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?

Sounds good, ninah. Well, it's the weekend (sung in CBeebies style) so no writing until Monday. Have a great weekend all - weather's supposed to be scorching (at least in the south) :-)

I read that too, it's pouring here right now so hope it stops for the weekend! we have an inset day so it's a long one

It's throwing it down here.

It all sounds great for you both.

I'm still not too sure what I'm doing but I'm enjoying finding mistakes in the manuscript

Hello all! My goodness, it's hot here in London. I am actually looking forward to the predicted rainfall later today. Anyway, the heat didn't get in the way of my word count - 1508 words today.

How are you all doing?

I'm melting.

Hello,

I've been lurking on this thread for ages now and am now going to commit myself.

I have started so many stories/novels but in the end self-doubt gets me and I end up stalling. But I have decided just to write a novel and if it's rubbish then hey ho, at least it is written. I have an idea involving a hitwoman and a serial killing family. I have written out a rough time line of the main things I think need to happen to give me events to write from and to.

I can't start this week though as DD2 is eight months old and has decided sleep is for the weak; so this week I am dropping night feeds and hoping I can get more than an hours sleep at a time. Oh and planning her baptism which is on Sunday.

In the immortal words of Arnie...I WILL be back.

belle, I was sweating so much this evening that my glasses kept slipping down my nose to the floor - cue mass hysterics from DD who, up until that point, was in the throes of a tantrum. Might have to keep that trick to diffuse future tantrums now. I'm currently looking at the sky and it's looking grey. I'm praying for rain!

Welcome Cyborg! Look forward to sharing your novel journey with you . Your plot sounds exciting .

Hi Cyborg. That sounds great!!

I've just found the erm...joy if indenting lines. [yawns]

It helps to squirt water at your head and let it evaporate Bssh

Couldn't get in the writing groove today - just 373 words but I guess that's better than 0...

I've done just over 21,000 words altogether so far. I already know that will have to be heavily edited down as I'm still writing first part (out of four) but will wait till I've finished the whole of part 1 before cutting it down.

Hi Cyborg, I've been like you with the self doubt making me give up before, but I'm determined this time. Good Luck

Cassie that's an impressive word count. What chapter are you on now?

I've finished, read through, checked spelling, grammar and consistency. I've even put stupid little indents on each paragraph and each line where speech starts.

I think I'm done. It's OK to start a new one now right?

Chapter 5. Thats the word count over 10 days but I already had a couple of scenes written a year ago, so they've just been rewritten and didn't take a great deal of time.

Well done belle. Go on, start another one, you know you want to .

Impressive progress, Cassie!

Today is a non-writing day as too much "real life" stuff to do, so will check in tomorrow with my word count.

I'm taking a day off, I'll read through it again tomorrow. I have a crap long term memory so a few days seems like months. Helpful when writing books though. I'm incredibly bored now though. I could clean I suppose (scraping the barrel).

I hope you get everything done

Thanks belle. I won't be able to write now until Monday so have a great weekend all and see you next week .

I went to London yesterday, all by myself. First time ever! I went to the British Library first and saw the Magna Carta!! I then had lunch with the lady who edited my book and then had a drink with the editor from the publishers!! She said she just wanted to meet me, she also gave me some (very helpful) advice for the picture book and said that they would show me some more of London when I came down next.

belle, I live in London. I love it! And it sounds like the publisher's drink went very well. What's the next step with her?

I have to write the picture book again & wished me luck with the agent (who's waiting for the novel). I've been twice with ds, never on my own.

I had the dreaded, 'so, tell me about yourself.' I gave her the very short version.

I had the dreaded, 'so, tell me about yourself.' - You see, I mentioned thinking about how to market yourself upthread, didn't I? You'd better get used to it .

I turned it around to save her time, 'what would you like to know?' I'm not sure how well this went down though but I made a point of mentioning the tonnes of ideas I have. She asked about my novel so I gave her the plot rundown (in 20 words). I found it easier to have a conversation with the editor though.

Just checking in here to let you know that I'm no longer going to post my word counts daily because a) I'm now completely back on track with my novel (since I first came on this thread in March) so no longer need the self-motivation of daily wordcount logging and b) I need to drastically reduce my time on Mumsnet to focus on my writing, my family and lots of other real life stuff .

See you late next week .

Ok. Take it easy and we'll chat soon :)

Well Done on getting back on track Bssh.
I've had a few quiet days writing as had the kids off school Thursday and Friday and it was my anniversary weekend.
Now trying to finish part 1, hopefully within the next couple of days if I have time.
Then outline part 2 to start on next week.

I've also been lurking. I'm only about 8,000 words in and it's getting tougher. I'm really happy with what I've got but I keep getting bogged down in making changes as I go and I've lost momentum . I know how it all plots out, ends, etc. and I'm trying to set up some meetings to help with my research but with 2 dc under 5 it's tough. Ds1 goes to school full-time in September and I plan on being a SAHM for at least another year so I'm still hopeful.

Not written anything for 2 weeks, although I go back and read it every couple of days. Need a kick up the arse !