Sunday 13 March 2011

Stuff

My head has been all over the place since January. Although I never said the word, I know that most of you probably realised that I was losing a job that I loved and being made redundant. I've been there a long time (9 years) and its a job that I've enjoyed. During February there was a chance that I could stay with the organisation but it would involve an hours commute in the morning and another one at night. I considered that for a while though I wasn't looking forward to the drive. Then I was offerred the chance to do the same job for a different organisation only 7 1/2 miles away from where I live so I snatched their hands off.
Needless to say, writing has not been a priority for me in the last three months.
So here's the situation at the moment. I have one more week of actual "work" which won't be easy because to see a place dieing on its feet is not nice and I work with volunteers who are going to find the process particularly hard so I'm going to be doing a lot of "picking up" this week. Then after that there are 3 days of actual closure. Then , and I know this was bad planning on my part, I start my new job the next day.
Hopefully when that process is out of the way I can start getting back to normal.
Also as some of you know, I used to write fiction with varying amounts of success but after a particularly unsuccessful early 2010 decided to concentrate on non fiction which I have been doing since October. That is going okay and I will still continue with that but from April I want to work on fiction again - or at least some of it.
My novel BTL had some interest from an agent last year but there were some twaeks that they wanted, Sadly after the tweaks they still didn't "love" (their words) enough to take it on. Personally I think that the tweaks requested were too harsh but they did make for better writing. So, from April I am going to give myself 6 months to tweak BTL again - not going as far as the agent wanted (they made me get rid of G and as those of you that have lived through this with me know - I love G, nay maybe even a little in love with him) but making the writing more of the style that the agents tweaks created, Sorry if that last sentence makes no sense but on here I write as I think and once its said, its said, just like in a proper conversation between friends.
That's the plan anyway.

10 comments:

Frances Garrood said...

it's odd, isn't it, how it's always your favourite bit or character that editors want to remove; the brilliant passage, the hilarious joke, the irrestible character - out they go! Good luck with the new job, and the writing.

Paula RC said...

I'm so sorry to hear your news. I wish you lots of luck with your new job.

Colette McCormick said...

Frances - I coudn't agree more. I love G - I might even be in love with G. Without him the whole thing falls apart. A friend of mine who has written 20+ books under several different names had a look at it and told me to keep him. She also said something quite nasty about editors that I couldn't possibly agree with (not knowing any that well personally) or repeat.
Jarmara - Thank you. I know that you were in a similar position recently. How is the writing going? I think that you made a very brave decision.

Frances Garrood said...

Oh, keep G! My experience is that you can send a book to a dozen editors, and each will come up with a totally different verdict. A book (or character) is only as succesful as the publisher/editor who first reads it. It's so subjective. No doubt someone told J K Rowling that her books would be better without Harry. Who knows?

Colette McCormick said...

Good advice Frances - thanks

Flowerpot said...

I've beenin a same situatin so I know a little of how you feel - good luck withth enew job and best of luck with th ewriting time when you get it!

Colette McCormick said...

Cheers Flowerpot

Kath said...

Good luck with the new job, Colette. I don't think you'll regret starting your new job almost immediately. You'll be surprised how quickly it all becomes familiar. What's the leave situation - will you be able to take the odd day once you've settled in?

Sheila Norton said...

Hi Colette. I didn't know, and I'm very sorry to hear about your job. I too had a similar experience a few years back so I really sympathise - it's so stressful. I'm glad you have at least got a new job to go to and have avoided the dreaded Job Centre (although I was lucky too, wasn't out of work long). But times are hard.

With regard to your writing, I agree with those who said every agent and editor will ask for different edits. If you think G is central to your story, keep him, and see what the next agent/editor says. 'Don't love it enough' is standard agent-speak for about a million different reasons for not taking you on, so don't be put off by it. Wishing you lots of luck. x

Colette McCormick said...

Kath - everyone is saying that I should have had a little time off before starting the new job but I'm glad to be starting straight away - no time to dwell on things.
Olivia - Its amazing how many people have come through the redundancy thing and had a positive outcome. having said that, I wish it wasn't happening. But it is so I just have to get on with it. As for G - he will stay - like I said, I love him.