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Finished!
I've just written the words 'The End' for my novel, Chalk, after 141, 281 words. This is, of course, only the start of the process. Now I have to go back and do a final edit of my own, adding all those thoughts and changes I've written down as I approached the end. (Of course, I've also gone back and done such edits many, many times already.) And then I'll give it to my Agent for his notes and edits. But I wanted to note this moment, and how relieved it makes me feel. Because for the last few months I've been terribly afraid that I'd never finish it. But I did!
In other news, Big Finish have announced the writers of their 100th Doctor Who audio play, entitled 100. It's a collection of four single-episode stories, one of which is written by me:
http://www.doctorwho.co.uk/
And I'm pleased to share it with Rob Shearman, Joe Lidster and Jac Rayner. My story is called 'The One Hundred Days of the Doctor'. It's especially pleasing for me to complete my collection of writing for so many different Doctors with the one I'd previously missed out on, Colin Baker. And yes, that was one of the things I couldn't tell you about yesterday.
Anyhow, I'm now off to relax and celebrate before I get down to the real work. If and when you finally see the book, I hope you like it. Cheerio.
In other news, Big Finish have announced the writers of their 100th Doctor Who audio play, entitled 100. It's a collection of four single-episode stories, one of which is written by me:
http://www.doctorwho.co.uk/
And I'm pleased to share it with Rob Shearman, Joe Lidster and Jac Rayner. My story is called 'The One Hundred Days of the Doctor'. It's especially pleasing for me to complete my collection of writing for so many different Doctors with the one I'd previously missed out on, Colin Baker. And yes, that was one of the things I couldn't tell you about yesterday.
Anyhow, I'm now off to relax and celebrate before I get down to the real work. If and when you finally see the book, I hope you like it. Cheerio.
Labels:
Chalk,
Doctor Who
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Congratulations on finishing the book, Paul. Novels are a long haul...
Martin Sketchley
Congratulations on finishing! I hope the editing goes beautifully. :-)
Congrats on fishing the book. Hope it finds a home soon, as I'm looking forward to reading it!
May I echo the sentiments above - congratulations and well done! The internet blog is a wonderful thing, demystifying to a large extent the previously hidden world of the novel-writing process. It's been a pleasure to read along. Also, really looking forward to hearing Colin Baker (my favourite Doctor) working with your dialogue. I've never understood why this man garnered so little in the way of popularity prior to Big Finish - in my mind, he was always the most, well, *lordly* of the actors to play the Time Lord. Brilliant, irascible, fearless, compassionate, verbose, flamboyant... the Sixth Doc was all these and more. Can't wait to here him in some Cornell material. Cheers!
Congratulations on finishing. 141,000 is a long old book. It's such a good feeling, isn't it, although I don't think I ever wrote the words "the end" at the end of any of mine. I was probably so glad to be done with it that two more words would have finished me off!
Look forward to seeing it on the shelves.
Penny
Bravo! And "Chalk", by an amazing coincidence, is one of my favourite sitcoms.
There really are few better words in the life of a writer than THE END. But 'I do' from a supportive partner who'll put up with all the mood swings and uncertainties might top the poll...
Congratulations Paul!
Looking forward to enjoying the finished work. You're an inspiration to us all.
All the best,
Rob.
x
Thank you very much all. I especially appreciate the kind words from people who've written 'The End' themselves! Of course, ever since I did that, my brain has been preparing a vast list of everything that's wrong with the book, and dropping random examples into my head as I go about my business. Going back over it is going to be a long slog! But that's all a good sign... I hope!
Funnily enough, i just finished a big writing project too, i just finished writing my first ever full length play for a competition with the Birmingham REP.
And "Chalk" is a fantastic title!
"100 days of the Doctor" looks great as well, I'm sure it'll be just as good as your other 25 minute stories in "Circular Time." =)
Have a great day,
Jack.
Having written a 95,000 word novel before, which felt like running the London marathon for three months, I can both sympathise and loudly congratulate you, Sir! Splendid work!
Well, good luck with that and thank you both.
Hey - congratulations. That's awesome!
Hey Paul, I noticed what possibly might be your "Human Nature" episode in the new trailer on the BBC website. It's the scene in which The Doctor looks like he's in a leisure coat and saying something about "It began in the future".
Of course you aren't going to tell me if it's the one or not, but I figured you could give me something of a hint if i'm right or wrong.
Well done on finishing, Paul. You said you felt relieved, but I'm curious to know if you also feel a tiny bid sad? I often get a little sad when I finish a novel, because I'd had such a good time with the characters and their world, and suddenly I have to move on. Does this ever happen to you?
Thanks, Lou. Of course I'm not going to, Matthew. I have felt that, Tim, but not yet, because there's still loads to do. I think I'll know when I'm really finished because of that feeling.
And then it comes back from the copy-editor...!
Martin Sketchley
cool interview in DWM btw, i never thought i'd hear DWM put "emo" and "doctor who" in the same sentence =D
Congratulations to you Paul - I confess I haven't read anything of yours for 20 years - not since our college days in fact. I don't get much time to read fiction normally, but am rediscovering this joy whilst currently on maternity leave and hope that I can keep it up once I go back to work. I'll definitely make the effort to read your new novel once its available!
There speaks the voice of experience. Jack: I actually said 'emu Doctor Who'. Oh my goodness, Sal, is that you?!
I read this yesterday and forgot that through the magic of blogging, I can congratulate you on all your hard work. Can't wait to read it!
Congrats on finishing the book!
(and I'll be watching my mailbox for 100. It sounds like it'll be quite nifty.)
Thanks, you two. I'm now into the re-edit, and making some major changes. All these kind words keep making me think I should blog again soon too! Cheers.