Starting the sequel

I'm probably crazy, starting to write the sequel to a book I haven't sold yet; but I've been thinking about it on and off for a month or two, and writing notes, and the impulse to get the first page down on Word became too much for me. Also, I've noticed I'm happier when I have a novel in progress.

So three days ago I began once more the scary, rewarding business of writing a novel. (I use the word business loosely, since no one is paying me for this. The rewards are purely creative. As yet.)

I've written just over a thousand words. Only 74,000 - 79,000 more, and I'll have a book.

Just what you're after...or maybe not.

I've just been marvelling at my Keyword Analysis on Statcounter.

There are some visitors whom I know I must have disappointed. Like the men - I'm somehow certain of their sex - who were looking for Girls Tied to Torture Rack, or Men and Woman Sex Move, or Sexi Lexi Make it a Double. Frankly, I don't care that they slunk away from this blog with their vile urges unsatisfied. (By the way, isn't it a good thing I don't write under my real name, Lexi Dick? I'd get such quantities of sad, furtive souls dropping by that my Google ranking would rocket from its current 3/10. Hmm...)

A surprising number of people come here having googled Describe the iPod. Perhaps it is frequently set as a school essay? The Most Annoying Fictional Character is popular, too, as is Metaphors and Free Rice.

But the outright winner, with more than thirty hits, is One Space or Two after a Full Stop. I do hope those visitors found my post on the subject helpful.

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P.S. What is the leopard for? I felt it was time for an illustrated post. That's all.

LitMatch Advisory Panel

I use Litmatch to track my submissions to literary agents, so when they asked for people to comment and help to improve it, I volunteered. And yesterday I was pleased to hear I'm on the panel.

I'd recommend it to any writer looking for representation. It's a handy way of sourcing appropriate agents, and logging your submissions, and updating them as the replies come in. You can see statistics for individual agents; their response times, and whether anyone has been asked to send the full typescript. It's totally free.

And it's good to know that Christopher Hawkins is actively seeking to make his site even better.

A short quiz...

Will you succeed as a novelist?

1. How much have you written?

I've begun several books, but not finished any.
I've got one or two completed books on my hard drive, and another I'm writing now.
Well, I haven't started yet, but how difficult can it be? All I need is the time to do it.


2. What's your view on grammar, spelling and punctuation?

The spellchecker is a lifesaver, but everyone makes the odd mistake. No one expects an unpublished writer to get everything right.
I take pride in getting my typescript as perfect as I can.
Typo's, grammer ect. dont matter if the story is good enough, thats what i think. Publisher's have editor's to take care of minor stuff like that for there writer's. Why do people love to nitpick? why can't they focuss on whats really important.


3. You've finished your novel, and are bursting with pride. You ask a friend to read it. She's quite critical, and makes several suggestions for changes.

That woman is no longer my friend. In fact, do you have the phone number of a contract killer on you?
Oh. I'll go through it again. Maybe some of what she says is right. Nice of her to be honest with me.
My book is my baby! She's wrong, and she'll see that once I've explained it to her. The first chapter may be a bit slow, but you have to know all that stuff about the will in order to follow the plot...when you get to chapter five, the pace picks up...


4. You posted your typescript to a dozen agents. You are now the possessor of twelve form rejections. Your reaction?
   I give up. It's too good for them. Bastards.
   JK Rowling got rejected a lot. I'll just keep sending it out. *grits teeth*
   Hmm...maybe it needs more work. I'll join a writers' group.

13-16 You're on your way. Can I have a signed first edition when it's published?

8-12 Honestly. You need to take this a little more seriously. Pull your socks up, stiffen that upper lip and buck up your ideas!

0-6 Oh dear. I fear there is no hope for you at all in the challenging world of books. I suggest you take up line dancing instead.