And how was your weekend?

I had a good weekend, thanks. On advice from friends, I have decided to leave Leaf as it is (for the moment) and send it out again to some more agents and publishers.

Dilemmas

Writing is going well, I am pleased with my progress on Bookwyrms. I got another rejection in this week. Iseult went nuts, saying I have to edit the book down to 40,000 words or I won't get an agent. She was really passionate about it. Now, I believe in my work, and I don't think it needs to be changed, but she was so charged up about it, I hate to disappoint her. I don't know what to do. I've started reading Leaf again to see if there is any dead wood to be cut away (ha!ha! Of course there isn't!) Looking forward to starting Mango (the name of my second book, perhaps?)

Relax - I'm fine!

There is a lot of buzz going around about an accident I had the other day. I don't really remember what happened, it is all a blur, but I got a little bump on my head. After a day of recovering I am now back to normal and I have started working on my script again. It is going really well and I hope to have it finished soon.

For the chocolate monster

As promised, a picture of Doggie. Ain't he cute!

Writing is easy

I have some projects on my paws at the moment: -
1. Bookwryms (comedy script) about 1/3 complete
2. Second Leaf book (in development)
3. Possible Leaf short story

Taking it that writing is easy, any bets on which I will finish first?

What? No takers?

The weather is against me

It has been so warm and sunny the last few days and I just can't sit down at the keyboard and write. Writing is a winter sport. The sun is shining, the wind is rustling through the trees and the outside is calling me... calling me with it's sweet song. Come Mungo, cry the trees, Come and climb us. Come Mungo, coaxes the wind, Let me ruffle your silver white fur. Come Mungo, beams the sun, let me warm you.

Now, wouldn't I be rude if I didn't spend some time with the trees, wind and sun?

Besides, when I am not outside, there is always tv to be watched, playstation to be played and Marvin to be bated.

Writing is easy, but playing outside is more fun!

A Poem

As I am compelled to up date every day (or bad things will happen) and as the poetry bug is going around, I thought I would add my two cent (being Euro cent, as opposed to the U.S and their cents)

Me

Mungo is my name
and writing is my game
I never write the same
story twice.

I'm handsome, I'm not vain
I hate to be in pain
I'm impossible to tame
and I'm nice.

Thoughts

I have been thinking of writing a short story with Leaf, perhaps horror themed and maybe some zombie monkeys in it. Iseult thinks I am stupid to keep on writing, but I have seen through her efforts to prevent my genuis getting to the world. What do my fans think?

Hello Doggie!

Hi Doggie, thanks for the lovely poem you left in my comments the other day. In case you didn't catch it, here it is: -

Mungo your writing is so brill
i sure think that all the agents are sill
i am looking forward to the next tale
and i know you will get lots of fan mail
So come on Mungo please start your quill
and then everthing will be very brill

Very well put and very correct sentiments. You must have written poetry before. I would encourage you to write more, Doggie. Perhaps you could emphasise other sides of my talent, such as my looks, intelligence, athletic ability, judging skills or acting prowess.

Mango Muses

My little mungo-bot has started up her own blog. It is good, although it could be more about me, but I am sure it will be when she finds her paws. I think she could have called it the Mungo fan club, or everybody loves Mungo, or something like that, but maybe she wanted to ask me first. Anyway, I will set up a link today and you should all go visit her page and see a really cute picture of me on it.

The green eyed monster raises its ugly head

Iseult came into the bedroom late last night and came over to where I was sitting chatting to Marvie. She sat down on the bed and said "Mungo, I think we should talk." She then proceeded to tell me that she feels LEAF isn't commercial and I shouldn't bother writing a second book as it would be a waste of my time! I laughed at her silliness, naturally, but when I thought about it later I realised she is jealous. She must fear that my books will sell so much better than hers that she is trying to nobble me (and I don't mean she is throwing Nobbles at me). I suppose I should feel sorry for her, really, she is quite pathetic. She also told me she had sent the letter from my submission package to an editor to proof read and heard back that the letter was perfectly acceptable. I don't know if she was looking for me to pat her on the back and say "Well done, your submission package isn't rubbish after all." but why would I say that when it is?

Slightly miffed

Saw a poem by Tottie (superrabbit) on Iseult's blog. Feeling slightly put out. She has never put a poem on my blog. It was very good, Tottie.

To all my adoring fans...

HELLO! Greetings, and welcome to a new week. I hope you are enjoying it so far. I plan to get back to my script this week. There was an extraordinary annual meeting of the Nodpots last night to celebrate the ninth anniversary. No points were calculated, so I was NOT penalized for not having finished the script. Looks like there is going to be a new Nodpot website now that we have our own domain name. I am sure Marvin will come looking for my advice. I was talking to Mango and Tottie about Leaf over the weekend. They thought it would be a good idea to include a map and character sketches in my submission package, so I must get working on them too. Iseult is getting too big for her boots. She announced to me at lunch time today that Leaf was too long and that I must cut it back to 40,000 words. The cheek of her! Give someone a laptop and they think they are a writer! I told Mango and Tottie the plot of my second book - The Unlucky Monkey. They loved it (of course!) I am looking forward to starting it.

Tomorrow, Mango, I will take over the world

The more I think about it, the more it seems like a good idea to start my next Leaf book. I think I will call it The Unlucky Monkey (working title). Have to finish the screen play first, of course.

And the good news is...

I will start back writing my screen play next week, which means I will probably finish it next week (the Nodpot weekend, to celebrate the 9th anniversary, is on the 15th and 16th, so I have to get it finished by then anyway). I've been thinking a lot about my second Leaf book - the one with Mango in it. I have a good idea for the plot and the first few chapters planned out in my head. I was going to wait until November to start it, try my hand at National Novel Writing Month, but maybe I will start it sooner. I don't know, this whole thing with Iseult writing full time has put my nose out of joint. There is only room for one full time writer in the house at a time, and it was ME! I can hear her - well, actually I can't, but I can imagine - typing away on that laptop upstairs and chuckling away. It is very distracting! Those pudgy white fingers (or pwf) slapping over the keys. Anyway, I am bigger than this. I am better than this. I am more talented than this. I am MUNGO! Writing is easy!.

Apology accepted

I am not sure who the culprit is - some blame Leppie, others blame Alemap (I think it is more likely to be Alemap myself. If I had been asked to prepare dog meat with pepper sauce, I would think it was Leppie, but he isn't that into cleaning and ironing) but I am not sure. In any case, I accept your apology and I am glad that you are sorry for your actions.

Had a webchat with Mango and Tottie last night. It was great to see them.

Marvin has banned me from Iseult's office. He says I am a distraction. Ha! As if! However, that suits me fine. I am more than happy to use the desk top in the bedroom for my creation. What I am not so happy about is that the Nodpot cup has gone up stairs to the office. Maybe when I win it this year I will get the office with it too?

Marvin has been very slow setting up the new website.

Anyway, better think about doing this writing thing again. Mmm.. it is sunny outside. Maybe I'll leave it for the moment.

No laughing matter

I think some people are mocking me. I would like to name and shame them, but while they have left comments they haven't been brave enough to leave their true identity. So you think washing, cleaning and ironing are harder than writing, do you? They certainly aren't as much fun. I've never been so insulted in my life. I'll set my mungo-bots are you - just give me your name first, please.

Going nowhere fast

Well, I heard back from another agent last week, and it was another rejection. I am beginning to wonder if Iseult's submission package is up to scratch. Valerie and Iseult keep telling me I can't expect to get any interest so soon, and I respect their views, but I don't think my submission package is helping me get my brilliance across to the agents. Iseult usually goes ahead and sends it out again straight away, but she hasn't this time because she was tired (she had some silly acting thing on this week), so I am thinking of taking advantage in this lull and asking Mango to do up a new submission package for me. I know she would be dedicated, I am sure she would be talented and really - how bad could it be? It can't really be any worse than Iseult's attempt at it.

My screenplay is going nowhere at the moment as well. I have two acts finished, and I have to finish the remaining three before the next Nodpot meeting, which is sometime this month. It will be no bother to me, once I get writing again. I must look through my notes and try and get immersed once again...

the problem is, I'm just not feeling bothered at the moment.