Wednesday, March 30, 2011

All change


I've decided to update my blog and have included a short story page if you'd like a peek. I may post a new one now and again on a whim - depending which way the wind's blowing, and whether or not there's an i in the month.

Okay, okay I'm procrastinating - still waiting for feedback on novel 2 and wondering if novel 3 is the one I should be writing, or whether I should go back to the novel that was going to be novel 2 before the original novel 3 became novel 2.

Confused? I know I am.


Meanwhile I was lucky enough to meet up with a group of fellow writers on a lovely, sunny day in Peterborough last week, and it was amazing how many times over lunch we all blurted, "there's GOT to be a story in that!"

Once you're in the zone it's quite easy to imagine fictioning up the most mundane situation. When I popped to the Ladies to powder my nose at Marylebone station, and noticed a woman caught trying to leap the turnstile rather than pay thirty pee for a pee, part of my addled brain was thinking, hmmmm - there's GOT to be a story in that.

The thing is ... would anyone want to read it?

26 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I'm sure that if you wrote it the story would be hilarious. Hope you get that feedback on novel 2 soon and that it's all brilliant.

Sarah said...

I started thinking of all the reasons why that woman might do that and my favourite was that she wasn't trying to avoid paying but she was in a hurry to escape the pack of hungry zombies behind her. (yes, I know she's trapped herself in the toilet - I never said it was a GOOD idea :))

Yes, I would read it :-)

Crystal Collier said...

Ah the perpetual debate: which project deserves my attention?

I like the zombie idea--kind of reminds me of Zombie Land. Of course, zombies are the new vampires, so write the story and you may have a best seller on your hands!

Jen said...

Ah, yes, but when you're with other writerly lady types, the whole 'story in that' scenario seems perfectly reasonable. When, on the other hand, one starts the wild imaginings in the company of 'normal' people, they tend to shuffle off in a hurry. Funny, that.

Hope the agony of waiting ends soon. The new blog looks jolly nice. Yes, jolly nice indeed.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Nice looking blog, Karen. You'll probably have all short stories writers now trying to come up with a possible reason for that leap over the turnstile. Lovely short story - I remember enjoying it in WW.

Pat Posner said...

Hope the waiting soon ends.
Meantime...write the turnstile story. It just might take your mind off waiting for a short while.

LOL, I'm waiting, too, and I wish I could practise what I preach and write a short story.

Anonymous said...

LOL! I like your new look blog and the story is fabulous! Yes I'd like to read your turnstile story :O)

Anna May said...

Hello Karen,
Loving the new look blog!
I tried to storm a public loo turnstile this very weekend because I was so outraged that it could cost 50p to answer a call of nature, and men get to do it in shop doorways and behind trees and down alleyways for FREE.....
Anna May x

Teresa Ashby said...

Yes go on, write it! I'd read it.

Love the new look blog - and the story. I remember reading that before and it had stuck with me, good one :-)

Anna Scott Graham said...

Love the new blog look and I ADORE that story! So glad you shared it, been silently whinging every time you published one but I wasn't on British soil to buy a copy!!

Karen said...

debs - Thank you - I hope so too :o)

sarah - Ooh, I like the sound of that. Never tried writing a zombie story before!

happily cheesy - I'm kind of over vampires after watching True Blood last night - SOOO gory. I'm not good with blood!

jen - You're probably right. I've blurted things like that in front of family before and it's always followed by awkward whistling and staring at feet.

rosemary - Thank you so much! It's lovely to know people do actually read the stories :o)

pat - I'm getting slightly better at the waiting. This time last year I was practically bouncing off the walls!

madeleine - Thank you :o) The more I think about it, the more I'm sure there IS a story in there!

anna may - It's about time women had that sort of freedom if you ask me. A friend carries a Shewee for just this purpose, but I don't think I could EVER bring myself to use one.

teresa - Thank you, that's lovely to know :o) I'm not sure the womags are ready for stories about public loos, but you never know!

anna - Aw, that's so lovely thank you :o) I'll try and remember to post a new one now and then.

DAB said...

What a nice new colourful blog - ticked pink for you and I would "spend a penny" to read about the public loo (poo) lady. Have you missed my toilet homour? Nope! ;-) Tommox

Kath McGurl said...

I like the blog look too!

Your stories are excellent, Karen, so if you can come up with a story about the 30p pee then do, and I bet you'll sell it.

Dumdad said...

Blog looks way cool. Glad you're publishing stories as I can't buy the mags over here.

Suzanna Gilwen said...

Please write the story - it'll be fab.

XX

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Blog looks lovely. Off to read your story page.

XX

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

LOVE this story - thanks for sharing.

XX

Anonymous said...

I think you need to pick on whichever project you feel most enthusiastic about. The others can wait until it's their turn.

I'd be very interested to read a story about the barrier-jumping woman but please, for the love of god, no more vampires, zombies nor werewolves.

I must admit that pink isn't really my colour, but the new blog has a nice clean and readable style.

Alison Pearce Stevens said...

Sounds like it would make for a very funny story. Or tragic. Maybe she just didn't have the money but really had to go?

Talli Roland said...

I'd love to read a story like that! I think you should write it!

Karen said...

tommo - I HAVE missed your toilet humour, so welcome back :o))

womagwriter - Thank you :o) My brain's ticking over and I think I might have something. (An idea, I mean!)

dumdad - That's lovely of you, thank you :o)

suzannes - Thank you so much :o) Are you triplets? There's GOT to be a story ... etc.

captain black - Thank you and that's good advice. I liked my new idea so decided to go with it and hope it's ok.

What about if I combine them into something new? A werevampombie?

alison - Ooh I like that idea! I just feel like I need to steer the story away from actually peeing ...

talli - I think I'm going to have to now. Watch this space!

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Not triplets - just a split personality.

XX

Karen said...

suzannes - I can relate to that!

Amanda said...

Sounds like a great story to me! I'd read it.

Had such a lovely time in Peterborough too. Looking forward to doing it again very soon.

x

p.s. Love the short story page - great idea!

Lydia said...

I agree: not sure womags are up for public lavs yet but you never know! Loved the story - bought the mag especially when it was in originally. Must be great to be able to alternate novels and short stories. I've always given priority to the short stuff. Hope you hear something soon!.x

Unknown said...

It's all in the delivery. Words + pauses + great punctuation. Comedians like Eddie Izzard and John Cleese can crack me up with a single look. 'It's how you tell 'em'! Do it and I'll read it.