I made a promise to myself to write more fiction this year. It was why I made a commitment to do the 100K in 100 days challenge. This means writing 1000 words a day every day for 100 days. It shouldn’t be that much of a big deal really. This is what counts towards your 1000 words:
– Novels
– Short stories
– Poetry
– Prose
– Creative non-fiction
– Articles
– Notes for any creative piece
– Blog posts
The trouble is this challenge started on New Year’s Day and with the children only just going back to school on Tuesday, I have had a slow start.
Most of my writing this week has been notes based. I am re-working my first manuscript after discussing it with an editor. I was reluctant at first because just the thought of going back to the drawing board with something you have been working on for a long time feels like failure in many ways. But I had to face up to the fact that it wasn’t quite right and that I want to be a better writer and so if this is what it takes to make me better, then I will have to suck it up and get on with it.
The new plan has the same characters as before and the essence of the story is still the same, however, the mechanics are very different. I have spent this week working out exactly how I need to tell this story and I think I have worked it out. The problem I am having now is starting the writing process. Something is stopping me – most likely the fear that I will get it wrong again. Either that or it’s the knowledge that there is a long road ahead. Talk about one-step forward and two steps back – that’s what this novel writing process feels like sometimes. I don’t want to give up though. I can’t do that to myself.
As soon as I start it, I know I will be fine, but until then, my 1000 words a day is going to consist of lots of different types of writing. This blog post for one (does it count if you write about writing 1000 words a day?), articles I am working on and lots and lots of notes, scenes and chapter breakdowns for the novel. I think the lesson I am learning through all of this is to keep writing in order to make it through the difficult periods. It feels a bit like getting back in to an exercise routine after stuffing yourself full of turkey and chocolate during the festive period. The first few weeks back are an absolute killer, but after a while things settle down and before you know it, you are in full swing again. Let’s hope so.
Sharing this for What I’m Writing.
No it’s not failure reworking your manuscript! It’s all part of the writing process – which is a learning one too – and much novel writing is actually rewriting. Your point about writing about the 1000 a day challenge actually counting towards the challenge itself made me laugh. All writing is good practice no matter what it is. I wish you the best of luck with your challenge x
Yes, you are right, though it is harder to keep track of when it is all over the place.
You’ve got the right attitude Nikki, and I’m sure you’ll be fine once you get going. There’s defo an element of sucking it up when making fundamental edits, but if you know it’ll make a better book then it has to be done. Best of luck with your edits my dear.
I started the first chapter this afternoon. It felt like, here we go again… But I’m taking a different approach and once I got into it, managed around 1,300 words.
I think it’s hard to get going after a break too, but once you’re back in the swing of it you’ll probably shoot forward at a million miles an hour. I know you’ve won NaNo before so you clearly have it in you to write lots in a short period of time and the fact that all the notes and blogposts etc count too is great. As the others have said, edits and re-writes are just a part of the process. It sounds like you know where you’re going and what you’re doing. Looking forward to hearing more! Thanks for linking to #WhatImwriting
It is hard to think of edits and re writes as part of the process but they are equally as important. Sometimes you just want to get past them though!
Definitely the right attitude and a lesson to all of us that are aiming to be proper writers. I got a novel professionally edited and was so scared by the thought of the re-writes that I just hid it away – despite all the positive comments. You make me realise that I should go back to it – but doing other things for 100k at the moment.
You must have lots going on for the 100k challenge then. Hope it all goes well and you get back to that novel one day.
Sounds like a great challenge! I am so with you on where you’re at right now though – even though I know, logically, that many (most) great books have been redrafted numerous times before they were deemed fit for publication it’s still an almighty effort to go back to the drawing board and just get on with it! I’ve had a week of mainly mulling this week – hopefully we’ll both get more actual writing done in the weeks to come! x
We are in this one together!
I’m right there with you Nikki and in fact I’ve written about the same subject, and at the moment if it wasn’t for blog posts I’d have written nothing…! You have absolutely the right attitude though, and I need to do the same 🙂 #whatimwriting
My Friday fiction posts always challenge me to make sure I do the creative writing. I have enjoyed putting together a story that I have split over four weeks, each with around around 800 words. It felt very manageable to do it that way.
I’ve been wanting to use Friday Fiction for the same thing, I just keep running out of time!
Definitely not failure to re-work your manuscript and it absolutely counts to your 1000 words by writing about it here! I do think its also hard, as Maddy says, returning after a break, but it sounds like you’ve used the time away to help you re-focus too and that can only be a good thing.
Let’s hope so, Iona. One day I might actually finish this thing!
You’ll do it. I’m lucky in that I’m finishing something I know quite well already. Once this si done though I’m into the re-write of that thing I sent you, which as you know is an absolute mess.
You’re right about having to do these things to become a better writer though, no matter how hard it may seem and you’re not alone in doing it, nor feeling this way about it.
Good luck for the coming week and thank you for linking up x
You have a great attitude about it all Nikki. I think if it wasn’t for including the blog posts there would be no way I could do that challenge! Although saying that the words quickly mount up when you’re on a roll don’t they? Good luck with it hun. xx
This is a great idea and a great commitment! Reworking a manuscript is tough but has to be done and coming to it after a break is hard but you have a good attitude and once you get stuck in, you’ll be away!
I hope so. It seems to be going ok now I have started. Slow though.