[alison]

Rad, I really admire you for writing novels _and_ working a full-time job. You must be ferociously disciplined. I know I couldn't do it. I seem to need a lot of time doing nothing, staring into space, playing GameCube (another vice, I'm getting confessional here...what next?), sweeping the floor, tuning my daughter's guitar... Mainly I guess it's about space in your head: I found working a payjob mentally intrusive, though to be honest I also seem to need to be doing several things at once.

[Radthorne]

Thanks, although at least one recompense I have is that the paying job happens to be at Nintendo (speaking of GameCube) :D So there are the occasional fringe benefits. Such as when Mario Kart was released, and the company sponsered full-size go-kart races in the parking lot with teams of employees, including tossing bunches of bananas at each other. So it's not always your typical office job...

But you're right, the job of writing is definitely one where you're working as you're staring out the window. I too need that "thinking" time, to let the bits and pieces of the story gel together. It happens at odd moments, when my brain isn't doing anything else particularly important (in the shower, running on a treadmill, driving...) (Wait, did I say driving? My insurance agent doesn't read these posts, does he?) And then I have to rush to find a piece of paper and jot it all down before I forget it (real soggy when that happens in the shower...)

[Gary Wassner]

Many of us work full time jobs and write novels, Alison. There is nothing much to admire about it. In fact, it makes the writing part so exciting for me that I cherish the job. When I open my laptop to write, I just can't wait. The ideas build up in me all day and then I type with at a mad, frantic pace.

If I felt like I had to get up each morning and start my day at my computer, I don't believe that I would have that same sense of joy in the moment.

[alison]

Long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, when I wrote nothing longer than a page and a half, I worked full time as journalist. Each year I wrote less and less, and when I started coming home and bursting into tears for no reason, I resigned. It caused general consternation ("You're going to dowhat?!") They told me I was throwing away a promising career. Yada yada. I freelanced for a long time and still do the occasional piece here and there. But I really couldn't do it. It made something rot in my brain. I admit that it took me a long time to work out how to work on my own, but I've been doing it for so long now.

The big difference is that here in Australia it is possible to get Arts Council grants, which can pay you a sort of minumum wage. If I tried to live off the royalties of my poems - well! The idea is laughable.

So you see, I will continue to admire all those people who manage to work jobs and write, because being able to do so fills me with astonishment. All the same, Nintendo - that's cool.

[JRMurdock]

Many of us work full time jobs and write novels, Alison. There is nothing much to admire about it.

You're being far too modest, Gary. There is something to admire in the determination a person has just to finish a novel, let alone do it while working a full time job. And those with families just adds to the intrusion on a person's life and the dedication one must have to write.

Myself, I admire all who do it and hope to one day join the ranks of the published.

Allison, I didn't go looking too deeply, but did you have 'sample chapters' on your site for reading? I've been picking up most of the books from authors at this site and wanted to see if your work was something I'd like to add to my collection.

[alison]

Allison, I didn't go looking too deeply, but did you have 'sample chapters' on your site for reading? I've been picking up most of the books from authors at this site and wanted to see if your work was something I'd like to add to my collection.

Yes, on my site there are sample chapters and other bits from The Gift and The Riddle (click through from the sidebar). I hope you enjoy them. The UK edition of The Gift (which I recommend, it's beautifully designed) is available from UK Amazon, but until May The Riddle is only out here in Oz.

[JRMurdock]

Such a speedy reply, I'll have to make it a point to go read just as quickly. :)

[alison]

Just shows, I'm afraid, that I'm being a Bad Girl and not writing...

[JRMurdock]

I'm out here posting instead of writing. Now that I'm done with my painting duty, I think I should do some writing, but I'm too tired. :(. Excuses, excuses.

Perhaps I will go write and see what happens. Pehaps I can turn exhaustion into inspiration. hmmm.

[Rocket Sheep]

Before you give up your procrastinating and rush back to find THE END, can you tell us about your road to publication with the Pellinor series? Did you write the first, then do the rounds in Australia first? Did you win interest with your poetry or some award? Do you have a long and painful JK Rowling tale for us? That kind of thing?

Sorry Maus, didn't see you there... very clumsy this week I am.