The Clockmaker Conspiracy
I donated blood, so this is just a brief note to say again, if you can then please do. I understand not everyone is able for good reasons, but if you are fit to do so, then please think about it and give it a go. You have nothing to lose, other than a pint of blood, and you will easily make that up again. I also got a carton of orange juice, a kit-kat and a Tunnock’s tea cake. If you don’t know what a Tunnock’s tea cake is then look it up! It was also a good time-out, away from the pressures of the day, and an entertaining chat with the nurses as well. All good.
This post is about The Clockmaker Conspiracy which to be fair has been haunting me for a good few years now. It’s been taken apart via what we call a structural edit. The plot has been clarified; character motivations reviewed and recast; anything that needs to be resolved has been flagged for resolution. I even have a solid suggestion for all seven books in the series. I don’t know why I wanted seven, but that’s always been my intention, and I’ve been lucky enough for my editor to suggest a plan. Some plotlines and scenes are being bumped to subsequent books in the series. Others have been brought forward to occupy book one. It’s all a bit of a mind-melt and it did take an effort to remove the emotional attachment I have for the work, and see it for what it is and what it could it become.
I’m not precious about my writing. I don’t like removing stuff, but I can do it and will do it. There is no time for ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t’ or for any other stalling tactic when it comes to working a book into shape. Yes, there are negotiations to navigate, but the goal is to produce the best book it can be. I have the restructured draft and a number of rewrites and additions to put in over the next couple of months. Hopefully this will result in a book that is ready to make its way in the world. Then the process begins again with book two. I’m hopeful this will be an easier write having provided a solid foundation for the rest of the series. This means The Clockmaker Conspiracy will not be ready until early 2024.
The Fiction Factory 