Phobo-Phobia - JSC's = Ophidiophobia

Just been to the excellent Scare-Fest at London Bridge...Phobophobia!

Had my right hand hacked with a machete (actors being a little over zealous). Chainsaw wielding mad-men. Spooky women with blood dripping down their face and some weird teeth-chattering device in their mouths. Clowns - oh my goodness - I'll say that again: CLOWNS...

Claustrophobic corridors, headless cadavers, strobe lighting interspersed with sudden ear-splitting white noise.

And, to top it all off - I faced my fear: Ophidiophobia.

That's the fear of snakes folks. Hang a twelve foot yellow Boa-Constrictor around my neck and then place your hand on my chest. I must admit, there was a moment where I had a split-second surge of powerful, irrational fear. When Jade (giving her a nice name took away some apprehension) was wrapped around my shoulders and neck, I felt her weight, and her instant constriction, and I felt fine tbh. In fact, I was more fearfully fascinated when I saw a Cobra rise up and produce its hood at me at Wingham wildlife park last weekend. Thankfully, this sucker was behind some glass. I was crouched down looking at it through a slender sheet and thinking I will fall over like a fool if this thing strikes the glass.

One bite. No anti-venom. Three hours from death. That's what I don't like about them.

In the words of Indiana Jones: "I hate snakes."
All hail Alice Cooper.
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2 days, 7,000 words.

Not sure if this would be classed as ‘prolific’ in writing terms, but certainly by my standards, it’s my largest ever output over a 48 hour period.

I read somewhere, a couple of years ago, that John Boyne wrote the boy in the stripped pyjamas in 36 hours. That’s correct, folks:  36 hours!

Holy Heck…

Robert Muchamore sometimes goes 80+hours without sleeping - and writes like crazy throughout his episodes of insomnia.

Writing is a strange beast. I hit a point yesterday, between the 2000 and 2500 mark, where I just took-off like I was suffering from some form of mania. I’m not bi-polar, at least, not to the best of my knowledge, but it was closest I’ve ever come to a moment of euphoric creativity. Even now, I’ve written the next scene in my head, and while I’m outside gunning down a malboro light, I’m thinking, let’s get back to the laptop and write another 1,000…and then another. Also, I’m doing the maths: 10 days x 3000 words = 30,000 words. 40 days x 3000 words = 1st draft of a 120,000 word sequel completed. That’s just over a month to finish a book.

I think for me, for now anyway, I’ll just enjoy the 7,000 word PB; realize that this isn’t a sustainable or realistic output, and enjoy the moment.

Good night everybody.

I’m happy to report, I don’t currently suffer from Insomnia.

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The KDP select Conundrum...?

I’m not sure about KDP select. 

Maybe it works better for more established authors. Maybe it works less well for teen fiction. Sure, I’ve read the testimonies of those who saw it work for them, but one was for a cookbook and the other was for a ‘teach yourself languages’ book. Added to this, KDP select seems to have hit its pinnacle sometime in 2011. Hmmm…

I’m tied in until the 9th November. I have one free ‘giveaway’ day left. Do I use it? Do I leave it? It’s the day before my birthday so I might give everybody a present J

One thing is for certain: If you don’t advertise, nothing, absolutely nothing happens. I haven’t been slack by any means, but I must admit, it’s an awful lot of effort, with a limited set of promotional tools at your disposal.

Thankfully, I’m in this for the long term. I’m not looking for the Powerball approach to writing success. Slow and steady is fine by me. All the while, I’m still sticking to Plan A; write the next in the series…and write it well.

But, even this is proving arduous right now. I’m still loving the writing and the ideas are still coming, but I’m knackered. Totally wiped today.

Teaching and writing are not the most compatible of bed fellows. I felt quite light-headed today after a challenging but rewarding week at my school in SE London. My eyes hurt as I look at the screen and I’m looking forward to the half-term where I can crack on some more with Shelly Clover II. The key to all of this for me is to open up Scrivener and just start typing. Just do it. Let 200 words become 500 or more.  Little and often. Just finished chapter 4.

Quite a frenetic start to the book.  A few of the old-guard already involved. A couple of newbies.

Writing is so much fun. I recommend it.

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