Tuesday 29 January 2008

New Potatoes, Vraic & Synopsis


Dh planted some Jersey New Potatoes in the greenhouse last week. Ordinarily he would have done this on Boxing Day but we weren't organized. Tomorrow/Thursday he intends to plant the rest in the vegetable patch, which isn't a large space but we do end up with the most heavenly potatoes. I can't wait.
The only problem with planting anything is that Grumpy loves to join in and ends up with a beard full of ground and a dusty nose. He can't see anything wrong with doing his bit. I just wish he would leave the potatoes alone. At least with the greenhouse we can close the door to keep him out!
Last year I had the brilliant idea of putting vraic (seaweed) over our veg patch and duly trundled down to the beach with various youngsters and carrier bags in tow. Our findings were spread evenly over the chosen areas and then we spent days with G fighting, eating and vomiting seaweed in various states. So this year we are having to do without.
I still haven't finished the synopsis and am finding it hard putting 120k words into 1k. I need to go over it again, damn thing. Mind you, this is another part of the writing process that I have to learn and I suppose the only way to get better at something is to practice doing it.

6 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Ooh, real Jersey potatoes from your own garden how lovely! Good luck with the synopsis!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helenmh - they do taste wonderful. It's something we look forward to each year.

Jenny Beattie said...

Oh my, how I miss my Dad's new potatoes. Thais don't eat potatoes too often, sadly.
JJx

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

jj - oh poor you, I would miss potatoes terribly if I couldn't have them.

Liane Spicer said...

Debs, writing the synopsis for my first novel was the absolute worst part of the entire process for me. I sympathize.

The very first time I queried an editor she asked me to send the full manuscript and a synopsis. I dillied and dallied and finally sent the package off minus the synop. Needless to say, I never heard back from the lady, and it took me several years before I began querying again.

I still hate writing those things, but I'm resigned to doing them now.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

wordtryst - I agree, they are impossible to write and I gather some agencies like to receive short synopses and others longer more detailed ones. I suppose we can only give it our best shot though.