October 21, 2024

Getting closer . . .

I never expected writing a book would be easy, but neither did I anticipate it being quite the long-winded process it has been. I can only shake my head in disbelief when I read or hear of people knocking off their latest book in a matter of a few months – weeks even in some cases. Do these people not sleep? Or cook, clean, weed the garden or go grocery shopping? Do they not have other interests, have coffee with friends, read, play music, or even take time out to write as a job to earn money?


I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I’m a slow writer. And a perfectionist. I’m aware all writers approach the craft in various ways, and mine is decidedly not the one that dashes off a piece of writing with little or no concern for grammar, punctuation or even coherent sentences. I have to get the words right to my own satisfaction before I can move on – and even then there might be multiple re-reads of a section with more tweaks before I’m satisfied. I totally get the writer – and I can’t remember who it was – that could agonise for hours over the placement of a comma. I don’t think I’m quite that bad, but it’s undeniably frustrating words don’t flow out as perfectly as I feel they should do.


But the end is finally close, with an estimated three chapters to go, one of which is already well underway. I’ve had to keep re-setting deadlines but this time, I really do believe I can write The End before the end of November arrives. I need to hold myself to this given that by mid- to late November produce will be starting to ripen once again, and harvesting will also need to be factored in to already crowded days.


Here's hoping the 5am starts will assist - and my optimism isn't misplaced!

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Attracting the interest of a publisher for this story of a community’s campaign to stop what would have been ‘the world’s fourth largest pulp mill’ being built was never going to be easy, but hoping the first of two 3-minute Literary Speed Dating pitch sessions will prompt at least one of the two publishers to request the full MSS. And preferably both of them. These twice-yearly Perfect Pitch sessions are offered to members of the Australian Society of Authors, and this is the first time I’ve taken advantage of them – mainly because of the need to have a completed MSS before doing so. Three minutes isn’t long to excite the interest of a publisher who is after stories in very specific genres, and who therefore needs to believe your MSS is worth investing the time needed to read it in full. I’m pretty certain I’ve excited the necessary interest, but given Jane will hear the pitches of many more optimistic and talented writers after my morning session today, there are no guarantees. That initial interest might well wane as the day goes on if other writers have written stories that sound far more intriguing – and marketable. One can never forget that aspect of publishing these days: will the book sell. I believe my story will – certainly in Tasmania it definitely will – but a wider Australian readership? That’s an unknown even if my mentor is convinced of the story’s universal appeal.  I’d certainly like to think I’ve caught the zeitgeist wave given the current widespread community unrest over AI data centres, that’s already prompting similar serious opposition, and for many of the same reasons the Tamar Valley’s community opposed the pulp mill. Environmental degradation, threats to public health, water usage – and water shortages in an era of escalating climate extremes – and the constant, relentless noise factor that’s associated with data centres, and AI data centres in particular. I’m crossing my fingers that the second pitch session will be equally positive, and that I could strike it lucky with both publishers requesting to see the full MSS. But I won’t get ahead of myself. I’ll just be keeping all fingers and toes firmly crossed for the next seven days.

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