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How are you all? The wind has been whistling through the empty corridors of WKDN for the last month for a good reason - a self imposed internet ban to try and get the edit of 'The Beauty Chorus' done before the children broke up for their eleven week (yes, that's right, *11* weeks ...), summer break.
It's done :) Had a ridiculous amount of fun immersing myself in the world of my girls again - in fact I didn't want the book to finish. Hopefully this is a good sign - or perhaps a world populated by beautiful, brave women and dashing Spitfire pilots is rather more compelling than groundhog day in a compound which is currently sizzling at 122 degrees. I mean, just look at today's image - this is Maureen, one of the real ATA Spitfire girls. They were incredible women - I really want the book to do them justice. The rewrite has had me laughing and sobbing my eyes out (not simultaneously obviously), for the last month, and I hope it has the same effect on everyone who reads it.
I've had Jools Holland on a loop for the last month - his updated take on 'Tuxedo Junction', is rather what I hope to achieve with the book - take something that's been done a hundred times (WW2), and give it new life. I love this story - really love it, (which is just as well because after the copy editing I'll be reworking it again :).
So, it's Sunday roast for 14 tonight to celebrate and thank the friends here who've pitched in to help with the kids and acted as daily cheerleaders ('How's the book going?'). The pilot returned from Johannesburg this morning with a joint of beef that took up half his hand luggage, and the apartment's fragrant with the smell of cinammon and star anise as I'm poaching pears for pudding.
It's strange being here for the summer - there's no sense of changing seasons, no markers like Wimbledon or Glastonbury. Every day is literally the same. No cut grass, no blue skies, no starlit nights ... but today the manuscript is safely back with my brilliant editor, the roast is in the oven, and the wine is in the fridge. Here comes summer - let's enjoy x
TODAY'S PROMPT: I don't know about you but I can't read fiction while working on my own books - unwanted phrases and tics start leaching in. I've been reading a fantastic book by Elliot Grove, the Raindance Writer's Lab. It's about screenwriting, (I'm planning to write the screenplay of 'The Beauty Chorus' during year two of the MA), but there are some brilliant exercises in there for novel writers too. One of them asks you to define the concept of your work - is it high or low. 'High' concept work can be summed up in a short phrase - for example 'Alien' is 'Jaws in Space'. 'Low' concept work is woolier - harder to define. It goes without saying that Hollywood likes high concept. So, today's prompt - can you define your book in a short phrase. If not, try the 25 word max 'blurb' needed for reviewers. Off the top of my head I came up with 'Top Gun for Girls' for 'The Beauty Chorus'. What's your concept?
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10 comments:
That is wonderful. Congratulations on the book. It sounds so interesting. I've taken the last 4 or 5 months off of my novel and just started my third draft again yesterday. Such a challenge to clean it all up and fix the problems, but I see them now and am up to the challenge.
High concept or low concept? Hmmm. I'm thinking of something like Buffy meets Nightbreed, but I don't feel satisfied with that it doesn't have the right connotations. I do know that the novel I'm not working on right now is Jane Austen meets Star Wars.
Hello Kate! And GIANT Congratulations!! All sounds fantabulous and so thoroughly deserved, can't wait to hold a copy in my hands.
xx
Glad all is going well. There comes a time when one has to be ruthless about blogging and do what's necessary and for me it's nigh.
Lately I've been doing lots of reading in all genres but when actually writing I can't abide any distraction.
What a sassy looking Spitfire woman! When I'm writing I can still read fiction but I don't tend to read a lot in the genre I"m working in. Eleven weeks school holidays sounds rather a challenge. I'm in the second week of two weeks and the writing suffers so badly. Really admire your discipline in keeping away from Blogging, Facebook and Twitter.
xx
I can't wait to read your book - I thought you were away from the blog for editing reason...
Anyhow, I've been reading lots lately but not doing much writing... although I have entered some re-edited stories in a couple of competitions... where was I...? Oh yes... I think it finally dawned on me what genre I am.... sometimes I just don't see for looking... and I only sussed this out through reading lots.
Great to read a post from you!
Sx
Hello, Kate! Always wonderful to read a post from you, no matter the climate. Prolonged silence makes me worry the sand has drifted up over your keyboard.
The photo of Maureen made my pulse jump a fraction. She looks like she must have had a great laugh. Does she figure in Beauty Chorus at all? (I know it's based on fact, but don't know if that extends to including real people.)
Loving -- really loving -- your story is a good sign, I think, especially if you just finished a protracted editing round. A lot of folks are burnt out, tired, and bored when they're at that point. But an author's continued enthusiasm for the work has gotta trickle up through the surface of the work itself. Good news for downstream readers.
Have you said (can't remember!) you've got an actual pub. date you're working towards?
The concept for my WIP must be low, 'cause I can't get my mind around the idea of summing it up in a burst of a half-dozen(ish) words. :)
Lovely to see you back, Kate. You were sorely missed. So exciting to read about your progress with the book. I can't wait to read it. xo
God I am not worthy. You had an internet ban for a month while you knuckled down to your book???? [faints] I'd last half a day if that. Got me thinking about concepts for Cocktails at Naptime, maybe:
Warts and All Parenting Advice for the Slacker Mum
Hello Folks -
Rowena, Jane Austen x Star Wars = inspired :) Have you seen the Pride & Prejudice & Zombies series? Pretty successful over here ...
Megan, thank you.
Pat, know what you mean. When time's limited fun writing (like the blogs) has to go on the backburner.
Josephine - two weeks?? Do the kids only get 2 weeks in Aus? (Plans imminent emigration ...)
Hi John - thank you. Maureen takes a swing through the Mess one day if I remember rightly. There are several 'real' fictional characters. Don't think it's possible to dive right in and sum your work up - it often takes several goes whittling the words away to come up with something catchy :)
Hi Tessa - thank you. It's safely with the copy editor now. First proofs Oct fingers crossed.
Hi Emma - like it :) Think there are *plenty* of taglines we could come up with for your baby. Hope you and Misssy are on the way to big success? x
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