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#HistFicThursdays - Inspirational Series - The Box of Delights

Kay Harker and Cole Hawlings Picture accessed via BBC  There are few things more Christmassy than the opening few bars of the theme tune to The Box of Delights . In fact, the tune is based on Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony and had been used in radio adaptations of the same novel years earlier than the 1984 television series. Clearly, everyone already knew that you just couldn't improve on that sound to evoke the magic of Christmas which - for me and for many - is so wonderfully explored in John Masefield's story. As a viewer, one of the things I enjoy most about the television series of The Box of Delights is the acting. Child actors are precarious things: too sweet and they're almost unbearable to watch, not sweet enough and they're unbelievable. They must walk that fine line between the two, and it is a perilous one! Most young actors fall into the first category, where their on-screen presence is almost dangerously saccharine.  Not so the child actors ...

NaNoWriMo Day 30 - What Next?

Saturday 30th November - What Next?

Wow! We've made it to the end of NaNoWriMo.  If you managed your 50,000 words: Congratulations!  If you managed to get off the starting block: Congratulations!  Whatever anyone tells you, there is nothing easy about writing a book.  Even when you enjoy it, it's still hard work.

So, what happens next?  Here's what Crowvus suggests:

  1. Have a party - you've deserved it! And, by the way, a party only needs to have as few or as many people as you want.  My favourite parties have been family affairs.  It's important to be proud of yourself, and to celebrate your success.
  2. Revisit your novel - I suggest you re-read the whole thing.  Pick up and iron out any continuity issues and correct any typos you spot, but don't go through looking for them.  Proofreading comes later.
  3. Find your First Reader - for advice on this you can read our Day 15 blog.
  4. Rerevisit your novel - decide which of the First Reader's comments you want to build on and make these changes.
  5. Proofreading - you can choose whether to employ someone or find a friend, but proofreading should not be done by yourself or your First Reader.  You need someone who is not familiar with your writing and story.
  6. Rererevisit your novel - no need to add or change anything other than any issues your proofreader highlighted.  Some proofreaders will make these changes for you.
  7. Editing - for advice on this you can read our Day 10 blog.  This stage takes time, and will probably take a lot of to-ing and fro-ing for your manuscript.
  8. Rerererevisit your novel - this is your novel's final visit before handing it over.
  9. Decide your publishing route - whether through a publisher or self-publishing, your book is now ready to go "Out There".
On behalf of Crowvus, Congratulations!

Image result for congratulations free clipart


Thanks for sharing NaNoWriMo with us!

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