A night in with Hugh Laurie

I am currently researching a book on eating disorders. Once (if) it is finished it will be a very worthwhile book and one that I would be proud to see my name on.

It is a subject I am passionate about and an area of mental health that needs attention from people who understand the topic and not from areas of media that glamorise illnesses like anorexia.

However, it is not the most uplifting subject area to spend the day reading about, and possibly if I spent all day every day totally absorbed in the subject matter I would go slightly insane.

So I’m taking the evening off.

I’m spending it at home, on the sofa with the company of Hugh Laurie.

And I can’t wait!

He isn’t coming round in person of course. His filming schedule means that he’s still in LA.

Ho hum.

I shall watch him in House on Channel 5 instead, and then possibly re-runs of House Series 3 on DVD.

Sometimes second best really is good enough.

For now.

Hugh Laurie

Just because I work from home…

Today I more frustrated than usual. It seems that family and friends seem to think that because I “work from home” I am available during the day to run errands and do jobs for them.

That is not the case.

So I’d like to pass on a message (which they won’t read but it means I can let off steam!):

Just because I work from home does not mean that:

I am available to type out letters and forms (Dad)

I can cut the lawn in the morning (Dad)

I can clean the house all day (Mum)

I am free to pop down to school and help with sports day (you know who you are!)

I am surf the internet and provide map directions when you get lost (Sis)

That said, I watched a interesting film review on This Morning today, and on that basis I can recommend Mamma Mia, I’ve also had time to book tickets to see Will Young in November.

For goodness’ sake, there have to be some perks!

Better news – at last!

Just when I was starting to think I’d be spending my entire life trying to find some sort of writing, editing, proofreading work – anything really, I’m not fussy – a possible opportunity has landed in my lap.

It is nothing definite, nothing concrete, only a possibility, but my publishers have asked me if I am interested in writing another book for them.

The answer is a definite YES!!!

My editor phoned me, that was surprise enough as my first (and last) book was published by them 10 years ago, but obviously I’d been remembered.

He said “I know not many people want to sit down and think about writing a book.”

Well I certainly do!

There are now plans which need to be made …

Society of Young Publisher’s Blog

It has been announced today by the Society of Young Publishers that they have started their own blog:

In their own words they say:

We are pleased to announce our new blog ‘The SYP Insider’ which has been posted on trade magazine The Bookseller’s website. The blog, introduced by SYP Chair Jon Slack, will aim each month to lift the lid on what it’s like to work in a swathe of different publishing sectors, including editorial, publicity, rights and many others. Reported anonymously, the blog will highlight what it really takes to get ahead in the industry, by drafting in well-placed insiders to deliver frank and often opinionated accounts of their publishing experience.

To take a look CLICK HERE!

Proofreading – a rapidly shrinking market?

Today I received my first reply in response to my search for some freelance proofreading work. And it was far from promising, it could not have been much worse really:

“Thank you for your enquiry. I have to say that we receive a steady stream of proofreading offers every week – honest! 
 
We use the latest digital printing techniques, printing out books on demand, as and when required, directly from disk. Our authors submit their MSS on disk which our in-house editors return marked up with page proof comments, so we have no need (as in the old days) for retyping and further proof reading. 
 
There seems to be a number of colleges churning out more and more proof readers in a rapidly shrinking market.”

Great! I’ve spent a year studying the best, and most highly regarded proofreading course in the industry, only to discover that “colleges are churning out more and more of us!”

I’n not sure I like the idea of being “churned out” somehow.

Partying in New York

I’ve spent a fortune on stationary and sent out even more CVs. It’s taken all day.

Still no news.

Not a single phone-call or email.

Absolutely nothing.

So to cheer my self up and keep myself motiviated I’m reminding myself why I’m perserving with all this and imagining some of the places I want to visit when eventually the money starts rolling in…

Everyone has to dream!

It is easier to buy cigarettes than stamps these days!

After spending the day printing out CVs and writing dozens of covering letters to send to publishing houses I have been met with even more frustration – I have no way of posting them!

For goodness’ sake!!

My local post office has closed and a trip into town would take too long. Once I eventually got doen there I’b probably have to queue for a least an hour because it is now ridicously busy as a result of all the closures.

I called in at Tesco and asked the cashier if she had any stamps but she said her till was empty, and at Sainsbury’s they said exactly the same! They sent me off to queue at the cigarette counter but there were ten pople queuing in front of me and I ran out of time.

As a result my CVs have not been posted.

It is easier to buy cigarettes than it is to buy stamps these days.

All ’skilled up’ with nowhere to go.

So after a long hard slog I’m now a qualified proofreader thanks to the Publishing Training Centre’s Basic Proofreading course.

But now what?

Well now I’m trying to find some work.

The problem – how do you gain experience when no one employs you as a freelance proofreader without experience?

I’m hoping that being a published writer will help, but who knows?

I’ve send off 12 CVs today to various publishers and a few speculative emails.

So far I’ve received one response from a publisher in Scotland. He sent a one line email saying:

“Do pop in when you are next in Edinburgh.”

Mmmmm…. I live in Nottinghamshire, the chances of me being in Edinburgh any time in the next few years let alone the next few weeks are extremely slim.

Maybe I’ll receive a better response tomorrow. Or maybe not!