08 March, 2011

And.... relax. (A little).

I am done! Yesterday I finished this draft (I won't quite bring myself to call it the final version until it has been accepted by a publisher!) of my children's novel, The Crosser of the Worlds. It's about 92 000 words which is getting on for 10 000 words shorter than the original draft so I'm quite pleased with that. I can probably do a bit more of a slash and burn job in a few weeks time, before I start sending it out into the world. First though, I need to have it read by my crack team of readers. I have four people who have read the original version, waiting to have another go at it and two people who will be approaching it with fresh eyes, so I count myself very lucky! Once I have their verdict and have fiddled around with it a little more, it goes off to The Writer's Workshop again for professional advice. Then the plan is for it to be picked up by the first agent I send it to, fought over by the biggest publishing houses in the country, become a bestseller and the film rights to have been sold by about this time next year.... hmmmm...

In the meantime, I am going to have a couple of days off and then get on with other things. I handed the final version of my anthology-bound short-story over to the publishers last Friday, so I can be purely self-indulgent for a while. I am really looking forward to writing something - even just a little short story - that isn't targeted at 10 year-olds! I also have to start making lists of target agents and begin to think about the dreaded synopsis.

Photo: Hannah Timm Photography
All this, of course, would not be possible without my lovely husband, Paul. We were watching the European Indoor Athletics at the weekend and there was an interview with Helen Clitheroe who had just won the 3000m despite not having been given any funding. The people who sponsor our best athletes didn't believe that she was good enough, but her husband did. He was the one who encouraged her to keep training while he paid the bills. Well, Paul is just like that - he works hard so that I can write and we can still eat and pay the rent and I'm not going to even try writing about how grateful I am. Hopefully I'll be able to show him one day, by justifying his faith in me. I couldn't think of a fitting picture for this post so as a little tribute to my sponsor, here's one of us just after we signed the marraige register, demonstrating how happy it made me!

Right, I'm off to do some baking and walking and other things that I don't have to feel guilty about now that I'm finished!

9 comments:

  1. Aww :) That's made me smile. Sounds like a top bloke, your man.
    Well done on the draft! That sounds like a lot of words, blimey. Good luck in the next stages, Chloe :) And hey, who knows - this time next year you might well be preparing for the film. You can certainly hope :)
    Nari X

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  2. He's the toppest :) Hope your wedding plans are going well, Nari.

    Thanks Jo and CJ - it's nice to share the joy!

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  3. I'm so proud of you Chloe.

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  4. Your mother is beaming with pride. A whole book! Ceve

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  5. I'm sure Paul feels it a privilege to support you in your efforts. You are to be congratulated on your discipline and perseverance my friend. I admire you.
    Talking of admiring ... I love the picture of you two, the happiness is oozing out of you.
    I've been a while getting here but I'll make a conscious effort to check you out whenever I'm posting.
    I've decided to use my own artwork to brighten up the posts on my own blog. You can let me know what you think next time you happen by.
    Now relax a while and spend some quality time together.

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  6. OMG! You are married to Paul! This is getting even weirder. I knew Paul from St Brendan's doing Religious Studies.

    This is a freakishly small world.

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  7. NO WAY! That's crazy! I've been telling him all about this person that is really similar to me I met in blogland.

    I can't believe you know my husband. His hair means that nobody ever forgets whether they've met him or not!

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