Progress - 23 August 2013

Writing

Some progress on Sevhend? on restructuring and self editing of writing from 2011 onwards. Draft of a competition short story for Eurostar. Start to writing and a listing for a second story-book for publishing in May 2014. I have more than enough short stories including some from authors who were guest writers in Ywnwab! Other newly published writers invited to take part.

Reading

An interesting week on reading front. Downloaded onto Kindle a copy of Unravelled by MK Tod. Not really my kind of book, but an enjoyable read balancing historical details of WW1 and WW2 and the personal pressures on a couple’s marriage. See Amazon for my review.

Unravelled did enough to hold my reading interest to stop me reading more of J K Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy and Declan Henry’s Why Bipolar? The latter will now receive my attention to complete. Also dipping into Howard Jacobson’s Zoo Time with lots of chuckles.

My first professional editor Gary Smailes has recommended a self published book Essence by a teenager.

Other

Last proof reading of Ywnwab! story-book now complete and cover design approved. It has been a much more time consuming process than expected.

Interesting and useful new web site - Tony Riche's Writing Desk - see link in webs and reads.

Knew someone else must have done something similar to the Allrighters' million words. Answer to DT Saturday big crossword clue one across – English author noted for his million-word-long cycle of 12 novels. A Dance to the Music of Time which includes Casanova’s Chinese Restaurant and Books Do Furnish a Room. The latter the name of a now defunct bookshop in Leamington Spa

Solution - Dance to the music of time -Anthony Powell.

Lee Child has maybe committed a ‘Ratner’ moment admitting he used cannabis for over 40 years. Perhaps this is the answer I have been searching for as to why my writing is so poor compared to his. I am certainly not going to start now.  This on top of using a midget for Reacher, a giant, in the film!

Next posting will be on book covers when I receive final version of cover for Ywnwab!

To be continued ...