For anyone else who wants to start/progress/finish writing a book in 2011

[artifarti]

As the title says really!

Me: After several years of dithering with short stories, I committed myself to Nanowrimo last month and managed to bash out a 50,000 first draft of an idea I've had for ages. There is some excrutiating crap in there but also the bare bones of a plot and some interesting characters. So I'd really like to spend 2011 trying to develop it into something better.

But I need some company so that we can mutually kick each other's arses when the temptation to watch Holby City is proving too great. Anyone else?

Re-write commenced! I decided not to push on to the very end before starting second draft as the structure needed a bit of a tweak and since I already know that I didn't want to tie myself up in knots with the final chapters.

The bad news is very little material appears to be superfluous. Oh dear......

Maybe you're the next Wally Lamb....

Or maybe I just waffle.....

Rewrite's been sent off and I'm waiting for the judgment. She likes the plot for 2 picture books also but they need changing. It's a lot like painting a room when you've not been told which colour to paint it.

I'm working on another picture book text, I love the plot but the words don't want to come out yet.

Keep going! How are you all?

I'm stalling at chapter five of my second book and delaying the inevitable by spending far too much time reading up about eighteenth century prostitution in London and also trying to think of a suitable title.

Ladies of the Lanes??

I think I've finished the new picture book text. I think I'll end up getting a restraining order from the publisher if I send it to her now though, she already has 2 and a novel.

Heh, oh the book isn't about prostitutes - I just got side tracked while looking up places in Covent Garden that um cheating couples could pay to rent a room in. :)

Crikey, well done! :)

I'm hoping to get this book at least half finished before I have to stop to edit the last one. Loads of people seem to think that once it's been sent off and accepted, that's it. I wish! I've already had to change the ending to make it more upbeat! ;)

Oh right. I'd look for something abstract but similar if there is such a thing.

I wasn't expecting a 'wow! It's brilliant. I'll publish it as it is!' I've not signed anything yet though but the editor is really helpful so I'm reluctant to submit somewhere else. She's said she likes the ideas but wants to tweak things, I'm not sure if this is good but I think it is.

I'm torn between 'Les Filles' and 'The English Roses'. The working title is 'French Kiss' but I don't think this adequately conveys the subject matter. ;)

I had no idea what editing actually meant until I got an editor and they warned me about all the chopping and red ink. Oh and then asked me to change the end. I don't think I am a great writer though as I am actually relishing the prospect of hacking my book to bits.

It's a bit like those women who pay for photographs of their trashed wedding dresses. ;)

I'm not sure of my pub. I think she needs to organise a contract pronto, she's helpful and is suggesting revisions/says what she likes etc but I've not signed anything to tie me down and nor have they. I'm not sure if this is the way they work; I could spend time on the rewrites that she's suggesting yet she can still say no.

The English Rose Garden??

I did the rewrite before the publisher said 'yeah alright, here's a contract'. I think that's quite normal but if they are continually spinning it out, I'd be a bit anxious to get something definite settled between us before I carried on.

I work really quickly and keep all of the versions so it's not so much of a problem at the moment. She has three though and there's another one that I can offer her now so she should realise that I have the plots by now It's helpful to know that other publishers work like this though, thank you

Yours sounds like it's going well

Glad that helps! To be honest, I think that right now publishers are looking for reasons not to publish so asking for rewrites and edits before they issue a contract is probably usual practice.

I am really excited about this book - hope it turns out the way that I hope. The characters keep surprising me though! :)

Maybe. She's said she likes the plots though so it's a case of rewriting to make them better. It's very hard when I have no idea what she means.

Surprising characters are good! It'll keep you on your toes.

Oh that sounds really stressful! How many times have you rewritten it for her? :(

Yes, that's true. I love it when they go off and do unscripted things as I don't have a strict plan anyway as I think it means they have become more 'real'.

Just once, plus the origional version.

ok I began a new novel last nov but sent the previous one off last summer. I just had a rejection from a company I'd completely forgotten about. it says
we were impressed by the chapters you sent us and think that you definitely have potential
standard letter, or encouraging?
btw the new novel's mile better.

It's hard to tell, you could try sending them a chapter of the phone directory and see if they respond in the same way? I'm tempted to do this sometimes Keep at it

belle you are very naughty!
I would try it, only I don't have the spare 9 months to wait with baited breath for the response ....
and waht if they said it was incredible prose and they wanted to see the rest? the postage would cripple me!

I did read of an author sending off train timetables. They were not snapped up, he did get replies though.

I'm waiting for a response from my rewrites. I'm a bit bored now so I need to think of something else to do. I may try my hand at painting. I'm quite enjoying myself, it's practically early retirement but with no pension.

why not? you could then do your own illos for the younger books!
free time is a gift, isn't it, however it's been forced upon us. If I hadn't been home alone with two young dc and no prospects I don't think I'd have started writing every day. It was an act of desperation, really. And now I have a job I fit it around that - the impetus has been established.
what kind of paints will you try first?

I have some watercolours and some oils that I've had in the house for years a while. I used to paint landscapes in watercolour when I had some free time, havn't done anything for years though.

How are you?

I think watercolours are the hardest! I'm fine, bit tired, been preparing for gtp interview as well as all the normal school stuff
book has been going really well but I've had to shelve it for a few days, looking forward to getting cracking on it at half term!

Ohh, half term. I can't wait. Not having to get up at 6:45 to get ds to school on time will be heaven. I quite like watercolour, still have a lot to learn though. No news yet about the rewrites. I do wish they wouldn't post on twitter that they have a fantastic mms and are going to make an offer though, I doubt they have read mine yet.

I hope your interview goes well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.