charles barrow's writing

I'm re-reading books 1, 2 and 3, and giving them a buff and a polish: a comma here, a carriage return there, a shiny new adjective dropped into a sentence. No major changes, then, just a few tweaks. All of this is in preparation for them being uploaded to Amazon, to make them available on Kindle. I have had qualms about doing this, but I have to concede that Amazon is the largest shop window in the world, and if I want to find a wide audience for my writing, for my stories, then they need to sit on a shelf in their store. I don't think I can afford to have moralistic qualms when I'm an unknown writer looking for readers. I've given myself thirty days to get my reading and editing done, and to get the books uploaded and launched.

I may not have had a great visit to Stonehenge, see below, but I did get this photo of a Rook. It's out of focus of course, you wouldn't expect anything else from me, but I'm pleased with this. This is the closest I've got to a bird yet. The rooks are everywhere at Stonehenge, in all the fields and skies around, but oddly none settled on the monument itself, that I saw. Perhaps there's an ancient bylaw prohibiting it. I wonder if there is a myth surrounding the rooks at the henge, like there is for the ravens at the Tower of London? Anyway, I was pleased to get a snap of a rook in particular because I've named a character Rook in Book 3  of John Mann's story. He's a ruffian. I bet a rook could take care of itself in a bust up. Photo is the author's own

Just got back from the first of two story research trips to London. What an amazing, inspiring City. I'm not sure I'd want to live there again (having lived there for a short time as a student) but I love to visit occasionally, and this time I had a very good reason. I went to do some research on some of London's parks for book 3 of John Mann's story, tentatively called John Mann - At Day's End. I'd been to these parks before but this time I needed to explore them, see what of London could be seen from them, generally get a sense of atmosphere, and take photographs. It was a great thing to do because a) research is always fun and I want to be sure I have my facts straight, and b) London is just inspiring and now I feel more energised creatively. 'Tired of London, tired of life.' as someone famous once said. I can't wait to visit again soon.

I Tweeted this earlier, 'Turned up at the empty page and filled six. Happy day. #amwriting' I've begun writing Book 3 and it's going well. I have seven chapters under my belt, although my chapters tend to be shorter affairs than most. I'm happy. I'd been circling my opening scene like you might circle something small, furry and unmoving on the pavement, unsure wether to prod it to see if there is any life in it or to assume it is dead and walk on. In my head I couldn't find the voice of a new character I've introduced. When I finally sat down to write the scene, assuming I'd have to leave blank spaces where I hoped to bring him to life later, he arrived fully formed. Hal Scarrot, teenage, street-smart thief. He'll need work, of course he will, but he's joined the cast now and I'm pleased to have him. Some author, and I'm annoyed that I've forgotten who, said that if you want to be a writer you just have to turn up at the emp...