Love this Han, and I relate to the creating space to write, and the squirrelling away and scrimping to make it happen!! It is all a lot... but it sounds like you are onto something very special xx
It sounds like you kept yourself plenty busy while you were away. The list from the contest of what should be included was priceless. Yep, they're going to ask for everything! And you're right, often a lot of that may not be right in the beginning. Depends on the book. A successful agent spoke at a workshop one time and said, while all of that matters what matters most in those early pages is the voice with which you write - that it feels like someone who would interest you, someone who has a story to tell, and that the writer write with confidence, not apologies. That sounded a little more possible - not necessarily easy to pull off, but more doable than the other!
And you got yourself out there and sent it. That's a lot! You have plenty to be proud of and more that you want to do. Sounds kind of perfect.
And your pictures are gorgeous. I hope you had fun with Doug the Crub and your dog and your neighbor animals, and that you and your husband could kick back every so often and congratulate yourselves on a great idea to move there! Take care...
I’m really pleased I entered it, it gave me plenty of food for thought about what needs to be in it - the 5 things were useful just maybe not for an opening chapter!!
I will keep in mind what that agent did to you as I think I lost some of the voice by trying to tick all the boxes, thank you.
I did have a lovely few months, less time spent in Doug but plenty of time spent with Kiki the dog and the new additions to the family … 4 gorgeous hens. I must introduce them.
I hope you’ve been keeping well and doing nice things.
Sounds like a wise decision. And yes, the adventure has been amazing. I discovered the answer to a writing prompt that haunted me for more than 25 years, and am continuing on, one step at a time. Can't say I've enjoyed every minute of it - some of it has been physically tough to handle at the age of 70, but so far, so good.
How great about the hens! If you read Cass at Golden Thread Farm on Substack, she has a hen that comes in the house like a dog - you might get a kick out of her posts. How does Kiki like the hens?
While you were away, I uprooted myself and went cross country for a few months, then found my way to the midwest for the next 4-6 months. It's been an adventure!
I’m so glad to hear from you! My wife (I read some of the chats and comments to her) were getting worried about your welfare. Hope you’re having a fun holiday season and best wishes for 2026!
As someone who is also writing a book and spent most of last year working away on it, I promise you will soon be in a position where you have too many words and need to start cutting. The beginning is hard, but keep at it and it will all fall into place.
Too many words sounds like another kind of problem, but good to hear you’re on that side of it - that’s very exciting! Hope it doesn’t cause you to tear your hair out.
It's a nicer problem to have, I've found that beginning stage really difficult, but just keep at it. Keep chipping away and before you know it you'll have too many words!
still writing - I got about 85% into the first draft and then decided I wanted to completely restructure it so have now started that process. It means I can still use all the writing I have done, but just want the entire structure to be different
Welcome back have missed you in these parts. Sounds like the four months away from Substack have been productively spent - novel writing is *really* hard I think! I will be excited to see your story emerging whenever it’s ready…x
Yeah all good thanks. This week in between Christmas and New Years is probably my favourite in the whole year - lots of sofa snuggling, old movies and dreams of the year ahead 💖 Bet it's super cosy on Orkney right now!
Perfection!! That’s what we’re doing, mostly relaxing which is lovely. In the old days we’d be travelling between people and sometimes across countries!
Love this Han, and I relate to the creating space to write, and the squirrelling away and scrimping to make it happen!! It is all a lot... but it sounds like you are onto something very special xx
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, lots of a scrimping & squirrelling which I know will pay off next year.
I have every faith in you that it will. It’s all about the long game!! That’s what I keep telling myself anyway 🤣🥰
Definitely the lonnnnnng game!!
It sounds like you kept yourself plenty busy while you were away. The list from the contest of what should be included was priceless. Yep, they're going to ask for everything! And you're right, often a lot of that may not be right in the beginning. Depends on the book. A successful agent spoke at a workshop one time and said, while all of that matters what matters most in those early pages is the voice with which you write - that it feels like someone who would interest you, someone who has a story to tell, and that the writer write with confidence, not apologies. That sounded a little more possible - not necessarily easy to pull off, but more doable than the other!
And you got yourself out there and sent it. That's a lot! You have plenty to be proud of and more that you want to do. Sounds kind of perfect.
And your pictures are gorgeous. I hope you had fun with Doug the Crub and your dog and your neighbor animals, and that you and your husband could kick back every so often and congratulate yourselves on a great idea to move there! Take care...
I’m really pleased I entered it, it gave me plenty of food for thought about what needs to be in it - the 5 things were useful just maybe not for an opening chapter!!
I will keep in mind what that agent did to you as I think I lost some of the voice by trying to tick all the boxes, thank you.
I did have a lovely few months, less time spent in Doug but plenty of time spent with Kiki the dog and the new additions to the family … 4 gorgeous hens. I must introduce them.
I hope you’ve been keeping well and doing nice things.
Sounds like a wise decision. And yes, the adventure has been amazing. I discovered the answer to a writing prompt that haunted me for more than 25 years, and am continuing on, one step at a time. Can't say I've enjoyed every minute of it - some of it has been physically tough to handle at the age of 70, but so far, so good.
That's some discovery! I'm not sure enjoying every minute is healthy...feels a bit weird tbh!
How great about the hens! If you read Cass at Golden Thread Farm on Substack, she has a hen that comes in the house like a dog - you might get a kick out of her posts. How does Kiki like the hens?
While you were away, I uprooted myself and went cross country for a few months, then found my way to the midwest for the next 4-6 months. It's been an adventure!
That does sound like an adventure! Sounds good - did you enjoy it?
Kiki tolerates the hens but they are kept very separate by a fairly robust fence!
I’m so glad to hear from you! My wife (I read some of the chats and comments to her) were getting worried about your welfare. Hope you’re having a fun holiday season and best wishes for 2026!
Ah that’s very kind of you to think of me Rafael, all good here thank you. Hope you’re both keeping well and the winter isn’t treating you too badly.
Welcome back!
As someone who is also writing a book and spent most of last year working away on it, I promise you will soon be in a position where you have too many words and need to start cutting. The beginning is hard, but keep at it and it will all fall into place.
Thank you Sophie, hope you’ve been well.
Too many words sounds like another kind of problem, but good to hear you’re on that side of it - that’s very exciting! Hope it doesn’t cause you to tear your hair out.
It's a nicer problem to have, I've found that beginning stage really difficult, but just keep at it. Keep chipping away and before you know it you'll have too many words!
That’s quite exciting though, taking it apart and putting it all back together in a different way.
it is actually so much fun! I think just because it feels new it’s giving me new energy
I bet!
That’s it keep chipping away and hopefully once I’m into it it’ll flow. Are you now at the editing stage or still writing?
still writing - I got about 85% into the first draft and then decided I wanted to completely restructure it so have now started that process. It means I can still use all the writing I have done, but just want the entire structure to be different
Welcome back! The Ba' sounds amazing, and I bet much more fun to watch than American football on Christmas day.
Agreed, or football (soccer) on Boxing Day which is a big obsession here!
Welcome back have missed you in these parts. Sounds like the four months away from Substack have been productively spent - novel writing is *really* hard I think! I will be excited to see your story emerging whenever it’s ready…x
Thank you Vicki, it feels good to be back - hope things are good with you.
Yeah all good thanks. This week in between Christmas and New Years is probably my favourite in the whole year - lots of sofa snuggling, old movies and dreams of the year ahead 💖 Bet it's super cosy on Orkney right now!
Perfection!! That’s what we’re doing, mostly relaxing which is lovely. In the old days we’d be travelling between people and sometimes across countries!