Today is the first day for a long time that I've felt in my comfort zone writing-wise. I've been too focused on 'chasing the money' instead of on my creativity. I guess I went into panic mode, because we're so broke and I feel guilty for not pulling my weight as far as the family finances are concerned. I still haven't resolved that particular dilemma yet, but I'm hopeful I can pull in some cash from article writing at some point. However, doing market research for the latter takes my attention away from my first love, the crime novel.
I now feel that entering The Mslexia Novel Competition was a mistake. It made me rush to finish the novel before I was ready. I like my scenes to develop and evolve slowly; going where my characters take me, rather than forcing the plot. Now the pressure is off, I find I am able to follow a structure that suits the novel better and allow the stronger characters to push their way to the forefront. Doing a little more research into 1972 and the Glam Rock era has also helped flesh out the novel and create, what I hope, is a more authentic setting.
I have The Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Competition in my sights, but unless I'm pretty near as damn it finished with this rewrite, I'm not going to enter. The great news is that today I was able to write a synopsis for the novel. I managed this quickly and easily with the help of the wonderful Jane Rusbridge.
So, in conclusion, it was great to be back in 1972. Great to be working on the novel again. Now, here are some images from that wonderful year for you to enjoy. All the artists pictured (apart from Mott The Hoople) had Number One hits in 1972. Which one is your favourite, I wonder?
Oh, and if you have any memories of 1972 you'd like to share via the Comments section I'd be most grateful!Now I have to think of a title for my novel.....
5 comments:
Oh I can remember all of those artists! What a great time it was... Good luck with the novel!
Hello Jo and congratulations for making so much important headway with your novel. That's absolutely fantastic news!
I was twelve in 1972 and I did have a big Osmonds phase! I was in love with Merrill Osmond and wrote him a poem, which my mother kept and showed my husband-to-be! I had written at the end of the poem, 'I wrote this with all my heart.' How embarrassing!
However, I soon transferred my affections to Mott The Hoople, T Rex and The Sweet. And David Bowie was my hero, although that might have started in 1973. My mother was appalled by him and I had to hide my Aladdin Sane album, because the picture of him inside the gate-fold cover (I was so proud of my first gate-fold album)showed him naked! I looked at endlessly!
Thanks, Pat and yes, it was a great time for fashion, music and all sorts of things (we won't mention power cuts and strikes etc!).
Jo, your memories of 1972 and 3 are fascinating! Thank you. Now why didn't I have an Aladdin Sane album? David Bowie naked..... nice.......
Hi there
I really identify with your comment about feeling guilty for not pulling your weight as far as the family finances are concerned. Luckily, I have a great partner who really understands and supports my need to write, but I still wonder if just occasionally he wishes I would increase my teaching hours and earn more money!
I left school in summer '72. We all sang Alice Cooper's 'School's Out' as we walked down the drive for the last time. (I say sang, more like screamed and shouted.)
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