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