2025 is the year I finally finish my book, feel free to join for support

[CoffeeAndWrite]

Afternoon everyone,

I have been writing two historical fiction novels since 2016. Every year, I say I will finish it, edit it, polish it, and send it out to publishers, and every year, I barely move forward with my novels (I've had two kids and a master to finish while part-time working but still!). My children are now 4.5 and nearly 2, and although the youngest isn't sleeping through the night yet, I'm determined to finally get my first novel finished. I might potentially be going back to work in September so I feel even more determined to do it now whilst I have more time on my hands. I need to be far more dedicated to writing even when I don't feel like it (like evenings when I'm exhausted and just want to watch TV). So I thought I'd make this thread to keep myself accountable and to accompany me through the year in reaching my goal. By the end of 2025, I want to have sent my manuscript out to agents/publishers.

I'm currently doing the re-write as it is a mess. It needs development and heavy editing. Then I will edit the re-write. I then plan to polish it as best I can before sending it out some beta readers. I may send some of it to a professional editor but the steps after the beta readers are not planned yet.

If you would like to join, feel free! I'd love to hear about your project, your goals and it would be great to have some company to keep each other motivated and offer support when needed

Sounds amazing! Best of luck to you. I've never fully attempted to write my stories, I just write simple story lines so I dont forget. I have about 10 that if I really tried, I'm sure u could turn 2 into a full novels or perhaps short stories. You've inspired me to have a good think about this.

Hi there! Sounds like a great goal to have. I have also around 50k words of my historical fiction done. Might not finish this year but I'd like to get close to it. I had some months last year that were really strong (Jan/Feb/Nov) I think because of winter and money saving etc and then summer wasn't so good (hello sunny evenings outside!). I'm planning to use writing prizes again to motivate me. Currently editing my first 10k words for the CBC Discoveries prize. A lot easier that last year when I was rushing to get the words written.

Hi just joining I'm. I'm just 10k words into a relationship/psychological piece, I've started many many books before but this is the first one I have a plan right to the end point which I can clearly see the outcome so I WILL finish this one!!

Best of luck to you, OP! I'm also hoping to finish mine this year. I work in publishing and it's made me very, very self critical. I'm published with stories but a book sometimes seems miles away! I've had this idea for yonks now, and I'm desperate to finish it.

I'm writing a historical fiction/horror, and sometimes it gets dark. I like that, but occasionally can't get into that zone because of the topics!

I'm trying to get a full draft out to my agent and my trusted first reader by the end of January. Finding it very hard to finish, though!

I’ve been writing a non fiction for a decade. I have finally finished the proposal, the book itself is mostly done in that the chapters are all there in note form.

i finished my proposal and just need to polish it up and submit.

i feel a bit sick

Good luck! Just finished my second attempt at a novel. Started querying, got one full request now I’m tying myself in knots over it!

Well done, that’s fantastic. I’ll do knots with you!

I'm late to the party here but would love to join. I've been writing my book for years and really need to stop procrastinating all the time 🫣

I've set myself the goal to actually complete this year too!

I set a goal of finishing a book proposal and it was a lovely feeling when it was (finally) done

Time to commit! I’ve been doing a lot of writing-without-actually-writing over the last couple of years. I wasted a good year working out an idea for a fantasy that I ended up having to bin off because of a fundamental flaw. And then I had an idea for a murder and have actually got £20k words down! Have come to a halt this year because of flu, cough, elderly parents. But I need to get back on it. I’m getting there with the plot but I’m struggling with my protagonist. They’re meh even to me!

This is my plan too....nine years of not finishing so far!

I completely understand the 'meh' @TwistedKeys I get so bored of my characters.

I have about 45k done and about 30k of that has been reviewed and edited by an author who is sort of mentoring me. I spiralled a bit after she read it last March and have only just been able to pick it up and look at her notes. They're not as damning as I thought they were so I've started to edit what I've done. I plan to have that finished in the next two weeks as I've booked a weekend away to write and want to use that for new work.

A couple of years ago I had been writing my book for about 6-7 years. I said, on Jan 1st 'I will write 1000 words a month until I've finished it'.

I ended up writing 1000 words each DAY and finished it by the 3rd week.

Couldn't get it published though so self e-published it. Over 100,000 words, I've proved I can do it!

I’ve ‘won’ nanowrimo a few times so know I can. Which is why it bothers me that I haven’t! I’ve partially written three other books in this time and loads of poetry, articles, done a whole degree…I really have no excuse!

So lovely to read all your responses! Apologies for checking in so late, I will likely very sporadically check in with updates though I will try to be more consistent than waiting a whole month. We've had a January full of birthdays and illness.

@PinkLadyLove Sometimes the ideas just flow, don't they? I also have a separate document for story ideas. Have you thought any more about turning one into a novel?

@AmberMaps lovely to hear from another historical fiction writer! May I ask what you're writing about? I've never actually entered prizes before but it sounds like it's a really good motivator.

@HaveItAll90 We can do this!! How has the year started for you?

@GiddyRobin historical fiction horror sounds bloody fab. Something I'd read! Can I ask what era you're in? Ahh yes I understand the dark bits. My first historical fiction is the New York underworld and I have to write some right gory scenes sometimes. It leaves me feeling a bit weird after.

@Festschriften how did you get on? Did you make your deadline?

@Seriestwo congratulations on finishing! That must be a great feeling. Have you submitted yet?

@Ocrfreak ahh congratulations on the full request! Have you heard back from anyone else? Hopefully you'll hear back from the full request soon.

@Valhalla17 good luck! Can I ask what you're writing about?

@TwistedKeys this is what happens with me too. Life gets in the way and suddenly I've gone a month without writing, then two. I'm hoping this thread will keep me accountable and on track despite life ha.

@trailblazer42 oo a weekend away to write sounds bliss. Where do you go? I'm picturing a nice cottage in the middle of nowhere lol. How did the writing weekend go?

@twiddleit that's some dedication! Congratulations on finishing it. I can't wait to have that feeling of accomplishment when looking at my finished manuscript. Are you currently writing another?

So it's been a month and I haven't done as much as I had planned. The first few weeks of January were brilliant and I was writing at every free moment. Then birthdays and illness have caused the last two weeks to be writing-free unfortunately. I'm hoping to get back on track with February. I'm still doing the re-write and the big edit as I go. My plan is to get through that by the end of May. So that's the first goal set!

Only just started submitting. Thanks! Trying not to get too excited. I had a full request for a previous piece of work and never heard back! It’s pretty brutal! Good luck with everything xxxx

Sounds great Op! I'm just here to cheer you on (I've no projects in motion) as I have zero creativity 🤣 but I'm rooting for you & have every faith you'll do this 🙌🏼🤩

I’m literally off to the middle of nowhere next weekend to write…Airbnb in Dungeness which we’ve always called the end of the world!

Visiting the setting of my novel and hiding from the real world.

My plan is to have edited 40k words by then and have outlined the rest of the story ready to write the next 40m.

I’m finding the London Writers Salon Writers Hours really useful - just sit in silence with others and write! I’d really recommend it…can’t afford to pay at the moment but they offer it for free no questions asked

I've decided I'm going to have one last push for my MG fantasy, and then try something totally different.
I've started writing the sequel for it, in the hope it might find a market.

@CoffeeAndWrite I'm writing a fantasy novel currently, although some historical element within it...so a bit of a hybrid!

@Ocrfreak getting to the submitting stage is an achievement in itself. Keeping everything crossed for you!

@LSTMS30555 thank you! I'm so determined this year... It's going to get done.

@trailblazer42 that sounds like heaven. I'd absolutely love to do that! Unfortunately two small children are stopping me at the moment 😅 but I can definitely see myself doing this in the future. Have a great relaxing but productive weekend! I live abroad and in my city they have a writing meet up where a bunch of folk sit together in the pub and just write alongside each other. When I'm out of the winter toddler illness phase, I'm going to head along.

@MargaretThursday lots of luck! Is your sequel idea already fully formed?

@Valhalla17 interesting mix! Sounds like something I'd be interested in :)

I don't tend to write with fully formed ideas.
I'm about 1/4 the way through and I know the next step. I need to work out how what's happening now is going to effect the next step though, and think I'm going to have to change one of the people's alliances too.

I finished but am fixing the beginning, which is taking forever. Aargh.

How is everyone getting on? I feel like one step forwards, two steps backwards at the moment. Managed to get to 80k words but then decided I needed to switch a load of stuff around and move a chapter to the start which has taken me back to editing rather than writing. Today is the first time in a few weeks that I’ve written new work and it was much more fun! Hope to do some more of that over the next couple of days. I had a loose plan to finish the first draft in April but reckon it will be May now.

I've stalled with my sequel because I've realised I need to combine chapters 2-3 in the original and I keep putting it off and finding useless other things to do first.
I really need to reread the chapters thoroughly and work from there.