It's been a mad couple of weeks.
I had a mention in The Bookseller which got me in a right old tizz, and put me off my food for an hour I was so excited.
But back in the real world, Lovely Agent wanted me to rewrite some scenes from my novel - make them funnier. At first I thought 'how the bleepin' heck am I meant to do that?' but inevitably the writer's brain cranked into gear and began inventing.
I thought I learnt a lot with the last lot of edits, but by jove I've learnt more.
Looking back at some of my later chapters, I realised how much 'explaining' was going on. Characters telling each other why something had or hadn't happened - yet I thought I'd got a grip on show don't tell.
A better way for me to get my head round it is to think don't explain it, do it! and I believe this has really helped bring the novel alive.
I was advised to 'be brave' and remember that 'a great book is lots of mini-dramas leading to a huge drama' (particularly pertinent for commercial fiction) and hopefully that's what I've now got.
That and gnarled fingers from typing.
They do know their onions these agent/editor types. Now we wait and see ...
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In my absence the lovely LilyS, Theresa Ashby, Francine and Suzanne Jones have all awarded me the Beautiful Blogger Award, for which I thank you most kindly and pass on to anyone who hasn't already got it.
You're all bee-yoo-tiful in my eyes.
