The other day I met my agent for lunch in the West End. We haven’t seen each other since the spring and she cocked her head expectantly but I held my hand up in the Boy Scout pledge and said I swear, I’ve caused no recent scandals! I was excessively pure and innocent all summer!
After some discussion she believed my assertions, but that just opened up the conversation for an investigation about what I’ve been doing instead. Which is, well, not much!
Or at least, nothing that can be published, because I threw away the stuff I finished over the summer. This is of course exasperating to certain people, not least my literary agent, but it is also how I’ve always worked. I produce very little, very fast, with long gaps between each session.
To avoid the inevitable chastisement I hurriedly offered up the funeral story. Susan was nicely distracted throughout the rest of the meal, and we said goodbye on good terms. Hours later I received a text pointing out that my anecdote would be an excellent first chapter for a book.
Sigh.