For the last three weeks, I've been writing almost every day for at least an hour. I've had some ideas and needed to go back and re-work some older bits, and I'm really happy with the direction things have taken.
Most of the advice I've heard from successful authors is to write first thing in the morning. I tried that, but it doesn't work for me. For some reason, my mind just isn't in the right place. I've found that I do my best stuff late in the evening.
When I first started writing about this character, it quickly became apparent that I was starting closer to the end of her story. The more I thought about her, the more her backstory kept unfolding. I can definitely pick up my original bit as a continuation of her story at some point, but right now that's putting the cart way out in front of the horse.
Originally, this was going to be a short story, but as of right now I'm up to 34,047 words. 40K is generally considered the limit for what can be considered a novella, and I think that's where I'd like to stop this particular story. I have a LOT I want to do with this character and her world, and the number of side characters is growing. I'm realizing that getting her where I ultimately want her to end up is going to be a lot longer story than can fit in one novella. I need to break it up into smaller chunks, and it's really looking like novellas are going to be the way to go. I can think of at least three beginning to end stories, all connected, and that's just getting things going.
I'm going to finish the section I'm on, which I think I can do in less than 1000 words, and then I'll go back to the beginning and start cutting things out and working more on her development. Then I'll feel more comfortable picking it up again, moving things closer to the “end” of this first part of her story, and calling it a first draft. Luckily, I have a close friend in the indie publishing business who has offered to read it and give me notes. I'm getting more and more convinced that I need to take her up on it.
September was a bit of a dry spell for me. I was constantly thinking about my characters in my latest project, but completely unable to keep the story moving. I have several scenes already written up, future events, and I know the general arc of the story, but I was having a hell of a time connecting it all together.
A few weeks ago, I felt the itch to dust off another old, unfinished manuscript and tinker with it. I ended up writing about 3000 words in an afternoon, a whole other chapter. It caught me completely off guard, but then I suddenly had the inspiration I needed to get this new story moving. I've been writing at least an hour a day ever since.
I'm stuck at a certain point in my story. I have some events written up, but having trouble connecting them. I've been thinking about this for several weeks now, and still not sure how to accomplish this coherently.
It does need to be important to the overall story line, rather than just fluff to keep things moving. I've considered shifting to a different character to cover their part during that time frame, and then back to my main character, and just sort of skipping ahead that way in their story.
I'm having a hell of a time finding time to write. I might get 30 minutes in the evening. Life is just so hectic.
I decided to go back and rewrite the first chapter, since there were some characters that needed better fleshing out. Even with what little time I get, they're coming along nicely, I think.
930 words.
I haven't written anything in almost two weeks. We've been so busy, and tired. I occasionally thought about where I'd left off, trying to decide how to get my characters from point A to point B. I sat down tonight, went over the map of my world, and then just started writing.
There were a few false starts, but once I let my characters start doing their own thing, I started to get somewhere.
I haven't found time to write the last two days. It's just been one of those weeks. I am almost done renovating a room in our basement, which will soon be my private office. I haven't had my own space in a few years, so I'm excited to get it done.
Regarding when to write, most writers that I've read interview with have said they do their writing each day, first thing in the morning. I've tried that a few times, but it doesn't work for me. For some reason my head just isn't there, and nothing comes to me even if I do have a loose outline in my head. Evenings, after dinner, seem to work best for me.
Hopefully, I'll be able to sit down and do some tonight.
511 words, and a little more revision. I know it's not much, but I'm very happy with what I'm getting down on paper, so to speak. A whole side-errand has emerged, and I think it'll be good for the story.