Write a book this year

[GlumyGloomer]

I started back around February I think, and hoping to finish the first draft before the end of the year.
Anyone else fancy a chat/support thread?

Woohoo, made it to 25,000 words.

50% of my original goal (although I think only 1/3 of the way through the first draft)

@katienana

I'm a total write as it comes most of the time.

My favourite way to write is start at chapter one and write a chapter a day where I plan the next chapter during the day. It's why NaNoWriMo works quite well for me,

Occasionally I have a revelation and have to go back and add/take bits out, but also I sometimes realise why something earlier is much more important that I expected.

Main problem with that method is my family complains I go very vague and tend to forget things while I'm writing it.
The other disadvantage is sometimes my characters turn awkward and won't do as I expect, however I ask them nicely and plead.

I'm still going. This dropped off my TIO during the school holidays, the kids go back next week and I'm looking forward to getting my writing routine back.

Into the 3rd draft now.

Well done @Bakingdiva, that's a good milestone.
@Drybird2020 I think school holidays have slowed lots of us down. Still 4 weeks to go here, we must have started later.
My phone spent most of the weekend in a bag of rice (toddler drink type situation), but thankfully it still works. Not being able to write actually made me really want to, so a couple of hundred words done tonight. Introducing the extended family is making me work quite hard. Some stuff for the endgame has fallen into place though so I'm happy with that.

MC2 is prepped for the end game, woo! Now I'm going to park him for a bit and follow MC1 for a bit. He gets to go to the beach next and have some fun, then it all gets serious again.

@GlumyGloomer i stepped away from writing for a bit. I just seemed very stuck. But I think it’s helped as yesterday I started again and things feel a little clearer in my head. New characters have developed, old characters have a bit more substance now I feel.

I even started making notes for a children's story, ideas kept popping into my head. So that’s another project at a later date, which I’m quite excited about.

How’s everyone going?

In case anyone didn't see it, these a Mumsnet writes group set up on Scribophile for those that use it.

I find Scrib a good way to get impartial feedback on my writing.

Made it to 30,000 words. Not sure about some of the last chapter, there's going to be a hell of a lot of editing!

I'd expected it to come in around 50,000 words, but i'm only half way through at most and a new character has raised his head and wants in on the action. It actually works, because it makes the plot less obvious, but he's still a bit of a spanner in the works.

Well done @Bakingdiva, great progress.
My first book overan, it's hard to estimate in ow long things are going to take.

I've stalled again, mostly due to end of summer exhaustion I think. Dd off to school next week so hopefully things will start to improve. My last section was pretty rubbish and will need a lot of work, but oh well. One more set up event and then I can finally start tying everything up.

*how
Phone's had a second bath, and is playing up quite often, which doesn't help 🙄

Hey, how's everyone doing?
I finally got something done today, although the plot is escalating a bit faster than I expected and I've landed my MC on some very thin ice indeed. Hopefully his escape is believable.

I've managed about 200 words in the last 2 weeks. I've been tutoring every evening after work from 7-8.30 after the kids are in bed (5&2) so by the time that's done I grab some food and collapse.

I'm hoping to get back to it this week - my MC is currently stuck having a dragon induced panic attack. I feel very guilty leaving him hyperventilating for so long 😂😂

Up to 63k now, and only 2-3 days left to write. MC has slipped up a bit too much and is going to be caught by the end (pesky forensics), but I think I can make it work, maybe. This book is going to need a substantial amount of editing.
@Bakingdiva some weeks are just like that aren't they, especially with kids. If it helps on my last book I abandoned one of my characters in a swamp for a good month or two while I faffed about editing the earlier chapters

@GlumyGloomer that’s great! 63k!

I’ve become a little stuck again, new characters developed but my plot is a bit up in the air again🙄. I think my brain is frazzled at the moment with eldest starting school, and life in general.
Can I ask where does everyone do their writing? Kitchen table, in bed, garden?
I tend to either type away at night in bed when kids are asleep or during the day I’m at the kitchen table whilst youngest is napping and eldest at school. I’d love to have a little writing place to escape to, just a little corner in the house with a desk etc.. hmmm 🤔 maybe something to set up.

@Coffeeandbooks13 the great advantage of writing on my phone is that I can do it literally anywhere, a line here and there throughout the day.

How are we all doing?

I'm still only on my first chapter, with a few other scenes written out. How perfect do you try and get it first time? Mine certainly will need enriching and developing further. I kept going over the first paragraph but now think I should just get words on the page. I've read so many books but I never took notice of how they were written, how they started, pov, tense etc.

Opps, missed you posted today! See. I don't take notice of what I read!

@Icenii for me the first draft is all about establishing the plot. The actual writing quality can be fairly abysmal in places, but I find it much easier to rewrite once I know how every scene ties together to move the story on. A lot of my character development takes place during writing too, so again it helps to have got to the end before trying to perfect the prose.

Hi all! I've had a few slow few weeks, made a bit of progress and am targeting having a first draft finished this year. Was hoping to have got further than that, but oh well. I've realised that I'm very light on b-story and side characters, but hopefully those can be developed once the basic draft if done. Agree with @GlumyGloomer about first drafts - doesn't make them any easier though!

And @Coffeeandbooks13, I keep my draft on drive so I can access it from multiple devices, and do most of my writing during quiet periods at work (of which there are many). I mainly wfh, so physically I'm usually on the sofa...

@Icenii

How are we all doing?

I'm still only on my first chapter, with a few other scenes written out. How perfect do you try and get it first time? Mine certainly will need enriching and developing further. I kept going over the first paragraph but now think I should just get words on the page. I've read so many books but I never took notice of how they were written, how they started, pov, tense etc.

Perfect the first time? No! I write in a stream of consciousness, and then read through with a permanent wince.

Get it written first and then never get round to good editing

The end is in sight! Nearly 70k now, and everything is coming together. Although I almost left out a plot point and had to back up a bit to fit it in.
The chores are being neglected dreadfully, but at least now I'm confident of getting it finished

Well done!

I never need any excuse to neglect chores

Anyone thinking of doing NaNoWriMo this year?

No, I doubt I'd be able to keep up 😅