I thought it time I updated my website as I see that the homepage still advertises The Anniversary as my latest release. Since then, I have released another book (alongside Kath Middleton) - Is it Her? - a duo of novellas, each inspired by the same enigmatic painting. The book has been critically well-received and such great feedback has re-confirmed that writing for readers is a complete and utter joy!
 The Anniversary |  Is it Her? |
So, where am I up to now?
A few years ago, writing a novel was something unthinkable for me and now, with a few books under my belt, I have just passed the 50k mark for my current work in progress. I'm so pleased to have written two novels now (the first being FAG). It's not easy to get to this point as the material has to grab you and have potential to be developed and I'm pleased to say that both are true in this case!
It's now time to take a step back and look at everything I've written. I'm fairly confident that most of the first draft is usable but it all needs a thorough editing and polishing. I've actually written the book completely out of order, picking scenes to suit my mood and so the whole novel is a mishmash of chapters which whizz back and forth in time. And no, I don't intend to leave it like this as per The Anniversary!
I recently managed to set up a printer in my writing room - Okay, it's a spare room in which I write - and now the printed manuscript is scattered over the floors of my apartment. It's far easier to organise that way than shift about files on my computer, although the danger of slipping and breaking my leg is now infinitely higher.
A few years ago, writing a novel was something unthinkable for me and now, with a few books under my belt, I have just passed the 50k mark for my current work in progress. I'm so pleased to have written two novels now (the first being FAG). It's not easy to get to this point as the material has to grab you and have potential to be developed and I'm pleased to say that both are true in this case!
It's now time to take a step back and look at everything I've written. I'm fairly confident that most of the first draft is usable but it all needs a thorough editing and polishing. I've actually written the book completely out of order, picking scenes to suit my mood and so the whole novel is a mishmash of chapters which whizz back and forth in time. And no, I don't intend to leave it like this as per The Anniversary!
I recently managed to set up a printer in my writing room - Okay, it's a spare room in which I write - and now the printed manuscript is scattered over the floors of my apartment. It's far easier to organise that way than shift about files on my computer, although the danger of slipping and breaking my leg is now infinitely higher.
The first draft - hot off the printer
I'll confess. I did write this blog post a short while back and am now adapting it just before publishing it as much of it was out of date when I came to it just now. (Printer still in box, word count less than it is now, apartment floors not a danger to this author's legs etc...) So apologies if it seems disjointed. It is, in fact, being edited and updated much like my work in progress! So it aptly reflects what I'm doing at the moment... although the book is better, I promise.
Today I edited the first four chapters, adding around 2700 words and titling the chapters as I went. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the chapters will be titled and not numbered. I have to say, for someone whose mind wavers all the time about his writing, I'm pretty darned pleased with it so far and have printed those edited chapters out again, just in case my paranoia of computer failure turns fact and also because I didn't think there was enough paper covering my floors.
So... onward with making this first draft a seamless novel. I can't wait to share it with you!
Today I edited the first four chapters, adding around 2700 words and titling the chapters as I went. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the chapters will be titled and not numbered. I have to say, for someone whose mind wavers all the time about his writing, I'm pretty darned pleased with it so far and have printed those edited chapters out again, just in case my paranoia of computer failure turns fact and also because I didn't think there was enough paper covering my floors.
So... onward with making this first draft a seamless novel. I can't wait to share it with you!
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