<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>At the start of the year I promised myself that I would be a good little boy and write every day. I started off well but in time gradually started slipping back into my old routine. I would turn my computer on, check my e;mails and then load up the Internet. I'd go to Empire move mag first - I'm a film buff - and check out all the latest news and trailers. Then I'd go to facebook, promising myself I'd only be on there for ten minutes. Fat chance! Then of course there is writelink, not third in my list of visits because it's my third favourite site, but because when I come on here I like to use my time properly. Before I knew it, ten minutes had turned into an hour, an hour had turned in to. . .well I'm sure understand.</p> <p>I realised that if I didn't do something about my time slips soon that I would be back to writing shed loads of crap in one day and doing no writing for the rest of the week. My writing would suffer although, some of you may think my writing has suffered enough, and I'd get fed up with the whole thing again.</p> <p>So I devised a cunning plan. I stole one of my wife's lap tops and made sure my wi-fi was turned off. Now, the only way I can use the Internet is if buggerlugs or any one of the three of four other fools in the neighbourhood - who seem to think it's safe not to put a password on their connection - are on line.</p> <p>The result - I now write every day (or most days at least) and it's great. I turn on my lap top knowing that I'm going on there to write and not get hooked on facebook and movie news or games sites. It helps with concentration and my mind doesn't feel as rusty, struggling to find words or string sentences together. I hope my writing is improving because of this - time will tell I hope - but above all, I'm enjoying it again.</p> <p>As for buggerlugs and his silly friends, I ignore them and resist the urge to use their connections to open up the Internet.</p>

<p>First of all I'd like to thank those of you who read my previous blog and then were kind enough to tip-toe over to the Arena and review Blackout for me. I had some really constructive comments that have been saved to Word for use when I review the piece myself.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As you know from my blog on Arena postings and reviews, I'm eager to learn. Taking comments from Blackout, I have tried to put some of them to use on part three of a shortish story I'm working on. I managed to cut the piece from around 850 words to about 750. (That's a real accomplishment for me lol)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It doesn't matter if you haven't read the previous parts, it can stand alone to a degree, but at the risk of sounding a complete nuisance, I would really appreciate it, if you have the time, if you could pop back over and give it a quick read.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm figuring, the more I hound you now the less I'll hopefully have to hound you in the future ;-)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks again for your time.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bob posted a piece of flash fiction on the arena last week. The challenge was to start with the words, The door swung open, and finish with the words, The door swung shut. And you only have 200 words to play with. </span></p> <p style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don't usually go with flash fiction. You all know I over write lol. But it's something I'm trying to get on top off, and besides, after not having the chance to write over the summer holidays, I felt inspired enough to give it a go. It's on the arena, but, if no one minds I'll post it here as well. </span></p> <p style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">DARKNESS</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;">The door swung open to reveal a black hole that filled him with dread. Darkness terrified him. He reached for the torch, wishing he had checked the batteries before entering the building. But he couldn&rsquo;t go back now. If he did, he would never set foot in this place again. Besides, he knew with all his heart that she was here.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;">He turned on the torch, sighing as the weak beam struggled to push back the darkness. The room felt cavernous. His footsteps echoed as he splashed through pools of water. Something scurried to his right. His skin crawled. The light dimmed. He shook it, praying for it to stay on, but the beam extinguished. He was trapped in almost total darkness. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He looked back to the doorway, his heart sinking as the fading light outside refused to enter the derelict building. He shook the torch again; nothing. He moved forward, his hands searching for the far wall. Then he heard it; a whispered plea for help. His heart raced.<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: small; font-family: Calibri;">He ran towards her, his fingers finding the chains. &lsquo;It&rsquo;s okay,&rsquo; he said. &lsquo;I found you.&rsquo;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Calibri;">Laughter filled the room. He spun, realising his mistake, as the door swung shut.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After spending a lot of time not writing for one reason or another over the last few months, I am now writing on a daily basis, which is one of the reasons I haven&rsquo;t spent a lot of time on here lately. I&rsquo;ve been busy working on a couple of pieces. Both have had a little time on the Arena at one time or another, both have been received well with some really great comments on how they could be improved. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that is what brings me to this blog. I&rsquo;ve read a bit over the years on how to write a novel. Some say you should plot. That way you should end up with a well rounded product in the end. Other writers sit in front of their comp with a general idea of a story and just write - Stephen King is one example. This way, I suppose, you could end up with a completely different story than the one you set out to write, maybe even full of plot holes and character flaws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, Blackout is in the process of being plotted. I posted the first chap on the Arena a while ago, just to test the waters. (They were a bit rough lol) It&rsquo;s taking its time as I try to work out all the details even though I know the story, in my head at least, by heart. It&rsquo;s a bit of a slog because I&rsquo;m too eager to just get on with it. Impatient bugger that I am.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So how about just writing? Well, Mirror Images is a story I have posted a couple of times before. I was never really happy with the beginning for a start and I always felt, at around 2000 words, the story was too short. After lengthening it a little and putting it back on the Arena I decided it needed an overhaul. So I started, with a new title and beginning, to re-write it. I&rsquo;m now 23,000 words into it. I know where the story is going, that won&rsquo;t change, but I&rsquo;m not quite sure now how I&rsquo;m going to get there. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New ideas keep forming in my head. Characters and plots keep talking to me. I don&rsquo;t know what I&rsquo;m going to write from one chapter to the next, but whatever I do write feels right. It&rsquo;s exciting sitting at my laptop and just writing. Okay, so it might be crap, full of plot holes and other mistakes. But at least I&rsquo;m writing again. I&rsquo;m getting through a couple of thousand words a day. (Don&rsquo;t know if that&rsquo;s good or bad)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But considering we have a house full of kids and I have to write at the kitchen table since Emma-Grace came along and stole my office, I&rsquo;ll take 2000 words a day.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, on a final note, my WOM Q/A&rsquo;s have been posted on the forum for anyone who is interested </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</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>