Moving On

My head seems to be constantly spinning these days, watching christmas come and go. I can see it coming over the hill right now like some tinsle covered monster. It's next year that's going to be weird. There's a line up of weddings coming. Ever wondered where your friends meet these people? They step out of your life for a few months or even a year or so, and they come back with this other person attached to them. I have a theory that there is a factory somewhere. People get called there like jury service and get a partner assigned to them.
My old friend Lee is next. Lee was my Editor when I worked on a comic magazine quite a while ago. We drank a lot in those days and felt sure that we wouldn't end up tied up in the constraints of real life. As I'm nearly at the end of a new book based on the adventures of lots of people I've known, I'm looking back and realising what a great time I've had so far. There are always new adventures to be had too, just round the corner.
Lately I've been working on a short story for a magazine, and of course the latest book. I'm still rewriting my historical novel- which I still have high hopes for as being my first published novel. I've had it rejected twice so far, but I won't give up.
I've been spending a lot of time with a female friend and her five year old daughter, trying to do the parental sort of thing. I've been enjoying it and it's left me with a need to do it for real one day.
My flat mate's band- THE CRAVING- have been playing various gigs round Plymouth, so try and see them if you're ever in town- they're damn good. I did a review for them in the Plymouth Evening Herald a little while ago.
So life isn't bad at the moment. Now I'm going to go and write some more, becuase that's what I do.
Bye

Ten Months on

As the title of this post suggests, it's ten months on and I have completed my historical novel. Well, it is about 215,000 words long which makes 676 pages! It was a long time coming, but now it is done and dusted, apart from the rewriting, which is going to be a lot of hard work.

I've just printed up two copies- one for my friends to read and tell me what they think so far and one for me to read over- although I do not like to read my own writing- as I
always begin to hate it after the first few pages and all seems rubbish to me. Also, this being a historical novel, I've had to adapt my style somewhat and make the narrative sound as if a eductated victorian man is telling the story.

The strangest thing about finishing this novel, is the fact that it has been on my to do list for over three years. I started the research and first twelve pages so long ago, but stopped, believing that I did not have the patience to carry it on. Also, the book has become like some holy grail and now that I hold it in my hand, printed out, it all seems as if I've completed my dream of writing an 'epic' novel, and part of me is asking 'what now?'

So, what now? Obviously I'll rewrite the book, but then I have various possible projects to tackle. I have increasingly been plagued by the time: 00.7 am. I wake up at that hour sometimes and other times decide to look at a clock and see what time it is and there it is again: 00.7 am is staring at me. I decided to pick up a random book off my shelf the other day and opened it to the first page- it was the book called THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME. The first lines are 'it was seven minutes after midnight' !? I woke up at 00.7am that morning! So, what does it mean? Probably nothing, but i have decided to have a go at writing a James Bond Novel next year- 007 in 2007. Get it?

Well, thanks for reading this and I will try and tell you how I do with rewriting my novel and what my friends think of my novel- especially the landlady of my local pub- who is my no.1 fan, and not in a misery way, I hope.

Mark Y
S

Through The Night

I worked all night last night in a desperate attempt to get more money together so I could make the new year more comfortable for me. I actually can say I enjoyed it, but probably only because I was in such good company; I was joined by a few of my usual colleagues and as always we had a good laugh. We sat in Goodbodies and ate breakfast, and at that point it became clear to me how at home in Plymouth I've become again. Also, maybe it was the tiredness and strain of working all night, but I let out a few of my secrets. Number one being that I have a crush on a married woman at work and she was named. problem is that it's entirely possible that she will now find out, but that's only if she doesn't know already. Another friend of mine pointed out the fact that I am very flirty round her anyway, and that she probably has guessed.

Well, I'm still on the point of beginning my Historical novel. I cannot seem to start it and I think it's the fear that I'm taking on something so monumental that I might actually make a mess of it! As it is set in Victorian London, I have to feel comfortable writing about that period and have done the necessary research involved, but I just can't seem to get going from the point I finished at some time ago. I'm ready to write it, but I think I need to make a leap of faith. I think it's time to admit what I'm always afraid to admit or too modest to say; I'm good at what I do. When I write, something comes alive in me and my works become better than the sum total of myself. A female friend of mine has just finished my last novel THE GHOSTLY HEART, and said she thought it was very good, with great characters. She also said she shed a tear at the end, and this is the point I'm most proud of, because that's what I set out to achieve.

Tomorrow I plan to sit down and write my historical novel once more. I'll probably do a moderate number of words each day, which means it'll probably take me ten months to a year to complete it. It's going to be tough, but I think I'm ready.

Bye,

Mark Yarwood

IT'S OVER AT LAST

I've just this evening finished my Novel as part of the National Novel Writing Month. My novel titled The Ghostly Heart is now complete and I'm proud that I was able to finish it in a month. I'm happy with the story too and I hope it's as passionate and sad as I wanted it to be. As you can see below, I have included the icon that is given to all winners of the National Novel Writing Month.

I'm seriously considering trying to write a book in twenty four hours and perhaps for charity. Anyone out there that would like to sponsor me, I would be glad to hear from you.

My next book is going to be a large historical novel- my opus- set in London in 1888. It is also a chance for me to look back into my family, as my father's side came from Bethnal Green, and his Grandmother remembers when Jack The Ripper was going about his gruesome business. My book, although set at the same time as the Whitechapel Murders, are not soley about that, and are actually focused around other political events of the period. It is of course, going to be hard work, but most of the research is done.

Just realised I'm missing the modern version of a Midsummer's nights dream on BBC One. Nevermind- writing comes first.

I'd like to say well done to the other participants of National Novel Writing Month.

Mark Yarwood

Nearly At The End

Well, National Novel Writing Month is nearly over, with only eight days to go. I'm on the final stretch and can't wait for my novel: The Ghostly Heart to be finished. It's good to have another novel under my belt and that means this will be my eighteenth! I'm going to celebrate it with friends by going out for a slap up meal. I should also smoke a cigarette and drink a black russian- my new 'I've finished a novel' routine. Eighteen books! It still seems like yesterday that I was starting my first book 'Love, Regret and Murder'. I was so young and didn't have the first idea how to write a book.

After this latest speedy effort I'm going back to an unfinished historical fictional book that I started a couple of years ago. It's going to be six hundred pages at least and set in London in 1888. I keep reading back the start and it's not bad, but have to get all my research material fro London before I can begin.

Ah, Christmas is coming fast and I shall travel to London with my laptop under my arm, but will be back for the new year and will continue to write.

Mark Yarwood

Writing Until the End

I have this month taken on the challenge of trying to write a novel in a month as part of the National Novel Writing Month. I met up with other people from Devon last Sunday who have also taken on the challenge and we had a good and productive time, drinking and writing. It's good having met a few other writers in Devon, as now I'll have people to bounce my ideas off.

My book is entitled 'The Ghostly Heart', which is based on an idea I had some time ago and only just got round to working on. I'm 17,000 words in and it's going well. The title is sort of taken from The Great Gatsby, where the narrator says 'No amount of fire and freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart'.

The book is basically about a love triangle, but it also more than that. There is a mystery surrounding a cult and the grip it has on the main character's ex- lover. Well, I should be finished by the end of the month, the deadline. I realise now that I've never worked to a deadline before, so I suppose it's good practice.

At the moment I'm trying to think of a sort of ritual I can do at the end of my novel, like smoking a single cigarette or eating a big meal or something. Well, I'm going to think about it.

Yours

Mark Y

Five Things

Ok, haven't updated my site for a while as I've been concentrating on my novel writing, but my friend Laura has persuaded me to get back to blogging. Here's my Five Things list:

Five Things I plan to do before I die:

1) Swim with sharks
2) Become a lectuer of creative writing
3) Live in New York for a year and write a book
4) Get married at least once, probably in Las Vegas.
5) Drive a Ferrari

Five Things I can do:

1) Write books
2) Draw pretty damn well
3) Remember and quote films
4) Do the best Michael Caine impression in the Universe
5) Laugh like some evil villian

Five Things I can't do:

1) Play Football
2) Sing
3) Drive
4) Forgive and forget easily
5) Stop writing

Five Things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1) Making me laugh a lot
2) Brown hair
3) Full figured
4) Cleavage
5) Nice legs


Five Things I say a lot:

1) Fantastic
2) 'Water' in a weird, crap foriegn accent.
3) 'That's the best news I've had since I threw up my lunch'
4) In all my years as a London cabbie I've never heard of that address before.
5) It's too early for this shit

There you go,

Enjoy

Mark Y