Carlotta James: Blog

Hi Everyone,

I had an email last night on feedback for The Totem King. The reader said that they were enjoying the story "but could I please hurry it up and make the chapters longer too".

Normally I address my reader's concerns privately however I thought that, in case there were others of you that felt the same way, I would explain myself here.

Firstly, the chapters are about 5000 words each, excluding the prologue. Which, I've found, is a fairly normal length considering I currently have 15 chapters planned already and will probably end up being more as there are still scenes and chapter's I've yet to plan. So, that all works out at 75,000+ words.

Also, I know the story is developing slowly, but this isn't going to be a standalone novel. I actually have an entire series planned. Which by around Chapter 5, and certainly by the end of The Totem King, you will probably understand. So I need to really develop this world I've created, in this story, so I can continue on with the others.

In the end, it's completely your decision whether you continue reading my stories or not. But if you're looking for a quick developing, wham-bam-thankyou-ma'am plot then you're probably reading the wrong author.

Ok, with all that said, I'm going to get off my soapbox now.

Love to you all,

CJ xx

Chapter 2 of The Totem King is in the queue and should be posted soon.

Chapter 3 is going to be a little longer coming than the previous chapters because I haven't actually finished writing it yet.

Up til now, all I've been doing is editing the already written chapters. Yes, it takes me THAT long to edit. I can't help it, I'm a perfectionist.

CJ xx

Well, it's Monday morning here in Oz and I spent my weekend, not only editing (*Sigh* I'm so good to you all) but also preparing for a job interview tomorrow by a four person selection panel (oh joy of joys!), and working on the sketches for my next collection. I'm such a busy girl, haha.

So, Chapter 1 of The Totem King is in the queue and should hopefully be posted soon. As promised, this chapter is much longer than the last.

The story is developing, slowly. My hero and heroine won't meet for a little while yet and there's still a few more characters to introduce (one of them being my favourite 'bad girl'). This chapter is kinda sad, I know, but please, just bear with me. Fingers crossed, it'll get there.

And please, don't forget to send me a comment and let me know what you think! I love hearing what you all have to say.

Kisses,

CJ

A translation for all those who don't understand the Aussie way of speaking

Aussie Speak first ~ American equivalent second

FOOD STUFF
• lollies ~ candy (not chocolate)
• scone ~ biscuit
• jam ~ jelly
• jelly ~ jello
• hot chips ~ fries
• tomato sauce ~ ketchup
• serviette ~ napkin
• packed lunch ~ boxed lunch
• pikelet ~ drop scone
• spud ~ potato
• beetroot ~ pickled beet
• lemonade ~ 7-up (kind of. Lemonade has lemon in it)

CAR STUFF
• car bonnet ~ car hood
• boot ~ trunk
• mud guard ~ fender
• windscreen ~ windshield
• petrol ~ gas
• (except when referring to LPG gas, which is just called gas in oz)
• car park ~ parking lot
• lorry ~ big rig
• ute ~ pickup truck (sort of)
• overtake ~ pass
• other stuff
• bathers/togs ~ swim suit
• bottle shop ~ liquor shop
• docket ~ receipt
• fairy floss ~ cotton candy
• g'day ~ hello
• icy pole ~ icicle, popsicle
• thongs ~ cheap backless sandals/flip flops
• trackie daks ~ track suit bottoms
• unit ~ flat, apartment
• beanie ~ ski hat
• jumper ~ sweater
• footpath ~ sidewalk
• lounge room ~ sitting/living room
• lane ~ alley
• tap ~ faucet
• singlet ~ tank top
• chemist ~ drug store
• whole meal (bread) ~ whole wheat
• biro ~ pen
• shop ~ store
• lift ~ elevator

SOME AUSSIE SLANG / RHYMING SLANG AND WHAT IT MEANS
• a fruit cake-mentally unstable
• a bit iffy-not quite right
• ace-excellent
• ankle biter-young kid
• arse about face-wrong way around
• aussie salute-brushing flies away
• back of bourke-the middle of nowhere
• battler-someone who works hard for little money
• better half-your wife or hubbie
• banged up-pregnant
• barbie-barbeque
• bingle-motor vehicle accident
• bloke - man
• bludger - lazy person
• booze bus - police bus used to catch drunk drivers
• bugger off-impolite way of saying go away
• buggered off-gone away
• bum nuts-eggs
• cactus-not functioning
• cheese & kisses-missus
• chunder-vomit
• chook-chicken
• old chook-old lady
• codswallop-a lot of nonsense, a lie
• cop it sweet-take what's coming to you
• crook-sick, or badly made
• crack onto-to hit on someone (pursue someone with romantic purposes)
• cream (verb)-to defeat someone by a large margin
• cut lunch-sandwiches
• daks-trousers
• dead horse-tomato sauce
• dill-idiot
• dinky-di-the real thing
• dipstick-idiot
• doodah-something you don't know the name of
• dunny-outside toilet
• earn a quid-earn money
• galah-idiot
• grog-beer
• fanny-female parts (not the bum, as it is in america)
• fart-arse around-not getting the job done
• full as a goog-drunk
• get knotted-angry way of saying get lost
• going for a piss-man talk for going to the toilet
• grot-dirty, untidy
• hard yakka-hard work. Also happens to be the name of a clothing brand
• hit the sack-going to bed
• hoon-a show off (usually a young male in a big car)
• hoo-roo-goodbye
• idiot box-TV
• knackers-testicles.
• knackered-tired, unworkable
• knickers-ladies underwear
• knock off-can mean to finish work, a counterfeit product, or to steal
• knocked up-pregnant
• lashing out-going on a spending spree
• lob in (on someone)-arriving unannounced
• lurk (as in, a good lurk)-generally means something illegal is going on
• mate-friend
• moolah-money
• mozzie-mosquito
• noggin-head
• no worries-no problems
• no sweat-no worries
• not the full quid-low IQ
• not worth a crumpet-worth nothing
• nuddy-nude
• nut out-work out
• off his face-drunk
• once over-checking something out
• pash-long kiss
• perv-looking lustfully at someone
• pigs bum-that's wrong/incorrect
• pissed as a parrot-drunk
• pissed off-angry at something/someone
• postie-mailman, postman
• rack off-get lost
• ripper-great, fantastic
• rock up-to turn up, to arrive
• road train-big truck with many trailers (often seen in outback)
• sacked-fired from work
• shonky-dubious, underhanded
• shoot through-to leave
• shout-to buy a round of drinks
• slab-a carton of beer (24 cans or bottles)
• smoko-smoke or coffee break
• snag-sausage
• squizz-look
• stubby-a 375ml bottle of beer
• stubby holder-a polystyrene insulated holder for said bottle of beer
• stuffed-tired
• I'll be stuffed-expression of surprise
• can't be stuffed-can't be bothered
• sunnies-sunglasses
• tee-up-set-up
• tin lid-kid
• the good oil-to tell the truth on something
• tucker-food
• veg out-relax
• uni-university
• underdaks-underpants
• throw a wobbly-complain/excitable behaviour
• got a wog-got a cold or flu
• yobbo-uncouth person
• you're game-you're brave
• wanker-someone who is really stupid but thinks they're great.
• wedding tackle-male bits
• white pointers-ladies sunbathing topless
• write-off-car that has been totaled
• on ya - well done
• mobile - cell phone

If any Aussies can think of something I've missed, let me know!

• Pommie - person of superior breeding and intellect
• Aussie - A member of the chosen race (chosen by the Best English judges!).
Thanks to Jon…a Brit…for these suggestions - not sure I entirely agree with you though mate!

Thanks for all the great feedback everyone!

The most common critique I received was that the prologue was too short. I totally agree. But I posted it on its own, rather than attaching it to Chapter 1, for two reasons:
1) As Chapter 1 hasn't been edited yet I thought it better to post something short rather than nothing at all.
2) It gives me an idea as to whether there will be interest in the story or not. I didn't actually expect anyone to read it so I spose I'm doing alright so far.

Anyway, I promise Chapter 1 will be much longer.

It also occurred to me that Aussies speak a lot differently to the rest of the English speaking population. A fact I realised when I was in New Orleans earlier this year. I said 'if you're cold then put your jumper on' and everyone laughed at me and then proceeded to mimic me. It was kinda hilarious.

So rather than changing the way I write and losing the 'aussie-ness' of the story, I've made an 'Aussie Speak' list that you all can refer to in case I say something totally weird.

Hugs n Kisses,

CJ