Author: Natalie

Writing

Under Pressure

by Natalie2 Comments on Under Pressure

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This is me. No doubt about it. And, with my publishing contract came deadlines, and the re-write for Together Apart. In all fairness, it wasn’t loads. I’ve added a few new scenes and tidied things up a little, but the deadlines were fairly tight – and it probably felt even more so because of me being almost on the other side of the world in one of the most chilled out places imaginable.

Instead of doing a little bit each day, I left it until the day before the deadline for me to send the edits back. They weren’t problematic, or exceptionally difficult, and I thought I’d be able to handle that in no time at all. Except, it it wasn’t that easy. If you haven’t read Together Apart, it’s about a break-up. A fairly messy one at that, and when I wrote the majority of it, I was breaking up from a very long term relationship. I’m so far away from that now and I didn’t bank on how hard it would be to put myself back into that headspace.

My editor, the lovely Sophie, was asking for more emotion here, more reaction there, and it was an uphill struggle to put myself back into that place of heartbreak and uncertainty. I knew as soon as I started writing it that I should have left myself more time. In the end, the changes were made and Sophie loved them, and now, Together Apart is well and truly done and dusted. I’ve had a few days to recharge before the imminent arrival of the edits for Heart Shaped Bruise come into my inbox and this time I won’t make the same mistake. The truth is, Heart Shaped Bruise as it stands is fresh out of my mind, and I’m expecting MAJOR rewirtes to be done.

I bumped into a friend yesterday who’s a freelance photographer, and we were talking about the balance between socialising and enjoying life, and knuckling down to work. And, actually, I think the move from being a self-published author to having to deal with deadlines etc imposed by someone else will work so much better for me. I’ve always worked better with a bit of applied pressure, and the truth is, if you’re self-publishing, you have to be super disciplined to stick to your own deadlines. There’s far too much slippage in there for me.

Yeah, it meant sitting in front of the computer for nine hours straight on New Years Eve and almost making myself cross eyed, but it was totally worth it. Pressure?

Bring it!

Blog, Travel

Deja vu, but new

by NatalieLeave a Comment on Deja vu, but new

Ok, so I’ve been very, very lax with my updates, but it’s hard to keep in touch when you’re busy chilling out all the time. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve not been chilling too much. I’ve had deadlines, patchy internet and moved house. I think I’ve been to the beach three or four times since I’ve been here. Ho hum. In any case, I’m back in Arambol and having a major case of deja vu.

I guess it’s a pretty special place, in that there’s a core community of people who come here year after year, in some cases, the last two decades! So I’ve not been surprised to see so many of the people I met last year. In fact, I was banking on it. But, like most things, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

The people I hung out with last season are not the same people I’ve been hanging with this time around. I’ve seen them, spent a little time with them, but that’s about it. I suppose it’s a important lesson not to have any expectations of anyone, or plan around people too much. In the upside, I’ve made a bunch of new friends who have kept me thoroughly entertained.

And the deja vu? Well, I’m back in the Purple House, the same one I stayed in last time. But this time, I’m sharing with two awesome guys, German yoga teacher, Simon and Aussie surfer, James. And as of yesterday, German contact dance teacher, Anir. That is where the deja vu ends though. Even though I’m technically sleeping in the exact same room I did last year, most nights we’ve all slept on the balcony (pictures to come soon). Unlike last year, we’ve decorated it with mattresses, cushions and wall hangings and most of the time, we hang out there. Even though the surroundings are the same, the feelings are much, much more different.

I guess it all boils down to the saying that’s so prevalent throughout Asia. Same, same. But different.

🙂