tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86695212855643742702024-03-13T09:29:01.043-07:00vivaauthorSandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-89263380021017620802015-09-23T02:43:00.000-07:002015-09-23T02:43:15.046-07:00Writing ConferenceI'm looking forward to this year's Get Writing Conference on Saturday and am celebrating having seen that my short story has made it to the long list in the Get Writing Cup. There are three of us from Tring Writers who've made the long list which is a great result for the group.<br />
I'll be chatting to an agent ref my middle grade/ya novel whilst I'm there too which I'm looking forward to though with some trepidation !!!Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-54201733632904756382015-07-31T05:07:00.001-07:002015-07-31T05:07:07.360-07:00Competition 2nd placeMy brilliant local writing group Tring Writers Circle hold an annual short story competition and this year's theme was 'forbidden'. We had a good length of time to get the story written but as my focus had been on a last minute revision of the novel, time was running out so fast that I'd only managed to write two hundred odd words when I finally sat down at the computer around 8pm to write the story with a midnight deadline. My theme was August 1961 and night the Berlin Wall/barriers were put in place. I didn't get to complete my story as I ran out of time and, at 11.50 with 200 words left to write, I wrote a two-line paragraph to finish it off, spell checked it, read it through and submitted it at 11:58. On competition night my story amazingly came in second .... with the short amount of time I'd spent writing I certainly didn't expect to be placed at all :) Thank you TWC xx<br />
Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-41333135714512471402015-07-21T06:48:00.002-07:002015-07-21T06:50:16.178-07:00No nails leftLatest scoop on my middle grade/tween novel is that I contacted the editor/agent who had given me such positive feedback on the first chapter she saw last year. Going on previous form I didn't expect to hear back from her but late one night I checked my emails and there was a message from her asking to see the rest of the manuscript.... making me swear out loud and wake DH!<br />
Cue frantic last minute revisions - undertaken late at night as our eldest daughter was in the middle of her GCSE's and had first shout on the computer. I hadn't replied straight away as I wanted to make sure there were no glaringly obvious errors and she then called me to make sure I'd received her email. How I managed to stop myself from screeching down the phone I'll never know :) Anyway I sent it across to her just over five or so weeks ago ... will post again when I've heard back.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-60586049041312009392015-06-24T06:35:00.003-07:002015-06-24T06:35:55.654-07:00Brilliant masterclass .......The SCWBI masterclass was brilliant, a great session from Lil Chase which really made me re-think how to go about plotting/structuring a novel. I made copious notes which I'll definitely be referring to over and over in the future. As part of the session we had to write an elevator pitch for our wip. I've always found these even more terrifying than a synopsis .. at least with a synopsis you've got more than 4/5 sentences to get it right. <em>You</em> know what your book's about but to try and get it into 5 sentences is near enough impossible but I did it and even read it out loud to the rest of the group. <br />
The session was held just off Leicester Square so after the masterclass was over we had to go to the bar afterwards .... it would have been rude not to and several drinks later (all non alcoholic as I was driving) emerged into a bright sunny afternoon and walked straight into a demonstration marching down the Strand, caught a bus up to Oxford Street and tried on a couple of dresses in Debenhams before going home. <br />
All together a fabulous day out and one I'd recommend to anyone writing children's/YA fiction.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-32313043714952080992015-04-01T15:02:00.002-07:002015-04-01T15:02:37.964-07:00Blog published on Berko Writers websiteI recently attended a great evening at BerkoWriters devoted to writing sex .. not something I need for my current middle grade/YA novel but it was a interesting evening with lots of laughs and readings from novels I hadn't come across before. On an email sent after the event, there was a request for poeple to write something for their blog. Determined to get my act together this year I replied and my piece has been published on their blog today ... here's the link ... <a href="http://www.berkowriters.co.uk/berko-blog/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427922838615_4667" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="http://www.berkowriters.co.uk/berko-blog/"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">http://www.berkowriters.co.uk/berko-blog/</span></a><br />
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Easter weekend is looming and I will make a super human effort to set some time aside to get my final revisions down. I'm booked on a masterclass in London in May through the SCWBI which is being run by Lil Chase. I'll be taking my manuscript with me as we'll be going through current projects and looking how to get the pich right, where it would fit in the market place plus the best way to sell them .... can't wait.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-91270696319638722202014-11-25T16:02:00.002-08:002014-11-25T16:02:54.006-08:00Anthology LaunchMy brilliant writing group Tring Writers Circle had a launch event last week for our anthology of short stories. It was a great evening with some captivating readings, wine, nibbles and a great chance to catch up and pat ourselves on the back. We were lucky enough to secure sponsors to cover the cost of producing the book itself so all proceeds from every book sold will be going to our local hospice. Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-53363405993817950642014-11-11T05:54:00.001-08:002014-11-11T05:55:24.471-08:00Query sentHaving put it off for the last month I have sent the first three chapters plus synopsis to the agent whom I met at this year's Get Writing Conference. She'd sent me an encouraging email after the conference plus also passed on comments from an editor who I was due to meet but had been unable to attend. According to the website if they don't contact you within two months then they're not interested ... so by that score I might hear by the beginning of January but then again I might not.<br />
It's difficult knowing what to concentrate on for NaNoWriMo ... either make a start on book 2 or do I start something new?? Not wanting to spend too much time on book 2 in case the fate of book 1 is to remain on my hard drive I've been doing a mix of the two but am very short of the daily target word count. I haven't got anything on during the evenings this week so am planning to get a few thousand words down by the weekend ...Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-65728427703000539822014-11-03T04:50:00.001-08:002014-11-03T04:50:36.754-08:00NaNoWriMo & competitionHave registered for this year's NaNoWriMo so I can get ahead with the second novel in my middle grade/ya trilogy. I've made plenty of notes and aim to get the majority of the first draft complete by the end of the month. <br />
To start getting the word about my novel 'out there' I've entered The Caledonia Novel Award. The closing date was midnight on 2nd November and, typically, was working on the synopsis late that night. My computer went on a go slow just as my entry was loading onto the email and I managed to get it emailed over with less than ten minutes to spare .. phewSandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-40512557448633963042014-10-16T06:59:00.002-07:002014-10-16T07:00:10.075-07:00Final tweaksNearly there .... I've lost count of the number of times I've said that in the past couple of months. But really, I mean it this time, it is nearly finished. Having had comments back from my brilliant proof readers I'll be working through the ms tonight and hopefully come up with a final, final, final version by the end of the weekend. <br />
Then all I need to do is to construct a query email and sparkling synopsis that'll draw anyone and everyone into my plot. Have been informed that October isn't a good month for contacting agents due to the Book Fair I will be there primed and ready in November to send out my first querying email.<br />
In the meantime I've come up with a great idea for a new novel, entirely unrelated to the trilogy I've been working on. Have a great title, great begining just need to work out where it'll end. Oh yes and what happens in the middle :)Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-3312172386306290872014-09-18T04:54:00.002-07:002014-09-18T04:54:12.267-07:00Nearly thereWell my over optimistic plan to finish the edits by the end of May failed. By the end of June I had come to the conclusion that the majority of chapters needed a lot of rewriting so I set about doing a very hard edit .... the result of this meant I ended up with a novel of just 48,000 words and well short of my 60,000 goal. <br />
Since then I have been adding/revising daily - I even took it on holiday and made a lot of notes/revisions on the wonderful Isle of Mull. Last night I began revisions on the final chapter which will be completed by this Saturday. It's currently being proof read by a very good writing friend and colleage from Tring Writers Circle plus her son is reading it as well and I'm going to get my husband to have a read through too. <br />
A couple of months ago I emailed one of the editors I'd met at this year's Get Writing Conference. During my 10 minute facetime session with her she'd been really keen to see the manuscript first and asked me to contact her when it was ready. So I duly emailed her explaining where I was with the novel and asking if she was still keen to see it but to date she hasn't replied ... I'm not bothered if it's a no and she's not interested, but a reply would have been curteous. (Nearly wrote the dreaded 'nice' there).<br />
So ... once it's been proof read I'm planning to contact the other agent who very kindly emailed me after we'd met with further feedback and also asking to see it when it was finished. Fingers crossed I'll get a reply :)<br />
Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-91372473164994527892014-05-01T14:55:00.001-07:002014-05-01T14:55:38.938-07:00The editing continuesAm now about half way through my editing. My memory of how finished the novel was doesn't quite correspond with reality and I'm having to do a fair amount of work on most chapters, even condensing chapters 10, 11 & 12 into two. I've set myself a goal of completing this edit by the end of May so I guess I'll be doing plenty of post midnight shifts over the next few weeks. <br />
The garden will have to wait a little while longer before I can start pulling up all the weeds down the far end but my overwintering onions have done amazingly well and we'll be able to start eating them in a couple of weeks. Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-81795631157492072742014-04-04T14:38:00.000-07:002014-04-04T14:38:16.031-07:00An incredible weekLast Saturday's Get Writing conference was excellent. I went to three great workshops : Science Fiction, Fantasy & Proper Novels by Toby Frost, World Builidng in Historical Ficion by Liesel Schwarz and a two hour Constructing Character and Plot workshop run by MR Hall and William Ryan which really got us thinking and working on plot/character ideas for a potential thriller.<br />
My short story stayed in the top ten and didn't win a prize but ....... my pitches/face time sessions went amazingly well.<br />
One of the people I was due to see was unwell, the agent that I saw instead had some great ideas and pointers to think about for my YA novel. After lunch it was my second 10 minute face time .... the agent I saw said she loved the idea behind my novel, thought the writing and dialogue was great and wants to read it once it's finished and said I should mark my submission for her attention so that it by-passes the slush pile. Cue more manic dancing (once I'd got home of course).<br />
Since the conference I received an email with comments from the person I was meant to see but who was unwell .... she didn't have any more to say other than it's a strong concept, great first chapter and that she'd love to work with me either on that novel or anything else that I write.. This message was forwarded to me by the first person I saw who reiterated that view and also said she'd love to see the manuscript once it's written.<br />
I'm trying not to get too excited as the chances are they'll all hate it once they've read the whole thing but it's been an amazing week and such a boost to receive such positive comments.<br />
So I've been hard at it all week and am about 1/4 way through my second edit ... I'm trying not to rush things but at the same time I don't want to take so long that they forget about me!!!Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-87277354348930364912014-03-19T13:44:00.001-07:002014-03-19T13:54:00.925-07:00A year ... really???Firstly how shocking that it's been nearly a whole year since I've posted anything :(<br />
Was a very eventful year with, unfortunately, work taking up far more time than it should have, meaning I had to push the writing to the back of the pile.<br />
I'm now back and with a couple of success stories to post ...<br />
* I wasn't placed in last year's Get Writing Cup but to make the final 10 on my first try was a pretty amazing achievement.<br />
* I won our local writing group's annual short story competition in July, a real highlight to the year. I still haven't had my name engraved on the cup so I need to get that sorted out before this summer's competition<br />
* I entered a short story in this year's (2014) Get Writing Cup and have again made it into the final shortlist of 10 - so excited and was joined by my daughter in a mad celebratory dance round the living room.<br />
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I've booked myself three slots at this year's conference - a five minute pitch plus two facetime sessions. I've sent the first chapter of my young adult novel to both facetime slots as I'd love to have two independent opinions on both the writing and the concept of the novel. I'll probably stick to the same novel in the 5 minute pitch .... I've got a couple of other ideas for novels but they're not entirely 'there' yet and I've hardly written anything on them either !! I've been doing a lot of editing on my YA novel over the last month or two, trying to hone it into shape for the conference. I think depending on what feed back I get my next move will probably be either ditch the whole project and start something new or get my finger out, completely finish the edit and then start sending it out for feedback or maybe try somewhere like Cornerstones for some advice/editing first.<br />
<br />Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-640518466209470442013-04-17T05:14:00.000-07:002013-04-17T05:14:37.758-07:00First glimpse of successIn an attempt to maximise the amount of feedback I'd get from this year's Get Writing conference I entered the first three pages of my novel to this year's Get Writing Cup competition. I had a quick check on the website Sunday to see who'd made the short list and had the shock of the year when I saw that my entry had made the final ten and was on the short list !! This is the furthest I've got so far with my creative writing and it's given me such a boost .... whether I end up being placed or not it's made my year so far. The conference is this Saturday (20 April) and am really looking forward to the whole event as well as gaining some feedback on my project through my 10 minute face time slot as the 5 minute pitch session.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-75076988051659770692013-02-09T11:49:00.001-08:002013-02-09T11:49:13.288-08:00Rejection Number 2Life's Breath didn't make the Chicken House long list .... I'd known it wouldn't but somewhere inside there was that ho hum feeling of disappointment, and another rejection to chalk up on my spreadsheet... Total is now 2:)<br />
I'm in the middle of a major edit, have made quite a few changes and am about to hack into two middle chapters which I suspect are too far fetched even for the world my heroine is living in. I've booked my slot for this year's Get Writing Conference in Hatfield. Last year I said that I wouldn't do any more pitches (especially the terrifying 3 minute ones)... the day before I booked my place I announced I wouldn't be pitching this year. So what did I go and do ..... of course, booked myself a 10 minute face time and 5 minute pitch as well. It's spurred me into action and I'm now ploughing through the edit so it's in good shape for the conference.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-45395001785767476522012-11-12T03:56:00.000-08:002012-11-12T04:13:58.943-08:00Made it ....So I didn't manage to write the extra 14K needed by the 14th BUT I did finish the novel, synopsis, plot plan and covering letter and get into the post in time to make the Chicken House deadline. Was a little unnerving shoving my manuscript into the sack slumped next to the post office counter ... it was far too late to make any changes or even retrieve it from the bag as the next person in the queue dumped a huge parcel on top of mine. <br />
I've had my first rejection which I'm very proud of as you've got to start somewhere. I entered it into a competition run by a specialist publisher dealing in science fiction/fantasy ... didn't think it would fit in with their list but it was worth a shot and now I can legitimately create a spreadsheet detailing submissions/rejections. <br />
Since posting it off I've taken a couple of weeks' breather and started on a new idea ... this time for an adult novel. It's a theme I've been picking over for ages and have written a few hundred words as a starter. It's gone off in an entirely different direction than I'd originally planned which is great as every time I dip into it something new comes into my mind. Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-47704468603453684992012-10-09T05:08:00.000-07:002012-10-09T05:08:05.363-07:00How long ???So I knew I hadn't posted anything on here for a while but since April???? that's nearly half a year ago. My very valid excuse is that I've been concentrating all my writing time on my YA novel that's nearly completed. It started as a very casual conversation with my two girls one morning last October ... that conversation mulled and worked its way around my subconscious till it came out as a plot for a YA urban fantasy novel, well not just one but a series of three. <br />
I started writing towards the end of last year and it has kept me up till way past midnight for more days than I'd like to think of trying to get it finished .... I've just started the final chapter and then its there. It came with me on a couple of holidays this year so I've been able to do quite a bit of editing in the car/on the train so hopefully it won't be such a long job as if it was still in a raw first draft state.<br />
I discovered that Chicken House have a competition running this year and I've got till 26th October to hone it down, write a synopsis etc and send it off ..... good job I double checked the submission guidelines as I'd assumed they'd only need the first three chapters but they want the whole thing sent in the post. So long as I don't go to bed for the next couple of weeks it should all work out fine. BUT then I found a link to another publishing house that are looking for novels of 70k and over to be emailed by 14th October .... I'm currently 14k short (been working to a 60k word count) but it's so tempting to submit it to them as well ... why go for one rejection when there's two out there?? Not sure if I'll be able to write another 14k by the 14th as well as complete the editing .. but it's worth a shot. :) Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-8336825793296988342012-10-09T04:56:00.001-07:002012-10-09T04:56:49.836-07:00Having completely immersed myself in my latest writing project Jazzy Jam Jar has again been consigned to the bottom of the pile. I think it's something i will get back to in time but for now it's back in the jam cupboardSandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-24034386863200499872012-04-19T05:46:00.001-07:002012-04-19T05:48:20.564-07:00Classic FM ....I'm about half way through Chapter 10 and have broken through the 20,000 word barrier. Assuming I'll reach the magic 60,000 that means I'm 1/3rd the way through already .... ok so I've got 2/3rds to go but I'm working on that. Our computer is stuck in a corner on the otherside of a small wall - in the corner of which stands our tv. I do the majority of my writing in the evenings when the tv's on. I was finding it difficult to concentrate - trying get writing done when you've got the Dave Channel permanently blasting into your right ear isn't ideal. Then I discovered Classic FM ... it's simple, I plug myself into whatever programme's on ... usually Smooth Classics ... and type away into the night without interruption. I tried going onto You Tube and choosing favourite tracks but I ended up being carried away with watching the videos, looking for other tracks/bands and generally having so much fun that I forgot I was supposed to be writing .... but who could resist Led Zeppelin/Pink Floyd/Jethro Tull/James Taylor/The Style Council/Judi Tzuke/Slade etc. crooning into your ears at 11.30pm? Once I'm plugged into Classic FM there's no words to sing along to .. or look up when you can't remember them ... just some great background music to block out the monotony that is Dave :)Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-50488927504429459992012-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:002012-03-22T16:44:31.292-07:00No G&T :(OK, I'm admitting that I didn't make my aim to finish chapter 7 by the weekend ... I got to 1,578 words but not the magic c.2,500 so I didn't get the G&T. Maybe I'd set my sights too high. I'm getting on with chapter 7 though ... now around the 2,000 mark so nearly there. My new goal is to have finished chapter 7 and have started chapter 8 by Sunday evening ... more manageable, even if chapter 8 startes with one sencence :)Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-22930637169466916892012-03-08T06:30:00.000-08:002012-03-08T06:30:37.309-08:00Breaking the barrierI've broken through the 10,000 word barrier on the YA novel. Starting a new project's easy - just bash away and a few thousand words later you've made a good start, but it's keeping up the momentum for the 'middle bit' that can be a problem. Work/family life etc can throw up unexpected diversions that mean the writing gets shoved back to the bottom of the pile.<br />
Small goals seem to work best for me. I'm aiming at a 60,000 word count for the novel - when you're right at the beginning and only on 3,525 the chances of ever reaching the golden 60,000 seem pretty remote. So for now I'm working on smaller goals ... climbing up to 10,000 didn't seem nearly as hard or impossible. It also means I'm 1/6th of the way through. I'm going to work to a 5,000 goal each time - I've set up an Excel sheet and every time I do any writing/editing on my chapters I frantically do a word count at the end so I can enter the figures and see how what the total word count is, how many to my next mini goal and also how many I need to write to reach 60,000. Currently I need 4,050 to get to 15,000 which is only around two chapters worth ... if I can get them written by the end of Sunday I'll have a celebratory G&T :)Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-1270119064616941062012-02-14T06:25:00.001-08:002012-02-14T06:25:26.218-08:00Get Writing 2012We had a fantastic day at this year's conference with a great line up of speakers. I attended a couple of workshops: the first being characterisation in a fantasty world .... some great ideas to be gleaned by looking how charaterisation/plot/place are intermingled in novels such as Lord of the Rings and Dune. The other workshop was on plotting a novel in an hour .... loved the idea of starting your novel by getting a few chapters down on paper then taking a step back and plotting out the main elements so you can see where it's going. I've already used this idea on my YA novel and it's helped me focus on how I'm going to get my heroine to the end.<br />
Pitches .... my 10 minute face time went amazingly well - my main aim was to get a critique on my writing style which is something I've been working on. The feedback I received was great - good pace/dialogue/flows well; everything I've been striving for so I was more than a bit excited ... shame I can't do cartwheels as I would have flipped a few down the corridoor:) The three minute pitch was a bit shakey ... it's a fine art getting the essence of your idea across in such a short space of time. I have, of course, thought of better ways I could have done this since Saturday ...<br />
On reflection I found the face time session so much more valuable in that the editor/agent gets to read the synopsis plus a good chunk of your writing before you meet, so they're already prepared with ideas/views before the time starts. The 3 minute pitch is very much a chuck it all in and see method where you're sandwiched in between a long line of fellow 3-minuters all rattling away one after the other .... must be pretty overwhelming for those on the receiving line.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-39831829873623016392012-02-03T02:58:00.000-08:002012-02-03T02:58:32.213-08:00One week to gotill Get Writing and my two pitch sessions. I'm busily working on my three minute pitch which currently consists of pages of notes shoved into my folder ... some of which are illegible as they were written at gone midnight. Making the notes has helped get my mind more focused on what I'm going to say and, more importantly, the main elements of the novel that I need to get across in the pitch. Sometimes I find I need to write everything down in minutae detail to get it clear in my head how the plot line is going to work before teasing out the core points. Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-34656627287537560632012-01-27T05:15:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:15:52.639-08:00Drafting SynopsesI sent off my first 5 pages and synopsis for analysis and no doubt much red inking at Get Writing in February. 5 pages when they're double spaced doesn't add up to many words ... I had to edit hard to get as much of the opening plot line in as I could. I really like working to a tight structure, it makes you ensure every paragraph works hard to be included.<br />
There's no time for nail-biting as I need to work on a synopsis for my most recent project which I'll be pitching in a 3 minute slot at the same conference ... I've just started writing chapter 4 and know how it's going to end, it's just the bit in the middle I need to work on. Will be working on some loose ideas for the next couple of novels in the series too... there will be steam coming out of the keyboard tonight :)Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8669521285564374270.post-32268868623104828932012-01-18T15:27:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:30:02.254-08:00Three days to go until I have to submit the first five pages of my novel ahead of my 10 minute facetime slot at the Get Writing Conference in February. Eeeeeeek I've hashed, re-hashed and trampled all over my first chapter and it's still not quite right. I've consoled myself with half a tin of Quality Street, sat till gone midnight and stared at it till I'm blind with staring. In a way I can't wait until Saturday, the last day to email it over, so I'll be forced to go with what I've got.<br />
Meanwhile ideas for my new project are bubbling under the surface and I keep making notes full of pure brilliance ... or so they seem at 1am ... until I've finished my synopsis and 5 pages and can get back to it. I'm pitching the idea of this one to a separate agent in a 3 minute slot so I need to come up with a slick, no-nonsense synopsis between now and 11th Feb. <br />
In the meantime the allotment is looking good ... I love this time of year as the weeds have stopped growing and I can actually dig a section over knowing that when I go back a week later it won't be covered in nettle seedlings. I made a Heath-Robinson inspired compost bin last week out of chicken wire and old bamboo canes ... the bamboo canes are adorned with up-ended plastic milk-bottles to make them safe. It looks hideous but better than poking your eye out.Sandra Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328276258927955527noreply@blogger.com0