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

I feel your pain. I was exactly like that, knowing what I needed to do but not wanting to do it because it felt like hard work.

I just can’t seem to do it. I feel like I have good ideas and I write a bit. Then I read it months later and it sounds rubbish so I just give up!

I’ve been writing my novel for nine years and I get that. The best thing I’ve found to spur me on is sharing it with someone. Even just chatting about it with AI helps! Whilst I was keeping it to myself I was my only fan and my only critic.

joining a writing group helps. I said I would never join one (I just thought it wasn’t my thing), but I ended up joining one and it really helps knowing ur not the only one going through what is quite a gruelling challenge.

Hi! Noticed this was back on my "I'm on" list!

I've managed to get to 40k words. I've been really pleased with my character development and can see the "reasons" why my characters behave in the way they do. There has also been a pretty dramatic event which was always set to be a main turning point in the story I've written that which feels like an achievement. Now I need to go back to what I have written and pad it out more! Hope everyone is doing well!!

I miss the writing group i used to be last of. Since having kids and moving home I've never really managed to find another to join. Also lost space i used to have thinking about stories to..well looking after two lovely little munchkins. I'm sure they will isle some characters when i have some time back though.

@HaveItAll90 that's brilliant! I'm curious, what is the recent event in your story?
In mine that I've been sorting on off writing for more than 5 years, the characters have decided to have a but of a rest from their adventure at an Inn, with nice tasty fresh food for a change cooked for them and soft beds. Honestly might leave them there for a few months till i get a chance to write again. They might thank me for it lol.

@Ocrfreak I'm tempted to find an online writing group or a discord group to join to be honest, i don't have the consistent time or schedule to do writer group meet ups in person. Is yours online or face to face? The group you've joined i mean.

@trailblazer42 did you screenshot some of what Ai had to say about your work? I'm curious, did you use chat gdp or something else?

Children do stop us having headspace to just think and contemplated things @Paintandpots
There are 3 main characters in my book. One is troubled and vulnerable but appears very capable and on it to the outside world, that character tragically dies via "misadventure" having consumed too much alcohol. Leaving the other 2 in a tizzy and 1 knew about the alcohol/vulnerabilities but didn't know the extent of it and the second character had no idea at all thought her life was picture perfect

it was a group from a course I did. Online mainly, but some members who live near each other have met up.

I think it’s been helpful as it’s such a long, hard slog getting anywhere with writing, and the moral support is great.

going to writing events is quite good as well. I went to the London festival of writing a couple of years ago and met a couple of people there.

Hi, just a word about using AI, feel free to tell me if I’m being too paranoid about it! I’ve been submitting my work to agencies recently. Many of them are stating on their pages that they will not accept work that AI has been used for editing or other purposes. I’d definitely thread very carefully where AI is concerned. I’ve ignored AI, although I’m absolutely rubbish with technology anyway. I don’t think it’s all it’s cracked up to be either. A machine isn’t going to get sarcasm or dark humour. Sorry if I’m being overly cautious, but it’s just been something I’ve seen on agencies websites lately, so thought I’d mention it.

I've not used AI for amy edition etc but I have asked questions such as "tell me the process involved with life support" etc that's been helpful!!

I have now finished my first draft! Cannot believe it after nine years...a lot of work to do still but feel better for having 'The End' written!

Re AI...I don't think ChatGPT does much different to something like ProWritingAid, or even Word 'Editor' which picks up on lots more than spelling mistakes nowadays. Obviously it could do if you asked it to but AI is built into so much. PWA now even has a 'beta reader' function which is scary as that's now replacing readers! I'd be interested to see how they define what AI is as even predictive text is AI.

I have found ChatGPT good for research - my book is partially set in the 1960s and I've used it as more of refined Google...nothing I couldn't have found online but saves trawling twenty sites when you can ask it and then it pinpoints the exact one you want. One thing I did find useful was trying to establish whether a train would have been electric, diesel or steam on a particular line in 1964! I wouldn't have known where to start looking but turns out the geeks have all that stuff out there!!

The machines can definitely identify dark humour and sarcasm though...it's all based on patterns of words and structure, in the same way that Word will identify conciseness and formality.

I'm waiting for my agent to get back to me with her notes on the MS I sent her.

Well done! It must be so satisfying.

Thanks @TwistedKeys! It’s a bit surreal!

Congrats to you too on your first draft completion @trailblazer42 .
My question for you would be, does the story go as you originally planned or did any of the characters get out of hand or did the story run a bit wild at parts?

@HaveItAll90 your right about that. They are at the chasing each other and wrestling stage so at least don't need to carry the baby anymore Iol. Very different personalities.

Your story makes me curious, it's there a kind of resolution or moral for the remaining characters at the end? Or do they just have more questions about or for the 3rd person who died?
I'm just realising adulthood is just questions and no real solid answers at the moment.. does that reflect in writing too i wonder?

It ends in the way I knew it would but some of the characters changed…a couple got more feisty than I expected! My police officer broke a couple of protocols to get (the right) result and I didn’t have him down for doing that to start with!

As I got into the writing more I learned more about the characters rather than planning their reactions. They felt a lot more 3D by the end.

That's great @trailblazer42 well done!!!

@Paintandpots the overall theme and topic is that you never really know everything about people even those your closest to. And one character believes she is a really wonderful person and dpes some morally terrible things but internally justifies it- you don't really ever truly know yourself either!

Well done on finishing a draft! Takes a lot to get to that point

Hey @CoffeeAndWrite how is the writing going? I’ve written a very shabby first draft of a new book and can’t face the huge structural edits it needs just yet, so I’ve dug out an old one and am thinking of editing that while the other one festers in the cloud. I hope you’re making progress that you’re happy with.

My first proper draft has gone to my editor this morning. Eek!!

Having always insisted this was a standalone book, I challenged myself to think about it as a series lask week after listening to the Elly Griffiths podcasts again (A Plot Thickens) where she was talking to Val McDermid about series and where they come from. An idea popped into my head and has started forming, the research has started and I'm now thinking that if I can maybe write another one.

Hopefully this one won't take me another nine years!

Wow well done @trailblazer42
I'm still chipping away at mine. Circa 60k words and done loads and loads of editing over the last couple of weeks, more editing than new content.

Do you pay your editior @trailblazer42 i have been looking at this service online wondered if you had any recommendations

Yes I do…it’s a partial editor/partial mentor role so not a traditional off the shelf service but is paid for.

She’s a best selling author and takes various waifs and strays on! I was struggling to find direction and motivation so she reviewed my opening chapters, agreed to support me and then edited the first 30k. I’ve now finished so she has the whole manuscript.

Part of the reason behind using her is that it might open up some doors to agents…I struggle a bit with that feeling like buying my way in, but they’re not going to take me on if it’s rubbish even if she does put in a good word!

I’ve heard people from The Literary Consultancy speak at events so have a look at them - they do lots of different types of editing. It’s a bit like a dating service so you get matched with someone appropriate

Thanks for the insight, ive just had a look on TLC and they class a full.manuscript as 60k words im there already and only feel halfway done... is my story too long 😅

Mine is 102k!