Farida's Blog

my writing journal, entry 19

faridamestek — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:34:36 +0000

I missed my entry last week but who cares, right? I bet no one even noticed. Well, it matters not. I’m used to it. Anyway, last week I was working on “Almendra: A Fairy-Tale” and came to the conclusion that I’ll have to put aside my current Regency WIP in order to focus my full attention on Almendra the fairy-tale and Almendra the novel. It was the latter this week and I reached 30,000 words on it in a record short time (for me). According to my notes, I started working on it in December of 2011. It’s back to the fairy-tale this week and I hope to move beyond the Throne Room and into the courtyard at the very least! Ideally, I would love to end up in the drawing-room by the end of this week.

my writing journal, entry 18

faridamestek — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:09:03 +0000

It was my Regency week. Consequently, not much writing was done. But I can assure you that it was not for the lack of trying on my part! I did try to move on with the story but just like my main hero I seem to have hit a complete standstill. So, in order to do at least something, I went back and started revising what I’ve written so far. I don’t know, I might have mentioned it before – I honestly don’t remember. It brings me down in a big way this not writing.

my writing journal, entry 17

faridamestek — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:23:09 +0000

This week was all about doing things and going places, which meant that I had very little time for writing. In the end, I wrote about half a page only, because when I finally had time to write, I thought it would be a much better idea to catch up on watching films and TV shows, so there went my fantasy-writing week!

my writing journal, entry 16

faridamestek — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:09:45 +0000

I’m quite happy with my progress this week (even though it’s very slow) and with the turn my fairy-tale took. One of the best things about writing is finding out what happens next, because even as the author of the piece you can’t know everything. It’s my fantasy novel this week but I’m happy to say that I already feel the stirrings in the direction of my Regency – I miss the characters and the story already! Hopefully, I’ll be ready to resume my work on it in another week’s time. It’s been long enough as it is.

my writing journal, entry 15

faridamestek — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:20:09 +0000

Finally, this week I had all the time that I needed to write as much as I wished to or, in fact, could, because I find that writing, while emotionally uplifting, physically is quite exhausting. I finished Chapter Five of my Almendra-based fantasy novel and found a new concept for “Almendra: A Fairy-Tale” that I hope to pursue from now on. Earlier this morning, I debated with myself whether to make the choice in favour of Almendra stories altogether, but, having thought it over again, I came to the conclusion that one week away from the story, will make me want to take it up with renewed strength and still greater vigour, so this week I’m back to revising what I have so far written of my regency.

my writing journal, entry 14

faridamestek — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:03:17 +0000

I had another busy but not in a writing way week, facing my writing dilemma from last week (see “my writing journal, entry 13″). In the end, I decided to divide the week so that I could accommodate all three projects at once. In this way, I revised my regency at the start of the week and wrote a bit of my fantasy in its second half and pretty much till its end. I meant to do some work on my fairy-tale too, but I never got beyond thinking about it. Still, I’ve thought things through and I know exactly what I want to write next. However, I don’t think that I’ll continue dividing my week like that in the future. I prefer to have a whole week for one individual project but, seeing as how my fantasy and my fairy-tale are closely related, I’ll be working on them both at the same time.

my writing journal, entry 13

faridamestek — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:41:19 +0000

I had a fairly prolific week, considering that I had very little time for actual writing, but I was struck with indecision and doubt. I shall skip the part where I worry over the fact that I’m the only person around who reads and likes my books and go to the writing part of the thing instead. You see, ever since I started working on my YA fantasy novel, I started losing my interest and dedication to my Regency WIP and for a while now it’s been a real struggle to make any progress on it. At the same time, I have the story plotted out till the end and I’m roughly half-way through and I don’t really want to stop now that I’ve written so much and I’m still very much fond of the characters and the setting. But last week, when I was working on my YA fantasy, loosely based on “Almendra: A Fairy-Tale”, I thought that I’d like to rework the fairy-tale too, but I realize that it’ll be quite impossible for me to work on three projects at once. Hence, my dilemma: whether to continue with my original plan, which includes working on my YA fantasy and pushing out my Regency every other week or whether to go along with my muse and work on the fantasy and the fairy-tale instead. I was quite determined to go with the second option early this morning but then I got an e-mail from my critique partner, concerning my Regency, and I started to waver, because he was very positive about it. So, what now? Do I go with my second option? Or do I alter my original plan to accommodate all three projects at once? I really wish there was some sort of Writing Emergency Centre I could call and ask for advice. Maybe there is and I just don’t know about it? Anyway, is there anyone Regency-oriented who’d like to beta-read a Regency novel in letters for me and tell me if it’s worth my while? It’s very important!

my writing journal, entry 12 + first paragraph

faridamestek — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:27:12 +0000

This week was a particularly long one, divided in half by my pre-check-up fears and my post-check-up joy. I think (if I remember correctly) that at the start of the week I finally re-typed what I had written about two weeks before (my current WIP threatened into action by a short story idea that was about ready to take over) and then I decided that if I can’t do the actual writing I can start doing revision instead and it was like entering an awfully cluttered, dusty, cobwebby attic full of shadows, cardboard boxes and broken things that I have no use for. When I cleaned out the first three chapters that became one, the short story idea came back and assured me that she was not about to go away. Here is the beginning (as always any feedback is much appreciated!):

A young man of gentleman-like appearance alighted and proceeded on foot through the gates and across the grounds towards a noble-looking manor house. In the pocket of his waistcoat he carried a letter of recommendation for he was on his way to enter the employ of the owner of the manor, which fact he pondered with irony that was too bitter to bring him any comfort. He thought with gloomy satisfaction that the presence of any such letter in the vicinity of his heart would have previously made a hole in it had it not been hollowed a mere fortnight before. Now, however, the presence of the letter gave him a sense of purpose and liberation for he had made a choice that allowed him to leave behind his past and that terrible pain that it held.

my writing journal, entry 11

faridamestek — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 06:14:42 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updates!

It wasn’t a very successful writing week, considering that I was working on my fantasy novel and the result is barely above one page. Of course, I knew that this flow couldn’t run unchecked forever and that sooner or later I’d have to struggle through it-doesn’t-feel-like-writing feeling. There is, however, another reason for my inability to write this week – the reason connected with my regular full medical check-up that’s scheduled for the next week and the thought of which makes my stomach turn over. At a time such as this I can’t very well concentrate on my writing. I can think about the story, yes, but I can’t write without getting distracted. By the way, while I was thus thinking, I got visited by a new idea – a vague idea that is yet to shape into anything, but there are a lot of possibilities… I’m also not sure whether to work on my Regency WIP in letters this week or maybe take a break from it and attempt writing a completely new short Regency-set story instead.

(For previous entries check my other blog)

NEW COVER for Margaret’s Rematch!

faridamestek — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:50:29 +0000

“Margaret’s Rematch” has gone through a bit of editing (took me about a year that bit!) and acquired a new cover! I always loved the old cover but I adore the new one. Tell me what you think! Isn’t it lovely?