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.

I aim for 5000 words a week, so at 40,000 I probably started just before Christmas and took a bit of time off for the festivities.

Now that I’m over half way I find I’m writing more each day as I’m well into the story

All: who are your writer inspirations?

Happy to have found this thread! I'm immensely impressed with everyone's writing efforts. I've wanted to write a book ever since I was a teenager but while I'm good at starting writing projects I'm terrible at following through!

But last March I had a bit of a breakthrough and started a story for my daughter, which turned into a book project. I'm proud that I've managed to keep going even though it's a year later (2 kids and a full time job etc.)

But I've found the spaces between in which to write, and am on about 26k words. Not sure what I should be aiming for to be honest. It's a young young adult book (characters age 13/14).

I've been writing it on my tablet in a Google doc and there are no pages so it's just one long piece of writing! Its not the most efficient method of writing it but I'm worried if I start on a laptop it'll feel like too much pressure.

Anyway, sending good writing vibes to you all!

@emeliet I used to plan quite rigorously, post kids I don't have the mental energy for it so I just dive in and wallow about until something comes together. Book 1 of my proposed trilogy needed a hefty re-write, and book 2 is definitely heading the same way.
I am confident of nothing, lol.
Well done for getting started

@hansolosmum I write on my phone on Google docs. It's very handy but yes, no idea of how many pages.
How lovely that you're writing for your daughter, good luck with it

How is everyone getting on? Mine is down to 119K, down from 142k and I feel there is nothing more I can do. I spent the weekend running it through Grammarly. I think I'll be paying for an editor within the next week or so and see what happens.

Good luck!

I’m on course at 45,000 words

Hmm. Started to re read it and don't feel confident. It moves so fast. In the first 100 pages the protagonist is kidnapped and her friend murdered.

Good luck on meeting your targets.

It doesn’t sound too fast

Hello, can I very tentatively put myself out there and join this thread? I am currently just starting out on a middle grade fiction novel length story. I have only recently (in the past 18-24 months) considered actually writing anything seriously, but it's always been a bit of a secret dream!

I initially had an idea for adult fiction which I began working on, but I felt like it was a constant struggle that I kept plodding on with but didn't really believe in. Towards the end of last year I had a spark of an idea for a children's story set in WW2 (I do love a bit of historical fiction!) I feel much more passionate about this one and really connected to my main character so fingers crossed I can really get somewhere now!

My issue is I haven't told a single person in real life that I'm doing this! So it's been tricky to set aside time to write, however I recently switched from using my laptop to writing on a word document on my phone so I can just add to it whenever I get a bit of time or inspiration strikes me!

I'm so glad I found this thread, hopefully we can all keep each other motivated and semi-sane!

Hi and welcome.

Do you plan to tell anyone?

I'm working slowly through my second draft. Very slowly, tbh but I'm definitely starting to find the right voice for my pov characters and the motivations for my secondary and tertiary characters. I'm working on really polishing up my first few chapters for some of the novel competitions, so my next step is writing a really good synopsis. I already have my own synopsis written during my planning stage planning. But the thought of doing up a really precise, readable one for professional purposes is a bit paralysing.

Thank you 😊my current thinking is if I can finish the story, or even get a good way into it I will tell people close to me. I don't know why I can't just now, it just feels a bit fanciful to say I'm writing a novel!

I've totally failed to do anything to my official WIP, and instead started writing a fairytale mash up as a bit of light relief. I was aiming for comedy but the drama set in almost immediately 😅
Over in the real world my kitchen is soon to be ripped out, I have a case study to write and a driving test to reschedule (again, sigh). Altogether it's been hard to get in the zone.
Good luck @YouG0GlenCoco !

Finally managed to write some more this week. Bit of a relief as I just couldn't find time before. Seems to come in spurts or when I get inspiration.

Tried to dictate some of it into the word doc as I was thinking of it but for some reason that's super difficult!

Determined to write more this week.

I'm curious at what point you let other people read your work to get feedback? I can't decide whether it's better to get it sooner or to wait until the first draft is finished

I don't have anyone who wants to read my work anymore, everyone's too busy with their own lives 😏

@hansolosmum dictating takes a while to get used to but it's worth persevering!!!

@YouG0GlenCoco I started to tell those closest to me once I knew I was in it for the long haul. I don't tend to tell others though.

@hansolosmum I haven't let anyone read my work. I don't want those I know reading it until I am confident in my ability; besides I doubt they will be objective. And I don't know any beta readers. I have a friend who has self published books but they don't read.

I am really nervous - I paid for a development editing service this weekend. I will be using it as a learning experience for my first manuscript - but am dreading yet excited about it. It was expensive but thankfully I can accommodate.

I am trying to brain storm the second book - but not really getting anywhere.

@LuciferRising oh how exciting, hope it's a useful experience. Let us know how you get along

@LuciferLuciferRising the editing service sounds serious. Good luck with it.

I am thinking about getting my daughter's friends to read some. I'm sure I can get some brutal honesty from children 😀

What happened to you all?! I was reading this thread as I have recently been planning out a novel, having not written anything for about 10 years. You all seemed to be doing so well, and then . . . Nothing! @LuciferRising how did the professional read go? How about the rest of you? I’d love to hear about your progress.

Ha! The feedback wasn't great! I'm working on some of it, confused by the rest of it!

Good luck with starting off!

@LuciferRising Hi! Thanks. Sorry your feedback was confusing, but good to hear you’re ploughing on with it.

I’m on to editing at the moment, lots to do!

Still don’t have a title though 🙁

I don't have a title either!!