October 27, 2008
Despite the credit crunch and the disappearance down the toilet of most of our endowments, I’m a very happy bunny today. And it has nothing to do with RA being all over the telly this morning. I’ve been doing my copy edits for ISHBM leavened with a dash downstairs to watch him on This Morning.
My happiness has to do with a small but vital piece of encouragement for my current project which was suddenly attacked by the Pterodactyls of Doubt on Friday. These creatures have now been banished to their cave again (until half way through I expect.) There’s still a long road ahead of me but I’m afraid I’m still loving writing this book.
I would like to be the type of author who can offer you insight into my writing process and useful tips but:
a – others do it so much better.
and b – my ‘process’ appears to consist of Making It All Up As I Go Along. I just try to live and breathe the characters in a truly obsessive way. It will probably all go horribly wrong but for now, my maxim is: if in doubt, go with your gut instinct every single time. Nine times out of ten, you’ll be right.
I leave you with a quote from the wonderful Neil Gaiman.
“House burned down. Car stolen. Cat exploded. Did 1500 easy words, so all in all it was a pretty good day.”
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Posted by Phillipa @ 7:46 am | Leave a Comment
Debs Says:
I love that quote, so clever, and yet appropriate for us writer folk!
Julie Cohen Says:
Hooray! Hope the pesky pterodactyls stay in their cave for a long, long time.
Love the quote.
Tam Says:
Glad you’re feeling more confident, although it appears you sent them round to my house…
Christina Phillips Says:
Haha, that quote made me laugh!!!
I make it all up as I go along too, Phillipa!!!
Phillipa Says:
Hmm. I wondre how long it will last. Hopefully another few thousand words!
Charlotte Says:
Meg Cabot on revisions:
http://www.megcabot.com/diary/
Phillipa Says:
Thanks Charlotte – she always has such great words about revisions. Hr elephant advice got me though the major rewrite of abook, once.