Well, after 19 months and a not-entirely misery- and pain-free process, I have now slapped The Grave Thief on its arse, proclaimed it a squealing brat of 189,533 words and thrown it in the vague direction of Gollancz for High Inquisitor Fletcher to eviscerate as she pleases! Considering I’ve been employed for that whole period either full-time, or 4.5 days a week, lost at good 6 months to glandular fever and tonsillitis and probably spent another month on the exhaustive editing of Twiglet, I think I’ve a right to feel a little smug about this. Possibly I’ll even have a week off – during which of course I’ll be moving flat and getting another ready to sell, plus checking page proofs and dealing with BFLA’s bookfair fallout…
Cheeringly, I’ve read Grief through twice in the last month and, while I’m not keen to start it again in the next week, I certainly don’t hate it yet and considering how much I’ve been obsessing and worrying about the book, I’m taking that as a good sign!
Of course, taking a week off prompts that question that all writers (and most likely parents of small children) have to ask in this situation – what is this ‘free time’ you speak of and what is it I’m supposed to do with it? Hopefully I’ll be able to drink again soon so that’s certainly one suggestion, but I’ve honestly not really got a clue what else to do. I don’t have hobbies, I don’t have a PS3 or anything like that even. Presumably there are people in the world with lots of spare time, does anyone know what they do with it?
Learn to fly an aeroplane?
Oh sure, learn new stuff, like there’s enough space in my head anyway…
Mind you, I do have a few NF books I’ve got to read, The Art of Tracking and a History of Hell being the first two on the pile.
That’s work, mate. Try to fit some fun in there as well!
Learn to fly an aeroplane?
Oh sure, learn new stuff, like there’s enough space in my head anyway…
Mind you, I do have a few NF books I’ve got to read, The Art of Tracking and a History of Hell being the first two on the pile.
That’s work, mate. Try to fit some fun in there as well!
Congratulations on your completed draft! I had similar joy a few weeks ago and am really enjoying my break. Then again, I didn’t have to move flat. Good luck with that!
Don’t even get me started on the flat. Guy downstairs has chosen this week to demand I get my floor fixed (the problem’s been there for all four years I’ve lived there and is structurally safe according to a surveyor), so I now have ripped out plaster and metal braces on the wall, new carpets turning up tomorrow, and a damp check for the whole block on Monday meaning I can’t get it replastered before the new carpets arrive…. Oh yes, and my bro’s demanding it goes on the market next week. Someone’s gonna get a slap.
Congratulations on your completed draft! I had similar joy a few weeks ago and am really enjoying my break. Then again, I didn’t have to move flat. Good luck with that!
Don’t even get me started on the flat. Guy downstairs has chosen this week to demand I get my floor fixed (the problem’s been there for all four years I’ve lived there and is structurally safe according to a surveyor), so I now have ripped out plaster and metal braces on the wall, new carpets turning up tomorrow, and a damp check for the whole block on Monday meaning I can’t get it replastered before the new carpets arrive…. Oh yes, and my bro’s demanding it goes on the market next week. Someone’s gonna get a slap.
Congrats on the deliverance ;) Although HIF is still eviscerating my poor little tome just now, so ‘spect it’ll be a while before she gets her editing claws into Grief.
And free time – what’s that again?
Ah, she’s elbow-deep in the entrails of your first-born eh? That explains why she’s not even acknowledged receipt of mine ;0)
‘Seems’ like more than elbow deep ;)
Ahhhhh, it’s more of an ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ situation?!
Congrats on the deliverance ;) Although HIF is still eviscerating my poor little tome just now, so ‘spect it’ll be a while before she gets her editing claws into Grief.
And free time – what’s that again?
Ah, she’s elbow-deep in the entrails of your first-born eh? That explains why she’s not even acknowledged receipt of mine ;0)
‘Seems’ like more than elbow deep ;)
Ahhhhh, it’s more of an ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ situation?!