I need another chapter

So, I printed out a card per scene and layed them all out on a table. Then I put a sticky note on each one to say if the scene was to do with finding the jade mask, finding information about Dr Marwood (who discovered and hid the mask), or finding out information about the two heirs, who might have attempted to steal the mask for themselves.

Once I'd done that, it was pretty clear there wasn't enough in my manuscript about the main plot. In fact, it was mostly subplot, and while the subplot/s are interesting, they're not enough to draw the reader through the book.

I've decided to add an extra day into the timeline to put in more plot related scenes. Some more investigation of the two heirs should do the trick. I'm also working out which subplot points I raised earlier need to be closed off as well. 

Doing all this should bring my word count above 80000, which is what I'm aiming for.

Now I just need to write the thing. Man, it's hard to write when you're tired.

So tired

MrIcyJr hasn't been sleeping well, and MissIcy has been coughing in the night.  I don't think I was this tired even after MrIcyJr was born. 

However, as Xavia spends a lot of time in the book having broken nights, I thought I'd make use of my exhaustion by writing down what I'm feeling for use later.  Here are a few thoughts.

So tired it felt like her eyelashes were made of gold.
So tired it felt like somone was pulling her scalp up and out through her ponytail.
So tired her fingers tripped over themselves as she typed.
So tired I can't work out which scenes theses ideas should go into.

Wait, were those for Xavia, or for me? Anyway, nap time (despite it being 10am).

New Mary Russell novel!!

Glee!!!!  A new Mary Russell novel is due in September. Sooooo happy!! I'm really looking forward to reading the next one (and re-reading them all again as well).

See more details at Laurie R King's website.

Louis Tracy

I bought myself a new Windows Phone 7 last year and as soon as the Amazon Kindle app was available I downloaded it. Since then, I've been catching up on my old-time detective reading, especially as much of them are free.

My current favourite is Louis Tracy, who writes rather nice 'tec stories, somewhat in the style of Agatha Christie. They style is predictable, with the same archetypes reoccuring with different names, but they're still enjoyable. Plus, because they're out of copyright, they're free.

Check them out at Amazon, or if you prefer, Project Gutenburg.

Second revision progress

I've finally finished the second revision and I'm pleased with the last bit. It reads the way I want to, which is really pleasing. Some of the earlier bits (OK, quite a few bits) are rather clunky. I may need to just rewrite those bits from scratch. I suspect that hacking at it again won't improve the quality of what's there. We'll see how it goes.

After that I need to make another pass with the Word grammer correction to tidy everything up and print it out for MrIcy to review again. Eeep. That will still take a week or two though, especially with two kids.

The manuscript is currently at 77206 words. I'd like it add another 3000 or so, but we'll see.

I'm back...at last

Wow, it's been eight months (exactly) since the last update to this blog and I've finally started writing again. My little boy, who'll be refered to as MrIcyJr, was born on the 24th of Feb, and he's nearly four months old. Things have settled down and I have a few hours to myself most afternoons when he sleeps. MissIcy is usually sleeping at the same time, or at pre-school (she's now three). I watched bad TV for a while, but as I started getting more sleep, I started wanting to write again, so I opened up the manuscript and started revising again. Turns out the bit I got stuck in wasn't as bad as I thought it was, and there are some bits I feel are really strong. I'm inspired now to make the average (and bad) bit's just as good. I've managed to get through two thirds and I'm into revising the climax, which is a pleasure as it's much better than the first bit. What can I say? I'm having fun again.

So, it's been a while

I haven't fallen of the edge of the planet (I've been reliably informed it's just over the horizon from here), I haven't been sick, and I haven't even been particularly busy (busy, but not, you know, BUSY).

It's just that stuff happened.

To catch you all up, I'm pregnant.  21 weeks today, and we're having a little boy (due 28 Feb).  The first three months were pretty hard work and I kept falling asleep.  This left very little time for Internet stuff, or writing stuff, or anything really. 

The last two months I've been feeling fine again, but I haven't got into the swing of things again (actually I've been playing computer games and loving it, plus I had to make a dress for MissIcy to wear to her Uncle's wedding).

But anyway-the story?  Nothin', nada, zip.  I haven't even opened it for the last five, maybe six months.  I'm still stuck in the second draft and I can't belive how quickly the time has gone.

And now, NaNoWriMo is coming up, and I don't think I'll be doing it.  And then a new baby will be coming and I will disapear for another 4 months (at least).

Oh well.

Don't give up on me.  I'll be back.  Sometime.