Speculation, Fact and Fiction

Phew. Done it. First draft of Straws in the Wind has been completed to due date, as of close of play today. Not any earlier, mind, so the pressure’s still on – six weeks for rewrites and such. But that first milestone's been met.

Well, I’m claiming victory but there is still a bit more original stuff to be written. Coz there's been an issue of a little less conversation, a little more action please already raised by the invaluable test readers as regards the first five chapters. As we discussed this on the way to aikido last night, Steve came up with a brilliant notion, which even more brilliantly, has all manner of useful knock-on effects from a writerly point of view. So I'm counting that as part of the revisions and rewrites.

When people ask me what my husband does to support my writing career, my first answer is usually, 'he pays the mortgage'. Folk who think I'm joking need to understand I'm really not. Then there's things like this. Which prove how invaluable a supportive, engaged and imaginative spouse is for the author.

So, onwards and er, onwards really,

Now I can spend tomorrow doing some long overdue accounts and other admin – and some increasingly overdue laundry. But dammit, I shall take Sunday off!

On the plus side, I can go off to Oxford tonight for a ‘ghost walk’ courtesy of the Writers in Oxford gang, with a clear conscience!