Progress report on Wake-Up Call

 As I've mentioned before, I have a few books waiting for editing and preparing for publication.

In November 2018, I wrote "Diary of a Female GP" as my NaNoWriMo project. While I was in the middle of writing this book, I was dragged out of retirement (and full-time writing) into a new, and over full-time, job. 

Suddenly, all my free time disappeared and I no longer could spend all my waking hours writing. Instead, I needed to find time around work to write.

No wonder, it took until August 2020 before I completed editing the book and could finally publish it. But, so far, it's my best-selling book and I'm quite proud of that.

Then, in November 2019, I wrote "Wake-Up Call". And, again, I didn't get much chance to write and edit. Especially not when in early 2019 the Covid pandemic made its appearance in the UK and healthcare fell under a lot of pressure. Even working in an administrative job in healthcare, the pressure was significant and time was a precious commodity.

Still, I continued editing "Diary of a Female GP" over the next 2 years. In November 2020 I even took part in NaNoWriMo again and wrote "Watching You From a Dark Corner". That book will need editing once I've finished "Wake-Up Call".

And now, there is some progress, finally. The first 10 chapters of "Wake-Up Call" have gone through a second edit. Yet another 26 chapters to go. Although it is still some way from full completion, there is progress. And, I'm looking forward to keeping the momentum I've got. Even if that will mean I'll need to put more discipline in place, get up a little earlier, and ensure I work on the book every week, hopefully even every day. It's way beyond time this book was completed and ready for publication.

And, to finish this post off, I'll share a short excerpt of the book with you again. I hope you'll enjoy it.

*****

After trying a little while longer to concentrate, I gave it up as a terrible job. This was going nowhere. 

Instead, I got up and walked to the door, “I’m just going to prepare some lunch, Beryl, I’ll be back soon.” Like before, she did not respond in the slightest. Beryl continued to ignore me as though I wasn’t even there. At least I continued to try.

It was only half-past eleven, too early for lunch. Perhaps I could prepare a quiche for Alicia and me, and Lizzie might like to join us. Monique wouldn’t take her to nursery until half-past one.

As I arrived in the kitchen, I noticed a movement in one corner. Lizzie sat playing there.

“Hi, pumpkin, are you ready for school?”

Lizzie insisted she was a big girl, and she attended school like her brother. Whenever we would ask her about nursery, she would get upset and tell us in no uncertain terms she went to school, not nursery.

“Yes, I’m ready as soon as I’ve had something to eat. Did I tell you about school yesterday? It was great, daddy, and Miss showed me how to write my name. See.” Lizzie walked towards me holding a piece of paper with Lizzie scribbled on it. However, the L was in mirror script and the Z resembled an S more. Lizzie had showed me her achievements yesterday at teatime, but it never hurt to praise your kids for things well done.

“Well done. That is fantastic, Lizzie.”

Finally! Back to editing "Wake-Up Call"

 Finally!

Life has been really busy, and I've had little to no time to spend on my writing.

Today, for the first time in months, I have managed to edit a chapter of "Wake-Up Call". It really was time I got back to that book. With a little luck, I should be able to find a few minutes a day to continue editing.

After all, "Diary of a Female GP" was published in August, and it is about time another book sees the light of day and gets published.

However, between a job taking over 50 hours a week, a family of 6 and the promoting of my books, there is little time left over to also write and edit.

Want a taster? I'll get you one, but, remember, this is only a first edit and the book needs some serious improvements still.

*******

Alicia still didn’t react to my words or touch. She continued to cry and scream at times, shaking the ‘me’ on the bed intermittently.

“Why are you so cold? Wake up!” Alicia placed her head on the chest, “I can’t hear your heart.” Again she shook the body on the bed. “Come on, stop hurting me! Wake up! Wake up!” Tears ran down her beautiful face.

Things were getting stranger. Alicia could not hear my heart? Still, my heart beat in my ears and I felt it thumping in my chest. A lump settled in my throat. What did this mean? Why did Alicia not pick up my heartbeat? What was going on? Something appeared very wrong.

“Why are you punishing me? What have I done wrong? Wake up! Please, I’ll do anything you want, but please wake up!” Alicia’s voice became softer, and it dropped to a whisper.

“I can’t do this without you. Please, Daryll, I love you so much. Please, wake up and take me in your arms. What will I tell the kids? Don’t do this to me. Nooo!”

Again I looked at the ‘me’ on the bed. I was lying so still, so pale, and the eyes stared into nothing. What did this mean? What was going on?

If you saw this in the movies, this was a dead body. Was that what I was now? Was I dead? No, this couldn’t be. There was still so much I needed to do. So much I still wanted to do. And how about that weekend I had planned today? The romantic family weekend we so desperately needed as a family?

******

Enjoy Valentines Day!

Short update on what I've been up to.

Well, I've been busy with work lately and not been around for a bit due to that. Today I have finally managed writing ten book reviews. There are still 27 waiting to be written. Often I've had time to read the books but no time to actually write the review. Now I will need to find some time again to write the other 27 too.
In the meantime, I've also worked on my other books. Book 6 in the 'Friends, family and love' series is still in progress. Another few chapters still need completing.
'Diary of a Female GP' still needs the last few chapters editing before it can be formatted properly and handed over to the beta-readers.
And, of course, I've also participated in NaNoWriMo again this year. Despite being very busy at work, I still managed to write about 59000 words in November. Not bad going if I say so myself.
Yesterday I finished the last chapter and the first draft of 'Wake-up Call' has therefore been finished. It will need some more work and editing. Certain things became clearer as the story progressed and need adapting in earlier chapters.

And here is the cover for the book, some of this may still need changing. After all, 69000 words is hardly a short story any longer. The book turned out more substantial than I thought it would. And it's not finished yet either.

Hopefully, I will have some time over Christmas to work on my works in progress. I still need to continue with the current International Writing Programme Course. Still working on the second part and wish to complete that in the not too distant future too.

Joni.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Yes, there is. Finally!

We had our 5-yearly inspection visit yesterday and things went very well. We hope to get a very good rating on the basis of the visit and I'm so very proud of the team I now call 'my team'.

I've only officially been part of the management since January and the team has simply come so far in a short time. They are amazing!

After 2 weeks of very hard work getting the visit prepared, there should now be a somewhat quieter period ahead. This morning I even had time to do a little editing of the nearly completed book.

Yes! It's nearly completed. Another chapter has been edited and I had a quick look. Three more chapters left to edit.



Although it may be nearly a year since I started 'Diary of a Female GP' as my NaNoWriMo project, it's nearly ready now. Three more chapters to go, then a little work on formatting (exporting it to Word from yWriter 6 first) and then it will be ready for the beta-readers.

I have so far received interest from 4 people. If you are interested too, let me know. I'll be grateful for any help people can offer to make this book the best it can be. Who knows, I might even get it ready for publication by Christmas! Wouldn't that just be a great time for launching a new book?

Aah, you're keen for another little excerpt, are you? Well, okay then, here you go. Hope you'll enjoy it.


*****

At ten to nine, I call in Dr K’s third patient. My third patient has also arrived, but slightly later and with the double workload I have decided to see the patients on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Seventy-three-year-old Mabel is not impressed to see me, “I thought my appointment was with Dr K today. If I had known it was with you instead, I would have rearranged the appointment.”

Okay then, it is absolutely in her right to do so, “I’m really sorry about that. Dr K has called in sick this morning. If you wish, we can re-book your appointment with Dr K.”

“No, no, I’m here now. Better get it over and done with,” Mabel huffs. “My right knee has been playing up lately and I want something done about that. The painkillers are no longer doing anything for me.”

Mabel is known with osteoarthritis (ageing of the joint) and is currently on co-codamol 8/500 (this is a combination of 8 mg codeine and 500 mg paracetamol). Although Mabel takes two tablets of this four times a day, her pain is not sufficiently under control, and she would like something stronger for the pain. “Would you like to try co-codamol 30/500 instead? This is a little stronger than you are taking at the moment. Instead of 8 mg, it has 30 mg codeine in it.”

Mabel’s expression softens, and she no longer appears as displeased as she was when she first entered my room. The medication can, however, cause more constipation and drowsiness than the lower version does and I advise her of this. After I also advise her not to drive if any drowsiness occurs and to return if she has problems tolerating the medication or the pain does not respond to the stronger dose, she leaves.

*****

Joni

Progress report on Diary of a Female GP

I guess it is time to update everyone on the progress of 'Diary of a Female GP' again.

It has been 2 weeks or so since I last had time to edit part of the book. Today I managed to finish another chapter. You may already have noticed a post on my Facebook Page with a short excerpt of the book. The scene below actually happened slightly before the one you can read here on my blog.

So, how far is the book now? The first 23 chapters have been edited and the remainder of the book awaits. There are 44 chapters in total. Still, the chapters from chapter 27 onwards were edited while writing already. Only a few more chapters left, then read it through again and export it from yWriter6 to Word for some extra touches and bringing it to Kindle format. And then it will be ready for the beta readers. Finally! Having a full-time job is definitely a pain where writing and editing is concerned.

So, here is a little excerpt of the book (the scene before the one on Facebook). I hope you'll enjoy it.

*****

At a quarter to eight, the practice manager knocks on my door and walks in, taking a seat, “Can I have a chat, please?”

Oh, no, what have I done now? Although I can’t come up with anything I’ve done wrong, I’m not infallible, and it is possible I made an error or inadvertently upset yet another person. In response to Claire’s question, I nod.

“Sylvia came to see me yesterday.”

No, I could not think of anything I did to upset our receptionist.

“She complained about a patient and I wondered how we should deal with this. Apparently, Patrick walked up to reception yesterday afternoon and leaned over in a threatening manner. Patrick told her she was a good-for-nothing B*** and she should just do everyone a favour by walking out and right in front of a truck. This started because Sylvia was unable to give him a prescription yet as it had not yet been signed. Although Dr K had received the box of prescriptions, he had not signed them yet. Sylvia looked into it and found out Patrick requested the prescription late morning yesterday and Dr K received the box yesterday lunchtime. How should we deal with this?”

Why had Claire considered it important to discuss this with me now? This could easily have waited for discussion in our partners’ meeting at lunchtime. Discussing it with all partners present, okay Dr P was on holiday at the moment, was preferable to only discussing it with me. One thing was certain though, Patrick’s behaviour was unacceptable, and it was also not the first time he had displayed this behaviour. On two previous occasions we felt obliged to send Patrick a letter warning him his behaviour was unacceptable and if he continued to display it, this would lead to removal from our list. The last time was about six months ago and again he had fallen back into his old habits.
In an obvious place in reception, we display a notice that prescription requests take forty-eight hours to process, so expecting it to be dealt with within a matter of hours was unacceptable in itself. His behaviour following this was even worse. We would need to consider placing a barrier at reception to protect our receptionists.

“Although I realise this is an important issue, I think we should discuss this at our meeting at lunchtime when Dr K is also here and can help us decide. It may be time for a removal letter, but let’s see what Dr K says about it.”

*****

Yes, the not so nice sides of General Practice. As mentioned it isn't a bed of roses.

And if you would like to find out what happens next, why don't you have a look on my Facebook page. You can find the post with the next scene here: https://www.facebook.com/JoniMartinsBooks/videos/427541884520286/

Joni