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Just brilliant notes.

Many, many thanks for this Kaz. Multiple lightbulb moments. As Philippa says, it can make a big difference finding a model that works for you (and indeed, different ones might apply themselves better to different works). I’m trying to structure a novella at the moment, which is obviously somewhat different to a novel, and some of the more s…[Read more]

Yes it would be lovely if they had the right info on the signs. Especially before you find yourself on a toll road going the wrong way…

Thanks all, and particularly Philippa. I may well have some questions on agoraphobia for you in due course – thank you so much for the offer of help.

As to the house being the narrator – yes, it does mean that the entire book takes place in or around the house. It was actually working OK just taking place in the kitchen, but I think the story…[Read more]

Oh Jane – yes, I can totally imagine that. And Richard – it would be so much easier if they actually had the right info on the signs, wouldn’t it?!

Toutes Directions, yes yes, Autres Routes, yes yes yes, but where is the bloody road to [insert town as appropriate]?…

I parked the car in the middle of Rennes once and after I’d wiped away the tears, got out and walked until I found the road I needed…

None of the holidays we used to have in France (we haven’t been there since we’ve acquired a sat-nav) used to be quite complete without getting comprehensively lost at least once.

I am so glad to hear that I’m not the only driver who goes through this!! Part of me was thinking I was a real idiot for getting so worked up after over 30 years of relatively trouble-free driving…but maybe getting majorly lost somewhere is a rite of passage that I’ve just managed to delay?!

Oh I think you could make it work @bellam. On one level the house could be a sort of manifestation of the forces inside Molly’s head keeping her imprisoned and I like the duality of it being a safe place and a prison at the same time.

you’re all very welcome and I’m glad if they’re useful 🙂 But I forgot to put index cards in! I’ve just added that now, point 2 after Donald Maas.

Yes, that’s right @philippaeast – it’s very liberating to put all these approaches on the table and see that they all ‘work’ even though they’re different. It’s all there for the taking and what works…[Read more]

@Bellam, Have you thought of Molly’s slippers?

I’m also curious as to how much scope a house narrator gives you? Would every scene of your book have to be set inside / near the house? So intrigued!

Here’s an article about villain narrators:

https://www.bustle.com/articles/153308-20-books-with-villain-protagonists

Hi Bella,

What a fascinating question!

Such a great thing to ask yourself: who is telling the story? Having the house narrate would certainly be very unique and original.

You would sort of have an omniscient narrator-type voice (presumably the house would have a pretty good ‘bird’s eye view’ of things?) but how fascinating too to think of the…[Read more]

Thank you so, so much for sharing these notes. Much appreciated.

Ugh. What a hateful drive. Glad you made it in the end.

I remember a family holiday to Belgium. We took 2 cars – stepson had not driven on the continent before. The idea was to drive in convoy, with an understanding that if we got separated hubby and I would press on to our destination because we had a fairly limited time slot in which to pick up…[Read more]

Thank you. This has been an interesting, if worrying and depressing, read. Caveat author.

Good for you for being so persistent in the face of such recalcitrance.

You have my sympathy on two counts, Squidge. Fifteen or so years on, I still shudder at the memory of my only encounter with the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris – which will remain my only encounter if I have anything to do with it. And losing the GPS signal just when you need it: I’ve been there too, more than once. So frustrating.

Glad the d…[Read more]