60 Days!
- At November 04, 2012
- By Niel
- In Blog, Writing
2
60 days isn’t long, is it? Less than two months till Sorrowline is out there!
A lot has happened in the last few weeks. First up I’ve just signed off on the last round of copy edits to the Sorrowline text, so its finally done. Its a odd feeling, having stepped away from it after so long. I started writing it in September 2009, and have been tinkering with it ever since. But now its done and its time to move on. And the cover has been locked as well, so its all ready to go to the printers, which I believe is happening any time now. I have an insane urge to want to go to the printers and see it rolling off the press, but I think that’s probably getting dangerously close to Alan Partridge’s infamous trip to watch his book get pulped.
Speaking of the cover, its finally appeared on the Amazon page listing, which was brilliant to see. Little things like this make it that bit more real for me! And the back cover now includes a great quote from Stephen Cole, Doctor Who and children’s book author: ‘What a terrific idea for a creepy time-travel thriller – wish I’d thought of it!’
Completing Sorrowline has let me focus on book two, Timesmith, and I’m pleased to say I finished the first draft yesterday. I’ve got lots of editing and re-writing to do on it now, but its good to know its coming together into something resembling a book!
Finally, I took part in an interview recently for New Writing North. I won a Northern Promise Award at last years Northern Writers Awards, which helped me to get a book deal. This video is to help promote the expansion of the awards to include the North West and Yorkshire. If you enjoy writing and are thinking about taking it further I’d seriously recommend you enter the awards. You’ve got nothing to lose, and possibly lots to gain! Have a look at the video, then get writing!
The Letter
- At July 17, 2011
- By Niel
- In Awards, Writing
- 0
When I was at junior school we were asked to write about ‘The letter that changed my life’. I wrote about receiving a letter from NASA telling me my application to be an Astronaut had been successful. I recall the teacher enjoying it, and I might have had to read it out in front of the class. Memory is a funny thing, and I might be sugar coating it, but I prefer to remember it happening exactly like that.
Years later, when I was in my 20s I actually got a letter from NASA: an application form for Astronaut training. I never filled it out, but I have that letter to this day. It didn’t change my life, but who knows what could have happened if I’d returned it. (The truth is I’m too tall, I don’t speak Russian and I have no academic qualifications that would see me through the first round, but anyway….)
A few weeks ago, on Friday evening, I returned home, tired and stressed, to spy a letter waiting for me on the kitchen windowsill. Diane knew who the letter was from; a franking mark on the envelope said ‘New Writing North’. I opened it with a strange numbness, not knowing what to expect. The first line said, “I am delighted…”
I didn’t get much further. I cheered, hugged Diane, and I understood how much this really meant to me. It was as if, finally, I wasn’t just deluding myself about being able to write. Someone else agreed.
Once I’d calmed down Diane read the letter out to me: I had won a Northern Promise Award in the 2011 Northern Writers Awards.
Could this be any better?
Well…
Northern Writers Awards – application posted
- At April 15, 2011
- By Niel
- In Awards, Writing
- 0
I’ve sent in an application to the Northern Writers’ Awards 2011. I’ve put Sorrowline in for the Northern Promise Awards.
NORTHERN PROMISE AWARDS
These awards aim to provide support for new writers whose work shows particular promise. Writers awarded support under this category may also be offered mentoring to develop their work, detailed manuscript appraisal and feedback alongside a financial award.
