So much to do, so little time to do it in, so little chocolate in the world to sustain me!
I have to finish my fantasy novel and my screenplay, and I have a stage play needs a second draft as well. But I also want to write a romance novel. I've always wanted to write one of those. (or more) The thing that was holding me back was thinking I couldn't write a sex scene. I didn't know if I could manage that. Well, now I've done one. It wasn't a great big over the top one, it was over in a page, but it was sexy and I did it!
So now, anyone got any tips? And dos and don'ts? All information gratefully received.

I am a Nano winner! It feels really good as well. I'm happy with the book and hope that a quick edit will see it at the submittable stage, so now I have to find a sympathetic publisher/agent who is willing to look at it unsolicited.
Now, I have the first of my fantasy novels to finish, and a screenplay about Africa. But one thing Nano has taught me - I can write a lot more than I have been. So watch for a great deal more productivity from me - at least till April, when I may have to actually get a job. But even then, I'm sure I'll be able to write, as I will no longer be caring for my son.
All this, plus producing a pantomime.... No wonder I never have time for the washing up!
Btw, I would like to officially thank all those who helped me through Nano, encouraging me, bullying me, chivvying me when I had bad days. The critique circle group were fun to be with, and we've made some lasting friendships. The Brighton group were also fun, and if I wasn't so damned shy and scared, I might have gone to one or more of the meets. Kaylesleigh was a great inspiration. And all those on critique circle, not taking part in Nano but cheering from the sidelines, and my friends in the real world....
And just in case I never get the chance to say it anywhere else, I'd like to dedicate this novel to my Dad, John Large, who was my first inspiration. I miss him.
Now, back to the novel....

I'm looking for a composer. Anyone out there want to prove themselves on a major work? There are two versions - a libretto, completely in song, and a play with songs in.

Some years ago, I wrote a libretto entitled "Foundations", which told the story of the first eleven chapters of the Book of Acts, specifically St Paul's conversion. I got a lot of good feedback from this, some of it from professional musicians and writers, but no composer. And without that, it was worthless.

I thought I would ease the workload. I rewrote it as a play with songs in. That works too. But still no composer.

Thing is, the part of the copyright that belongs to me has been assigned to St Richard's Church, a tiny little Church on a run down estate in South England. It's known as the little church with the big heart and it is vital to the community with its outreach. Alas, it is falling down and needs rebuilding and modest estimates put that at a cool million. When they rebuild, they are going to put a doctor's surgery in there, so the people have health facilities. There'll be health visitor facilities, places where Mums can go to learn to look after kids better (sadly, some Mums need the help), places for all the community. But we need to raise the money first.

In an area where most people are on welfare, it's easy to say it's an impossible dream, but I know nothing is impossible with God. If he wants this place to be built, he will supply us with the means. And this afternoon, whilst doing my devotions, I had the strongest urge to try one more time for a composer. The feeling would not go away, so I'm trying.

The composer would, of course, be entitled to keep their share of any money made by the project. But, as I say, my share belongs to St Richard's.

Anybody wish to look at the work, under no obligation?

I'm looking for a composer. Anyone out there want to prove themselves on a major work? There are two versions - a libretto, completely in song, and a play with songs in.

Some years ago, I wrote a libretto entitled "Foundations", which told the story of the first eleven chapters of the Book of Acts, specifically St Paul's conversion. I got a lot of good feedback from this, some of it from professional musicians and writers, but no composer. And without that, it was worthless.

I thought I would ease the workload. I rewrote it as a play with songs in. That works too. But still no composer.

Thing is, the part of the copyright that belongs to me has been assigned to St Richard's Church, a tiny little Church on a run down estate in South England. It's known as the little church with the big heart and it is vital to the community with its outreach. Alas, it is falling down and needs rebuilding and modest estimates put that at a cool million. When they rebuild, they are going to put a doctor's surgery in there, so the people have health facilities. There'll be health visitor facilities, places where Mums can go to learn to look after kids better (sadly, some Mums need the help), places for all the community. But we need to raise the money first.

In an area where most people are on welfare, it's easy to say it's an impossible dream, but I know nothing is impossible with God. If he wants this place to be built, he will supply us with the means. And this afternoon, whilst doing my devotions, I had the strongest urge to try one more time for a composer. The feeling would not go away, so I'm trying.

The composer would, of course, be entitled to keep their share of any money made by the project. But, as I say, my share belongs to St Richard's.

Anybody wish to look at the work, under no obligation?

Would I say this weekend was productive? It depends on how you look at it. I didn't do much work to my Nano novel at all, (though that stands at 40k words so can stand a rest for two days.) However, I did write my treacle mine scene. I wasn't wonderfully happy with it, but it gives us a template with which to work.
And I am itching to get going on the screenplay again. I have so many ideas, and my research has yielded things I can incorporate. Plus, having had the break from my fantasy novel, I feel ready to tackle that again.

Yay! I passed the forty thousand word mark on my Nano novel. I think some of those words are not half bad either. There's a salvageable novel in there. PLus I have made friends and really been buoyed up by it. I would never have written so much if not for Nano.
Now I have to stop for a day, or half a day and write a scene for a panto. It involves all those people who would otherwise not have speaking parts. Doesn't have to have much to do with the plot, this being panto - what plot? - but must be funny.
We live on Ashdown Forest. Winnie the Pooh was created four miles down the road, Conan Doyle lived half a mile from my house, and oh, yes, we are famous for our treacle mine. The villain of the Panto is Fran Gipani, an Italian baker, who obviously would need the treacle from a treacle mine. She also owns a dog called Killer, who eats people.
So the outline I have is the miners at a treacle mine are asked for directions by an intrepid group of explorers looking for Pooh Bear. They hear the wolf howl (yes, there's a wolf) and the explorers think it's the Hound of the Baskervilles. The miners say, bored, no, it's the Hound of the Gipanis and we're all right because Fran Gipani needs our treacle, so the dog won't eat us. Don't know about you lot though. Cue some mayhem, panto fear, etc.
Not bad for starters.

28000 words into the novel and people are beginning to get a bit cross with me. The director wants me to write an extra scene for the pantomime and I will, but he'll have to wait a few days. (To be honest, I'm toying with a few ideas before I settle on one and write it.) He said "If we can ever get Hilary to stop nanoing about, we might get some sense out of her." Bloomin' cheek!

Better than what my Mother said though. She and I met up with my Uncle, whom I haven't seen for a while. Years, in fact. He asked what I did for a living. Before I could say anything, Mum jumped in with "Oh she doesn't do anything. She just sits at her computer all day and writes."
I smiled sweetly and said "I'm a writer." He asked what I write.
"Oh" said Mum, "she writes little plays for her Church. They perform them and raise money."
I smiled through gritted teeth. "I've had a couple of plays published in America," I told him, "and yes, I've also written some for the group attached to my Church."
"Yes," said Mum. "They'd be stumped if she got a proper job."
I drank my mineral water and wished it was gin.

Excuse me a moment.

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel better now.

I am pleased with the novel though. It falls into the category of women's lit. Called Cast Offs, it tells of mentally unstable Diane, who has lost custody of her daughter Ginny. She takes Ginny and runs away to France, where she meets holiday maker Jo. Jo reminds Diane of her ex husband's new wife. When Jo starts a holiday romance, reality and fantasy start to blur and Diane decides she must save men from the home wrecking man eater that is this woman....

Ah well, back to it.

Just hit the twenty thousand mark in six days! If only I could write that much every day. I'm also pleased with the overall quality. It has its rough edges but it isn't complete rubbish. Yay for Nano!
I am looking into writing a romance. I obviously need to stick to the genre guidelines, but I want to write a story that is original as well, and a page turner. Watch this space.

First day of NaNoWriMo. I cannot remember being so keyed up about taking part in something as I am about this. I went to bed at ten last night and couldn't sleep. I got up at midnight, when I was officially allowed to start and I wrote the first 1500 words of my novel. By 6pm tonight it had become 4175 words long. It probably would have been longer, but I owed a letter to my penfriend and wrote 3500 words of that. Plus I have been on the net, and also spent my customary two hours asleep this afternoon. So I am really pleased with myself.
If I could only keep up such a pace. That would be a novel (first draft) in a month!
Of course, if you're not a writer, it means nothing to you, as was ably demonstrated by my son. Seeing me wave my arms about and say "Yay! I did 4175 words today!" he smiled, in a pitying way, and said "You desperately need a social life."
Anyway, I'm on course to succeed. That's the main thing.