Famous Authors’ Harshest Rejection Letters, knowing when to start again & some Johanna Harness wisdom

Enjoy reading these and remember, it's not over until you decide it is!
http://flavorwire.com/232203/famous-authors-harshest-rejection-letters

Having said that....when it comes to reading your material and knowing that it's not truly working, the bravest step is to acknowledge this and start again. I've been terribly aware of this recently, especially when it came to my first book. It took a long time for me to realise that it wasn't ready, that it was a wonderful character study book which I will indeed return to, but I'm taking all that I learnt from that book and redirecting all my energy, all that I have learnt from the entire process and placing it into the new one. Last night, I happened upon a wonderful post by Johannah Harness which you can read here , about reassessing everything, asking yourself some very hard questions and having the gumption to answer them. Do pop over to Johannah's post, it may after all, reassert what you were thinking all along.

Curren Reads- Charles Dickens : A life by Claire Tomalin & Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell

A mere glimpse

I promise to write a longer post once further settled, but I am nuzzling into my writing nook, there's a lot more to be done; more pictures to be hung, a Polaroid of Mr C in his Huckleberry Finn mode and one of my sister and I drinking tea on the garden step at our parents.

For now, I have a curtain rail that is broken and a slight mess mainly hidden and cleverly placed outside the frame...ahem. I have my beautiful orchids (2 of which my husband gave me) and flowers picked by my father beside me. The first picture to the left is of me sleeping by my sister, bellow in a warming gold frame, a young man pondering, bellow that, the photo of my father that I carry everywhere with me as I think it's terribly cool and of course, there is Virginia Woolf's writing lodge, nearer to writing level, so that I am able to call upon it in a writing reverie.

I finally have a room of my own, although I share it with my husband somewhat (his wardrobe is in the room as it doesn't fit in the oddly shaped bedroom) but there's nothing quite like being able to physically close a door behind you when needed. Last night as Mr C rustled up a delicious meal of veg Biryani and Pakoras - delish might I add (pics will come later) whilst I worked on an article just a little way down the corridor, I felt that warmth that fills your heart when you're accomplishing something; for me it was being at the desk, working and feeling like "I'm back" which I did say out loud as soon as I entered the kitchen... and Mr C who is forever supportive of my work and intensely happy when I am , which is when I am being productive, smiled and encouraged me, he's always encouraging me to keep going as is my sister!

And so, back to work I go, I've offered a little glimpse into my new world for now, I will banish all thoughts about DIY and decorations (the flat needs reviving with a splash of paint) and will press on with BBC Radio 3 & 4 by my side, copious amounts of tea (attempting to break up the Earl Grey with some Green Tea) my trusty warm Lithuanian socks and look forward to hearing from Mr C at lunchtime who will no doubt have something funny to say. One must always laugh.

Garden mayhem

A little update on the new house madness; I dared to step foot in the garden this morning as the sunlight beckoned, but "oh my" is there a lot of work to be done! Not just weeding but getting rid of carpets that were thrown out, along with all sorts of disturbing, unrecognisable objects. Where will the veg go? where will the compost go? where will my sanity go? It's a huge task, but one shouldn't shy away from them, just approach it calmly and bit by bit, it will be ours completely!