I've not had much time again today, as I've been pitching for some new and different jobs as well as continuing with the existing work I have in. I only managed to add around 700 words to my running total. But I have a few more very short scenes and Act II Part II is possibly … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 14
I didn't get around to NaNo until quite late on this afternoon. I've been in correspondence with various people, including editing and proofreading clients as well as the publisher of my Cadbury book. The great news is, my book has arrived on the publisher's desk! And they're very happy with the result. I can hardly … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 13
I hit my weekly target by the end of Thursday evening. I'd planned to take Sunday off, but as things transpired, I had 3 days off! But as I'd hit my weekly target by the end of Thursday, I didn't beat myself up too much over it. Friday was a sad day as one of … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – days 9, 10, 11 & 12
So now I'm thinking, if I can do this in November for NaNoWriMo, why can't I do it the rest of the year as well? My daily target is 2,000 words, which means I can also have 5 days off. My usual daily target is around 1,000 words per writing day. If I upped that … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 8
I was quite tired yesterday following the shenanigans of the previous evening, but by 5pm I'd completed my day's work quota. I'd added more than 3,000 words and I reached my first 100 pages on a proofreading job. I always like to hit the first 100 pages. At 5pm, I checked on the chickens, put … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 7
It was a long day yesterday. We visited Mom last night – she was great and in fine form – and we were set to be home at a fairly reasonable time, around 10pm. On our way down we'd seen an accident on the M42 that had just happened. One lorry had stopped, a car … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 6
We were going to visit my mom on Saturday and then stop off at Sherwood Forest, or similar, on the way back as it was going to be such a nice day. However, there was a stomach bug at the home, and visitors were asked to stay away. So we stayed in and baked instead. … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 5
The plan always was to work yesterday, and take today off as my first day off. Then the plan changed because the weather was supposed to be nicest yesterday. We were going to go out for the day. Then that plan changed as well and we decided to stay in. However, I decided to keep … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – days 3 & 4
Day 2 and I'm still planning a bit while writing a bit, although my word-count did go up quite considerably this morning. NaNoWriMo is my first "job" of the day. Whether I'm planning or writing, it's the first thing to get my attention, after about an hour of admin/household stuff. The day before yesterday I … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – day 2
And so it begins again ... I was a little late to the party this year. For the past few years I've been ready to go by the end of play on 31 October. This year, I finished most of the prep at around 1:30pm today. Eek! When I say prep, I mean my Scrivener … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 begins
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. I Never Lie, Jody Sabral Thanks to NetGalley and to Canelo for an advance copy of I Never Lie by Jody Sabral. First of all I'd like to say how much I enjoyed the concept behind this story. I think the whole … Continue reading Book review: I Never Lie
With only a week to go I finally made a decision, and I'm hoping it's the right one ... bit of a gamble, but that's how it goes. This year I'm being a NaNoReBel - again! Last year I chose to write a non-fiction book: A History of Cadbury (to be published on 30 November … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2018 – decision made
About a year ago ... actually, exactly a year ago, I was preparing for NaNoWriMo 2017. I had a book contract under my belt for A History of Cadbury and I'd learnt how to use Scrivener. During NaNo I wrote that book and spent the following months (between other work) editing it, polishing it, submitting it, … Continue reading NaNoWriMo rules, OK
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. The Way of All Flesh, Ambrose Parry Thanks to NetGalley and to Canongate Books for an advance copy of The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry. This is the debut historical crime novel from the team behind Ambrose Parry, Chris Brookmyre … Continue reading Book review: The Way of All Flesh
Before I start, please hop on over to the alphabet adventurers to see the latest post. There's still time to enter a competition there, with a closing date of midnight (UK time) this coming Friday, 28 September. It's been a while since I published a to-do list. This is mostly due to me trying to … Continue reading Clearing the decks
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. Stop Dieting and Lose Weight, Philip Swart Thanks to NetGalley and to Troubador Publishing for an advance copy of Stop Dieting and Lose Weight by Philip Swart. I thought this book was packed full of interesting and useful information. My particular favourite … Continue reading Book review: Stop Dieting and Lose Weight
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. Touch the Silence, Gloria Cook Thanks to NetGalley and to Canelo for an advance copy of Touch the Silence, by Gloria Cook. This book was first published by Severn House in 2003 and was republished in 2018. It's the first in the … Continue reading Book review: Touch the Silence
We manged to have another weekend off, an entire weekend to ourselves without any obligations to anyone else. And we got quite a lot of work done too, both around the house and on creative stuff. On Friday evening, the poet continued to edit the 'G' is for ... video for the alphabet adventurers. By … Continue reading Domestic weekend
Despite the recent difficulties I've been having regarding finding a new paperback publisher, yesterday turned out to be a good writing day. My working days are clearly split into two now, with "my work" for 3 hours in the morning and "client work" for 3 hours in the afternoon. The rest of the (working) day … Continue reading A good writing day
The news that Amazon's CreateSpace is being swallowed up by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing spurred me into action yesterday, a little. The first thing I did was contact KDP with a few questions. While I awaited their reply, I set about researching an alternative. CreateSpace was always the paperback arm of Amazon's self-publishing platform. KDP … Continue reading It’s all so complicated!
Due to the changes at Amazon CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing, my plans have changed slightly for the next few days. Well, they've changed completely. I don't think KDP is as good as CreateSpace. I don't think it's as easy to use. I don't think it looks as professional. And it looks as though it … Continue reading Temporary change of plan
I've been a bit overwhelmed with trying to catch up with work again, but I think I finally reached a balance once more. The past week in particular has been busy - as usual. I've not had a single idle day, though, and I'm looking forward to the week ahead. On Monday I caught up … Continue reading Organised again
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. Killing It, Asia Mackay Thanks to NetGalley and to Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of Killing It, the debut novel by Asia Mackay. Meet Lex Tyler, licensed to kill and the new James Bond. But this special agent is different in … Continue reading Book review: Killing It
We took last week off for the bank holiday. The last time we booked time off was a fortnight in June, when the heatwave was at its height. But we didn't get to enjoy a single moment of it as we were moving house. So we decided to take last week off. And this time … Continue reading Diary of a novel: The Beast Within (Week 2) – planning work
I set myself the goal of reading and reviewing 52 writing guides over the year. Here is book 42. Thanks to NetGalley and to F&W Media for an advance copy of Writing Without Rules by Jeff Somers. I wasn't approved to review the book at my first try, but when I asked again on a … Continue reading 52 books in 52 weeks: Writing Without Rules
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. Falling Short, Lex Coulton Thanks to NetGalley and to John Murray Press for an advance copy of Falling Short, the debut novel by Lex Coulton. Unfortunately, I didn't like it. At all. And it certainly wasn't funny - in my opinion. Instead … Continue reading Book review: Falling Short
In May I joined NetGalley. This is where authors and publishers may list their books, for a fee, which are then requested by professional readers and reviewers who, if accepted, review the book(s). Fiction and non-fiction. I joined as a reader/reviewer. The readers/reviewers are selected by the publisher/author based on: the requester's biography, where they post … Continue reading New reading badge
I set myself the goal of reading and reviewing 52 writing guides over the year. Here is book 41. I bought the paperback of Writing & Selling your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron very soon after it came out. I loved it so much that, when I saw an electronic version was now available, I bought … Continue reading 52 books in 52 weeks: Writing & Selling your Mystery Novel
I didn't have a lot of time in week 1, which I already knew about. I had two appointments in the midlands that took out two complete days, and I had editing work to do on the three days I was in the office. Saying that, I did manage to do some planning work in … Continue reading Diary of a novel: The Beast Within (Week 1) – planning work
Here's another new feature for Words Worth Writing, but one that has been well-received in the past, so it's really being resurrected for the latest project. I've decided that my next project will be The Beast Within: a Marcie Craig mystery. When I hauled out my folders for this project last weekend, I was mortified to … Continue reading Diary of a novel: The Beast Within
The time-logging app worked on Monday, very well - to an extent. So too did the "no housework" thing. I say to an extent, because on Monday afternoon we had a thunderstorm. Only a little one. There was one distant rumble ... and then the internet dropped out. It took several hours to re-set itself … Continue reading Logging time, and a thunderstorm
I only have a three-day week this week. This isn't because of any actual holidays. It's because I have two appointments in Solihull, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. And as it takes around 2 hours to get there and 2 hours to get back - on a good run - plus the time … Continue reading Writing and editing and planning, oh my!
This is a new feature on Words Worth Writing, in association with NetGalley. Mardi Gras Murder, Ellen Byron Thanks to NetGalley and to Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron. This is the fourth in the series from the Cajun Country mysteries, but the first I've read of … Continue reading Book review: Mardi Gras Murder
