Genius

 I think it's possible that the locale might think I've entirely lost my mind. Recently, I've 'reread' Rebecca, but this time on audible, and it was every bit as brilliant as I remembered. Now I'm reading 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' on Kindle. More genius. I'd forgotten how Agatha Christie's writing is so sharp you could cut yourself, and she was a force to be reckoned with. Her life story is fascinating. But, now, having gone through Audible and downloaded a bucketful of classics (all included in the subscription so you don't lose any credits), I decided to have a go at 'Jeeves and Wooster'. It's years since I've seen it onscreen. This morning I've been listening to it whilst walking Leia and Molly with one earbud in, probably unseen by passersby as it's hidden by my hair. I've been laughing aloud like someone possessed, apparently at nothing. 

Friday night, I went to see The Civic Players perform 'Dracula' at our local AmDram theatre. I read that they usually do comedies but the director had a sudden turn and decided to attempt a horror. What an amazing job they did! Each part of the stage was used for various scenes, and they switched from present to past and back again. The guy playing Renfield was as bendy as rubber and very convincing! I love the local dramas. These people have so much talent it can only be luck as to who makes it onto the TV and cinema screens. 

This weather is amazing, even if my eyes are streaming all day long and driving me nuts. I need to pop off to Tesco shortly, though, and might even feel a bit relieved to be in the chilled section, if I'm honest, and away from the pollen. 

I did manage to write a 2000 word story last week, aimed at Bonfire Night. I had an idea for another story, which I thought might run to 3000, but that turned out to be way off the mark. I'm on 1800 and have barely begun, so the only other option is to aim for 9500. That's another type of story altogether and I will have to find a number of twists and turns so I've moved away from it to have a think. I don't want to get too far in and then tie myself up in knots. I need a better idea of where I'm going with it. I've quite enjoyed what I've written so far, though, because, being longer, I can take my time and write it in a more novel-like manner.

Ok, better go shopping. I will finish with a fantastic quote from a book called 'Art & Fear' by David Bayles and Ted Orland. 

Artists don't get down

to work until the pain of

working is exceeded by the

pain of not working.

I'm sure many people will relate! I certainly can lol.

Truth

 It's been a month, according to the date on my last blog. My consistency apparently leaves much to be desired.

Writing news...I sold a story two days ago. It was a story set on Weston Super Mare pier. I wrote it after a day trip there about five months ago, so if you are an impatient person, don't bother submitting stories. Or, if you want to, it's a great way to develop more patience! It can take as much as (in my experience) two years to get a yea or nay. So, good news there. The not-so-good news was PF don't want the Hindu serial Daughters that I'd been working on. I'd written character analyses, a synopsis and the first instalment of 5000 so that's very disappointing. The editor felt it was too 'downbeat'. A character with Alzeimers might make readers uncomfortable about what could be around the corner, but the editor loved the family members and felt that a different story using the same characters could work.

So, back to the drawing board, but not right now. I've been working hard on my Hillsborough novel. I tend to have bouts of revisiting it as it is a tough subject and I worry that it is somehow 'untouchable' via fiction. However, I have courted some opinions, including someone who was there and someone else whose cousin was too, and the unanimous vote was to go ahead. They would welcome it. I have had a long-term interest in the idea of keeping up awareness of one of the most despicable cover-ups in this country's history. I came to realise that much of the younger generation have heard of the Hillsborough Disaster, but don't really know much about it. The details are somehow irrelevant, but we all know that they are not and never should be. I feel strongly that it is something that should stay in the public consciousness as a warning. Don't believe the newspapers. Don't take what the authorities tell us as gospel. Don't ever give up searching for the truth. So, I am back in the depths of the story again, dipping in and out. It is the most strangely-written story I've ever attempted as it is from four points of view and visits many different timelines. It sort of blows my brain up - I have various chapters written and am often writing extra ones to slot in after or before something I've already written. I am constantly rewriting a list of whose POV each chapter is from and when it takes place. I'm on about 28-29000 words at the moment, so there's still a LONG way to go.

Better get on with it, really. I'm off to the cinema in less than an hour and have been distracted this afternoon by trying to book a holiday for after the wedding. So, let's have a quote from someone clever...

“The freelance writer is a man who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” —Robert Benchley

Oh, how apt!

PS Just been to see The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I read the book years ago when it came out. Written by Rachel Joyce (as was the screenplay), it is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story, so if you are looking for something to read or watch, don't miss out.