Time to write.

Last year, 2010,  marked the 6th year that I have done NaNoWriMo.  The first three years were failures of sorts, i.e. I did not finish.  (Mostly health reasons.)  The last three years I finished my novels, but I do not think I will be publishing any of them anytime soon  

So that means I have three completed, and three uncompleted manuscripts in my drawer.   So, enough with the rough drafts David, time to actually finish something.

This year I am committed to finishing one of these novels.  Well, actually two, because I will be combining.   In 2006, I wrote a novel with the stunning title of I Made the Devil do it.  How can you not like and want to read a novel with a title like that?  It is half-finished, but it was a little… bland.  It needed spice.  Which is where my 2005 novel Only Tuesday, comes in.  I wrote about 25,000 words on this novel, but I never got anywhere.  There were lots of beautiful scenes, and dialogues.  But no point to the novel.  So I am going to rip the guts out of it, and stuff them into I Made the Devil do it.  Then, with some editing and re-writing, I think I will have a decent completed draft to start polishing. 

Watch your bookshelves, because there might be a David Seven original arriving soon.

 

NaNoWriMo ‘10 – Day 28

Less than a month ago, I started writing NaNoWriMo with the insane idea of writing 50,000 words in 30 days.  It was insane.  It was impossible.  It was fun!

I have charted my progress here (almost) every day.  It has been quite a ride.

 

Of course, because I am never one to do things by half measures, I also decided to sign-up again as a Municipal Liaison.  Which means that I was responsible for the Port Elizabeth region.  Well, let me just say that that has been a blast.  Writing with some of the most awesome people I ever met, these guys have done me proud at every turn.

And what happened?

Does that answer your question?

I hit 50,000 words today, but my novel is nowhere near finished.  I am planning to try and fit in about another 2000 – 3000 words before Tuesday night.  As always, it has been a real learning experience. 

So thank you to my loyal reader(s?) for following me on this journey, and normal blogging will resume shortly, once I figure out what normal means.

 

NaNoWriMo ’10 – Day 22-27

Wow, it has been a while since I blogged here.  I have been very busy with my writing, and trying to stay ahead.  The exciting news is that at least 7 of my PE writers have crossed the finish line already.

AWESOME!!

I am pushing to be number 8, and will do so probably tomorrow.

I am at 47150 words at the moment, and I think the story is just getting started. 

 

 

NaNoWriMo ’10 – Day 18

Day 18.  A very busy day.  I was in court until late, and only just had time to get ready for our write-in last night.  So I am not going to post my wordcount for today.

One of the reasons I am writing so slowly is because, for the third year I am writing by hand.

Yes, I am writing all 50,000 words by hand!

Why?  Well to answer that question, I will now share something I wrote for the South African Romance Writers site last year.

50000 in 30 days is madness and we all need some way to make it fun for us as we do it, as with any writing. For you, that might be wearing a silly hat while you write, or rewarding yourself for every thousand words. For me, the way to make it fun, is to feel the old-fashioned delight of watching word after word appear indelibly on my page. It fills me with a sense of satisfaction like no other, even on the days I only write 50 words. Writing by hand makes me feel more like a writer, and less like a typist. It makes it feel more like creativity, and less like work. It lets me put the book down with a feeling of accomplishment at the end of each day, which I will never get from switching off a computer.

What makes writing fun for you? How do you keep it interesting for the time it takes to struggle through? Why am I asking so many questions?

As always, you can read more about my NaNoWriMo year here, or go see the full details on the site.

 

NaNoWriMo ’10 – Day 3

Like all great writers of his generation, Jeffrey Deacon is fueled by coffee.  However, he can never understand why his coffee cup is always full, and yet always too hot to drink.  He starts talking to his coffee mug, in the belief that it is possessed.

His assistant, Sally, is less amused.

“Your coffee cup is not possessed, it’s insulated.”

“What?”

“Insulated Jeffrey,” she took the mug out of his hand, drank the last of the steaming coffee, and tapped the side so he could hear the hollow echo.

“I got tired of topping up your coffee cup all the time, and you letting it get cold. So I bought you an insulated mug for your birthday.”

She handed it back to him, and he examined it closely.

“Insulated? They can do that?”

“Yes Jeffrey, it’s easier than having a coffee mug possessed.”

“Oh. Did I say thank you?”

“No, but I wrote myself an appreciative note, and signed it on your behalf.”

“Oh. Okay.”

He held out the mug.

“May I have some more coffee then?”

Time for me to go look for a possessed coffee mug as well I think.

For more madness, read my daily NaNoWriMo summary here, or go to my author’s page here.