I’m sorry that I haven’t been here updating the Writing Life series for a couple of weeks. My health, while not too bad has affected me enough that I wasn’t able to keep up with everything that I needed to. Fatigue kicked in and some things had to slip. The blog being one of them. While I’m still feeling a little run down I am trying my best to lift myself out of it, though it’s not something you can mind over matter. It works at its own speed but with slowing down enough for it I have curated little pockets of energy where I am able to get on with something when I need to. There was even a week when I didn’t do a jot of writing work. That made me feel pants if I’m honest because writing is what keeps me going. Especially when I’m ill. So to be torn down like that, it was rough. But, I’m back in the saddle. Slowly mind you, only 1,000 words a day, but it’s a start.
But, let’s catch up first.
I was finishing the standalone when I last updated. Well, I’m pleased to say that I finished that and I edited it. It’s in the best shape I can make it without an editor. A writer friend of mine has read it and says she likes it so I was relieved with that because it’s a little different to my policing stuff. Now it’s out on submission with agents. So please keep your fingers crossed that the book is loved. It deserves a home. Somewhere it’s going to be loved and crafted into something even better. I really enjoyed writing a book that wasn’t a police procedural. It’s a nice palate cleanser.
Then I took some time off with health but now, now I’ve picked the new series back up that I started earlier in the year. I had already written 13,000 words on the book. To get some idea of where that is in the scheme of novel writing, crime books are anywhere between 70,000 – 110,000 words. Mine tend to come in on the smaller end of the scale at about 75,000 – 80,000. So I’m right at the beginning. Setting up and getting into the story.
I really struggled to write my second book and this is my ninth. I am going to struggle to write this book. I have an overall loose picture of what I want it to be in my head but the practicalities of putting it down on screen are something else altogether I’m finding. This book is hard. I’ve set myself a difficult task with this. It’s the first of a new series and it’s starting with a huge bang. But to make the bang work, well, I’m twisting myself in knots. It involves two timelines, which I’ve never done before but which are both crucial to the book and relationships between characters that are confusing the hell out of me. Seriously, I am definitely not going to be writing this book as quickly as I wrote the last one. This isn’t about time sitting in the chair to tap out words. For this one to be written I think there is going to be as much thinking and processing time as actual writing time and more going back and changing things than I’ve ever had to do before in first draft mode. If I pull this novel off I will be thrilled. But there is a risk that I won’t do it. That it is too huge an idea for me and no matter how big a word count I get up to I’ll have to scrap the whole thing. I’m hoping not because I’ve had the idea in my head for a couple of years now. I just have to get it down with all the words in the correct order.
Do let me know how your week is going and if there is anything you are struggling with.
Coming to the end of my current WIP. I’ve had moments of inspiration and others when I’ve been full of doubt about this story – and this is my ninth book! However, as I’ve been down this road before I know that patience is the key because in the end everything falls into place. As always it seems there’s no gain without pain! Wishing you well on your writing journey…
Yes, I think that’s key, holding onto the fact that we’ve done it before and knowing it can be done again, we just have to persevere. Thanks, Jo. All the best with yours.
I’m very happy to hear you finished the standalone, Rebecca! Looking forward to reading it when it’s ready. And I’m glad you’ve found a way to conserve your energy when you need to, so that you can use it when you want to!
Thanks, Margot. You are always such a great support.
Just finishing book four, but my age seems to working against me. I can no longer fit in as much as I used to, but would rather cut back on some of the other stuff, not the writing!
There never seems to be as much time in a day, does there. Enjoy the writing when you can!
Just wanted to wish you well with all of your projects. Knowing how much effort goes into each of your novels, you can rely on me to dip into my pocket to buy a copy . . .
That’s very kind, Terry, thank you.