Brace yourself campers. This is a long one!
This month I signed up to do NaNoWriMo. I promised to write 50,000 words during November. That means roughly 2,000 words a day. As the current work in progress stands at about 50,000, I thought it might give me the incentive to get the first draft finished.
I didn’t bargain for an explosion in my social/writer networking life. It’s been all go and to borrow the lovely Lynn Forth’s phrase, I’ve been a right old gadabout.
If I’m honest, it all began to busy up back in October. We had builders in to lay a new patio. Very welcome as we’d been waiting a while to get the work done but disruptive, especially when there’s a reactive dog in the house. Yes Ralph, I’m looking at you.
There is a lovely bookshop local to me called Owl and Pyramid. It’s owner, Jenny, has always been very supportive and asked three of us to man a pop-up shop at the beginning of October. Fellow Romantic Novelists’ Association member Sonja Price, cosy crime writer Suzy Bussell and yours truly chatted writing, gave away chocolates and pens and even sold a few books. It was a fab event and led to something else … I’ll come on to that.
The 25th of October saw me very much out of my comfort zone and appearing as a guest on Snowed in with Suzanne Snow. Suzanne is someone I met at the conference this year. I’m trying to push my boundaries at the moment and do things I haven’t before, so this was a great opportunity. Thanks to Suzanne, who made it all very relaxed, it went smoothly, and I thoroughly enjoyed answering her questions. You can join Suzanne’s Snowed in Group on Facebook for more author interviews and her lovely Christmas book is out now.
At the beginning of November, with passport in hand, I crossed the border and met the RNA Dorset Chapter, this time in Blandford Forum. As my current WIP is partly set in Roman Britain I assumed, because of the name, Blandford was originally Roman. Apparently not! It was a small but select group and great fun to meet everyone. The Dorset Chapter is a supportive and pro-active writing group and I’m very glad they still allow me to attend, seeing as I live in Devon! And it was an excuse for a nice lunch.
Speaking of nice lunches and talking of RNA writing chapters (and they’re surely the best gift the RNA bestows) I met with Rosy Broadhurst and Trevor Williams at the very swish Pig at Combe. It’s one of my favourite places. Trevor, who writes romance and cosy crime set in Italy as TA Williams has just had his first cosy crime published. We had a fascinating discussion on swapping genres and research. As you know, I love the research!
Online events have been going on too. On top of my weekly Zoom with my Worcestershire writing pals, I also attended an editing course run by Jenny Kane and organised by the Cariad Chapter. The Cariads are a fantastic group of writers. It’s an absolute joy to attend their Zoom meetings and chat online. One day I’ll head up to Cardiff and meet them in person. The two-hour long course was fascinating and very helpful, especially as it was all about polishing your manuscript as the final edit. Jenny Kane runs regular online and in person writing courses and I heartily recommend her.
The following day (keep up at the back) and as a direct result of doing the pop-up shop in October, Jenny from the Owl and Pyramid bookshop organised an author event with yours truly and Sonja Price at the Hideaway Café on Seaton seafront. The weather that week had been wild and stormy but, thankfully, the storms had blown themselves out and it was an idyllic stroll along the front to reach the café just as the sun set. We had a capacity crowd, some great questions, a glass of wine or two and a thoroughly good time. The people who run the café are wonderful, warm people and we’re hoping to hold more events there. I can’t wait! This was something else which pushed me out of my comfort zone but, actually, once I get talking it’s more of a problem getting me to stop!
It’s been full on. Another couple of events this week and a trip to the midlands and I might even get down to some writing. That’s if I have the energy! Here’s a gorgeous, soothing Devon sunset so you can catch your breath …
Love,
Georgia x
PS And that’s only Part 1. Tune in soon for a report on the RNA Winter Party
PPS Current NaNoWriMo stands at 8,000 words. Whoops.
