Work on the first draft of Queen of Nowhere continues apace, if somewhat interrupted by other stuff such as the day-job, my social life, uncharacteristic bouts of exercise, and sleep. Our hero has just sealed herself in a (non airtight and padded) box for reasons that make perfect sense to her. I may also have […]
In my head and out in the real world
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 10 March 2011 0
It ain’t skiving if your publisher asks for it
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 3 March 2011 0
The copy-edited manuscript for Bringer of Light is now back with my editor. This means it’s time to return to the first draft of Queen of Nowhere. Given my feelings on first drafts, I’ve been in search of writing avoidance today, which is good news for the state of my house and garden, if not […]
Tough love
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 24 February 2011 1
It’s often said that if a writer’s heart isn’t in the words she’s putting down, readers will know when they come to read them. This is entirely true. Happily, having first readers and a professional editor, if I skimp on detail to get to (what I perceive as) ‘the really good bit’, there are plenty […]
Picocon and other diversions
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 16 February 2011 0
After those first grim weeks of the new year, spring is finally on the way. And with it, for me, a pleasant outbreak of Social Life. Last night I was up in London for the star-studded Orion authors’ party, where I indulged in my traditional pastimes of attempting to drink my weight in free champagne, […]
One of those truth ‘stranger than fiction’ things
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 10 February 2011 5
Though I don’t get out much, yesterday evening I had cause to walk into the centre of our village, and on the way I passed a house which usually has the curtains drawn, but for once, didn’t. It’s a Victorian end-terrace, and always sports extravagant displays of lights and other tat at Christmas, Hallowe’en and […]
Creatively retrograde
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 2 February 2011 0
I’m a bit unusual, writing-wise. For me, the part of the story-making process that other writers enjoy most – the rush of creating that first draft – can be like nailing jelly to the ceiling while shitting melons. Revising is far easier and less painful. And actual editing of an ‘almost-there’ story – something that […]
The best possible world(s)
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 27 January 2011 0
Though I’m careful to apply the Cup of Tea Rule* to any reviews of my work that I come across, some comments do stay with me. It tends to be the negative ones, which isn’t my natural glass-half-empty nature so much as a reflection of many years giving and receiving critiques. Positive comments may warm […]
The shape of things to come
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 19 January 2011 8
Here, in a not quite exclusive (cybermage saw it first) is the cover of Bringer of Light, by graphic artist Nik Keevil: Having bribed you with pretty (and it is very pretty – definitely the best Hidden Empire cover yet), I’m now going break the news that the book is going to be late. It’s […]
Two percent
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 12 January 2011 0
If you go strictly on metrics that’s about how far I’ve now got with Queen of Nowhere. Approximately two thousand words out of a contracted hundred thousand. Not much, but a start. Of course, as any writer will tell you, writing a novel doesn’t actually work like that. Though I’ve never tried to calculate what […]
Two things you can’t hurry
Posted by Jaine Fenn on 5 January 2011 0
(a) love (b) novels I can’t speak with much authority when it comes to (a). Or perhaps I can, given I was lucky enough to score a win there early on. But that’s not what this blog is for. As for (b) … how very true. Possibly thanks to apprehension about tackling this new and […]