Finish a novel 2024 accountability thread

[OctoblocksAssemble]

Hey, I was on one of these a couple of years ago and got the first draft of my novel pinned down in a year. Working on the sequel now so I thought I'd start another one.

So, my project. Book 2 of a trilogy, the first book is 2 drafts in, but I'd like to get 2 and 3 at the rough draft stage before I take the first any further. I want to have a good handle on the whole plot
It's a YA fantasy.

Well done on getting words down today! I haven’t as yet but fully intend to after dinner - will post on this thread when I have done ✊

Yes! 300 or so words written, this accountability post is really working 😊👍🏻

Well done, @HappyLittleTreeFriend !

Took the kids to soft play today, so I had a couple of free-ish hours. 500 words, bringing me up to 5k.
I decided to stay in the past for now.

Can I join? I have MG WIP that I've been working on for the last 2.5 years, the first of of a 4 book series - I really want to finish the bloody thing....so I can get into editing - I have loads of changes I want to make. Currently 65,000 words in, so I should be able to get this done!

Can I join? I'm 23,000 words into a fantasy novel, and have completely hit a wall. I'm at a major crunch point; arguably the most important scene in the book (certainly in part one); and I think I'm afraid of it. Logically, I know I just need to get something down and fix it later, but I've spent the last three evenings staring at the screen with total block!

I've been writing short stories for years, but I've never gone above 20,000 words. This year, I really want to actually get this novel done (even if nobody but me or my family ever read it), just to prove to myself that I can.

Hi @CaptainCallisto! Could you try just totally skipping the scene for now? And move on with the story? I used to always write in a very linear way, never out of order really and this time I’m trying a different approach and not letting myself mull over sentences for too long - I’m only very much at the start of this new story so I haven’t got properly stuck yet but I’ve told myself if I feel that I’m getting even a little stuck I’m just making a quick note to myself and carrying on this time! It may be the way to getting the main story actually down and finished - I hope!

And keeping accountable - I nearly fell asleep but roused myself and got down about 200 words last night 😊👍🏻 slow and steady is working so far!

This is fantastic well done everyone. I've gone down the study route this year and applied for a post grad so (if I get in) I think that will command most of my attention.

Although that sounds like an excuse too!

I'd like to join too please! Currently on my 2nd book and life has got in the way.

Just as an aside, my first one was just over 100k words, how would that equate to pages? ( it was r published)

I've finally finished my chapter outline and now there's nothing left to do but actually start writing - I tried last night and ended up staring at a blank page for ages but I am determined to get some words down this evening even if they're terrible!

I’m rewriting a novel and am just over halfway through - but it’s so hard to measure progress! With a first draft I can do a word count, but endlessly fiddling with a paragraph doesn’t count for much. Can’t wait to finish though. I’ve written scripts for years - I much prefer prose. So much more you can do

I've done scripts too, but now progressed and have struggled to find the time. I have made a resolution to sort it this year.

Noooo I have broken my streak 😂🙈 no words from me last night, I was too tired! I’ve been writing in bed on my laptop when I go up, but I properly conked out last night after watching a show, annoyed with myself! But not going to let it put me off, going to get some words down today and have a think about when might be a better time to aim for writing, maybe just before I fall asleep isn’t the best time! 😂😂

Still going. Another 1000 words done.

Welcome @Bakingdiva , @CaptainCallisto and @yepmeagain , and good luck with your respective projects.
I had a moment today of realising one month is almost gone, and I've still made very little progress. I think (hope) that once I've got it off the ground things will go faster.
My very first novel (pre-kids) was written in a very linear way, and if ever I got stuck it was usually because I hadn't set the scene up correctly, so I'd go back and adjust and then move on. The first book of this trilogy, draft 1 again, completely linear, but the substantial re-write I was forever skipping the hard parts to get to a more fun bit, then going back to stich the pieces together when inspiration finally struck. It was very liberating really, though has probably made the job of editing harder 😏
200 words yesterday, about 10 words today

Checking in with about 100 words today! Back on it 😂👍🏻

I'm distracted this week and working on something a little different for a competition, but will get back on it from mid-February.

Well done everyone, every word is one step closer to achieving your goal.

I was thinking of entering the My People’s Friend competition someone posted about! Got a start on a ‘cosy crime’ style story (start as in about two sentences and an idea 😂) but thought I might put some serious effort into that project over the next few evenings!

I just hit the roughly 2/3s mark with my book passing 66k today. Since the weekend, every day has been an emotional slog as every day, I have to do a 'difficult chapter.' Then I get through that and see that the next outline is even tougher. Like an idiot I've been a bit blindsided and keep thinking tomorrow will be a bit easier. But of course it won't. I'm building towards the big emotional climax. So it's just going to keep getting harder until I pass it. Duh!

@OctoblocksAssemble If I had written 10 words a day since I started my novel I'd have finished by now! Impressed with everyone's progress and forward momentum. Inspired by this thread so thank you for starting it.

I’ve realised that I look at my word count and think eg only 330 words to make 14,000, but I inevitably go slightly over so it becomes, only 370 to make 14,500 and if I don’t, the next day I start with only maybe 120 to make 14,500. This does keep me pushing forward as the 500 mark seems to come round quite quickly.

I like that way of thinking @Costacoffeeplease, will have to try it! I managed probably a scant 100 last night on one story and then about 100 and a little bit of plotting on the cosy crime competition entry I’m sort of working on! The deadline for that is the 5th of Feb so I’m going to really try and write some on both projects tonight and tomorrow night - DP is on night shift so depending on how easy it is to get the kids to bed I’ll have two evenings on my own, so trying to be motivated to really get cracking!

Over a 1000 words now on my new YA fantasy which feels great! Didn’t do anything last night on my potential competition entry but will try tonight 😊🙌🏻

I've just gone past 70k today. I'm going to be a lot busier next week, so part of me wants to do more and power through to at least 80k over the weekend. But I did a bit shy of 2k this morning and my head is pounding from it as I'm still in the emotionally tough stuff. And I just don't think I can plough into the next chapter today. Tomorrow and Sunday are my big tough climax chapters. After that, I'll hopefully be able to manage a reasonable pace even with other things on, as my brain won't be so on edge. Then get the rest finished over the next fortnight.

I'm already chomping at the bit to really get into working on all the areas that I'm identifying as needing attention. One character in particular is falling flat and it's meaning that problems in one of her core relationships are being told about about rather than shown. So I really need to figure that out. I also need to work out all the basic continuity stuff as secondary and tertiary characters need proper names and little bits of their own purpose in life as opposed to just existing for my main characters.

Well done @HappyLittleTreeFriend and @GhostImposter , sounds like steady progress.
I have done nothing much besides mulling things over in my head. Will hopefully get some words down soon...

Aw @GhostImposter thats fantastic progress though, you’re nearly there! Wish I had 70k under my belt but have to believe I will get there eventually, like you say @OctoblocksAssemble with steady progress! I went out last night so no more words last night and in laws staying over tonight so may not get a chance but will get back on it Monday for sure 😊👍🏻