Yay! Just finished chapter 17 – what a monster it was! So now starts chapter 18, and according to the chapter plan I am jumping forward a few years to 1965. Or it might be more suitable for 1964, not sure yet. Still I am sort of leaning towards ’65 – as arguably my favourite Beatles album ‘Rubber Soul’ was released – flimsy reason though, as it was released in December and this chapter will be set in the summer, so it’s not even going to be mentioned! Ah, I don’t know – I’ll see how it goes tomorrow, it depends on how I picture the characters.
Looking at the chapter plan, I still seem to think there are three chapters left. I thought there were three chapters left back when I was on chapter 16. Maybe there is always going to be three chapters left? Maybe there is some odd ‘three-chapter’s to go’ time warp that I need to get over – it’s all very strange. Perhaps as well there is a fear of actually finishing – as then comes the time to actually go out there and try and do something with it. And what if people hate it! I’ll sob into my Asda value beans should that happen.
Anyone interested in how the budget is holding out, by the way? Before, I was paying myself a monthly wage from my savings to my current account, so there was a sort of balance, but the savings have gone now and the current account has tipped into the overdraft. I can support myself for about, well, perhaps the next two months rent. I don't expect J to support me, to be honest, neither of us can live where we are without two wages coming in. I might sell off a few old bits I have collected over the years - be a bit of a wrench, but you can always collect things again, right? (Looks at old annuals and sighs.) Ah well – if my old ‘tat’ as some might say (the culprit has a 'J' in his name) helps me to finish my dream, then it has a price more than gold to me. I guess I need to start looking up costs of things again, find out what the going rate is for a few of them. I’ll let you know if anything comes up trumps for me!
I guess I have gone philosophical about the budget now – I was a lot more angsty in January, but now realise that in a way, this was exactly where I planned to be all those months ago, so it shouldn’t come as a shock. Even though it did, a bit… I think when you have always been careful with money, to see yourself willingly sending it into thin air with nothing replacing it is a bit… well, scary and out of character! But I have been making in-roads with job enquiries, so hopefully it will all work out alright. And I have over 80,000 words written - definitely worth it!
Showing posts with label chapter 17. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chapter 17. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Chapter 17
What is it about Friday night/Saturday mornings? For some reason, they have turned into my most productive hours of the week, and if only I could keep my eyes open I think I could write the whole darn book by 6am.
Maybe it is because I feel guilty that I have come to the end of a week without finishing a chapter, so as there is more pressure I can go full speed ahead? Whatever it is, it works - tonight chapter 17 has leapt ahead in leaps and bounds - 16 pages, 6,170 words and no sign yet of quitting.
The only problem is I get tired, so think this spurt of energy will only last until 2, like it did last week. Perhaps next week I shall plan it better, get up late and then start writing from say 3 or 4 in the afternoon. It does seem to be the time I like best.
Long old chapter though, this number 17. I have been surfing youtube to find various things to put me into 1962 - music, old TV shows, pathe news segments - been stuck on listening to Chris Montez 'Let's Dance' for what feels like the last hour. Also I have had to find out a lot of things on motorbikes - the Triton, record racing, rockers, the Ace cafe - so it's been a fair amount of research as well tonight. Interesting stuff though - not sure if I would have been a mod or a rocker. Bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who (of course), The Kinks, The Small Faces - I like all of these and they are described as mods. The Beatles, as self-confessed by Ringo, were 'mockers'. Maybe I would have been the same, sat on the fence maybe - best vantage point, of course!
Maybe it is because I feel guilty that I have come to the end of a week without finishing a chapter, so as there is more pressure I can go full speed ahead? Whatever it is, it works - tonight chapter 17 has leapt ahead in leaps and bounds - 16 pages, 6,170 words and no sign yet of quitting.
The only problem is I get tired, so think this spurt of energy will only last until 2, like it did last week. Perhaps next week I shall plan it better, get up late and then start writing from say 3 or 4 in the afternoon. It does seem to be the time I like best.
Long old chapter though, this number 17. I have been surfing youtube to find various things to put me into 1962 - music, old TV shows, pathe news segments - been stuck on listening to Chris Montez 'Let's Dance' for what feels like the last hour. Also I have had to find out a lot of things on motorbikes - the Triton, record racing, rockers, the Ace cafe - so it's been a fair amount of research as well tonight. Interesting stuff though - not sure if I would have been a mod or a rocker. Bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who (of course), The Kinks, The Small Faces - I like all of these and they are described as mods. The Beatles, as self-confessed by Ringo, were 'mockers'. Maybe I would have been the same, sat on the fence maybe - best vantage point, of course!
Saturday, 9 February 2008
On a roll
It is official, my life is this novel. I have sat here since 9 Friday morning, tapping and singing and doodling and humming (I sound a delightful dinner companion, don’t I?) and now it is amazingly nearly 1.45am the next day and I am still here! Hmm, can you get deep vein thrombosis from sitting in the same position for too long? *runs to wiki*
Checklist
Recent surgery? Nope
Advanced age? Nope
Obesity? Nope
Infection? Does insect bites from Cape Town count?
Immobilization? Yes! Although of course I can get up and move around… so not strictly speaking...
Female sex? Well what does wiki mean here, I wonder? Being female already makes me prone? Or are lesbians somehow more at risk? Confused…
Use of combined (estrogen-containing) forms of hormonal contraception? Hmm, worrying...
Tobacco usage? No, although J does smoke in the house, although I usually frown at him until he opens a window. I then shiver pathetically until he throws a blanket over me. When we first lived together he tucked it around me. Now he throws it at my head. I am beginning to think my beguiling ways are fading.
Air travel? Yes – well, recently. And it was squishy (sorry Ben, I know that is your pet’s name. I quite like it.)
Gosh, am surely on a danger list. Maybe I should get up and quickly throw a few shapes. Then get cramp.
But…!
There is method in my madness, as I have finished chapter 15 (drum roll), I have finished chapter 16 (second drum roll) and I have started chapter 17! Yes, round of applause please! The only slight down side is that this is shaping up to be a 20 chapter book, so I still have the same amount of chapters to go. Still, a wise music obsessive once said, 'it's always easier to change what you've got, but you can't change it if it's not there', so the trick is to keep plugging onwards!
Except I really might go to bed now instead. Suddenly have gone all sleepy... *checks wiki-list for sleepiness caused by deep veins having a party. Realises sleep is a usual occurance at nearly 2am. Calm is restored*
Checklist
Recent surgery? Nope
Advanced age? Nope
Obesity? Nope
Infection? Does insect bites from Cape Town count?
Immobilization? Yes! Although of course I can get up and move around… so not strictly speaking...
Female sex? Well what does wiki mean here, I wonder? Being female already makes me prone? Or are lesbians somehow more at risk? Confused…
Use of combined (estrogen-containing) forms of hormonal contraception? Hmm, worrying...
Tobacco usage? No, although J does smoke in the house, although I usually frown at him until he opens a window. I then shiver pathetically until he throws a blanket over me. When we first lived together he tucked it around me. Now he throws it at my head. I am beginning to think my beguiling ways are fading.
Air travel? Yes – well, recently. And it was squishy (sorry Ben, I know that is your pet’s name. I quite like it.)
Gosh, am surely on a danger list. Maybe I should get up and quickly throw a few shapes. Then get cramp.
But…!
There is method in my madness, as I have finished chapter 15 (drum roll), I have finished chapter 16 (second drum roll) and I have started chapter 17! Yes, round of applause please! The only slight down side is that this is shaping up to be a 20 chapter book, so I still have the same amount of chapters to go. Still, a wise music obsessive once said, 'it's always easier to change what you've got, but you can't change it if it's not there', so the trick is to keep plugging onwards!
Except I really might go to bed now instead. Suddenly have gone all sleepy... *checks wiki-list for sleepiness caused by deep veins having a party. Realises sleep is a usual occurance at nearly 2am. Calm is restored*
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