When writing this little project (which has now stumbled to a halt due to my forgetting how to write), I have five Word documents open to assist me, as well as the charms of Google and Wikipedia.

They are:

1) The first draft of the novel: in-progress, obviously
2) The plot: hasn't been updated for ages - I didn't even have the MMP's name in it!
3) The language: yes, I've had a weird Tolkien moment and decided to invent a language. It's a strange mixture of Latin rules with harder consonants, and a strange lilting pronunciation.
4) The character list: when you have a building of around 30-40 characters to look after, not to mention the satellites of the society, it helps to keep them in some kind of order (with their birth months, relative ages and defining traits/speech quirks)
5) The timeline: The plot takes place over several months, with events littered all over the place and too many gaps to fill - I succumbed to The Table to keep them all straight. Reminds me of a revision timetable.

And there you have it - an odd little insight into why writing this thing is almost a military exercise.

FINALLY, the loose pages of novel that have been floating around, unloved, have been typed into the laptop.

We are back in business.

I am still a rubbish internet friend. I am going to try my best to update more often - please poke me if you haven't heard anything in a week.

Anyway, while I was staring out the window of life, Cultural Roots was published! I hope you guys enjoy it!

A belated Christmas wish for you all, and a wish that the New Year will bring you all you desire!

and, hopefully, a little more of me :s

I seem to be making a lot of these posts. I'm all 'Hi, I'm back, I missed you guys' and then there's silence for a week or two, before it's more 'I'm back, sorry, yes, really back this time' and then vanish again.

As far as I know, I am actually back. Yes.

How's things?

This doesn't bode well for my novel in which I make up a language, does it? *sigh*

Fickle Muses rejected 'The Mischief Maker'.

However, I'm not actually fussed, because I'd completely forgotten that I'd submitted it.

Clearly, I need to target zines with long response times. :)

Now, this looks like a fun challenge!

Crossed Genres" is a new online SF&F magazine. But, twist: every month, a different genre is chosen and the submissions must contain both SF&F and the chosen genre! Cool, huh?

But this month's challenge, as the first, is the cross sci fi AND fantasy! So the only question remaining is

Space Elves

or

Techno Mage?

The chatter on the comms is already turning to NaNoWriMo...

I know that I REALLY can't do it this year, but that's what I said last year and look what happened.

Does anyone else have Nano plans, or are you pretending it's April like me?

Scratch my last post from your minds. For, dear people, I received an 'Honourable Mention' for my entry to 'Move It or Lose It!"

An excerpt from 'Cut and Run' will be on the website - but, for now, I will just stare in wonder.

Eee!

Unsurprisingly, I did not win The Verb 'Move It or Lose It' competition. The winning entry Agendas is quite good though, so I recommend you check it out.

Every time I think I might pick up my pen again, I meet another disappointment. I just need to get on!

My month away has refreshed me and now I'm back to work. I'll put some photos up soon.

I have started planning a screenplay, which I'm really excited about. It's called 'Natural Defences' and it's about an army colonel and a journalist who discover a creature with astounding abilities that COULD CHANGE THE NATURE OF WARFARE FOREVER! (yeah, I'm still working on that last bit :P)

So, how have you all been?

Hello all. I'm away for the next few weeks, so have a good August and I'll see you towards the end.

Have sent 'Whisper' back into the world, with Doorways Publications. Let's see what happens.

Also, finally submitted my piece for the Move It or Lose It Contest - it's called 'Cut and Run' and involves secret identities, gardens, operatives, coffee and three beautiful cities. Watch this space.

More photographs!

( Snap )

Whisper was rejected for the Niteblade 'Lost Innocence' Anthology.

I'm disappointed because, after all the rewrites, I thought it might stand a decent chance. Ah well - something for the drawer, I guess.

Hey all! I'm in one place for more than five minutes, so I thought I'd post some photos from my travels.

( Wade in the Water )

Other things:

&hearts ljsecret is a beautiful, fantastic place and I am already hooked

&hearts I have less than a week to write my Move It or Lose It story and then go through the beta process. It's really not happening.

&hearts I've missed you all

1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. You WILL update your LJ with the answers.
4. You will include this explanation.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

My questions from dis_closed:

( Answered beneath the cut )

Right, RL has been pushed off centre stage and I can start to breathe easy.

From ctm317:

Describe yourself using one band and song titles from that band
Choose a band/artist and answer only in song TITLES by that band::	Billy Joel
Are you male or female::	She's Always A Woman
Describe yourself::	Modern Woman
How do some people feel about you::	Uptown Girl
How do you feel about yourself::	I Go To Extremes
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend::	Don't Ask Me Why
Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend::	You're My Home
Describe where you want to be::	The River of Dreams
Describe what you want to be::	The Entertainer
Describe how you live::	Honesty
Describe how you love::	This Is The Time
Share a few words of wisdom:	Leave A Tender Moment Alone
Take this survey | Find more surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

And point of interest: I was Googling restaurants in Cardiff Bay and, without thinking, typed in "restaurants in the bay". As soon as I did it, I groaned - it'll come up with San Fran or something. But no, Cardiff was the first link. Aww, my little town's all right!

Hello!!

I am so sorry for being the worst kind of LJ friend - between the surprise holiday, the tedious conference and a course that starts tomorrow, I have been completely eaten alive by Real Life. :(

However, dameboudicca posted a "getting to know you" type list, which should be interesting to complete as I keep most of this stuff Top Secret.

( The vaguest of vague answers under here )

So, how have you all been?