I've just this minute handed in my latest assessed submission for the latest part of my course: PRW106 - Writing the novel. This submission included the first two chapters of my first novel which have been edited, re-edited and re-re-edited so that the text is as sharp as can be. Not having the time to leave the document in a drawer for two weeks before going back to it for the first edit makes it a tedious affair. It's very hard not to fiddle on first write, and very very hard to edit something you have just written to avoid it becoming a total re-write. These are things I am learning all the time.
We've also had to submit our blogs, twitter accounts and website for review. The website is especially tricky as there's always something in there you feel like tampering with. It will of course, be a constant work in progress.
Next up for the course is the advanced stage of my novel writing. Here we will be left to our own devises more so and continue to develop the novel. Alongside this there is an Industry Analysis which involves researching all things beneficial to the professional writing experience. Work placements and interviews are encouraged. Hmm, time to get the thinking cap on.
Part of our course had already involved researching publishing houses and possible agents who might be interested in the work we are producing. I have sent out a couple of minor pieces of work to websites and publications seeking submissions re a certain genre and slap me sideways I have something accepted within a couple of days. The 'Wolf's Guide To Surviving The Little Red Riding Hood Fairytale' will be part of an anthology called Happily Ever After and is due to be published in June 2011. A great big smiley face needed here - :-).
There's also a couple of competitions floating around that I'm interested in submitting to, but it's a case of square pegs in round holes at the min, as most of what I've written doesn't fit what the competition organisers are looking for. I do have one story though which I might tinker with, we'll see if I have the time.
On a personal note, I'm off to London this weekend for shopping, football and a play. It will also be nice to have a break and get some inspiration whilst being in the big smoke. Halloween of course is just around the corner, so I'll be visiting the pumpkin house in Trinity and carving the following weekend for two days of horror movies and Halloween snacks. I may even light the fire for the first time and toast marshmallows and have a good old jamboree. Gin Gan Gooli anyone? I thought not...
Happy Halloween!
