‘I know you all hate me,’ he said staring at the floor ashamedly. Now I don’t know if that is a crass line or a good line. But it was the second thing that entered my head after I pressed the ‘Add Post’ button. Why hate me? Well I haven’t posted for three weeks. Is that narcissism, vanity or a joke? Anyway; don’t write a novel. I say this because I have finished the first complete draft of ‘the novel’ after about five years of messing around with it. Someone once said that writing a book is like entering a forest. With the sunlight gleaming over the canopy and the trees softly swaying in the breeze it looks like an exciting adventure. But, having entered the forest and rejected the well trodden path of others in order to create your own path; it becomes dark and foreboding, and you often lose your way. Yup, I’m right in there with no bloody machete because the Amazon wife took it for the Ivy.
So, now I’m reading – not true – I’m devouring every novel I can lay my hands on, searching for my path, studying layouts, descriptions and dialogue. Meanwhile my novel is devouring me. When I shut my eyes the characters are there, arms folded tapping their bloody feet and scowling. Waiting for direction, slowly losing faith in my ability to project them into a world of memorable fiction. So, no, if you’re considering it, dont write a book. Unless you’re a masochist like me 😉
Sounds like an adventure
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I live in hope 😜
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…congratulations?
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Ahhh 💐 Love the question mark 😀 Thanks
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😂😂😂Haunted by your own characters,🤣😃🤣 that sounds like the makings of a good book in itself! You better get on with it sounds like your characters are getting restless😠
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Love that analysis thank you, 😀💐
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Weeee’re waaaaaitiiiiing… 😆
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🦋 Fun read.
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Thank you 😀
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Waiting, waiting, waiting…
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Oh dear 💐😘
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Now you’ve done it…. we’ll all be waiting for an excerpt or two to tantalise our taste buds, so to speak…
Seriously; well done to you. What a great adventure! 🙂
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Aha, I’ve done it, but now I’ve got to edit it lol. I once put an excerpt on WordPress of a similar book that evolved into this one, but one reader said to be very careful as some publishers won’t touch anything that has been previously printed even if it’s an excerpt. I need to look into that. Thank you for the encouragement 😀😀💐
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“some publishers won’t touch anything that has been previously printed even if it’s an excerpt.”
Wow, Charlie; I’ve not heard of that before…. Be careful then, it would be lovely to see it published..! 😀
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It certainly would 💐😀
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I finished a book I had been writing for a decade and self-published on Kindle. There were some nice reviews but I still wish I had written it differently. Perhaps writers are never satisfied? Good luck with yours, though. 😁
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Oh well done you 💐😀 and thank you. I think you are right once I’ve really finished I have 6 readers lined up – it’s up to them then- not sure if they know what they have let themselves in for 😜
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All your followers will love an extra connection to you. 😘
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Congratulations on finishing your first draft.
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Thank you I guess the real work starts now 😀
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Waiting!😍
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I like the picture of the Sister with the lionesses by her side. She looks like a force to be reckoned with. Very powerful. I hope she’s in your novel.
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Thank you, but no she was just an example of the machete wielding wife from a previous post 😂
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Which post is that? I’d like to read it.
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‘More of a Hate Ivy Post’ 👍
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I love it! I agree with Marsa if your haunted by your characters, your never lonely, I mean they must be good!
I’m intrigued!! 😆
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Thank you, it is an intriguing experience 😀
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That’s a great description of how it feels to write a novel, Charlie..spot on
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Thank you so much, you don’t think I’ll need therapy then 😀
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
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Hey… thank you 😜
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Great post!
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Thank you 😀
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Good luck with it. 🙂
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Don’t stop now, Charlie!
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Thank you, that is the problem I had 4 weeks summer break from teaching and cracked it off, now I’m scared I’m back I’m going to lose the momentum 😬😬
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May I ask what it’s about?
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Hmmm, this is the tricky bit isn’t it. Set in 1974 Bradford, a young man grows up alone in a racist and homophobic society which he struggles against and is criticised for his fondness of ‘pakis and poofs’ his main adversaries are the local Skinheads and an old friend of his absent father who is the local drug dealer. But things are never what they seem are they? The story concludes in a siege/standoff at the local Indian Restaurant owned by his girlfriend’s father during a National Front March in Manningham Bradford.
I need to practice writing a synopsis 😀😀 but thank you for asking
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Lots of great and difficult material here, to be sure. I’m looking forward to reading it!
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Congratulations … and good luck!
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Thank you, I’ll probably need it 😀
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🍀
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I can completely relate to this right now. After kicking around ideas and the notion of doing so for several years, I’ve begun co-writing a novel with a good friend of mine. The idea of doing so was incredible, and still is, but the actual act of the writing itself has brought that initial enthusiasm down just a couple of notches. Ha. Even so, we press on!
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Thank you for reading 😀 yes I got to a point where I thought it wasn’t going to plan, my problem I now know was getting the right ending. Once I had that it flew. Then I had to rewrite a lot to fit the end, but that was sheer joy because I loved the way it ended so much, I think next time I’ll write the end first 😀 so yes stick with it I’m sure it’ll be phenomenal 🙏💐
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We’re looking forward to the process. Thanks for sharing your story and perspective.
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