From the back cover: "Guylain Vignolles lives on the edge of existence. Working at a book pulping factory in a job he hates, he has but one pleasure in life . . . Sitting on the 6.27 train each day, Guylain recites aloud from pages he has saved from the jaws of his monstrous … Continue reading Anecdotal Review: The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Continuing on from How to Plan a Book, Part One (of Two), here are steps 7-10 of how I've planned Everborne over the past year. Step 7: Plan for the Future Before I returned to school---I mean work---from my half-term break, I said I'd ask my boss by Easter about the potential of working part-time the … Continue reading How to Plan a Book, Part Two (of Two)
The surprise of the previous weeks' writing has begun to fade; after a successful third week it's starting to feel normal. So far, I've yet to experience anything else. Though I'm ever wary of those ominous word-wilting days of writer's block. 18,000 words later, Chapter 1 is finally finished... for now. Chapter 2 is also complete and I am very happy … Continue reading Week #3 Overview
I started planning Everborne over a year ago in August 2015. These are the first six (of ten) steps I have taken (so far) that got me ready to begin writing earlier this month. Pre-planning: Failure Everborne first bawled breath on my weekly food-shop walk to Sainsbury's during my third year of university (2013). I can even remember where … Continue reading How to Plan a Book, Part One (of Two)
From the back cover: "On one side of a high wall lies a narrow, dank alley; on the other, a sunlit garden; and between them, a small black iron door. You just need to open it. Welcome to Slade House." [That doesn't reveal much. Basically, every seven years on the last Saturday of October, a … Continue reading Anecdotal Review: Slade House by David Mitchell
After two weeks of full-time writing, I am pleasantly surprised to still be pleasantly surprised. Once again, I can't quite believe how the week has gone. It certainly hasn't gone how I expected it to, for a number of reasons. I had set myself the target of reaching 20,000 words by the end of the month. This week, … Continue reading Week #2 Overview
From the back cover: "The Kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication. The child's name is Fitz, and he is despised. Raised in the castle stables, only the company of the king's fool, … Continue reading Anecdotal Review: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb.
Say hello to Max. We’ve been best friends for fourteen years now. Max-box, Maximus Decimus Boximus, Big-head, has been with me through school, university and even my first job. I can barely remember life without him; he’s always been there. He was a boy’s fulfilled wish and a man’s best friend. A dog really can … Continue reading Living Life to the Max!
So I've done it. I finally started "living the dream" on Monday. I'm now at the end of my first week of full-time writing. And, boy, does it feel good! I've worked out I'll have 20 writing days in September and, since it's my first month, I thought I'd set myself the target of reaching 20,000 … Continue reading Week #1 Overview
How and why I decided to quit my job to write full-time in order to pursue my dream of becoming a published author. The short version: It’s my dream, so I'm doing it. The long version: I’d originally hoped to work part-time at my previous job, working as a tutor in an East London School. … Continue reading A Time to Write
I am as excited as I am scared. Tomorrow, I begin living my dream. I start writing my first novel. Three months ago, I quit my job so I could commit to writing full-time in order to pursue my dream of becoming a published author. Since then, I set myself the start date of 1st … Continue reading Before the Plunge
