The tricky process of naming a novel
Category Archives: The Writing Process
My Lockdown Novel
Remember that new novel I was writing – when I last posted, I had 4 chapters written. Well, 86 days later, 20 chapters on, it is FINISHED! Today, 30th June 2020, I finished the first draft of The Hawthorn Bride. Literally this morning, at about 10.30. Thank you Lockdown. I know it has been aContinue reading “My Lockdown Novel”
Self-isolation – a good time to write a novel
Back in 1996, I had an idea for a pandemic love story. It was set in a house shared by four young twenty-somethings, struggling to survive through an epidemic that was bringing the country to a stand-still. One of the women would be ill, while two of her friends try to keep her alive atContinue reading “Self-isolation – a good time to write a novel”
Powerful Gods
One of my favourite DVD box-sets is the HBO series Rome. Originally broadcast between 2005 and 2007, it was a retelling of the story of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and the end of the Roman democracy. Many of the characters were the big names well known from history, but alongside it, the scriptwriters had createdContinue reading “Powerful Gods”
Revisiting Forgotten Worlds
My Easter treat to myself – along with all the chocolate – has been reading a George R R Martin book that I have been saving since Christmas. I am a massive fan of the Game of Thrones books. When the TV series first started, I was quite attracted to it but we don’t haveContinue reading “Revisiting Forgotten Worlds”
A Writing Experiment – the Results
Today is the last day of March, so it’s time to review the ‘experiment’. Have I met the targets I set myself? Has it had the desired results? Well, let’s see. Firstly, I have been writing. Not every day, but more days than not. Sometimes, it really was just a few hundred words, no moreContinue reading “A Writing Experiment – the Results”
A Writing Experiment
I have a confession to make. I didn’t write anything new last year. Despite all my intentions, chronicled here in this blog, I do not have a new project. I am not currently writing a novel, and haven’t been for some time. I’ve been working – editing, rewriting, bogging, etc – but I haven’t writtenContinue reading “A Writing Experiment”
Me vs the Editor
In the summer, I embarked upon the project of editing of my novel The Most Beloved Boy. I was aware of some mistakes, and knew that I would only find them all by completely rereading the text, correcting as I went. But I also knew that if I did that, I would want to changeContinue reading “Me vs the Editor”
Reading as a Writer
Writers need to read. When successful authors give advice to aspiring authors, one thing that comes up again and again is the need to keep reading. Fortunately for me, this is not a problem. Reading is second nature to me. I will read anything, and have, in the past, done just that. At work inContinue reading “Reading as a Writer”
The past – so floppy and unsubstantial
As part of that essential decluttering I had planned, I turned up a box full of old floppy discs. I hadn’t actually forgotten about them, but they haven’t crossed my mind for several years. As an archive, they are not very satisfying; I don’t think we have a device in the house that willContinue reading “The past – so floppy and unsubstantial”
M J Schofield 