<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It&rsquo;s been a while since I have posted anything other than a review of David R&rsquo;s rather wonderful novel, The Handshaker, on either the Arena or as a blog. It&rsquo;s not that I&rsquo;m not writing anymore, although some might thing that is a good thing, but have been busy with a novel that has kind of taken over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, despite all the screaming in the house over the weekend as the two boys fought for supremacy over the wii and the x-box, the vomiting as little Emma-Grace saw fit to up chuck over mom and not dad, clearing out a blocked drain and getting soaked in the process, before making my way into the woods with my two dogs and coming home looking like a drowned rat, I managed, somehow, to find the time to get a little more writing done. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By lunch time yesterday I realised that I had passed the 50,000 word stage, making this project way and beyond anything I have ever written before. It felt good, but also a little frightening. My wife asked me how it was going. &lsquo;Okay,&rsquo; I said. &lsquo;Just passed 50,000 words.&rsquo; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&lsquo;Wow,&rsquo; she replied with a smile. &lsquo;When can I read it?&rsquo;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gulp! </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was then that I realised, and started asking myself, what if I&rsquo;ve written all this and it turns out to be crap? I was watching the golf last night and the same question kept coming to me. Eventually I asked Helen. &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sure it won&rsquo;t be,&rsquo; she said.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&lsquo;Well you&rsquo;re supposed to say that,&rsquo; I replied. &lsquo;You&rsquo;re my wife.&rsquo;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I suppose we all ask ourselves this at some point in the writing process. But the fact that I still want to sit at my laptop and continue writing the story tells me that I at least think it is worth the time and effort. Whether or not it will ever be good enough to see the light of day is any ones guess, but I&rsquo;m having fun even when the words refuse to come to me. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I have about another 20,000 words to go. Most of it is now mapped out, but there are parts that change and new scenes keep popping into my head all the time, all hopefully pushing the story towards its conclusion, bringing with it the day when I have to finally show someone the fruits of my labour.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gulp!</span></span></p>

<p>In my previous blog I talked about the lack of posts and reviews on the Arena and Sue commented that we can actually ask other members&nbsp;to read our&nbsp;work when we have posted&nbsp;it up. I never thought of doing this - never wanted to sound cheeky.</p> <p>Anyway, I have posted the prologue to my novel Blackout. I'm about six more chapters in ( plus a load of scribbles that take the story through to its conclusion) and would love some feedback before I get too carried away. The post is approx 1000 words long. All comments you could give would be most appreciated, as always.</p> <p>Thank you for your time, in advance.</p>