Diver

Hey hey!

I’m back again for another update. I’ve just finished chapter 15, 16th chapter to be precise if I include the prologue. And yes, I am including the prologue to make my progress seem larger, because lets face it, saying that you’ve written 16 chapters is more satisfying (and I must say, more impressive) than saying that you’ve written 15.

Chapter 14 is particularly strong as there is a huge scene which finishes with the introduction of a species of Devs that I have been dying to include since starting this project. The next chapter took a few days to write, simply because I have been feeling quite bogged down with writing everyday. It is like climbing Snowdon or Ben Nevis. During the three hour walk up, there are going to be time where you will feel fatigued. My mum and sister-in-law have been complaining that I’ve been spending too much time on the laptop and I’m not giving myself enough breaks. But I’ve told them both that novels do not write themselves. In the words of my dad (or rather the Hindu holy book), you are never going to get the pearls at the bottom of the sea by sitting on the coast. You have to dive into the sea and spend hours swimming to get what you want.

I think that’s the down-side of being an ambitious and impatient person. You want to get everything done as soon as possible. I have set myself a deadline of August to get the first draft of all chapters done. Hopefully by then, I will have a job and I can spend the weekends and evenings looking through the drafts like an unknowing reader. As any wanabee writer will know, first drafts will never get you published, unless you are very lucky, or the publisher has very low standards.

The biggest highlight of my week was when I called my friend Ashish, for I had not spoken to him since going job hunting several weeks ago. We could have met up today, but as the EDL are marching in Dudley and I do not care to have racial abuse thrown at me, I was not willing to go out today. Ashish told me that he read my Prologue a few weeks ago, which he really adored. He said that he got a very Arabian/Persian vibe from it and that it reminded him of a Bollywood movie with Ash Rai – not sure what the name was again, since I’m not a Bollywood fanatic. I was pretty secure with the Prologue anyways, since Birmingham David said that it was very intriguing and got him asking a lot of questions as to what will happen later in the novel. However, it is good to have motivation when you are writing, because there are times when you look at what you’re doing and think, “What is the point in me writing this?” or “this is turning into a bag of shit”. But having people tell you that they are hooked onto the first chapter makes you want to write more and not disappoint them. After all, the most annoying thing about a book (or movie) is when it starts brilliantly, but then slides downhill.

I will be giving myself a much needed break tomorrow, for I will be attending a wedding. I am not sure who the couple are, but I decided to use this opportunity to do some power dressing. Yes, we are talking about glimmering saris as bright as stained glass and some immaculate make-up. It is one of those days when you can feel as glamorous as those A-listers on the red carpet. Well, the only difference is that my sari probably cost £80, whereas Penelope Cruz gets to choose from a selection of $5000 worth of Armanis and Valentinos. But since I have never been much of a fussy or envious person, I am more than happy with the former 