Getting Ready

I got my delegates pack for the Winchester Writers' conference today.  Only a week to go.  I have been organising my writing to take with me.  I have the timetable of  the lectures and my one to one appointments.  I hope to be equipped to market my novel after that.
   The weight loss isn't going so well.  I've had quite a stressful few months so I'll blame that. 

Success

I have received a cracking review of my new novel, Unwanted Visitor, which is available on Kindle.  Some people, who shall remain nameless, asked me who wrote it, but I don't know who it was, I'm just made up that someone read my novel and liked it enough to tell me.  To me, this is success.
     I would like to get working on the sequel, which is only about half done but Mum in Law has had an op and is staying with us while she recovers.  Between that, finishing my degree and life in general, I haven't had time to do much writing.  Still, next week, I'm going to Abu Dhabi, where the husband is working.  I hope to finish my essay then to spend some time on the sequel.  I might just take advantage of the time and rest.

Unwanted

Another day, another rejection.  It was a friendly rejection but still a rejection.  Apparently my manuscript failed to ignite the imagination.  Hmm, I think the manuscript is a good as I can get it so perhaps it is time for me to think about publishing to Kindle or using a local publisher, which is going to be pricey.      
     The problem is that a writer is reliant on the opinion of someone who is probably rushed and distracted.  I could write a masterpiece and wouldn't even get a look in.  It's annoying to think that if my name was well known, I could write any old rubbish and  agents and publishers would be falling over themselves to take my novel, they would even edit it for me.  I must research self publishing.

Chicken Soup

I've caught another cold, not good for weightloss.  All I want to do is lie on the sofa and eat chocolate and toast.  I've heard chicken soup is good for colds but I can't be bothered making any.
     I decided that the literary agent that I sent my novel to doesn't want it so I have sent it out to another one.  Again, this one takes email submissions and will let me know within 30 days.  So much better than the old way of sending off your precious bundle and waiting months.  Perhaps I should look at epublishing?  Has anyone had any experience with that? 

Holding my Breath

Hmm, another long break between posts,  I've nothing to report actually.  I sent off my updated novel but haven't heard anything yet, I haven't heard back from the short stories I sent out either.  I wonder if I should send out some more? The agent I have sent out to sent an acknowledgement email saying if I didn't hear in three weeks, it wasn't for them.  That seems much better than the instructions I have read on other sites. It surprises me that some places expect you to wait months for a reply, if you ever get a reply at all.  I think I'll give it another week then try somewhere else.
     The weight loss is not going well.  No more to be said on that.
     I have been to Center Parcs again, with my daughter this time.  We had a great time.  My daughter is disabled and everyone was really helpful, even clearing the footbath so she could take her electric wheelchair poolside.  We had to visit a local GP when her asthma started to play up. They gave us an appointment that evening and put her on steroids, which averted a hospital visit.  I forget how spoilt we are having a major hospital ten minutes from our house.  The hospital near Center Parcs is forty minutes drive away.
     I'll try to have more news next time.  I feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for things to happen.

Good Feedback

It's been a few days since I last posted.  A week was taken up by a nasty virus that laid me low, then we went to Center Parcs with our small grandsons.  We had a great time, just what I needed to perk me up after feeling so ill. 
    I got the feedback from Bubblecow and I'm really pleased with it.  My novel isn't as awful as I imagined, it needs several tweaks and a bit of reworking in a couple of places but all in all I feel pretty good about it.  Somehow, the formatting went crazy during the sending and the indents and line gaps adopted a pattern all of their own.  I have no idea why that happened.  I have an essay to submit this week but after that, I will get to work on editing my novel.  I have to think of a way for Martin to be thrown into the sea then get rescued a day later, without ruining the photos in his pocket.
    The weightloss is going well too, another 3.5lb this week.  I wish I could eat more sometimes as I feel hungry quite often,  but I need to lose weight for September, when number 2 son gets married. 

Marking Time

I feel like I'm marking time. I stayed the same weight this week and I haven't had the feedback from the literary consutancy, although to be fair, they did say I'd hear by the 7th and it's only the 3rd. 
Number 2 son had his birthday but celebrations were muted as the house is full of chicken pox.  Oh well, I hope next week is more interesting.

Is it relevant?

I still haven't heard anything from the competitions I entered, oh well.  I'll find some more.  I've been too busy to write much this week, I just seem to be running from pillar to post and haven't had time to sit down and really think about what to write.  I have dusted off another novel I began a while back.  It's true when they say you should put your work away then look at it with fresh eyes.  I'm not sure if it's because I have learnt more or because I've had a break away from it, but I could see straight away that it has promise but needed urgent revamping.
     I did well with the weight loss this week, another three lb off.  I've still got a long way to go but I'm beginning to belive that I won't look too bad when number 2 son ties the knot.
     Going completely off the subject, I read a report in the Daily Mail about a terrible fire that has killed 4 children in Manchester.  One thing about the report bothered me.  It mentioned that the children are believed to have been fathered by at least two men.  Why did the paper feel the need to print that?  The only reason I can think of is to invite the reader to judge the woman.  How is this relevant to this tragedy? The woman was said to be a good, loving mother who did not claim benefits, in fact she runs two hairdressers.  This was not a report on the breakdown of families, not a report on state spongers or even a report on feckless single girls having babies; this was a report on a tragedy that destroyed a family and the mother's domestic details are no-one's business.  I feel quite cross about it.
    

Professional Help

I've decided that I need professional help with my novel, Unwanted Visitor.  It's the first book in a saga set in Wirral that spans the period from the second world war to the present day and deals with the theme acceptance versus alienation.  The description I've put in my agent's letter is as follows:-

    

Everywhere he goes, Martin Fischer knows he is not wanted.  Amidst the chaos of war, he tries to build a normal life but everything and everyone he cares for is snatched from him.  An attack by the Norwegian resistance leads to his capture by the British.  He is taken to a POW camp in Wirral and sent to work on a farm.  Despite some local hostility, Martin finds the sense of belonging he has been seeking and elects to stay in England after the war.  When he meets tragic Jane Fellows, he is smitten but to the people of Brimstage, Martin is the face of the enemy, the unwanted visitor in their midst.  He and Jane must again struggle to overcome tragedy and prejudice to find acceptance in rural, post war Wirral.

 
What do you think?  Does that interest you?  I've been chipping away at it since 2007 and I have reached the stage where I can't do any more with the book or the letter by myself.   
   I've researched literary consultants and decided to trust my baby with Bubblecow after I saw they had a decent write up in Writers' Forum (or was it Writers' News, I can't remember, it doesn't matter.)  I'm bracing myself for the feedback and the revelation that the novel I've worked on for so long is unsaleable rubbish.
http://bubblecow.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/BubbleCow/202063449025

Making plans

I haven't heard anything about the competitions or from the magazine.  I'll give it a few more days before I admit defeat over the competitions, then I'll have to find some more to enter.  The magazine says it could be four months before they get back to me. Ages!.
     On a plus note, I lost 5lb last week :-).  I was feeling very upbeat about sending so much writing out, perhaps this week's loss will not be so good. 
     I'm eyeing up the writers' conferences and book festivals.  I went to the conference at Winchester a couple of years ago and loved it.  I want to go back but it's difficult to plan ahead because the husband works abroad and doesn't know what dates he'll be away during the year.  Sod's law says he'll need to be taken or collected from the airport on the days of the conferences I want to go to.

Dreams

I sent of a couple of short stories today, I hope they're accepted.  I worked hard on them and I think they're as good as I can get them.  It's hard to get rejections, they make me wonder whether I have any ability.  Sometimes I think I'm not as good as people tell me I am but then something happens, like coming 3rd in a competition which reinforces my confidence.  At the moment I am quite upbeat.
     Perhaps because I'm upbeat, the weight loss has been going well.  The Fat Writer isn't quite as fat as she was. There's still a long way to go.  Number 2 son is getting married later this year and I want to look reasonable in the photos.  Wouldn't it be great to earn enough from my writing to help him get a deposit for a house.  Get published, lose weight, help the kids.  These are my dreams.

A good day?

I spent this morning polishing my novel, Unwanted Visitor  In a few days, I'll send it off.  I also worked on a couple of short stories, so I'm happy with my output for today.  The diet is another matter, I had a slice of toast for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch and a chicken donner for dinner.  I have no idea how many calories/fats etc are in a donner, but it can't be good because I feel very full.  I must research this, I might surprise myself and find I haven't overeaten today after all.  Tomorrow I'll try harder.

Day One

Well, it's here, the first day of my new regime.  I hope everyone had a great New Year.  I stuffed myself last night, which perhaps I shouldn't have but I will be good from today.  I weighed myself this morning - Aaargh!  I have so much weight to lose.  My first target is March, when I go on holiday with my daughter.  Perhaps if I am really strict, I can shift a couple of stones by then.  My next target is later in the year, when number two son is getting married.
     I'm sending my novel out in a couple of days, I've been researching appropriate agents to write to so fingers crossed I'll get a positive response.  I can update my writing CV with my third place win, which might make agents more amenable.
     Anyway, I've had cereal for breakfast, ham salad is on the menu for lunch and roast lamb is for dinner.  I'm going to write this morning until my little grandson's arrive.  They are staying with us because it's their parents' anniversary.
     Have a good day, everyone.

Celebrate!

Had some good news today, I came third in a short story writing competition.  My first success!  Perhaps I should enter more comptitions.  I'm not sure how much the cheque is for, but it's not important, it's the recognition that's pleased me more than anything.  It's a real boost for my writing.
     I gave my weight lost an early boost too, thanks to the winter vomiting bug I caught from my family.  I've recovered enough now to write again, and today's new has refreshed my enthusiasm.

Busy times

Had my 19 month old grandson over to stay. His house has been taken over by the dreaded winter vomiting bug so came here to escape infection.  My house is a wreck and I haven't had time to think about eating, never mind writing, but we have had a lovely time.  He is an absolute delight.  I am curious though, why did I gain weight while my kids were growing up but I don't seem to eat so much while my grandchildren are here?  Hmm, one to ponder.
     Anyway, he's going home at 1pm and the house will seem quite empty.  I could write a little then, but I think I'd better tidy up first.

I have two apparently insurmountable problems. I want to find a home for my novel, Unwanted Visitor, and I want to lose weight so I've decided that I've got to get serious and approach them in a businesslike manner.  What better time than New Year to embark on new projects.
     I don't want to tell anyone what I weigh, it's too embarrassing, but I will record my weight loss, if any. (What am I saying!  Of course I will lose some weight)  I will enjoy Christmas and New Year, then grab myself by the scruff of my neck and give myself a good shaking until I eat better.
     It is also my intention to continue to write (naturally) and see my novel accepted.  I will also share any other writing success I have.  With this in mind, I have been frantically editing and reworking the manuscript and fretting over details such as, 'Is it all right to have two protagonists?' because I have Jane and Martin, and, 'Why is Phil, my antagonist so nasty?'  Reading it for about the tenth time made me see I had to have a reason for things that happen and I think the novel is now better for the work I did. 
     Anyway, we will see.  I've reached the stage where I don't want to think about the novel until new year, then I'll send it out.  I'd better start researching suitable places.