A heartbeat, fast and strong

On friday morning an ultrasound confirmed what four sticks, one digital, and one blood test had been trying to tell us - my wife and I are having a baby. Nothing brings it home like seeing your child's heart beating on a screen. Beating fast and strong, I am glad to say. So it's real, it's happening, and she (assuming she is not a he) is due to arrive in April.

Life just got a little more interesting.

DONE...for now.

So it's done.

The first draft of my novel - title yet to be decided – is now officially finished.

The first word of chapter one was written on 12th Feb 2007 and the last word of chapter twenty-seven was written this evening, July 22, 2010. Total word count: 89720. The only other thing I want to say at this point is:

ABOUT. F*CKING. TIME.

So...

Moving on.

What is next?

I've been giving this some thought over the last few days.

There is draft two, of course, which is when I'll find out if this thing is really any good or not. I'm setting a start date of October 1st. That gives me some breathing space to work on other projects (and forget about this one).

So, taking what I have learned, I'm going to work on The Black Tree, now novel number two. It's a a project I foolishly abandoned some years ago after writing approx. 8000 words. I'll get all the prep work out of the way for a fresh start as soon as I've got the first novel as good as I can get it. I'm hoping early next year.

While I'm working on that I also want to revisit The Things That Get You Through, my lengthy short story/novella about grief.

I want to write something brand new too.

I start on Saturday morning.

Early.

Murky Depths #13

The last of my short stories to be published while I’m off doing other things is available now in UK-based print mag, Murky Depths, Issue 13. 13 - unlucky for some right? Unfortunately, in my case, yes. Due to a complete cock-up (editor’s words not mine) I will not be credited for my story. Though my name appears on the website and the contents page, the story will be credited to another author. Needless to say I’m disappointed this has happened but it’s not the end of the world. An oversight, no more, no less. And as compensation the editor has offered to include in a future issue (15, I think) an interview with yours truly. The story is Clean Until the Final Act and you can purchase the magazine from their website as well as a number of real world stockists.

Three Reviews of GUD (with a side of update)

GUD Magazine #5 continues to receive positive reviews. Here are some links, followed by what each had to say about my contribution, Lost Lying on Your Back:

April 23rd: SFRevu

"This one develops into a real chiller"


May 16th: The Future Fire

"...sharply written, vivid and intense with carefully drawn, believable characterisation"


May 31st: Bibliophile Stalker

"...plain disturbing and powerfully so"


And here's an update on the novel:

Since my last ruminative post, the novel has been coming along at a steady pace. It is currently a little shy of 83k words - the projected length was 90,000 but 95-100k seems probable at the moment. My protagonist's story is close to complete, but I still have a secondary character's story to write, which should consist of several chapters to be inserted at specific points throughout the book. If I sound a little vague it is for two reasons: one, I don't want to give too much away, and, two, I'm not entirely sure myself of the details of these chapters. Although I have always had a general direction and intent, the writing of this book has been one of discovery rather than connecting a series of dots a la detailed outline. Bought that T-shirt, didn't fit. Anyway, I'm still on target for a late June/mid July completion date - everything crossed. Then I'm backing off for 4-6 weeks (which I expect will be a tough ask) to work on some other projects. There's a holiday in early September, after which I will throw myself upon the task of the second draft, to be completed, he types with perhaps foolish optimism, by close of business 2010. This, of course, depends on the amount of revision that will be required. Methinks, much. Still, I can't wait.

Even the elephant in the room has grown tired

Me, I'm a textbook case of fear of failure and/or success. As I'm nearing the end of the novel (my first, though I've had several attempts at others) I am starting to look for and find excuses not to write. Less than a thousand words written last week, which is woeful any way you slice it. I've simply got to put in the time and effort next week - and stop running away. Face the fear and write it anyway, if you like.

Change of subject. I finished reading Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island on Friday night. I wanted the book experience before the movie experience since as you all know movie versions are often worse and spoil what might have been a terrific read. Anyway, Lehane's Shutter Island (as opposed to Scorcese's) is my favourite read of the year so far, with a series of final twists that left me feeling completely drained. Might explain why I didn't write at all on Saturday. As good as the ending was it left me in a deep dark funk that I'm only climbing out of on Sunday morning. Yes, it's that dark. Still, I cannot recommend this title enough. Amazon UK are currently selling it for £3.59, which is probably the best value for money you'll get for any book ever. Hyperbole aside, it's worth it, and I for one am salivating at the thought of seeing Martin Scorcese's take...

Back on subject. I started this post talking briefly about nearing the end of the novel, so I'll end it by talking briefly about the beginning:

Ella Bradburn was the last of the schoolchildren to step off the bus.

I wrote that, the first line of the first draft on Feb 12, 2007. It's not a great line, not even a good one, but it was good enough to start me on the trip. For anyone who hasn't written a novel and is seriously considering it, I have found it demands either a lot of faith or a lot of stupidity. Since I'm not quite done yet, I still don't know which it is. I figure that is what has been scaring me away from the keys this week, too. That and the fact that I was 11 or 12 years old when I first caught the writing bug and I'm 34 now. It's a long time to wait and work on your dream; a dream that - still - might never come true. There he is: the elephant in the room. Even he's grown tired of waiting. And if he could speak, he'd say something like, it's simple, Steve. You just get on with it. After all, when you've come this far, there's nothing else you can do.

Faith or stupidity?

If only I knew.

GUD #5 - Brainripples review

The first review of GUD Magazine #5 is now up at Brainripples. It's a good 'un, too. #5 included my short story, Lost Lying on Your Back. Have a look, buy a copy.