…erm, I’ve decided to ‘bin’ the 50 or so THOUSAND words already written on a novel I am working on.
Why?
Because I have decided to write the novel I have wanted to write for about 14 years.
I can’t say too much about it, but it’s ‘the one’.
And I am in love again – you know… thinking about ‘it’ every day; upon waking up, when I’m cooking. I have butterflies in my tummy when I hear its name… Okay you get the drift.
This is the novel I have to write.
So I begin…
”When I get my first publishing contract, the first thing I’ll do is buy an Apple computer! It’s the only computer that legitimises me as a writer – oh and Carrie from SATC has one!!!”
It took a while and the models kept changing as my journey to becoming a published author continued… 2 years, 3 years… (you know the rest). But as soon as I signed that first contract with Harper Collins in 2007, I had my flat screen iMac delivered. And last December, I opened up a a box that contained my shiny new MacBook Air laptop! Read more
So my new neighbour says; ‘Lola, I have a parcel for you…’
Now, such sentences can at times, produce a sort of child- like excitement from within. Perhaps wondering if it’s a bunch of flowers, item of clothing or just anything with my name on it.
I wasn’t disappointed, however, because it just happened to be my COPY EDITED MANUSCRIPT – all the way from New York City!! (alas, minus a magnolia cupcake). Looking through it, I can see the Copy Editor has done a good and thorough job. Here are some examples of the very Englishy words that were flagged up;
Marks & Spencer
Cashmilon (if you don’t know what that is, see above!)
Entwhistle Way, Essex
Coldharbour Lane
Cul-de-sac
Felt- tip
So as my novel becomes Americanized, I realise I have a lot of work to do this weekend… And just as London seems to be in a midst of an ‘Indian Summer’ (It’s soooo sunny outside and this weekend is scheduled to be well… sunny and warm) the question becomes; will I be tempted to go out and leave my manuscript to the mercy of the ‘writing fairy?’ 
No.
Okay, maybe a bit. But I’m on a deadline and I’m disciplined (sometimes).
That’s the thing about being a writer, one has to be disciplined.
I want a cupcake.
