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Archive for October, 2010

15
Oct

First sneak peek

So a colleague and friend has asked repeatedly to read what I’ve written so far, and I’m finally going to give her a peekĀ  today. First six chapters, nothing too crazy – but that’s still 15,000 words and I’m rather nervous.

Friends are lovely. But if they don’t write – or worse – if they don’t read much, it can be quite painful to let them have a swig at your book. It’s like leaving your kid with a friend who has never had babysitting experience. Sure you know they have your best interest at heart and will try very hard to like your kid. But will they know what to do with the child once they have it? And will they be able to look you in the eye later, if your child turns out to be just gawdawful?

Thankfully, this friend professes to be a wide reader and she claims to love romance. Which helps, I suppose. I’ve decided I’m not going to expect her to give a critique of what I’ve written – although she’s welcome to give comments if she so wishes. I think I’ll lean on her more as my personal cheerleader. Someone else to get peppy at me and ask me how the manuscript is going every Wednesday or Friday, so I keep on keeping on.

13
Oct

Word count: 1,113

Total word count to date: 15,303.
I’m starting to suspect this won’t be a 100,000-er, but a mini saga.

Too late! I’m enjoying this too much.

11
Oct

15 words or less

Oooh… challenge!

“Please describe your book in 15 words or less.”

Two ad agencies
Clash of cultures and bodies
True love wins the day

11
Oct

Opportunity cost

The great thing about being on a roll is that once you get the momentum, every day of writing is a great day of writing.

The unfortunate thing is that I haven’t been able to read much lately, or blog anything sensible at all.

But with time being so much of the essence, I’ve really had to choose. And lately, with 14,190 words now under my belt, I’ve chosen working on the book to procrastinating through my blog.

Perhaps it had been in one of the very early chapters of Will Write for Shoes, but I read a home truth about writing: be prepared to give up your life for a while there. No shopping with friends on weekends. No house work. Maybe not even cooking. If you hold down a full time job for at least eight hours a day, be prepared to give up everything else.

And that can include blogging, tweeting, and talking to your mother long distance.

Today’s word count: 1,335.

10
Oct

On a roll

Word count for today: 3,674
Total words to date: 12,855

Which is, like, >10% of the book, if you think about it. It’s lovely to be on a roll. Too bad I’ve got to go back to a day job tomorrow.