Sunday 4 October 2009

Fate's Fickle Finger

I wasn't certain if I was going to blog about this - tempting fate and all that, but I figured it's all part of the process and the journey and that I should. I also figured if I maintained radio silence for a month, I'd go insane and then I'd drag you all to the lunatic asylum with me. Though maybe Jack Nicholson's there, and we'd all have a wild time.

So, here's what I like to title, 'The Reason I won't be participating in NaNoWriMo this year'.

Up until last Monday, I was working on Grim Glass Vein and scratching out some plans for my NaNo project (I had several ideas and couldn't decide which to go with - not a bad thing), I was also jotting down ideas for a story for the Cafe Doom competition and starting to wonder about ideas for flash stories for 52 Stitches when it reopens. Life was good, and then life got complicated and a little bit exciting.

Parties, who shall remain unnamed, have been reading my book Theatre of Curious Acts (publisher not agent) over the past couple of months. On Monday evening they asked if I would consider doing a substantial rewrite, and the following morning I received the rewrite details. Oh my god! I may have panicked for about thirty minutes, but once I got my head around what was needed and what wasn't I decided, I could do this. I made sure I had a full plan of what was to be removed and what I wanted to add and started the rewrite yesterday. Scratching out unnecessary characters is far more fun than I expected.

When it all falls apart - I joined PessimistsRus (they require only a bleak outlook) at the weekend as well as the SFWA - I know I'll be left with a much better book and the experience of tearing a book apart is proving invaluable. I'm even looking at Grim Glass Vein with new eyes.

24 comments:

Fox Lee said...

That is exciting!
I thought about doing Nano this year, but I don't have any ideas. Plus Ying HATES how creepy I get *lol*

Anthony Rapino said...

Sounds promising!

I know what you mean about tempting fate. I had some of that "good news with possibility of turning bad" the past couple months, and I also was afraid of jinxing myself by talking about it.

But for all the reasons of not being able to participate in NaNoWriMo, I'd say this is right at the top.

Congrats!

Anonymous said...

You made me Google PessimistsRus. Then I realized what you meant. I'm a little slow today. :D

Alan W. Davidson said...

That's excellent news, Cate (but I'll say nothing else in case I jinx you...).

I'd say you've got a very good excuse not to participate.

Corinne said...

Well hey, if there's ever a good reason not to participate...

Definitely exciting news. Best of luck!

K.C. Shaw said...

Oh, wow! Fingers and toes crossed! I bet they love the rewrite!

That's the best excuse for not doing Nano I've ever heard. :)

jonathan pinnock said...

Not saying too much like everyone else, but ... um ... gosh ... sounds a bit ... mildly ... interesting. Y'know.

Doug Murano said...

Good news, indeed. Best of luck as things move forward.

Danielle Birch said...

Exciting news. Soon we might see it in print hey.

Aaron Polson said...

*mum*

(You're going to kick @$$)

Cate Gardner said...

Ha! Convinced I've jinxed myself now.

Ray Veen said...

You don't strike me as the kind of writer who needs Nano to write a novel.

Nothing against Nano (I had fun with it when I did it) but foregoing it is a sign that you're making your writing decisions as if writing were becoming your career.

And that's very good.

AGOG said...

Quite exciting! I wish you all the best with everything.

Cate Gardner said...

V, you make me sound all in control. :D

Thanks, Jason.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Cate, go forth and conquer! (you have an army of fans behind you to back you up)

Cate Gardner said...

Jamie, putting my armour on. :D

Carrie Harris said...

Pish. You haven't jinxed yourself. You've just started a Rewrite Personal Support Group.

Can I be the Vice President in Charge of Sparkles? Or anything in charge of sparkles, really. Except for Cannon Fodder. I don't want to be Cannon Fodder, even if it is sparkly.

Wow. I'm going to shut up now. Good luck!

Cate Gardner said...

Carrie, as soon as I feel an urge to add sparkles I'll email you, after all horsewomen of the apocalypse should wear sparkly outfits at least once a chapter.

Barry Napier said...

Great news on Theatre of Curious Acts! Here's wishing you the best!

Bobbie Metevier said...

This is too exciting! Congratulations!

Jodi Lee (Morrighan) said...

Oh Cate - that is so exciting, and such an excellent reason to dump NaNo this year!

Congratulations, hon!

Katey said...

This is very, very exciting news! I feel you on the thirty minutes of panic, but it's a good kind of panic, if it's the one I'm thinking of. I cannot wait to see what comes of it, and I'm glad you decided to let us in on the journey here.

Yay!!

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks guys.

BT said...

Commencing Voodoo dance to take all jinx juju onto myself so you may move forward and prosper.

If it works, you can send me a signed copy to read while I'm laid up and recovering.

Don't worry about me, it'll just be a continuation of the past few months - I might even get some of my own writing done ;c)