Stocktaking with Sven

I’ve moved my Sven word counter paraphernalia down in my menu because I figure I’m the only one interested in looking at my little word counters and they were making the place look untidy :) It's going well, but I wish I were working on one big project with a nice neat work count to aim for, like most of the writers taking part in the challenge, but apparently the old story machine hasn’t dealt me that card this time around. Sven is making it fun for me though. I’m enjoying the group because it’s not overly competitive, (which doesn’t work for me at all,) it’s more of a general support group with thoughts on the highs and lows of the writing process.

I’m pretty much where I had wanted to be on my to-do list, which is good news. We're going away for a couple of days in the cathedral city of Durham at the end of next week, partly a Christmas shopping trip and partly a break away from the PCs. I’ve got a whole bunch of stuff I want to wind up before then. It’s a busy time, so I've got to move it and shake it!

Anyway, on a more fun note, here's a recent photo of me! Mark got a new phone with a pretty decent camera, better than any actual camera I’ve ever owned, in fact, so here I am in my new glasses. Do they make me look brainy, or nerdy? LOL. And yes, I am standing outside a pub, hence the big smile, cos I'm about to go in. ;)

A good week!

It’s been a good and mostly productive week here. I lost nearly a whole day sorting a punctured tyre, but when I got back to work I sent my completed novella, SWEET-TALKING THE OPPOSITION, off to the editor who requested it. Fingers crossed she enjoys! Then I moved straight into revisions. I’m taking them nice and slow, and along the way I had a couple of ideas for short stories, so I made some notes and hope to work on those next.

Friday was the high point of the week, meeting up with my local buddy Wendy (THE Portia Da Costa ;) I always feel humbled to be pals with such a prolific and widely known author, and when we get together we have such a giggle together that I feel doubly blessed to be able to have a local author pal who I get on with so easily. It really levels my head about some of the stresses we face. We pretty much set the publishing worlds to rights :) and we even chatted about being at an RWA conference and how we’d cope -- which resulted in much wild speculation and manic laughter.

The weather here in Yorkshire has been autumn-like, with bright sunny days and blue skies even though it’s been cold. I’ve been watching the vine outside my kitchen window change from green to gold. I love this time of year. The week before was much more wintery so I thought we’d missed out on autumn, but we’ve had a wonderful reprieve. The only downside is people are talking about Christmas already. Argh!

Anyway, this is a short post because I must squeeze in some work before this evening, when we’re off partying. If you’re a writer and you’re doing the Sweating with Sven challenge (or Nano) I hope that you're steaming ahead and meeting your goals. The busy typist piccie is for inspiration! :)

Have a great weekend!

Taking stock of the past week

This past week I finally finished up the novella that I'd been working on, on/off, for many months. I loved the couple, but their story (setting and history) was challenging. SWEET-TALKING THE OPOSITION is about two journalists who had a fling in the past, and get thrown together again when they are both sent to cover the launch of a luxurious new Rhine cruiser. In the end I loved how it came out and have my fingers and toes crossed that the editor who requested the full MS will like it too.

After winding that up, I took a day out to do some web updates and other stuff that had been waiting, plus some reading for a pal, and now I’m working on Sven Project number 2, revisions for RECKLESS. I was kind of dreading it, but now I’ve started it I see it’s not such a big scary job after all and actually I’m going to enjoying tweaking it! Happy happy :)

If you’re doing the Sven challenge, or you’re about to begin NaNo, good luck, work hard!