Category: writing

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Joshua 3 – Racing for the curtain

Post author By MG
Post date September 15, 2008
3 Comments on Joshua 3 – Racing for the curtain

‘Racing for the curtain’ is how some screenwriters refer to the increased pace of Act III, when everything hots up as the character, story and plot all ‘race for the curtain’.

In some senses, even the writer experiences the race. As the plot speeds up, climax follows crisis, with last-minute challenges to the escape and everything heads for the denouement, so does the speed of writing. As my pal, author Susie Day put it to me the other day, “You want to be writing it as fast as your readers would be reading it.”

So it’s surprising and gratifying to find that even now, even with a planning freak like me, something can pop out of the subconscious, some last minute discovery of a detail that can be used to work a theme right through the book.

I’ve had it happen before, in every book I’ve written. It usually hits around Act II. This time I’m about just 12,000 words before the end of ZERO MOMENT (current working title for Joshua 3). And on Saturday night, it hit.

I was a little tipsy from my half of the M&S dine-in-for-2 wine. Suddenly I had an urge to write, and to jump ahead in the narrative and write the final scene of ZERO MOMENT. (I did this also for INVISIBLE CITY).

I was listening to some music to get myself in the right mood – the music that would be playing at that point of the story. I looked up the English lyrics for the tune that was playing – the version was instrumental-only. And I realised that they were perfect for the song which has a major role in the story. (Technically it acts as a synecdoche referring to Josh’s sister and father-via-sister). I had previously chosen a different song ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me’. But in fact the title, the lyric and the composer of this other song made it much more appropriate.

The song is ‘Wave’ by Antonio Carlos (‘Tom’) Jobim, that master of bossa nova. (And if you remember INVISIBLE CITY, ‘Waters of March’ – Aguas de Marco by Jobim is Josh’s parents’ favourite tune) I count ‘Wave’ as perhaps my favourite jazz song (although ‘Stardust’ and ‘Me, Myself and I’ are also contenders). These are the translated lyrics:

So close your eyes
For thats a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream togetherYou can’t deny don’t try to fight the rising sea
Don’t fight the moon, the stars above and don’t fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

When I saw you first the time was halfpast three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity

By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch that wave don’t be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

When I saw you first the time was halfpast three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity

By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch that wave don’t be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes whenever two can dream a dream together

Dreams and jazz are elements which I find myself repeating in my stories. Partly because dreams and jazz mean such a lot to me, partly because Haruki does that also, to such wonderful effect that I can’t help but emulate and partly because I’m probably not imaginative enough to think of any other way to create the desired effect.

So in Joshua 3, as in INVISIBLE CITY and in ICE SHOCK I’m pulling out the same corny trick. (Yes, I have to face up to the fact that deep down I’m deeply sentimental. For goodness sakes don’t tell anyone.)

‘Wave’. How did it take me until almost the end to realise that this is the song? It even fits in with the Brazilian theme of the novel.

Wah. I am going to miss writing ZERO MOMENT. I can already feel the first pangs of loss (I always feel like this towards the ending.)

Oh – I’ve selected a choice Youtube clip of Jobim performing ‘Wave’ (instrumental version) with the legendary Herbie Hancock. If you like it, look at some others. It’s a real favourite with fans of bossa nova.

Now you only have to wait until March 2010 to understand the context of this post…

Tags jazz

getting published ice shock raves salsa

ICE SHOCK – proofs are here!

Post author By MG
Post date September 11, 2008
8 Comments on ICE SHOCK – proofs are here!

Well here it is, the final proofs of ICE SHOCK, waiting for me to check through the line edits and maybe add a line or two here or there…

A brilliant end to a wonderful week, which began on Monday with some wonderful news from my agent re JAGUAR’S REALM…can’t be more specific just yet. And a totally cool party at the London Transport Museum to launch the WOW 366 book. Have you bought it yet? Go and buy it, it’s terrific bedtime story material! My daughter and I are reading three per night. My fellow writer, our lead developer for the Alternate Reality Game we are making for ICE SHOCK and Litopian, Richard Howse was there and blogged about the evening, including a nice photo of my agent, me and Rich.

After the party I went off to the Afro-Cuban Lounge at Buffalo Bar. Word on the street is that this is no longer the top Cuban club night in London (and therefore the UK) – rumour has it that there’s a place on Wednesdays that’s better. But I’m telling ya, this Monday night the Buffalo Bar was swinging. Lots of hunky guys and sexy latino women, all terrific dancers, a friendly buzz. I was even invited to join a rueda. God, how I love salsa.

Then on Tuesday, St Giles Fair – it being the first Monday and Tuesday following St Giles’ Day. I was feeling queazy, a bit hung-over after my night of drinking and dancing in London until the small hours. So I had to say no to the Waltzer, usually the highlight of the fair for my little girl. Still managed the barbequed corn-on-the-cob at the Jamaican food stand, the fresh cotton candy and hot donuts… And I stood for a few minutes letting the atmosphere of the fair wash over me. Some years it has struck me as grubby, crass, loud and mercenary. This year, however, I felt nothing but the lurve; for carnie folk and good times, memories of being there as a student, with my first daughter and now my second.

Tradition. You can’t beat it.

Then I dropped by the office of our IT company and met no less than five new employees who have joined since I last happened by…wow! See how well they’re doing without me? Also had a good morning talking to Rich about the ARG, putting together a project plan and coming up with neat ideas. This game…is going to be so fun.

Hung out with Susie Day and talked about Blake’s 7, one of the great loves of my life, and probably something to which I owe my writing career, since that’s how I got started – writing Blake’s 7 fan fiction. Hung out with Julia Golding and talked about writing crime fiction for kids. Muhahaha. More on that anon…

This is what I have always enjoyed about work. Hanging out with top practioners and talking about how to get better. In the end it doesn’t matter if the work is science, business or writing. So long as you work with the best in the world, work is heaven. You can’t ask for more.

Went to sleep last night listening to stuff about the Large Hadron Collider, for which, major kudos!

Tags blake's 7

appearances raves writers

Hanging with the Scribes

Mark Robson, Sarah Singleton and moi in Waterstones Witney.

Saturday morning down in the Oxfordshire market town of Witney – with a surprisingly literary crowd thanks to Waterstone’s Witney Book Festival. It’s a new mini-festival. Julia Golding and I shared an event in the local Corn Exchange. We quizzed each other on outdoor survival (Julia passed with colours) and the world of diplomacy (I was clueless), and about writing and our latest books. Julia’s latest is EMPTY QUARTER, the second in the Darcie Lock series about a teenage girl whose family business happens to be spying and not, after all, working innocuously in an embassy. My daughter and I are reading it now. I had to skip ahead because it became rather too exciting to read in short bedtime chunks…

Then it was on to the small-but-perfectly-formed and jam-packed Waterstone’s Witney, where a <insert collective noun> of children’s authors hovered in the children’s section signing books and watching a master bookseller in action – Mark Robson. (Here’s Mark’s account of the morning.)

Mark is the author of an admirable number of books – including the DRAGON ORB and IMPERIAL series (he’s also one of those rare self-publishing success stories). Julia too is prolific…they both publish 2 or 3 books a year (see what a slacker I am?). Mark also spends many a Saturday signing in bookshops, where he can handsell a whole stack of books – and not just his own!

Sarah Singleton, author of gothic fantasy novels for teens (including the award-winning CENTURY) was also there. I must admit to being rather impressed by all these authors as they stood by their stacked up books.

I’ve so far resisted the temptation to stop reading books for adults and throw myself gleefully and exclusively into the richly imaginative worlds of YA fiction. But having met the authors and heard about their books makes that sooo difficult.

Yes, I know I still haven’t finished “The Feast of the Goat” by Mario Vargas Llosa. But first I want to read “The Amethyst Child” by Sarah, “Imperial Spy” by Mark and “The Diamond of Drury Lane” by Julia.

appearances getting published ice shock

MG and Editor

MG and EditorOriginally uploaded by mgharris

Here she is, Elv Moody of Scholastic, editor of INVISIBLE CITY and ICE SHOCK.

We’re in the bookshop tent at the Edinburgh book festival, a little while after my event. Hopefully I’ll receive copies of photos taken at the signing by Don the Headteacher at the Aberdeen-based International school whose pupils queued so politely.

I don’t think we look too bad considering that I was tired and hung-over from the partying of the night before. And Elv had a poorly eye.

Anywho. I enjoyed Edinburgh so much, esp hanging out with the Scholastic crew.

Ooh and I was able to tell the audience that finally, the title of Joshua 2 is indeed ICE SHOCK (sorry Es, but it will make sense when you read it and it’s inspired by a famous Doctor Who adventure – EARTHSHOCK).

And the glowy slipcover will be neon yellow…!
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ice shock writing zero moment

Joshua 2 vs Joshua 3

All my online writing buddies are all talking about this post today. It’s about how an author falls in and then out of love with their manuscript.

Right now I’m madly in love with Joshua 3, convinced it’s the cleverest and prettiest book ever. Meanwhile I’m sullenly continuing to date Joshua 2 even though we both know it’ll soon be over. And Joshua 1 is my glamorous ex- who’s gone on to much better things than me. (In a sexy orange outfit, no less.)

My life right now:

In the mornings I go straight to the desk and fiff and faff for a bit. Then I read through yesterday’s new words once again and tweak. Then I look at my plan for Joshua 3 and see where I’m up to. And then, just as I’m thinking that I really don’t feel in the mood, I start writing.

Somehow, I get words out. This is where a writer reaps the benefit of having established a work habit. If I only wrote when I felt in the mood, these days, I would hardly ever write. After the first 200 words it gets easier. Sometimes I’m done in two hours – the whole 1000 word quota. Very, very rarely I write more. This only happens when I have a particularly emotional scene to write – I can get just in the right mood and have to write that.

Writing action is both the worst bit and the best. When you write action, paradoxically everything slows down. Action eats words. A chapter might take 1500 words if it’s just dialogue and revelation. But when there’s action you can chew through 4000 words during which only minutes have passed. So you write and you come back the next day and for Josh…maybe only minutes – or seconds – have gone by. As the writer you dwell in those moments for a long time. Those action sequences become the focus of your thoughts, sometimes for days at a time.

(My as-yet-unsold manuscript ‘Jaguar’s Realm’ is largely one long chase – writing that was really tiring! The poor hero, Leo, hardly ever had a chance to sit down. I really felt for him as I had to invent scrape after scrape.)

So…in the morning, 1000 words of Joshua 3. Working title is TIGER KIDNAP, but today I thought of another: ZERO MOMENT. Any preferences?

And in the afternoon it’s down to Starbucks with my laptop and fifty pages of the ms for Joshua 2 (most likely ICE SHOCK or DARK ICE), plus my editor’s notes. I grab an iced mocha and a panini and chug through the revisions.

My pal Susie Day usually turns up with her manuscript for her own second novel, also to be published by Scholastic. It’s going to be called GIRL MEETS CAKE. Cool title huh?

We work and then we talk. About writing, editing, Doctor Who and TV and books and movies. We sob to each other about the few difficulties of writing. It’s okay, it’s lovely being a writer, but turns out that it drives you quite, quite mad to make up stories for a living. So we are crazy together.

Thank goodness for Susie, I’d probably crack up without her to talk to. I don’t even know why, but I’m definitely not as sane as I was when I was a scientist. I think I have the sort of mind that needs to do dull things repetitively, like make up test-tubes of chemical reactions and repeat experiments, for at least a small part of the day. Having to be creative all day long is unleashing some scary part of my psyche that I’m not sure was supposed to operate at more than 5%. I’m still struggling to adapt, to be honest.

It’s important to point out that if we lived in Jamaica, we’d make the effort to do as Ian Fleming did in his afternoons, and go snorkeling. But we don’t, so we write.

Today I reached 35,000 words. I’m close to writing the midpoint of the novel – I always try to make this super-dramatic. From the midpoint on, I try to pick up the pace so that a fast-paced story becomes roller-coasterish. (That’s why all the facts and knowledge have to come in the first half. Later I don’t want readers to have to pause to learn.)

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA how hard it is to do this? If you write thrillers for a living then you do. Otherwise, well it’s surprising just how hard it is. I’m not going to tell how either, so thurp.

35,000 words. And still at least that much more to go…