NaNoWriMo Progress and Travel Again

There is a bounce in my step...this year I'm on target and in fact ahead - just a tiny bit, on NaNoWriMo, which is so different from my experience last year. In the far reaches of my brain I have wondered why...because I do things like that, silly I know. I have come to the conclusion because I have let go. I have shut the inner editor firmly off and I'm writing pure fantasy because I know nothing of the thriller world or genre. It might be classified as a women's fiction thriller but of course there is no such thing. It is not like my previous venture into the thriller world with the experimental Dickens Challenge piece EXPLOSIVE DREAMS which was chick lit meets thriller. It is a wholly different beast and pure fun to write.

I began on the first of November fully expecting THE SUMMER OF THE BLACK HARE to fall in line with previous work - the work that has been growing into my voice for the past few years but no. I have discovered that when I try first person my voice morphs into a different mode. It wants to take risks and experience things differently. It still explores some dark things, but it is more playful as maybe when using 'I' a lightness from me must slip in - a touch of irreverence.

This is a good thing to learn as I have said here before AUGUST ROCK needs to be in first person so when I make that transition I will be aware of the consequences....for August Rock is not meant to be a thriller but it may become more shall we shall Gothic for lack of a better term...

In the meanwhile I'm cracking on with TSOTBH and enjoying every moment of it - because if I'm not I just move on - such freedom is bliss. I am also aware the title does not fit the book any more, but I doubt this book will ever see the light of day so it doesn't matter and I can write one in third person which will.... (Funny how one knows instinctively that the title doesn't fit - may explore this thought more another time)

On Tuesday I fly back to the UK again in time for the RNA Winter Party....oh the joy and the agony of what to pack and wear....maybe it's a bit like what to call a book....

Are you a 'try everything on in the cupboard sort of person' - or do you know without even looking what to wear -or what to title to call a book -or even what to write??????

Tanzanian Taster

There is so much I could say about Tanzania and our stay but it's Nanowrimo... so I will give you a few of the pictures we took (total over 3500)....

Divine Denver

I'm not feeling on top form this morning which I put down to the altitude and not the quantity of wine consumed last night...

Woke this morning to another glorious day here and to see the marathon runners dashing past the big blue bear...yesterday was to spent walking the city in glorious sunshine and shopping....great shopping. In fact the only disappointment so far has been the food which has surprised me but hopefully today's offerings will be better.

Traveling

I suppose it's fitting that the first post of 2010 is from the airport - surprise! For a woman who hates flying with a passion I seem to be forever on a plane. I am heading back to the cold and the snow.

I have some great links to post but can't seem to do it here so it will wait for a few days until I am in Cornwall.

I have begun writing again which feels brilliant and I hope everyone else has begun the new year well.

Off Track

Well am in London!!!! Had wonderful dinner with fellow writer Biddy and woke up early but not too early after a good night's sleep.

Yesterday I wrote on the flight (pat on back as was lucky enough to be in business and not too distracted by films - more later). I realized after 1600 words yesterday that I was losing the plot....yes, the key conflict of the book was wandering away - not wandering almost galloping. Demi and Victoria were leading totally separate lives and interesting though they were I needed them back under one roof to really make the sparks fly. So I stopped mid scene and today I cut to the second half of the book where the battle begins. However I have never left a scene hanging and moved on before. This is a dark new territory. But I know that it is necessary to put the story back on track and true to its heart.

Now this brings me to films. I have heard writers and me included bemoan the fact that reading is not the same once you have begun the process of pulling apart your own work. You do it instinctively with all and are rarely swept away. What I didn't realize is that I would do this with films now too. On the flight I watched Australia. It was good but certainly not brilliant. Why? Well for me it was too long and it lost its way. There wasn't enough chemistry begin the hero and heroine and its turning point although dramatic well could have been better. So it clearly showed me how crucial it is to cast your leads - they carry the story. In this film the hero was perfect, dare I say flawless but the heroine was cardboard. The same can happen in a book and I know even if their are other things about a book that I don't care for I will read on if I like the characters.

In contrast, I watched the film Easy Virtue again. Now this is an although different kettle of fish or film as the case may be. I found it flawless in its casting and also in the twists in the plot and it ends before the viewer tires. Thinking along the Donald Maass Writing the Break Novel route - giving your characters killer lines - well the film is filled with them which lights it up.

Do you watch films differently than you did before writing took over your soul and have you abadoned your characters mid scene to and jump else where to put the book back on track?

UPDATE: An interesting post by Caren Johnson, Literary Agent, on films and plot holes that speaks in more detail here

Kyoto Explored

I had been told that Kyoto was a beautiful city. Yet on arrival on Thursday night all I saw was evidence of the concrete era - so prevalent the world over in large cities. Beauty was absent from this landscape of tower blocks in dull grey. However I kept an open mind - after all I had just come off a long flight and it was night. My first glimpse of the beauty appeared as we spend through the city in a taxi to the area of town where the geishas are trained. Here the street lights were beautiful and buildings were low. The night was light intermittently with lanterns glowing red and white in the darkness. It was here that I ate the infamous raw chicken and drank my first sake. Kyoto's had begun to work its spell.

On the Friday we woke to beautiful weather. Our perfect guides, Mark and Yumi with their knowledge of the city designed a flawless day of sight seeing. We began at a temple with a glorious garden then followed the Philosopher's Walk and ambled through the city stopping we we felt 'called' and for lunch. I love seeing a place on foot and at my own pace - moving slowly and trying to absorb. I love looking at the little things.

My thoughts on the day - the scent of wisteria hovered around all day as it flung itself down the hillsides clinging to trees, appeared in pots by doorways, and hung heavy by temples. Colour abounded - coordinated and clashing joyously. Gardens small and large were carefully tended. Everything seemed to be prepared with such thought even the loos (but that is another story all together). Of course the politeness of everyone (I wish I could bottle it and shake over the rest of the crazy world we live in).

By the end of the day I didn't see the concrete any more, but the beauty in all the exquisite details.

I am off to London tomorrow and will be attending the Romantic Novelists' Association Summer Party. I will have my trusty camera with me and hope to report back fully on what I know will be a brilliant evening. I don't when I'll be able to connect so you may not hear from me until I reach the airport on Thursday.

Cape Town Bound

Sorry for the silence. The boys have been here for half term - in fact I still have one with me as I sit here in the airport. We're off to Cape Town as DH has a conference there. I know it's a tough life but seriously someone has to do it.

Will post from from there........

Back

Landed at 2:15 am and arrived home at 4:15am. I think I'm here - well atl east 90%. It was a fabulous time in the UK even though I seemed to be on the road for most of it. From book launch to rugby matches to drama competions I loved it. The bonus - I wrote! See the new word count on the side. This might not rise dramatically in the next few days while I try to catch up on all that needs doing here. However the story is still buzzing inside and I'm just loving writing this which means it may well be crap!

September Morn

This was the view outside the study window this morning. I am hating that I have to leave when it is so beautiful at the moment. I have even been able to do some research and although writing time has been non-existent I have jotted down lots of notes re the story line. It is all coming together in my head rather quickly! I'm be on the road until a week Tuesday so I don't know where and when I will be able to have access to the Internet.

Travel and Black Boxes

I am sitting in the study in Cornwall having watching the most beautiful sunrise wondering how I got here from there sort of thing. What a week this has been. Celebrated Dh's birthday, had hang over from hell (might there be a connection I wonder?), flew to London, went to a book launch, picked up ds2 and drove to my beloved home! I think I may have left my brain somewhere along the way..........

However it was with sheer joy that I was able to attend the wonderful Caroline Smailes' launch of Black Boxes. It was joyful on sooooooooo many accounts I just have to list them:

-Novel Racers (finally meeting in person Calistro, Leigh, CC, Julliette, Cathy - of course I had met the wonderful Kate Harrison before - lucky me!)

-Meeting Caroline in the flesh

-Catching up with the glorious Biddy

-Meeting Judith who in my jet lagged state I couldn't quite place why I knew her (please forgive me)

-Holding in my hands my own - and signed just for me- copy of Black Boxes which in the flesh, so to speak, is so much more beautiful that the image of the cover portrays on the 'puter screen!

-And finally just the buzz of being a part of a friend's success

I, as always, took a few photos so that I could share the event. I haven't outed the people in them.......see if you can guess.

In Transit

Sitting in Heathrow about to board the flight. Don't know where the days went but they are gone. Boys are back to school and I am missing them already. However dd is chomping at the bit to see mum and no doubt beat me up for being away........

Try and be back to normal service soon.