Writing Books. And Haywire.

So much to do, so little time...

You may have noticed a distinct lack of updates since, er, the last post. This is MOSTLY because I was knocked off the internet for a few days, which allowed me to focus on writing. The latest book is going well, you'll be pleased to hear. Still don't know what it's called, but I'm sure it'll come to me, and it'll be typically brilliant.

I'm writing this one in sequence, which is unusual for me. Usually I'll skip forward and back, writing the cool stuff and then fitting it all together later, like a jigsaw. But this one is different. This one, I started with the first chapter and just kept going. I'm leaving gaps as I go- maybe I'll write half a chapter and move on, or maybe I'll just write the dialogue in a scene and add in the actions somewhere down the line. It means I'm moving quickly, getting down the CORE of the story as I go. Assuming I continue like this, it means that when I'm done I'll have the bare essentials of the book written, and I'll just need to go back and flesh everything out.

I'm not sure why, after six books, I've suddenly changed my approach. Possibly because there really is no more room for error. I only have three books left, and everything has to be set up and in place. I need to be a lot more disciplined in my storytelling or else I'll get to the final book and realise I've forgotten to mention something in an earlier book, and it'll ruin EVERYTHING...

My mind is basically on Skulduggery and nothing else at the moment. When I'm driving, I'm thinking about plot. The moment I wake up, I'm thinking about scenes. Publication is September 1st (or thereabouts) and I really don't have any time to waste.

A few days ago I was in the car, thinking about books 8 and 9, and I realised something MAJOR. Something HUMUNGOUS. I'm not saying if this story development is fantastically fun or utterly devastating, but it'll happen somewhere in Book 8- probably around the middle. And this is a development that wasn't in my overall scheme of things. When I planned these books, this development did not happen. But now, because of the slight changes and shifts that come with writing any book, I realised that this development was essential. I know this is all a gigantic tease to you, my Minions, because I'm talking about something you won't get to read about until 2013, but dear GOD I can't wait to write it. Oh wow it's gonna be brilliant. But I can't tell you what it is. Sorry.

And that's pretty much all I've been doing. Oh, I went to see Haywire the other day. Haywire is a spy/action movie, some of which was filmed in Dublin, and it stars Gina Carano, a UFC fighter. It's an odd movie, very low key, very non-flashy. I absolutely loved it. And I have a new crush, bringing my Crushes on Actresses to a grand total of two.

1. Alexis Bledel.

2. Gina Carano.

That's a very exclusive list right there. They both should be honoured to be on it.

If you're over 15 (or whatever rating your country has seen fit to bestow onto Haywire) go watch it. Don't expect explosions and car chases, and you might like it as much as I did.