I have turned into a person I don’t recognise. Normally my home is tidy. I can’t cope with mess; it makes me feel depressed and overwhelmed. So, whilst I wouldn't say I’m obsessive about tidiness and cleanliness, I usually manage to keep on top of things. Not so now. Now that I am up at… Continue reading Writing a Book (Part 3): Lower your standards of cleanliness
I love this creative process diagram. It so aptly describes how many of the deadlines in my life have been met (in a state of panic and utter ‘fuck-off-ed-ness’). But not this book for some reason. Despite working 11-hour days, I have stayed remarkably calm. Apart from one rather large blip which happened last week... The Commissioning… Continue reading Writing a Book (Part 2): Have a Meltdown
The publishers would like me to gather some quotes from people who either struggle with sugar in their diet, or who have reduced their sugar intake and lived to tell the tale! Would anyone mind helping me out by answering the questions below (by August 4th)? And all I need is a few sentences, along the… Continue reading Would you like to be in my book?
I have reached the end of what is technically known (at least, in my world) as the ‘splurge’ stage of writing a book. After reading everything I can get my hands on about sugar - books, blog posts, websites, journals, newspaper articles - I literally have sugar coming out of my ears (a nasty complaint).… Continue reading Writing a book (Part 1): The splurge technique
I know. I don’t say anything for months and then I pipe up to tell you I’ve got a book contract! I can hardly believe it either. Here’s how it happened: Remember the temp work I was doing at the publishing company? Well I started out doing basic data entry. Normally, the idea of doing… Continue reading I have been commissioned to write a book!
Read. Digest. And selloptape to your forehead: "Don't just chase your dreams. Stalk them. Hide in the bushes and ambush them. Follow them around town. Make it so your dreams are seriously considering a restraining order against you. They will surrender with joy once they know you really mean it." ~ Maggy Whitehouse
You know I said I thought magical things could happen here? Well, they’ve started happening. Magical Thing 1: The sea air must be good for me. I have now written over 18,000 words of my book. When I pass the 20,000 mark I will have a celebratory glass of something extremely alcoholic and then pass… Continue reading Magical things
I am 15,000 words into my children’s book and I have a problem. My plot is missing HUGE chunks. Some plot-eating monster has come along and gobbled huge mouthfuls of my story and left me with odd bits and pieces that don’t quite fit together. (Thanks monster.) Where are these missing pieces? How am I… Continue reading Plot-eating monsters and other dangers
Yesterday I finished working on my book and did a word count. Holy moly, I’ve written over 10,000 words! Considering that a few years ago I was so creatively constipated, the mere thought of writing anything would make me break out in a cold sweat, this is a GARGANTUAN achievement. I celebrated, as every self-respecting… Continue reading Message to my subconscious: Writing a book is scary shit. Get over it.
Yesterday I had it. Today it has gone. Yesterday there was steam coming from my fingertips. Today I'd rather walk naked down Chichester high street than type a single word. This is the mysterious (and infuriating) case of the disappearing inspiration... Marianne Cantwell says the reason so many of us fail at our creative endeavours is because we… Continue reading The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Inspiration
Katherine Bassford 