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Original poster

For anyone else who wants to start/progress/finish writing a book in 2011

962 replies

artifarti · 06/12/2010 20:21

As the title says really!

Me: After several years of dithering with short stories, I committed myself to Nanowrimo last month and managed to bash out a 50,000 first draft of an idea I've had for ages. There is some excrutiating crap in there but also the bare bones of a plot and some interesting characters. So I'd really like to spend 2011 trying to develop it into something better.

But I need some company so that we can mutually kick each other's arses when the temptation to watch Holby City is proving too great. Anyone else?

OP posts:
BsshBossh · 29/03/2011 16:23

Okay, so total 1706 words today. Two more scenes left to write of Chapter 8 - if I can complete these before the end of the week then I can edit/revise the chapter too by the weekend. That's the plan, anyway.

Flamingo, I'm loving how you are writing with four girls around you. Awesome stuff! Anne Tyler, eat your heart out.

FlamingoBingo · 29/03/2011 20:40

Haha, Bssh Grin Could well turn out to all be crap though!

Did 1100 this afternoon - hoping to do more this evening. I did do more yesterday in the end - total word count for the day was just over 2000 Smile

A friend read it all so far and gave me some fantastic critique, which I won't really be able to use until I type it up, but it's spot on so I'm really grateful for it.

FlamingoBingo · 29/03/2011 23:19

Just did 800 more - 1900 is good enough for me :)

DH around tomorrow, so should manage to write a lot then - going to aim for 3000.

BsshBossh · 30/03/2011 13:43

Completed another 1910 words and that's Chapter 8 completed. Will start edit tonight after DD is in bed and work on it tomorrow too. May take Friday off from writing (if I feel like it). Two chapters of part two completed since I joined this thread just under two weeks ago. Still three more chapters (of part two) to go but I am very happy with the progress I've made.

FlamingoBingo · 30/03/2011 15:19

Well done, Bssh :)

This afternoon, I have written another 1500 words and I hope to write 1500 more before the end of the day. I have also spent about half an hour writing scenes on little index cards and shuffling them around to account for some extra scenes I need to put in early on in the story, and to make sure that the end of part 1 all fits together for a good climax. So I feel pleased that I have all of part 1 planned out now.

I don't half find it difficult to get started on scenes sometimes! Do others find that? Once I get into the flow of it, they come out nicely, but getting them started is a right pain in the bum!

BsshBossh · 30/03/2011 15:51

Flamingo I often find writing a bit from the middle of a scene (that's already been planned out) an easy route into writing the rest of it - especially if it's dialogue. Often I'll just rattle off the dialogue as I hear it in my head and then go back to revise and embellish - it's often enough to get me writing the rest of it.

So, for example, today I wrote two scenes. One of them involved the two main characters talking in a restaurant. I rattled off the dialogue as I heard it in my head and only then went back to revise, embellish and write the setting and thoughts threading through the dialogue.

Chapter 8 will begin with a scene where one of the main characters meets an old flame for the first time in over 10 years. The scene needs to describe how he looks, what her first impression of him is, where they are... But I'm going to jump right into the heart of their dialogue first as it's the dialogue that will convey the tension, the feelings etc.

I find "beginnings" as such quite hard; much prefer to jump into the heart of a scene first.

BsshBossh · 30/03/2011 15:52

If that makes sense Confused.

FlamingoBingo · 30/03/2011 16:18

Fab advice! Thank you :)

BsshBossh · 31/03/2011 12:31

Day off from writing today! Will edit tomorrow.

belledechocchipcookie · 31/03/2011 13:56

Ok. Agent has requested to see full manuscripts, all 4 of them. I've just finished cleaning them up and am about to post them off as soon as the printer has finished. Grin If I have any ink left that is Confused

Original poster
artifarti · 31/03/2011 17:58

Oooh, belle, that's exciting! Fingers crossed.

Everyone has been very productive again. I have decided to try and get my picture book right first before embarking on another play so ordered that book you recommended belle (Ann Whitford Paul). I'm really enjoying it so far, it's very practical. Tomorrow's nap time I will start to actually put words on paper - first time since before Christmas!

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 31/03/2011 18:17

It's a very good book, I'm pleased you're also finding it helpful. Smile Best of luck for tomorrow.

It's still early days. I wasn't aware that she wanted to see them exclusively and have had to say that I'd sent them to another agent before I realised. I've not sent them to anyone else though but I'm hoping this doesn't put her off. Confused I know my writing needs work, I need someone to point me in the right direction so I can put the work in though.

BsshBossh · 31/03/2011 19:23

So exciting,belle! Best of luck getting back on track, arti Smile.

belledechocchipcookie · 31/03/2011 19:26

Thank you. I'm a bit worried about her wanting exclusivity though. She wanted to know who else has seen them (I've only sent them to a couple of agents and one pub though so have not flooded agents). Confused

ninah · 31/03/2011 19:30

belle how exciting! don't worry about details right now. You can sort that out in the contract later on. Good to be in demand, sending you lots of positive vibes

belledechocchipcookie · 31/03/2011 19:34

I'm just worried the agent won't want it now. I'd rather have this one then the other one I've sent it too, she'd be fab! It's a huge envelope, I hope it doesn't split as it's full and about to burst! Confused ARGH!!

Hope you're all well. Smile

FlamingoBingo · 01/04/2011 14:33

Wow! Belle! How exciting! Smile

I managed 630 words yesterday - keeping in my mind 'as long as I write something every day then it's all good' Smile

Also finding the Absolute Write forums extremely helpful!

BamBam21 · 01/04/2011 14:40

Can I join here please? I have been coming up with lots of ideas, and it helps take my mind off of TTC.

So far, I have the first couple of chapters of a children's book, and an idea for a novel. I too am very self critical, and find it hard to actually get started for fear that it's all crap!Smile

BsshBossh · 01/04/2011 14:47

Hello all - and welcome BamBam21 Smile. I deliberately took yesterday off writing and today I'm procrastinating. I should have written yesterday and taken today off - doh! I'm going to get off my backside and do an edit of Chapter 8 tonight after DD is in bed (DH is away so no excuses and dinner is leftovers so no excuses).

Mum is spending the day with DD and I tomorrow so I should be able to slope off and edit.

Whatever happens I'll be starting writing Chapter 9 on Monday Grin.

BamBam21 · 01/04/2011 18:10

Hi BsshBossh. You sound like you are getting on really well there.

I really love writing, but always got told that anything "creative" I did at school was rubbish!Sad I quite fancy doing freelance writing too, but have no idea how to get into it. I'm feeling it quite keenly at the moment, as I have an interview for a crappy call-centre job tomorrow, and just wish I could write for a living instead.

FlamingoBingo · 01/04/2011 19:42

BamBam - the advice I've been given is just to write - sit down, and write. And pledge to write something, however little, every day. Also, what I'm telling myself is to enjoy the process, rather than worry about the product. And I am - it's like reading a good book but better, because, ultimately, I can shape how it's going to turn out :) I don't do planning, though - I just write and the stroy develops itself. It's fascinating, and exhilarating!

I need to write a further 500 words tonight, and then I'll have done 20,000 words! :)

ninah · 01/04/2011 21:13

glad everyone's keeping on keeping on, and fingers crossed for you belle.
Feeling a bit meh about what I'm working on atm, but am plodding on anyway, usually get a bit dispirited as it draws to a close and I realise how far away it is from the idea I had in my head!
I quite fancy a shorter book this summer. Had thought of stories but ds is writing something that has given me an idea for a children's story. Resolutely putting it aside until part two has been thoroughly kicked into shape. The hero is a bit wet and his passivity is beginning to annoy me; he sorts himself out eventually but I feel like kicking his ass at the beginning of part two.

FlamingoBingo · 01/04/2011 22:12

Woohoo! 1530 words today (thanks to a word war on Absoulte WRite chat Grin) which brings me to...

...20,230 words of my first ever first draft!

BsshBossh · 02/04/2011 08:34

Flamingo that's awesome and inspiring Grin.

comewhinewithme · 04/04/2011 12:02

Hello all, didn't do much last week but got up Saturday morning and couldn't stop writing. I am pleased because I have a second chapter now which introduces the main character more rather than just an explanation of the circumstances.
Flamingo, well done on getting so much done.
Hope everyone else is getting on ok too :).

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