Scrivener, London demos, coffee-demons and saga eureka (maybe)

From 11AM yesterday until 4AM today, Mitch and I did not move from the sofa other than to make tea/coffee or use the loo. It was, despite not moving for seventeen hours, quite productive. I made a decent dent into my presentation (now almost finished) due in tomorrow. I’ve organised an expansive Writing Bible with, even better, stuff in it and re-mastered an old drawing of mine.

original
(brother and sister)

redone
(it didn’t fully scan in)

Suko’s name has been changed yet again (including surname), and I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve written book two first…

In Scars in the System (my ever-going-saga), I have been trying to tell my characters’ past through flashback chapters. While I like revealing information in this way, I don’t want to dwell in the past: that is not the main story. At the same time, there’s always more the characters’ have to say.

This has made me wonder: what if I wrote a novel about how they grew up? It would explain so much. That way, I wouldn’t have to squeeze in clunky explanations or, even worse, leave things half-explained; and I mean things that shouldn’t be left half-explained. The build up to ‘secrets being revealed’ might feel like more of an investment, too.

To help, I’ve started the process of creating that mystical-writing-bible I keep talking about (follow the link to find out what it is). Slowly, mind, but chugga-chugga. The contents is three pages long and growing. There is a lot to tell – six worlds of it, to be precise, and with a huge cast (30 people). I’ve become pretty good at introducing tons of characters without confusing the reader, but this is a story that can’t be crammed.

So perhaps I’ve only written book two.

Mitch has downloaded Scrivener beta, and from what I can tell, it looks incredibly useful. Scrivener is a programme designed for fiction & non-fiction writers, comic writers, screenwriters, writing thesis, poetry & lyrics and more. It allows you to organise chapters and writing bibles in an organised manner. It eliminates scrolling through a 100 page document to try and find out if Character X has blue eyes or brown eyes. Each chapter can be labelled as being either a ‘first draft’, ‘revised’ or ‘finished’ (which always confuses me, “have I edited this?”), and you can give the chapter a mini-description so you know exactly what chapter you’re searching for. When the finalised version is available, I know I’ll be buying it.

Onto the exciting bit. Last Saturday (January 29^th) I made my way up to London for another protest against cuts to public services, tax rises and education. I had my own placard to hold this time – a mass produced one, but nonetheless, a placard.

Through the streets we paraded chants and songs galore. I’d never been through that part of London before, so I had a refreshing view at the same time. Police locked pedestrians into Topshop and stood guard of it (afraid we’d overrun it and make camp again, I suppose). I was surprised they let us march past Millbank (see: we broke windows last time) but I suppose the wall of policemen two lines thick was enough to stop sensible people trying a second demonstration. It was kinda hilarious, especially as the windows are still bordered up.

We trundled through the roads, blocking them off, sneering at BMWs and Jaguar cars and despite being stuck behind anarchists all day, pedestrians made it better. Some honked horns and cheered at us as we meandered between the cars, others looked terrified. There was no abuse to drivers and their cars (other than laughing at the rich) I hasten to add.

Admittedly, my enthusiasm began to wane as we walked to every embassy in search of the Egyptian HQ. We intended to show our support for the revolution in Egypt and we had to take many different roads in order to get around the police. But it was long and I was tired. We managed it, however. Somehow a hoard of us made it there before the police could block off the last route.

A bonfire was lit (to which I barely batted an eyelid, I’m too expectant of this now) and we milled around, chatting. After a long while, we realised only anarchists were left outside the Egyptian embassy and we decided it was time to get away before people were either arrests or kettled.

As we left, ten riot police vans bolted past to the Egyptian HQ. Ten. What the heck did they need ten for? They didn’t even need one let alone ten! Everyone had been quite happy roaming around. Nobody really had the energy to keep up chants for too long. But who knows. Those dangerous students an’ all.

And last but not least, this Saturday I’m off to Luton to stand up to the EDL and their racist discriminatory ways. I’ll let you know how it goes.

P.S. Oyster cards are aweshum, btw.