that my novel is changing into a thriller which isn't what I want.

Hyperion is apparently starting up a line of books they specifically point out will be anti chick lit. What we call henlit I suppose. Real issues for real middle aged women? I didn't think the market wasn't served already.

Artwise - series of coastal treasures almost finished and a new or altered name lurking - Coastal elements perhaps.

with drawing - spent five hours on two pencil portraits of elderly man and woman - was very pleased with them though could easily spend more time on them to improve further. That is, if I had the time.

Posted collaborative art journal away - seven of us are working in one visual diary - two page spread each to be done within a week then sent on. It's exciting when it arrives in the mail opening it up and seeing what other artists have done. Amazing work. All very different.

One more journal to get away this week - another group with individual visual diaries circulating - two week turnaround. The journal I received this week is titled "Macabre" and the artist's first page sets the tone - it'll be fun working out something along that theme.

As for writing... well I did look for information on structure, but haven't done anything about it! Except think and thinking's very important.

In the beginning...of writing...long time ago...I would do some planning on paper. Then, it would come unstuck while writing. In the last couple of years I just write. Start at the beginning, realising that most of that 'beginning' will have to be discarded, and just write and let the story, and the characters, take me where they will. But there is usually a lull about 12,000-15,000 words in and it's really hard to get past that. I think it's because I need to have done some planning.

At the conference on Friday an author handed out some paperwork to show us how she plans her work, or keeps records while writing it. I know I'm not the only one who can forget the name of secondary characters while writing. I've a writing friend who keeps brief chapter summaries. There are many ideas out there to keep track and also create structure.

This is what I am going to do now. Try and have a balance between planning, structure, and letting the words flow. Of course it's all very easy to say...type...

Art - this week is a drawing week - need to put the paints aside and put together a small portfolio of drawings. Probably portraiture. Real and imagined. Heater is on in the studio. Can't delay any longer.

13 / 80 (16.3%)

I am participating in a blogging experiment hosted at dearauthor.com. To enter the contest, put up this blurb, image, and trackback and you are entered to win the following prize package.

$200 Amazon gift certificate
Signed copy of Slave to Sensation
New Zealand goodies chosen by Singh
ARC of Christine Feehan's October 31 release: Conspiracy Game
You can read about the experiment here and you can download the code that you need to participate here (click the link - grey arrow above, or under links to the right of screen).

SLAVE TO SENSATION
Nalini Singh
Berkley / September 2006



Welcome to a future where emotion is a crime and powers of the mind clash brutally against those of the heart.

Sascha Duncan is one of the Psy, a psychic race that has cut off its emotions in an effort to prevent murderous insanity. Those who feel are punished by having their brains wiped clean, their personalities and memories destroyed.

Lucas Hunter is a Changeling, a shapeshifter who craves sensation, lives for touch. When their separate worlds collide in the serial murders of Changeling women, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities…or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation.

Excerpt

Made the 50 pages. Noticed that if I write for a long time (at the computer) I almost fall asleep! But the fingers keep typing, and the character takes the story where she wants to go. Very weird. Of course I stopped writing after the 50 pages achieved and it's almost a week since so I have to get on with it.

Friday I spent at the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference at Waipuna Conference Centre in Auckland. No time for the conference proper, but the Friday is good value with many speakers - successful, published writers, agents, editors.

Art wise - still playing around with the landscape works, almost finished. Have to decide what to do next as I think I'll stop at the set of eight canvases I've done on this theme.

Next week I am to do some finished drawings, something frameable. Is there such a word?

I also started a visual diary that will be part of a collaborative project - 7 artists each starting a diary, sending on to the next on the list, and so on. Have to figure out how to put some images on here. Otherwise I'll have to upload to flickr and post the link.

Received one of the other's diaries today, theme of macabre. Hence the choice in music for today's entry - I've been listening to it to get me in the mood.

The collaborative visual diary project (one diary, six artists) arrived this week - looking amazing, we're well underway with our second (double page) entry.

12 / 80 (15.0%)

Today I completed two of the small canvases to complete the two series of coastal treasures paintings. AND I even prepared a larger canvas with the modelling paste to paint a large version. Very happy with progress.

And I got some writing done today, the first day of BIW. Have to up the output though to make my goal.

Yesterday it was very strange - was typing away, and became very drowsy but still managed to keep writing. It was almost as if I was about to fall asleep. The story went off on a bit of a tangent so will probably have to be severely edited but amazing what one can do. Maybe I can use the technique to let the character have more of her own voice - if I'm asleep she can do the typing.

6,174 / 80,000 (7.7%)

I have completed four paintings in a theme and decided to do two more to make two series of three. Half way there they're looking pretty good, but I've lost the passion for the subject! Which is the coastal treasures - rocks and driftwood washed up on a Thames Coast beach. To be saleable I need the two sets - who buys four paintings or a set of two? Well, maybe someone does but three seems right. Therein lies the paradox - do I paint only what I feel like at a given moment (and go off on a unrelated tangent) or knuckle down. There has to be a balance between hard work and inspiration...doesn't there?

Did another couple of thousand words on my novel - Book in a Week starts Monday - goal 50 pages - starting small. Would like to put a counter to show my progress - here goes...

5,000 / 80,000 (6.3%)

Up half the night writing - haven't done that for a long time. Have been working to spend half the day writing, and half on my art. Am close to achieving that balance, thought it might not seem so writing in the early hours.

Two canvases prepped a couple of days ago with modelling paste should be dry enough to start painting today. The last two of a series of six.

I'm also very taken with the soulcollage card idea I came across on the internet. Shall post a link sometime.