Keep Calm and Never Give Up

Yesterday I reached the symbolic 10,000 word milestone for novel three. At times the writing just seems to flow and pour out of me. It’s funny how the words were written so naturally, when oftentimes compiling sentences can be very laborious and tedious if you’re not in the mood. In fact I think my approach to novel writing is slightly shifting. I used to set myself a daily target: 1,000 words, or at least a minimum of 500. That way I could think about daily progress. I was relentless yet comfortable. That strategy was applicable for Out of Bounds, a bit less for The Perfectionist. And I know it’s still early for this third opus. I tend to write less frequently. But when I do, I pen down more words... I’m liking the shape my manuscript is taking.

I’m also beginning to dive into my main character’s mind and becoming more and more familiar with his way of being and thinking. I guess I’ve become a real method actor/writer! With regard to the subject matter of novel three, alas I cannot say much at all for the time being. I’m not someone who puts the cart before the horse, and I’d hate to jinx the whole undertaking. All I can disclose though is that it’s my first non-US setting and closer to my roots.

Before I can tell you more about novel three, I have to update you on novel two, The Perfectionist. It’s been three weeks now since I’ve started contacting literary agents (mainly in London), and so far, not much to report. That’s normal. Most agencies will only get back to me in 6-8 weeks’ time. With the exception of a few promising leads, those who already have replied have been rejections. It’s tough, it hurts your pride, but it’s part of the game. I’m facing stiff competition (agents receive hundreds of manuscripts). Moreover I have no idea if my submissions are timely or if the subject matter is of relevance in the agents’ eyes on a given day: their opinions are subjective.

Here’s a good example of a rejection I got last week:

“Many thanks for sending us this proposal, which I read with interest. I considered it carefully but I’m afraid on balance it just doesn’t quite grab my imagination in the way that it must for me to offer to represent you. So I must follow my instinct and pass on this occasion. I’m really sorry to be so disappointing, but thanks for thinking of us. Of course this is a totally subjective judgement, so do try other agents and I wish you every success.”

That’s a kind “No”, isn't it?

I later found out that this was a standard and automated form of rejection. However, I have received a few personal replies too reflecting how agencies must remain “sensitive to the demands of the commercial market”. I was also told by one agency that the novel is not “something it could be 100% confident of being able to handle successfully”. I wonder. What does it take to reach 100% confidence, assuming that such a level of confidence exists?

I bear no grudges and I am not disappointed. It’s all part of the process of seeking representation. I write these words more as means to illustrate the difficult road ahead of writers seeking to be published.

On a side note, I should have news in March with regard to my entry for the “Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2015 Short Story Competition”. The deadline for submissions is February 15th, and after that a panel of judges will decide on a shortlist. More of a short-term project for me, but my fingers are crossed for Wartime Girl.

Out of the Cave

Greetings again from the darkness. First of all, I wish you all a happy and exciting new year. 2015 will be a year of change and ambitious undertakings. Personally, I'm off to a flying start. Batteries recharged after the Xmas break, I am now tackling the search for novel representation in full swing. For the past few days I've been contacting literary agents in London. They tend to more or less ask for the same thing: a good cover letter, a proper synopsis, and an excerpt from the novel's manuscript (anything between the first 10 pages to more than 50). So, I am casting the net wide and will hopefully reap some results in the weeks to come.

Now it's a game of patience. The wait can be short (I've already received one rejection); it can be long (most literary agents need 6-8 weeks before getting back to you); or in some cases it can be endless as you may never get a reply. It's an exciting time nonetheless. The full manuscript of 'The Perfectionist' has been read by three people so far, but these people are close to me. Now I'm sharing a part of the content with professionals. The pressure is somewhat different, heightened even. Needless to say, the next several weeks mark a critical milestone in my journey as a writer.

So a lot of nervous finger tapping in store for 2015. Hopefully some of it will translate into some further productive writing... talking of which, today I have a draft blueprint of novel n°3 in my mind and tentatively sketched down on a piece of paper. I'm not sure when I'll start writing seriously on this and beefing it up. Neither do I know if this is the one big idea I will commit myself to pursuing relentlessly for the months to come, but I've got a feeling deep down that these rough notes may lead to more magical moments of creativity. I hope to have more news soon, but for now back to my writer's cave.

Auggie Wren's Christmas Story

One of my all-time favourite Xmas stories: "Auggie Wren's Christmas Story" by Paul Auster.
Check: http://www.xtec.cat/~dsanz4/materiales/auggie_wren.pdf

The story also constitutes the first part of the closing chapter (5. Auggie) of the 1995 movie "Smoke", which I've embedded below.
The movie is directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster.
Writer: Paul Auster.
Leading roles in the scene: Harvey Keitel and William Hurt.

I hope you enjoy this great story-telling as much as I do.

I wish you all a fantastic Christmas and all the best for 2015!

Interview by Léa Touch Book

Further to the October 30th review of 'Out of Bounds'
(http://leatouchbook.blogspot.fr/2014/10/out-of-bounds-simon-duke.html),
Léa Touch Book has published our recent interview.


You can read it in full at: http://leatouchbook.blogspot.fr/2014/12/interview-simon-duke.html

It's in French and English. It's also mainly about 'Out of Bounds'. However, some insight into my new book, 'The Perfectionist', is provided.


Thank you Léa for your great work and for your support.

Wise Men at their End Know Dark is Right; I See The Future as Bright

I look out the window. The light is no more. The windstorm is hissing, hurling everything it’s got at me like an angry child, yet screaming at me like winter’s wrathful prophet. I think to myself, only a month and few days till Christmas. For many, the coming weeks are geared towards preparing the festive season. It’s a special time. People are more upbeat and generally pleased to feast and celebrate together. It’s an annual show. And despite its predictability and clichés, it’s still widely-anticipated and the magic still lives on. This year, Xmas will have another meaning for me. It’ll be the first time in ten years that the importance of the event itself will be significantly toned down. With other fish to fry, Christmas preparation only accounts for a small portion of my rush. But I’m nonetheless looking forward to the break. Time goes on, relentlessly, unforgiving in its destruction of each and every passing day. My agenda is hectic and it’ll remain that way until Christmas. I have a lot of personal business to sort out, a move to take care of. And when all that dies down, I’ll hit the road. The break will be some kind of warrior’s rest before a new year starts and offers me new chances, new ambitions, new hopes. In 2015 I start afresh.

The literary project goes on. As I’ve previously mentioned, writing is the glue that keeps me together and I seek shelter in the writer’s retreat as real life goes on and Murphy’s Law oftentimes comes knocking on my door. Writing is my haven. Needless to say I am eager to resume the editing of ‘The Perfectionist’ manuscript and to actively engage with agents and publishers. The book is being proof-read and I hope to send submissions in late-January. In the meantime I must work on a synopsis and the cover-letters, which are so crucial to stand a chance in the slush piles. However, I’ve taken a pause from writing in the last weeks and have instead occasionally penned down some thoughts for future stories, long and short. One novel idea in particular is growing on me, but I still have to weigh its pros and cons and figure out if it is a viable project or if I have the guts to take it all the way. Having finished writing two novels I’m tempted to write about many different things and I’m having difficulty channeling these creative sparks. The 2015 Writers & Artists short story competition helped me narrow my focus and was a temporary yet much-needed opportunity to write again. But that’s done now and I have to wait for the results in March.

Moments of inspiration come and go. Besides they bloom within me in various forms. So I’m constantly on the lookout, and when I see/hear/read something I enjoy, I wonder, how can my feelings be processed? How can the sound of music penetrate my ear, filter through my brain, and become a source of energy that is blasted all the way through my body to my fingers with which I can write down my impressions? There are no real answers to those questions. I guess you have to be open and willing to feel and be at one with your senses, curious enough to translate what you’ve experienced into a medley of words, and not be afraid that what you’re doing can be perceived as a waste of time – writer’s retreat, remember.

I went to see ‘Interstellar’ yesterday. And although I enjoyed the movie, I’m not sure I have digested it properly and transformed my impressions into something noteworthy. But since the screening I’m a little haunted by a sequence in the film which takes place shortly after Matthew McConaughey’s rescue team is propelled into deep space. Nothing happens in this sequence. It’s just a series of shots showing the space vessel hovering silently. No music. No sound effects. Only silent darkness, which is broken by Michael Caine’s excellent voice-off as he recites Dylan Thomas’s ‘Do not go gentle into that good night.’ It’s a beautiful poem, and until I can process the wonderful juxtaposition of the space odyssey and the intensity of the verse, I leave it here for future consideration.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(Dylan Thomas, 1951)

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2015 Short Story Competition

I’ve just submitted a short story for the “Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2015 Short Story Competition”. For the 2014 edition I submitted “An Evening with Walter”. The story could be no longer than 2,000 words, and was on the theme of 'The Visit'. This year, the same maximum word count applies and the theme is ‘Joy’. My entry is a story narrated by a young girl during the London blitz. Where’s the joy in that? I guess you’ll have to wait and find out.

Anyone can participate. The competition is open to all ages, professions and nationalities. All you need to do is create a free account on the Writers' & Artists' website. The closing date is midnight on Sunday 15th February 2015. And the winners of the competition will be announced in March 2015. You can read about the terms and conditions, the prizes, and about what’s required for the submission at this link: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/competitions

On an interesting note, by submitting you grant The Bloomsbury Publishing Group the right to publish your entry. Remember this is the publisher who “gambled” with J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books!

Out of Bounds: First Review in French

My first review in French, courtesy of Léa Touch Book. Thank you, Léa.
http://leatouchbook.blogspot.fr

French Touch : A very good thriller, an endearing main character, a fierce humor, an intriguing investigation and end on a high note ! All the ingredients for a great reading !

Chronique : J'avais une légère appréhension à relire en anglais après quelques mois d'abstinence mais cela c'était sans compter la  plume efficace et le récit porteur d'Out of Bounds.

J'ai tout de suite plongé dans ce polar, notamment grâce à son protagoniste principale Kyle. C'est un être très touchant, qui représente une véritable antithèse entre ce qu'il est et ce qu'il fait parfois mais c'est avant tout au travers de son humour que je me suis attachée. J'aime sincèrement l'ironie des pensées du héros, son sens du sarcasme parfois qui nous permet dans des moments de tension romanesque, de continuer à voir la petite lueur d'espoir. On ressent une vraie empathie pour ce personnage du fait de ses motivations humaines voire altruistes, celles du quotidien : subvenir aux besoins de sa famille.

Au-delà de Kyle, l'auteur nous présente un autre protagoniste : Bornholm, le flic. Un être intègre, qui va au fur et à mesure analyser en enquêter sur les événements dans lesquels est impliqué Kyle. L'auteur mélange savamment le point de vue, les doutes, les peurs de Kyle avec les investigations externes du policier.

Autre point que j'ai aimé, ce sont les flashbacks, plus particulièrement celui de la rencontre entre Kyle et sa femme, Simon Duke va au-delà du simple policier, il écrit un authentique roman avec une enquête mais aussi des émotions. Ma lecture m'a fait penser d'ailleurs à La Défense Lincoln de Michael Connelly : livre que j'ai adoré !

L'écriture est à l'image du livre : efficace, sensible, bien menée. Out of bounds est peut-être un premier roman mais certainement pas le dernier ! La fin est vraiment parfaite et conclue très bien l'ensemble.

En définitive, si vous souhaitez lire en V.O., si vous adorez les polars efficaces avec une pointe d'émotions : Out of bounds est fait pour vous !