4,500
…that’s how many words of the new book I wrote today. That is a lot, by any standards. Of course, a lot of them will end up being no use. If you write four thousand words in a day then maybe a thousand will end up in the final book. Maybe fewer than that. Still, it’s a good riposte to the disappointments of yesterday and indeed the whole of 2011 so far. I think at these times, all you can really do is put your head down and work.
The book is taking shape. It could be a shape that people don’t like. But I will certainly have done my best.
It’s less commercial than Eleven by far, but I live in faith that un-commercial things can do well. How did all those people end up buying Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, even though it takes place a long way away from here and there are some awfully long words in it? Admittedly, that was set in the war and it really helps to set things in the war if you want to capture the public imagination. But even so.
I’ll reveal slightly more about the book as it develops. Suffice to say I not only have an almost complete draft of it, but an entirely different book as a Plan B in case my publishers don’t like this – this is to cover my arse, because of the messy way things turned out with the previous publishers – and then there’s the graphic novel too, and if all else fails I’ll just publish my diaries. That seems to work for some people.
That was Book Preview with Mark Watson.
Posted by Ken on February 10, 2011
Went to see Mark at Torquay tonight,and i can honestly say iv never laughed so much in my Life.
A fantastic night.
Highly recomended and will try and get to see Mark in Exeter in June (Where is it Again???)
You have the same sense of weird humour that i have Mark. Look forward to seeing your show again.
Posted by Laura on February 6, 2011
Yep, I’m still stuck on the 25th Jan. Oh no, I hope it gets fixed soon.
Posted by Briony on February 4, 2011
Gar – still got nothing from here onwards, does anyone else have the same problem (Joelle are you still stuck here in limbo-land?) ? Mark, it’s broken! Send rescue. Thank you kindly.
Posted by Jon on January 30, 2011
Great to see you on the FA Cup draw Mark!
Posted by Joelle on January 30, 2011
I think the blog’s playing up again. After reading about the 28th, the entries up until now disappeared and no more have come up.
For someone who looks forward to reading the blog each day ’tis most annoying. I’m sure it shall right itself soon. I hope so anyway.
I hope you’re having a good weekend x
Posted by Rachael on January 27, 2011
I don’t believe that you write a diary as well as this blog, it is hard enough to believe that it is humanly possible to write 4500 words in a day.
Posted by Clembear on January 26, 2011
Are the two books related? I like it when writers mention throwing out a draft because I want to see if there’s any route from one to t’other for how the ideas change. And then you can substitute characters from one text to the next to see how it all changes. Anyway. Maybe via the internet.
Or I could write a book about characters doing that without the author’s consent. Hmm. Will write that one down.
Anyway, well done on writing
I don’t think anyone knows what happened with Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Especially if you then pick up his other books which are brilliant Latin American magical realism and then a horrific one about drug lords.
Posted by Tibbs on January 26, 2011
An impressive day’s work, and all this book talk is terribly exciting! So will ‘plan b’ still become a book as well?
Posted by Tracey on January 26, 2011
Hi Mark. You’re certainly working well! I think you and everyone else here puts me to shame, because being a housewife, I don’t write much at all these days! Trying to stay on top of a large mountain of washing, and ironing takes all my energy! I’m looking forward to your latest work. Take care, Tracey xxxxxxx
Posted by MusicalLottie on January 26, 2011
Wow, that’s a lot of words.
Today I have edited just under 700 words. Well actually I’ve highlighted bits that need editing in a <700 word count and actually only edited half of that. They're not even my words so I can't take any credit there. Although I spent the morning *still* trying work out how to sort out a problem with my Sing Up registration that has been ongoing since … well, since I registered, which was October 09. I have made no progress. *feels like she's banging her head against a brick wall*
I digress.
Actually, you have enough followers of the blog that publishing your diaries might potentially be viable! (I'm not recommending you do, I'm just saying.)
Posted by A lot of Rachels on January 26, 2011
I managed to write 300 words of an essay yesterday so I think you win.
I look forward to hearing more about the book
Posted by Lauren on January 26, 2011
4,500 is massive. The most I’ve ever done in a day was 2,000 and I felt like my eyes were going to fall out of my head.
Posted by Madeleine on January 26, 2011
Well done Mark! Can’t wait to read it!
Hope things start looking up from…..NOW!
Posted by Kate W on January 26, 2011
That’s a fantastic day’s work – well done. You put me (and from the earlier comments, several other people) entirely to shame.
Un-commercial things can do incredibly well. Most of the time, people don’t know what they want until it’s offered to them, and to always aim for what the market wants can end up being rather dull and cookie cutter. Great that you’ve also got an idea for your next book in the locker as well as the graphic novel; sounds like we’ve got lots more of the Watson oeuvre to look forward to.
Posted by Helen on January 25, 2011
This book talk is very exciting and Marvellous.
Posted by Hannah Mae on January 25, 2011
This makes me feel a bit sick as I have to have written 6,500 words by 12pm Friday and so far only 1,500 of them exist. Not even on the same subject – 4,000 on Robert Lowell, 2,500 on Sir Gawain & The Fucking Green Knight (I believe that’s its actual title). How do you do it? I’m so very lazy and so very slow. A combination determined to hold me back in life.
I really hope we get to see what you’re writing. ‘Commercial’ is so often bullshit. I feel like TV people/publishers etc. insult people’s intelligence and spend too much time producing what they think the public want, when the public will mostly just take whatever they’re given. If anything, underestimating people has probably *made* them lazy consumers. QI, for example, must of made a few telly people a bit nervous in the beginning, but people love it and it’s been really successful. Also, just because people watch reality TV etc. doesn’t mean that’s *all* they want to watch – a mixture of high and low brow is good. I can appreciate that it must feel like a gamble to put lots of money into anything that won’t obviously do well when they can just shove some celebrities in a room, get them to fight and make millions, but it ends up meaning the same people are on TV all the time, the same type stuff is commissioned etc. I’m focusing on television too much and this argument is clearly more complex than I’m making it out to be, but it’s good to direct my anger and despair somewhere. What else is the internet for?
And now I will return to banging on about Lowell and synecdoche, in a silent library, staring at a white screen and a blinking cursor. Thank you for the distraction, and congratulations again on your impressive progress.
Posted by Lydia on January 25, 2011
I’m really looking forward to it. That’s an amazing word count considering yesterday. Whenever something crap happens I usually sit and stare at the wall.
I’m sure the book will be great, whatever form it ends up taking. It’s so weird that you have to do another idea in case they don’t like it. I mean, it’s not weird, it’s just that I don’t really know anything about publishing. I suppose that’s the sort of thing that not everyone would be interested in, or even something that you’ve written about before and I’ve missed it… but if you ever wanted to write about publishing I would think it was very interesting.
Posted by Phill on January 25, 2011
The way things work with publishers seems frankly bizarre. “I’ve written a book, but in case my publishers don’t like it I have a plan B up my sleeve and I can just write that instead.” I know we’re only getting the edited version of what actually goes on, but still seems very strange.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed Eleven and I hope everything goes smoothly with your new book. Looking forward to finding out more about it over time
Posted by Kathryn on January 25, 2011
I’ve not even written 450 words today. I am very impressed with (jealous of) your work ethic.
I agree with Josh. We need to know about the 28th. Too much curiosity. And even more curiosity about the book.
Posted by Suzy on January 25, 2011
Ooh exciting – can’t wait till it’s finished. I shall be buying and reading it whatever shape it turns out to be
Loved all your book so far.
And woohoo you’re back in my Google Reader again!
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on January 25, 2011
You know what would make 2011 really great? If you told us all about the 28th. We’re dying here.
If your cruel BBC 7 taskmasters are preventing you from doing so we’ll just set fire to their pets until they let you tell us.
PLEEEAASSE
Posted by amycool on January 25, 2011
When is 2011 going to get good? So far it’s miles behind 2010 for nice things happening. I shall try putting my head down and working tomorrow to see if that helps.
Well done on writing all of those words. I hope it all goes smoothly with the publishers this time round. Your Light hearted look at murder book appeared in my library today (I think it’s in rotation i.e. gets moved around every 6 months so everybody gets a read) so I sneaked it onto the bestsellers stand.
Posted by Josie on January 25, 2011
After about a month of my computer not working/my feed not telling me when you posted, I’m back and ready to read!
I must say, the book preview sounds ruddy mysterious. And I’m sure that even though the new book may not be as commercial as Eleven, you’ll have a legion of people wanting to read the next one.
Posted by Lisa D on January 25, 2011
The best part of being a writer is that no matter how crap other things in life may go there is always something to focus on and work.
…But 4500 WORDS??? Dude! You rock!
Posted by Misha on January 25, 2011
I’m very excited for all this forth coming bookery.
Posted by Carl on January 25, 2011
Looking forward to it, Mark.
Posted by Meg on January 25, 2011
Patrick, Katie and I are planning to write a book while everyone else is having fun on the 28th Feb because we can’t go. It’s going to be a pretty good book I reckon. It’s called ‘Twelve’.