Whoo hoo!

So I've spent the last few days staring at a brief outline of the end of the book. Most of my time has been spent drumming my fingers and trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with the ending - something just didn't sit right.

And then I browsed through the Tragic Villains post in absolutewrite and I suddenly figured it out: my antagonist's motivations were shallow, at best. I knew there was something under the surface; there had been enough hints scattered through, and I was so close to figuring it out. So I made a cup of tea and thought about it for a while, and then it all just popped into my head.

It's going to mean even more rewriting than what's already on my plate, but it's also going to flesh out my antagonist, which is always a good thing.

I also have three days off in a row next weeks, so I'm hoping to have a good lot of the rewriting done by the end of that time off. Whoo!

Insanity!

I can't really be getting excited about rewriting my book, can I?

It's official: I'm a freak of nature! Well, a writing freak of nature, at least.

Sub 01.1: result

Rejection. A nicer one than usual, though. I am somewhat heartened, though disappointed. I think I know what's missing from Sub 02, however, which is promising, and I have a new idea brewing.

I'll write a little more of the book, and then stop for the night. Important decision for the night: watch a cheesy film or finish Naomi Novik's fantastic Empire of Ivory?

Sub 02: result

Rejection. *sigh* I'm a little disappointed, I have to admit. Oh well. It needs a rewrite anyway, and I have my eye on a new place to submit to. The deadline isn't until near Christmas, so I can put it aside and come back to it with a fresh eye and still have enough time to tinker.

Still waiting on the result of sub 01.1. And I have two new short story ideas to play around with. I'll let them fester in my head for a while longer while I try to get another chunk of the book done.

Thesis is going to handed in next week. I'll be glad to see the back of it, to be honest. How did I ever think a thesis on vampire fiction would still be so interesting after weeks of working on it? Honestly.

I'm going to put on Hannah Fury's music and see if that will cheer me up. Possible start on Season 3 of House, too, or something. Perhaps even put on Phantom of the Opera; the cheesiness might just be what I need.

Breath like cloud puffs

Winter has suddenly dropped without warning. It's gone from reasonable autumn temperatures to feeling like December. I had to dig out my winter coat and scarf, and I have to buy a new hat and set of gloves as, in keeping with my yearly winter tradition, I somehow lost last year's set. Heh.

I was walking to the tram on my way to work this morning and my breath was forming little cloud puffs on the air. The air felt cool and crisp, and it seemed like Christmas was just around the corner. Things have changed a lot since this time last year, some good and some bad. I think I like the person I am now a lot more. I hope.

The book has gone past 30,000 words.

At least the weather is suiting my writing mood; I am heading towards the uphill slope that leads to the climax and the plunge down. The weather is also cold and frozen in this part of the book, and I can honestly say that right now I'm writing exactly what I'm feeling. :)

The state of sub 01.1

The novel has gone past 21k. :) And I received some new information on the state of sub 01.1. Work is slightly stressful, as is my thesis, but otherwise, life is good right now.

How to know...

...when you've finally hit on The Book:

You contemplate leaving early from a night out with your co-workers because you're getting that itch to write, and you can't stop thinking about the work you could be doing at home. Heh.

The book is going well. I am very, very pleased with my progress so far. I'm not going to say much about it, since I suspect the second draft will differ a lot from the first, except that I've hit my stride on it and we're starting to run.

I'd forgotten that I decided I wanted to write because of times that felt like this. :)

Sub 01.1, Sub 02

The revised version of sub 01 (now called sub 01.1) and sub 02 have been released into the wild. I have reasonable hopes for the new version of 01; I think the rewrites did it more justice. Sub 02, however, I have my doubts about, but I think it's workable with perhaps another rewrite in the wings if a rejection comes back.

I'm currently working on a novel, along with a certain Real Life Thing (namely, my thesis, or my 'non-fiction writing project' as I now call it so as not to burst into tears every time I think about it). Sub 03 is in the rudimentary scratchings and 'hmm, will this idea work, I wonder?' stage. I also have two projects which need to be completed for fun; I foresee this month's wordcount to be obscenely high when it's finally over.

Sub 01: result

Another rejection to add to the folder. *rueful sigh*

However, there is another anthology I can submit it to, just in the nick of time. So another polish, and off we go again! And there is another sub to do the final polish on and submit, too, and I've had a few new ideas stick their heads in and demand to be fiddled with, so all is good.

One day... one day, I will look back at this and smile. I just have to keep reminding myself that this will shape me into the writer I want to be. It didn't even hurt that much to read the rejection, which shows how far I've grown in so little time.

The Waiting Process (Sub:01)

I'd forgotten how horrible the submitting-and-then-waiting-for-a-reply part of writing is. *jitters and bites fingernails*

I've grown very attached to the story I've just submitted (we'll call it sub: 01 for organisation's sake). Let's see how the baby does out in the big, bad world.

Back to normal

I'd forgotten how terrible it is to get the desperate urge to write while at work. Oh dear.

That said, at last, the longing to put words together and see what happens has returned, after a dreadfully long absence! I'd also forgotten how much I had missed this, as maddening as it may be.

Tonight, then. Tonight.

Is recluse still an occupation?

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could be a recluse and never see a single human being ever again?

...I am most definitely having one of those days. *RAGE*

When the rain falls...

It has been raining for the past few days, a heavy, straight rain which I can't help but stare at from my window. The sound of it is strangely soothing, and always has been. I feel safe whenever I'm inside from the rain, and warm, curled up in my room or on the couch while listening to it.

It always turns my writing dark and somber.

And, now, yes, it has started to rain again.

Time to start the morning for real.

Introduction

I suppose this would be where I mention something about myself...

I write. I dream. I must sometimes unfortunately be realistic. I flounder. I make mistakes. And then write about them. I hope. I wish.

But mostly I write, a lot. I'm currently what they call a 'working writer' - in other words, I write a lot, polish the words a lot, and then submit, submit, submit, and await that wonderful day of having made a sale. :) I write mostly genre fiction, usually fantasy, horror, speculative and everything that falls between.

Speaking of which, I should probably write now, come to think of it.