just can't get myself going on anything, I'm lacking motivation.
I'm not sure why this is because God knows I have enough projects planned. Maybe I need to start a completely fresh one and hope that I can get excited about that.
I know that I'm not the first one to go through this and I'm pretty sure that I won't be the last but I would be really interested to know what others have done to shake off the lethargy.
Any ideas?

Thursday 24 June 2010

What I've done and will be doing.

I'm going to be spending the best part of today trying to get a feel for CT - the project that I started a couple of months ago and then had to put on the back burner while I fiddled around with another project. I need to try and climb back inside my MC's head. Then it will be onwards and upwards with that one.
Had a rejection (collective boo) from WW yesterday. They actually have 4 of my stories at the moment and the rejected one was the third one that I sent them. I don't know what to think about the two "older" ones. Is is a good sign or have they just not got round to sending them back yet? Who knows? Time will tell I suppose.
I've also resubmitted stories to TLFF that were sent before the new editor took over so everything is crossed for those too.
On a different note, I have a new steam cleaner which I'm looking forward to laying with later and who knows, maybe I'll watch a couple of games of football and some tennis.
It's all go.
Must get on, I've got a head to climb into.

Thursday 17 June 2010

Unlucky for some?

I realised the other day that it's been quite a while since I subbed a short short story, the BTL rewrite has been dominating my thoughts for a month or so. Well I put a stop to that lack of productivity today and have subbed two stories. One was a brand new one and the other was one that has been "reworked" as it were. That brings me up to 13 stories out there but at least two of them have been with That's Life for nigh on six months so there's not much longer for them. They do still have their if you've not heard in six months you've been unsuccessful policy don't they?
I'm planning on more subbing this week or certainly next.
I go through phases like this - I should really learn to pace myself.

Wednesday 16 June 2010

A lovely award


Thanks Amanda for this lovely award. Apparantly, part of the deal for getting this is that I tell you 10 things about myself. I'll warn you in advance - prepare to be underwhelmed.
Here goes.
1. I took my last A level (Economics) 29 years ago today.
2. My maternal grandmother, had she lived, would have been 120 years old last Monday. It might actually have been 121 - my mum's not quite sure.
3. I love musicals.
4. I'm enjoying the World Cup.
5. I used to be a Playgroup Leader and helped out in a nursery.
6. My children both weighed the same and were born in the same delivery room.
7. If I've had one too many sherry's I want to eat pork pie. Thank goodness I'm not much of a drinker.
8. I had to take my driving test 7 times before I passed it.
9. I have a memory like a seive - literally. People know that they can tell me anything that they don't want anyone else to know because by the time I've had a sleep I'll have forgotten it.
10. I have a pair of lucky earrings.
Phew that was hard. Hope you've not nodded off.
Now I have to pass this on and I send it to:
Olivia
Caroline
and
Karen
I know it's not many but it seems that every other blog I visit on a regular basis already has this award.
Thanks again Amanda.

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Writing and other stuff

I love the word "stuff" (when referring to things that is.)
After a chat with a dear lady with a lot of experience (20 books I would think but I haven't counted them) the butchering of BTL is on hold and I am back with the original.She gave me some sound advice and I'm taking it. Goerge is very happy to be back - for now at least.
The day job has been keeping me busy but I have managed to fit in some writing.
CT is back out of the drawer so to speak after it's sabbatical in the drawer while I had the knife to BTL. That's good because it's a project that I'm eager to get on with. At the moment no new words have been added as I'm re-reading what I already had and getting a feel for it again.
I have also been working on my short story for the writing group that I am in. It's all there apart from the end. I how I want it to end and what I want to say, I just haven't found the right words to say them with yet. I'll give that some thought today and hopefully come up with the nuggets of wisdom before tomorrow evening.
Other than that there's not been much. Oh I did receive an electronic copy of one of the travel articles that I wrote. That looks good but I'm sure it will look better on the glossy page. I need to add a "couple of lines" to the end and get that back to them by tomorrow at the latest. As I saw the email after 7pm last night and I had to email them back asking how many words they want added to the fact that I am at work today and I think we all know what I'll be doing tonight.
Speaking of work, I should really get a wriggle on. It's 7.10am and I need to leave in 20 minutes so that I can make a detour to the bank (for some cash) the supermarket (for some bread) and still hopefully have time for a cuppa before the day has to start properly.

Thursday 10 June 2010

Oh eck

Have you ever hit the send button on an email the second before you think should I really be doing this?
Please tell me you have - even if its not true because it'll make me feel better.

Monday 7 June 2010

When less is more - but only temporarily.

The rewrite of BTL means cutting out huge swathes of the original ms which means that I write maybe 500 - 800 new words only to discover when I check the word count that I'm only 50 or so words better off than I was. Nil desperandum I'll be reaching the totally new scenes soon so that should help the word count. I'm really enjoying it actually even though it is practically a totally different book now.
Different will be good if it is better.
I think it is.

Thursday 3 June 2010

Nothing much (at all really)

Oh I was so full of angst this morning regarding a matter about the car park I use when I'm at work and wouldn't you just know that the Centre Manager that I spoke to was just lovely when I complained to her and it all disppeared. Pity the same couldn't be said for the bloke I spoke to before her who copped it big time. His ears may still be ringing.
However. Isn't it a glorious day. (Statement of fact not a question so no ? required (I think)) Sorry to anyone who hasn't got the lovely weather but we have and I'm celebrating it.
I'm going to do a spot of weeding later on which is always therapeutic and I might even make a quiche for lunch. I have some edits to do before that though. I even thought that I might iron later but I soon knocked that idea on the head.
Edits here I come.