I just came across
the first Moleskine I ever owned. It's a black pocket ruled notebook and I
bought it in 2005. Up until then I'd used spiral bound notebooks from Smiths. I
don't know why or how I moved onto Moleskine but, and this will come as no
surprise to those who know me, I haven't looked back since.
But it's so exciting
looking back at the things I was writing and plotting and planning at the time.
I was in the middle of writing a distopian novel - I was ahead of the game! -
which actually looks rather good. Obviously there had been massive climate change
which meant society had become completely divided with the rich, naturally,
taking the upper hand. And of course I had a serial killer. I also had notes
for a story about someone called Tirion (long before Game of Thrones), who I
think I planned to turn into a star. Yes, the astral kind.
I've got lists of
agents to submit to. Only one of them was interested, I seem to remember, and
not all that much, sadly.
I've got lists of
titles. The distopian ended up being called Ripped Apart, for what it's worth. I've got
lists of characters. I have no idea who Connor Mullen or Bridget Rossini were
going to be. Or Gabriel Beaumont.
I've got notes for a
new novel which then went on to be called The Boxed Crystal. No one wanted that
one. But I liked it. I've got notes for
a rom com (really?!) which actually looks quite good, but I'll never write it.
I've got notes from
a SCBWI event, which was at Sara Grant's house, with the publicity people from
Penguin, I think. Kirsten and Adele?
I've got notes for a
story set on Easter Island, which never got written. There's a short story
called The Unseen which I enjoyed writing more than people enjoyed reading.
There's a bit of flash fiction that I put on Write Words, which was really good
fun. And there's the start of the sequel to Ripped Apart, which was a bit
ambitious seeing as no one wanted the first one.
It's great to look
back to see the energy and enthusiasm I hope I can still muster. I can see just
how much my writing has improved over the years but there are still a few gems
there; some well-rounded characters, exciting story ideas, and even some rather
good dialogue. I'm tempted to sit down and read through all my notebooks but
time has taught me that it would be a form of procrastination. I'll save them
for another day.
