Entry #34

Wednesday, 30 August 2023

7.30am

I had a great night’s sleep. And I don’t want to speak too soon but I may have found an answer to my intermittent insomnia…

A while ago, a friend told me that their sleep had been transformed by taking CBD oil. So on Bank Holiday Monday – once I’d finished work – Harry and I went to Camden Market to buy some from a shop owned by a friend of his. I didn’t want to wait till I needed it so tested it out last night. I was told to place two drops under the tongue but unfortunately pressed the pipette too hard and much more came out. I was slightly worried about overdosing but it certainly worked. And I don’t feel groggy at all today.

And that’s great news as, once I start work on the first draft of the new book and my fictional world with all its characters and themes and subplots are swirling around my head, I know I’ll find sleep difficult. So it’s reassuring to be prepared – and have one more weapon in my arsenal!

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4pm

Today I dived back into my plans and working synopsis for the new novel. I have one big job to do before the holiday and I come back to start writing the first draft – and that’s to fill out my character profiles. I’ve set out a double page spread for each in my notepad, on which I’ll write everything from what they look like, what music they listen to, when and where they were born, what kind of experience they had at school, what they drink with a meal and in a bar or pub, right down to their little verbal tics or pet expressions or words of slang. Once I’ve filled in all these, I’ll have a clear sense of who my characters are before I start bringing them to life on the page.

That was big job to do today but I couldn’t start until I’d opened up my fictional world again and re-immersed myself in it – so I started reading over my rough, working synopsis, into which I dump all my content, chapter by chapter. Unfortunately, I ended up being drawn into the narrative and spent the whole day re-shaping it and adding more detail. But that’s fine because I could feel my work adding another layer of depth – and I’m starting to feel really good about this book. And I still have tomorrow and most of Friday to work on my character profiles. No doubt I’ll continue adding to them during my holiday in Italy.

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One thing I’ve learned is that the planning and world creation is a part of the process you just can’t rush. I once read a brilliant quote from one of my favourite writers, Rose Tremain, that said something like, when you think you’re ready to start writing, wait a bit longer. You don’t want to sit down to start before you’ve worked everything out and made all the important decisions about character and setting etc, or you’re only going to have to stop and interrupt your flow. And if you’re itching and itching to get started, when you do finally sit down, your fictional world should just come bursting out of you and onto the page. That’s certainly what I’ve found in the past. So I’m going to savour the process over the next few days – and not rush it!

Although that process is over for today. I need to wrap up to go and meet an online journalist who’s posted nice things about my novels and has asked for advice on writing fiction. Apparently, he’s finished the initial draft of his first novel but is in something of a crisis. Again, it’s good to be able to help when I’ve benefitted from so much help from mentor figures in the past. So if I can, I will!

Thursday, 31 August 2023

5.45pm

I’m sitting on the tube, with Harry next to me. There’s a strong smell of cheese and onion crisps – so strong I can taste it at the back of my throat – but I’ve no idea where it’s coming from as no one around me is eating any.

Although I’ve been working on my character profiles all day – and loving it – today’s also about our show on Virgin Radio Pride. I’ve posted on my socials to promote tonight’s episode – the last in the series! – and we’re on our way to the big WRAP party. It’s being held on the roof garden of the NEWS UK Building and when you spend most of your working life in a half-furnished, undecorated attic room, this kind of place always feels glamorous. Plus, I’m ready to have some fun!

Although I feel a little sad that the series is over, it’s been the perfect length. I wouldn’t have got any more benefit out of it if had it run for the whole year. I only have so much to say and, if it comes down to it, I’d rather express my ideas in my novels. And entering the final planning stages for the new book has only strengthened that conviction.

What I need to do now is create the right conditions to be able to give the new book my all. That’s what these last few days before our holiday are all about; clearing the decks and setting everything up for when I’m home. I often say that my superpower is self-drive but the truth is, it’s more like its less charming, dowdy twin sister – time management. And I’m lucky that this comes easily to me. When I’m on the bike in the gym, I tend to do bits of life admin, texting and sending emails, posting and responding to readers and followers on social media, or even preparing social media posts a few days in advance. I also do this kind of thing during long car journeys when Harry insists on driving – which is fine by me – or when I’m sitting on public transport, as I am now. Trying not to gag on the smell of cheese and onion crisps.

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The only thing is, I have to be wary of falling into the trap of planning my time too much. If I’m too regimented then there’s no room for spontaneity and I can end up smothering the sparks of creativity. I need to remember to create downtime, when I do nothing and there’s space for ideas to pop into my head or revolve and take shape. That’s where the long walks come in. And I’ve got much better at it over the years.

I’m also going to need to pull back on some other activities in the coming months. There are some easy sacrifices to make… So I spend a lot of time cooking but can prepare simpler, quicker meals. When it comes to socialising, I’ll arrange fewer trips out, midweek in particular – and less drinking, which can dull my creative sparkle. And I’m going to be spending less time nesting and working on our new house – which isn’t a bad thing as we don’t have the funds anyway.

I’ll also have to pull back on my reading. I do think it’s important to read other authors’ work, not just for inspiration but to give them quotes for their covers and be able to shout about their work on social media. But I actually find it hard to read while I’m writing. I can manage non-fiction but fiction tends to pull me out of the fictional world I’m creating. So this week I’m finishing one last book I’ve been asked to read. It’s perfectly fine but not really my thing so I’m not really enjoying it. But the author told me he’d read a few of my books and praised them before asking for my help. So I don’t want to let him down.

But then, after that, it’s all about the new novel! And sitting on the tube writing this down makes me more determined to enjoy the party – and kick back before I get my head down!

The Castle of Stories is out now, published by Pansy.