I am so glad the NaNoWriMo is over. I will freely admit that I didn't enjoy it much this year, which came as a surprise to me. I thought I would. However I hated my story, which I think is the reason. The story was easy to write as I had a wonderful, detailed outline, but the story was boring and obvious. I chose it for that reason, so that I could finish a story from start to finish, where the plot didn't morph on the way. It's boring.
The characters, on the other hand, are interesting. They just didn't get to do anything interesting. So what I'm going to try to do is blend this year's characters with last year's plot. It may not work, but it also helps me get round a plot hole or two that I was having problems with.
And I start this weekend. Hopefully. A new outline, then new scenes, and finally a new novel.
Watch this space...
Wednesday 1 December 2010
NaNoWriMo
So I finished with 51992 words according to the offical word counter. I din't blog much, because I was writing.
I wonder if next year I will take part and if I do, if I can do this without having to write so much during the last couple of days....
I wonder if next year I will take part and if I do, if I can do this without having to write so much during the last couple of days....
Monday 29 November 2010
No progress
I'm still at just over 33000 words, which means I need to write just under 17000 words before midnight tomorrow. Definitely doable. OK, I might not finish until late tomorrow, but I will finish. I'll aim for 40000 words today and leave the last 10000 until tomorrow.
Wednesday 24 November 2010
33000 words
Not too bad, not the 35000 words I was hoping for, but a lot better than I feared. And tomorrow is another day.
writing
I ended yesterday with just over 30000words. Today I've added about a thousand more and I can't think of a single thing more to write. I'm not feeling very well, but that's just an excuse. I really don't feel like writing. I was hoping to end the week with 40000 words, I'll be lucky to hit 35000 words.
Of course, this doesn't mean I won't reach the magic 50000 words. It just means I have more to do in the last remaining days. That is what I'm good at. I just wish I could be more consistent.
My spelling is improving, but I get the feeling my grammar is getting worse.
Of course, this doesn't mean I won't reach the magic 50000 words. It just means I have more to do in the last remaining days. That is what I'm good at. I just wish I could be more consistent.
My spelling is improving, but I get the feeling my grammar is getting worse.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Today
Yesterday I ended up with a touch over 26000 words. I'm hoping to get to just over 30000 words today. It should be possible. In theory. Trouble is I was never very good at theory.
I have added 500 words so far today, which is progress. Let's hope it continues.
I have added 500 words so far today, which is progress. Let's hope it continues.
Monday 22 November 2010
25000 words!
So I am now over the halfway mark. Less than 25000 words to write to win NaNoWriMo. I will write enough to win, but I won't be anywhere near my original target.
However I will have a good first draft, that needs expanding, re-writing and editing. In the end I will end up with a good manuscript. I have no idea if it will attract an agent, but I should get to that stage this time.
After NaNoWriMo, I will work on one chapter a week. I will, however, not start until next year, before that I'll work on the outline to another book. I need a break from this one. But this is, by far, the most advanced story I have to date. It is consistent.
However I will have a good first draft, that needs expanding, re-writing and editing. In the end I will end up with a good manuscript. I have no idea if it will attract an agent, but I should get to that stage this time.
After NaNoWriMo, I will work on one chapter a week. I will, however, not start until next year, before that I'll work on the outline to another book. I need a break from this one. But this is, by far, the most advanced story I have to date. It is consistent.
The weekend
I reached 23000 words over the weekend. Not exactly brilliant, only an extra 500 words. But we are now into the home straight, so I know I'll start writing more.
Only 8 days to go and 27000 words, that should be no problem. It should take 6 days, so time to spare. Now it is time to write.
Only 8 days to go and 27000 words, that should be no problem. It should take 6 days, so time to spare. Now it is time to write.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
yesterday, Tuesday 16th
I wrote 1400 words, bring my total to 21700 words. So I'm still behind the NaNoWriMo average total for the given date. I'm not feeling well today, but I'll see how I do.
Some how I see myself writing the last 25000 words in the last weekend, and making it just in time. Sigh.
Some how I see myself writing the last 25000 words in the last weekend, and making it just in time. Sigh.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
Writing
I'm finding it increasing difficult to write each day. I keep trying and I fail miserably. That doesn't mean I don't want to write or that I have nothing to write, but I just don't want it to become routine.
I don't know if that makes any sense. It makes sense in my head. I know I'll win NaNoWriMo - barring accidents of course - but it won't be until the final week. Then the deadline will be looming and the adrenalin will be flowing and I will end up writing 10000 words a day. It's the way I always win.
What worries me is will I be able to write away from NaNoWriMo. I didn't do so well last year, but part of that was a lack of an outline, meaning I got lost in an ever changing story. I've started the outline for that and I do intend to do the re-writing. I'm just worried I won't have the discipline to write consistently. Maybe I was never meant to do that.
Having the outline definitely helps. It's the best thing I ever did. This years NaNoWriMo is much more consistent than previous years. However it is nowhere near ready to submit. I'm skipping over chunks of the story by putting in a "telling" section. These need to be changed into "showing" scenes. I may even go back and start writing these before the end of November, as long as I've reached the end of course.
I may even need to do that to reach the 50000 words.....
I don't know if that makes any sense. It makes sense in my head. I know I'll win NaNoWriMo - barring accidents of course - but it won't be until the final week. Then the deadline will be looming and the adrenalin will be flowing and I will end up writing 10000 words a day. It's the way I always win.
What worries me is will I be able to write away from NaNoWriMo. I didn't do so well last year, but part of that was a lack of an outline, meaning I got lost in an ever changing story. I've started the outline for that and I do intend to do the re-writing. I'm just worried I won't have the discipline to write consistently. Maybe I was never meant to do that.
Having the outline definitely helps. It's the best thing I ever did. This years NaNoWriMo is much more consistent than previous years. However it is nowhere near ready to submit. I'm skipping over chunks of the story by putting in a "telling" section. These need to be changed into "showing" scenes. I may even go back and start writing these before the end of November, as long as I've reached the end of course.
I may even need to do that to reach the 50000 words.....
Monday 15 November 2010
Update
I wrote a total of 1100 words over the weekend. Not good, but at least I wrote something. This week I'm hoping to write 20000 words, with a target of writing 5000 words a day for 4 days out of the 7. I should be able to do this because I have done it before. It simply means I have to write. That means not writing here, or surfing the web or wasting time.
I'm very good at wasting time. Time to start writing.
I'm very good at wasting time. Time to start writing.
Friday 12 November 2010
no more words
OK, so that's not strictly true, but...
I didn't write a single word for NaNoWriMo yesterday and only 200 the day before. That is not good. I would love to use the weekend to catch up, but I somehow get the feeling that it won't happen. Life continues as does NaNoWriMo.
I'm not worried because I know I will make it to 50000 words before the deadline. Even if I have to write the remaining 33000 words in the last couple of days. I know this because this is how I normally write and win NaNoWriMo.
The trouble with that is that NaNoWriMo only happens once a year and so I have no push to write the rest of the time. There are so many other things to do. I do write, but only a little and very infrequently. I need to change my priorities. But will I?
I didn't write a single word for NaNoWriMo yesterday and only 200 the day before. That is not good. I would love to use the weekend to catch up, but I somehow get the feeling that it won't happen. Life continues as does NaNoWriMo.
I'm not worried because I know I will make it to 50000 words before the deadline. Even if I have to write the remaining 33000 words in the last couple of days. I know this because this is how I normally write and win NaNoWriMo.
The trouble with that is that NaNoWriMo only happens once a year and so I have no push to write the rest of the time. There are so many other things to do. I do write, but only a little and very infrequently. I need to change my priorities. But will I?
Thursday 11 November 2010
10th November
I wrote a grand total of 200 words. Pathetic, but never mind maybe I'll do better today.
Wednesday 10 November 2010
yesterday's progress
I wrote 3200 words yesterday. Bringing my total up to 16700 words. I even remembered to put the total in on the NaNoWriMo website. It went very well yesterday. I wrote until the battery in my netbook died. That's the first time this year that I've found it so easy to write.
Let's hope today goes as well.
Let's hope today goes as well.
Monday 8 November 2010
Today's tally
I've just reached a total of 13500 words, so I am back on track to hit 50000 words on 30th November at 1667 words per day. I've added 2750 words so far today and I'm not done yet, but I probably won't update again this evening. That's a pretty good total and I did it easily, though I did have fewer interruptions today.
Tomorrow will definitely be different and I will have to make an effort to update at least NaNoWriMo in the evening, so that the graph looks reasonable. I can always write a new blog entry the following day.
Things are looking up.
Tomorrow will definitely be different and I will have to make an effort to update at least NaNoWriMo in the evening, so that the graph looks reasonable. I can always write a new blog entry the following day.
Things are looking up.
The weekend
I wrote a grand total of 250 words over the weekend. I didn't bother to update NaNoWriMo or here. I'll add those to today's total. Assuming, of course, that I actually add to my total today.
OK, I know I will add to my total. I'm not quite that bad yet, but I definitely write better when the deadline is looming. I should say I write more. There's no proof that it is better.
OK, I know I will add to my total. I'm not quite that bad yet, but I definitely write better when the deadline is looming. I should say I write more. There's no proof that it is better.
Friday 5 November 2010
Progress today
Do far I'm at 10500 words. By far the most I've written in one day in this year's NaNoWriMo. OK so it is only day five, but still it is much better than some of the other days.
My biggest challenge over the weekend will be keeping the NaNoWriMo website updated with my word count. I rarely go online at the weekends, but I have to make a special effort this month.
My biggest challenge over the weekend will be keeping the NaNoWriMo website updated with my word count. I rarely go online at the weekends, but I have to make a special effort this month.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Today!
So far my total is 7000 words. Not bad. Not brilliant either, but it's better than I feared. I'm hoping to make it to 8000 words by the end of the day. I should be over 10000 words if I want to write 80000 words before the 30th.
Still maybe I'll write more at the weekend. I probably won't, but perhaps I'll be disciplined enough to do it. If I keep up my current rate, I should end up with about 54000 words. I will win, I just won't be anywhere near what I was hoping for. Of course, I will only have myself to blame.
Still maybe I'll write more at the weekend. I probably won't, but perhaps I'll be disciplined enough to do it. If I keep up my current rate, I should end up with about 54000 words. I will win, I just won't be anywhere near what I was hoping for. Of course, I will only have myself to blame.
yesterday seems so far away......
OK so it's a dreadful title. I ended the day with 5500 words written. I managed to update NaNoWriMo, but forgot to add an entry here....
I wrote much less than I hoped, but work got in the way. I spent too many hours struggling to instal a program on my computer. Failed miserably and ended having to go another route, which basically meant working out how to make two other programs talk to each other. Still I finally got something working.
The result is that I never finished chapter three - the idea was to write a chapter a day - but I did stay roughly on track. Time to go and post my 5k shoutout.
I wrote much less than I hoped, but work got in the way. I spent too many hours struggling to instal a program on my computer. Failed miserably and ended having to go another route, which basically meant working out how to make two other programs talk to each other. Still I finally got something working.
The result is that I never finished chapter three - the idea was to write a chapter a day - but I did stay roughly on track. Time to go and post my 5k shoutout.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Yesterday
I ended the day with 4400 words. I forgot to update NaNoWriMo as I had intended to do. Never mind, the extra words count towards today's total instead.
I'm still finding it difficult to get into the flow, but I think that's just the lack of urgency. If it was November 25th, then it would be a completely different story...
I'm still finding it difficult to get into the flow, but I think that's just the lack of urgency. If it was November 25th, then it would be a completely different story...
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Trouble
I'm having trouble writing today. I have in fact managed just 250 words all morning. I wouldn't call it writer's block. I'm not sure what to call it, but I just can't seem to get into it. But on the bright side, at least I don't need to go an pick up any extra notes. I'll have plenty still to write during the music lesson. There should be time to add about 1000 words, then I'll continue once I get home. I'll also try to update NaNoWriMo website too.
A mistake
I just realised I only brought the notes for chapter two with me. I should have picked up the notes for chapter three as well. The reason for this is that this afternoon I have to take my children to their music lesson. This will give about one hour to write while I wait for them. It's highly likely that I will finish chapter two before then. I might swing by home to pick up the other notes, but it depends on the time. I normally have a pretty tight schedule.
word count update
I finished yesterday on 2200 words. Not bad for the first day. Chapter one is written. It's not ready for publishing, but the first draft is there.
On to chapter two. I'm hoping for roughly the same word count. A little higher would be nice, but not necessary. However I do think that this first draft is going to be a lot less than 90000 words. It will probably end up 70000 to 80000 words. At worst it will be 54000 words and that's if I write 2000 words per chapter.
On to chapter two. I'm hoping for roughly the same word count. A little higher would be nice, but not necessary. However I do think that this first draft is going to be a lot less than 90000 words. It will probably end up 70000 to 80000 words. At worst it will be 54000 words and that's if I write 2000 words per chapter.
Monday 1 November 2010
1500 words plus
I have now written 1541 words. Far more than I thought I would write when I started about one and a half hours ago. So I should definitely make the 1700 words. I'll see how much more than that I manage.
1000 words written
So the fire alarm went off and we all had to leave the building. But despite this I just hit 1000 words. Another 700 to go for the minimum and 2000 more for the average. I think I'll end up somewhere between these two values.
And I'll stop posting so frequently too. I'll probably end up posting twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the late afternoon.
It's going pretty well so far...
And I'll stop posting so frequently too. I'll probably end up posting twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the late afternoon.
It's going pretty well so far...
Hit 500 words
I finally started to write and I have now reach 525 words. Just under 1200 words to reach today's minimum and just under 2500 words to reach my average daily goal.
Somehow, it doesn't feel real yet. I think I work better with deadlines. If today was the 20th November, I would be more motivated to write.
Well I still have lots of time to go. However I won't update here or NaNoWriMo after about 5pm CET (Central European Time). I'll update first thing in the morning if I write after that time. This of course only holds until the 29th November. On the 30th, I'll update as I need to, if I haven't already finished that is.
By the way, I'm writing in UK English.
Somehow, it doesn't feel real yet. I think I work better with deadlines. If today was the 20th November, I would be more motivated to write.
Well I still have lots of time to go. However I won't update here or NaNoWriMo after about 5pm CET (Central European Time). I'll update first thing in the morning if I write after that time. This of course only holds until the 29th November. On the 30th, I'll update as I need to, if I haven't already finished that is.
By the way, I'm writing in UK English.
NaNoWriMo blog chain
Not yet started.
So it's now 12:15pm and I haven't even started writing this years NaNoWriMo. I will start to day and hopefully complete the minimum (1700 words). I might even make it to 3000 words, which I hope will end up being my average for the month.
My excuse is that I was on holiday last week, from work at least. So now I have to catch up on all the missed emails and work I should have done.
Though I been waiting for NaNoWriMo to start, it feels more like an anticlimax than anything else. But then again, I normally do most of my writing in the last ten days when there's a greater sense of urgency. Maybe that's the problem.....
My excuse is that I was on holiday last week, from work at least. So now I have to catch up on all the missed emails and work I should have done.
Though I been waiting for NaNoWriMo to start, it feels more like an anticlimax than anything else. But then again, I normally do most of my writing in the last ten days when there's a greater sense of urgency. Maybe that's the problem.....
Wednesday 13 October 2010
More outlining
I'm now up to chapter 8 on the outline re-write and only 18 days until NaNoWriMo begins. Time to pick up the pace and really get these outlines ready. There are 28 chapters in total and if I can write 3000 words per chapter, I'll end up with a book with 84000 words.
I'm really looking forward to the start of NaNoWriMo and I'm getting a little nervous.I just want November 1st to be here.
And welcome to all the new people following my blog. I wish you all good luck in your NaNoWriMo attempts.
I'm really looking forward to the start of NaNoWriMo and I'm getting a little nervous.I just want November 1st to be here.
And welcome to all the new people following my blog. I wish you all good luck in your NaNoWriMo attempts.
Thursday 7 October 2010
Update on NaNoWriMo outline
Instead of continuing with the outline of the previous NaNoWriMo story, I picked up the new outline again. I wrote a character list and a quick synopsis, which misses a few points. I did it out of my head and not referring to the chapter outlines I had already written.
I did that so I could see how much of the story I could remember. It's amazing how many little changes crept in. After writing the half page synopsis, I started on Chapter 1 outline. Very little changed, but names were added and a couple of minor points were clarified.
Now I'm up to Chapter 3 and it's taking longer than I thought it would. I guess I shouldn't be surprised really. As in this round I'm making sure that there is consistency in everything, through names to places etc. I know in the first outline some characters changed sex to make them fit better in that particular scene, now they are fixed and hence some scenes need to be redone.
Consistency...I'm not very good at that.
I did that so I could see how much of the story I could remember. It's amazing how many little changes crept in. After writing the half page synopsis, I started on Chapter 1 outline. Very little changed, but names were added and a couple of minor points were clarified.
Now I'm up to Chapter 3 and it's taking longer than I thought it would. I guess I shouldn't be surprised really. As in this round I'm making sure that there is consistency in everything, through names to places etc. I know in the first outline some characters changed sex to make them fit better in that particular scene, now they are fixed and hence some scenes need to be redone.
Consistency...I'm not very good at that.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Update on outline
So the second outline is now at chapter nine. I wrote five more yesterday. I'm hoping to reach thirty in total as with the previous outline. This is for the simple reason that then I need to write about 3000 words per chapter in order to produce a 90000 word novel.
It doesn't actually mean the finished book will have 30 chapters, but it might do. I'll make that decision when I have actually written it. I'll work on the current outline until Sunday, then I'll switch back to me NaNoWriMo outline. Once that is smartened up and correct, and if there is time, I'll switch back to this outline.
I actually think working on more than one project is helping me. That might sound a bit weird, but I seem to be able to concentrate better on one after I've completely taken a break from it for a while. I came up with some pretty good subplots for the old novel in a very short time once I restarted. I'd had real problems before.
I hope to reach about the halfway mark, before I have to switch back to the NaNoWriMo story. And I hope to have the outline finished before NaNoWriMo starts.
It doesn't actually mean the finished book will have 30 chapters, but it might do. I'll make that decision when I have actually written it. I'll work on the current outline until Sunday, then I'll switch back to me NaNoWriMo outline. Once that is smartened up and correct, and if there is time, I'll switch back to this outline.
I actually think working on more than one project is helping me. That might sound a bit weird, but I seem to be able to concentrate better on one after I've completely taken a break from it for a while. I came up with some pretty good subplots for the old novel in a very short time once I restarted. I'd had real problems before.
I hope to reach about the halfway mark, before I have to switch back to the NaNoWriMo story. And I hope to have the outline finished before NaNoWriMo starts.
Wednesday 22 September 2010
New outline
I finished the outline for NaNoWriMo as I said and I have started on the detailed outline for the draft I wrote for last year's NaNoWriMo. I am just starting on Chapter 5. Chapters 1-4 went quicker than I thought they would.
I only really had Chapter 1 in the first draft. The others are new to the story and provide some background and show some of the relationships between the characters rather than just telling the reader what those relationships were. I think it's an improvement.
Having said that I don't think the draft could be any worse. The new chapters provide some red herrings and clear up some things that were obscure in the previous draft. They also set up the killer, which was missing from the previous version. That, however, was due to a switch very late on in the first draft.
The killer switched identity, which made far more sense in the story, but caused some problems with the draft. Hopefully writing the outline will eliminate those conflicts completely.
I'll continue to write this outline until October, when I will stop and go back to the outline for this year's NaNoWriMo. I need to do some changes to that outline - some characters keep switching gender and some switch names - so that it is ready for November 1st. If that's ready before November, I'll switch back to this new outline.
Currently it is all going well. I wonder how long it's going to last...
I only really had Chapter 1 in the first draft. The others are new to the story and provide some background and show some of the relationships between the characters rather than just telling the reader what those relationships were. I think it's an improvement.
Having said that I don't think the draft could be any worse. The new chapters provide some red herrings and clear up some things that were obscure in the previous draft. They also set up the killer, which was missing from the previous version. That, however, was due to a switch very late on in the first draft.
The killer switched identity, which made far more sense in the story, but caused some problems with the draft. Hopefully writing the outline will eliminate those conflicts completely.
I'll continue to write this outline until October, when I will stop and go back to the outline for this year's NaNoWriMo. I need to do some changes to that outline - some characters keep switching gender and some switch names - so that it is ready for November 1st. If that's ready before November, I'll switch back to this new outline.
Currently it is all going well. I wonder how long it's going to last...
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Outline finished!
The first draft of the outline is complete. I ended up with 27 chapters. If, during NaNoWriMo, I write about 3300 words per chapter per day, then at the end I have a finished novel of about 90000 words. Sounds easy.
I will now ignore the outline for a couple of weeks, and work on another outline instead. Then in October I'll come back to it and add/change what I need. The whole thing should be ready by November 1st.
Feels good to have finished the outline. Something is actually complete.
I will now ignore the outline for a couple of weeks, and work on another outline instead. Then in October I'll come back to it and add/change what I need. The whole thing should be ready by November 1st.
Feels good to have finished the outline. Something is actually complete.
Friday 10 September 2010
Another update
I really have to start thinking of some titles. I can't use "update" all the time.
Anyway to the update - I have now outlined 15 chapters. That means I am halfway through the outline. It does need some revision and character/place names, but the plot is coming together. This also means that I should be finished before the end of September. If I am, then I shall start the outline of the previous NaNoWriMo and leave the this outline for a week or two.
I will review it in October, before NaNoWriMo starts. I'll edit it and make sure all the details are there and then come 1st November I'll use it as a guide. I'm hoping to write 3000-5000 words a day. If each chapter is 3000 words and I have 30 chapters, thats 90 000 words in total. A real book. If I run out of time, I'll skip or skimp on parts so that I finish in time, but it will be much easier to go back and fill those parts in.
What all this means is this year I am going to write a full length book for NaNoWriMo. In previous years I have written a first draft, but I've never had much luck going back and making a real book of it. Hence the change in approach for this year. I don't know if it will work, but I think it's worth a shot.
For the last year or so I've been trying to get more serious about really writing a book, but with little success. I keep changing my mind and the story ends up so confused it's impossible to work out what was supposed to be going on. So now is the time to outline.
I'll add one other thing, in the past I've always finished NaNoWriMo in about 10 days or so, by writing 5000 words each day. So theoretically I should be able to extend this and write every day, instead of just the last 10 days of November. Of course, life will get in the way so I won't actually be able to write every day, hence the lower target of 3000 words a day. Some days I'll write more, and some days I won't write at all. But I will write.
Anyway to the update - I have now outlined 15 chapters. That means I am halfway through the outline. It does need some revision and character/place names, but the plot is coming together. This also means that I should be finished before the end of September. If I am, then I shall start the outline of the previous NaNoWriMo and leave the this outline for a week or two.
I will review it in October, before NaNoWriMo starts. I'll edit it and make sure all the details are there and then come 1st November I'll use it as a guide. I'm hoping to write 3000-5000 words a day. If each chapter is 3000 words and I have 30 chapters, thats 90 000 words in total. A real book. If I run out of time, I'll skip or skimp on parts so that I finish in time, but it will be much easier to go back and fill those parts in.
What all this means is this year I am going to write a full length book for NaNoWriMo. In previous years I have written a first draft, but I've never had much luck going back and making a real book of it. Hence the change in approach for this year. I don't know if it will work, but I think it's worth a shot.
For the last year or so I've been trying to get more serious about really writing a book, but with little success. I keep changing my mind and the story ends up so confused it's impossible to work out what was supposed to be going on. So now is the time to outline.
I'll add one other thing, in the past I've always finished NaNoWriMo in about 10 days or so, by writing 5000 words each day. So theoretically I should be able to extend this and write every day, instead of just the last 10 days of November. Of course, life will get in the way so I won't actually be able to write every day, hence the lower target of 3000 words a day. Some days I'll write more, and some days I won't write at all. But I will write.
Monday 6 September 2010
Update
I have now outlined 12 chapters. Not bad. I expect to end up with about 30, so I'm over one third done. I do need to go back and edit a little, plus I still have to name some of the characters.
Time wise, I'm doing well. I should have the complete outline finished and revised before Novemeber 1st and NaNoWriMo. I don't think I'll have time for the second outline I was hoping to write. It would have been nice to have written that too, but it's taking me longer than I thought to write the first one. However, it should save me a lot of time later on as all the kinks should be ironed out now rather than later.
I still haven't worked out how to change the spell checker language, so the posts are still not checked. It's a little bizar, because I do have English selected as the language, but the spell checker seems to be ignoring that.
Time wise, I'm doing well. I should have the complete outline finished and revised before Novemeber 1st and NaNoWriMo. I don't think I'll have time for the second outline I was hoping to write. It would have been nice to have written that too, but it's taking me longer than I thought to write the first one. However, it should save me a lot of time later on as all the kinks should be ironed out now rather than later.
I still haven't worked out how to change the spell checker language, so the posts are still not checked. It's a little bizar, because I do have English selected as the language, but the spell checker seems to be ignoring that.
Wednesday 1 September 2010
more writing
So now I'm halfway through writing chapter seven outline. I'm trying to do at least one chapter outline per evening and so far it's working out. It would be wonderful to manage ten a week, but that might be pushing it. I get quite tired from just doing a little over one chapter outline as it is.
Still at one a night and six completed, it should take me another 24 nights. That is assuming I end up with thirty chapters. Which means I will be finished before NaNoWriMo starts. Hopefully I'll be able to write about 3000 words per chapter, so the final draft will be about 90000 words.
Also by writing this detailed outline, I should only have to correct for spelling and grammar with perhaps the occasional re-write of a scene or two. But there won't be any problems with changing storylines or characters changing sex at random. At least that's the idea...
Still at one a night and six completed, it should take me another 24 nights. That is assuming I end up with thirty chapters. Which means I will be finished before NaNoWriMo starts. Hopefully I'll be able to write about 3000 words per chapter, so the final draft will be about 90000 words.
Also by writing this detailed outline, I should only have to correct for spelling and grammar with perhaps the occasional re-write of a scene or two. But there won't be any problems with changing storylines or characters changing sex at random. At least that's the idea...
Monday 30 August 2010
More writing!
Yes, I have actually been writing. I now have four chapters outlined and I've noticed something. I keep changing things. Even now in outline and even though I'm only at chapter four. One of my side characters started off female, became male and has just reverted to female.
Not very consistant, but that is the problem. I'm going to make her female and keep her that way. If something in the plot/story doesn't work unless she becomes a he, then it's the plot/story that will change not the sex of the character.
I'm writing very slowly at the moment. Much slower than I would like, but I only have myself to blame. Time to pick up the pace. If I don't I won't be ready for November and NaNoWriMo. I'm only outlined four chapters and there looks like there'll be about thirty in total. At this rate I need thirteen weeks and there is only nine weeks left.
And I need to create a character list. I don't have names yet, just things like MC, sister, client etc. That will help fix the characters and stop them from morphing at will. Time to find a binder.
And this post has not gone through the spellchecket. For some reason the language for the spellchecker has been set to Dutch and I can't find out how to change it. The language setting, that I did find, was set to English, so I have no idea at the moment how to change it back again. Very annoying.
Not very consistant, but that is the problem. I'm going to make her female and keep her that way. If something in the plot/story doesn't work unless she becomes a he, then it's the plot/story that will change not the sex of the character.
I'm writing very slowly at the moment. Much slower than I would like, but I only have myself to blame. Time to pick up the pace. If I don't I won't be ready for November and NaNoWriMo. I'm only outlined four chapters and there looks like there'll be about thirty in total. At this rate I need thirteen weeks and there is only nine weeks left.
And I need to create a character list. I don't have names yet, just things like MC, sister, client etc. That will help fix the characters and stop them from morphing at will. Time to find a binder.
And this post has not gone through the spellchecket. For some reason the language for the spellchecker has been set to Dutch and I can't find out how to change it. The language setting, that I did find, was set to English, so I have no idea at the moment how to change it back again. Very annoying.
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Outlining
Well I've been away for a while. First on vacation and then ill (again). However during this time I have been experimenting with different ways of outlining and I think I've found a way that will work for me.
OK, so I still have to test it fully, but so far it's looking good. I've tried several methods, but none have lasted more than a week at most. This one's been going much longer and I'm much further.
I've got an idea for a story. I've got a more detailed breakdown and currently, I am writing a very detailed outline. I'm going chapter by chapter, through the story and working out what happens in each one.
I know I'll probably move things or even break up or combine chapters, but it is much more detailed than before. I've started a new story, which is a bit naughty, but I need a break from the old one. I think this new story will become this years NaNoWriMo.
If this turns out as well as I think it will, I'll go back to the original story and start planning it out in the same way. OK so the devils in the actual writing, but strangely enough I've never had a real problem with that part.
It's the plotting - well keeping a coherent plot - that I find hard. I change my mind and think I can just go back and change it later, but that never works. At least for me. I get too lost and just can't find my way back again.
So short term goal - for the next month or so - is to finish the detailed outline for NaNoWriMo 2010. Then if I get that finished before 1st November, I will start trying to plot out my failed novel from last year. With luck, both will be complete before NaNoWriMo.
OK, so I still have to test it fully, but so far it's looking good. I've tried several methods, but none have lasted more than a week at most. This one's been going much longer and I'm much further.
I've got an idea for a story. I've got a more detailed breakdown and currently, I am writing a very detailed outline. I'm going chapter by chapter, through the story and working out what happens in each one.
I know I'll probably move things or even break up or combine chapters, but it is much more detailed than before. I've started a new story, which is a bit naughty, but I need a break from the old one. I think this new story will become this years NaNoWriMo.
If this turns out as well as I think it will, I'll go back to the original story and start planning it out in the same way. OK so the devils in the actual writing, but strangely enough I've never had a real problem with that part.
It's the plotting - well keeping a coherent plot - that I find hard. I change my mind and think I can just go back and change it later, but that never works. At least for me. I get too lost and just can't find my way back again.
So short term goal - for the next month or so - is to finish the detailed outline for NaNoWriMo 2010. Then if I get that finished before 1st November, I will start trying to plot out my failed novel from last year. With luck, both will be complete before NaNoWriMo.
Thursday 8 July 2010
Not much
Well I wrote for a couple of weeks, then became ill and lost it. I haven't written since then. I've got ideas and scenes floating around in my head. I just haven't written a word of it.
I have no excuse. Time to try again...
I have no excuse. Time to try again...
Thursday 17 June 2010
Writing habits
For the last 10 days or so, I have been writing. Each session has produced 500-750 words, which is pretty good. Last week I managed 2900 words in total and so far this week the total has increased to 4500 words.
I did start off with the goal of 100 words a day, or 700 words for the entire first week, so I blew that goal completely out of the water. As I completed almost 3000 words last week, my new goal for this week is 3500 words to give a total of 6500 over the two weeks. Only 2000 words to go...
In terms of progress on the novel, I would like to get to 5000 words a week. This is eminently doable, but as always it is me that is holding it back. So far this week, I'm not doing too badly. Last night I was ill so I didn't write, I slept instead. However I have no excuse for tonight.
I should add that I was seriously ill at the end of last week due to a viral infection. The doctor was worried it was even worse than it turned out to be, but I was still very sick. I'm still feeling the effects now and that is why I slept for so long yesterday.
I will admit that this is a new story I'm writing. I decided to take some time away from the other one as I was getting more and more confused where it was headed. I haven't completely abandoned it and I will go back to it when I've finished writing the first draft of this story. At that point I will then make a decision as to either continue with it or abandon it for good.
Of course I could be a serial first drafter, never getting any further with anything, but somehow I doubt it.
I did start off with the goal of 100 words a day, or 700 words for the entire first week, so I blew that goal completely out of the water. As I completed almost 3000 words last week, my new goal for this week is 3500 words to give a total of 6500 over the two weeks. Only 2000 words to go...
In terms of progress on the novel, I would like to get to 5000 words a week. This is eminently doable, but as always it is me that is holding it back. So far this week, I'm not doing too badly. Last night I was ill so I didn't write, I slept instead. However I have no excuse for tonight.
I should add that I was seriously ill at the end of last week due to a viral infection. The doctor was worried it was even worse than it turned out to be, but I was still very sick. I'm still feeling the effects now and that is why I slept for so long yesterday.
I will admit that this is a new story I'm writing. I decided to take some time away from the other one as I was getting more and more confused where it was headed. I haven't completely abandoned it and I will go back to it when I've finished writing the first draft of this story. At that point I will then make a decision as to either continue with it or abandon it for good.
Of course I could be a serial first drafter, never getting any further with anything, but somehow I doubt it.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
So slow
Not doing so well. No surprise there. I just don't seem to have the energy, but that's just an excuse. I also forgot to recharge my mini laptop. That's an excuse too. Not to mention that not plugging it in is probably an unconscious way of avoiding writing.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this. Trouble is I know myself very well and I know I'm doing my best to avoid writing. I do similar things to avoid housework too. I am lazy.
Tonight, as soon as I get home, I will plug in the mini laptop. I will. And I will write using pen and paper while it's recharging.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this. Trouble is I know myself very well and I know I'm doing my best to avoid writing. I do similar things to avoid housework too. I am lazy.
Tonight, as soon as I get home, I will plug in the mini laptop. I will. And I will write using pen and paper while it's recharging.
Tuesday 1 June 2010
Habits
I no longer write every day. I've managed to drop the habit and I am having some trouble trying to get it back. So yesterday I decided that I would not go to bed until I had written at least 100 words, with a goal to write a minimum of 100 words a day for the whole week.
The idea is to increase that to 200 words a day for the following week. And each week, up the daily total by a hundred, stopping at either 500 or 1000 words a day. I like the idea of 1000 words a day, but I need to see how practical it is to do.
And being practical, I have to allow for some days with no writing. Sometimes it won't be possible. But I could write extra on the days that follow, which I think is probably the best idea so that the week total remains unchanged.
This is, of course, more difficult if I go for 7000 words a week, but not impossible. I manage much more than that during NaNoWriMo. I'm just not sure it's realistic over such a long period. For 3500 words a week, it would be much easier.
So last night I sat down and wrote. In the end I had 1073 words, which is not bad. Tonight I still have my goal of a minimum of 100 words, but hopefully I will again write more. I'm going to force myself to write everyday until I have finished a draft.
Let's see what happens this time.
The idea is to increase that to 200 words a day for the following week. And each week, up the daily total by a hundred, stopping at either 500 or 1000 words a day. I like the idea of 1000 words a day, but I need to see how practical it is to do.
And being practical, I have to allow for some days with no writing. Sometimes it won't be possible. But I could write extra on the days that follow, which I think is probably the best idea so that the week total remains unchanged.
This is, of course, more difficult if I go for 7000 words a week, but not impossible. I manage much more than that during NaNoWriMo. I'm just not sure it's realistic over such a long period. For 3500 words a week, it would be much easier.
So last night I sat down and wrote. In the end I had 1073 words, which is not bad. Tonight I still have my goal of a minimum of 100 words, but hopefully I will again write more. I'm going to force myself to write everyday until I have finished a draft.
Let's see what happens this time.
Friday 21 May 2010
Today
I wrote a thousand words in an hour. OK not the fastest rate in the world perhaps, but I did get interrupted every now and then. At least that's my excuse. The point is that it was easy today. Very easy. As soon as I had a free moment I sat down and wrote and the words just came. I wish everyday could be like this.
If I keep this up I might even get a manuscript finished...
If I keep this up I might even get a manuscript finished...
Monday 17 May 2010
Back to writing.
I'm writing again. Slowly at the moment, but I have added some words. I think I need to start again. Not right from the beginning, but start a new draft. This will be the 3rd draft. Let's see how many things I change this time.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Dreaming.....
I meant to write this yesterday, but it never quite reached the top of my to-do list.
I read quite a few blogs. OK, so I read a lot of blogs and yesterday one of them, Rachelle Gardner's to be precise, featured an email from someone having trouble writing. The whole thing really struck a cord with me. Here's the link to the story.
"Wondering" loved dreaming and finally tried to write down those dreams, but was finding it difficult. Now I love dreaming too. I do it almost constantly. I don't have a problem writing down the dream, but problem comes from turning that dream into a book.
Let me try to explain. My dream isn't a constant thing. It's always changing, mutating. Characters merge or simply change with no reason. So from beginning to end, my story follows no one line. It changes to match the people/location etc.
This is my problem. In order to write a book, there has to be one constant storyline. I need to fix it in place. I'm not so good at doing that. Writing down the dream, that I find easy. I don't worry if it doesn't make sense, because I know I can fix it later.
Writing is hard. At least writing a book is hard. Keeping to the point is hard (for me). Making excuse not write is very easy.
Now back to dreaming.
I read quite a few blogs. OK, so I read a lot of blogs and yesterday one of them, Rachelle Gardner's to be precise, featured an email from someone having trouble writing. The whole thing really struck a cord with me. Here's the link to the story.
"Wondering" loved dreaming and finally tried to write down those dreams, but was finding it difficult. Now I love dreaming too. I do it almost constantly. I don't have a problem writing down the dream, but problem comes from turning that dream into a book.
Let me try to explain. My dream isn't a constant thing. It's always changing, mutating. Characters merge or simply change with no reason. So from beginning to end, my story follows no one line. It changes to match the people/location etc.
This is my problem. In order to write a book, there has to be one constant storyline. I need to fix it in place. I'm not so good at doing that. Writing down the dream, that I find easy. I don't worry if it doesn't make sense, because I know I can fix it later.
Writing is hard. At least writing a book is hard. Keeping to the point is hard (for me). Making excuse not write is very easy.
Now back to dreaming.
Monday 12 April 2010
long time, no write
And not just here on the blog. I have re-written my outline, but it stopped there. I haven't written in weeks.
Well technically that's not true. I should say that I haven't written anything in the way of fiction. I have written several reports for work, including re-writing an existing report, totally changing another one so that it was ten times as long, and wrote a couple of totally new reports.
But as far as fiction goes, not a word. Nothing. And now I'm repeating myself.
OK so things have been busy in the rest of my life, but I shouldn't use that as an excuse. I have spent an hour or so watching TV some nights and I could have easily been writing instead.
The break is now over and I'm going to start writing again. Honest. Actually I've already tried, but deleted both efforts. They were bad, and I mean really bad.
However I am writing again, so hopefully I will start blogging again to. I hate writing a blog post about nothing. Mind you, this post isn't really about much....
Well technically that's not true. I should say that I haven't written anything in the way of fiction. I have written several reports for work, including re-writing an existing report, totally changing another one so that it was ten times as long, and wrote a couple of totally new reports.
But as far as fiction goes, not a word. Nothing. And now I'm repeating myself.
OK so things have been busy in the rest of my life, but I shouldn't use that as an excuse. I have spent an hour or so watching TV some nights and I could have easily been writing instead.
The break is now over and I'm going to start writing again. Honest. Actually I've already tried, but deleted both efforts. They were bad, and I mean really bad.
However I am writing again, so hopefully I will start blogging again to. I hate writing a blog post about nothing. Mind you, this post isn't really about much....
Monday 8 March 2010
Just a quick update
I am still writing, honest. Just not on a computer. I'm almost to the point when I will get back to typing and word counts, but not quite.
I do have a confession. I haven't been writing as much as I should have been. I seem to run out of time and I just can't seem to give up sleeping. However in a short while all the reasons that took up all the time will be gone.
Then I will have more time to waste again and so should have more time to write. I wonder what I'll do, waste the time or write? Should be interesting to find out. I'm hoping to write a bit tonight, but I also need to do some sewing too and I don't think I'll manage to do both.
At least the busiest part of the year is almost over. It'll be so nice to have some free weekends again.
I do have a confession. I haven't been writing as much as I should have been. I seem to run out of time and I just can't seem to give up sleeping. However in a short while all the reasons that took up all the time will be gone.
Then I will have more time to waste again and so should have more time to write. I wonder what I'll do, waste the time or write? Should be interesting to find out. I'm hoping to write a bit tonight, but I also need to do some sewing too and I don't think I'll manage to do both.
At least the busiest part of the year is almost over. It'll be so nice to have some free weekends again.
Monday 1 March 2010
Not dead...
just not around much at the moment. Deliberately so. I have been writing and crossing stuff out and writing some more and so on. All using pen and paper. I will start actually writing the story again, I just don't know exactly when.
I'm going at a much slower pace now and it seems to suit me. The new outline is getting there and is much more detailed than the previous attempts. In fact it is almost a first draft in its own right. However there is far too much telling and no showing.
But the story is emerging and though the general description still fits, the subplots are entirely new and add another dimension to the story. In fact, I realised that it was the lack of complications that meant that the book didn't work as I wanted it too.
My mind has been wandering too. I have a couple of new book ideas, which are still in the baby stages and may not make it any further. I also have a short story idea, which I'm pretty sure will work. I might write this as well as continuing with the book outline.
Might be good for me as long as I don't get too caught up in it and abandon my novel. Anyway back to work. I'll write more later.
I'm going at a much slower pace now and it seems to suit me. The new outline is getting there and is much more detailed than the previous attempts. In fact it is almost a first draft in its own right. However there is far too much telling and no showing.
But the story is emerging and though the general description still fits, the subplots are entirely new and add another dimension to the story. In fact, I realised that it was the lack of complications that meant that the book didn't work as I wanted it too.
My mind has been wandering too. I have a couple of new book ideas, which are still in the baby stages and may not make it any further. I also have a short story idea, which I'm pretty sure will work. I might write this as well as continuing with the book outline.
Might be good for me as long as I don't get too caught up in it and abandon my novel. Anyway back to work. I'll write more later.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Not around much
I've been away from the Internet for a while now and will not be around much for the next few weeks. I'm doing some writing the old fashioned way and trying to get my story straight. (Why does that sound like I'm in trouble with the law?)
Things are moving, just slowly. I haven't written much with a pen and paper for some time. Typing seems to be quicker, but that may be a false impression. It's much easier to calculate how much I have written on the computer (crtl W), and so I check it quite often. With hand writing, I either estimate or, if I'm really stuck, count each word carefully.
The consequence is that I don't tally up as often when hand writing. Sometimes I don't check for days. That may lead to a feeling that I'm writing more slowly when, in fact, I'm writing at a similar speed.
Of course speed isn't everything and as long as it is good writing, there isn't really a problem. I'll try and update every now and then on how the writing is going.
Things are moving, just slowly. I haven't written much with a pen and paper for some time. Typing seems to be quicker, but that may be a false impression. It's much easier to calculate how much I have written on the computer (crtl W), and so I check it quite often. With hand writing, I either estimate or, if I'm really stuck, count each word carefully.
The consequence is that I don't tally up as often when hand writing. Sometimes I don't check for days. That may lead to a feeling that I'm writing more slowly when, in fact, I'm writing at a similar speed.
Of course speed isn't everything and as long as it is good writing, there isn't really a problem. I'll try and update every now and then on how the writing is going.
Thursday 28 January 2010
back to the beginning
At the moment I am writing using pen and paper. I'm re-doing my outline and one thing I've learned is, I need an outline.
There's nothing wrong in what I've written, but at the moment none of it hangs together. It doesn't help that I wrote some of the scenes for one storyline, only to alter the plot and not edit those scenes straight away.
Maybe that was the problem...(and before you ask, it was the problem.)
I think that I should have just started from scratch with the new plot and not tried to bring in what I had already written. I got lost. Very lost.
Now I'm going to write a detailed outline, and then write a list of scenes. Then, and only then, I'm going to start to write on the computer again.
Writing the outline down on paper, helps me to see the story more clearly. So for the next week or so, the word count won't increase, but hopefully I will make progress.
If I change my mind about the story line again, I'm going to go back to this stage immediately rather than trying to continue and adapt what I have already written.
There's nothing wrong in what I've written, but at the moment none of it hangs together. It doesn't help that I wrote some of the scenes for one storyline, only to alter the plot and not edit those scenes straight away.
Maybe that was the problem...(and before you ask, it was the problem.)
I think that I should have just started from scratch with the new plot and not tried to bring in what I had already written. I got lost. Very lost.
Now I'm going to write a detailed outline, and then write a list of scenes. Then, and only then, I'm going to start to write on the computer again.
Writing the outline down on paper, helps me to see the story more clearly. So for the next week or so, the word count won't increase, but hopefully I will make progress.
If I change my mind about the story line again, I'm going to go back to this stage immediately rather than trying to continue and adapt what I have already written.
Monday 25 January 2010
Starting again
Not completely from scratch, but I have deleted a large proportion of what I had written. I'm now down to about 8k words and more may vanish as I go.
The storyline in my head didn't match the one on the page. I thought that they did, but by going through what I had written scene by scene and summarizing them, I found out otherwise.
I deleted all the scenes that were not right. They still exist, just not in my main file and I probably won't look at most of them again. I will simply write the scenes from scratch.
I'm going to write out the story line again and make a list of scenes. I'll then write those scenes. The ones that stayed are from the beginning, which has received the most attention and they did follow the story in my head.
My word count has gone down, but I made progress.
The storyline in my head didn't match the one on the page. I thought that they did, but by going through what I had written scene by scene and summarizing them, I found out otherwise.
I deleted all the scenes that were not right. They still exist, just not in my main file and I probably won't look at most of them again. I will simply write the scenes from scratch.
I'm going to write out the story line again and make a list of scenes. I'll then write those scenes. The ones that stayed are from the beginning, which has received the most attention and they did follow the story in my head.
My word count has gone down, but I made progress.
Thursday 21 January 2010
Progress
Not much maybe, but I am getting back into things. I really did get stuck, so I took a break and read some blogs and books and things.
http://www.timothyhallinan.com/writers.php is a great piece on actually getting through the tougher times and finishing your book. It has helped me enormously and is the reason I'm back to writing again.
In fact, I'm not actually writing parts for the book at the moment, but I taking stock of what I have written and really getting into making sure that it works. I know I started this by myself, but reading that other people get like this too really helped.
So at the moment I'm writing about the book and making progress.
http://www.timothyhallinan.com/writers.php is a great piece on actually getting through the tougher times and finishing your book. It has helped me enormously and is the reason I'm back to writing again.
In fact, I'm not actually writing parts for the book at the moment, but I taking stock of what I have written and really getting into making sure that it works. I know I started this by myself, but reading that other people get like this too really helped.
So at the moment I'm writing about the book and making progress.
Monday 18 January 2010
The weekend
I actually started to read my pages this weekend. I got about one-third of the way through, which seems to be normal for me. Let me explain.
The beginning of my novel is not too bad. It's the part I've spent the most time on. The rest of the book just sits there, unread. It's not that I'm trying to make the first part perfect. It's just better to read than the rest of it. So I don't read the rest and it never gets edited and it never gets better, so I never read it. Are you seeing a pattern here yet?
I need to re-write some scenes. I need to add in new ones. I need more complications and conflict. I just can't seem to write them. I'm not sure what I should do at the moment. I could try to push on and actually tackle the rest of the book or I could take a break and start something else.
I need to write and at the moment I'm not writing anything. I'm making lame excuses to avoid it at all costs. Ridiculous really, but right now that's how I feel.
The beginning of my novel is not too bad. It's the part I've spent the most time on. The rest of the book just sits there, unread. It's not that I'm trying to make the first part perfect. It's just better to read than the rest of it. So I don't read the rest and it never gets edited and it never gets better, so I never read it. Are you seeing a pattern here yet?
I need to re-write some scenes. I need to add in new ones. I need more complications and conflict. I just can't seem to write them. I'm not sure what I should do at the moment. I could try to push on and actually tackle the rest of the book or I could take a break and start something else.
I need to write and at the moment I'm not writing anything. I'm making lame excuses to avoid it at all costs. Ridiculous really, but right now that's how I feel.
Friday 15 January 2010
Thursday evening
Last night I did what I had predicted I would, I slept and I needed that sleep. The consequence is that there is no change in the progress of my book and there probably won't be until the weekend.
It's unlikely that I will do much today, so tomorrow will be the first day that I will actually be able to sit down somewhere quiet and work on the scenes.
It's unlikely that I will do much today, so tomorrow will be the first day that I will actually be able to sit down somewhere quiet and work on the scenes.
Thursday 14 January 2010
Flu
I have not posted recently because for the last week I have been in bed with the flu. Today is my first day back at work and the first day that I have felt human again.
The consequence of this is that my current word count stands at 45080 words, just over half of the end total. I have printed out all of the individual scenes and now I have to go through them all, editing and rearranging them.
I find this a daunting task. It doesn't scare me, but I am really not looking forward to it. I am hoping to start tonight, however I am a little worried that I will not have the energy left after a full day back at work. I still get tired quickly.
I am resolved to do some editing this weekend. Even if it's only to go through one or two scenes. I need to get started. I know it will get easier once I start. And I know this because of a short story that I once wrote. I had real trouble getting up the courage to re-read it and to begin editing, however once I started, it went really well and the second draft was so much better than the first.
Also, I need to add in more scenes. Currently missing are the subplot(s). These just don't exist. Well one has been started, but all I have done is introduce a character. The actual plot is still missing.
More detail still needs to be added as well. Most of the conversations are just talking heads with no action attached. Hopefully at the end of this, I'll be much closer to the 80-90k words that the novel should reach and the scenes will finally all be in the right order.
I'm hoping to get this all done before the end of January, but as I just lost a week that could be pushing it slightly. I haven't given up on getting it done by then as there are still just over two weeks to go, but I wouldn't put money on it.
I am content with what I have done so far. I wish I had done more and some of that is due to me, the rest though is due to ill health and I can't control that.
The consequence of this is that my current word count stands at 45080 words, just over half of the end total. I have printed out all of the individual scenes and now I have to go through them all, editing and rearranging them.
I find this a daunting task. It doesn't scare me, but I am really not looking forward to it. I am hoping to start tonight, however I am a little worried that I will not have the energy left after a full day back at work. I still get tired quickly.
I am resolved to do some editing this weekend. Even if it's only to go through one or two scenes. I need to get started. I know it will get easier once I start. And I know this because of a short story that I once wrote. I had real trouble getting up the courage to re-read it and to begin editing, however once I started, it went really well and the second draft was so much better than the first.
Also, I need to add in more scenes. Currently missing are the subplot(s). These just don't exist. Well one has been started, but all I have done is introduce a character. The actual plot is still missing.
More detail still needs to be added as well. Most of the conversations are just talking heads with no action attached. Hopefully at the end of this, I'll be much closer to the 80-90k words that the novel should reach and the scenes will finally all be in the right order.
I'm hoping to get this all done before the end of January, but as I just lost a week that could be pushing it slightly. I haven't given up on getting it done by then as there are still just over two weeks to go, but I wouldn't put money on it.
I am content with what I have done so far. I wish I had done more and some of that is due to me, the rest though is due to ill health and I can't control that.
Thursday 7 January 2010
Wednesday.....
I have yet to print out the individual scenes and go through them. I intended to do that yesterday, but yesterday was Wednesday, which is never a good day for me. I did nothing in terms of writing or editing.
What I did instead was to try to resurrect my dying desktop computer. It's been randomly rebooting itself for a couple of weeks now and yesterday, it began producing warning messages whenever I did anything. The warning message was rather dire at that.
A hardware check showed nothing wrong. So I did a software check and there were errors. Lots of errors. I had to run a full CHKDSK and it appears to have been successful. However I haven't used the computer enough to be sure of this.
This weekend will be the real test. In the mean time, I'll print out the scenes tonight and tomorrow, I'll start to edit, reorder and combine the scenes. I'll also look for places to put new scenes and mark those in with a scene summary.
Today, I will do very little. I might start reading through, but I much prefer a paper version for reading. I find it much easier with a hardcopy.
What I did instead was to try to resurrect my dying desktop computer. It's been randomly rebooting itself for a couple of weeks now and yesterday, it began producing warning messages whenever I did anything. The warning message was rather dire at that.
A hardware check showed nothing wrong. So I did a software check and there were errors. Lots of errors. I had to run a full CHKDSK and it appears to have been successful. However I haven't used the computer enough to be sure of this.
This weekend will be the real test. In the mean time, I'll print out the scenes tonight and tomorrow, I'll start to edit, reorder and combine the scenes. I'll also look for places to put new scenes and mark those in with a scene summary.
Today, I will do very little. I might start reading through, but I much prefer a paper version for reading. I find it much easier with a hardcopy.
Tuesday 5 January 2010
Today
I wrote about 1000 words today. Not much and nowhere near my goal, but more than I have written in a while. I have also split my file up into scenes. So that each scene has its own file.
Tonight or tomorrow, I will print out those files and then mix and match the scenes. I know that the story doesn't flow at the moment and due to the changes in the storyline, the timeline is dodgy at best. And I'm still either contradicting myself or still leaving in references to now removed encounters.
It's all a bit confused. I need to sit down and reorder the scenes. Mark out which parts need to be removed or altered that still remain and work out where there still needs new scenes/information added. None of the remaining scenes need to be completely deleted, but the may need a complete re-write.
Some of the conversations still need annotating. Currently that's all there is, talk. No action, no interruptions, just talking heads. Time to add more substance.
So on the writing side, didn't make my goal of 2500 words in a day, but I'm more organized now. Whether that is a good thing (which I think it is) or a bad thing, is still to be seen.
Tonight or tomorrow, I will print out those files and then mix and match the scenes. I know that the story doesn't flow at the moment and due to the changes in the storyline, the timeline is dodgy at best. And I'm still either contradicting myself or still leaving in references to now removed encounters.
It's all a bit confused. I need to sit down and reorder the scenes. Mark out which parts need to be removed or altered that still remain and work out where there still needs new scenes/information added. None of the remaining scenes need to be completely deleted, but the may need a complete re-write.
Some of the conversations still need annotating. Currently that's all there is, talk. No action, no interruptions, just talking heads. Time to add more substance.
So on the writing side, didn't make my goal of 2500 words in a day, but I'm more organized now. Whether that is a good thing (which I think it is) or a bad thing, is still to be seen.
Monday 4 January 2010
Update
The total so far is 44069 words. I started this morning with 14068 words. The majority of this increase came from adding the good scenes from the first draft. I've added about another 1000 words as I have gone through, editing the new additions.
This means I dropped about 9000 words from the first draft, which was written during NaNoWriMo '09. Not a bad keep rate, especially for me. I am going through and editing the scenes, which for the most part is producing an increase in word count. Of course I am deleting parts, but I am also adding new bits.
I've already reached my daily goal, but I'm going to continue as it is currently going well. My main goal for this month, is to have a second draft finished before the end of January. In this second draft, I hope to have most of the book written. There maybe details missing, and a few parts that still need more research, but for the most part it will be complete.
In February, I hope to fill in those details and check the facts. After that, I'll start with checking the English - grammar and spelling separately - and then leave it for a few weeks, before reading through again. But that's all far in the future. I still need to get this second draft finished. And I might need a third before all the scenes are complete.
This means I dropped about 9000 words from the first draft, which was written during NaNoWriMo '09. Not a bad keep rate, especially for me. I am going through and editing the scenes, which for the most part is producing an increase in word count. Of course I am deleting parts, but I am also adding new bits.
I've already reached my daily goal, but I'm going to continue as it is currently going well. My main goal for this month, is to have a second draft finished before the end of January. In this second draft, I hope to have most of the book written. There maybe details missing, and a few parts that still need more research, but for the most part it will be complete.
In February, I hope to fill in those details and check the facts. After that, I'll start with checking the English - grammar and spelling separately - and then leave it for a few weeks, before reading through again. But that's all far in the future. I still need to get this second draft finished. And I might need a third before all the scenes are complete.
Happy New Year!
The snow got worse and the schools closed and I stayed home until today. Actually I did go out between then and now, but I didn't go back to work. I also didn't go on the Internet much nor did I write much. In fact I didn't write at all. I did have a great time with my family and got a netbook at Christmas.
This should mean that I can write more when at home, but one thing I learned over my two and a bit weeks at home, is that my family are exactly helping me to write. Every time I tried to sit down and write there was something someone wanted, or it was time to cook again. Still the house was cleaned top to bottom and everything that needed polishing was polished. Now all I have to do is find time to write when at home.
Today I hope to fit a little in this afternoon. I'll blog later on with the result...
This should mean that I can write more when at home, but one thing I learned over my two and a bit weeks at home, is that my family are exactly helping me to write. Every time I tried to sit down and write there was something someone wanted, or it was time to cook again. Still the house was cleaned top to bottom and everything that needed polishing was polished. Now all I have to do is find time to write when at home.
Today I hope to fit a little in this afternoon. I'll blog later on with the result...
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