I’ve not posted anything for ages, and the reason is that
I’ve been working seriously on my next novel, and the plot, the characters and
the setting are all I can think about. In part I owe this burst of creativity
to my writing friend, Les, who has been texting me daily and urging me to Do some writing now! Or Go write! (As an aside, I think everybody could do with
a friend like this, but I would really like it if he made a little detour one
day, and sms’ed Do some baking now! Or
Go eat lemon meringue pie!)
I also owe this burst of creativity to one of my
other writing friends, who has very recently signed a two-book contract with
Pan Macmillan. Hooley Dooley Yes Indeedy.
(And that’s all I can tell you at this point…) But what got me being all creative
was that it's a two-book contract, part of the deal is
that she must produce the second manuscript by April next year. Hooley Dooley again.
In one of my more intelligent moments I worked out that I
should get cracking on my second manuscript in case the same thing happens to
me. I wish. But if it does happen to me at least I’ll
be ready; I am currently up to just under
22,000 words of (working title) Charon House. And, yes, it's another Gothic novel.
What’s interesting here is that I said above “…and the
plot and the characters are all I can think about”. I find it nigh impossible
to create anything else while I’m writing a novel. I can do redrafts and edits
of other work, but think about creating a whole new other story, even a short story—? Uh-uh. Not this
little pig. (This little piggy went to
market, this little piggy stayed at home.)
I find, too, that I have no interest in reading fiction
while I’m writing. Two books are languishing on my bedside table as I write. I don’t need escapism; I don’t want to become involved in
some other plot and characters, to be distracted; I have more than enough
to think about…
How do other writers feel? Does this happen to you?
