This style wasn’t set in stone when I wrote the first book, so I’m now going back to fix it. I think it’s making it a much stronger book, and something that will be a great series opener.

Tommy

Now, however, as the turkey finally settles, it’s time to get back to work. I finished the third draft of the first book in the Scream Street series (SS1) on Christmas Eve, so now I’m back to the first draft of SS4. I’ve still got the second draft of SS3 sitting on my desk, but I’ll get to that after these two are submitted in the new year.

I’m also tentatively putting together notes for what I hope will be my next series. For obvious reasons I can’t talk about that at the moment, but it’s a break from what I’ve been writing over the past couple of years. I have an idea for a standalone novel for older readers, too. I’ll be getting to that at some point in 2008.

Also in 2008, I’ll be writing a book of drama games and exercises for teachers to use. A bit of a break from the fiction, but back to the non-fiction stuff I started out writing. I’m looking forward to it, and I’ve got a team of teachers poised around the country, ready to test out the content and report back. I’ll be able to say more once the contract’s signed.

Right, I’d better get back to Scream Street. these books won’t write themselves, unlike those written by a certain Mr Skipstone…

Tommy

I’m just coming to the end of book four in the Scream Street series, having managed to fit in the third draft of book one and a swift polish of book three along the way. Book five and the line edit of book two await…

I’ve also had the first draft of the first cover through. I can’t show you yet but, rest assured, it’s brilliant! Can’t wait to see the rest!

Right, break time over – back to work!

I think the new look is very fitting for the style of books I write and, within time, I’ll be able to incorporate elements of the Scream Street books themselves.

So, have a look around, and let me know what you think!

Tommy

What I should be doing is just letting the first draft flow out of me into a heap – the lump of clay I mentioned in a post back in December – then trust myself to be able to go back and fix anything that needs work. After all, the book will go through several more rewrites before it’s ready to be published.

I suppose it’s a positive move that I’ve been able to spot what the problem is before I start to panic – but all I had to do was go back to Dec 16th and read my own words!

Tommy

I’m a little nervous, but really looking forward to meeting everyone and spreading the Scream Street word. I shall report back on how it went soon!

Tommy

Tommy

I signed the contracts today to extend the series from six books to 12. Doubling the length of the series also, rather obviously, doubles my workload, but I already had a ‘part two’ to Scream Street in mind, so I’m delighted to be able to write about my characters for another six books.

The plan now is to release the first four books this October (2008), then two every six months until the end of 2010. Of course, this may change for many reasons – but at least I know what I’m going to be working on for the foreseeable future!

I’ve been getting glimpses of the first few covers, too – and they’re great! I can’t show them here yet as we haven’t finished tweaking them, but rest assured they fit the feel of the series perfectly.

Back to work for me now; I do have rather a lot to do, after all…

Tommy

Still, thanks to Daniel for his kind comments…

The new Scream Street was so good. I liked the part when Luke got caught by the zombie and he said, ‘This is my leg, not yours’, then the zombie said, ‘Oh, sorry.’ But Resus was out of sight…

I can tell you all those great Scream Street books will be great.

I know Daniel is a fan of the Too Ghoul For School books too, which is wonderful news! Plus, that’s a great picture of me working on my latest book, there!

I’ll let you know what the New York Times says about Scream Street as soon as they go to press…

Tommy

I’m busy with the second draft of SS4 and, sadly, it’s just not working. I’ve reorganised a lot since the first draft; moved scenes around, deleted gags to make room for plot and character development, etc. But, it’s still a no-go. No matter how much I try to fix it, it won’t sit right. I can’t explain why – it just hasn’t clicked into place.

That’s when I realised: I’m trying to fix it. I’m trying to find a way to make what I’ve already written work. What if it’s the bits I’ve already completed that are the problem? So, in a move known in writing circles as “killing your babies”, I have deleted three of the first four chapters of the book. Three whole chapters – gone.

What I’m left with is the opening, and the section where things begin to fall into place in the story. Now – I have to fine a NEW way to get my characters from A to B, and not just alter their route so that that make brief stops at L, N and T along the way.

And, guess what? It’s starting to make sense again. It’s clicking into place. I’m having fun writing these new scenes. But, I never would have been here had I not taken the drastic measure of deleting a good section of the book.

Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind to your characters.

Tommy