Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The Clocks have gone Back. Writing Time!
The moment has arrived. The writing season. For me, November to mid-February are the most productive writing months. I choose a Yankee Candle, lock myself in a room and disappear into another world. Only a few days now until NaNoWriMo and I'm reading my books. Over the next month I will write another novel, but for now I am re-acquainting myself with old friends. How did they all meet? What did they first notice about each other? How did their relationships develop? As I sit, wrapped in my slanket, while my husband attempts to design a candle-powered radio in the other room, I am revising the world of my books. When the first of the month arrives I will be ready, and so desperate, to dive back into that world again. I cannot wait!
Monday, 26 October 2009
When Did I Become a BETA Tester?
Well, the slightly secret nature of my slightly secret squirreling is somewhat of a joke now. 'Lists' has been explored in minute detail all across the web but, still, I'd prefer it if you googled the details. The banner on my Twitter page features the Bluebird of Guilt and you should never underestimate the power of that bird. It says 'no' and somehow I am unable to ignore it and download screenshots.
Moving along... I'm BETA testing something else: Google Wave. Fortunately there is no secrecy clause on this one so I can tell you all about it. It is brilliant. Of course, my immediate thought upon entering the closed world of Google Wave was: 'how do word nerds use this?'
I have so many thoughts but the one that excites me the most is at the foot of this blog post. This is my attempt to describe the new Digital Village. I hope you like it. http://tiny.cc/rwblog
Moving along... I'm BETA testing something else: Google Wave. Fortunately there is no secrecy clause on this one so I can tell you all about it. It is brilliant. Of course, my immediate thought upon entering the closed world of Google Wave was: 'how do word nerds use this?'
I have so many thoughts but the one that excites me the most is at the foot of this blog post. This is my attempt to describe the new Digital Village. I hope you like it. http://tiny.cc/rwblog
Saturday, 17 October 2009
I am a - Slightly - Secret Squirrel
Twitter asked us not to tweet about this but nobody said anything about blogging...
Okay, I fess up, I'm one of Twitter's SSS (Slightly Secret Squirrel) Beta testing team for the new 'lists' facility. There's only a teeny tiny group of us so it's a huge honour to be involved. In the spirit of keeping things slightly secret, I'll avoid spilling too many beans on how it works but it rocks and I hope they roll it out to everyone soon.
If I ask some strange questions on Twitter over the next few days and you have ANY interest in the questions I ask then answer. You'll be glad you did. I won't give away any specifics on Twitter though because they asked us not to but I think, since so many other testers have let the cat out of the bag already, I've not broken any rules here. Please don't push for more info on Twitter because:
Okay, I fess up, I'm one of Twitter's SSS (Slightly Secret Squirrel) Beta testing team for the new 'lists' facility. There's only a teeny tiny group of us so it's a huge honour to be involved. In the spirit of keeping things slightly secret, I'll avoid spilling too many beans on how it works but it rocks and I hope they roll it out to everyone soon.
If I ask some strange questions on Twitter over the next few days and you have ANY interest in the questions I ask then answer. You'll be glad you did. I won't give away any specifics on Twitter though because they asked us not to but I think, since so many other testers have let the cat out of the bag already, I've not broken any rules here. Please don't push for more info on Twitter because:
- The first rule of Lists Club is you don't tweet about Lists Club
- The second rule of Lists Club is you don't tweet about Lists Club
Thursday, 15 October 2009
A Nibble at Cheltenham Festival of Literature
My various ailments subsided, Hubby wasn't working and the day was drizzled with possibilities. The drizzle ensured that Cheltenham would be emptier than normal and that brought with it the tantalising chance of a parking space near the festival. Food was needed; Cheltenham was equipped with both supermarkets and a bookery festival. We took a chance.
The space was perfect - right next to the action. The timing was less perfect - or so it seemed at first. Events were afoot and the cultural norms of the country dictated that we should not merely barge in and demand to be entertained by bookists so we strolled around the book tent.
Hubby found a book by an author he had yet to read but about whom his brother raves. It was not an expensive book and Mum had given me £20 for the festival so I offered to buy it. In fact, there were sufficient funds to buy the first and last in the series. He was happy to trawl library shelves for the others. At the counter, we were told that the author was giving a talk and would be signing copies afterwards. In fact, she said, he would be signing copies in around ten minutes! The signing table was clear of all but a book on a stand, and queue was there none. We queued. Within a few minutes, genius entered the room and Hubby got to chat with the author before even reading his book. A signed book for now - and one for Christmas - and a happy husband. Drizzly days rock!
The space was perfect - right next to the action. The timing was less perfect - or so it seemed at first. Events were afoot and the cultural norms of the country dictated that we should not merely barge in and demand to be entertained by bookists so we strolled around the book tent.
Hubby found a book by an author he had yet to read but about whom his brother raves. It was not an expensive book and Mum had given me £20 for the festival so I offered to buy it. In fact, there were sufficient funds to buy the first and last in the series. He was happy to trawl library shelves for the others. At the counter, we were told that the author was giving a talk and would be signing copies afterwards. In fact, she said, he would be signing copies in around ten minutes! The signing table was clear of all but a book on a stand, and queue was there none. We queued. Within a few minutes, genius entered the room and Hubby got to chat with the author before even reading his book. A signed book for now - and one for Christmas - and a happy husband. Drizzly days rock!
Monday, 12 October 2009
The Big Picture
It turns out that the best way to calm an allergy on your face - from a 'big picture' perspective - is not to wander around in insubstantial clothes when it is cold. Yep, the face got better but I wound up with hypothermia - again! I'm such a nut. Still, third time lucky. I caught it early this time. Hubby put the forehead thermometer in place to check if my temp was genuinely low. It was too low to register. Cue much walking around, drinking hot beverages and, once the shivering had stopped, dancing the Y.M.C.A. until my temperature was back to normal. Have had a stern word with myself about layers and thermal undergarments.
Of course, the layers thing is getting trickier by the month. I've lost another half a stone (7 pounds) and nothing fits. The budget is not roomy enough to buy more clothes (see http://rebeccawoodhead.com/blog for the story of my life-on-a-budget 16-meals-from-1-chicken life over the last year) and the heating oil must be eked out incrementally over the next season. Never mind. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Who knows... an agent might notice me or hear me on the radio at the end of November and publication could be a heartbeat away. Until then, I plan to eat much porridge ('oatmeal') and keep blankets handy at all times.
Of course, the layers thing is getting trickier by the month. I've lost another half a stone (7 pounds) and nothing fits. The budget is not roomy enough to buy more clothes (see http://rebeccawoodhead.com/blog for the story of my life-on-a-budget 16-meals-from-1-chicken life over the last year) and the heating oil must be eked out incrementally over the next season. Never mind. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Who knows... an agent might notice me or hear me on the radio at the end of November and publication could be a heartbeat away. Until then, I plan to eat much porridge ('oatmeal') and keep blankets handy at all times.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Cheltenham Festival Buzz may have Buzzed off
An Outing!
This has not been a great year for indulgences. The other day I realised that I have not actually been out - on a trip or 'outing' if you will - since this time last year when I went to the Cheltenham Festival of Literature.
This year I hoped to go again. I know funds are tight and all that but Mum gave me a £20 note and told me to go to the festival. Everything I want to see has sold out and now I've had an allergic reaction to something. I don't claim the two are related but, really! Is it too much to ask to go out once a year? My pre-festival buzz may have buzzed off. Maybe someone will drop out of one of the events and I can scurry in? It's quite an elegant gathering. I wonder if my side-show attraction face will scare off the people sitting next to me and give me a bit more space to stretch out? Hmm. Could be a good thing after all. Buzz buzz buzz.
This has not been a great year for indulgences. The other day I realised that I have not actually been out - on a trip or 'outing' if you will - since this time last year when I went to the Cheltenham Festival of Literature.
This year I hoped to go again. I know funds are tight and all that but Mum gave me a £20 note and told me to go to the festival. Everything I want to see has sold out and now I've had an allergic reaction to something. I don't claim the two are related but, really! Is it too much to ask to go out once a year? My pre-festival buzz may have buzzed off. Maybe someone will drop out of one of the events and I can scurry in? It's quite an elegant gathering. I wonder if my side-show attraction face will scare off the people sitting next to me and give me a bit more space to stretch out? Hmm. Could be a good thing after all. Buzz buzz buzz.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
My Characters will not Shush
Feeding Time
Like impatient horses at feeding time, my characters are kicking off in the worst way at the moment. They can smell the start of November. I'm worried.
I've never done NaNoWriMo before. It seems terribly sociable. When I write, I am a hermit. The 'real' world has no place in my life when I'm in novel mode. I can't chat merrily about my progress or utter a word about my characters until the first draft is down. A few moments to moan about the horror of the 'tricky middle bit' is pretty much the extent of my communication with the world. Something tells me I may not be NaNoWriMo-compliant.
Like impatient horses at feeding time, my characters are kicking off in the worst way at the moment. They can smell the start of November. I'm worried.
I've never done NaNoWriMo before. It seems terribly sociable. When I write, I am a hermit. The 'real' world has no place in my life when I'm in novel mode. I can't chat merrily about my progress or utter a word about my characters until the first draft is down. A few moments to moan about the horror of the 'tricky middle bit' is pretty much the extent of my communication with the world. Something tells me I may not be NaNoWriMo-compliant.
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