Tuesday 25 November 2008

Is it finished?

At long last: I have written the final chapter.  The first draft is complete.

All I can think of right now is all the re-writing that has to be done, all the editing, all the chopping out that will no doubt reduce my 70,000 word masterpiece to something about the size of a parish magazine. Fingers-crossed that I win the BubbleCow competition...

But it is finished!  

If I do nothing more then at least I have a record for my children of our first year in Zambia, of No1 child's adventures in the bush, of No2 child learning to crawl and walk.


I have the story of the bats, the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, the boat trips on crocodile infested rivers, the journeys over dirt roads, through the villages and beautiful countryside.  

I have written about the difficulties of establishing a home in a foreign land, our magnificent maids, the stressful birthday parties, the trials and tribulations of working in such a vastly different environment.  

I have tried to express the poverty of the people of Zambia, the conflicts that arise when faced with starving children, the problems of healthcare when you realise how much it actually costs.  

All I have to do now is get it published.  Any offers?



8 comments:

Hadriana's Treasures said...

It sounds fantastic, Catharine, I'm not just saying that to please you (although I hope it will!) I hope that you succeed in getting a publisher very soon.

I'd like to write and get something published along with 99.9% of the population. The main thing is having the strength, tenacity, determination to see the whole thing through and it sounds as if you are very, very nearly there. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Catharine Withenay said...

Thanks for your kind words - I have lots of fingers crossed! I'm just bracing myself for all the re-writes, whilst dreaming of several children's books, a trashy novel and the African sequels...

Troy said...

Hi, thanks for calling by mine.
I can't help with the publishing but I would certainly read it when you do get to the ink on paper stage. I've just read a few of your recent postings - still working out what is what and who is who - I guess I need to go back further. But I like what I've read so far.

Catharine Withenay said...

Thanks for coming by. I was sorry to miss out on your twenty year book project, but given our uncertainties about which continent we'll live in, let alone which country, I probably wasn't the sort of stable person you were looking for!

Hope you enjoy the blog!

Tim Atkinson said...

Sounds fascinating. Re, the publishing: take a look at YouWriteOn.com. It's a UK Arts Council-sponsored site and they've just offered free publication to 5000 new writers (me included!). This year's offer is now close, but it looks like there will be another. The only drawback is that you have to be prepared to take on the role of editor yourself. (Great if you're a control freak like me!)

Catharine Withenay said...

Thanks for the advice - I'm heading over there right now!

Shame about the editing though: I'm not sure I have the patience for it. However, that is today's other job...

Ladybird World Mother said...

Well done you for writing a book! So many of us say 'I want to write a book'... and just dont. Me included. Wish I could help with publisher. Will keep my eyes open. The dotterel's suggestion sounds a good one.

Catharine Withenay said...

Thanks, LWM, for your comment - and your lovely response on your own blog.

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