So, writers procrastinate. When I am noodling around a sentence, trying to make it fit, I lift the pieces and try them one way and then another and then I start over and then I sometimes get frustrated and wander off and google vaguely related and therefore somewhat justifiable, random stuff. How is Nell doing on Amazon? Where were the bus stops on Picadilly in 1906? When did the Savoy Hotel open on the Strand? Did people have birthday cakes in 1909? How much did a really nice hat cost in 1910? That kind of stuff. Useful for the second book but not over the moon important at that particular moment.
Today, I unclicked the chunks of a paragraph and moved them around like lego and then quickly realized I was doing more harm than good. You know when you pass that point of critical mass and you are now doing damage to the writing and making it worse? Time to stop! I quickly stepped away from the paragraph and gave myself three minutes of random noodling to refocus. And in my first random google noodle, I bumped into Nell--in French!
It was the French edition and it came out last week and I had no idea! In French, she is taller, wearing a red dress, and has hair I would kill for. I love it!
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What a happy find! It must be odd to see your character interpreted in a slightly different fashion, but nonetheless brilliant. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd your google search sounds a lot like mine. What was it puzzling me the other day? It was whether The Lone Ranger was shown in Saturday morning pictures in the 1940s / 50s!
isn't is weird how random rabbit holes suddenly open up and off we go?
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeletethank you caroline! how are you? x
ReplyDeleteOoh...you popped in! Cool! How are you? That must have been so cool to see Nell in French. Do you know how many foreign countries she's appearing in?
ReplyDeletejune! how are you sweetie? xx
ReplyDeleteI've had to curtail my writing because my thumb joints are hurting...*sigh*. I am looking forward to your next book. You have such an expert grasp of the craft of writing! :-)
Deleteoh no! poor thumb! hope it gets better soon! xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful Priya!! Nell looks stunning, love her hair! :-D
ReplyDeletestella! hello! xx
ReplyDeleteI finished reading the book (in french) today. I cried at the end and took the decision to make "Le journal d'une courtisane" as my favorite one! As soon as I have the time I'll read the original version.
ReplyDeleteI pray for a film of Exit the actress...!
that was so wonderful to read! that made my day! i would love a film too!
ReplyDelete