Plot twist! The revisions that might just be done
And "all" it took was a week and a half away
Barking up the wrong tree
A tale about posting on Instagram and why the one post you think will appeal can be the one that comes back to bite you on the arse.
In the spring, I heard a suggestion from someone who had read the opening scene of my new novel that it might be fun to add a dog.
Okay, I thought, I like dogs. I grew up with a dog. I could add a dog. I don’t usually get along with books that have dogs in them (mainly because I am scared that the dog will die, as is usually the case), but I could still have a dog in mine because then I could ensure it survived.
So, decided, there would be a dog. But whose dog should it be? Well, it couldn’t belong to Vee, the main character (for <reasons>), but what if she ended up having to take care of this dog? Right, that sounds good. So the dog belongs to someone else initially, but who?
As the first scene opens with Vee anxiously waiting at the air station where she works for the return of two Halifax bombers, perhaps the dog could belong to a crew member. Great, that’s sorted.
But then came to big question: what type of dog should it be?
A little research (ahem, you don’t want to know how many sites I investigated about dogs in the 1940s…) told me that among the most popular breeds of dogs at the time were cocker spaniels, German shepherds, and wire fox terriers.
So I did what any good writer who uses social media does and posted on Instagram, asking people which they thought Lucy the dog should be.
I even included pictures of airmen with their dogs.
And people chose for Lucy to be a wire fox terrier. So I duly added Lucy the dog to the scene (and to the following scene, where she’s trailing around after Vee).
And then the DMs started on Instagram.
Oh, but my dog was so cute and would I be interested in some pet chews for them? But didn’t I just have the loveliest dog and would I like a special lead for talking them on walks? And my, wasn’t that dog the sweetest, but I wouldn’t say no to some doggie treats, would I?
And would you believe I am still getting these DMs eight months later. Offering treats for dogs who are long gone to canine heaven. Who I never owned in the first place. Who are clearly not my pet.
And so, this is why you shouldn’t use the hashtag #dogsofinstagram ;)
What I’ve been up to recently
I did it.
Yes, I finished the revisions of The Third Letter. And all thanks to a fellow writer, Dorit, who created a writing retreat for our critique group of four. Spending nine days away in Denmark, writing and critiquing almost every day was the perfect answer to the question of how to revise the novel.
Although we have been critiquing each other’s pages for the past year and a bit, this was the first time that we’d met in real life. But Room 40 was as lively IRL as in the little Zoom squares.
I learned so much during this time away:
I can work intensively when the conditions are right.
Spending time in the presence of other writers is inspiring beyond belief.
Although it is excruciating at first to watch others read your rough scene revisions in front of you, it is manageable when you get such helpful feedback (also, having a glass of wine while doing so makes it slightly easier).
On a similar note, an afternoon writing session can be helped by a couple of shots of akvavit with lunch.
Apparently, I come across very differently on Zoom (introvert) to IRL (loud introvert) ;)
And by our final full day on the island of Bornholm, I had finished all the revisions, leaving only some tidying and polishing to do.
That tidying and polishing is ongoing, but nearing its conclusion.
And what’s next, Kat? Why, simply plotting out the next novel, which is so far just an opening scene and some vibes…
You can also help me in this by popping over to Instagram and voting in my poll for what the hero of Beneath the Widening Sky should be called.
Don’t worry, I’ve not used any dodgy hashtags this time.
On the bedside table
The Miniaturist – Jessie Burton: I know, I know – why haven’t I read this before? I think this was published right at the time when I was deep in potty training for one boy and nappies for the other, and there simply wasn’t the time for reading for pleasure. But now – thanks to Nia, who I met at the Stockholm Writers’ Festival in August – I’m immersing myself in seventeenth century Amsterdam.
The Briar Club – Kate Quinn: The latest from one of my go-to authors, The Briar Club is set in a women’s boarding house in 1950s Washington amidst the McCarthy witch hunt and opens on the discovery of a dead body…
These Days – Lucy Caldwell: This one is a reread to familiarise myself with it for our historical fiction book club. I loved it the first time around (about a year ago) and am happy to be reacquainting myself with the characters.
You can check out what is on my TBR or pick up copies of my recent reads at Bookshop UK (affiliate link) if any have piqued your interest.
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Until the next time,
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