Working week:

For various reasons I didn’t get much writing done in the early part of the week, but fortunately things improved and Merry Gentlemen (formerly known as Life of Riley) now stands at just under 26k. That’s a novella already, although I still have a few scenes left to write. All the big dramatic ones, of course: arguments and conflict. I always end up leaving those till last. I’m such a wuss sometimes.

Real life:

Saturday brought with it the Steampunk Extravaganza, which I’ve been looking forward to for ages. Steampunk is something I’ve only encountered online before, and it was an absolutely fascinating people-watching opportunity. Steampunks from all over the country converged on our little town, and it was surreal to see them mingling with the regular shoppers on the high street. Part of what attracts me to steampunk is the DIY philosophy, so I made my own outfits for both the afternoon market (above-which made me look a bit like a pantomime dame but never mind!), and the evening do (right).

The absolute highlight for me, though, was getting to see Professor Elemental perform. I have an extreme weakness for chap hop–hip hop with comedy lyrics about tea and Britishness, performed by men in dapper historical costume. What more could you ask for?! Also, the Prof played Fighting Trousers, which made me very happy indeed

I put a few pictures on Instagram if you’re interested. You can find one of a slightly tipsy me being hugged by Professor Elemental, and a few pictures taken at the market: scary dolls, stallholders, and tea duelling.

This week:

I’ll be finishing off the first draft of Merry Gentlemen (est 35k in total, so that’s another 9k), working on the final edits for Mad About the Boys (my MMF anthology with JL Merrow) and don’t really have any other plans. Sometimes that’s the way I like it

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

Working week:

Didn’t get as much as I’d hoped for done as not only was there a bank holiday, but Daisy was off school with impetigo again *sighs*. Still, I’m up to almost 20k on the novella, Life of Riley, so I’m feeling positive about that. Also managed to get the UK Meet blog “Meet the Delegates” posts started, which has been fun. Can’t wait to meet everyone in person in July!

Real life:

Yeah. Not really had much time for doing anything for myself this week, apart from going to see I’m So Excited! on Monday (great fun!). I did get a dress I’d made altered to fit properly, though. Have also dug out a very old coat project I started but never finished. It’s needing to be taken in by around 4″, but I’m finding it quite simple to follow. Might have to make a jacket for this summer. I have a huge amount of aubergine corduroy lurking under the bed.

We did have glorious weather on the bank holiday, though, which is virtually unheard of!

This week:

Need to buckle down and finish the first draft of the novella (or get near to it, anyway). At the weekend there’s the steampunk fair, so I’ve got to finish my outfit for that too. Should be fun, and I’ll get to see Professor Elemental perform

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

Working week:

I got stuck into writing my Christmas novella (provisionally titled Life of Riley, but this will change!) and managed 12k, which I’m really pleased with. The narrator (Riley) is mouthier than I’d expected, but he’s great fun to write. Loved that point on the second day when his voice started coming through loud and clear!

JL Merrow and I have also got an edited draft of our MMF short story anthology, Mad About the Boys, ready. If anyone’s interested in beta reading it over the next week or two, just let me know. It would be good to get another pair of eyes to look it over

I also seem to have got over my Facebook issues and actually started to enjoy using it. I think having the FB app on my phone helps hugely. I find it so much simpler to use than the main dashboard on the computer screen.

Real life:

This weekend we’ve been enjoying the sunshine, and Daisy helped me plant a load of new flowers and herbs in the garden. It’s looking so beautiful this spring, now those awful leylandii are gone from next door’s garden.

I’ve also been busy sewing, and not only made Daisy a skirt to match the one I made myself recently (the only difference being hers has an elasticated waist) but have completed some alterations on clothes that didn’t fit quite right, and nearly completed a chiffon gypsy blouse to go under my corset. My outfit for the Steampunk Extravaganza is so nearly complete! Just some jewellery to make when that blouse is finished

This week:

The bank holiday today means no writing (but lots of time spent in the sunny garden!), but I’m treating myself to a trip out with a friend to see I’m So Excited tonight. It’s been ages since I’ve seen an Almodóvar film and this one looks like great fun!

As for the rest of the week? I’ll be aiming for another 12k on the novella, and keep on top of the weeding the garden. Got to stop that bindweed from rearing its ugly head!

Has it been sunny in your part of the world? Got any plans for the week ahead?

Working week:

I was really pleased to not only get the accounts out of they way (tax return filed–yay!), but to also write a 5k short story for the mmf anthology I’m putting together with Jamie Merrow. I’ve also been editing our previously published stories for the anthology. It’s been interesting to see how much smoother my prose is these days. Practice really does make a big difference!

I’ve also been checking through the Screwing the System print galley, and much to my shame have found a couple of typos. Ah well. It’s fun work, though, as I’ve been able to do it while lying down–in the garden, in bed, and in the bath! What other profession gives you a chance to work in the bath?

Real life:

The burlesque dance lesson was fun (dancing, no striptease involved!), and made me realise just how much I want to start taking dance lessons as a regular thing. I’ve spent most of my life thinking I’m not much good at dancing and have no natural grace–despite how much I enjoy a good boogie. Now I’m starting to tell myself that’s it’s simply a skill I’ve never been taught, and that with practice I can improve hugely–just like I did when I had singing lessons.

I’ve very nearly finished sewing my corset too. Just a little bit of hand sewing to finish it off

This week:

I must get going on the Christmas novella, but first I want to finish edits for the mmf anthology, and finish reading through that print galley.

I’ll be guest blogging this week too. I’ll be over at Cole’s tomorrow with a Yarn Slut column (not sure what about just yet–any ideas, let me know!), and I have a post on Jessewave this Thursday, titled “In Defence of Dirty Books”. I’ll post links to both when they go live

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

Working week:

Nope, I had a week off.

Oh, okay then. This morning I got back to work and did my accounts for the last tax year. Yay! Never my favourite job, but it’s always such a relief to get it out of the way. Now they just have to be approved by my “accountant”

Real life:

I thoroughly enjoyed my guilt-free week off–once I’d got over the illness. It’s really tough to give yourself proper breaks when you’re self-employed, but I definitely needed one. I’m going to remember to give myself at least one proper week off in the summer and Christmas school holidays too. It’s also been such a mood-lifter to see the end of that awful cold north-easterly wind. Yay sunshine and mildness! Spring is here at last

Daisy and I went to Bath, Longleat and the swimming pool, so we’ve been making good use of the car We also did lots of baking, and I have to say she’s been absolutely angelic this holiday. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been spending so much time with her rather than being stuck on the computer. Food for thought…

What I’ve been working on for myself, though, were some sewing projects. I seem to be going all 50s vintage, and have made myself a glam apron for swanning around and doing the housework in.

I’ve been working on the corset too and am currently inserting the bone casings, so it’s very nearly finished. I just need to buy more thread now. It’s only a tiny thing, but it doesn’t half use a lot of thread! Stupendously heavy too with all those steel bones inside.

This weekend I also decided to make myself a 50s style circle skirt, as I’m going to need one for my dance lessons. In the end I made my own pattern and used some leftover fabric and recycled an old button, so all it cost me was a couple of hours time and £1.25 for the zip. Yay! I think it looks great and it’s definitely comfortable, with a nice swish to it. Daisy is now insisting I make her a Daisy-sized apron and skirt to match mine!

This week:

I’m getting back into writing again, first with a short story for an anthology project with JL Merrow, and then with my Christmas novella. Jez and Steve are going to have to wait until I’ve finished that one, as it has a deadline attached.

I also have to finish going through my print galley for Screwing the System, and I expect there’ll be the line edits for Junk coming through any day now

As for real life, I’m going to my first burlesque dancing lesson tonight. Should be fun! Never thought I’d ever go to stripper school

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

This is more of an apology than anything else. I appear to have overdone things last week by trying to be both school holiday supermum (Longleat! Swimming! Bristol Zoo!) and putting my heart and soul into content edits for Junk, on top of worrying about where money is coming from now hubby has had his hours cut. As a consequence, I’ve over-stressed myself and spent the whole weekend lying in bed, feeling rough. I’m up and about a bit today but have a monster sore throat and am concerned about over-doing things.

I’m giving myself this next week off. No writing. No work stuff unless I really feel the urge. I’ll hopefully get around to replying to some of those emails I’ve been avoiding (I always avoid stuff when I get over stressed–I should have seen this coming!). I’ll just be doing lots of reading, spending time with Daisy and doing whatever takes my fancy.

Even writers need a break sometimes!

I should be back with Vintage Smut Sunday. Until then, toodle pip, and I hope you all have a wonderful week and are keeping well.

*Hugs*

Jo x

Working week:

I spent my week working on the long-overdue beta reads I’d promised to JL Merrow and Lou Harper. Since then I’ve been catching up on UK Meet admin (we already have as many bookings as we had last year, with another 4 months to go so it’s going to be HUGE!), and organising entertainments for the Saturday evening. All very exciting!

Meanwhile, ideas have been percolating away for my next major writing project, and I feel almost ready to get going. I’m going to be researching urban seagulls, of all things!

Real life:

It’s been a mixed week. The good news was a glowing report from Daisy’s teacher about how well she’s doing at school, in reading and writing, but more importantly, in socialising confidently with the other children. It’s so reassuring to hear how well-liked and happy she is in class

I also found out that my husband’s working hours are being drastically cut in order for his bosses to help keep the business afloat. Not the most welcome news, but after looking at the finances I’ve concluded that with my ever-growing royalties, we should still be able to cope without him having to go and look for another job. What’s more, he’ll be around in the school holidays  to help with childcare so I can get writing done every morning. Yay!

I’m also hoping this means he’ll get back to doing things like making bread and pizza again. He makes the best pizza dough ever

This week:

I’m spending the next couple of days trying to keep warm (will this infernal Siberian weather ever end?), working on UK Meet admin and some guest blog posts. Wednesday is the last day of term so I’m taking a “me” day to visit a friend in Bristol, and then we’re into the Easter holidays. I expect I’ll be spending lots of time with Daisy making Easter biscuits and chocolate nests for chocolate eggs

Writing will begin in earnest the following week, but if I get the chance before then I’ll be starting work on the next First Impressions novelette…

Working week:

Despite Daisy having to spend another couple of days off school (impetigo flare up again – grrr!) I managed to get my novel handed in on time – and at 87,500 words it was far longer than I’d expected! The rest of the week was spent crashing out. Four months is a long time to spend on a piece of work, and I felt pretty drained once it was over–over until the edits, that is!

I’m sorry to say I completely forgot to post any Vintage Smut yesterday. I think my brain was on holiday. I’ll make up for it next week with a bumper post

Real life:

I say I spent the rest of the week crashing out, but actually I bought a car! Over the last few years I’ve been borrowing my parents’ car when I needed one, but as they’re using it more themselves that arrangement has been increasingly frustrating. I’ve been saving my last few royalty cheques and at last finally had the money to buy a nice little secondhand Honda. She drives beautifully and is a gorgeous deep red with cream leather interior, so I’m exceedingly happy! Of course, my parents did take the opportunity to remind me how in my hippy days I used to sneer at the idea of owning a car–especially one with heated seats. Oh, how I’ve changed! She represents freedom, though, and I’m really looking forward to being able to drive out and swim in the river whenever the weather is nice enough.

I’ve also been busy working on my steampunk outfit, which I managed to get finished in time to wear to the cabaret in Bristol last night (would post a pic of me in costume, but my flash wasn’t working for some reason). It’s a red taffeta bustle skirt (very short!) and matching bolero jacket, and I’m thinking of it as my Wild West Whore costume, especially when teamed up with my heeled boots and fishnets ;D

This week:

I’ve decided to concentrate on catching up with everything I’ve neglected while finishing Junk. That means lots of admin and beta reading stories for JL Merrow and Lou Harper. I’ll also be getting to work on making an underbust corset to complete my Wild West Whore look. I bought a kit from Sew Curvy and can’t wait to get going. It will be a challenge but I think my dressmaking skills are up to the job now, and I’d love to have a corset that fits me perfectly

What’s everyone else been up to? Got any plans for the week ahead?