Current Projects / news

OCTOBER 2024

21/10

99% finished additions to Ryan 2. 

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19/10

Tweaked opening again. Comitted to added Kara throughout. Done with opening. Started on Ryan scene 2.

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03/10

Some small progress on refining next Ryan scene.

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01/10

Finished typing up later important Albert scene. Happy with the end result. Needs a solid beginning.

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SEPTEMBER 2024

29/09

Typed up next Albert scene. Needs a solid beginning and ending.

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28/09

Finally pieced together "what now?" scene in such a way I think I'm happy with it. Put in a few more parts for consistency for when get to the next important Linas scene.

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25/09

More tweaks to the opening. Not happy with first line.

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16/09

More tweaks to opening sections. Added some Kara, need more.

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15/09

Finished beta read. Tweaking opening again. Added 'the scratch' to better fit in with altered plotlines. Working out new direction for the "what now?" scene in Part 3. Reworked the entire Linas subplot.

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AUGUST 2024

22/08

Started next Albert scene, handwritten.

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21/08

Started scene notes for separate important Ryan + Linas scene.

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19/08

Work may flow, agreed to a beta-read. Added more scene notes for later important Ryan + Linas scene.

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16/08

Handwriting pieces of future scenes. Jumping around a bit. Did 99% of an important upcoming Albert scene.

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15/08

Working out better alternative to last scene. Was a lot of fake conflict for little to no reason. Finding a new focus for the driving goal in Part 3.

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13/08

Finished the scene. Not 100% happy upon review, feel may need some intense editing.

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10/08

Typed up pages. Added some notes on how later scene plays out.

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09/08

Started next Ryan scene, handwritten (doing that more often in day-job now, not complaining!) Was without my notes again though so got a bit directionless. May not get used.

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08/08

Still handwritten, finished Albert scene. Happy with how the future between them discussion came out.

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06/08

Still handwritten, on with the Albert scene, to dowry joke. Skipped back into Part 2 to redo the practical experiment scene. Flipped the result and got to make the scene much more ominous. Also now lines up better with the solidified Part 3 & 4 plans.

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05/08

Back to handwritten, on with Albert scene, up to further study discussion. Once again, unsure if re-tread of a previous scene.

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04/08

Finally finished up previous Ryan scene. Prior days were mostly handwritten. Typed those up and soft edits.

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02/08

Skipped BACK on to the Albert scene whilst figuring out final lines on previous. Up re-meet.

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01/08

Ironed out the end of the skipped-over Ryan scene. Happy with re arrangement. NOW just need the final lines for it.

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JULY 2024

31/07

Not quite happy with the end of the scene as written. Did it by hand without references but feels like a re-tread of an earlier scene. Skipped ahead to next Albert scene instead. Up to planning for Thompson.

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30/07

Mostly finished Ryan scene, just need to figure out final lines.

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29/07

On with Ryan scene, up to disowning joke.

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28/07

Finished Albert scene, unexpectedly led to me injecting some sympathy/greater understanding of Grassley. Started the next Ryan scene, not originally planned, feels better than a summary.

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23/07

Started Part 3 opening Albert scene. By and large just him getting to be a happy boyo now. Good for him.

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21/07

Let Part 3 settle, think all good now. Got overexcited and planned out Part 4 as well, seeing as it's really just the finale. Happy with how that's looking too. Need to get on and write now!

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17/07

Think all Part 3 down now, just need to look over it a few times, make sure it flows before I commit.

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16/07

Still nailing down Part 3 plot points.

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15/07

Planning Part 3 scenes.

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14/07

Finished Albert scene. Blazed straight into Ryan. Got it done in one go. A shorter scene, but climactic so had a lot of pre-thought already. With that, PART 2 IS DONE!!

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10/07

Almost finished the scene, just need to figure out how to round it off.

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09/07

Into the meat of the Albert scene and big talk. Midway through.

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08/07

Started next Albert scene. Feel like it came out well, in that Albert's misery is pretty palpable. Poor lad.

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07/07

Finished the scene! Really happy with how it ended up.

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06/07

Big push - got 90% of the scene done, up to the next morning.

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05/07

Tiny but of progress. Ryan putting his plan into action.

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04/07

Continuing on with the scene. Up to Ryan hatching his plan.

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02/07

Got down the bare beats of the conversation. Just need to flesh them out.

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01/07

On with the scene. Up to Benji saying what he thinks of himself.

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JUNE 2024

30/06

Anniversary train ride home! But I was dopey so only got a few lines down. Benji has arrived for Big Important Scene 1.

29/06

Anniversary train ride to London! So got a little more work done. Finished the connective scene, leaving Linas house. Got to start of Big Important Scene 1.

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28/06

Solid morning - but had to do wedding anniversary crafts in the afternoon. Got down the rough framework for Big Important  Scene 1. Now just to do it!

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27/06

Very focussed morning, less so in the afternoon, but still got work done. Upon reflection will not meet the 50% target. But in my defence, what we 'little connective scenes' between the BIG moments, actually deserved more work than I thought. Got some good stuff down.

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26/06

More focussed today, yet less words down in total? Lots of firmer planning for the scenes to come. Finished the scene from yesterday. But leaves me -1 scene compared to where I wanted to be by this point in the week.

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25/06

Whilst I technically got more words down this day, it felt a lot looser over all. Many more breaks and getting up to pace. Plus had afternoon errands to do and then struggled to get back into a flow. Scrounged up some extra hours in the evening. Didn't finish the scene.

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24/06

Have a week off the day-job, so attempting to be a "Full-Time Writer" i.e. working 9-5 (as much as I'm able) just writing. Taking the method of 'allowed to NOT write, but not allowed to do anything else'. Goal to have Not Technically Ghosts reach the 50% mark by the end of the week. This first day was very successful! Finished the scene I was on and half of the one which follows!

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21/06

Continue time-test scene, moved the mirror, left the message.

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20/06

Progressed on with time-test scene, up to what they're actually doing.

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19/06

Segued out of the summary into new time-experiment scene. Maybe cut earlier butterfly-effect discussion, so not as hesitant here?

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18/06

Into next Ryan scene, started/done summary - planning a new scene to confirm can/can't change time.

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17/06

Finished the scene, tied off nicely.

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04/06

Got to near end of scene, discuss Discovery, Albert cagey.

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03/06

On with the scene, Albert dismiss Ryan's troubles, then change mind.

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02/06

Small progress on the scene - up to Ryan being down about Linas.

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01/06

Typed up the rest of the Linas scene, made some edits as I went. Got started on the next Albert scene, up to Ryan appearing.

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MAY 2024

31/05

Handwritten the rest of the debrief, liking how it came out unexpectedly into the fear of losing a friend/having them move on. Been thinking this is a better angle for the Linas subplot. It can still approximately resolve in the same way, so I can keep that. 

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29/05

Started the debrief scene with Linas.

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24/05

Settled on a minor Benji backslide to round off Part 2. Roughly planned said scenes to come. 

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23/05

Added the new Benji bit in the 24 hours. Weighing up if need a little backslide before there's a true turn around? Comes back around to wanting this to be a mostly light story, but there are parts (like this) where the stakes feel too low. 

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22/05

Finished first mum call scene. Planning the specifics of Benji part at beginning of 24 hour scenes.

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21/05

Started first mum call scene.

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20/05

Planned where to finally add the mum phone-calls also remainder of Benji parts. 

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18/05

Finished the noon meet-up. 24-hours scenes DONE!

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17/05

Progressed Albert noon meeting a little bit. Planned out 80% of the big scenes leading up to the end of Part 2, including new scene pep-talk with Osmuld?

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16/05

Tied off the end of the scene with Thompson, passed the remainder of the hours including scene with the rest of the trio. Got to start of Ryan reappearance. 

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14/05

On with Albert scene, got Thompson arriving and most of the scene with him that follows.

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13/05

Started Albert night to noon scene.

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11/05

Finished end of the Ryan scene, it got cuter than planned.

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09/05

Started Ryan side of the 24-hours, got up to meeting Albert asleep. Worked in a new bit summoning Linas to test modern side of the viewability.

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08/05

Tied off end of the Albert 24-hours scene.

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07/05

On with Albert 24-hours scene, worried it's a bit dull? Literally panicking over the ENTIRE project's worth after lunchtime writing session. --- Got over it. Was just being dramatic because struggling to get the scene going. Pressed on and got to enjoy doing the scene. Played out basically as planned, in a good way. Thinking ahead to editing, many parts feel 'floaty' think need to add some sharper lines for detail. Really build the Passageway / reference back to said features so less of characters in a void.

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06/05

Finished latest Ryan scene - reverse of earlier, Benji was too passive, so gave him some teeth back. Maybe have him slip up before true turn around? Went on to finish Albert pre-24-hours scene. Then same for Ryan. Then back to actual start of Albert 24-hours scene. With that, rewrite/shift to first-person-present is done and back onto new-new stuff! Whoo!

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04/05

Finished experiment 1, cut a nothing Ryan scene leftover and extending into next Albert section. Extended that for mutual tiredness to better fit what comes. Got onto next Ryan scene, altered for tiredness too. Unexpectedly got into half-confession to Linas. Happy with outcome, gives better connections to later parts. Need new Ryan home scene to link into tired meeting. Original scene with Benji now too severe with rewrites. ((New planned setup with Linas knowing Ryan's at C. Hall and cover for him. First idea was Ryan "practicing for school musical" but if Linas half-knows about Albert - can't "call" at home, too awkward with Dad and Benji there - that's a better fit.))  

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03/05

Nearly got to the end of experiment 1. Shifted around the ending a little - playful competition vibe? Officially cut/moved a few other scenes to a separate doc.

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02/05

Done first Ryan part 2 opening and most of next Albert section, setting up experiment 1.

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01/05

Completed first Albert part 2 opening scene. Another of those odd little ones that I'm not certain if serves a purpose or not...

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APRIL 2024

29/04

Limped to the end of the section and thus Part 1 is done, again! Had a hard time getting the Benji stuff right. Had to rework and scrap the scene three times, each scenario seeming too extreme/out of place. Think got a happy medium in the end, need to keep an eye on the tone and avoid too much whiplash as I go. Probably a focus during editing.

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28/04

Finished Albert scene and then basically all of the First Meeting. Just need to do the going home part.

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27/04

Finished Ryan getting protectives/at home scene. Tiny bit of the Albert pre-meet scene.

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26/04

Small movement on current Ryan scene. Dithering over how to address Benji with parents.

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25/04

Done redoing Albert library scene. Small start on Ryan getting ghost protectives scene.

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24/04

Done redoing Ryan at school scene.

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23/04

Done redoing Albert getting crucifix scene.

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22/04

Finished rewriting first Benji scene, happier with how it came out than first iteration.

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21/04

Settled on Benji and Linas' specific plot beats and where they come within the four parts of the story.

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20/04

Another push on rewriting a few scenes. More importantly had a breakthrough in how to better frame the mystery of the Passageway. NOT Albert's 'Discovery' that didn't make sense the longer I thought about it. Instead focus on how the anomaly could be dangerous and (at first) figuring out how to stop it.

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18/04

Continuing on with rewrites.

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14/04

On with reworking. Finished all of Albert's first scene in part 1. Started on Ryan's.

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13/04

Finished rewriting Ryan + Albert's pre-titles parts. It's officially better. Really fits this particular story. I'm not going to press on and rework everything done so far for Not Technically Ghosts into first-person-present. Also FINALLY updating my writing board so Not Technically Ghosts is officially wishally my top project.

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10/04

Continue first-person-present opening rewrite. Working in details I'd decided on after original writing (graveyard) and added those too.

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09/04

Latest part turned into what turns out to be a narratively important scene, but definitely needs to be moved elsewhere in the story, possibly as early as first talk. Then, in a merry sport, I've tried to rework the opening in first-person-present, as is the current trend for this genre. It might actually be flowing better? Need to see if it continues to work for both Ryan and Albert's parts before I make a decision. That said I've always thought the differing time-periods naturally fell into being appropriately voice-y? So maybe the majority can be transplanted as is (updating tense/pronoun)?

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08/04

Added a little to the end of the last Ryan scene. Still think my as-yet-untyped handwritten portion should still fit. Skipped ahead to next Albert scene as he's the next meeting POV.

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MARCH 2024

OK so there was one day where I got some of a  half-decent hand-written scene done in IRL work. But one of those occasions where I couldn't remember some of the preceding details so it's loose. I know, I know,  it doesn't count unless I type it too...

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FEBRUARY 2024

Nothing to report :( Spirit Rider seems more pressing now it's back and feels SO close to being ready. NTG has still been in mind though. Pretty sure I can now cut a character/plot-point (which I would've needed to go back and set up anyway) and have found a better way to get to the same point.

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JANUARY 2024

12/01

Finished Albert scene. Started next Ryan scene to lead into Meeting 4 (First Noon)

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10/01

Tweaked ending of Meeting 3 scene, think like this better. Smoother. Started next Albert scene.

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07/01

Nudged Meeting 3 over the finish line.

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05/01

Small progress, nearly finished Meeting 3. Think 'Saturday is a known concept' came out roughly as well as I wanted.

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02/01

Small progress on Meeting 3.

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01/01

Typed up all handwritten holiday work.

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SEPTEMBER 2024

27/09

Took part in #FirstLinePit --- X.com --- pitch event

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21/09

Sent out new batch of queries. (x4)

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AUGUST 2024

05/08

Another of the new batch of queries got form rejection BUT - it hung on significantly past the other queries around it, so until such a time the agency in question tells me I was forgotten, I'm choosing to believe that it was under serious consideration. Small win?

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JULY 2024

24/07

One of the new batch got form rejection.

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20/07

FINALLY got around to signing up for both Manuscript Wishlist & Query Tracker, after hearing everyone using them. Both look good! Results from Query Tracker, I send a batch of new queries. Considering counting the unanswered previous ones as a no, given time passed. 

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09/07

Rejection on the full! :( Nevermind - did get some very encouraging personalised words from the agent, as well as invitation to requery with Not Technically Ghosts when that's ready!

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03/07

Took part in #QuestPit --- X.com --- pitch event

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01/07

Took part in #QueerPit --- X.com --- pitch event

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JUNE 2024

25/06

Took part in #UnhingedPit --- X.com --- pitch event

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12/06

Received first full request! Obviously not going to get too worked up as this is still a long way from acceptance. But what it IS, is the first industry person to ever suggest my work is publishable! Whatever does/doesn't come from this specific agent, this will always be a very important moment! :D

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09/06

Queried said agent who liked the pitch.

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07/06

Took part in #JoyPit --- X.com --- pitch event - and got an agent like!

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MAY 2024

30/05

Took part in #KidLitPit --- X.com --- pitch event (wherein people pitch their stories in the interest of networking and/or getting a 'like' from an agent, which is counted as an invite to query them). No bites, but had a surprisingly good time shifting around different pitches, seeing which got more attention - plus discovered a lot of other great stories to follow now!

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APRIL 2024

29/04

Got first form rejection!

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14/04

Fired a couple extra queries. 

(Non-SR-Sidenote - good grief do I need to get Not Technically Ghosts finished! Fishing through agents for one where SR would fit and all of them seem to describe wanting something JUST LIKE NTG!!)

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13/04

Sent another batch of queries.

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07/04

Sent some more queries.

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06/04

After much dithering and consideration, chapters, synopsis, and query letter as good as they're going to get. SENT MY FIRST QUERY!!

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03/04

Yet more synopsis tweaks.

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02/04

Synopsis tweaks.

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MARCH 2024

27/03

Query letter tweaks.

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26/03

Synopsis back from betas. Tweaked it some. Got a workable 1-page version, tiny bit of space to add more. Need to make a 2-page version for those that allow.

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25/03

Still working on query letter.

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24/03

Started on query letter.

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19/03

Synopsis not finished. Tweaked it a bit more. Sent to betas.

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18/03

Finished synopsis?

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17/03

EVEN BIGGER SESSION, LITERALLY ALL AFTERNOON - NOW IT'S DONE.

IT'S DONE. IT'S DONE

DONE. DONE-Y DONE.

Started synopsis.

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16/03

Big session. Blazed through Ch18,18, and 19 tweaks!

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15/03

Tracked back to add some spy lines and clarify Cyan Sword properties. Also Ch16 tweaks done.

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12/03

Ch15 tweaks all done today.

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11/03

Ch14 tweaks done in one sitting.

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09/03

Ch13 tweaks done.

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04/03

Started Ch13 tweaks.

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02/03

Finished Ch12. Started bringing in better Segment Fifteen implementation here. 

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FEBRUARY 2024

27/02

Ch 10 +11 all done, minimal tweaks needed.

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26/02

More Throne Room tweaks. Happy with Ch9 now. Fully abandoned cutting Segment Fifteen. Tried an exercise of messily yanking out the relevant parts with some preliminary smoothing. Does come out 15,000 words fewer (before rewrites) but what was left didn't feel workable. Segment Fifteen CAN work, just needs to be better implemented.

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21/02

Back from illness. Finished Throne Room tweaks. Think all still works when read over...

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11/02

Started Throne Room tweaks. Moved parts of the conversation around. Made Sam more active. Cut flesh-eating mites.

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10/02

Finished Ch8, defined Grim's past lines. Half Ch9 tweaks done.

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06/02

Still debating Segment Fifteen. Did some of the Ch8 tweaks.

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04/02

Finally put some significant time into considering cutting Segment Fifteen. Issue is it's more tied into the plot than I realised. Will need to rethink / rewrite a lot of elements to compensate. Also skipped back to Ch5 to solidify Acheron's threat and give a clearer path forwards.

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03/02

Finished Ch7. added new lines relating to Grim's past. Need to look over it a few more times, make sure the flow still works...

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JANUARY 2024

30/01

Added the Spirit Rider legend lines to Ch4. Refined Acheron motivation lines.

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29/01

Added lines solidifying Acheron threat. Planning more Grim-past lines and Spirit Rider legend lines.

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26/01

Done majority of Ch6 tweaks - except Acheron goal (forgot!). Still thinking through it anyway.

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24/01

Done Ch5. Tweaks begun for Ch6. Reworking graveyard line. Considering bringing Acheron motivation way forward from end to here. Added new lines explaining Well of Souls.

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23/01

Small Ch3 tweaks, added some good new lines to Ch4 for clarity.

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20/01

New rewrite wasn't working. Started over, kept much of the scene as is, but changed HOW the seedug shows its message. PLUS worked in a new Grim Reaper lore which I'm REALLY liking. Clarifies Grim's nature, just need to thread into other parts. Worked out 200 words fewer than the old version of the scene!

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15/01

Started rewriting town meeting scene Ch2. Transformed Pike into Indra. Not 100% happy with the end result. Still working at it...

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14/01

Betas all done! Finished Ch1 tweaks. Planning to rework Ch2 town meeting scene. Planning a big shift in the final few chapters' resolution. Segment Fifteen to be deleted!

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01/01 - 13/01

It's with betas - what do you want from me? Go check on Not Technically Ghosts progress!

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