Back from an exciting week, and into the doldrums of an annoying cold. But it was worth it. The previous week I had the joy of taking part in a 3 day writing workshop by Catherine Asaro - one of my favourite writers and author of the brilliant Skolian series. The workshop was magic. A whole lot more work than I'd counted on, but after 3 days she had made me invent new characters, a new world and a whole new book. The morning of the third day she asked us to present a draft synopsis for the story we had been working on the previous 2 days. Now if anyone had told me beforehand that I could come up with a complete outline for a book I hadn't even thought about and in 3 days, I would have told them they were dreaming. I'm a pantser. I find out what happens when I write the whole story. But I did it, thanks to Catherine. She was brilliant.
That was followed by NZ's annual con - this year called ConText, at which Catherine Asaro was the guest of honour. And did they make her work! She was involved in so many talks, and she was constantly gracious, warm and so interesting. A marvellous weekend all round. And it finished very nicely - I came runner up in the con short story competition with my story "Exile".
Now I just have to finish off my other works so I can start on the great new book I have the beginnings of.
