When I picked up The Home Coming from my book shelf it was actually to show a client how their work would look in print. It was just the number of words, not the content that was similar. Sometimes hard copy can be inspiring when your work seems only ever to be on the computer screen.
I woke up at 3am. Laying in the dark my tired brain started blaming me for all the wrongs; mine, yours and everyone else’s. Then rolling over I start worrying about all the could be’s And shouldn’t be’s and maybe’s.
‘Sod this Darling!’ Harry said
He carried me up the stairs in his strong arms and plonked me down in the chair. He opened my laptop and we started to chat as I started to write. I was so pleased he was back. I thought about apologising for not giving him a voice in the last book but I knew he would just tell me to shut up so I let my fingers do the talking.
I met with a film producer yesterday, he had read my first two chapters and liked them. It is always good when someone likes your work but it is even better if they inspire you. I have now started to rewrite my first book as a screenplay. I have found more detail is needed and so the book is getting more descriptive. In short the manuscript is getting better, my writing is improving and the story is getting deeper. I had been so involved with other projects I had started to doubt that first manuscript. So it was amazing to be brought back to it, back to exactly where I was this time last year, writing it.
In 2013 we emigrated to Australia, I fell in love with this beautiful country when I travelled around it in 2002 so I was truly exhilarated to be bringing my family back. The space, beaches, warmth and landscapes were some of the things I couldn’t wait to show my children. Three months later the company that had sponsored us made my husband redundant, luckily within two weeks he had three job offers but he still had to spend the next year climbing back up the greasy pole. Six months later I found myself in a radiology lab being scanned to see what the growth was in my throat. I had been on antibiotics for two months and surgery was looming. Was it cancer?
So when do you come out? I’m not talking about sexuality. I’m talking about in a professional sense. I’m guessing a lot of us stumble along for a good few years without really finding our niche, so when we do find it sometimes it comes as a bit of a surprise. ‘I’m a writer’ I find myself saying in a hushed tone as if I was living in the 14th century and could be burnt at the stake for such witchcraft!
So I have decided to post the second chapter of my first book here, why not the first chapter? I hear you say. Well some of my content is not for little ears and I happen to know that some of my followers are younger than the age range I would pitch my book to. Anyway it’s also a good reason for you to comment below and I will be more than happy to email you the first chapter for free!
Becoming a writer is about finding your voice. You may find many voices which have different tones. Some will be loud and strong, others will be quiet and unsure. Let the strong voice carry you in your work until the weaker has found their power.