49,000 WORDS!

I have written 49,000 words of my novel. Good, yeah?

I have a beginning, a middle and an end. And I have written the final chapter!

I have nothing more to add to my actual plot-line and I have no more characters to invent.

HOWEVER – This is what I believe a tutor would say about my work:

-Some of your chapters, Amanda, are merely a paragraph long – This occurs especially after Chapter Seventeen – and really isn’t acceptable.

-Your descriptions, as a whole, lack lustre.

-Your speech needs to be interspersed with descriptive prose.

-Show don’t Tell!

-Your characterisation needs lots of work.

-BUT – Amanda, this can only be a good thing, because the finished product needs to be around 80,000 words.

-Now get your head down and add 30,000 more words. And while you’re at it stop procrastinating!

Right, off to write some more, Sir - Would you like an apple?!

Claims to Fame

A little while ago the lovely Fionnuala posted a clip of Gerry and The Pacemakers on her blog. On seeing it, I proudly told her that my uncle used to know him. It was my claim to fame. Yes indeedy!

But the more I thought, the more I realised, it was my uncle’s claim to fame not mine. So it got me wondering what MY claims to fame are.

Now you may think I’m going to mention my writing at this point, but NO! Because the two things I’m most chuffed about are -

1. My next door neighbour is Tom McDermott's (from the first ever Big Brother)sister!

2. I had my photograph taken with Little and Large at Butlins.

Now I don’t want you to think the above has changed me at all, because it hasn’t. I’m the same person you’ve gotten to know and always will be. In fact, even when I’m a famous novelist, with my own pool, a doberman and JK’s phone number plumbed into my mobile I refuse to change! In the words of Gloria Gaynor, ‘I am what I am!’

Can you trump my claims to fames? It’s hard I know!

18th Birthdays and Slug Commentary!

My youngest turned 18 yesterday! Crumbs, that came at me when I least expected it! So that means I’ve got no children left! Awh! How did I let that happen?

Over the next two days I’m devoting my time to explaining away my slug story in a 750 word commentary. That should be interesting. Although I’ve got to a point where I actually understand it myself – so that’s something I suppose. Oh, and I let my husband read it – yes I am quite mad! And he said that it had left him thinking – He meant it in a good way - I think!

I’ve written over 36,000 words of my novel – but I’m at that stage where all the characters are getting on my nerves. I think I’ve spent too much time with them. And it doesn’t help that I’ve got a better idea brewing. But I’m determined to carry on – so I can actually say I’ve written a novel!

Writing Allsorts

I’ve stopped using my PEN name. Why keep a PEN name if it doesn’t work?

I have to say, it took me ages to pick it. I even asked my Facebook friends for ideas. (Yes, I’m back there –can’t keep away – what am I like?!)

Anyway, hundreds of suitable pen names flooded my status comment box. Well seven. But that’s a fair few for a Facebook status, I’ll have you know! Suggestions included, Billy Biro, Mark Urpen and Peter Parker. And a blogger not far from here suggested I call myself Candy Crayola. NICE! And another advised me to be careful as news of my pen name could leak. HA!

In the past, I’ve submitted short stories in my real name. And I now wonder if I should do the same when I submit my novel. I guess, the main reason I would use a pen name is privacy.

But then I know I would LOVE to see my OWN name on the cover of a novel. Difficult! Gawd, ark at me! But we have to have a dream!

I wonder, in balance, what most writers do.

Anyway, for now, I’ve put my pen names away. And will be concentrating on getting the blinking novel finished.

By the way, you know what this means don’t you? Yep, I’ve changed my blog name AGAIN, this time to ‘Writing Allsorts.’

Welcome to Writing Allsorts! Make yourself at home!

Twittering On About Facebook

As you may know, I’ve dabbled.

And yes, Twitter was FAB. Messages popped onto my computer screen, giving me an instant high. It was enjoyable, enlightening and sometimes hilarious. Especially, when Alan Carr popped up with his message, ‘I’ve binned my red turtle neck jumper, what was I thinking?’

In fact, it was hard to say, ‘No’ to Twitter. But I HAVE. Yes, I’ve deleted it. ‘Awh,’ I hear you say, and she was having such fun. And, yes I was! And now I’ve lost the lovely, Stephen Fry as my new best friend. Sobs!

But it had to go. ‘I MUST stop procrastinating, and concentrate on my writing,’ she writes a hundred times on the blackboard. I’ve even put my Facebook account into hibernation – But I’ll be back on there before you can say, ‘Jack Robinson.’ Ooh, I haven’t searched for him yet – better reactivate.

On the writing front I’ve been up since 4am, working on my fifth assignment for my Open University course. Oh, and guess what? I’ve had a stupendous idea for novel 2 – which is actually HEAPS better than my idea for novel 1. Isn’t it always the way?

My Head's In A Whirl

My head's in whirl. It’s my novel you see. Granted, I’ve never got this far before, and God knows I’ve tried.

I’ve written 29,500 words, that almost make sense. Something of a precedent.

The problem is, my novel has so many layers, like a sky high, creamy, chocolate cake. And frankly, I’m getting myself confused.

So, in the middle of last night I plotted a neat ending for every character. It’s a chick-lit style book, so no loose ends allowed. But now I’m looking at the jumble of words I wrote, and can’t make head nor tale of them.

Perhaps I’ve got too many characters, and too many layers, and I’m eating too much cake. I don’t know?

Anyway, to solve this, I've decided to add yet another character called Anton. (Aunt Marilyn’s toy boy) - Yes, you heard it here first. And Anton's going to tie it all together nicely. Aren't you Anton?

Crumbs.... will I ever get there?