What do I write next?
The summer holidays are almost over, hurray! They won’t actually be over until Eldest goes off to university on the 16th of September, but the end is in sight.
I’ve managed to get my weight back into the target zone of 10st 10lb – 10st 4lb (10 and a half stone plus or minus 3lb.) After a week in Cornwall eating whatever the hell I liked – crisps, pizza, ice-cream, cream teas, bombay mix, pasties etc – and several days at airshows eating donuts, and an anniversary dinner eating chocolate chip cookie dough, this didn’t take quite as much doing as I had feared. At 10st 9lb, I’m a bit on the heavy side of that range, though – going to lose a bit more just to have a bigger margin for error in future.
I’m still, after two years of Slimming World, chuffed and impressed at the level of control it gives you over your weight. Decide to put on half a stone over the summer holidays? No problem – I know that I can take it straight off again. (Though, as a rule of thumb, the weight takes three times as long to lose as it takes to gain.) It’s the first time in my life that I’ve felt that I was in control of my body, rather than the other way around.
Onto the writing part of this post:
I have yet to start on the second draft of EPQ, but if I start on it today I should be able to get it done by the 16th.
What do you think of “Too Many Fairy Princes… and Dave,” as a title? I want something that immediately says ‘fun fluff’ and does not lead you to believe that this book contains deep reflections on the meaning of life.
After which, I turn my mind towards what I’m going to do next. The Glass Floor has suddenly undergone mitosis, and is continuing to evolve into greater complexity as we speak. Which is great, but means I need to do lots of research. It is also a vampire story, despite the fact that my agent tells me that vampire stories are really hard to sell at the moment due to overTwilightification of the market.
So – given that The Glass Floor has gone back to the drawing board, I could just as easily start something completely different. I have an idea for another Age of Sail story with a twist. I can’t decide which one to go for. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi! What do you think?
a) Vampire historical
b) Age of Sail Fantasy
c) Something else (Please give details below.)
You can tell I’ve been helping Youngest with homework recently, can’t you?
You write such wonderful AOS stories so I’d love to see a fantasy AOS. Go for it! And well done on the diet. I got down from a size 18 to a respectable 14 last year (12 at a pinch lol) and I feel so much better for it. ????
Oh thank you! I have to admit that I’m coming round to the idea too. I already have a big concept and a small cast of characters (or the other way around) and am getting quite excited about the prospect now.
Congratulations on the weight loss! It really does make a big difference, doesn’t it? I feel 20 years younger as a result, have lost almost all of my back and joint pain, and find exercise so much easier. I’m afraid I’m a convert to the idea that the BMI may not be bunkum after all.
Age of Sail!! Age of Sail!! 🙂
I envy your ability to get through your 2nd draft in just a few weeks time. Go you! How many hours a day do you usually manage to write or revise?
Best cream tea I had was at Bumbles Tea Room in St. Ives. Have you been there?
All the votes seem to be going to the AoS 🙂 It’s nice to have such a resounding result one way or the other.
Well, EPQ is very short for a novel – only 50K – and I was quite careful with the outlining stage, so there aren’t any major structural changes that need doing. I knew the structure hung together before I started. That means it’s mainly cosmetic stuff which needs doing – polishing the words rather than rewriting. I have about three hours in a day to do it in.
We were a bit overwhelmed by the choice in St. Ives, so we mostly got stuff from the seafront cafes and ate it on the beach, being divebombed by aggressive seagulls! Next time!