Tag: novel

Hazards of the Modern Writer-(ex)Postman. Episode 18

Here in Oz we’re in the back end of winter. Cold weather is good writing weather. So, I’ve been writing. Yep, I’m hard at it on a new crime novel called Happy Days. ATM, I’m 49,000 words into the manuscript (that’s about 60% completed) and I think- no, I’m sure- No. No. I think I know who-did-it. Always helpful in a murder mystery I suppose (especially if you’re the author).

So, what’s Happy Days about, Chris? I hear you ask.

Well . . .

Forty-something, Martha has left her boorish husband, Simon, to begin a new life with her soul mate, Gordon. Unfortunately, Gordon is killed in a car accident. Grief-stricken and adrift, Martha uproots herself from the city and moves to the picturesque town of Melton in the NSW central west where she plans to open a book shop.

Melton was a boom town during the 19th century gold rush and a famous nugget, Happy Days was found close to town. That nugget, preserved at the museum in Sydney was stolen almost 20 years ago when on display at a gold festival in Melton. Martha rents the shop that was used as a base by the thieves and this piques her interest to solve the mystery and find out Happy Days fate.

But a firebug strikes in Melton – attempting to burn down Martha’s shop, as well as an out building on a nearby farm. The farmer, Sarah, tells Martha she’s been the victim of ‘bad luck’ – with stock getting out, equipment mysteriously breaking down – and now the fire.

With the police ineffective, crime-fiction loving Martha determines to reveal the firebug and in doing so uncovers a multi-million dollar plot that could cost her life.

That’s all I’m giving away. Okay?

As I said in my previous dispatch, I’m no longer a postman. I’m at that stage in life where I can support myself (at a comfortable level) through my savings and writing income. So, it’s not bread and water – or road kill – for my meals. Mind you, we have a plague of wild deer here in the Illawarra.

Yeah. I said deer (see pic. below)

This picture was taken on my postie run a few years back. There are deer everywhere now. As I said, plague proportion. The upside is a wonderful supply of fresh venison. Not to everyone’s taste I know, but why look a gift horse (deer) in the mouth? Mmmm. Venison in a red wine sauce with truffle oil and chat potatoes. (Pretentious? Moi? Oh, no, no, no!)

Music I’m listening to as I write:

Augie March

Porcupine Tree

Okay. That’s it for now. Hopefully next time I post I’ll have GOOD news to crow about.

Until then, bye, bye, bye . . . .

Hazards of the Modern Writer-Postman. Episode 16: A ‘Lost’ Interview is Found

Long time no talk- er, type. Whatever. The writer-postman is back – and I have a lost interview to share.

I was very fortunate to land a gig on this interview show. I discussed a children’s fantasy novel that was slated to be published . . . only to see the publishers go out of business! yeah. Reason Number 423 an author doesn’t get published.

Oh well, here’s the interview from ‘The Covid Years’.

Hazards of the Modern Writer-Postman. Episode 12

The weather continues to be the enemy of all posties here in Eastern Australia.

Rain, rain, and more rain. And then more rain, rain, rain.

But how does this ‘rain’ of which you write manifest itself? I hear you ask. (see below)

The Disappearing Lake

Need I say more? It’s a lot for a modern writer/postman to deal with, but deal with it I did. I mean, the sooner the mail is delivered, the sooner I can get home behind the keyboard. Of course I take care of family matters, domestic chores, and then it’s off to the world of . . . well, wherever my imagination takes me.

MANUSCRIPT UPDATE: Corruption is currently under consideration at a publisher. The Squeezed, my latest in-progress manuscript, progresses well. 75,000 words down. Editing on the run has got me caught up to where I’m at. This means I’ve added in changes, made adjustments, deleted unnecessary sections and generally tidied the draft. Now it’s on to uncharted waters. But never fear, there is a plot line for me to follow. Now it’s onward to:

T H E E N D

Hazards of the Modern Writer-Postman. Episode 10

I’m doing something I promised myself I wouldn’t do. No. It’s nothing illegal or something that could be deemed ‘naughty’. I’m editing my manuscript before I’ve completed the first draft.

Finish the damn thing. Completely. Then tinker and cut and polish, the little voice inside my head yodels. But no. I’m editing.

Why now? you ask. Now, when you’re so close to finishing the manuscript. The short answer is: I have to.

This pollution monstrosity on my postie run is a pretty fair representation of what’s going on in my writer’s head at the moment.

But I shall prevail!

Onwards and upwards to ‘The End’

Hazards of the Modern Writer-Postman. Episode 9.

When mail thieves strike, your friendly writer-postman is on the job detailing their dastardly work!

Stolen mail – dumped unceremoniously!

What can I say? To some, the sanctity of the written word, of the Royal (okay, not anymore) mail means nothing. Zero. Zip. Zilch. And so these ne’er-do-wells swoop in the dead of night while good folk slumber – and steal their bills and junk mail!

Calamity!

But fear not, we are on the hunt and shall bring these perpetrators to book.

Manuscript Existential Crisis

It had to happen. Just had to. It happens with every novel. A crisis of faith in the story and the characters. Self doubt. A dip in confidence.

This crisis was triggered when I realised I’d taken a wrong plot path – and followed it a very long way. Aargh!

But now I’ve picked my way back through the wilderness and found where I veered onto the wrong path. The good news is that I think I can use some of this material later in the manuscript.

The even better news is I do have confidence in this manuscript and characters and it will be back on track in no time.

But, oh, the darkness, the doubt, the fear. Be gone!

Aaah, that feels better. Okay, back to the keyboard. . .

Spring Clean

Spring is here in Australia and so I’ve embarked on my annual ‘clean up my desk’ adventure. Don’t try this at home kids! These are highly trained professionals at work. They may make it look easy – but it ain’t.

Ground zero at my desk.

My crime-novel-in-progress Burned continues to ‘progress’ well. I’ve been in a writers group with respected and award winning author Bill Condon for many years. But with the advent of COVID 19 our meetings have been curtailed. Bummer. But, Bill and I meet up online weekly and critique and discuss the manuscripts we’re currently working on. It’s been very productive and a lot of fun. And I still feel very connected with Bill. It’s funny. I’m not seeing him in person but we’re both still a part of each other’s lives.

The Highlands continues to be out there in the publishing world. Two considered no’s so far. The last publisher said my main character was ‘refreshingly and complex’ in an ‘incredibly readable’ novel where I brought characters and setting to ‘life brilliantly’. And still a no. Aah, crime writing’s a tough gig.

Stay safe and well.

Writing Mechanics

And no, I don’t mean a person who repairs cars, trucks, tractors who writes. Although I’m sure there are mechanic-novelists out there. If you’re a budding novelist you have to make sure you can still pay the bills!

You can see what I mean by “mechanics“ below.

These pages are a literal chapter breakdown of my manuscript-in-progress called Burned. I’ve written fragments of a backstory for my protagonist and now I need to figure out where to slip them into the manuscript so the plot continues to unroll naturally and the reader can gain some insight (drop by drop – not massive info-dump) into the character without losing the momentum of the story. T’is a challenge . . .