NaNo Day 8

A Guy Called Pig is really coming along now.
I was working last night at the theatre and there's a really
long second half to the play, so once all my job were done, I got to sit down with my notepad and plan the book properly.
Usually when I'm writing anything, the story changes as I'm writing and I don't like to plot too much because of this, I just have an initial idea and go with it - but I'm 5 chapters in and have a feel for it now. I know where it's going, I know what's going to happen and I'm still really enjoying writing it.

It's a bit dark, a bit edgy, a bit naughty and full of twists. It's aimed at the older end of teens.
I'm going to see what my agent thinks this week - eek!
But I think, even if he doesn't like my idea initially, I won't be able to just put this one away half finished. I feel compelled to tell this story and write this book - which I'm taking as a good sign.

Drama!

My adult drama class is ace. Last night a few of them turned up to rehearse in costume. They're so fab, I have a lot of love in my heart for this class. Rehearsals for EXPOSURE! went well. We open in a month and tickets went on sale yesterday, eep!

The theatre I use is nice, but it's a co-op with flats behind and the people who live in the flats run the offices etc. So last night (and the week before), our rehearsal was disturbed by kids kicking the doors. Last night they were in the theatre on the balcony switching our lights off and shouting things like, 'Lick my yellow bum!'

It's so frustrating for the class because we've got so much to do before we open and it's their first play and so they need to concentrate.
ALSO

I can't have that happening when there is a performance on. It's not fair on any performer to have that and especially not a group of performers who are going to be stressed enough by performance nerves. Plus, I'm not having a group of kids ruin all the hard work this group have done.

I don't see how the theatre can control it as there are no locks on the doors.
So we may be moving venues. I'd rather them perform the play in a cold community centre than have the stress of these kids.

Oh, isn't there always a drama whenever I'm producing a play? Lovely this time around that the drama is off stage rather than with a cast member!

Here is a pic of a rehearsal shot. I took this last week and forgot to use my camera last night to capture the fab costumes.

Nano Day 5

Right, so yesterday was a complete and utter write off! Damn. And it was bugging me because I'd left Pig and Audrey in the woods, he'd just kissed her. Eeek!

Today, Mr Sally had to do lots of errands on his day off. Mainly sorting out car insurance and putting me on it so I can drive a car again!
So I got him to drop me off at the train station.
I was two hours early for my train and I took my notepad. I got a coffee and wrote the start of Chapter 5.

I have no idea how many words I wrote at the train station because I need to type them up, which I'm going to do after bangers and mash for my tea!

I know I've mentioned that my book felt like it was going a bit dark, well it really is. Something happened today that I didn't plan happening and I like it. It's got a bit of edge to it, and it's exciting.
After writing and (not selling) two books - this one feels right. I just hope my agent agrees and shares my excitement for it. I've yet to send it and I'm going to send him some sample chapters this weekend, so fingers crossed.
But for now, it feels exciting and I'm just going to go with it.

Dark Cloud

I didn't blog, tweet, or do any social networking yesterday. I got out of bed on the wrong side, I don't know why or what was wrong. I did have some horrible news about two people I know, separate things, but both got me down and I just argued with Mr Sally all day. Poor thing, he was a bit like 'What have I done?'
My answer was 'Nothing,' and err, that was the point!

Flippin' heck. My day job went wrong yesterday and I just felt like bursting in to tears. Horrible, horrible.
I did try and Tweet a message of misery from my train, but even Twitter didn't want part of it and refused to upload it!
I had to rush to my theatre job after the day job and ended up having a fab night. It was the opening of a new play. We had a HUGE function and it was busy. I got to work with the girl I trained with. We get on so well, we even had matching tops on last night! We share the job, so we never get to work with each other, although we're always texting and trying to meet up for drinks etc. So it was great to actually get to work together. We also got some of the GORGEOUS food, free ice cream, chocolate cake and coffee.
We worked until midnight and got a huge glass of wine at the end of the night too.
It must be something to do with good old Doctor Theatre, because my mood was lifted and I felt much better when I got in, much to Mr Sally's happiness!

Phew, I don't get like that - EVER. And hope to never again, it wasn't nice.

Nano Update

Writing at my desk at 10:00am.
Got 1,683 words down this morning.

Pig has just kissed Audrey in the woods and I've got to go to work and leave them there!
I'm taking my notepad with me, because I can't wait until tonight to find out what happens!

To be Continued...

Progress

I have been productive today. Sat at my desk at 9:00am. Did some admin things I needed to do and then time to write some words for A GUY CALLED PIG.
I'm enjoying NaNoWriMo this year - my word count is going up, up, up. Meant to write more tonight, but various things got in the way, like discovering a box full of old notepads and an hour and a half phone call with my mum!

Anyway, I'm up again early tomorrow before work and I'm cracking on with the book. I may even take my notepad to bed and do some scribblings before I hit the land of nod.

Proud

Today I wrote the words 'THE END' at the bottom of my play.
A proud feeling.
Cast have messaged to say they love it. Phew. I love it too!


Right, NaNoWriMo - I'm ready for you! x

Live from my NEW OFFICE!

I HAVE A DESK and I HAVE MY OWN OFFICE!

Woop - Woop!
I have been desperate for my own little office space for nearly two years. Writing with a laptop on my sofa is ok, but my back starts to hurt after a while and I have folders and notepads everywhere!
I still want to decorate the room and get a sofa for it... we'll see how funds are before Crimbo. It's something I'll do slowly, the main thing is I have a desk. (Finally!)

My cold is going! Feeling much better today, which is good as I'm working at the theatre tonight and don't want to be all snotty whilst talking to the theatre club members.

I need to tell you about last night.
I was so ill and snotty and felt horrible. I got ready for teaching and had to go and pay my monthly rent for the theatre space, so I had to go to town first. I had a huge bag of things for teaching as well as my mini laptop as I had a bit of time to myself when the dance class was on.

Anyway, town was busy, I felt ill and hot and couldn't cope with my bags. By the time I got on the bus to go to the theatre, I felt like killing someone. Honestly, everyone was getting in my way and I had a temprature and being ill and public transport do not mix!

BUT

My drama group arrived with enthusiasm about the class and the play and for the hour of teaching I actually forgot I was ill. It was so strange.

I love this group, they're just inspiring and fun.

We'd arranged to go to the bar next door for drinks after the class, so everyone could get to know each other a bit better. I said I'd just stay for one lemonade as I wasn't well.
BUT

We had such a lovely evening chatting, two lemonades later and I completely lost track of time.

There's something special about this group and I LOVE teaching them. I'm excited to be writing a play for them, which is on in a month and they're sooo excited.

So that's the secret to being ill, hang out with my drama class!

Urgh!

The play last night was RUBBISH. I didn't like it, I didn't get any of it. It was just pretentious and really not my cup of tea at all. I won't be horrible and tell you what it was!

I'm delighted to report that even though it had the same title as the play I'm writing with my friend Luke, it was nothing like ours. So we're keeping our title and plodding on with our play - phew.

It was lovely to catch up with Luke though. He's been on tour doing a kids play for ages and so we went for food, had some beers and he bought me a beer after the play to say sorry for dragging me out to a rubbish play! haha!

After that I went to meet Mr Sally at work, he was just finishing a get out, so beers with some of the crew were decided and although I felt really ill at that point, I was happy to have a few drinks with them.

I couldn't wait to get home to bed and a hot water bottle though. This morning I have woken up feeling sooo ill. Coughing and sneezing, urgh.

Mr Sally has looked after me this morning and made me egg and soldiers and I have no time to sit around feeling sorry for myself as I'm teaching tonight and really looking forward to it.

Hope everyone else is feeling well and not run down and ill like most people seem to be.

Inspiring Friends

Woke up feeling full of a cold today, which I'm just going to ignore as I'm too busy to be ill.

Two days until NaNoWriMo and I'm going to attend the Manchester launch party on Saturday, can't wait for that.
Also noticed there is a NaPlWriMo - for playwrights. So I've joined. Why not. I have a million and one writing projects on the go at the same time always, so it should be fun.
I'm hoping my desk will be in my new office by this weekend so I can sit and write properly.
My back really hurts from writing from my sofa, despite shoving a million cushions behind me.

Just had a lovely phone call off a friend of mine who is an ex-soap actress. She's not only really talented but she's so inspiring to be around.
Anyway, she's always loved writing and now that acting is slow she's joined forces with a drama school friend of hers and they're meeting every Monday night and writing, writing, writing.
I'm so pleased for her and I could hear the bubble of enthusiasm in her voice as she told me all about it.
I like people like this, ones that don't sit around moaning about the industry and how tough it is - they just get on with it and put the work in.
There's something comforting about having a circle of like-minded friends. Like a safety blanket of inspiration when things get tough.