Daynote - Fri 24 Oct

Early start on the dayjob today, so no walk. But I did get some words down, so I'll call that a win.

ON DECK: 1,348 words this morning - it's fun writing scenes where characters are hiding things from each other, because for me they tend to flow quite easily - there's lots to be written both to show the surface level conversation and imply the secondary, hidden one. Almost as much fun as writing big, multi-POV action sequences.

TOOLS AND PROCESS: I finished switching everything over as mentioned yesterday, so now I'm working out of my notebook. And it's... really nice? I'm trying to develop that reflex of reaching for the notebook instead of the phone. And switching to writing in it landscape instead of portrait is also really working - I can usually fit a couple of day's worth of tasks and notes on one double-page spread and the longer line-length works better too. It's easier to hold in that orientation too.

I'm using Field Notes notebooks (which I found, heavily discounted, in a random Post Office in Edinburgh a few years ago) and Zebra Sarasa pen, so I can get quite fine writing down even on the go. I write tiny anyway, so it works nicely. I'm also hoping to use my notebook for a lot more actual note-taking, not just task management - thoughts about book ideas, details for events, research, all that stuff that in the past has lived in a scattering of random digital apps and note files.

LISTENING: I very much enjoyed the latest episode of the Page One Podcast, interviewing literary agent Ed Wilson. I've heard Ed on a couple of podcasts before (and he reps a few friends of mine) and he's always extremely funny and blunt about the industry.

WATCHING: A bit of history again last night, this time Bettany Hughes LOST WORLDS series, this season about the Nabateans. Some absolutely astonishing stuff.

READING: A bit more QUANTUM OF MENACE last night, which I'm greatly enjoying. It came out yesterday and the author, Vaseem Khan, was interviewed on the In My Good Books podcast. Lots of food for thought for when I speak to Vaseem and Kim Sherwood in November at Aye Write.

LINK: A thoughtful and deeply affecting piece of writing from Morag Hannah (half of MK Hardy) in their latest newsletter, on the experience of late diagnosis of ADHD. Absolutely worth your time (as is their whole newsletter, in fact).

UP NEXT: The weekend! Then some time off, so daynotes will be light on the ground next week (I am doing a couple of bookish day trips, so a note may follow on either or both of them). But mostly it'll be rest, family and reading.

Onward!