3rd draft

I've been powering through my third draft. I'm up to chapter 18 out of 27. I think giving my self a deadline has really worked and I like reading my novel, I really like the story and the characters. I think I like it a bit too much, so I don't want to cut to much out of it. Which could be a bit of a problem. When I've finished this draft I am going to print it out and read it through in hard copy form and change it a bit more but then I'm going to stop and submit it and see where that goes (probably rejection town but even the most well know authors have a pile of rejection letters).

On another note I submitted a short story to another literary journal today. It's titled A breath of air and I might publish it here after I receive a response. It's good to get things out there. This means I have three short stories floating around out there in they story sphere :)

And on another note it is winter, finally and with that comes those dreaded colds and flues, muddy puddles and foot prints through the house. But it also brings that beautiful white stuff, snow! And who doesn't love snow? Well I guess a few people don't, but I'm one of the ones that do. I can't wait to go skiing this year and it is going to be so much fun with my daughter who is 3.5. She started at 1.5 but didn't do much more then shuffle around. Last year she skied down the beginner runs and the home-trails but this year she'll be old enough to go to ski school and she'll be strong enough to ski longer. The best thing is, she's excited too.

Hunger Games

So I read it. Took a couple of days, it was one of those hard to put down books, I actually spent more time at the gym just so I could read longer (I usually sit on a bike and read while pedaling).
I am not sure about going to see the movie—I don't think I would like all the violence. In you're own head you can sensor it a bit but when it's on the big screen it's in your face. It's interesting hubby said he'd probably see the movie but not read the book. I have ordered the next two in the series even though I've heard that they aren't as good as the first.
It has been well written, easy and engaging to read. I like the world the author Suzanne Collins invokes and the contrast between the districts and the Capitol. It is a young adult novel—that being said I enjoy YA novels.
So if you're looking for a book I recommend Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Now I have to find a new book to read, as my book shelf is full of books I've already read, I might need some help—thoughts anyone? what books are you reading at the moment?

Revision

I've had inspiration this week! I recently joined the Writers Victoria group. They send out e-mails and a six weekly magazine. I got an e-mail the other day with writing opportunities it in, competitions, magazines accepting submission etc. It had a publishing company that is accepting unsolicited manuscripts until the 31st of July. So I thought maybe I could get mine finished by then, it gives me a deadline something to work towards and that was my inspiration. I think I will get it done, but there is no guarantee that it will be accepted, far from it, I just needed the motivation to finish it instead of starting other projects (which I have been doing a lot). So I am in the third draft at chapter 10 (finished tonight) with another 17 chapters to go and then I'll look at the manuscript as a whole in paper form and see how it goes from there, with coloured pens and post it notes.

Room

I've been reading Room by Emma Donoghue for book club. It's not my choice. I got it a few days ago and am about 2/3 through it. I would never have picked it up but that's what being in a book club is good for. It's a good book. The story is told from a 5 year old boy's voice. He has been locked in a room with his 'Ma' from birth. At first I found it disturbing and didn't want to read it. I will stick it out but I have figured out something about myself. I like fantasy, post apocalyptic, urban fantasy, science fiction and any variation on these genres. And I just worked out why: stories about real life could be real—there really has been women locked up by men. I feel depressed reading this story but can't stop now; I feel like it is leaching the happiness out of my life. It's to close to real life. However fantasy is not, vampires don't exist. I'm also reading Blackwood Farm by Ann Rice. It's funny, these aristocratic Vampires throwing around flower language and emotions. It's an easy read, won't make me cry or feel sad, even if someone dies, because it is so far removed from real life. On my list of books to read is Hunger Games and I will read the book before I see the movie.

Perhaps my blog is more of a book review page?