Winter arrived in Perth last week, and for some reason bad weather never fails to stimulate my writing. I think it’s a combination of the sounds—rain on a tin roof, wind rushing through the trees—and sights—grey skies, water trickling down a pane of glass. Whatever it is, it cures my writer’s block every time.
I’m pleased to report that I’ve moved on from page 60 in my manuscript—I’m now up to page 80. It’s better than it sounds because I feel as if I know what I’m doing now. I’ve rejigged the story a lot, and I actually like it much better.
They say that everyone’s first novel is autobiographical and although strictly speaking mine wasn’t, it did have a lot of me in it, perhaps too much. In the latest version, I think the themes are now less personal and more universal. I’ll have to wait for readers’ verdicts on that …
~
In other news, the temperature in Perth actually dipped below zero on Wednesday night—the coldest Perth night for three years. It was still only one degree at half-past seven on Thursday morning, which I experienced vicariously as I stayed inside by the heater in my PJs. The dogs and I delayed our walk until it warmed up a little—I refuse to walk unless it’s at least five degrees. When we did set off, there was still plenty of bite in the air. And plenty of rain.
On roses and rose leaves:
On the daisies, too:
I’m always amazed that you can still find colour in winter—the flame trees stood out against the grey sky:
And the wisteria was flowering:
This, I believe, is called a ‘cockie’s tongue’, and it’s just starting to bud. It appears that a spider has decided to call it home.
So, that’s a glimpse of my week. I’m actually out of the attic for the next week or so. I only arrived where I’m staying last night, but I’ve already made a friend:
We’ll keep each other company.
Hope you have a warm week, and that words, pictures, songs, or whatever art you make, flow from your fingertips.
xx
Good to hear – and lovely photos. Colour during winter always cheers me up!
Thanks, Frances—I’m glad you liked it. I think of winter as dull and dreary, but colour is still there …
So very happy for you. How satisfying it must feel to like Ida even better with your revisions. Makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it?
I’ve told you before–at least I hope I have– that you have an artist’s eye to observe and catch the beauty of the raindrops on your flowers.Thanks for sharing this part of your world.
Great to hear from you. Best wishes.
Thanks, Penny. Yes, Ida is falling into place and I have great visions for my story. Of course, I may not pull it off, but I’ll give it a go!
And thank you for the compliments on my photos. I’d love to take a proper photography course—and I will, when I’ve finished this novel!
Thanks as always for your comment and encouragement. xx
Good to hear you’re powering on with your book, Louise. I had no idea WA could get so cold. It’s freezing here in Melbourne. Good weather for polar bears. Your photos make me think warmth more than cold, which is cheering.
WA does get chilly, and it always seems to take us by surprise! I think we feel quite peeved when it gets cold, as if it’s not fair, but our winters are so short, we can’t really begrudge the few weeks of cold we get.
I read a satirical article the other day, that sums it up and gave me a laugh: ‘Arrival of Winter Catches Australia By Surprise for 227th Year in a Row’.
(http://theunaustralian.net/2015/07/09/arrival-of-winter-catches-australia-by-surprise-for-227th-year-in-a-row/)
I’m glad you liked the photos! I’d love to learn how to do it properly …
What a fabulous photographer you are, Louise. And what a wonderful week! Enjoy your productivity.
Thank you for commenting, Gulara—and you’re very kind! I love taking photos, but I’m still working out how to use my camera properly, not to mention the photoshopping side of things! It was a lovely, albeit cold, week!
Beautiful photos , Louise, and also glad to hear that work on your beautiful novel Ida’s children is progressing.
And yes, isn’t funny the way in which Australia , particular I think Western Australia is caught by surprise when we get some cold weather. It’s like – what’s this? – cold weather? Feels weird. 🙂
Yes, I agree—winter takes us completely by surprise, every year! I think we identify our country as sunburnt, and forget that we actually do get a winter, albeit a short one.
Such lovely photos, Louise, and I’m so glad to hear your writing is progressing and you’re feeling happier about it 🙂 That’s great news! I’m struggling a little with structure on my second book – it’s been written for ages but a few new scenes have thrown it a little into disarray, so I’m about to wrestle with it again in the hopes of getting it done and back to the editor before school holidays next week 😀
Writing a book is so much more demanding than I ever thought possible. It reminds me of how I felt about childbirth—everyone tells you how painful it is, but you can’t comprehend it until you’ve actually done it. I know your book will come together, it’s just tedious getting it there. Or that’s what I’m finding. I don’t know about you, but I put pressure on myself to have it done by a certain date, especially when I read about other authors who work quickly. But it takes as long as it takes. I’m sure you’ll do a great job with your second book, as you did with your first (which I’m about half-way through!). Thanks for commenting and good luck with your edits.
This is so true, Louise – this writing lark is definitely not all lattes and sitting around! I am totally at the tedious stage with Book 2 – I’m doing a sentence by sentence edit in an effort to get the word count down before I send it back to my editor – but at least I’ve solved the structure issues! (I hope). Thanks for your kind words about my work, I’m really looking forward to reading Ida’s Children one day – I know you’ll get there, good luck and keep on pushing! (not a childbirth reference! :-)) xx
You’re going really well with your edits, Helen! I know how hard it is to keep momentum going, and you’re managing to do that! If only writing a novel was over as quickly as childbirth. Even pregnancy + childbirth is quicker!
Thanks Louise – my work does sometimes feel like another child, especially with the time it take to produce something 🙂 Manuscript went back to the editor yesterday so I’m free of it for a few weeks – but of course I’m sure I’ll find something else to work on. Hope your book is coming along too xx
I understand that feeling of your novel being like another child—that’s how mine feels sometimes, too. And it’s not always the good child—in fact, it’s the child that takes up most of my mental energy! Good luck with the edits, and enjoy a break from it (although I know how hard it is to separate from your child—I mean, novel!). x
Yes, exactly! LOL. And so I’ve finished the structural edit and sent it off, you’d think I might take a break – but no, there’s another ‘child’, I mean book to look at now!
You are a dedicated and prolific writer. Is this Book Three?
Thanks Louise 🙂 No, this is another book unrelated to the series, women’s paranormal fiction rather than YA. I know how it finishes but haven’t written the end yet, so I’m hoping to get the time to do it now. Book three of Ambeth is written as well, it’s finished but will no doubt need some new scenes adding when I go back to it! For now I have ideas and so am writing them as fast as I can, just in case one day I have fewer ideas, if you know what I mean.