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...
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
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...
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