Absorbing the knowledge and wisdom of many writers and editors here at Conflux. Equal parts intimidating and inspiring ( Read more... )

Oh, my gods.

Of course, then come rewrites. And then more rewrites.

Three days in a hotel room with nothing but the novel and iTunes for company. (iTunes library now suspiciously well-organised.) Part Three is complete; Part Four is well underway (which means I can now see lots of rewrites which will have to be on Part Three, argh). Well on track for finishing the book, including major re-working of certain bits, ( Read more... )

Plot disaster averted by the simple act of swapping chapters 16 and 17.

This morning I finished Chapter Eleven, and with it, Part Two of Strange Flesh. I think this is the hardest thing I have ever written. Or rather, rewritten, from a horribly half-thought-out and half-written draft. The relief is immense and physical. To paraphrase Indiana Jones, now I'm gonna sleep for a week.

Chapter Ten done. Thought Chapter Eleven was basically finished. It isn't. Same old same old. What a rubbish mess of a draft I left for myself in 2013.

... uh-oh, Chapter Ten looks like it's a mess.

Every time I think this novel has made me work harder than I have ever worked on a piece of writing, it makes me work harder still. But somehow, despite all the crap my meds have thrown at me over the last couple of months - the sedation, the depression, the withdrawal - I have managed to defeat Chapter bloody Seven of Strange Flesh. *stands on its ( Read more... )

Oh no, not ANOTHER draft chapter in which people stand around delivering exposition and agreeing with each other! Repeat after me: every scene must contain conflict, demonstrate character, advance the plot.