The writer at work? Most likely he's simply staring at a blank screen and wondering how he can possibly mar the appearance of that pristine whiteness with words that he knows will never quite say what he wants to say. Actually the picture is somewhat, misleading... I was editing a series of photographs I'd taken as part of the course, another useful skill for the writer to master.

As far as the novel goes the first 60 pages were submitted on time, and even now are probably being torn to shreds by the editor. That's fine, after all it's what first drafts all about isn't it? To be ripped to shreds and scattered to the four quarters of the planet by the winds of history.

Again, I think that's what this course is about. I've probably said it a dozen times already, but the way I see it is that the course demands the impossible of you and stands back to see how you react. There was panic a plenty in that last couple of weeks I can tell you, writers seeking high buildings or tall granite cliffs - (plenty of them in Cornwall) - from the top of which they could hurl themselves and their manuscripts. And yet when the deadline arrived, all five manuscripts were sitting on the table.

Tuesday evening I'm heading for the Falmouth Townhouse and 'Telltales' 19:00 - http://wordslikepictures.com/telltales/ to read an extract from the opening chapter of my novel. Yes the one I haven't been able to look at since last Tuesday... Ah well, isn't that the reason I came to Falmouth? To learn how to be a successful writer. Come along and listen, make your own mind up.

Marching on...

‘He’s back...’ The words weren’t Shelagh’s, but Marie’s. Even in the near darkness of the cell she’d spotted Eli the moment he’d slipped in through the door. Now she dug an elbow into Lizzie’s back, ‘it’s Eli Lizzie, he’s back...’

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Four names in 29 words is something I usually try to avoid, but sometimes you just have to go with it. It's been a difficult couple of weeks to be honest, 60 pages and an outline of the story opening. It's the research that's proving to be a problem, though this exercise was simply 60 pages, and then we're given the thoughts of a professional writer.

It's hard this Masters business, harder than I expected, though I guess that says a lot about my arrogance. I've really struggled this term, and at one point I really thought I wasn't going to make the 60 pages. Strangely the three girls had the pages complete a week ahead of schedule, the two guys are still working on it today, less than 24 hours before hand in.

Can't relax just yet though, still got work to finish and hand in, but completing the 60 pages is such a huge relief.

Searching for Structure

"Albert Francis Makepeace Elliott was an unusual man for his time. The second son of a middling wealthy Bristol tobacco merchant he was a well educated man, and as a qualified physician could have made a decent living in any reasonable sized town in the country. Yet for reasons he preferred to keep to himself he’d chosen instead to offer his services to the government, and take his expertise to the far side of the world."

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And so Chapter 2 gets under way, or rather is promoted from its original position of Chapter 5. It's surprising how often that kind of thing happens, at least it still surprises me, though I really ought to be used to it by now. His name might well change but I suspect his character could well play a leading role during the voyage, and that being so I felt it might be prudent to introduce him a little earlier than originally intended.

Chris (Oz)

Allies and Enemies...

When it seems the whole world is against you, what you need most is powerful allies. Question is, will Hannah Moreton prove to be the right choice?

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‘As I live and breathe... Red Lizzie McCabe.’ Hannah's smile had a jagged, uncertain edge to it. ‘So you been chosen for this trip as well have you Lizzie... last I heard you were due to hang at Tyburn, so what you doin’ here then?’

‘I got lucky,’ was Lizzie’s reply, a brief one maybe, but honest enough.