Print, Read, Correct, Repeat...

Monday 20th March 2017

As we reach the end of term the dread over paperwork completion kicks in. Got a wheelie case full of stuff for the final session at New College. Still two more sessions at Waddy before Easter. Good to hear from Sheila about book cover. This afternoon was a chore. This evening I typed, listened to Alison Moyet, talked to Mam and Ernie on the phone. Will need to sort out a bit more tomorrow for Waddy. Made another print out of the book today. Reckon it will be pretty mint. Only a couple of weeks to go with the final tweaks. Ok. 11.35 pm.

Tuesday 21st March 2017

Both writing sessions good. Flash fiction and a look at Klingon Sestina by Linda France this afternoon. Full-on small press publishing workshop this evening with over seventy titles on the tables and lots of info on where to look for info, where to send, etc. The last session is always my favourite because it’s adlibbed with Q&A and I get to anecdote to the moon and back on submitting work and how it used to be back in the nineties; putting collections together, doing readings and comparing authors’ self-published works to their official titles. The group enjoyed it and some want to do more with me in future. Messaged some ‘I am’ poems and ideas requested by Sky Hawkins. Hope they were okay. Bed now or I’ll not be up for the next one. 10.56 pm.

Wednesday 22nd March 2017

Got a mint blurb for my book. The one I was hoping for. Weather has been toilet. Snow quickly turned to slush and was really slippery. Nearly went my length a few times before boarding the bus to Durham. Presale Alison Moyet tickets for The Sage aren’t very good unless you pay top whack. £55 is too much for me, I think. Reckon I’ll get a better seat from general release. Don’t think she’ll sell out in the first few days. Lush Mediterranean vegetable pizza and fries then trifle for tea with Jenni. We were both very sleepy. Home by eleven. 11.16 pm.

Thursday 23rd March 2017

Another good one. Up early and out to Consett for Mother’s Day purchases, then into the bank for the weekly allowance. Read through second half of my book again. Some of the additional acknowledgements aren’t in alphabetical order. Plenty time to fix those. Great publishing workshop for Colour your Life in Newton Aycliffe this afternoon. Then onto Mam and Ernie’s for tea. Pork steaks and veg. Stayed a few hours. Ernie drove me home. Back at computer by half nine. Reworked the back cover of book proof with new blurbs in place. Can’t stop eating Kettle Chips. If I’m not careful I’ll be the size of a bus. Pleased this week is almost done. Editing and ticket buying tomorrow. 11.33 pm.

Friday 24th March 2016

Ticket for Alison Moyet: The Sage Gateshead - Block: L2W - Row: B - Seat: 9 - Fucking Mint! Mid price purchase is a better seat than some top price tickets. Pleased to have time at home to prune bits and pieces, send invoices, do copy-ups. Nipped out for cake and crisps this evening. 11.04 pm.

Saturday 25th March 2016

Spent much of the day slowly reading ‘Laughter to Split Glass’ cover to cover twice. Pretty sure it’s almost there. The number of events and organisations is growing on the acknowledgements page. Didn’t go to Jenni’s today as she is having a big tidy up at her place. 11.32 pm.

Sunday 26th March 2016

Been through the book twice again today. Mainly just acknowledgement checks. Proofreading is a bit of a headache. Listened to Richie Allen Show on YouTube. Checked out some recordings of a 2003 Toyah show from the Mean Fiddler. Thanks to Jenni for feedback on Boy of Bohemia poem tweak. Chuffed to be almost there with the book. 11.16 pm.