LabLit.com forums

by **Upward Spiral** on Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:43 pm

Amazingly prolific HG! You must have a fire under your keyboard.

by **henrygee** on Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:43 pm

Thanks very much, Upward Spiral! These encouraging words really do mean an awful lot!

The speed does come at a physical, mental, emotional and (lest we forget) financial cost:
http://network.nature.com/blogs/user/henrygee/2008/02/20/a-writers-rout

Right now I feel iller than I've felt for many months, a real upper-respiratory smackdown, and the self-imposed pressure must have been a factor. Today I managed about only 500 words, yesterday much the same, which for me is trifling. And, of course, only time will tell if any of it's really any good

But I am beginning to come round to the Editor's way of thinking - for this project at least - that the real work will come in the editorial fine tuning. Sewing all these stories together will be quite a challenge. But for now the main thing is to slap down the rough text as quickly as possible.

by **Mad Dan Eccles** on Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:09 am

Slap 'em down, Henry, slap 'em down.

I haven't kept up with the current space opera, but I'm looking forward to the edited version.

:wink:

by **henrygee** on Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:40 am

I think that's the right strategy, MDE. I think what I'd really appreciate from all interested parties is comment on how it all fits together - pacing, tone, continuity and so on. Once down slapped been it has, Master Luke.

Right now chez Gee we are enjoying rehearsing the 'Coughing Chorus' from Verdi's little-known operetta L'Effluvia Di Viriona.

by **Mad Dan Eccles** on Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:19 am

Henry, I have a suggestion. Once it's all slapped down, give it a once over with an editorial eye and red pen, and then make the opus available for wider critique. You might spot obvious things, and prevent 13 identical emails about them.

Best wishes for an abrogation of effluvia.

by **henrygee** on Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:57 pm

Thanks MDE - that's what I shall now do.

by **Editor** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:25 am

But I am beginning to come round to the Editor's way of thinking - for this project at least

Oh Lordy, my heart condition! Now where did I put those sedatives?

by **Mad Dan Eccles** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:52 am

henrygee wrote:Thanks MDE - that's what I shall now do.

Who are you, and what have you done with Henry Gee? We don't want him back — we're just curious.

by **henrygee** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:17 am

Unfortunately it's still me, only I am knackered after what seems to have been an extended and increasingly intense period of mania. This book isn't going to be resolved quickly or in one big rush. The past few weeks - in which I've chucked out 50,000 words -- have taken an immense emotional toll. I am going to have to take this more slowly than I have been, or I swear it'll kill me.

by **Reg_200** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:54 am

When you said "Chucked out" - is that UK-speak for "deleted"? That's amazing. Must have been really hard.

Must also be hard to have to take things slow when you are raring to go...

by **henrygee** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:20 am

When you said "Chucked out" - is that UK-speak for "deleted"?

No, I meant 'written'. Sorry for any misperceptions. The throwing-out will come later, and will be harder.

by **Mad Dan Eccles** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:13 am

"chuck out", as you see, can have two contradictory meanings.
"chuck in" usually means "give up"; as in "I'm chucking in the towel".
"chuck up" has one, unsavoury meaning.
"chuck down", as far as I know is meaningless.

by **henrygee** on Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:31 pm

The throwing-out will come later

The throwing-up, however, is happening more or less as we speak.

by **henrygee** on Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:47 am

Thought you folks might like to know that By The Sea got the thumbs down both from my (US) agent and her (UK) sub-agent. I think I'll let it lie, for now.

by **Mad Dan Eccles** on Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:31 am

Philistines.