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

[artifarti]

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?

What, mojito?! You've never seen my bestseller NaNoWriMo on the shelves? I just assume that everyone has heard of it!

Abysmal progress here, as ever recently, but Not Giving Up. I will rediscover my mojo.

Hello, hope you all had a good long weekend. We made the most of the weather by going out most days, but it was very blustery here in London (and I assume elsewhere too).

We have builders here for two days from tomorrow so it will be very noisy but I am resolute to get some writing done - I want to make progress on Chp 12 and write 1000 words.

I'll clock in tomorrow to let you know how I do.

or your NaNoWriMojo even

1057

but sht have been wearing wrong dressing gown

Oh well done ninah and Bssh.

I've still rewritten 3/4, I've done nothing today but the postman's brought me a book to read. This counts as research right?

Belle, reading is the best thing a writer can do aside from writing .

Bssh, those wise words will make me feel much better when I'm procrastinating curled up with a book later

2231 words today - accomplished because I woke up very early and couldn't get back to sleep. Perhaps I should wake up early more often (okay, scratch that, it takes me back to the interminably early mornings when DD was teething and still gives me bad memories!). Have also managed to flesh out the other chapter's scenes and do a bit of location research.

The decision has been made - I'm changing my Open Uni degree to English Lit with Creative Writing! First course starts in October (health issues pending - I'm waiting for a big hip operation (5 hour op plus months on crutches) so if that gets in the way then I'll postpone until next year) and I absolutely bloody fantastically cannot wait! Whilst I'm still revising and essay writing to finish my current (now unrelated) course, I'm allowing myself to read more fiction and write without the familiar nag of guilt in the back of my head. ;)

I am a ridiculously happy woman, now the decision has been made.

good for you catpower! I was thinking the opportunities are just as good for a c/lit degree as for psychology, but I didn't want to sway you! glad you have chosen something you love

Way to go CatPower!

on target [smug]

Well done ninah, you deserve to feel smug .

1603 words for me today. Looks like I should be able to finish Chapter 12 if I work on it tonight after DD goes to bed and in snatches of time tomorrow.

Seriously, writing is the only thing I'm doing now with my spare time. I'm feeling very motivated. Amazing what I'm able to accomplish when I just get on with it!

haha sounds like you deserve to feel smugger! prodigious output bb

still on target but bloody hard today, 8am meeting and on the go til dc bedtime, so hard to tear myself off mn find energy

Okay, 1691 words today and Chp 12 is complete. Have a busy day tomorrow so no writing until Monday when I will start Chp 13 (unless I can find some time over the weekend to start it). Will try and edit Chp 12 tonight and tomorrow night after DD's bedtime.

I am now writing like a madwoman and wishing real life wouldn't intrude so much to break the momentum.

good for you bb. I'm on target, suspect today's effort is drivel, too tired to read it back. But sometimes just writing drivel can throw up an idea. If you write daily I figure some of it must cohere, is that the right word? am shattered nn

Didn't get a chance to edit the chapter (12) I finished last week so this week I aim to work flat out on the book in all my spare time:

• Start and finish Chp 13
• Edit/revise Chp 13
• Edit/revise Chp 12

well I'm about 130 words short and a character has appeared I wasn't expecting but who clearly is determined to balls up my planning.
hope to make up the shortfall - and find out what she's playing at - next week!

1762 words of Chapter 13 written today, but entirely in note form! So need to work on that tomorrow. Some terrific news (unrelated to my book) derailed my efforts at coherence today! Hopefully will be in a more rational state of mind tomorrow to write proper, creative sentences .

ninah, how exciting that a new character has come out of the shadows! Enjoy getting to know him/her .

bb that's phenomenal - again!
can you say your news on here? (intrigued)
not sure I am going to like the new character or what her role is going to be. About to work on another section right now, hope to do better than yesterday ...

now on 9239 just over target
funny how some days are easier than others

Well done ninah! Is this the second novel you're working on now (the one after the one you were editing, iyswim).

I can't share my good news, but it has derailed me yet again today. I think I may take a few days off writing my novel until the excitement bubbles down and I can get back to real life again. I simply can't focus on the book at the moment.

Thank God I've written as much as I have, so hopefully I can still make my July target to finish the novel despite having a few days off.

See you in a few days! Keep going ninah - I'll keep checking in on you .