tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125516768758142402024-03-13T02:02:36.716+00:00Amanda FleetAmanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-72473667334568439012023-12-12T15:00:00.001+00:002023-12-12T15:00:00.130+00:00Title and cover reveal!<p>Ta da!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEI4SUqC5SAFy0u-Ebc22AkByi0LsysiRzjfQ7FiTtnmXpECpRmYIbNSE9jkLRUIfOdz0ayfQQJoZXERW6l0S4D48kf7Jo_7R7kaFr588ewwxteaR7aS6zdqos1owAlL3eyYjt8clBH77Ozb8rjNcJJi53q8NLWH6yF1dI7czz7LxHhyphenhyphen6z5EYBRit7msg/s448/Amanda%20Fleet_ebook%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEI4SUqC5SAFy0u-Ebc22AkByi0LsysiRzjfQ7FiTtnmXpECpRmYIbNSE9jkLRUIfOdz0ayfQQJoZXERW6l0S4D48kf7Jo_7R7kaFr588ewwxteaR7aS6zdqos1owAlL3eyYjt8clBH77Ozb8rjNcJJi53q8NLWH6yF1dI7czz7LxHhyphenhyphen6z5EYBRit7msg/w250-h400/Amanda%20Fleet_ebook%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Oh, I have been back and forth with the cover designers with this one, but I'm really happy with this final version!</p><p>Pre-orders should be finalised today, too, so watch this space for the links.</p><p>It's nearly there!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-26242581301825549792023-12-05T15:00:00.001+00:002023-12-05T15:00:00.165+00:00I've gained an initial!<p>I don't have a middle name. My parents said they had enough difficulty choosing one name for me. Which has been fine, up until now. I am "no middle name". Like Reacher.</p><p>Except, when I publish the next book, I need to have a slightly different name, because it's in (yet) another genre. I didn't realise it, earlier in my career, but things like the Amazon algorithm get terribly confused when you publish in different genres but all under the same name.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiTsOIw8YkyfM5WSBRK1v60pIM6n-p3U178uDyR5xZCG_xL7I_7b_2pTuwn3hHrlXqqDAY_3AeQAiUlbdzew5An93RLymiE6hBVWN8EFNAp_RmpaBUQO6p03ogayH8vN3XU8Hhg66xsi4lTkHfoOgIpszTA91cOsia7fcVdqPO0qcvdDwYwh-decTTGqt/s1280/upset-534103_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiTsOIw8YkyfM5WSBRK1v60pIM6n-p3U178uDyR5xZCG_xL7I_7b_2pTuwn3hHrlXqqDAY_3AeQAiUlbdzew5An93RLymiE6hBVWN8EFNAp_RmpaBUQO6p03ogayH8vN3XU8Hhg66xsi4lTkHfoOgIpszTA91cOsia7fcVdqPO0qcvdDwYwh-decTTGqt/s320/upset-534103_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Oops.</p><p>Consequently, the new book will be published under <b>Amanda M Fleet</b>.</p><p>Why not "Mandy Fleet"? Or "Manda Fleet"?</p><p>Because I don't like either of those names. I have <i>never</i> been called Mandy (and have no desire to ever be called that), and although loads of my family seem incapable of putting the first A in my name, I'm no fan of Manda, either. (If I'm being 100% honest, I don't especially like the name Amanda much)</p><p>Why M? No particular reason. I was going to go for J, but after doing a Google search found there was an Amanda Jayne Fleet, and I didn't want to muddy the waters. Searching for Amanda M Fleet mostly brought up things relating to me. More importantly, there weren't any Amanda M Fleets on Amazon, so I wouldn't be treading on any toes, or competing with anyone.</p><p>I had wondered about going for an entirely different name altogether (something I <i>did</i> like!), but in the end I thought that might make the book not feel like mine in some way.</p><p>Keep your eyes peeled for title reveals and cover reveals!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-13084280525479878932023-11-29T14:00:00.002+00:002023-11-29T14:00:00.128+00:00"So, that's you almost finished with the book, then?"<p>The words of my running buddy, when I told him I'd finished the last edit.</p><p>Um, no...</p><p>Still to do (at that point) and in no particular order:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>register the ISBN</li><li>draw up a cover brief</li><li>send the cover brief to cover designer</li><li>sort out keywords for the metadata</li><li>sort out the blurb for the back of the paperback and the sales page</li><li>send book to beta readers</li><li>incorporate any feedback from beta readers</li><li>run the book through ProWritingAid (again)</li><li>proofread</li><li>finalise the paperback interior</li><li>finalise the Kindle version</li><li>write a short-story to give away to people joining my mailing list</li><li>sign off on the cover</li><li>set up the sales page</li><li>update the back matter of all my other books to include new one</li><li>set up an auto ad on Amazon</li><li>set up category ads on Amazon</li><li>sort out keywords for KW ads on Amazon</li><li>update social media accounts with new cover</li><li>update website</li><li>create promo images</li><li>sign up on book promotion sites</li><li>remind my ARC readers to post a review once the book is live</li><li>claim the book on Goodreads, BookBub, Amazon etc., once it's live</li></ul><p></p><p>and I'm sure I've missed plenty off that list!</p><p>But yeah... I've "almost finished with the book"</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-56173140665383259432023-11-22T14:00:00.001+00:002023-11-22T14:00:00.133+00:00Updates...<p>I know... I've been completely missing in action for <i>months</i>! I've been writing. Well, re-writing. You remember several years ago I did NaNoWriMo? I completed the 50K in November 2020 (see my posts about that <a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2020/11/nanowrimo.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2020/12/nanowrimo-did-i-manage-it.html" target="_blank">here</a>) but then everything got shelved. I published "Invasion", then wrote and published "Chaos". In between publishing those last two parts of the Guardians of The Realm series, my beloved father passed away, and my writing mojo vanished. I concentrated on getting the audiobooks finished (which took a lot longer than I'd anticipated), then <i>finally</i> turned my attention back to the book I'd started in NaNoWriMo 2020.</p><p>Well. That was an interesting experience.</p><p>When I started going through it in March of this year, I couldn't make head nor tail of my notes! The book stood at 65.4K words, but it was spaghetti.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0NO5MgiFoDvhvrDY1cAw6LW9nRsj4vfJuC8Yp6mV77Kd3uugVOgwrYnz5-xDNE6BFTA-ifUFS_MvnhCFUmj7Way3Vo56SAPl7uX0kunRK5e9SVC_Rnb0y2K2MQBS9whU9ZSoZIUu1WmtLjsBO6IXP00DCkYpvkYsO59LF3qoi14o6RSyHBmeWqUay-qw/s1280/spaghetti-781795_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0NO5MgiFoDvhvrDY1cAw6LW9nRsj4vfJuC8Yp6mV77Kd3uugVOgwrYnz5-xDNE6BFTA-ifUFS_MvnhCFUmj7Way3Vo56SAPl7uX0kunRK5e9SVC_Rnb0y2K2MQBS9whU9ZSoZIUu1WmtLjsBO6IXP00DCkYpvkYsO59LF3qoi14o6RSyHBmeWqUay-qw/s320/spaghetti-781795_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I re-plotted it out, scene by scene. The basic structure was okay, but I could not get the central plot theme to work where the book was set. It either had to change location, or change time-period (or both).</p><p>By 30th May, the main comment in my notebook was <b>AAAAGGHHH!</b></p><p>The book <i>had</i> been set in Ardersier, and there <i>had</i> been a major plot point based around Fort George and the Jacobites. If the book moved either location or time-period, that whole plot-line had to go.</p><p>My notes on 30th May said:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote><i>I need to think about all of this. A big chunk of me is ready to abandon the whole thing... so much of me is thinking "why bother?" not helped by finding out today that all of my books have been pirated and are available for free on a website.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Thankfully, I'd been able to get back into running, because I needed a <i>lot</i> of plot-runs while I figured out what on earth I was doing with it.</p><p>Over the next week, I sorted out a whole new plot! The book moved from Ardersier to Masham (Yorkshire), and various characters changed names and occupations. I finished the "first draft" of the new version of the book at the end of September, and started on editing. By the start of November, I had a book I was happy with!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hvN-STBr1tL8p90tXuqyctyOWWIuK2CNMNxGJweXq5wjdjAzTxpJaWsfLa8H9O8VmIPJJejS-JO8Zqxf8PxvUl2aF-r54PRLfQGkwki52ObwHY80-YmRTdjcCSL2NiZYrBeryM_JJAxHvO5wXUbPDd5ybWmAk1bh6h8tjNYXWxjcjB8qw0X8GJ2E2dlw/s989/yay.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="989" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hvN-STBr1tL8p90tXuqyctyOWWIuK2CNMNxGJweXq5wjdjAzTxpJaWsfLa8H9O8VmIPJJejS-JO8Zqxf8PxvUl2aF-r54PRLfQGkwki52ObwHY80-YmRTdjcCSL2NiZYrBeryM_JJAxHvO5wXUbPDd5ybWmAk1bh6h8tjNYXWxjcjB8qw0X8GJ2E2dlw/s320/yay.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It's been out to my amazing beta readers, and they all love it (hooray!), so now I'm on the eleventy-sqillion things I need to do before it gets published. The goal is that it will be published at the end of this year.</p><p>And then...? Well, then the Shiny New Thing that's now been brewing for a few years might finally get its turn.</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-29595228103299045192023-03-21T07:00:00.001+00:002023-03-21T07:00:00.157+00:00The recording tent is DOWN!<p> Which can only mean...</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I have finished the audiobooks!</span></span></h2><p>"Chaos" was uploaded last week and should be available now in some places, and everywhere soon. I've been chasing up why "War" <i>still</i> doesn't have Whispersync. It should have been there within 30 working days after it was live and it's now ~60 working days, but Audible/Amazon rarely actually have people dealing with things, as far as I can tell, just bots.</p><p>I now have <i>acres</i> of space in the room where the recording tent was. It was up for over a year, so it's taking a bit of time to get used to how the room looks now. The cat wasn't happy. He used to like hiding in the tent.</p><p>Anyway, that's now <i>all</i> of the books in The Guardians of The Realm series done and I can get back to writing.</p><p>I just need to figure out <i>what</i> I'm writing now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3yWp7ppVhT0xUTP2i_xMfT8F519k5doJY6b9eKy2KvQKU0QA3MEOQJJpEC8dFri52fafDj9Brhy1CEd70UfUUOz23ts8wqNuguaQYSv9F7NpPQwsW9p-Ew1od1Ay_rT2W3gD1SSL7017IeEJhda2TAQiS_tLm_r_jdmX2pyWiFyJpTwJx5lDp5h2xQ/s2400/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3yWp7ppVhT0xUTP2i_xMfT8F519k5doJY6b9eKy2KvQKU0QA3MEOQJJpEC8dFri52fafDj9Brhy1CEd70UfUUOz23ts8wqNuguaQYSv9F7NpPQwsW9p-Ew1od1Ay_rT2W3gD1SSL7017IeEJhda2TAQiS_tLm_r_jdmX2pyWiFyJpTwJx5lDp5h2xQ/s320/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-85301665465378842482023-01-31T07:00:00.001+00:002023-01-31T07:00:00.157+00:00Last big push!<p>No, I'm not having a baby (though maybe that would have been easier!). The audiobook for "Invasion" is uploaded and awaiting approval!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxxfbxs8jy2yV6oXB_EBHFNo6LQJqxplegP6lD51z679jkA_Icz7uw1CsF2cYX-iyk_eQe0FhTDSP1SNv9bEY5n6Y_RvtLv2rjYv9lLHJ3a1rCb_Assz-1Zuoz0iiAdHPND0iZjIJihZ4zXXziNgmxYBeAis-7cf5fYM6lhMxd2CjZYuwZAfQN02X0A/s2400/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxxfbxs8jy2yV6oXB_EBHFNo6LQJqxplegP6lD51z679jkA_Icz7uw1CsF2cYX-iyk_eQe0FhTDSP1SNv9bEY5n6Y_RvtLv2rjYv9lLHJ3a1rCb_Assz-1Zuoz0iiAdHPND0iZjIJihZ4zXXziNgmxYBeAis-7cf5fYM6lhMxd2CjZYuwZAfQN02X0A/s320/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I <i>had</i> been working on the files until ~ 4pm, then having the last part of the day to plan The Potential New Book (TPNB). When I was doing research for TPNB, that was fine. My brain is good at mechanical tasks in an afternoon. But, it's less good at the creative stuff, so once I'd finished doing the bits of research I wanted to do, when I got to 'playtime' I just stared at a blank page and came up with nothing.</p><p>Instead, I decided to push on with processing the audiobook files, with the result that yesterday, they were all uploaded to both ACX (Audible) and Findaway Voices (everyone else). It will take a few days for them to be available, and even longer for the Whispersynch to work ("War" still doesn't seem to have it enabled...), but I can at least cross them off my to-do list!</p><p>Since I had originally scheduled today and tomorrow (31st Jan and 1st Feb) for processing, ACX, and Findaway Voices stuff, they are now free! I <i>could</i> make a start on processing the files for "Chaos" but instead, I'm having a couple of solid days working on the plot outline for TPNB. The aim is then to process "Chaos" until mid-afternoon, then write at the end of the day. As I said, sometimes I'm not stunningly creative at the end of the day, but if I've already planned the scene(s) then writing them is usually okay. I'll try it for a couple of weeks. If I'm still staring at a blank page and not managing to write, I'll revert to cracking on with the processing and leaving myself another full day for planning. I'm still aiming to have a full plan and a few thousand words written by the time I've finished processing the audiobook files.</p><p>It does feel nice to have another one ticked off the list!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-77718415083036283342023-01-24T07:00:00.001+00:002023-01-24T07:00:00.154+00:00Ideas are stirring...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2Gigeblnp_48aa8xn5sG5IHBinrRTuDaRve83xCauGsumlXNI4kbuLzImNRwsBT5RNzNCbSask-bC7PbMa-2Wysuk805wthTt1JLiXaupB8smP1HLIxZfBUdvU1_zmiWeobQYnzkibnDnUd3qEdj9sKCAa75IAyMoyDBJ4icX9DiPjEStXOEx7wBUQ/s1280/cloud-g0c63c871a_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2Gigeblnp_48aa8xn5sG5IHBinrRTuDaRve83xCauGsumlXNI4kbuLzImNRwsBT5RNzNCbSask-bC7PbMa-2Wysuk805wthTt1JLiXaupB8smP1HLIxZfBUdvU1_zmiWeobQYnzkibnDnUd3qEdj9sKCAa75IAyMoyDBJ4icX9DiPjEStXOEx7wBUQ/s320/cloud-g0c63c871a_1280.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I've been doing pretty well at sticking to the plan of processing the audiobook files until about 4pm, then switching to thinking about The Potential New Book. I'm 3/4 through the processing of "Invasion" and am hoping to get it out either by the end of January or the start of February.</p><p>This stage of the processing is fairly dull - removing breath-sounds and mouth clicks from between words/sentences. It's slow-going, but important for the listening experience. No one want to hear me hauling air or making weird noises! But it's one of those activities that uses a <i>bit </i>of brain, but not so much that I'm not able to think about other stuff.</p><p>Consequently, while a fraction of my brain works on the audiofile processing, a chunk of my brain is thinking about The Potential New Book, and as well as giving over the end of the work-day to thinking about it, I'm also getting ideas throughout the day.</p><p>I always have a notebook or paper at my side, so I've been scribbling down things as they come to me over the day, then processing them more neatly into the New Notebook once I get to 'playtime'.</p><p>I'm not quite at that stage where the ideas are coming so thick and fast that I fear I won't be able to capture them all before they evaporate into the ether (thankfully!), but I can't tell you how much of a relief it is that the ideas <i>are</i> starting to flow!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-50881166521558661732023-01-17T07:00:00.001+00:002023-01-17T07:00:00.160+00:00Plottr<p>Plottr is a programme which is aimed at helping writers to plot their novels (though it could also be used to plan other things). I've never really used it before, but there was a Black Friday deal last year which gave a reduced fee for a year's subscription. It also had a reduced fee for a lifetime subscription but I wanted to try it out before shelling out lots of money, in case I didn't get on with it.</p><p>In the past, I've mostly used index cards for planning - either real or virtual. Real ones used to be laid out on my dining room table with key plot points on larger index cards and intervening scenes on smaller ones. I blogged about it <a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2020/10/all-hail-mighty-index-card.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>This slowly morphed to doing the same but with Scrivener's index cards/scene cards, although I struggled with the visual layout, preferring the long horizontal timeline I could get with my dining room table, rather than the tiling in Scrivener.</p><p>So why did I decide to dabble with Plottr?</p><p>Mostly it's the layout, though now I have it, I can see other advantages in it. In Plottr, the timeline/structure continues horizontally and you can have different strands across it. You could choose plots and sub-plots as the strands, or choose to follow different characters. Where they intersect are essentially scenes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiaTu37XDEFtabcXeFklkJdpJgdfpm5WbP4pFgsuvRO_2-rYO0Gjw50tNzo-k41POQ-m2Hv1Eriwr3xmBOSMGsm5sOR_yIWFZzgsjgSWvERXVACwUMSyjItepSIferYf2tD8Etf1hEx7y0fk_B8o58y2WSBzvvNnavsMTfTF2IjSRlmGilm6Wlx5e0w/s740/test.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="740" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiaTu37XDEFtabcXeFklkJdpJgdfpm5WbP4pFgsuvRO_2-rYO0Gjw50tNzo-k41POQ-m2Hv1Eriwr3xmBOSMGsm5sOR_yIWFZzgsjgSWvERXVACwUMSyjItepSIferYf2tD8Etf1hEx7y0fk_B8o58y2WSBzvvNnavsMTfTF2IjSRlmGilm6Wlx5e0w/w400-h170/test.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You could choose to create the structure from scratch (as I have in the mock-up above) but there are also a <i>lot</i> of templates that you can use. You can even combine templates and then edit them and save them as your own template, should you so wish. I've done that with the structure of "Book #12" (yes, yes... it will get a name eventually!).</div><p></p>
<p>As well as the ability to plot/structure the book, there are a lot of other features. Too many to cover in a blog post! I'm currently dabbling with the character notes and general notes features. You can also set up book series (though currently, you can't add an already existing book to an already existing series, you have to create the books within the series). Character, setting and general notes can be common to all the books in a series, or you can tag them just to individual books (handy for tagging those characters who die!).</p><p>No, this won't replace either my notebooks (where I do most of my planning) or Scrivener (where I actually write the thing). But, I can export the plan generated in Plottr to Scrivener (along with the notes made in Plottr), so my desire to have the whole plot laid out in one horizontal line is met. I've also really enjoyed playing with the templates on it. Not just the plot templates, but also the character templates. I haven't quite got my head around the tagging features, but no doubt that will come.</p><p>As for audiobook processing... I'm just over halfway through processing "Invasion" so actually, it's going pretty well. I'm still managing to process for the majority of the day, then play with Plottr and my notebooks at the end of the afternoon. I'm also hugely buoyed up by quite how many people have borrowed the audiobooks in Sweden, via Storytel!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-64765377543784148582023-01-10T07:00:00.003+00:002023-01-10T07:00:00.151+00:00I've started a new notebook...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2N11GFj7Rb8KdOgCirdJywXGXEENYZBt8co-hX5dVG0nzupGCCFhQyqOowyazE2yGpsC_u5BbJTb9T2YExZAyQb_YmnkXeD0QrEKlvyi2NccL5lLNMLZ-036zCi_kgHDqavpyF0IDhrOAoL-5ARc7nq2Qj816p4eUreDIJrgtAzdgwGuCvPZGAX2YQ/s1920/journal-ga8e283630_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2N11GFj7Rb8KdOgCirdJywXGXEENYZBt8co-hX5dVG0nzupGCCFhQyqOowyazE2yGpsC_u5BbJTb9T2YExZAyQb_YmnkXeD0QrEKlvyi2NccL5lLNMLZ-036zCi_kgHDqavpyF0IDhrOAoL-5ARc7nq2Qj816p4eUreDIJrgtAzdgwGuCvPZGAX2YQ/s320/journal-ga8e283630_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Regular readers will know that this means that the Little People In My Head are <i>finally</i> talking loudly enough that I think there might be a new book brewing.</p><p>No promises. These are still early days.</p><p>It has also proved to be A Good Carrot.</p><p>I'm currently working my way through processing the audiofiles for "Invasion". It is really helping me keep my backside in the chair and my headphones on to know that if I clear the work, I get to play with the new book at the end of the day.</p><p>The (vague) aim is to spend time in January planning the book, then try to write for an hour at the end of each work day after I've finished processing the audiobooks. With any luck, by the time I have the audiobooks finished, I will also have a decent plan for the book <i>and </i>a few thousand words written.</p><p>I'm currently researching how to market the book and what 'the market' wants (to try to avoid doing what I did with The Guardians series, which was write a series that has proved really challenging to market!). It's been interesting to see what Publisher Rocket thinks the UK search terms are and what the US would use. What works well in the UK often does nothing in the US. Of course, that makes it slightly trickier ultimately, because the same set of keywords are used for all the marketplaces. I wish we could set different keywords for the different markets, but sadly we can't.</p><p>Here's hoping that putting the legwork in now with the market research will pay off in the end.</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-69600986779251822422023-01-03T07:00:00.002+00:002023-01-03T07:00:00.155+00:002023 at last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIow2-gQqgh9EHIfMjMAQnzVNA1cl3_nA3h3Xx-lnR28CZ1L64e8qRl5YRkxvzbKGOJNNT1d2QAKTCzRk5khu3bCN46EtTIBWFfD-EJCJn1sV2aMKc2SmOZ5lupU_lYA8HvrW7soHe9knPSF4g-5c88vmFDpQv7YpRmNo_CmnvJeMMd9I_wUiPyzXtg/s1920/new-years-day-g6a36d3668_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIow2-gQqgh9EHIfMjMAQnzVNA1cl3_nA3h3Xx-lnR28CZ1L64e8qRl5YRkxvzbKGOJNNT1d2QAKTCzRk5khu3bCN46EtTIBWFfD-EJCJn1sV2aMKc2SmOZ5lupU_lYA8HvrW7soHe9knPSF4g-5c88vmFDpQv7YpRmNo_CmnvJeMMd9I_wUiPyzXtg/s320/new-years-day-g6a36d3668_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Is it just me, or did 2022 go on for far longer than a year??</p><p>It's that time of the year when I look back over the past year and look forward to the coming year.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">2022</h2><p><b>Releases:</b> I finished the Guardians of The Realm series with the publication of the final book, "Chaos" - something that was personally very challenging, as one of the themes explored in the book linked all too closely with the loss of my father in late 2021.</p><p><b>Sales</b> increased again last year (in general), though perhaps not as much as I might have hoped. Certainly not what I had aimed for. Still, an increase is an increase, right? The US is still a market I struggle in, but the UK, Canada and Australia have all been pretty reasonable.</p><p>I <b>read 44 books</b> over the year, including <i>all</i> of the Reacher books. I kind of got on a roll with them! I must confess to not enjoying the latest ones which are a joint venture between Lee Child and his brother Andrew Child. Both the characterisation and the plotting seem 'off'. I don't think I will read any more of the jointly written ones. I would happily re-read some of the earlier ones though (and I'm not one for re-reading books all that much).</p><p>My <b>knitting</b> has come on leaps and bounds and I've even been designing my own sweaters! I <i>finally</i> mastered knitting in two colours and holding a yarn in each hand. I still haven't mastered "The Norwegian purl". Considering that I only learned to knit 3 years ago, I'm pretty chuffed with my progress. You can see pictures of my sweaters on my Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandafleet/" target="_blank">@amandafleet</a>.</p><p>We had an influx of <b>hedgehogs</b> in the garden (though we can currently see no sign of them, not even in the hog-houses we made for them... I hope they return in Spring). Again, you can see pictures and videos of them on my Instagram page.</p><p>All of the <b>audiobooks</b> are now recorded, and the first three ("Aegyir Rises", "Aeron Returns" and "War") are available both on Audible and most other audiobook sites.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">2023</h2><p>I've still to finish processing the <b>audiobook</b> files for "Invasion" and "Chaos". I'm not going to put an estimated date for completion on it, because I totally suck at those and they get pushed back and pushed back! It can be mind-numbingly dull to do the "cut out all the breath sounds" processing so I never get as much done in a day as I hope I might. I'll aim for no more than "They'll be released in 2023".</p><p>I have my time-travel romance book to <b>edit</b> and I really <i>am </i>aiming to get that released this year. I wrote it so long ago!</p><p>After such a long time when the <b>little people in my head</b> have been silent, they've <i>finally</i> started talking to me again. If they would just get a <i>little</i> louder, there should be some <b>writing</b> going on this year. I wrote nothing new last year, and that felt very strange.</p><p>And of course, there will be more <b>knitting</b>, more learning of <b>Gaelic</b>, and <b>holidays!</b> We're already booked for two weeks away in Orkney, plus a visit to family, earlier in the year. If Orkney can't wake up the little people in my head, I don't know what will.</p><p>What has everyone else got planned for 2023?</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-20354583860893746462022-12-13T07:00:00.001+00:002022-12-13T07:00:00.171+00:00Progress...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviMS3wbIJxzT3YQeuij-IU9I-NM67hNif6KUH7ohUAZaNnvFXpB8ktvgdnPKeznEKkM2ikU3GYMcw1h95JvW5TSYw9hT5ovJZvEaaVCwzhsAtgufwMso-xBv1WNziD3ahQPh6ss2yMc2Qbn_QyjlnXR5cXJxhIL0iEHmHivmf8WmCv5psekXU4Yy0eA/s2400/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviMS3wbIJxzT3YQeuij-IU9I-NM67hNif6KUH7ohUAZaNnvFXpB8ktvgdnPKeznEKkM2ikU3GYMcw1h95JvW5TSYw9hT5ovJZvEaaVCwzhsAtgufwMso-xBv1WNziD3ahQPh6ss2yMc2Qbn_QyjlnXR5cXJxhIL0iEHmHivmf8WmCv5psekXU4Yy0eA/s320/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I should have finished processing "War" by the end of the week and uploaded it! That's the longest book in the series, so I'm hoping that "Invasion" and "Chaos" will seem easier in comparison. That may just be wishful thinking though.<p></p><p>Once "War" is uploaded, I'm suspending audiofile processing until the New Year. I have other things stealing my time, and frankly, I also need a bit of a break from it. I'm also taking a break from posting on here until the New Year, so let me take this opportunity to wish everyone "Happy Holidays" and I will catch up with you all in the New Year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1dTBeGW6-iodY7W-9AMqylQ4DXf9Oln7XXFfeaxprYAIQwdYs_p6J_1-BDeSYFkLihsv5_t-IxfCYy5UperHozNPzgcbVV98jAaf_ouflxPiZuf_FC0rskRsl60z_oNpsCl5DhcQcd3F7Wbd54Cp9Cvn_sHwQHkgznk56VBbzQ2AcQZ5-SegEdZ6uw/s1920/christmas-gb3f5daa96_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1dTBeGW6-iodY7W-9AMqylQ4DXf9Oln7XXFfeaxprYAIQwdYs_p6J_1-BDeSYFkLihsv5_t-IxfCYy5UperHozNPzgcbVV98jAaf_ouflxPiZuf_FC0rskRsl60z_oNpsCl5DhcQcd3F7Wbd54Cp9Cvn_sHwQHkgznk56VBbzQ2AcQZ5-SegEdZ6uw/w400-h213/christmas-gb3f5daa96_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-76987317033848833412022-12-06T07:00:00.001+00:002022-12-06T07:00:00.169+00:0030 minute timers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xXQpYVC42DFmNZq7TLZeeO_FdC-mlBCmSqQhcL-LreCG7BxFegTU-YsmOKhCWOz0Q02CI4DD9GaPFG_53MnxXw9jGoFFPqPkxOi4XVze1a72hLGTg9QNye_LLwq1DK25HfLVRPLuKKl5nSwhy0y9jRRgwg-kZpzQqZVmrsmZK3Lj-9JvEMVIRBs-mw/s1920/hourglass-gd84643625_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1920" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xXQpYVC42DFmNZq7TLZeeO_FdC-mlBCmSqQhcL-LreCG7BxFegTU-YsmOKhCWOz0Q02CI4DD9GaPFG_53MnxXw9jGoFFPqPkxOi4XVze1a72hLGTg9QNye_LLwq1DK25HfLVRPLuKKl5nSwhy0y9jRRgwg-kZpzQqZVmrsmZK3Lj-9JvEMVIRBs-mw/s320/hourglass-gd84643625_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>... yep. Back to needing to use them to get <i>any</i> kind of enthusiasm for audiobook recording going. "Just do 30 minutes" will invariably lead to me actually getting my head in the right place and doing more than that. I just need to get started. And even though I <i>know </i>the 30 minutes will undoubtedly turn into more, my brain is still fooled by the promise of "Just 30 minutes and if you still don't want to do any, you can stop, but at least you'll have done 30 minutes."</p><p>Why am I struggling with this so much? Well, partly it's because it's quite a tedious process... I'm at the stage of cutting out all the sound between sentences, to remove breath sounds and mouth clicks and so on. It takes about 3x as long as the actual recording is to do this, and check I've not clipped something I shouldn't. It has to be done, both because it makes a much better experience for the listener not to have me wheezing away, but also, quality control will (quite rightly) reject the files when I upload them if the breath sounds and mouth clicks and so on are still in there.</p><p>But the other reason I'm struggling to get on with this, is because I'm tired and running on empty at the moment. The anniversary of losing Dad hit me hard. My "get up and go" seems to have got up and gone somewhere else. And the audiobook processing seems to have no end!</p><p>30 minute chunks. I'll get there. Eventually.</p><p>In the meantime, please send cake?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbFt7i-m7OJwwbksEfEzNMK-Cwx_ot0h3n27TBoHB_EpWGE6Sr2jA9jcn_ozvSQqQE0J-T5QZHpKyX5iTdbQw-wpbjEuFaj359xLHGcUV6Cb6ArdWcfs-sPRUnOj2N8v4N9FX4oz_dKTddz2WUPta338OuzbMpn_r7F60FiXR2o-rnMUTMwW_k-NFHg/s1920/cupcake-g87c1df160_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1920" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbFt7i-m7OJwwbksEfEzNMK-Cwx_ot0h3n27TBoHB_EpWGE6Sr2jA9jcn_ozvSQqQE0J-T5QZHpKyX5iTdbQw-wpbjEuFaj359xLHGcUV6Cb6ArdWcfs-sPRUnOj2N8v4N9FX4oz_dKTddz2WUPta338OuzbMpn_r7F60FiXR2o-rnMUTMwW_k-NFHg/s320/cupcake-g87c1df160_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-23056951437727010902022-11-29T07:00:00.003+00:002022-11-29T07:00:00.161+00:00Audiofile processing is going slowly...<p> ...knitting is going much better!</p><p>The two may be linked.</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-3689351337460752912022-11-25T11:29:00.002+00:002022-11-25T11:29:39.960+00:00Black Friday Sale!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK1WblhW0IJ8BKQ5Qksc_AnTqsJLEBauJvGm_AGw6GsYDDd0heuvnQSznGKBP-YMqjOqcXJxZQj4Pl4xSaV8X2Q7ZoQLg246N13SLzTIRWSmeApvo4b4GIw9dPV_bDMSDhlhMtne36q1bxnGmqlYb05lSXWbOFcYO0eJbrMAfun9sLCU3W7KITjC8WQ/s1600/%C2%A32.99%2099p.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK1WblhW0IJ8BKQ5Qksc_AnTqsJLEBauJvGm_AGw6GsYDDd0heuvnQSznGKBP-YMqjOqcXJxZQj4Pl4xSaV8X2Q7ZoQLg246N13SLzTIRWSmeApvo4b4GIw9dPV_bDMSDhlhMtne36q1bxnGmqlYb05lSXWbOFcYO0eJbrMAfun9sLCU3W7KITjC8WQ/w400-h225/%C2%A32.99%2099p.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>I really don't do this often, but Aegyir Rises is on sale for Black Friday, for 99c/99p. The last time I did a price-reduction was a year ago, so don't miss out. It won't be on sale again for maybe another year!</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Grab your copy <a href="https://mybook.to/AegyirRises" target="_blank">right here</a>.</span></h2><p>Not only that, but I'm part of a HUGE group sale, where all the books are 99c/99p or FREE. There are 190 books in the budle so you're sure to find <i>something</i> you'll love!</p><p>Check out the fan favourites <a href="https://aetherczar.com/?p=5716" target="_blank">here</a>...</p><p>...and the new additions <a href="https://aetherczar.com/?p=5714" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Happy reading!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-85518608236575069452022-11-15T07:00:00.001+00:002022-11-15T07:00:00.183+00:00No plan survives contact...<p> ...with the enemy.</p><p>I'd be hard pushed to say "life" was really an enemy, but my plan of being done with the audiobooks by the end of the year is in tatters. Why? A number of things, which I guess could all loosely be described as "life".</p><p>Partly it's because I was wildly over-optimistic about how much audiobook file processing I could stand to do in a day. About an hour of audiobook takes about 4 hours of processing, and there are a lot of hours to process. Given that I can't actually spend all day on audiobook processing (even if I wanted to, which I don't), I'm only getting through about an hour of recordings a day. At that rate, I'll be done in Spring 2023!</p><p>Partly it's due to health issues: I'm not feeling 100% and there are days when I can barely face sitting down at the laptop to do anything, never mind process the audiobook stuff. Migraines have been bad recently and these just wipe me out. They also tend to plague me on the exact days I might have a full day at stuff.</p><p>Partly it is just Life. Other people need me, so I never have a 40-hour working week at writing stuff (whether that's audiobooks, writing, marketing, all of the above). At best, I have about a 24 hour week. I do marketing stuff on one day and other writing stuff on three days of the week, maximum. A lot of weeks, those four days get chipped away. This week (for example) I'll be doing well if I get one day at it.</p><p>It's okay. I knew it would be a long haul. I know there's no deadline or time limit on any of it. It will be done when it's done. The more I stress about it, the more I'm unwell, which is counterproductive. And you know what? I left work so that I could protect my health and not be ill with stress all the time, so if spending a day away from work, working on designing a sweater, or walking on the beach is better for me than forcing myself to do work, why would I not do that?</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-76240894062535793262022-11-08T07:00:00.001+00:002022-11-08T07:00:00.158+00:00"Invasion" is now recorded!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl7qMyQCMG-OPwhyAOnKW7ZuLrlhObB9t-Nc2pzZe0pca9yD5KVCOrCDO6JisyUZhy_mGlo7pijtxpJv46SGLtIvJCny-CErjcg2_XWtRoZ8nnEuG_lyncsXuq22-aA3Pt5Vi325NJJyZShm64IiujTxL0R-NAEvZ5ayqjH9qNNyyn9gHpaqa8O-ljg/s1040/Presentation1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl7qMyQCMG-OPwhyAOnKW7ZuLrlhObB9t-Nc2pzZe0pca9yD5KVCOrCDO6JisyUZhy_mGlo7pijtxpJv46SGLtIvJCny-CErjcg2_XWtRoZ8nnEuG_lyncsXuq22-aA3Pt5Vi325NJJyZShm64IiujTxL0R-NAEvZ5ayqjH9qNNyyn9gHpaqa8O-ljg/s320/Presentation1.png" width="222" /></a></div><br /><p>In fact, by the time this posts, I should have re-recorded the handful of bits for "Chaos" I need to do, <b>so all of the recording will be done!!!</b></p><p>I will be <i>so</i> pleased when that happens. The main heating in the room with the recording tent, is an air-to-air heat pump which isn't silent, so can't be on when I'm recording, and it gets <b>cold</b> in that room! In fact, that's the main reason I went ahead and recorded all the books and didn't stop to do the processing/edits of each before starting the next. I'll leave the recording tent up until all the processing is done too, just because it's such a faff to put it all back up again, and you could bet your bottom dollar that if I took it down, I'd find I had a sentence or two to re-do!</p><p>It will probably take me until the end of the year to finish all the editing/processing of the files - I have three books to do: "War", "Invasion" and "Chaos". Has it been worth my time and effort? Um, maybe. Maybe not. I guess they don't have a shelf-life. My brain wasn't feeling at all creative after losing my father, so it filled in time when I couldn't write. Sales are very low at the moment, but that means they can only go up. Will I do it again, for any other books I write? Probably. Since I read a book aloud as part of a final proofread/edit, I may as well record it (that's what I did with "Chaos").</p><p>So what's next?</p><p>I <i>cannot</i> do full days on the editing/processing. It's mind-numbingly slow and tedious, and I start to make mistakes after a while. I sorted out a "<a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2022/10/on-needing-notebook-for-playing.html" target="_blank">notebook for playing in</a>" a couple of weeks ago and I've been scribbling a bit some nights. The little people who live in my head are stirring, <i>finally</i>. There may actually be too many little people stirring in my head, but we'll see. It's just a relief that they haven't left permanently.</p><p>The plan is to edit/process until I start to get totally fed up, then allow myself some playtime, and see if anything starts to firm up into an actual plot. I still have "A Promise Through Time" to edit, and that will come first, but it would be good to have something else on the boil for when that's finished.</p><p><br /></p>
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Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-29393514231275225882022-11-01T07:00:00.007+00:002022-11-01T07:00:00.156+00:00"Daylight saving" ends<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNX-VDbzYGT1RNK-vUbNlXrnS5rwhVzUj_ONC71Vz-WJPKUge7nMRAnGLYXjgTk9MLqOM4-1CJIV8utzosvpa1fPENkFFUmT0YwApC3x2Um7motNBUWndaSGJUP-x6g-pMYxuGNBUtH6NZXq7MJ_VF1IPtTBoujug_847bdog0yso3yvGc6BC_FTrVg/s1920/alarm-clock-gdd4b26f43_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1920" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNX-VDbzYGT1RNK-vUbNlXrnS5rwhVzUj_ONC71Vz-WJPKUge7nMRAnGLYXjgTk9MLqOM4-1CJIV8utzosvpa1fPENkFFUmT0YwApC3x2Um7motNBUWndaSGJUP-x6g-pMYxuGNBUtH6NZXq7MJ_VF1IPtTBoujug_847bdog0yso3yvGc6BC_FTrVg/s320/alarm-clock-gdd4b26f43_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've always thought that "daylight saving" was a bizarre term. Where is the daylight being saved? In a special piggy-bank? It also implies that (through some miracle) day length actually changes. It doesn't (though there seem to be a load of numpties on Twitter who think it does!).<p></p><p>As ever, there's also a large cohort of people on Twitter who think we should stick to "daylight saving" the whole year - essentially move to BST and away from GMT. They <i>clearly</i> do not live in Scotland. Personally, I would rather stick with GMT all year round. Daylength is so long up here in the summer (almost 18 hours in midsummer where I am; even longer if further north) that it doesn't really make any difference. Dawn is still <i>way</i> earlier than anyone tends to get up, and dusk is later than many people's bedtime.</p><p>For me, in many ways, it doesn't make any material difference. I work for myself. I am in control of when my day starts and ends. I tend to get up early, so now that we're back to GMT, I'm still up with the dawn, but that's 6.30 am not 7.30 at the moment. It also means that by 4.30 pm (dusk/dark) I'm happily done for the day and ready for a cosy evening.</p><p>I suppose the bigger issue is for those who work where lunch is considered "the middle of the day", and is (for some convention) round about 1-2pm. That works in BST - the sun being at its highest point then <i>and </i>it actually being the middle of the working day. But when we get past the clock change, it makes the work day less aligned with the solar day.</p><p>I don't know when the work day shifted away from being aligned with a solar day. When (and why?) did 1pm become lunchtime, rather than noon? If you know, tell me in the comments?</p>
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Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-17133070322005993322022-10-25T07:00:00.001+01:002022-10-25T07:00:00.167+01:00On needing a notebook for 'playing'<p>I've started recording "Invasion". I think it will take me about three weeks to record the files, plus some I realised I need to re-do for "Chaos" and process them through the first stage of editing. After that is a <b>long</b> haul of processing all of "War", "Invasion" and "Chaos" to their final stages. If I don't give myself something else to be doing while I slog through all that, I will go crackers!</p><p>Enter... a 'playtime book'. A place where, at the end of a day of processing audiofiles, I can 'play' for an hour or so. Not really planning anything new, just playing around with ideas and characters. Or just doodling. Trying to encourage the Muse to come back out of retirement.</p><p>Naturally, since I also write and review for <a href="https://www.nerosnotes.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nero's Notes</a>, I have a gazillion notebooks in the cupboard! Which one to use? That kind of question has paralysed me for days in the past. (Not even joking!)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw0f4B4wGWYy4zJ3p4hsA-fXHE1Aga-7f72yf9jXc-EAK7ELo20Pney-J9W7fVlXxv0s4nA3NymiFMzivGnhIDH6jn4U-DbxvNe7pBgIviiij-H0X8h7QS0s9fzBjRgsfBfmUH7plgBMKtdo8B51kl8mWQ2HtG92P4FsWuPAC5j8Bc3seEtx7EMSubQ/s480/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw0f4B4wGWYy4zJ3p4hsA-fXHE1Aga-7f72yf9jXc-EAK7ELo20Pney-J9W7fVlXxv0s4nA3NymiFMzivGnhIDH6jn4U-DbxvNe7pBgIviiij-H0X8h7QS0s9fzBjRgsfBfmUH7plgBMKtdo8B51kl8mWQ2HtG92P4FsWuPAC5j8Bc3seEtx7EMSubQ/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Nero's Notes, with permission</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But I think this time, it might have to be the Pebble Notebook I reviewed <a href="https://www.nerosnotes.co.uk/blogs/news/more-pebble-delights" target="_blank">here</a>. It's dot grid, which in all honesty, isn't perhaps my favourite (I prefer lined) but the paper is amazing (Tomoe River, for those in the know) and as it's dot-grid, it probably won't make it to a final cut for a notebook in which to plan a book.</p><p>It seems a shame to have such a splendid notebook and not use it, and it would be a luxurious reward at the end of a long day of processing, to have it as my 'playtime book'.</p><p>Fancy a playtime book of your own? You can get the Pebble notebook from Nero's Notes in blue <a href="https://www.nerosnotes.co.uk/products/pebble-cosmo-hardcover-notebook-a5-light-blue" target="_blank">here</a>, and in grey <a href="https://www.nerosnotes.co.uk/products/pebble-cosmo-hardcover-notebook-a5" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-88237860545805749552022-10-18T07:00:00.001+01:002022-10-18T07:00:00.159+01:00"War" now recorded!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nVQXPmK0gcEj-G6G2OyND8QzbDQYazgI_nki5X_PrnPV1g59RPChACkX8jAAecv27nrt-8ETYc-S6Q68YQQNzFSnwnASyCtExM0OlnrNpIln50GhbbZroblY5wUrzeEgLGtQIzLo-fiBJrctx7zgeLvUzJz3pWMnX98XWePNdyU4DYEF3dByT5qEsQ/s1920/mic%20and%20headphones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1920" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nVQXPmK0gcEj-G6G2OyND8QzbDQYazgI_nki5X_PrnPV1g59RPChACkX8jAAecv27nrt-8ETYc-S6Q68YQQNzFSnwnASyCtExM0OlnrNpIln50GhbbZroblY5wUrzeEgLGtQIzLo-fiBJrctx7zgeLvUzJz3pWMnX98XWePNdyU4DYEF3dByT5qEsQ/s320/mic%20and%20headphones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Okay, only recorded, not processed and ready to actually purchase... but all the audiofiles have now been recorded. Hooray!!!<p></p><p>I had originally intended to record all the files for "War" and "Invasion" ("Chaos" is already recorded, though not edited/processed yet) and <i>then</i> do all the edits/processing, but my voice won't hold out for more than a morning, so I've been recording in the morning and doing the first stage of edits in the afternoon. Slower in some ways, but more manageable.</p><p>I've ended up shifting where my weekend is. It's <i>much</i> quieter on a Sunday than it is in the week, so my working week is now running Sunday to Thursday, giving me Friday and Saturday as weekend days. The back of the house, where the recording tent is, is pretty quiet and as far from traffic as I can get and still be inside, but the noise from the lorries that thunder past the front of the house can make it through to the back. Almost invariably coinciding with when I'm doing a second take of a line I've just messed up, meaning I need a <i>third</i> take!</p><p>I'm hoping to have all the recording for "Invasion" done over the next three weeks, and then the slower process of the second stage of editing/processing of the three books ("War", "Invasion" and "Chaos") will take me until probably Christmas. But at least the recording tent can come down this year!</p><p>Four down. One to go.</p><p>I'm getting there. I am. I really am!</p><p><br /></p><p>Remember, if you want to hear either Aegyir Rises or Aeron Returns for FREE <i>and</i> get a free month's trial of Audible, check out these links:</p><p><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B09ZZXH661/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-308196&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_308196_rh_us" target="_blank">Aegyir Rises as your first book - US customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0B113JM1Y/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-308196&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_308196_rh_uk" target="_blank">Aegyir Rises as your first book - UK customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BGYB4B32/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-324395&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_324395_rh_us" target="_blank">Aeron Returns as your first book - US customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0BGYJQ2ZP/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-324395&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_324395_rh_uk" target="_blank">Aeron Returns as your first book - UK customers</a></p><p>Of course, you can also add the audio narration to the ebook for less than the cost of a coffee and a cake, or if you're already an Audible customer, you could use your Audible account to get the audiobook for even less.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-9206055657765500962022-10-11T07:00:00.001+01:002022-10-11T07:00:00.167+01:00Why writing is like knitting...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSe_kOeVhxtFYpvZVdmmlv0_SDD_hA-oB6R5jZKvCbUDT5sK7Bi2oulr2fER3z33fW0SeDANWecG58tMfPrdJ-aA3RmLtPfDCw5xK35FlX8ShZID-MDOwQ3YZWLTrGLRBPDTizNRc9lsVmz0N-ecTDqR-yk9hD6x_FSYi-Ti6vcQJ1Fg7mADZyNv-jg/s1920/cotton-baby-yarn-g86f26eed0_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1920" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSe_kOeVhxtFYpvZVdmmlv0_SDD_hA-oB6R5jZKvCbUDT5sK7Bi2oulr2fER3z33fW0SeDANWecG58tMfPrdJ-aA3RmLtPfDCw5xK35FlX8ShZID-MDOwQ3YZWLTrGLRBPDTizNRc9lsVmz0N-ecTDqR-yk9hD6x_FSYi-Ti6vcQJ1Fg7mADZyNv-jg/s320/cotton-baby-yarn-g86f26eed0_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Huh?<p></p><p>Let me explain.</p><p>Right now, I'm in the middle of knitting a patterned jumper that I designed myself, and as I was designing (and knitting) it, it struck me that there are a number of common themes between writing a book and knitting a sweater.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Pattern (plot) </h4><p>The pattern (plot) shouldn't be too busy or complicated, otherwise the overall result will be masked. There should be enough complexity to keep it interesting, but you should still be able to see an overall design. I feel the same way about a plot... there should be complexities and detail, but not <i>too </i>much. I've read books both with too little plot (making them dull) and also ones with too many different strands (making them impossible to follow). Or a plot strands that was introduced at the start and then not seen again until three quarters of the way through the book, and then only picked up again right at the end. For me, in a sweater, this would be like doing one round of pattern near the neck or hem, then knitting another pattern entirely for much of the garment, then doing a few rows of pattern 1 part way through, then another bit just as I was casting off. It doesn't work (for me) in a book and it doesn't work (for me) in a sweater, either. It's fine to have several patterns (plot strands), but they need to get fairly equal, and even, representation.</p><h4>Colour balance (characters)</h4><p>In a sweater, the colours should go together. That's not to say they should all be the same, or even in the same palette. Often a small amount of a very bright colour can really change the character of a piece of knitting, in the same way that a very loud or intense character can influence the overall feel of a book. You can't have <i>all</i> the characters as loud and brash and in your face, or none of them would stand out. Nor do you want them all the same. But the blend of them together should allow them to complement one another.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Size</h4><p>In my experience, a book has a natural length. Sometimes this is a fairly short and snappy length. Sometimes (looking at you, "War"!) the book needs space to grow. I've read many a book where it felt as if there was a big wodge of padding, about three quarters of the way through, that added little to the plot or characterisation but seemed to be there just to make the book a particular length. I've also read books where it's felt as if there had been a massive cutting session to remove a vast chunk of the book, to make it shorter.</p><p>A wrap cardigan doesn't suddenly need extra rows added to make it hip-length, and a knitted coat needs to keep your bum warm.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Finishing</h4><p>In knitting, the ends need weaving in, pieces may need to be joined together, the garment way well need to be 'blocked' (wetted and then manipulated a little to even out stitches and give a good finish). You can never really cast a garment off the needles and instantly wear it. Nor can you stop typing/put your pen down at the end of a first draft of a book and say "It's done!" Ends need weaving in; any mistakes need sorting out; it needs 'finishing'.</p><p><br /></p><p>The little people in my head are <i>trying</i> to talk to me again. They've been silent for so long, they're needing a bit of time to find their voices I think. But while I'm waiting for them to come back as loudly as they used to be, I'm knitting my sweater and thinking about plots, patterns, character strands and colour, and convincing myself that I'll be writing again soon.</p><p>I hope.</p>
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Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-66466611968684157562022-10-04T07:00:00.001+01:002022-10-04T07:00:00.154+01:00The audiobook of Aeron Returns is LIVE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsEsa2lqnx4oFLjwHfKtUchTUfpcMiZU34WZrWvA5wkw-H2xBzfQx2NIn3ecHDkQ9iet5H4RBI6zeKn3BJ9SUCC9DlbMcc5buPqai2lxmviGSblYRfmERDvwKDAsjNJBTei8-jX4vNnqI4Rpcbup9e-g4VbNMz8lrAkH0UrU2GKhXB7T0xOvogXBMXA/s2400/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsEsa2lqnx4oFLjwHfKtUchTUfpcMiZU34WZrWvA5wkw-H2xBzfQx2NIn3ecHDkQ9iet5H4RBI6zeKn3BJ9SUCC9DlbMcc5buPqai2lxmviGSblYRfmERDvwKDAsjNJBTei8-jX4vNnqI4Rpcbup9e-g4VbNMz8lrAkH0UrU2GKhXB7T0xOvogXBMXA/s320/Amanda%20Fleet%20ACX%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I know, I know... I've been AWOL for a month. But the audiobook for Aeron Returns is finally available! I actually got the recordings finished a while back, but processing got interrupted by various family visits and a very unexpected funeral. It all got loaded up to ACX (Audible) and Findaway (distributor to a whole heap of places) and they've now passed all the files and it's available to buy. </p><p>If you're not in Audible, it still seems like the best way to get it is to buy the ebook and get the audiobook for a huge discount (I'm not sure it's brilliant for me as I only get about tuppence when people pay the full price for the audiobook, but hey...).</p><p><b>If you're not in Audible, but would like a free 30d trial... read on.</b></p><p>Now, this is me being a little bit cheeky, but if you <i>are</i> deciding to join Audible, <i>and</i> you use the links below to get a <b>30 day free trial</b>, <i>and </i>you choose Aegyir Rises or Aeron Returns as your first book, then I do get a small reward. And you still get 30 days free, with no commitment. And it hasn't cost you anything extra, but I maybe get just enough encouragement to keep on writing and not give it all up. 😊</p><p><b>Links:</b></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B09ZZXH661/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-308196&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_308196_rh_us" target="_blank">Aegyir Rises as your first book - US customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0B113JM1Y/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-308196&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_308196_rh_uk" target="_blank">Aegyir Rises as your first book - UK customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BGYB4B32/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-324395&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_324395_rh_us" target="_blank">Aeron Returns as your first book - US customers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0BGYJQ2ZP/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-324395&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_324395_rh_uk" target="_blank">Aeron Returns as your first book - UK customers</a></p><p>I will also be offering some codes to my newsletter readers to get a free copy at Authors Direct. Not on my mailing list? Fill in the form below. I only send out something once a month and it's usually a combination of my news, any offers on my books, plus information on bundles of other books and audiobooks you might be interested in. And you'll get a free novella telling you what really happened with Aeron and Aegyir the first time around.</p><p><br /></p>
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Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-49620530295515920802022-08-02T07:00:00.001+01:002022-08-02T07:00:00.151+01:00Tiny whispers...<p>Out running on Sunday morning, the little people in my head <i>finally</i> started to whisper to me. Not much, and not very loudly, but I may have an opening scene forming.</p><p>I've no idea what comes <i>after</i> the opening scene, or what the heck the book is about... but I do appear to have most of an opening scene.</p><p>However... I still have to finish processing the audiobook files for Aeron Returns, and for Chaos, plus record and process War and Invasion, so if they stay whispering, rather than bellowing in my ear, I'll be happy enough! Oh, and I have a whole book to edit too, so it's not as if I'm stuck for things to do! But I am happy that some characters are at least talking a <i>little</i> bit to me.</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-71861808946386421232022-07-26T07:00:00.001+01:002022-07-26T07:00:00.160+01:00Out of the tent...<p> ...and on to processing. Which is dull. But necessary. Especially as after a short while of recording, I seem to lose the ability to read, or to speak properly!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOASjosdOHEIIfKtBWBgu0nPtiDetxI1BfdzcPHDMSp7xiyfNp_gee2FX9T0AOuh7xl4_xNDUcWSMiPYbSDQCEvbB7VhqGz5j6mCsD1Qg60nmTVnVoIbR145dvNpEy55pR2hmBVrEguKtAiBxB41jpbvJF4UxYBDTGZyifUoAPowgoEuvy9z8FsFkrxA/s751/track.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="751" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOASjosdOHEIIfKtBWBgu0nPtiDetxI1BfdzcPHDMSp7xiyfNp_gee2FX9T0AOuh7xl4_xNDUcWSMiPYbSDQCEvbB7VhqGz5j6mCsD1Qg60nmTVnVoIbR145dvNpEy55pR2hmBVrEguKtAiBxB41jpbvJF4UxYBDTGZyifUoAPowgoEuvy9z8FsFkrxA/s320/track.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><p>I'm following the system outlined by Derek Doepker, which recommends a "clap-back" method. When I make a mistake (or need to cough, or clear my throat etc.) I clap my hands and keep on recording. When I come to edit the file, the claps show up really clearly, to indicate where the errors are and it's pretty straightforward to edit the mistakes etc. out.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2022/07/out-of-tent.html#more">Read more »</a>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-32505823526802825532022-07-19T07:00:00.001+01:002022-07-19T07:00:00.166+01:00Back to the tent...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei9VNj_aPAOyrC8CDGyehOcj2ZuMhK7NoNMWRuypNvHolbuQZCTLFHqmL2vdcB46ulnaFxoykFAdlNxjoAOC1LrhDMBp1SqrxOMoODclWUFgaHo7u6HTAqw1ORuYHoBJt1tjGnlbolW2nTJEfotPk6oYkQNhQRYKRPbumlaTJj-aX5eQdb05-W1pQWg/s2560/recording%20tent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei9VNj_aPAOyrC8CDGyehOcj2ZuMhK7NoNMWRuypNvHolbuQZCTLFHqmL2vdcB46ulnaFxoykFAdlNxjoAOC1LrhDMBp1SqrxOMoODclWUFgaHo7u6HTAqw1ORuYHoBJt1tjGnlbolW2nTJEfotPk6oYkQNhQRYKRPbumlaTJj-aX5eQdb05-W1pQWg/s320/recording%20tent.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tent, lurking behind the sofa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Yes, as the UK heads for a heatwave, I'll be back in my <a href="https://www.amandafleet.co.uk/2021/09/news.html" target="_blank">recording tent</a>. Thankfully, there's no heatwave predicted for where I am in bonny Scotland.</p><p>Are the little people in my head talking to me again, yet? Nope.</p><p>Do I <i>want </i>to be recording the audiobooks? Also nope.</p><p>Do I want to start editing "A Promise Through Time"? Another nope.</p><p>Marketing? Yeah, right. That's <i>never</i> a yes!</p><p>But...</p><p>Can I <i>actually</i> spend all day reading/gardening/knitting/crocheting without going (even more) mad?</p><p>Er... nope.</p><p>I've decided to crack on with the recordings so that at least they're done, while waiting for the little people to start talking to me again. I have several months of work to do... let's hope that once it's all done, the voices are back. And if not, at least the audiobooks are done and I can take the tent down!</p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312551676875814240.post-10458341451023720222022-07-12T07:00:00.001+01:002022-07-12T07:00:00.170+01:00"Can you tell what it is yet?"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY44WorBEXBSsMXbGxHmMyh12EXPgqqWSDPXFxIOxWhL8_rFi1GkAoOMl--tX49nytLwCRBhKQ7GBc32mVSfwdHmkZO-xNzKIIeCe6VbKEJAxqfIuDi7xNEJw1Stl-KRVBuDrKH3ovv9lg1Hau2cPf9riwwBXihujZqnkhK5eIZ7d96WPXWdVkndTUg/s768/20220709_101255edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A group of small crocheted items in yellow, brown and green and two balls of cotton yarn - one green and one purple. It isn't clear what the objects are." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY44WorBEXBSsMXbGxHmMyh12EXPgqqWSDPXFxIOxWhL8_rFi1GkAoOMl--tX49nytLwCRBhKQ7GBc32mVSfwdHmkZO-xNzKIIeCe6VbKEJAxqfIuDi7xNEJw1Stl-KRVBuDrKH3ovv9lg1Hau2cPf9riwwBXihujZqnkhK5eIZ7d96WPXWdVkndTUg/w320-h320/20220709_101255edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is essentially how all my characters and all my books start off... I have some vague ideas and make notes on them - character traits, individual scenes I can see, snippets of dialogue - but the character isn't fully formed, and neither is the plot!<p></p><p>I keep working on them. I keep seeing more and more of the character; keep seeing more scenes; keep hearing more snippets of dialogue. I write it all down. I let it brew. And slowly, <i>slowly</i>, the jumble of parts make sense. The character starts to invade my head and chirrup at me. I sit down with index cards and start wrestling the plot into some semblance of order.</p><p>Recently, it's all been far too quiet in my head. Unnervingly so. There's usually a cacophony of competing voices - different characters from different books, trying to be so loud that I write about them next. Not so much right now.</p><p>The jumble of crocheted parts in the picture above will become a gift for a dear friend, though at the moment, it looks like nothing. Likewise, there are two characters just <i>starting</i> to form in my head, though I'm not sure who they are or where they belong. I'm just writing it all down, waiting for it to brew. Hoping the cacophony will return in time. Trying to accept that maybe, just maybe, my brain has too much to deal with right now and that I am <i>far</i> from over the death of my father.</p><p>In the meantime, Wimbledon is over and I have some audiobooks to record, so it's back to the tent!</p><p><br /></p>Amanda Fleethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15838595882535434260noreply@blogger.com0