Many writers will already know of the ‘blog interview tour’ going the rounds called The Next Big Thing. I’ve read some great Q&As, one of which you’ll find right now at Come Home To The Country. It’s like an online literary chain letter. I don’t know where it started and I don’t know where it will end, and at some stage soon thanks to Jenn J McLeod, I, and three other lady writers, will become part of The Next Big Thing. (Yes – there is even a badge). If I find it, I’ll post it.
But what I want to write about today, is how VERY close I came to being something else entirely. Yes, although Allison Tait, Cate Ellink and Kerrie Patterson (tagged by Jenn) may never know it… Ladies, last night, we nearly became part of THE NEXT BOG THING.
All evidence is now removed. Jenn J’s typo (if typo it was – I’m tempted to think she was being sneaky to see if anyone was really listening!) is now removed. At midnight last night on Jenn’s blog, we were about to be part of The Next Bog Thing. Two minutes after midnight, we were back to being in The Next Big Thing… but I have spent some time in the small hours thinking about what might have been…
Let’s be honest. Have you seen the Q&A for The Next Big Thing? It’s not very exciting. It’s (dare I say) a bit boring. Like, child’s toy-left-out-in-the-sun-all-summer kind of dull. Jenn J’s Author Harvest questions have far more scope!
The Questions in The Next Bog Thing would be far more exciting! Just think of how you might answer this!
- At what point did you decide your first draft was complete and utter crap?
- Assuming you send your protagonist rowing up Shit Creek, how did you take away his/her paddle?
- How many times did you rewrite Chapter 4, before realising that you simply cannot polish a turd?
- Tell the truth. Have you ever taken your laptop into the toilet to work on your WIP?
- If you ever manage to outsell the Bible… will you think your shit doesn’t stink?
You get the point? Much more interesting!
Alas. Thanks to the wonders of blogs and their edit and ‘update’ buttons… I am not in The Next Bog Thing anymore, (how I wanted to see that badge), I am in only, The Next Big Thing and so, I shall start honing my answers!
But I do invite anyone out there who is interested in The Next Bog Thing, to leave any new questions they might think of in the comments below (I might even have to come up with a prize!)… or by all means, please join The Next Bog Thing and write your answers if you like and tag someone else… Maybe we can start a whole new BIG BOGGY THING (which one day, someone might make a scary movie about.)
In the meantime Jenn J, I love your work! Thanks for tagging me! And I look forward to reading about Kerrie, Allison and Cate! 🙂
Lily Malone - Author 
As I wipe laughter tears from my eyes….. You know, I thought we connected based purely on that author picture of yours. I mean, only a genuinely crazy person would post a picture with an angle like like. And I do love the glass of red resting idly just out of reach like… “Oh yeah, that belongs to the photgrapher.” One day, Lily, we will meet and have one hell of a good laugh. 9now kets’ see how many people come over to check out this bog blog.
Oops. I’m busted… you saw that glass of wine? I thought I’d cropped it beautifully out… I just thought it was such a hoot last night when I saw your TNBT post… and I felt for you after a day filled with edits, a little light-hearted relief at midnight was good for both of us. The Next Bog Thing definitely has potential!
Bloody bog -l liant! Still cracking up.
Thanks Amanda and Alison.
Jenn J manages to do stuff that cracks me up all the time… she just gave me such a good excuse last night, I kinda, couldn’t not do the post…
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
Lily M.
I’m not sure that I want whatever may be the prize for the best question…given the topic! So I’ll just say thanks for the laugh!
I want to be the next Bog Thing! Count me in! My contribution to the question is this –
‘The Bog of editing: source of peat and heat, or source of eternal stench? Discuss.’
Thanks for the laughs!
Hi Imelda – welcome to my Bog (err, blog).
Eeesh. Your question gives me a squelchy feeling between my toes. I’d say definite source of peat & heat… but I know Jenn J & Juliet Madison are currently deep in the peat-pit of final edits. Perhaps they have the true answer!
I shall count you officially IN!
Cheers Lily M.
Here’s my BOG thing, Lily. It’s too hilarious not to do!
At what point did you decide your first draft was complete and utter crap?
That’s about every day, at least once a day but I persist because I’m a stubborn turd.
Assuming you send your protagonist rowing up Shit Creek, how did you take away his/her paddle?
She dropped it and it sank. Simple. Bog things are kind of like that I find.
How many times did you rewrite Chapter 4, before realising that you simply cannot polish a turd?
Ah, well, I don’t count these things. It would be utterly demoralising!
Tell the truth. Have you ever taken your laptop into the toilet to work on your WIP?
Laptop, no. Ipad, yes. Phone, yes. Notebook, yes. You have to get some peace somewhere! And good ideas come when you’re relaxed.
If you ever manage to outsell the Bible… will you think your shit doesn’t stink?
Oh yeah! And maybe it’s marketable then… bit like Dynamic Lifter or Charlie Carp. Cate’s Crap. Has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?
Thanks for my laugh!!!
Cate xo
Oh no Cate – don’t thank me for your laugh, I’m thanking you for mine! Yes. Cate’s Crap does have a ring – which given the tone of this current conversation – is almost an unintended pun.
Cheers, Lily M.
Geez I’m glad I wasn’t eating or drinking when I read this post and the subsequent comments 🙂
Hi Kerrie
Are you glad because you might have spilt whatever it was cos you were laughing… or you might have spoilt whatever it was because of the err, subject matter. Thanks for checking it out. I just showed my hubby Cate Ellink’s comments above. It cracked him up. He says I ought to write shit more often… 🙂
Lily M.