The horrors of vodem!

Having to monitor my internet usage due to the limits of using a vodem has meant I've been a very lax blogger. Not very good really.

The horror point of my week was seeing "The Time Traveller's wife". I knew it could never capture the beauty of the writing throughout the book but I was unprepared for the complete transformation to chick flick. Beautiful characters were lost, the whole importance of the loss of his feet was glossed over and Claire reached him in the meadow when he met Alba rather than having to wait until she was an old woman before he was able to make his way to her. I am saddened. This is why I don't go to the movies much.

My book is dragging.....it is trapped in a mire of dullness and lackluster. I'm thinking some vampires, shapeshifters or super-humans need to be introduced. Rosie has tried to hold her end up but everyone else really is not trying. Nick just slunk off. I think the problem is he was a special type of guy and somehow in the process of writing he toughened up and lost that quality that made him so. There are enough hard men out there and one more is barely worth notice but the interesting intricate soul he was shone. Alas he seems to have been told to 'harden the feck up' by someone....I suspect Lydia because she is really developing into a psychotic bitch. I guess I can run with it and explore why he has changed so radically but he's really closed down. He obviously knows he's ruined his chances with Rosie.

James has become determinely gay. I have no issue with his gayness but I really had him pegged as Rosie's Mr Knightley. Bother! Now I need to introduce a whole new character! Perhaps two so James can be happy. Maybe Nick could come to terms with his confused sexuality and fall in love with James, leaving Lydia thwarted. A twist indeed!

Luc did a brilliant job of being a leopard temporarily changing his spots and wooing Megan but he's back to his delicious devious misogynistic self, thank heavens! He is so fantastically unlikeable that it was hard seeing another side to him. Fortuitously the accidental muse tripped over his stories and tales of his exploits gave me some bonus fodder.

I think they all need infecting with vampirism and then maybe they will perk up and behave better. I am worried that Rosie will turn next and become Charlotte Lucas or, please no, Fanny Price. I think she needs a night on the town with a bottle of tequila or maybe Nick does.

Oh well, Merry Christmas to one and all. Enjoy the festivities and I hope you get the gift your heart desires.

I suffer for my art.

Just a short blog today. I'm morbidly ill. I think it is food poisoning.  I woke up in the middle of the night with horrible symptoms. campylobacter symptoms Not certain it is campylobacter but it's pretty hideous. All I've done all day is drunk hot gingerale, spent way too much time in the smallest room and slept.  Oh and amazingly written 850 words! I'm hoping it's really only a 24 hour bug and I'll be fine tomorrow. Time will tell!

Today's beautiful word
Plethora    A superabundance; an excess


Today's word count: 850 words
Total word count: 36862 words

The muse is on a roll!

Today was one of those days when it would have been better to stay in bed! Rice was spilled....twice! Coffee dribbled, milk dripped, sundried tomatoes made a bid for escape, people left messages for other people on my work phone without paying any attention to the message and there was no blue cheese!

So  what could make it better? How about reeling off 6873 words with no effort! Rosie was destined to have a bad day because we share everything.  Naturally hers had to be far worse than mine! Although it did end with a phone call from her Tiger so she ended it feeling fairly happy.

I've gone back in time with the book.  Not as in TTW but rather I've gone back to earlier chapters when life was full of promise and there were sunbeams and unicorns everywhere in Rosie's world.  It is quite nice writing about happy people where everything is going well. My next target may be Megan.  I may just sort out the tangled mess that is her love life....or not.  James is seeing someone....is she going to steal his heart before Rosie wakes up and realises that he is her heart and soul. It is really starting to look like Rosie will be the one who ends up alone....living with 13 cats and plaiting mats from her own hair.  Lydia aka lizard woman is about to burst onto the scene, trying to claim Nick as her own....which would have been fine if he knew he was but he is blissfully unaware that her catty behaviour is the result of unrequited love. It does not bode well for Rosie....just how far will Lydia be prepared to go to warn Rosie off?  You'll be surprised!

Today's beautiful word
Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.


Today's word count: 6873 words
Total word count: 36012 words

Enforced writing!

I have been putting all my time into the physical and none into the intellectual! My days have been filled with work and exercise and I have been too exhausted to have an original thought. I did manage to read Audrey Niffenegger's second book - excellent but nowhere near as good as The Time Traveller's Wife. I found the ending disappointing and there was little suspense....you could guess what was going to happen before it did.  Still lovely words but really it would have been impossible to ever compete with TTTW - it is the most beautiful work.

You may remember I decided to embrace my Queen Bitchiness and read the riot act to someone, well-deserved but still an insult. We had a Mexican stand-off with neither prepared to back down- really nothing had changed apart from I didn't communicate...but he just continued as before. I at least admitted I was pissed whereas St Pancreas maintained he was not. Mayhap he is a Saint! If I was of religious bent then I should start to worry about an eternity in purgatory.  Thank goodness I am not! Well, we are working on a truce. So we will see if an armistice occurs on Sunday. We've agreed to meet but now we await a decision on  location and time....from the person I abused for never replying to texts.....hmm. I laugh! Ha ha ha! Oh well maybe I can introduce this into my novel. My new ethos is "Don't piss me off or you'll end up in my novel!"

On the subject of religious bent....Telecom's new ad really pisses me off! As a small child I regularly attended church with my Grandparents and one song was drilled into my head (well two...I tend to sing Rock of Ages under times of stress!) ...this little light of mine. It stuck in my head and I would frequently have it floating around in my head.  Only years of Green Day and Lily Allen had permanently removed it.....and now Telecom has put it back into my cerebral cortex! 

Anyway Queen bitch and religious rantings aside, I decided, based on the advice of my Guru Gordon Wells, to at least try to write a little today and whoopee....1095 words! Rosie had a monologue in the mirror while straightening her hair. She worked out where her life was going, what she'd do and how she'd cope when she had lapses in fighting her addiction to the Tiger. She ended up with gorgeous hair and a much stronger frame of mind.  Go Rosie! And she decided to wear red lipstick always!

Today's beautiful word
Elixir   A good potion.


Today's word count: 1095 words
Total word count: 29139 words

I have the plague.

I have a cold! I caught it from one of the consultants at work and I feel bleuch! My nose thinks it's a tap, my eyes are grainy and my arms and legs are like lead.  And it's not like I can laze around at the weekend and recover.  I have a 7am flight on Saturday and just a little 21.1k run over the Harbour Bridge on Sunday to contend with.  Early to bed for me tonight.

Being deathly ill makes the fact that I've written 1029 words this evening all the more fantastic! I am being a good little soldier and meeting or exceeding my targets! Since I feel like a zombie and misery loves company, I decided that Rosie could also be sick.  But Ms Rosie has food poisoning and managed to make a spectacle of herself.  She has a fairly sensitive stomach at the best of time and the fish she had for dinner was not lovely fresh stuff from the fish markets it would seem (see, I wasn't off on a tangent yesterday! Admit it! You thought I was!).  So she is now hiding out at home partially because she is still very ill but also because she is very embarrassed.

Once again today the words just flowed.  A blessing considering my brain has been replaced with a plaster model for demonstration purposes only.  I hope tomorrow at work is not too demanding.  I'm not up to answering difficult questions....like 'what's your name?'

Today's beautiful word
Caramel  a medium to dark tan color, firm chewy candy made from caramelized sugar and butter and milk


Today's word count: 1029 words
Total word count: 28044 words

Why are we mortgaging our homes to buy fish!

We are an island nation so why is fish so bally expensive! We pay easily over $25 per kilo for disappointing fish! And $40 for snapper! Snapper is under pressure due to popularity overseas and quota system! At least if you pay $41 at the fish market it's fresh as fresh and the men will fillet it for you! But it's just like lamb and beef....all the good stuff goes off-shore where they of course don't get it fresh and we get the leftovers.
The nice fish man says the best fish to get is Alfonsino at $10.99 for a kilo and they fillet it! It is a firm fish and doesn't dry out. And you get it with the skin on so it's crispy! It's so pretty too! Glorious orange!
Or you can get in your tinny and go and catch it yourself but then you have to kill and fillet it and I won't!

And following on this train of thought, did you know McDonalds is pulling out of Iceland because it is not economically viable. Currently a Big Mac is USD7.50 and they need to raise the price at least USD1!

Anyway, enough about food!

Today my fingers flew over the keyboard and 918 words were put down in a twinkling.  Rosie has moved house so I spent time describing what the change has meant to her. Since I was a good little bunny over the weekend I was quite happy to stop at just over 900 words and enjoy myself! I've got Audrey Niffenegger's latest book and I can't wait to dive into it! I loved, loved, loved The Time Traveller's Wife so have high expectations of this one although I don't believe anyone could top TTTW. We shall see. Audrey has such a fabulous way with the written word so I look forward to devouring Her Fearful Symmetry!

Today's beautiful word
Pluvial   pertaining to rain


Today's word count: 918 words
Total word count: 27015 words

A fine is a tax for doing something wrong. A tax is a fine for doing something right.

For some unknown reason I was wide awake this morning at 5:30 and for some unknown reason I decided it would be a good time to do the GST and Provisional Tax returns!  Oh how I praise Cashbooks! It has actually made doing GST returns so much easier. It, of course, doesn't make the handing over of hard-earned money any easier. Still at least I didn't need to tear out any hair and everything came together fairly seemlessly. So tomorrow the IRD will receive an exorbitant amount of money into their coffers that could be better spent feeding and clothing all of us!

After such an enjoyable time I was ready to enter Rosie's world again.  In between dancing to the radio, washing the floors, making pikelets and a fruitcake, I wrote! See, even at my best I have an inbuilt talent for procrastination! Still I now have pikelets in the freezer, a cake on the bench, clean floors, lots less money and a sunny disposition AND 2166 more words in the manuscript! I rock! Oo rah!

So there is something for being a friendless refugee in Wellington on Labour Weekend! I didn't even go and stare at the McCahon panels at Te Papa and I Love them more than the bucket fountain. I enjoyed the sunshine only by opening my balcony doors all the way up.  I haven't left my apartment for two days!  I am even looking forward to going to work tomorrow!

It's only 4:22! That's what happens when you get up at stupid o'clock. The day drags on forever!  Too early even to make macaroni cheese! All that is left is to get on my bike and pedal my little heart out.  The only problem with that plan is.....my bum hurts! Who designed bike seats! I want a nice sofa-like nana seat not one that is made of concrete and covered with a microscopic layer of cushioning!  Maybe I'll just put on Miley Cyrus and do a hoedown throw down! Or maybe Cupid's happy dance might be better.

Today's beautiful word
Soliloquy   speech you make to yourself


Today's word count: 2166 words
Total word count: 26097 words

Every little bit helps!

I spent an hour working out where I was and what needed doing in each section of the book according to the Newnovelist software. It certainly gave some clarity and I feel a lot happier about where things are going.

I'm looking forward to developing the character of the antagonist, Lydia. She hasn't appeared at all yet! She's Nick's friend and is openly antagonistic towards Rosie when she first meets her and makes no apology.  She is very bright and often unconsciously manipulates Nick into doing what she wants. She also has a bad case of unrequited love - nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter like unrequited love (Charles Schulz) - which she doesn't initially recognise and then denies. She is not ultimately a bad person but is more someone who makes an immediate judgement about everyone she meets and will never divert from it even if it is obviously incorrect to others.  She is fiercely loyal to her friends and would fight like a tiger for any of them.  Unfortunately for Rosie, Lydia decides Rosie is a Cougar and Nick needs protecting from her even before she has met her. She sets out to convince all of Nick's friends of this.

After my planning session, I did do a bit more writing but not a huge amount. I have to remind myself that I've done well and every little bit counts! Considering my goal is 850 words a day, 614 extra words on top of today's mammoth effort is not to be sneezed at! Oo Rah!



Today's word count: 614 words
Total word count: 23931 words

Chained to the desk

Today I developed a clever plan to make sure I was not distracted by the delights of Wellington city.  I got up, had a shower and washed my hair because I do have standards, but then, and this is the clever bit....I got back in my pjs! I also didn't put my contacts in so I'm wearing my ugly glasses.  There is no way I can leave! Brilliant in its simplicity! I had Claude Barzotti singing away in French on the stereo, I had the espresso machine on stand-by and I only opened Facebook at my 4 o'clock break for 5 minutes! I didn't turn off my phone in case someone had something important to say but that's a minor detail!

My Queen Bitch performance yesterday has actually resulted in a number of plot devices!

1) A Queen bitch has entered the scene at Rosie's work and I bow down to her bitchiness.

2) Rosie is exploring Buddhism without beliefs - something I had been doing in order to stop my QB tendencies rising to the surface - hopefully Rosie will have more success. However, this exploration has been useful in my own life and the novel. In order to be awakened each of the four ennobling truths must be acted upon in its own particular way - understanding anguish, letting go of its origins, realising its cessation and cultivating the path of cessation. Now for the book I have twisted this a little and this is not keeping in the spirit of the ideals but I'm not perfect!  I have Rosie and Megan both understanding the non-communication of Nick and Luc in their particular ways causes anguish. Rosie lets go of its origins by mentally slamming a door in Nick's face when he crosses her mind and Megan rips into Luc and tells him what he does that causes this anguish and leaves it open to him whether he chooses to continue or not but Megan will do nothing further.  Rosie realises that the anguish she experienced has ceased when she has to look up Nick's number for someone rather than reciting it from memory and she cultivates the path by removing all unnecessary reminders of Nick from her life.  She doesn't tear up photos and delete him from her phone but she removes him from her groups for emails and texts and seeks out friends to spend more time with. Megan has work to do but she is a character with many faults and that is the beauty of her.

3) A gorgeous phrase rose from something the recipient of my grump said. He didn't say the phrase, It just popped into my head as a perfect response but one that should not be used unless one wants to be Queen Bitch and Empress of punk your ass and I'm trying really hard to embrace Buddhism without beliefs but I am a lexophile so I must let my pretties fly. So Megan will use it when she confronts Luc or 'tears him a new one'. She will also comment to Rosie that the occasional placing acceptable behaviour on hold and actually speaking your mind is most refreshing and really is a service to the recipient because they might do some soul searching but as she says "I doubt it, I reckon 99.9% of the time they'll carry on and absolve themselves of any responsibility which is fine with me cos I still know they're an asshole and that's all that matters to me"

It was a beautiful day so I did get out on the balcony on the Tranzx and  fed the brain some endorphins. It gives the pigeons something to think about. It also clears out the cobwebs. I did make an exception to the pj rule because I didn't want the pigeons to fall out of the sky from laughing so hard.  Remember I'm trying to embrace buddhism without belief and I'm pretty sure that cruelty to animals is something I should avoid.  So as long as they don't poop on me or my bike we shall coexist in peaceful harmony. Being out on the balcony I discover many things about my neighbours. Today I discovered that one of them has a big liking for the wacky baccy.  For the whole hour of pedalling there was a constant fug in the air.

It's now 4:30 in the afternoon and I have produced 2193 words! I will probably write more this evening but still I am extremely happy with that output.

In one of the photos above you may have noticed my white board. I have it covered in quotations that appeal to me and inspire ideas for my characters. But I used one quotation today that was not on the board but suited James so beautifully. James is a Star Wars fan and when Rosie is talking to him about the way Luc is behaving he quotes Cicero- "He removes the greatest ornament of friendship, who takes away from it respect".  Rosie likes this because she thinks it sounds like something Yoda would say, which she thinks is more in keeping with James than a Roman author and orator. I just think it is good sensible advice and shows that there is more to James than Rosie suspects.

Today's beautiful word
Mercurial   changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic


Today's word count: 2193 words
Total word count: 23317 words

My life as a soap opera

Today I really intended putting my head down and really getting through some heavy duty writing.  But instead I went and saw Julie and Julia.  Meryl Streep is very good...as always.  The addition of Julia's own book added an interesting aside.  I did not know that "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was co-authored with two others...French women - Simone Beck and her sister Louisette, whom we will discount because "She doz nurt do za wurk"! Julie's blog was, obviously, much more popular than mine. Maybe I should be spending a year working my way through the Edmonds cookbook! But the joy of the blog for the blogger is you can shout whatever is on your mind out into the ether and at least pretend to yourself that you are being heard and validated.

So if I did not write what did I do? I rode my bike on the windtrainer while listening to my favourite Lily Allen tracks. I did not sing along. I did my food shopping and danced around the store to 80s tunes, just to prove I was in a genuine good mood. This has bearing on the next paragraph.  I even smiled at the grumpy woman who lives on the 5th floor. I was in a really fantastic mood. I decided it might be nice to go to a nice pub where I could enjoy a glass on my own and not be accosted by Lotharios.  To this end I sent out a few texts to elicit suggestions. Most people replied they were unable to recommend any such place not being big on pubs (Average age being 55 I believe). Fair enough! I would probably reply the same and that is the crux of the matter! Because....

I then decided to insult someone by calling them a rude bastard!  I assure the recipient is not a bad person - I have been told he restores ones faith in humanity but I find that a little extreme- I see no signs of stigmata nor a halo. I beg the jury's tolerance. Let me plead my case. Mr RB had become incommunicado without explanation and I had been a little worried. My inquiry was important to me. I sent it....and what do you know! no reply.....so after two hours I decided to go out guns blazing and shoot...myself in the foot.  But as I said my response was not based on a single episode, it was the final straw after a long period of tolerance and acceptance (I know, I'm a Saint!). I make no apology for my response, I contend that  a recidivist non-texter who does have the ability deserves to be told the plain truth.  If not from me, then who?

What I learnt from this episode is the following: silent resentment and mumbling under your breath means you run the risk of continuation of the treatment which causes the same or getting a reputation as a crazy woman and maybe even a pet name. But shock treatment, especially that resulting in defensiveness, can result in sudden re-institution of the ability to text to said miscreant and short term rehabilitation of the recidivist, if only to curse you out or at least do some toy throwing. So dear jury, do you not see it was literally a case of self-defence.  Who would not have done the same in my position? Now if my life was really a soap opera, Mr RB would see the effect of his behaviour and there would be a touching scene where we both apologised and agreed to quarrel no more as per Jo and Laurie...whoops I'm slipping over into the classics! But alas it is a reality show so we'll probably form opposing teams and compete for sacks of flour and immunity.

I have also learnt not to buy wine with a cork if you are not in possession of a corkscrew! It is difficult to drink yourself into a self-righteous stupor if you cannot open the bottle. I wholeheartedly support the screw-top proponents! Though bubbly may still need it's special cork to retain it's delicious sparkle.

Today's beautiful word
Recidivist the chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns

Quality not quantity

Today I drove from Auckland to Wellington (637km) so it was never going to be a big writing day anyway. BUT there was a crash which blocked SH1 before Hunterville.  Someone had to be cut out of their car and we were told it would be about an hours wait. Apparently there was an alternate route that started out windy but was fine after a while. Soa caravan of us set off  but the leader didn't actually know where he was going!

We went up Sanford Block Road, I believe. This may have been right. It was pretty wiry! Lots of mud and the ABS light came on a few times. I had to silence the Navman because she kept telling me to do a U-turn.
I think we should have taken the Taupo road but we set on Chelteham-Hunterville Rd and ended up in Fielding!

Added over an hour to journey so it was an epic fail! But an adventure!

Then I had to schlep stuff from the car to the apartment, put it away, make some dinner (satay tofu and noodles- yummo!) So time and energy were zapped away!

But I did do 373 words that totally changed Nick from immature to slightly mature so it was quality! And made Luc a little more human! So good work!

Today's beautiful word
Myriad having innumerable phases, aspects, variations, etc


Today's word count: 373 words
Total word count: 21124 words

Food as sex

Now Rosie has finally taken the plunge I'm free to write about a much more important topic - food! I had a delightful time today writing about Rosie and Nick sharing a meal together. The menu included a few of my favourites but not my ultimate favourite - blue cheese wontons. I drew on my reaction to blue cheese wontons to describe Rosie's enjoyment of her fish dish. I may be alone in my appreciation of Chow's blue cheese wontons but I doubt it. The only downside is I really can't eat them in company.  I believe Oliver may have been mentally scarred by my first experience of them.

Describing food is a great exercise. Ultimately you want the reader to be able to taste the food.  The lemon and capers in Rosie's fish dish should not only burst onto her and Nick's taste buds but also the reader's.  I guess one is successful when the reader needs to put the book down and go and find something to eat!

Anyway, books such as Chocolat have already illustrated the concept of food as sex and I think it works very well.  Sharing food is an intimate experience and writing about Rosie and Nick enjoying their meals and sharing tastes acted as an excellent foil for the sexual tension rising between them. I even got over my absolute aversion to people sharing food from the same plate or, shudder, same fork, to let Rosie and Nick feed each other.

So today has been a very successful one...and now I think I need to find something to eat!

Today's beautiful word
Refulgent radiating or as if radiating light


Today's word count: 1587 words
Total word count: 20751 words

Is it hot in here?

After skirting around it and finding other areas to write about, I've finally taken the bull by the horns and Rosie has slept with her Tiger! There was resistance, nerves, indecision. Then there was surrender to her baser instincts. And then Rosie went wild!

The hardest part is trying to write in a way that is acceptable to readers of chicklit without using 'silly sex' terms...you know - manroot, nubs, honeyed centre, I'll probably go back and rewrite but for now Rosie has ridden her tiger like a rodeo rider at the county fair! - Too much information? So now that's out of the way it'll only get easier....I hope. I assure you there were no crashing waves and only a few fire works.

I may dedicate some time to research....of the romance writers' websites to see if there is anything I need to add. But I'm fairly happy and I know both Rosie and Nick are well-pleased. Dave may be a bit put out but spectre's tend to be a bit disappointing in the area of corporeal pleasures. And Luc is but a distant memory. Simply a benchmark to be easily surpassed as is the role of the ex-lover in chicklit. I was tempted for a moment to make Nick lousy but that would have been a clanger!

And so I leave Rosie praising Farmer's lingerie sales, corpse reviver cocktails and the energy of youth.



Today's beautiful word
Zenith a highest point or state; culmination


Today's word count: 1363 words
Total word count: 19164 words

She's back!

I'm back! I battled with the demons of procrastination and managed to at least wing them enough to get some more writing done! Now I just need to keep it up! I may need to beg or cajole someone into taking me to some of the local watering spots to observe modern mating behaviours....or I could just watch TV 'cos that's just like real life isn't it?

I'm quite happy with the way things are currently going  which is of course the cue for one of the characters to mutiny! My money is on James deciding he's gay but there may be a twist and Nick might come out! I'm hoping neither because it does sort of put a damper on the story line!

Anyway, I got an extra 459 words down - Not bad for someone who would rather clean the toilet than face the empty page! Oh what a cruel task master my muse is!

Today's word count: 1542 words
Total word count: 17801 words

More avoidance!

I decided to do some research today. In my manuscript I decided Rosie would stalk Nick when he goes cold on her. She is supposed to stand on a street near his office and watch for him to come out and then 'accidentally' bump into him. I figured she could easily do half an hour. Well, I went out and tried it. I found a building with two exits on different streets (couldn't make it too easy) and found a position where I could see both exits. This meant standing on a street corner. I found if you stand too close to the street people stop to let you cross so that meant standing back a bit. You have to look casual but at the same time be alert. This is not easy! I wore sunglasses so I could face a different direction and look out of the corner of my eye! Lucky it was a sunny day in the capital! Holding a cup of coffee works well. So how long could I, a pretty good stalker, stalk comfortably for whilst remaining in the same place? Well, after 6 minutes I felt uncomfortable and obvious. If I was stalking someone they could easily have looked out a window and seem me! I managed 10 minutes and then feigned a text message and moved on! I learnt that you need to look like you are looking out for someone or waiting for something, that coffee is helpful and a disguise might be a good thing or just might be creepy!

Anyway, I now know that the delicate Rosie either has to successfully catch Nick or move on after 10 minutes. I guess she could sit in her car if she could find a suitable spot but that is a little too Julia Hartley Moore! I see her in dark glasses, a fedora, a trench coat and peering out from behind a newspaper while sitting in her highly distinctive car! Not a goer really!

I've done a cull of the manuscript again. So I'm now only 440 words up on where I was before! All that work for so little reward! Still Rosie has done her stalking and nearly got caught. There were no trench coats or fedoras but coffee was involved as well as some Sauvignon blanc prior!

Today's beautiful word
Iridescent varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles.


Today's word count: 1083 words
Total word count: 17342 words

The mood for writing

Since arriving in Wellington I have become even more aware of how emotion and how you are feeling affects writing. Duh! But stick with me on this. Of course if you are feeling bitter and twisted it is hard to write about a felicitous scene. But it is also hard to choose an apt word or phrase when you are distracted or tired. Samuel Coleridge claimed that Kubla Khan was inspired by an opium-induced dream, as illustrated by the poem's subtitle A Vision in a Dream, but that the composition was interrupted by a person from Porlock. This may work for poetry but my experience is that writing done while imbibing a few wines, while seemingly brilliant at the time, seems to result in rubbishy crap or maudlin ramblings.

I also find that I need a bit of a natter everyday to clear out the rubbish so I can concentrate on developments in the book without distraction. The change of job has meant I'm not getting this so I find I sit down and my mind wanders of trying to sort out everything but the book! I even start to think about what super power I could most utilise at the current point of time.

What is really irking is I have been given a wonderful plot twist and I just keep skimming over it rather than taking it up and running with it. I may need to invest in a set of handcuffs and attach myself to my desk. Currently I keep remembering things I have to buy right now. I mean I absolutely needed to buy a clock, batteries, plastic containers and coat hangers yesterday. When you can walk out the door and a fantastic choice of opportunities to hand over good money are there right on your doorstep how can I resist! I can even hear the buskers in Manners Mall and I know the Frenchman from Red Cross is out there being Gallic!

You see, even now I'm procrastinating! Instead of writing about not writing, I should be writing!

Today's beautiful word
Felicitous Marked by happiness or good fortune.

Argh!

I have had huge problems logging into Blogger! But hurray, I'm back! I'm in Wellington and Rosie is moving on. Recently I've been working on a side story about her friend Megan and the wonderful man who turned out to be a piece of work! It's been good fun developing Megan's character and fleshing her out from good time party girl to a more multi-facetted character.

I'm 500 words down but that's not too bad considering I've moved down the island and started a new and rather daunting job! But now I'm back down to it again and hopefully I'll keep on this roll and further develop both Megan's story and maybe bring James into play!

Today's beautiful word
Demesne  Dominion, territory

No progress!

I have been very delinquent in my writing! Still ahead of the plan so if I get my a into g I will be fine! So why the lack of writing?

I've just got a new job in Wellington, starting mid-October so I've been preoccupied trying to work out what I can afford to pay for an apartment, where I want the apartment (walking distance to Courtenay Pl and the Hospital - where I'll be working). I've come up with a short list of 6 - 3 apartments and 3 studios. I'm flying down to check them out on Thursday afternoon....staying til Saturday. I am changing a booking on a flight booked for the end of October so had to fiddle round to avoid paying too  much more.

So now I'm just about sorted I can return to Rosie's world and try and get her sorted! Wish I could afford an apartment like hers! I fear I'm going to be in a studio or hotel sized apartment. As long as I have an oven I'll survive!

No word today!

As you may be aware I killed Dave. It was a very traumatic experience and was not made without much forethought.  OK so I'm lying...I created him, I made Rosie love him, I killed him. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Dave took one for the team, he fell on the grenade, he had but one life to give.

Anyway....I think he's angry! Yesterday I fell down some stairs...nothing to trip on and yet down  I went and then today the iron fell on my head.  Coincidence, I think not! I kill Dave and then inanimate objects start to attack me! Well, I will not be cowed! Dave is dead and shall remain so. I've made sure there are no bowling bowls on wardrobe shelves and keep well clear when I reach for a can in the pantry.

The random attacks have left me so traumatised that I have written virtually nothing today!

Damn Muse!

On the subject of writing nothing - I am really disappointed because there is a really good element I could put in the book that would add a twist but unfortunately my unintended Muse once again was the inspiration so I will try to stop it creeping in otherwise I may as well write a biography, stick his name on it and see if it sells! Who knows, it might be the next Basketball Diaries! But no, can't do it! It would only have been a teeny tiny bit of a plot twist and all other parts of the twist don't relate but must resist! Nearly convinced myself! It must be interesting to live such a life that so many interesting or, more frequently, humorous things happen!

Today's beautiful word
Conflate To blend together.


Today's word count: 202 words
Total word count: 16902 words

What did Rosie do to deserve this?

I am over a week ahead of schedule! If I stopped writing right now I could do nothing until next Thursday and still be right on target. But I won't! Today I thought I was back to a happy place in the book. I had leapt ahead to the sad part after having a brilliant idea and paid for my enthusiasm with a tinge of gloom. That resulted in a loss of sleep last night. I kept trying to work out how to make it right.

Alas the happy bit suddenly became very sad.  A character I didn't know even existed appeared.  He didn't push in and make his presence known in a loud way, he was more standing at the edge just waiting. I had just started wondering how long Rosie had been with her awful partner Luc. I thought it must have been a long time because she's 40 but then I realised that she can't have been with him that long because he is truly vile. There had to have been someone before him, someone who had given her faith in relationships.

Then a character started forming. A kind loving man who had known Rosie since she was young.  Someone who had loved her no matter what. Then I realised....she'd been married before. So what happened? I couldn't see Rosie as a divorcee, she and this man were too in love.  No something had to have happened.  Cancer? No I felt the loss was sudden and really unresolved.  Rosie had a whole lot of complicated grief bottled up inside of her.  Then I realised he was the one who had a terrible accident, not vile Luc.  But he didn't end up with terrible neurological damage because Rosie would still have loved him and stayed with him....no, Dave had to die.  I was devastated....in less than 15 minutes I'd discovered Rosie had had the love of her life and then I had killed him. I was crying while she gave permission for his organs to be donated.  Poor Rosie!

Today's beautiful word
Wherewithal The means.


Today's word count: 1904 words
Total word count: 16700 words 

Glorious writing conditions in Auckland!

It's a gorgeous day today so another session on the deck with the laptop! I am so lucky! How's this for a location to write in!

I'm finding starting the day with a good physical workout sets me up for a good mental workout writing. My weapon of choice (or necessity really) is deep water running. Half an hour to an  hour of that leaves me ready for a sit down!

Rosie's bottom of the ocean moment 

Today I've been working on a sad part of the story.  The heroine has finally realised that the Tiger is not coming back.  She had believed that they were soulmates. She doesn't understand why he has gone so suddenly and is being torn apart by unanswered questions. He just suddenly changed like a switch had been turned off.  He's like everything she'll never find again...at the bottom of the ocean - what she's missing she'll keep reliving...Such a poet that Miley Cyrus ;-)

It has been quite draining.  I knew what was going to happen but still it is so very sad to listen to the heroine trying to understand what has happened to what she thought was her Cinderella moment.  I almost feel cruel because I know its going to get worse.  My heroine has gained in self confidence and charisma as I've written more about her.  Poor Rosie - she thought her victim days were over! I know she's probably not going to get the answers she seeks but who knows! In fiction anything is possible and anything ugly can be cleaned up easily.

I managed 1323 words today and now feel like I need a very stiff drink! My characters are like my babies! At least some of them are, some are more like flies and cockroaches! But I am particularly fond of Rosie. She's had a hard run and really felt as though she had finally found love. What is really sad is until I did the rewrite she had! There were going to be ups and downs and misunderstandings but eventually everything would have turned out. But alas now who knows where it will all end.

Today's beautiful word
Dulcet Sweet, sugary.


Today's word count: 1323 words
Total word count: 14796 words 

Sunshine writing!

It is a glorious day today and I spend over an hour and a half out on the deck writing. I'd have stayed out longer but the battery on my laptop is not up to it! Still, what could be nicer than enjoying the sun, listening to cool tunes, drinking chai tea and writing about love!

I flowed like a really flowy thing. 1257 words! And there will be more but not with the sun on my back :-(  . Things are just coming together! The main male has floated through, acting as a mentor to the heroine. He is strong, dependable...why can't she see him! But then why can't he see her?

Another 1328 words rolled out! A change in the air. A new start? I've been writing all over the place. I'm now working in a more chronological order. One of the antagonist has stomped off into the sunset...or roared off in his Porsche. The mentor is not answering his phone, the best friend has hers turned off? How will comfort the heroine? Time for the Tiger to make a play ...or is he just a friend? Who knows...not me! He's a devil that Tiger...doesn't play by the rules!



Today's beautiful word
Denouement The resolution of a mystery


Today's word count: 2585 words
Total word count: 13474 words 

The Heroine plunged into trouble

I had a good session this afternoon! The day started well with a good workout in the pool followed by a very nice brunch.  I had some work to do and then made a rice pudding. Then I realised I was avoiding writing and slapped myself around a bit!

I'm using a software programme to write this book. It's called New Novelist 2. It works for me. I used the Marshall Plan to write my previous manuscript and it was also very good but I like software. I've now discovered they do a software version! Anyway, using software is working well for me organisationally. I know vaguely where I'm going and what lies ahead.  The Marshall Plan involved planning everything out and then writing whereas the Newnovelist 2 is more on the fly.  This is working for me.

I'm quite excited because the cracks are showing in the heroine's current relationship so soon she will be able to move in a different direction. Of course currently she thinks she's the one who is going to end it and that will not be the case! I'm way ahead of the game wordwise so that's a nice feeling!

Today's beautiful word
Sumptuous Lush, luxurious.


Today's word count: 1050 words
Total word count: 10889 words

Midnight madness!

An inability to sleep meant that at midnight I wrote another 451 words. It was a case of going back to the beginning and adding a few little bits and pieces to set up future events. It all adds up, say I!

Today's beautiful word
Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.

Todays word count: 451 words
Total word count: 9839 words

An introductory post!

This will be quite long! Bear with me. future posts will be much shorter!

A conversation with a friend made me realise that one of the newer entrants to the romance scene was the Cougar. Now the older man-younger woman romance has been around forever - Emma and Mr Knightley, Rochester and Jane Eyre, Blake and Crystal ;-) -but the older woman - younger man story was not out there. Hmmm, now there's a book idea!

Research told me that Cougars fall in the age group 40-59! Those wanna-bes aged 30-39 are Pumas! If following the "half your age plus 7" formula their 'prey' are Tigers those young men aged 21-29 or Badgers - aged 30-39. Some though may hunt cubs...16 to 20 year olds! The only problem in this is that Badgers often want to be flirting with Chicks - the 21 to 29 year olds! Life is so complicated! So it looks like the Cougars should be hunting Tigers and leave the Badgers to the Chicks!

Searching "Cougar" brings up many very informative websites....it is a lush field of research! So I decided that the subject of my book would be a 40 year old woman who is pursued by a maybe 27 year old man - age to be decided upon. Any younger and the rule is broken! And if she is younger she transforms into a Puma! I decided that she would be a reluctant cougar. This would make for more of a chase. So the working title became the reluctant cougar.
Seek guide to love across the generations

Madatoms.com cougar guide

I worked out a character list and found photos to represent everyone so I had an idea in my head of what people looked like and might behave like. Woo hoo! We had a goer!

I started writing it and it was going very well. But then the characters got out of hand! Well the Tiger did! He decided he wanted to be in a biography.  I'd be happily writing and then an action or discussion similar to something a friend had said or done would sneak in! And because of the reality of it, it was often the best piece of writing. So I'd leave it in and resolve to change it later when I knew where things were going. And so 12000 words were written and when I read them I decided I didn't like the way things were going! So today I scrubbed most of the book and changed the whole story! Take that Tiger, oh you think you're the male lead now but I have a twist ahead! You are merely an amusing trick! It's smoke and mirrors and soon the true main male will emerge from where he has been standing!

I am a people watcher.  Everything I see is stored away for later use.  The guy walking to his car with the old lady in the rain...he has an umbrella and she does not!, the man who paints a beautiful picture of himself to the woman in his life and then it cracks, the woman who thinks she hides her feelings but you can see everything she's thinking written across her face.  So anyone who spends time with me runs the risk of a small part of their soul being pinched off and added to the brew! Or in the case of some, a large part because they are just so fantastically full! Alas that happened with the Tiger. And so I will carry on writing and then I'll puff and twitch and change his story so the innocent will be protected.

Today

Today I wrote over 2700 words. The Tiger was rarely glimpsed, the Cougar had a revelation, and maybe the main male made an appearance! I'd like to think so but sometimes I feel I don't have complete control! The Heroine is quite compliant but who knows how she'll react to finding out her love is being turned in a different direction. At least the character who I'd originally critically injured has instead simply decided that he's 'just not into her'. A lucky escape from a terrible neurological injury! And there are characters who are dying to be plumped out and to have their moment in the sun! What a joy to be creating my own little Universe!

My plan is to write on average 850 words a day. Naturally I won't! I might do 200 tomorrow and 2000 the following! It depends on how the Muse is feeling!

Todays word count: 2764 words
Total word count: 9388 words