Son

I went to see Alex's play Son last night, and it was really good. For a first night it went pretty smoothly, a few technical glitches and falling down set aside! The acting was amazing, and there are some wonderful moments in the script (as well as some wonderfully silly moments too!). It's on til Saturday, so if you can, go and see it! It's being performed in the Queens Hall, Percy Gee Building, University of Leicester.

On a possibly related note, I really don't see what is so wrong with the word c**t. Well, yes, what's wrong with it there is that it has little stars in the middle of it, but what I actually mean is, why is the worst swear word in the English language one that means 'vagina'? Is a vagina such a terrible thing? Perhaps there's some history to the word that I am blissfully ignorant of, but I don't get how you can call someone a dick and it's not so bad, but if you call them a c**t, Granny will faint and the community will ostracise you (I don't speak from personal experience...). If anyone can shed any light onto this, please let me know.

New Fairy Tales

Just wanted to let you know that my short story "The Tower" has been published in New Fairy Tales magazine, issue one, which can be downloaded for free at: www.newfairytales.co.uk. If you would like to, you can make a donation to the magazine's nominated charity, Derian House Children's Hospice, from their website.

I've only managed to read a couple of the other stories so far, but they are really good, and the illustrations are lovely. Go check it out!

NaNoWriMo looms ever closer, and I have bought myself a new laptop for the occasion. I can't wait! You can follow my progress here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/124755

New Hair

Right, well, I have had my hair cut short again (see Facebook pic for those of you who have befriended me), and the sad fact of the matter is that only two people in my office (of 15 people) have noticed or comment. Hmpf.
I have a driving lesson tonight, and it's really not going very well. After dismissing two driving instructors due to incompetence on their parts, the third is really great, but my confidence is shot. If only I could teleport, then I'd never need a car ever.
There's a Leicester group for NaNoWriMo now, and I'm thinking of heading on down to meet them on Sunday. I'm looking forward to writing Dorcas, finally, but there are still things I need to do in the name of research before 1st November, namely visiting Leicester Graveyard (which I can't do by myself because I'm a big wuss) and wander around Highfields with my notebook and camera (strangely, this doesn't terrify me). The main theme of Dorcas is coping with death and living in the present, but I also need to come up with a non-cliched time-travelling adventure she can go on too for the middle of the book. I guess this is where the pressure of NaNoWriMo comes to play, as I may come up with something brilliant in the spur of the moment - well, here's hoping!
I've also been looking at agents recently ("be prepared" and all that), and I found a really cool agent in America who I'd love to represent me. You see, I've decided I need an agent who specialises with adult and young adult fantasy/sci fi fiction, and the agency in the USA that I found represents most of the best selling authors today from this demographic (writers who write for both adults and YA). Unfortunately, they don't seem to have links with any UK agencies, so I'm back to the drawing board again. I know there are dozens out there (probably), but just need to do a bit of research. Maybe in December, after Dorcas is finished. What an exciting prospect.
Right, I'm going to flip my hair around a few more times as I walk across the office, just to see if I can finally get some "new hair" recognition.

Free Books!

I've just discovered Google Books, and thought I'd share for those of you who haven't seen it before. http://books.google.co.uk/books?rview=1 It has lots of e-books on there, mostly classical literature, some non-fiction, and I've had a good day popping in and out of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", and also a bit of "Japanese for Beginners". Enjoy!

Freezing!

I am blogging this from the platform at Hinckley train station, where my train isn't for another 30 minutes, and I'm freezing! Thank God for BlackBerry! At least I won't be frozen and bored, and the typing is actually helping my fingers not turn blue. Think its time I dug my gloves out.
Anyhow, today I have written 6 pages of Inter Vivos, and have found myself in the unfortunate position where I may have to research morgues!
I'm really looking forward to NaNoWriMo and beginning my Dorcas story, finally, especially as I've come up with a structure (sort of).
Oh, and I've decided I'm going to do Evita, so anyone who'll be around at Christmas, please let me know, else I'll just be swigging sherry on my own.
Ah, the sun has come out a little bit. Now I just need to wait for my feet to defrost.

Quickie

Another very quick update, I'm afraid folks, will try to write a more detailed post soon.

• In theatre-land, I am helping Morph with his play Son, which will be on at University of Leicester, in the Queens Hall, from 29th October - 1st November, so please do try to come if you can!
• I may also be an extra in Evita, at De Montfort Hall over Christmas, even though I very much want to pull out, as it means I'll have to be in Leicester on my own over Christmas.
• I'm trying to think up a catchy marketing slogan for this short story I'm writing, the advertising slogan of the cola that makes people's tongues fall out. I think it might be easier though when I actually know what I'm trying to say with the story, so will leave it til the end.
• I think I have a handle now on how Inter Vivos will progress, which is good. I just don't have the time right now, which is bad.
• I am quite excited about NaNoWriMo this year. I really hope that I manage to complete it again.

Right, gotta go off to the library to write for a bit, before rehearsal starts.

Disco and Dorcas

Well, I've decided not to audition for Disco Inferno. I'm a bit gutted, but I think it's for the best. Work is crazy that time of the year, so doing the show would be a nightmare, and I think part of the reason I want to audition is just to prove myself to people, but self-confidence needs to come from within, not from validation from other people. So yeah. No Disco.

I'm also going to focus on my writing more, and I'm going to help Morph out with his play when/if he needs me. That should keep me busy!

So there are 25 days to go until NaNoWriMo starts, when I finally get to write Dorcas Grubb. It's quite exciting actually. Just hope I don't cock up this story that I've had in my head for almost a year!

Jekyll and Hyde

Well tonight will be the third night of the musical I'm in, Jekyll and Hyde, and it's actually going really well. Aside from being pawed by men old enough to be my grandfather, it's really good fun. Which is why I've been considering doing the next show. Yes, it may mean having to drive back from Portsmouth to do the show (if I can drive by then) but it would be fun - no, I can't let myself get swept up. One show a year, and focus on the writing.
Hmmm, will keep you posted.