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All Packed Up Unready To Go August 24, 2008

Posted by Jen in : Domestic Doings, Journal, Novel , 25 comments

So. Who said it wasn’t possible to re-write an entire novel in ten days flat? Here you are then… Rewrite: The Kamikaze Method.

But I did it. Four hours’ writing every day before work. Utter madness. And yesterday, I stuffed it all into a Jiffy bag almost as big as those under my eyes and off it went. It’s better than it was two weeks ago. I even cried at some parts. The Novel is therefore either bloody brilliant or the tiredness and hormones got the better of me. And, yes, I’m already thinking of other changes I could have made. The postage should have been far less considering how many holes the plot has. Oh, arses.

Still. After the Post Office, I threw all the clothes I own (spare pair of jeans, clean pants and dodgy unsuitable psychedelic hippy top) into a bag, dyed my grey hairs (and ears and right hand) shouted at the boys every 3.5 seconds before bundling us off to the airport and onto a plane bound for Jersey.

It was an odd feeling, hurtling down the runway as I was physically propelled towards my past. Last night, I scoffed Chinese with my mum before making the poor old bat frolic on the beach in the dark. The tide whooshed in, St Brelade’s Church and the Fisherman’s Chapel glowed peacefully and No. 2 son discovered a talent for Irish Dancing. On the beach. In the dark. It’s nice to be home.

Today, however, there is daylight. Jersey has changed since I left 6 years ago. It’s different. I’m different. And I still haven’t decided what I think about that.

Perpetually Pipped to the Post August 10, 2008

Posted by Jen in : Haiku, Journal, Novel, Photos , 33 comments

Oh dear. Time has been teasing me again. I wish it wouldn’t though I suspect it persists simply because the bastard always catches me out.

So. The re-write for RNA New Writers Wotsit critique. I had a very good idea. Instead of extreme re-writing (performed wearing helmet and reinforced bra) I decided that I would de-crappify it enough not to be embarrassing and then, ta-da, re-write properly after slating critique to mend the bits that had been torn apart. Genius or what?

Unfortunately, I’d forgotten that I’m not called obsessive-compulsive-nitpicking-pain-in-the-arse for nothing. I have to throw myself off the precipice of perfection, otherwise I feel I’ve copped out. Always do the positive thing. My glass is never half empty. I fill it up before that point. Not as daft as I look, me.

So. Two weeks to re-write an entire novel? Can it be done? Who knows. I’ll die trying though. Well, I won’t because I’ve just signed up for a Travel and Type travel writing course. Two days after I come back from a jaunt to Jersey. And having discovered that there are no decent travel guides about Jersey. And I am a Jersey girl. Going back after five years with fresh eyes. Do you see where I’m going with this? Mmmmm, just taste the synchronicity (man) (she said happily but hippily).

I’ve been Thinking Thoughts. And I plan to make the most of them before I discover that someone else is doing them too, as is often the way with trickiness of time and Putting Things Off.

I had an idea, a while ago, that a haiku and photo to mark each day would be rather spiffing. And then it transpired that Rachel had been doing it all along and, actually, far better than I can. I doff my cap to her. But I’m not planning to doff my cap to anyone else. I am fired up. Raaaaaah. See? My dad’s not known for his philosophy but he said to me once: ‘You’ll be alright, you’re a Grihault.’ A Grihault, a proper Jersey Bean, writing about her return to the rock? There’s gotta be some mileage in that, don’t you think?

No cartoons today. I’m getting serious about stuff. Sorry about that.

The stream chatters on,

unaware of its journey

into tomorrow.