Yippee - Jack starts school!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life - Jack started school!

People keep asking me if I am sad - are you crazy? - I can now have some time to myself... pedicures, coffees, walks... oh, and that's right, WRITING!

As you will notice from my lack of blog entries, I have been too busy to write of late...and it's all because of CHILDREN (whom I love dearly of course!)

But now I have no excuses as Jack had his first day of school today; I have to get on with my book.

In some respects I am glad it has taken me so long to write my book, because what I love most about the writing process is the way a book evolves - when I look back to my original draft a year ago, I cannot believe it is the same book.

I keep having to add little bits here and there - partly because I am influenced by many of my friends who have such wonderful words of wisdom, such as the following:

Bill (a grandfather) in reference to my naivety concerning the male species: "Rebekah, you have to realise that when a man's big head gets soft his small head gets hard!"

Caroline (a friend) in reference to my ex-husband's camera being bigger than mine: "Rebekah, just because it's big doesn't mean he knows how to use it!"

LOVE IT!

BORING, BORING, BORING!

A couple of posts ago I mentioned that I had to rewrite the first page of my book because it was basically BORING.

After reading Stephan King's 'On Writing' which advises the writer to show rather than tell, I realised the first nine pages had to go as well. I was telling the reader far too much. It was time to just get on with the story.

Far too busy

Yes, I know I have not written a new post for a long time. I have been so busy with kids' stuff: basketball, parent teacher interviews, soccer, gymnastics, swimming, kindy fundraisers, Jack's kindergarten birthday, robotics... Just to name a few!

Finally I get to sit down today in front of my computer for nearly four hours and hopefully be inspired to write.

One month ago I felt I was about six weeks off finishing my book - the rate I am going it will be six years!

Money, money, money

Yesterday I spent nearly $100 getting my almost-finished manuscript printed so I can give copies to friends to review. I am hoping that I actually get a book deal one of these days, otherwise I will have to get into the pinata business (using my hundreds of old drafts)!

I also had afternoon tea with some girlfriends yesterday and read the opening page from my manuscript hot off the press. Oh my God! When I read it aloud, I realised that this crucial piece of writing ( first page needs to hook the reader) was one of my most boring. I need to rethink things QUICKLY.

Hopefully one day I will be remembered for my writing (rather than my crying!)

How wonderful...I woke this morning to find an email from the British owners of the house I rented in the French village of Alet during my adventure around the world.

I laughed at Steve's words, "Your visit to Alet is remembered with great affection by Freha, Christophe and Anne (and by us although we didn't actually get to meet you)!" because although we never met, they were victim to my melodramatic personality when I rang begging to return to their house as seen in the following extract from my book:

The next morning in a bid to change my unhappy disposition I rang the owners of my old house, a lovely couple from Bristol in England and explained that I had already paid for my apartment in Esperaza but was prepared to forfeit my money if they could give me a reduced rate for another two week stay back at their beautiful home in Alet. Very kindly they agreed, which I believe was due in part to the fact that my request was made in between loud and uncontrollable sobbing. I was so thrilled and rang Christophe, who having already been informed of my plight (as had the rest of the village) assured me that he would be there in half an hour to collect us (apparently Nicolas on his way home the previous evening from dinner with me had stopped at Christophe’s where another party was being held and declared to all that, “Rebekah needed saving!” All present informed him of their desire to help my cause and as a result I was to dwell no longer in my current house of gloom).

I can write but can't talk!

Managed to write for three wonderful uninterrupted hours this morning. However, the deep concentration turned my brain to mush for the rest of the day and when I picked up Jack for lunch I told him to, "Stop eating with food in your mouth."

I think I need some sleep!

Having a date with Elizabeth Gilbert

Yippee! Just booked tickets to see Elizabeth Gilbert who is coming here in May as part of the New Zealand Writers' Festival.

The sympathetic booking agent booked seats for my friends and me with a single vacant seat next to mine and promised to place a nice single guy in it if the chance arose!

Wish me luck!