Why I Write

Image: Burr Marketing

In the end I never met my sister yesterday lunchtime—she lost her iPod at work in Glasgow and so never made the train to the Burg until several hours later. By that time I’d been into Leith and back again after a docs appointment. Apple cost me lunch with my sister!

On the way back through Leith—totally devoid of snow by the way, although large chunks of the country seem to be snowed under—I stopped into the quaint Bijou Bistro at the bottom of Restalrig Road. It was mostly empty but stil had a nice atmosphere; friendly staff, good coffee and good background music. I read my Guardian and then went on my way knowing I would pop back again soon.

Actually, I was back sooner than I intended because I had to go back in five minutes later when I realised I’d left my scarf hanging on the back of my chair.

I’ve been Tweeting quite a lot this week and after mentioning I was working on my new book I was delighted to discover someone already knew about it through my monthly newsletter, The Patter. @Rosann_4 wished me good luck with it, but it was just so excellent to be talking with someone andthen discover they subscribed to my mailing list. Cool!

[NB: Click here for my mailing list if you are interested]

For the first time since I began writing BACCARA BURNING I can honestly say that yesterday I achieved what seemed to be the unattainable: I found it hard to stop writing. Since the two main characters became separated in the book it has suddenly became so much easier to write. There has been an unforeseen underlying tension between them, and although they’re in love there is so much distracting them both that when the shit hit the fan it wasn’t until they became apart did it all start to kick off.

I finished the day’s work with only one chapter left to write (two if I choose to do a wrap-up). The only thing I have to figure out is how it will end. Stella is in deep shit and Randolph is nowhere to be seen having already been sidelined. There are multiple ways I can see this ending up and I ain’t planning for nuffin’! I’m going to sit down and write it out tomorrow and see what happens. Time to hand it all over to them and see what they come up with.

THIS is the excitement I’ve been longing for with this book. I just hope it’s not come too late for it to work.

Time now for my March wrap-up.

Fiction
* Complete writing BACCARA BURNING – almost done!
* Write at least one new short/flash story – not done
* Re-submit any rejected/recalled short stories – all done
* Submit more fiction/poetry competitions – done
* Work on stage play, LETTING GO – not done

Poetry
* Write at least one poem per week – not done
* Complete polishing the layout of SILLY POEMS 2 (SP2) – done

SP2 Publication
* Order and check proof – done
* Write press release – done
* Distribute press release – scheduled for 2nd April
* Seek out promo slots – IP
* Create website page – done; ready to launch
* Create promo video – not done

Editing
* Stay on top of RR submissions – not done
* Start preparing for June ’10 issue – not done

Freelance
* Get some gigs to review for NotW – done; 2 gigs covered
* Keep up all websites updated and relevant – done
* Photography client updates pending – still waiting on spec

Reading & Learning
* The Kenneth William Diaries by Russell Davies – IP
* On Writing by Stephen King – IP
* Suggs and the City by Suggs – IP

Non-Writing
* Had to rebuild and restore my PC – caused delays in RR publication

Things That Turned Up
* Invited to gig by producer – made good contact with future possibilities.

Submissions Made
1 poem and 3 shorts to online mags

Outstanding
Fiction

Barcelona Review 1
Zygote in my Coffee 1
Flash Fiction Online 1
Frome Short Story Competition 1
Identity Theory 1
Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2010 short story competition 1
Grace Dieu Wrtiers’ Circle 1
Drunken Boat 1
Be A Better Writer 1

Poetry

Forward Press Comp 1
The IRON Book of New Humorous Verse 4

Successes
* The invited gig made me realise I need to expand my outlets for gig/music reviews. I intend to find new publishers of my material on the back of NotW.
* Taking a week off really helped me get back into a lot of things, most importantly BACCARA BURNING. I was struggling with it and being able to devote myself to it really helped push it through and bring it to a conclusion.

Failures
* It could be considered a failure the lack of poetry or short stories I wrote, but I set out at the start of the month to get BACCARA complete and that was the main aim, what took up most of my time and what, in the end, is my main achievement.

That’s all for today, before I go check this out, it’s a POSTCARDEN:

Until tomorrow, when my new book SILLY POEMS FOR WEE PEOPLE VOL.2 is launched, peace and out!

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