November Writing

[HundredAcreOwl]

For anyone who would like to write during November, may have a word target to hit, or would like to write daily, or goes down research rabbit holes, or has other writing challenges... 😊

I find it hard to give myself time to write, so have started doing competitions, mostly to have a deadline I should adhere to, rather than find something else to do. Dust a shelf, anyone?

I write fiction and creative non-fiction, I've written computer tech stuff in the past. I love flash.

During November, I want to make progress on two short stories for competitions, I'd also like to get back to writing daily, or almost daily. I also have three 500 word 'homeworks' to do!

I will join. Aiming for an hour a day.I have time. I just find it hard to get motivated!

I'll join. I've got a sprawling YA novel that needs structure.
Aiming to have all the scenes reordered into an exciting page turner by 30 November.

I find that too, which is daft as once I manage to get started I really enjoy it. The difficulty then can sometimes be stopping, especially if it's a short piece...

I think I'll start by being target-oriented - the three 'homeworks, then the short stories (I'm not expecting to finish them in November, but to have a reasonable rough draft would be good.) I really like the idea of aiming for an hour a day, as it's something tangible that can be achieved and ticked off - finish a 'homework' is a bit piece of stringish...Thank you, I'll adopt that!

That sounds brilliant! I used to think the only important thing was the initial writing, I realise now that the editing/structuring/rewriting is at least as important.

Snap! We should beta read for each other!

I would love to join. Very busy so no promises though! :-)

Ooh me too. I've actually already started as I knew I wouldn't write everything I needed to in November. Planning to write 1k for every week day. Already falling behind because of half term childcare. Have already outline book one of an epic fantasy trilogy with a rough destination for books 2 and 3. Have drawn a city map, done a character arc diagram for book one and have a good idea of the epic conclusions for book one and three. Two magic systems, several non human species ( no elves or dwarfs)

I'm doing it. I want to write the sequel to one I wrote a couple of years ago. I know approximately how it starts. Hopefully at some point I'll know the end. 😁

Also brilliant. Anyone who has a project on pages - virtual or physical - they can rework, is a step ahead from my perspective.

I'd like this to be a check in if you want thread, no obligation.

Wow! I did 67ish k words last November, because of support from the groups I was in. Not a novel, but micro-memoir type, which I can use in future fiction.

I found I just had to get words on the page, put footnotes in for any research I needed, couldn't edit as I went. Some days was only 100 words but I did catch up.

You sound so organised, maps and arcs, magic systems 😊 No elves or dwarves, are there kender?! Recently reread those books...

Yeah I would love to write that much, that would finish my book but I don't think i can manage that pace. My plan is to complete all three books before anyone outside my writing group reads it. Then either try to publish traditionally or do an online serial type thing before self pub if it gains a following. So because all that i want the books to be woven together with all the threads being integrate from the very beginning. Its a lot of work as I discovery write for the most part and then have to back edit in waves of editing to foreshadow properly.

Yes I usually start with visuals, I am a (sort of) artist professionally (i work mostly in visualisation) so my story ideas are closely integrated with a sense of place. My feedback is often that my work is very cinematic. So yes a map, im also building in 3d a victorian style bakery which is a setting in the book. It is set in a sort of dickensian london during the industrial revolution but its a magic industrial revolution.

A sequel, wow. I do find I write with a clear idea/intention, then I end up with something completely different.

I agree, it was a bit manic, but I learned a lot from it. I'm focusing now more on quality and time spent, though I still need to get words on the page sometimes, then re-visit.

And what is a Kendar??? Am I missing out on something?

I tend to start with a vague idea, or a simple picture and it builds from there. I usually know where abouts it ends but that's it.

Not missing out! Kender are hobbit-like, are well known for 'finding' things that 'accidentally' fell out of people's pockets, bags. 'Forgotten Realm' SF books, I think by Weis and Hickman.

Just googled, it seems they started the race, but it's grown a lot.

I find I need a theme or prompt, I'm not good with a 'write anything' suggestion, including competitions.

Thanks for this @HundredAcreOwl , was just about to pop on and ask the same question!

Nanowrimo seems to have disappeared, but I'm embarking on a new MS today with the aim of 50K words by the end of the month, so.

I've completely surprised myself by wanting to write something which might be best categorised as romance...

A new adventure

Also at tail-end of 1/2 term here @Cerialkiller Bon courage

I have accepted I can’t do this due to very likely undiagnosed ADHD and diagnosed autism so I just write as I think of things if I remember to write it down but I don’t sit down formally and try and force myself to do anything because that makes it feel
stressful and tedious and I can’t think

How do you know if your writing is any good?

I’ve plotted out the first third of my book and started writing last night.

I showed my first A4 page to my DS 13 who proceeded to write comments all over it.

Oh dear. It’s aimed at his age group. I wonder if my tone and wording is too adult? He had questions about various things he said wasn’t clear. They seemed really clear to me!

Almost put paid to my ambition. I’ve never written a book before but I want to try. I like my story idea.

How do you get the confidence to keep moving forwards?

I sympathize. I'm an awful procrastinator and suspect ND and although i spend a lot of time thinking about my story sitting down to actually write is very difficult and stressful. I have found a few things that help me.

Sit somewhere you associate with relaxation instead of stress (i.e. sofa away from my work desk)

Say 'im only going to write for 10minutes/20 minutes' whatever is a short reasonable time. I usually find I go over that time as the real issue is starting.

Tell yourself you are just going to read through your writing without any pressure to write. This usually helps me get into the groove.

Use a dictaphone/ohone recording or one that writes when you speak. Record ideas/scenes verbally. I do this in the car often as that's my thinking time. Obviously be safe!!

Have a writing group or someone who will read your work. It puts a real focus on finishing something coherent (i often make really important edits at this point as i'm reading as if i'm new to the story) and a bit of accountability.

I suppose the only way to know is if you have someone read it. You need to be careful who you choose because people are often terrible at reviewing and the book might be well WRITTEN even if the genre isn't the readers point of view.

My writing group is run by two published authors so they have a objective rather then personal view on good writing. If you can find someone who is widely read or you think can be objective. I also find that other writers are decent at telling you truths as long as you make it clear you want constructive criticism.

Make rules that you want descriptive but not prescriptive feedback. so e.g.

'i was confused here', I don't really like the character, is that deliberate?' i was bored here, it feel really slow, this doesn't seem like realistic character interaction here.'

Its also really important to mention the good stuff and in my group we do a 'criticism sandwich' so stuff we liked, stuff we we thought needed work then something we liked again.

Iv'e thought about starting a writing group on here but i don't know how successful it would be. I think people are cagey about showing whole chapters of their lovingly produced project to internet strangers in case its stolen/ripped apart/their dreams are shattered forever.

If you like i would be happy to look at an excerpt of your work? I tend to find its pretty obvious within a few paragraphs whether something is polished or not. I tend to never say that writing is 'bad'. Writing is a craft just like any other and can be improved. Often 'bad' writing is simply immature or is good ideas, poorly written or, need a thorough edit.

Lots of new writers depend too much on 'telling' rather then 'showing' and this is my pet hate as soooo many people do it by default. It has its place but its a tool that needs to be used at the right points.

I'm always surprised by the quality of writing i see from amateurs, I frequently think it is better then some published works. I mean I have read '50 shades of Grey' and had to stop after a couple of chapters as its not good writing. More power to Ms James and her millions, but its not good!

I use Scribofile for critiques. It's as good as you want to make it really. I know published authors/professional editors on there, and it does give a good idea of what works or not. I've made good friends, some of whom have been subsequently published.

You do get some people who are always negative, and some critiques aren't very helpful, but on the whole I've learnt loads from there
I like it being online rather than face to face.

And doing critiques also helps, because it makes you think about why something doesn't work etc.