To err is digital...

Okay... I've been trying to post since the 5th October. Unfortunately, my internet access has thus far prevented me from logging into anything. So out came the old, disturbingly silent laptop which heats my fingers in cold weather.... ah, true multitasking.

And the internet works perfectly on this (aside from a slew of pages not loading AT ALL).

However, I saved what I was trying to say as a txt file on my old, disturbingly noisy and Not In The Least Bit Irritating tower PC. So I'm going to have to run from memory.

I've been reading blogs, but have been unable to comment due to problems above, but now I've solved it (by replacing stuff with other stuff), expect to be hearing from me.

In answer to comments-

Ann, I'll be posting extracts on both, t'internet permitting. I'm actually desperate to get started, because my head is starting to hurt...

Helen, it's a relief to be back. Thanks for watching out for the new posts!

Karen, no need for a fire brigade- I've worked out how to use an extinguisher with my feet. And the pearl of wisdom was more of a witty comeback and contained a surprisingly appropriate use of the 'c' word. Yes, he swears like a sailor. It went "There's no 'I' in 'Team'." "No but there is a 'U' in ****."

If they can get away with just bleeping rude words at 12 noon on Radio One, I can get away with censoring just one word.

Also Karen, 'Librarian' is not a legally protected job title. Not only that, but librarian is defined as 'n. a person in charge of or assisting in a library'. So you're a librarian. Anyone who says differently is a snob.

Back on the topic of NaNoWriMo (oooh... I should try logging in), I've come up with a 'keep Mike entertained when he's stuck' stratagem. In stead of simply stepping back and seeing if my imagination starts again on its own, I'm going to write a second story in the background to keep it ticking over until I bypass the occlusion.

Hairspring

One thousand years after the immortal emperor Vakriss passed his vast kingdom of Ferrodown to his daughter, Marie of The Real, all is not well. Although the people generally love Empress Marie, dissent has been brewing for decades, and rumours are being spread saying she is no longer fit to rule.

The unrest has even infected her beloved Generals, who served her father before her for thousands of years. Loyal General Krygen, his Blademaster and the Knights of the Realm rally behind the queen, upholding oaths to serve the royal bloodline at any cost to themselves.

The Protector General, the warrior-priestess who drove the demon Shade from the former emperor's body nearly four thousand years previously, has begun to doubt the rule. With this split in opinion, the unrest grows into a full-blown civil war, and at the centre stands a masked traveller known only as Synchronous and His Incredible Clockwork Men.

He seems to be the trigger for disaster, and he intends to see things run like clockwork.

It came to me in a dream... I think I need a shrink, if I'm perfectly honest. I won't even go into the dream before that... it was the most lucid dream I've ever had.

I'll post more on From the Ashes and even perhaps Pulling the Strings tomorrow.

Cheers,

Mike