For much of the time
since I last wrote here it's been like living in a tunnel. Ahead and behind is
the same. Look back and all you can see is dull dark days with the rain
falling. Look ahead at the weather forecast and the picture is the same. There
have been some bright days when we have emerged from the tunnel for a brief
respite, but then once more everything is drenched. The water pours in from
next door, flooding the garden, or comes in from the road to do the same.
We had another dose
last night, but that was probably because it was 29th of Feb and it got left
over from another universe! Now there is more light and its colder and drier.
We had a dark spring in December and will no doubt have light winter in March.
When I can't do
gardening or bird photography or walking I sit here writing, and for the first
time in my life I believe I have a
chance of success.
Months ago I decided
to try to write a commercial thriller. I read lots of "how to" books
and articles, pinched ideas from all over the place, used my own character as a
basis for the main character and started to put it together. With few expectations
I put the opening chapters of "Lucas and the Girl from the Sea" on
"Youwriteon", a peer reviewing website I had used before, deciding to
use my middle name Stewart as a nom-de-plume. To get your own work reviewed you
have to review and give marks to a randomly chosen sample from another member.
The first few reviews I received were quite
encouraging and pointed out a few obvious problems with the first draft, so
after much re-writing I pasted up a second draft. I was clocking up credit
points by doing review after review, but reviews of "Lucas" in return
were very slow to arrive. Gradually they began to mount up and they were good.
At one point my cumulative score was 4.5 out of 5 and to my astonishment I
found myself at nr 3 in the "Top Ten". From April onwards the best of
the top ten get reviewed by commercial publishers so there is quite an
incentive to get there.
St David's day was
rapidly approaching and the big question was "had I scored enough points
for the computer to put me in the top ten for the month?" Yesterday
morning we all had to wait until 11am for the top ten for the month of
February. I was at number one!
Please click on
'Lucas' and let me know what you think.
