Saturday, April 14, 2012

WE'RE ON THE MOVE...

This post by Sophia Nash on the Huffington Post is about writing through the bad stuff and I so want to read the book about the woman left hanging on the cliff edge!

Actually, I'm the one clinging on - if she could do that through three years of divorce, then I can do it through moving house. Right?

This is a brilliant thing. This is what I want, but my
deadline is approaching at the speed of an express train and I can't even think about writing.

This should not have happened, but I had a fabulous (I thought) idea for a book and I convinced my editor to go along with me. It's still a fabulous idea but I discovered, after a couple of months trying to write the first paragraph, that this is not its moment. I suspect that like The Marriage Miracle, I need a character who I know - who's already made an appearance and who is going to keep nagging me until I give him a story. It took Matty a couple of years to get me to the point where I was ready to go.

Anyway, I put that to one side and started again and I was finally getting up a head of steam and a fabulous working title - Hot Fudge Sundae - thanks to Anne (see last week's post) when we had an offer for our house. From someone who had sold theirs and was ready to go and could we move quickly. Please.

Gulp.

There followed a week of furious house hunting on the web (we're moving 120 miles away) and then a week of actually looking at houses.

I know some people do this for fun, but frankly I think it's the most embarrassing and difficult thing ever. Especially when you don't like the house. But, hey, and halleluja - we found a house we both love. And now I'm not sleeping, because my brain won't quit trying to figure out how this move is going to work (along with selling the furniture that won't fit in the new house, fitting in visits to the dentist, the eye clinic, the hair dresser and a week in Italy).

And my editor comes back from holiday on Monday and is going to want to know why there isn't a book on her desk.

Here is Liz. She is in meltdown.

9 comments:

Cara Cooper said...

It may be ghastly now Liz, but it will all come right in the end. You'll look back on it in a couple of months and know you did the right thing! Good luck with it all.

Lacey Devlin said...

But I bet she looks fabulous while having a meltdown :)

All the best with the move, Liz! It will be wonderful when it's all done and dusted.

Scarlet Wilson said...

Awwww liz. Just remember your books are worth waiting for and we can wait while you move x

Fiona Marsden said...

I'm coming up to 30 years in the same house and never ever likely to move. It would be a nightmare so I feel for you Liz. Tell your editor we all approve of the delay for your sanity's sake.

Rosalie Ash said...

Oh Liz, I do feel for you! Very best wishes that it all goes smoothly, and it will all be perfect in the end. Love, Rosie x

Anonymous said...

Hi Liz:

As a real estate broker, I kind of like ‘moves’ and ‘closings’ as they equal paydays. We have not had to move in over 32 years and we have no intention of moving ever.

I can’t help you with moving or writing but as for the week in Italy, I might be able to help you out there. Where are you going?

Vince

Liz Fielding said...

Thanks for all the love, everyone. Our buyers came back today and loved the house even more on second sight, which was so pleasing.

I can now start taking pictures downs and wrapping - I have a huge roll of bubble wrap!

The best beloved's wardrobe has been filleted of all clothes that no longer fit (he's lost weight...) and I have a lot of sacks of rubbish waiting for the skip. The Bb will be tackling the garage tomorrow - all those half-used cans of paint that have to go to the recycling centre. I may hide in the Snap & Scribble and write (surrounded by ten years of tax papers that need shredding).

Andrea Martin said...

Good thing everything has gone smooth! Wishing you more blessings in the future!

Diane Fordham said...

It all works out in the end :-)