New Novel
I didn’t intend to start writing a new novel this early in the year. As I noted earlier I’ve plenty to be getting on with and finishing up. However, I was feeling agitated and restless as the new year came in and I recognised the signs. There was an idea forming in the mind, and I couldn’t let it go. An evening was spent scribbling ideas and random pieces of dialogue and then the next morning I typed them up. That day was spent jotting down further thoughts and the next morning those were added. I spent the day thinking on it and then the next morning all these seemingly random thoughts were shuffled into what has become the correct order, leaving me with a fully-formed outline of a brand new story. I’ve since written out the opening chapter and the first draft is now underway.
It’s not my intention to sound cliched, but I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a story. This is a good thing, as I could easily be jaded and dreading the thought of facing a blank page every morning during these cold winter months. I never dreamed that I would be sitting here now, in 2024, early in the morning with several layers of clothes on, a large tartan scarf and a blanket wrapped around me, writing another novel. I could light some candles and turn the lights off, but that would be pushing the romantic image a little too far. The cost of living crises is real; I’m not struggling, but heating is rationed and this is something I’ve never had to think about. However, things could be worse and I’m managing to fit my writing in around my day job, so all is good. Of course there are days when I feel like I could be doing something else, and sometimes I will do something else. I’m not chained to my desk. But there is a tremendous buzz from grappling with a storyline and seeing myself win as it forms on the page and becomes real. This month the buzz is keeping me going. I’m confident I have a solid story and will be able to draft this out over the next month. I’ve already made the decision to go back in the query trenches with this one so it may be awhile before it becomes available for purchase.
As I said, I’ve never been so excited about putting down a new plot. It’s a contemporary thriller set in the world of artificial intelligence and deals with the themes of privacy, data harvesting and the cloning of individuals, posing the question are humans ready to give up our identities and sense of self to realise the true potential of A.I. I’m questioning the idea that our data privacy laws are in fact a barrier to the adoption of A.I. This is all wrapped up in a fast moving fictional account of the break-up of a relationship, the use of A.I. for questionable means and corporate machinations ultimately leading to government involvement. It’s scaring me and this is a good thing. I can’t wait to get this first draft down, because it’s the second draft I really enjoy. At that stage the story is there and I can concentrate on the flow and the necessary detail to really make it into something worth reading.
The Fiction Factory 