Mick’s Musings – What’s That Nice Feeling?

Well, the psychotic cat from hell deciding not to sleep on your head for one. That wouldn’t be too bad if she didn’t dig her claws in when she dreams.

Opening a fresh bar of chocolate – I may be a man, but I’m still allowed that one ladies.

But, on this particular day, it comes from having finished the edit of my book (I’ll call it a novel if it’s ever published), including adding in the bit I’d forgotten when I first finished it. You know, that bit that is one of the things you first think of when you’re planning and only realise you haven’t actually written in until you’ve finished? You should have heard the language when I realised that. But, at least it doesn’t read like it’s been shoe-horned in. If it had, it would have to come out, no matter how much I love that bit.

So, officially as Happy Bunny here – or at least until my wonderful readers (yep, I am creeping again) come back and tell me what a complete load of rubbish it is. Still, at least I like the main characters in this one – don’t get me started on my lead from my first book. I hate her!! Still like the actual story and don’t think it’s too badly written, for a first attempt, but oh the lead. Very few redeeming characteristics which, possibly, I could get away with if I was an established writer, so it could perhaps be re-visited at some point? Here’s where that time-machine would come in handy again.

What am I going to do now? Well, take your choice. There’s the half-finished short story for my series online (search for Micah Arnold if you want a cheap laugh) that I should get back to (wasn’t a good idea to have written it out longhand I’m just realising – my hand-writing is terrible); or start one of the other 3 or 4 ideas that I have champing at the bit to go.

I think this time, at least for a full-length story, I’m going to try something different. In the past, when I’ve planned from the start of a project, I’ve jotted down things either in a Notepad on my computer or in a real notepad. This time, I think I’m going to buy myself a cork board and cover it in joined notes, detailing how the story should go and how the characters interact. If I don’t like how that looks, or my wife tells me to get rid of the eyesore from where I put it next to the breakfast bar, then I won’t be any worse off.

I’m going to go and enjoy that chocolate shortly and the warm, fuzzy feeling for as long as it lasts. I can already sense the itch…you know the one, I have to write something.

Well, don’t you?

Every fortnight, Mick will be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre. Mick is a forty-something member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of a cat bent on world domination.When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter.

by

Mick Arnold

Mick reviews books and will also be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre. Mick is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of two cats, Gus and Elphaba. When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter: @mick859