'What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours...'
Actually, what a difference a week makes. I've delivered a third draft to my agent! I found a clear day to sit down and finish reading, dotting the 'i's, crossing the 't's, ensuring that my final chapters weren't frantic rubbish written as I flew the swooping magic carpet of Writer Panic. Actually, on re-reading, I love my final chapters. I hope Jenny does too, but who knows? Authorial experience long ago taught me to be ready for anything.
So, I should be ready to kick back and relax, yes? After all, that's what I've been craving for weeks and months. It's time to do nothing. Er... Isn't it? Well, partly. I can't tell you the therapeutic comfort of starting a new knitting project that doesn't tax my mind, doesn't have a Christmas deadline and grows rapidly. Ah, the wonderful, brainless joy that is stocking stitch.
But a writer who doesn't write is always looking for something to occupy their mind. So it's good timing that two other authors I know are looking for feedback on their work. I feel strongly that the authorial community should do as much as it can to spread support, advice and constructive feedback. If we can't count on each other for objective help, well... So I am going to spend this weekend reading other people's words and trying to do what I can to help stonking manuscripts be all that they can be.
Now, on to the really important matters. I mentioned that I was receiving a netbook for Christmas. I'm not one to normally rave about matters technical or electronic, but my god... This netbook has been one of the best presents I've ever received. It's small, portable, fast. The Apple laptop that has been my fifth limb for years sits sulking in a corner of my office, totally and utterly ignored. Here's my new beauty:
On Friday I post my latest blog entry for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure. Do check it out! I have a cringeworthy confession that I'm planning to share... For now, I leave you with a photo of me in Stockholm. Gorgeous, enchanting, ludicrously expensive Stockholm. I loved my time there and it's taken on even more charm since I discovered that one of my best friends accepted a proposal of marriage in that very city. Aw!
I've been sent home early from work today because of the snow. I don't think I've been able to go home early like that since I was at school. Doesn't it make you feel liberated? My colleagues had an impromptu snowball fight outside the office, but I didn't feel that liberated - I watched from the warmth of indoors.
One last request: please don't forget to check out Keren David's debut novel, When I Was Joe. Keren is a fellow client of Andrew Nurnberg and her book is published this week. It is creating a lot of interest, including this review from the Bookwitch. Great things seem to be happening.
Actually, what a difference a week makes. I've delivered a third draft to my agent! I found a clear day to sit down and finish reading, dotting the 'i's, crossing the 't's, ensuring that my final chapters weren't frantic rubbish written as I flew the swooping magic carpet of Writer Panic. Actually, on re-reading, I love my final chapters. I hope Jenny does too, but who knows? Authorial experience long ago taught me to be ready for anything.
So, I should be ready to kick back and relax, yes? After all, that's what I've been craving for weeks and months. It's time to do nothing. Er... Isn't it? Well, partly. I can't tell you the therapeutic comfort of starting a new knitting project that doesn't tax my mind, doesn't have a Christmas deadline and grows rapidly. Ah, the wonderful, brainless joy that is stocking stitch.
But a writer who doesn't write is always looking for something to occupy their mind. So it's good timing that two other authors I know are looking for feedback on their work. I feel strongly that the authorial community should do as much as it can to spread support, advice and constructive feedback. If we can't count on each other for objective help, well... So I am going to spend this weekend reading other people's words and trying to do what I can to help stonking manuscripts be all that they can be.
Now, on to the really important matters. I mentioned that I was receiving a netbook for Christmas. I'm not one to normally rave about matters technical or electronic, but my god... This netbook has been one of the best presents I've ever received. It's small, portable, fast. The Apple laptop that has been my fifth limb for years sits sulking in a corner of my office, totally and utterly ignored. Here's my new beauty:
On Friday I post my latest blog entry for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure. Do check it out! I have a cringeworthy confession that I'm planning to share... For now, I leave you with a photo of me in Stockholm. Gorgeous, enchanting, ludicrously expensive Stockholm. I loved my time there and it's taken on even more charm since I discovered that one of my best friends accepted a proposal of marriage in that very city. Aw!
I've been sent home early from work today because of the snow. I don't think I've been able to go home early like that since I was at school. Doesn't it make you feel liberated? My colleagues had an impromptu snowball fight outside the office, but I didn't feel that liberated - I watched from the warmth of indoors.
One last request: please don't forget to check out Keren David's debut novel, When I Was Joe. Keren is a fellow client of Andrew Nurnberg and her book is published this week. It is creating a lot of interest, including this review from the Bookwitch. Great things seem to be happening.
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