I'm shocked that the month has gone by so quickly and that the last time I blogged was for April's IWSG!
I have been pretty much off the bloggersphere - due to there simply not being enough hours in the day! I love reading blogs and keeping up with everyone, but I just can't fit it in. I will content myself for now with doing a monthly hop around and saying hi to everyone I can!
Anyway, on to the insecure stuff!
A mini-miracle has taken place - I know not how - and I am not listening to the demon on my shoulder that tries to tell me I'm rubbish. He shouts in my ear every so often and I find that I'm just sort of thinking "Oh shut up," and ignoring him.
I'm about 20,000 words into my novel (which I'm writing painstakingly slowly at the rate of about 500 words a day) and this time have no doubt that I will finish the project. I know how the story goes, so there's no reason not to write it. I also know some other things, thanks to advice I've read or received from others...
I wish I could remember who these gems that have changed my writing life came from, but I'm afraid I can't because I didn't make a note at the time! They are from blogs I've read or comments on blogs. If you recognise one as yours, then THANK YOU! I'm going to share them, anyway, because they have made a huge difference to my attitude to writing:
'The first draft of everything is shit.' (This is definitely a quote from a well-known published writer.)
'The first draft is really just elaborate notes.'
'You may get to the end and find that this isn't meant to be your first novel, but it's a great way to practise writing your second novel."
I also have one of my own - that old adage: SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE!
These all resounded with me and I hope they can help you, too, if you feel in need of help. I've written and had published quite a lot of short stories, but a novel is a huge commitment and without the 'instant' feedback that I'm used to.
So, I'm not feeling insecure this month - I'm feeling full of 'oomph'! I hope you are, too!
See you in June! xx
15 comments:
I have that same demon!! Man. He. Can. Be. So. Freaking. Annoying!!
'The first draft is really just elaborate notes.'hehe...glad it's not just me!
He's a nasty demon, isn't he? Congrats on getting so far! I have no doubt that you'll finish it up, and it will bit better than elaborate notes.
I love hearing about people who also can never find time to write. Between children,work, life and everything else, (blogging!) I spend a fair amount of time grumping that I "never have time to write my novel..." but somehow I got 65,000 words done and am now editing. I too am a slow and steady soldier of the word.
Cheers,
~Just Jill
See, I race through my first draft because that's essentially my outline--a 50k word outline. lol For me, the real writing happens in the edits. Good luck!
Congrats on getting so far keep going. I love the quote about a first draft being elaborate notes!
20,000 words is brilliant, well done. There's nothing wrong with slow and steady - and it definitely proves anyone can write with very little time. Good luck with the rest of it.
20K is nothing to sneer at. That stupid voice is completely off base. I have one too. In fact, I think I must have liked the cute little outfit mine was wearing on the day I picked it up, and I got a second one to show my friends... Well, it's not so cute anymore.
And my favorite novel writing advice: Write a word. Repeat.
I call that voice Mrs. Naysayer. She like to whisper in my ear how much I suck. I tell her to take a hike. I'm at 14,500 words and do about 500 words a night, but you know what? It's something and someday I'll be done. It's better than not writing at all.
Yeah, I think that same naysayer speaks to all of us at some point. And I'm the same way when I write. I'm very slow but deliberate, writing about 500 words a day. Hey, I'm getting there! And I like what I'm writing, which is even better than being fast. :)
Did you send that Demon to me? Shame on you ]:-) .... Joking aside, I am feeling very insecure at the moment. I have just deleted 40k words out of 50 k novel and am close to tears. I tried short stories but they don't fit into the Woman's Weekly type of market so are in a file marked 'dormant' ... BUT, I beat the demon off my shoulder yesterday long enough to book myself on a Woman's Weekly day course on how to write their short stories or what they look for... So London here I come. I'm going back to starting small then thinking big :)
Did you send that Demon to me? Shame on you ]:-) .... Joking aside, I am feeling very insecure at the moment. I have just deleted 40k words out of 50 k novel and am close to tears. I tried short stories but they don't fit into the Woman's Weekly type of market so are in a file marked 'dormant' ... BUT, I beat the demon off my shoulder yesterday long enough to book myself on a Woman's Weekly day course on how to write their short stories or what they look for... So London here I come. I'm going back to starting small then thinking big :)
Keep going Linda! You WILL get there :)
xx
OOMPH! I like it! :D Thanks for stopping by my poem. <3
500 words a day is great! I don't care what others say. lol Some writers (me) go weeks without putting a new word onto paper, and then, pow. Forcing it always hurts MY head, at least.
Nice to meet you! Welcome back to blogging.
Totally understand about the demon telling you you're rubbish. If only I knew how to banish it forever!
Great quotes about the first draft. I think we have to remember it doesn't have to be perfect first time round and at least we've got something to work with at the end.
The first draft is shite was a big one for me. It helps me to turn of that inner critic and keep going. I'm a slow first drafter as well.
Keep going and good luck! :)
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