Revision cards

 This week, I learnt something about myself that I long since suspected. I CANNOT write about myself. I decided to send what I'd written under 'autobiography' to myself on my kindle. The first part of this was writing I'd worked on for a module in my MA. It was actually quite engaging and I enjoyed rereading it. It was based on my adoptive parents. I had written their story, fictionalising the dialogue, of course. Then came the part based on me, from my own POV. Oh dear. I didn't even finish reading it. Totally different! I've tried to do this in the past, but never managed it. Perhaps I never will.

After this, I decided it was time to revisit the novel I've been toying with for a couple of years or more. It has changed dramatically from the original concept. Only one character remains from the seed of an idea I had probably five years ago. It is a bit complicated in its construction. I've only written 20,000 words so far, but it is from four POV and is set during different years/decades. I have had to date each chapter very clearly because of this. I have a corkboard which had revision cards marking the chapters and where in the story everything is, but I have taken these down and started again. I've moved chapters around, removed a couple that were 'present day' and that I felt took the story in a direction that I couldn't quite satisfy. I was sad about that because that chapter was the germ of this novel, but perhaps that is why it no longer worked. Instead, I used it recently for a 9000 word story for PF - a sort of light-hearted mystery. I don't know if the PF want it, but I narrated it for Nikki to listen to and she seems to be loving it, so I hope they like it. It takes a while for the mags to say yay or nay, especially if it is a story for the Specials. The PF have an 8 page mystery in some of the Specials, so it is more likely to be put aside until the time comes when they need to address content.

At the moment, I'm listening to Sam Neill's memoir 'Did I Ever Tell You This?' I haven't laughed so much in a long time. It is thoroughly entertaining and I have decided that Sam is now top of my 'dinner guest' list. I shall be sending an invite out next week. I'm sure he'll respond 😎.

I have had an amazing week at the cinema and theatre, but will save that for the next blog.

Quote of the day:

“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” —Dalai Lama.

This is one that Jon is often vocal about. I have to remind myself of it, but I'm sure we've all found that it is certainly true!