Yep, finally finished the first draft of Kate and Alex. Well, when I say finished, I do mean that incredibly loosely. I got to the last chapter, wrote a couple of pages, then got entirely sick of all the explanations and arguments and put ‘…and then they get together, HEA’. Slack eh? Told you I was crap at endings. Anyway, the actual, professional plan is to leave the story to fester for a week or two, then haul out for a major edit and a final, proper re-write of the last chapter.
Which leaves me now with two completed manuscripts and two more halfway there. Of course, they could ALL be utter pants and in no way acceptable but sadly, the only way to tell whether this is the case would be to submit and this I cannot do until I hear… But as you all know, I am NTAI. 🙂
Anyway, for those of you who are wondering at my ability to finish two mss comparatively quickly, know that the only reason I can do this is that writing is my day job (while oldest is at school and youngest is at creche) so I do tend to have the time. Plus, a great tip that I learned from doing the Nano (novel in a month), was to do a chapter plan beforehand so I know exactly where I’m going, then write without editing. This does mean an incredibly rough first draft – there are scenes that aren’t finished ’cause I’ve got too bogged down – but at least the whole thing is down on the page. Works for me at any rate.
What about the rest of you? Where is everyone at with their current WIPs?
Yay for you!
Break out the bubbly and all that…
What’s next?
From another mum, who’s praying her kids survive to school age, do you write at night too?
I’m stuck 500ish words in to my new story. Love it all but struggling to get it down on the page. Am brainstorming with some writer friends tonight so hopefully will be raring to go after that!
Thanks, Becca! I used to write a lot at night but after I had kids, I found I was too tired, what with wrangling them and a day job as well. I still don’t, figuring that my evenings are ‘non-work’ time.
It’s annoying when it just won’t flow eh? Definitely brainstorming with fellow authors is a great idea. Hope you get some good inspiration.
Yay 🙂
And they’re not remotely pantish but great and the editors would be mad not to sign you. But you already know I’m a fan.
Not making word count progress but definitely some planning progress so feel like I’m achieving something, maybe…
Lorraine, you are a sweetie! And it’s only a matter of time before you’re back on top form and writing up a storm. Your planning is not wasted, believe me.
Time to buy some new shoes/boots! You’ve finished another so break out Great Uncle Visa and don’t forget to post a pic!
I’ve spent ages planning my new WIP, started in the wrong place, then with the wrong POV but finally I think I will be able to make some progress. As soon as I have finished cleaning up after 4 puking kids!!
Am seriously doubting it’s ‘utter pants’ and I really like the sound of your process.
Brilliant news. Well done.
You don’t really want to know where I am with my WIP (STAS – still thinking about starting).
🙂
Sadly, Jo, Great Uncle Visa isn’t too happy with me so I think he’ll probably decline if I try and get any more shoes. I’ll have to save up. Hope your kids are better – sounds like the WIP certainly is. 🙂
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Rach. I guess pants is in the eye of the beholder and mine are looking rather like baggy tracksuit pants at the moment.
STAS! That’s still useful, Suzanne.
Yay! I have to ask do you have a completed pile of queries enveloped and ready to go or have they made their home on your computer? I want to have a pile of completed pieces too but I keep using them for competitions lol Tell Uncle VISA to stop sulking and play ball 😉
Lacey, my queries are all PC oriented – Richmond accepts email subs which is a big yay!
I shall certainly put the hard word on GUV. He’s getting annoying now.