North - A New Blog

Yes. I'm still writing my own novel (and actually nearly finished...). Apart from taking it in to my writer's group every time we meet, I don't show anyone my work while it's in progress.

That's partly because I think sure isn't it just a work of genius and amn't I better letting everyone have the joy of camping outside Waterstones for a week just to be sure they can get their hands on a copy?

Partly it's because I'm positive it's 100,000 words of drivel. The truth, I suspect, may be that it lies between. And there's nothing like lukewarm feedback

'aye, I liked that bit in the middle, y'know, where she gets drunk. I liked that. It was good. And there was another bit too. Ummm. Can't remember right now. But the drunk bit was good. I really liked that.'

for killing my enthusiasm for writing. Tell me it's shit, I'll write like a demon to prove you wrong. Tell me it's brilliant and I'll go all red and my heart will beat faster and something happens behind my ears (not sure what but they tingle a bit) and I'll say 'Did you really like it? Oh right! I thought it was a bit weak there in the third paragraph on the second page. No? You liked that too? Oh OK. Grand.'

Anyway. A friend of mine, who happens to be a hugely talented writer working on his first novel has just started a blog about his novel. I adore his work in progress. I wish I was writing it. I can't wait to see it in bookshops where I can tell people 'buy it - but it now for the love of God and fill your head with wild lands, strange people and whip-cracking dialogue'. But for now I can direct you towards http://norththenovel.blogspot.com/. Go. Go now.