I’ve used up all 25 words in my sum-up this week. What’s your week been like?
Volunteer and COVID jab
Wonderful TenX9 community
Zoom calls and theatre
Wollaton Park, lunch with friends
School visit, read from my book
Relax, relax, breathe …
I’m continuing with the process of editing my 2nd children’s book. It follows on from The Clocker but, this time, focuses on Samantha. Nev and his dad, Ed are very much part of the story, Ed continuing to embarrass Nev with his misuse of slang.
As I was editing the other day, I came across a line I’d written: Nev’s dad’s slanguage was legendary. It made me pause to consider when the word slanguage had become part of our vocabulary.
Finding that the word wasn’t listed in my physical Oxford English Dictionary, I headed to Google and the online OED. I was surprised to find that the first known usage of the word slanguage was the 1860s, when it appeared in the Daily Telegraph London. The word is a blend of slang and language, hence slanguage. If you’ve read my children’s book, The Clocker, My Books you’ll be familiar with Nev’s dad’s mixed up slang words.
What are you pleased about this week? I was very touched by a review of my book, The Clocker, My Books from a 8 year old boy who is passionate about his own hens.
I’m really proud of myself because this is the biggest book I have ever read in my life, the review starts.
I feel really bad for Nev, you know? His mom left just like that and I don’t like that he gets bullied ‘cause I know how that feels. My young reviewer continues that he’s glad Nev has his hens, Samantha and his dad. He’s funny. I like how he talks obvs.
Finally, my wonderful reviewer says, this is a really good book for kids to read … you know how you say you don’t always know the full story … like how bullies can bully ‘cause they’re having a hard time too? That made me think a lot.
What an insightful boy. Comments like these make all the time spent writing worthwhile.
This week I have completed a second developmental edit of my next children’s book. I’ve made changes, added some bits and removed others. This book will focus on Samantha, who appeared in my first book, The Clocker. My Books
My next task is a line edit and to then send it off for feedback before getting it published. I’m getting closer and feeling pleased.
What are you pleased about this week? I’d like to hear from you.
How’s your week been? I’ve had an industrious week writing-wise. As well as continuing with the editing of my second children’s book, I’ve started work on two other short pieces.
One is for TenX9 Nottingham, where nine true-life pieces of no more than ten minutes are read. The theme for the next one is waiting.
My second piece is for Let’s Write, an online writing group I attend. This month we had a choice of three prompts. I spent some time deciding which prompt to use and made a start on my piece.
I’m feeling satisfied.
What are you pleased or satisfied with this week?
This week, I am pleased with a plodding along sort of week. I’ve plodded on with the first draft of my second children’s book. Plodded on with contacting bookshops and libraries to ask them to stock my book. I’ve volunteered, been out, kept the house (reasonably) clean and tidy, groomed the cats and so on. See what I mean by plodding? It’s good to have a plodding along week sometimes.
What are you pleased with this week?
Share something you’ve achieved, or are pleased with, this week. It doesn’t matter how big or small; go ahead and flaunt it.
In the last week, I have taken my children’s book, The Clocker, to two local libraries. I’ve met lots of children and their families and had a wonderful time. Each session has started with me reading a few chapters of my book, followed by a writing/ craft session. I’ve been very impressed at how many children know what a blurb is and where to find it on a book.
Each child, as well as some of their family members, thought of an animal whether real or imaginary they’d like to write a book about. They came up with titles, drew pictures and wrote a mini blurb. What fantastic ideas they had, from Superflea, to The Finx, from Flight (about a bird called Blue Bell), to Fun Facts About Snakes. There’s definitely some budding talent out there.
Thank you to Nottingham Central Library and Wollaton Library for inviting me; I loved it.
How’s your week been? If you’d like to sum it up in 25 words or less, I’d love to hear from you.
Charity shop Monday
Write and clean Tuesday
Write more on Wednesday
Friends on Thursday
Library event Friday
Shop and write Saturday
And it’s Sunday again
Today’s the day to share anything that you’re pleased with this week. Here’s mine:
Having had my debut children’s book, The Clocker, published this year, I have been beavering away on a second children’s book. It’s a follow on, with a focus on a different character than the first book.
I’m delighted to have now written over 30,000 words. Although it’s very much a first draft, that feels quite an achievement.
This week, I’m going to hand over to Nev, the main character from my children’s book, The Clocker. Nev likes to make up his own words and he’s going to share one of them.
I love making up words. Sometimes there isn’t one that exists that says what you want. I started making up words when I was little. It made people laugh so I made up more. The first made up word in The Clocker is ‘slumpfolded’. It means you’re slumped and folded over all at once. It described how my dad looked when my mum had left us. Apparently, that word also means something to do with a geographical feature but I think my meaning is better.
Have you ever made up a word, either by adding two words together or creating your own word? I’d love to hear them (and so would Nev).
