Ten years in the planning...

For about ten years I’ve been thinking about writing a non-fiction book – not any old non-fiction book obviously, I had an idea for a specific one. It’s a dangerously long time to leave my ‘brilliant’ idea in my head because it could evaporate or someone else could be writing and publishing it. But in my case they haven’t (that I’ve discovered) at least not with the angle that I have on it.

So as I’ve put my novel aside for a time (actually, my the novel has put itself aside; it quite insisted. It refused to cooperate with my plans for it.) And I have started, seriously, to plan my non-fiction book. Ten years thinking is probably long enough.

I am eminently qualified for this project which, let’s be honest is a miracle. I am qualified - with my two useless but enjoyable degrees - for precious little.

So that could be where I am when I’m not blogging: listening to Radio 4 and working on this new/ancient project.

Pinch and a punch...

After about four weeks of not writing my novel – you can find out why here and here - it’s time to get back to it. I know I’m ready to start writing again because I’ve been really bad tempered! (I think I owe it to my family to get back on it.)

On Friday I talked to someone about my book and got excited again and on my way home I talked to two friends in the taxi about moving forward. I heard myself diagnosing the solution at the same moment as I told them about the problem: it’s time to engage brain and stop relying (so much) on my subconscious and instinct. So far, I’ve been making it up as I go along and now that it’s got complicated, it’s time to plan…

Yesterday it was just Son and I for Sunday lunch at the pub. Afterwards we decided to go off to MBK where I would write or plan (in Starbucks) and he would go and look for the DVD of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for me and then potter around doing his own thing (Guitar Hero in the arcade!)

Result: I wrote, scribbled and planned.

On our way home we popped into Villa for some shopping, where we spotted packets of rarely seen in Thailand, Walkers Salt and Vinegar crisps. Even as I write, I am salivating.

They should have been on yesterday's list of things I love!

Planning and Planning

Thanks for the supportive comments.

I’m not feeling too bad about the writing thing. Now that I’ve got going on the index cards and have acknowledged Julia (Bell)’s comment at Christmas that I do have to make decisions in order to write a story, I am scribbling away on the little cards. The pile is growing, and I’m now stapling bits of paper with my original notes on to the back of some of them (so the reference is there).

It appears that I may be a writer who needs a fairly detailed plan. That’s okay with me; I’m delighted to discover anything about my process. I always sort of knew it, but couldn’t work out how … how.

Right I’m off. I’m not navel gazing today. I’m going to write index cards, staple bits of notes to them, and chuck them in piles of Act One, Two and Three.

See ya all.

PS Okay it’s Manchester. Sunday 27th April. Check out Lazy P’s comment on Novel Racers about booking two weeks in advance for £13 tickets to Manchester - I think you need to nominate which train you'll be on for this deal. Please confirm your attendance! More information to follow.

Demon finesse

I was so hoping to make it to 6,000 words today, but it wasn’t to be. I had Dreamweaver brain drain class this morning, which was tough. I had such high hopes after last week, and then the 'non worm fiasco' meant I couldn’t do my homework and just like I knew it would, all the knowledge leaked out of my head. So today it felt like repeating stuff, but it was essential because I couldn’t remember any of it apart from a vague, ‘Mmmm, I think I’ve been here before’ feeling.

I’ve got this document that I started last week in Sam Roi Yot which I’ve called ‘conflict planning’ but this is just to outwit …

Sssshhhh,

but really it’s my writing, it’s all in the wrong order and it’s got subtitles, but that’s just to trick my demon. If it thinks it’s only planning, it doesn’t bother to come out and shriek at me.

And you know what? It’s working an absolute treat; fool.

Oh God, I hope I haven’t spoken too soon…