mercredi 20 août 2008

Overbooked

So, in a bid to motivate myself to achieve more, I’m officially announcing that the book is now being written. I’m working on the basis that if I tell people I’m doing it, then I’ll be more likely to actually get on and do it.

Time is the biggest problem though. I planned to get a whole swathe taken care of when I was on holiday, but instead I got drunk and spent my days chasing the locals and climbing waterfalls. All good experience though, which has no doubt helped crank up the creative juice machine. Two chapters did get written and they’re currently being ‘touched up’ by yours truly.

Blogging is great for finding a writing style, for getting into the habit of writing regularly and for finding out if what you write is read (and enjoyed) by others. But it also encourages me to write in short sharp bursts – and in a language and style more suited to newspaper columnists than to Booker prize-winning novelists. It’s taking me some time – and not inconsiderable effort - to get out of this ‘habit’.

But, as I say, time is the biggest problem – and the question is where to fit writing next years award-winning novel into my already hectic schedule? There’s going to have to be a big old shuffle of priorities, me thinks.

I’m heading back to Paris in less than three weeks time. Back to a bit more time to myself and a bit more space for thinking. I hope I’m also heading back to big creative moments, to clarity of thought and to a newly found confidence of style.

Only time will tell how the whole thing goes.

Don’t go asking your local bookseller to reserve you a copy just yet.

21 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

I trust I will thanked in the acknowledgments section...

Anonyme a dit…

hmmm there should have been a 'be' there. I'm fairly sure you won't be asking me to proof read it hehe

travelling, but not in love a dit…

You'll be thanked. I haven't decided what for.

Maybe for your services to the Northern Irish medical profession.

;-)

Louise a dit…

You said everything I would have said (about not having enough time). It's up to you! NOT said in a condescending manner. Sometimes gallavanting is way more productive (and necessary) than anything else!

Anonyme a dit…

chasing the locals and climbing waterfalls

Well as long as you're not chasing waterfalls ;)

Good luck with the writing, we'll be able to say we read you way back when...

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hi Louise...it's like everything, isn't it? I am in control of my life, but only sometimes...I need to get back in the driving seat!

Hey Catherine. Chasing waterfalls indeed. I'm better off sticking to 'the rivers and lakes that I'm used to'....

Lola a dit…

I got the warning too late, my local bookseller says "OK" although he thought the author's name ought to have fewer than five words in it. I told him to try TBNIL. £15.99 hardback, I'm saving my pennies.

I think I might have been hallucinating. It's the Rotherham air, full of Yorkshire LSD. Or something.

Anonyme a dit…

Now I have theat bleedin' song stuck in my head.

And you're SO getting a slap by the way

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Yay! Can't wait.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lola, sounds like you have a psychic bookseller - or those drugs are working well!

CawfeeGuy a dit…

OMG TBNIL: the NOVEL!
can't WAIT!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Cawfeeguy...thanks for the awesome response...alas, you'll need to wait - i think it's a little way off just yet!

aims a dit…

Ah yes. Blogging does have a way of changing a writing style. And time spent blogging is time away from writing the novel. It's a no-win situation I'm afraid.

I've found that I'm so far ahead in the story on the blogging scene that I am having trouble getting back to the chapter I am on.

And finding the time! OMG! I think I should give up sleeping!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Aims - hello sweetie! It's all about time, isn't it?

And not having enough of it to do all of everything we have to do as well as doing everything we want to do.

I'm aiming for more of a focus on the latter....

Daryl a dit…

I am hereby volunteering do to your head shot for the back cover ... actually I think it should be a photo of your yellow trainers ....

And dont let that new weather widget I have make you jealous .. its actually in the 60s today which is HIGHLY unusual for NYC in August .. usually the humidity alone would be overwhelming but the not-quite Hurricane Fay caused this weird cooler temps pattern ...

:-Daryl

Anonyme a dit…

I had a whack at this a few years ago (thinly-disguised autobiography i.e. ultra self-indulgence) and got two chapters in, then a German friend came in on it and we decided to alternate chapters. Then we started arguing about whether it should be a surrealist epic or an airport novel. And then it all went tits up.

Novels are really a one-person job, one has learned. Bon chance!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Daryl, the head shot is yours. I may even get you to stand-in for it for me...

Enda, writing alone is hard enough - with two people it'd be just too hard. Well done you for giving it a go though...next time try going it alone maybe?

Swearing Mother a dit…

I'll be the first to write you a review on Amazon.

Can I be one of those people who write sleeve notes? You know the kind of thing -

"Unputdownable" or "Powerful tale of unrequited love and too much tequila"...... "Travelling is the next Booker Prize Winner, no doubt about it"......

Seriously, just keep writing like you've always done, you're a natural. Haven't I always said so?

Anonyme a dit…

Just remember hun sell the sizzle not the bacon

Breezy a dit…

There you've said it now you have to do it. I don't suppose we could have a sample to be going on with?

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Sweary - thanks for the compliments, I'll make sure you get a first edition, duly signed.

Like it's ever going to reach that stage.

VM, I agree, but sometimes a bit of bacon is good too....

Breezy, erm, no you can't have a 'sample to be going on with'! Cheeky.