The final instalment

Where has the time gone? A few days ago, I had a lovely email from the PF editor, informing me that the third and final instalment of the serial I wrote for them has been accepted. I don't know why it's taken me so long to have a go at writing a serial for them. Confidence, I think (or lack of it). I've had an idea rejected in the past, but in retrospect I hadn't really presented it anywhere near as professionally as I had this one. I now have a template that really works and actually helps to create plot and characters as you use it. I don't mean that it does it for you...just that the structure of it seems to make my mind develop the story and characters as I complete it. I have realised that a complete plot rarely develops in my head. It's the writing that puts flesh on the bones. I rarely have a complete plot when I start a short story. I usually know the beginning and the end, but have no idea how I am going to reach the end until I start writing. It's usually a surprise to myself 😂

I've seen some interesting films over the past few days. 'Plane' was actually better than I thought it was going to be. Last night, I watched 'The Son' (which was an Unlimited showing - card members only at an advanced showing). They gave us all a box of Maltesers as we went in (maybe to sweeten things up and counterbalance the story 😬). It wasn't a bad film - far from it. Hugh Jackman was brilliant, as ever, but the youngster who played the son with serious mental health issues was given a pretty dire script to work from. I wouldn't recommend it and I wouldn't not recommend it. It was certainly memorable! Anthony Hopkins made a brief appearance as Jackman's father, which made sense afterwards as I then realised the movie was by the French writer/director of 'The Father' in which Hopkins played The Father.

Still watching 'Strike' and enjoying it. I'm not consistent with what I'm reading though. I'm all over the place!

This morning, I aim to make a dent in the 9500 word story I'm writing. I've recently been editing the first half as I felt the tone was a little wrong for PF. I'm still not certain but I'll plough on and see how it turns out. I think my problem with this one is that the ending isn't clear to me, which is not a good way for me to write. 

Had a lovely meet up with a friend yesterday at Lytes Cary. Chilly, but wonderful to be out in the fresh air and catching up. It's been a while.

Babysitting tonight as Nikki and Jon are off to Bristol to see a Greenday tribute band. Hope they have fun!

Quote for today: 

“You don’t start out writing good stuff. 

You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. 

That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” 

―Octavia E. Butler

This has been especially evident as we are presently clearing out the loft - a HUGE undertaking. I just cannot believe how much I've written over the past 30 years. It's truly terrifying. I have folders and folders full of letters to and from editors of magazines, as well as letters from competitions I've been placed in. It's even more terrifying when I realise that, for many years, there has been no paper trail as everything has been via email. Thank goodness for that, say the trees!!! Anyway, reading some of the very early stuff was embarrassing. I'm relieved to say that there has been SOME improvement over the years...😅