The green-eyed monster

Jan 19, 2011 22:34

I've been quiet on the blogging front but only because I've been busy working on KYBS. I've managed to get my writing mojo back this year and have been doing at least an hour on it every night. It's definitely helped that I've been trying to head over to the Royal Festival Hall each evening to spend some time writing there, because there are much fewer distractions than at home (specifically no TV). Anyway as a result, I've cracked a big problem that I've been having with a scene since last September and am hoping to have the scene itself finished over this weekend (she says firmly knocking on wood).

However it hasn't all been work. I've managed to meet up with good company as well. Last Tuesday (and despite the best efforts of the premiere of Morning Glory in Leicester Square) I met up with uC, mR and C5 for dinner at Ten Ten Tai. It was the usual mix of good chat, book swapping and michael taking. We're still trying to work out a trip to meet up with The Artist Formerly Known As Sl0fox and a certain Ms C Black, but it's proving difficult to nail down spare weekends and I've also got potentially adverse economic circumstances to think of.

Then yesterday I met up with some of my mates from the City University MA in Creative Writing class of '09 so that we could celebrate David John's US publishing deal properly (i.e. by making him pay for food and drink). It was lovely to catch up not just with David but with everyone else as well - not least because it's looking hopeful that one of my other classmates may be close to a UK deal for their novel by Easter (which would be excellent news).

However one of the things that we were talking about (and which is what led to the title of this post) was the little stab of jealousy that we all get when someone does well. It's not a big thing - it's the "you bastard" that gets said under the breath right after you've w00ted. But it is there and it's all too human.

What was interesting was that we were all genuinely pleased when others do well because we know how much hard work has gone into it and also how much rejection has happened before that success finally comes in. We also talked about jealousy as a potentially positive thing because it does give you a boot up the bum to get your act together and work on your own book and I think that's the key thing to remember about jealousy - it's normal to be jealous but don't let it stop you doing your thing, don't let it make you start resenting other people's success because no one benefits from that.

And speaking of success, I just wanted to give a shout-out to the following talented individuals who all found out that they and their editors have been long-listed for the prestigious Branford Boase Award:

- Stephanie Burgis for A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK

- Candy Gourlay for TALL STORY

- Keren David for WHEN I WAS JOE

Needless to say I wish all three ladies well and hope they make the shortlist that will be announced later this years and naturally the words "you bastards" are coming straight after the w00ting ... [/tongue in cheek]

Right, I'm going to treat myself to a piece of my Christmas Toblerone (because I know how to live) and then I'm going to have an early night.

kybs, ma creative writing (novels)

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