Camping? Me? No way!

Copyright © 2017 National Novel Writing Month

Gosh I have been a bit lazy about updating the blog lately. Life has just been getting massively in the way. Again! My wonderful plans to fit in more writing around my new part time working hours haven't quite worked out the way I had hoped as the part time hours have only been semi part time taking on an extra days work for a bit of extra money. Hey we all know writing is no way to get rich so I've got to pay the bills somehow!

Anyway, among all the other madness of my life, I've been camping! No not camping out in the forest with no plumbing and creepy crawlies! Where would I plug in my hair straighteners? I've been taking part in Camp Nano. This is an off-shoot of NaNoWriMo which takes place every Novemember. Camp Nano is 30 days of writing in April to help you finish up your Nano project or start another one. Rather than committing to 50,000 words you can commit to a set number of writing hours for the month of April. I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to polish up draft 2 of the novel. So, I committed to 30 hours of writing this month. How hard can it be? Well, here we are day 15 and I'm already behind with only notching up 9 hours so far this month. 

It all started off so well but then came the Easter break with family things to do. And then there's all the blog and book tour stuff I need to organise..............and yes I am making some terrible excuses! Why am I sat here writing this blog post when I could be working on the novel?.......well apart from being the Queen of procrastination, I'm writing this post in between loads of laundry, cleaning and doing those mummy things we all get caught up in. When I am writing I need to have a good run at it and I simply can't stop and start writing projects during the day. I just need to be left alone for an hour or two to just write! I did manage an hour this morning while all my little cherubs were snoring their heads off. Right at this moment I am trying to write this post with my daughter carrying on a conversation about garden gnomes! As usual I find I am more productive when sitting in the library writing, unshackled from domesticity and mummydom! . I did this a couple of days ago and got more done in 2 hours than I have in a long time.  Sat there among the students all cramming for exams, there I was with my laptop, notebooks and flask of tea!

Copyright © 2017 National Novel Writing Month

Anyway, getting back to Camp Nano............I'm pleased to report that despite already falling behind, the novel has hit 70,000 words exactly this morning. A huge milestone for me. Its starting to change, to evolve into something a little different from the original concept. Camp Nano is making me more disciplined in revising what I have written. Looking at the words on the screen sometimes I often wonder if it was me that actually wrote them. Some have been wonderful and I'm amazed by my talent (she says modestly, trying to convince herself) and some look like one of the PG Tips chimps might have banged them out on the keyboard! I have cringed at just how terrible some of the writing is and often wonder if this writing lark is some form of torture and surely there are better, less painful things I could be doing with my time! Thankfully my cabin mates..............yes I have cabin mates in Camp Nano...........are a great support.

The one thing that the Nano projects brings to the fore is the realisation that I don't do nearly enough writing and that is something I have continually struggled with. Would I be able to write better, faster, or more often if I didn't have any other commitments? Probably. But as we know, life's simply not like that. One good thing though is that I am still attending my writing group at the local library and this is providing some great motivation. In fact, I have entered one of my short stories inspired by a writing prompt at the group, into one of the Writing Magazine competitions. The group is a fantastic way for me to build up my short story collection and I'm thrilled to say that its coming along nicely. I'm going to enter more competitions and maybe even try to sell a few. And, I have 2 exciting events coming up over the Summer which I am taking part in. I can't tell you about them just yet..........I'd have to kill you..........kidding! However, watch this space for more exciting news about them! Keep writing!

Nano What?

Someone shout at me. I had promised back in July to keep this blog a little more updated but as usual life got in the way! Shout at me on social media now and again if you see me being lazy with this blog! You have my permission to kick ass!

Anyway, lets get to the subject at hand. I participated in Nano this year! 'Nano what?' I hear you shout! NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month and takes place every November. The challenge, to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. For all you smarty pants out there thinking 'Oh that's easy peasy,' just let me take a moment to slap you upside the head with my very heavy thesaurus!  Have you ever tried to sit and write 50,000 words. Have you? Hmm!

Last year I thought I'd give the challenge a go but only got as far as writing 2000 words. I gave up almost in the first couple of days and didn't really think too much of it. Then throughout the year I've been hearing about authors whose current book is a book that was written as part of the Nanowrimo challenge and it piqued my interest again. So, I signed up and bought the teeshirt (yup there's a teeshirt) and promised myself that come hell or high water I was going to complete the challenge this year if it killed me. It nearly did! But, I preserved and by the end of day 29 I was done! I was a Nanowrimo winner!

Is what I've written a really good book right now? Hell no! I intend to spend the next few months going through my original plotting plans and each chapter and adding and taking a few things away. I'll probably change the title too. Basically, a total re-write I would imagine because although the original challenge is over, my characters just will simply not shut up! I keep thinking of new things to add to their story! New plot twists and new characters! I think this will be an ever evolving thing until I am completely happy with it.

So, what did I get out of it? Well, its made me a bit more disciplined in sitting down and writing, even if its only the odd 100 words here or there or writing in this poor abandoned blog. A sense of personal achievement I think too. When I was writing the final chapters of the book I was sobbing. It was so overwhelming both physically and emotionally because on that last day I wrote over 13,000 words. Do I consider myself an author? Hmmm not really sure to be honest. Is there a difference between an author and a writer or are they one and the same? I write a lot, so am I a writer? I've contributed to a few published anthologies and co-wrote a book for charity. Does that make me an author? Hell I don't know! I wish someone would tell me! Or, am I a wannabe? What do I call myself? Answers on a postcard please. 

I think that because the reaction from family members has been quite muted I am reserving judgement myself. My husband tells people I am writing a book but not sure he'd call me a writer just yet. He's had to take on even more of the household and childcare chores than he previously had and hasn't complained once about doing so. He hasn't complained when I've sat at the laptop for 14 hours solid, unless you count an argument about whether we should have chips or mash for tea! My friends think its great but are worried they are going to end up in a book! (one or two have but shhhhh). My poor misguided daughter thinks I am going to be a multimillionaire and buy her a pony. She thinks writers make a fortune! hahahaah! My son just keeps making me cups of tea and giving me a hug to keep me going through the writing process. As for everyone else in my life..........there has been little or  no reaction or support which has been both surprising and a little disappointing. Maybe I needed to shout more loudly about what I was doing. But I'm a big girl and know how damn well amazing my achievement has been without endorsements from those with little or no interest. That is, until you come across my lovely online friends who have been truly astounding! What a supportive and encouraging lot they are! And, the advice and guidance has been amazing. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful bookish family.

One thing I do know for sure though is that something that evoked such passion in me when I was younger has over the last couple of years been awoken again and its taking over my brain. I feel like I've been invaded by a body snatcher and the symbiotic relationship compels me to write. Its all I want to do.............sit down and write. But, like everyone else, life keeps sticking its big nosy nose (not sure that was grammatically correct!) in and putting obstacles in my way! Juggling so many commitments both personally and professionally often means that my writing takes a back seat while I promote the books written by people who really are authors! Talented and wonderful people.  And, that is just fine. I love what I do in the book world and I love the friends I have made and the important industry connections.  I hate what I do outside that world but that's the job that pays most of the bills unfortunately! Maybe some day the universe will conspire to allow me to stay at home and continue with my book work full time while allowing me a few minutes each day to write. Maybe a nice publisher will pay me to work from home?? Come on universe! Cough up some good karma for me!

If you completed the Nano challenge then well done. If you didn't get to 50,000 words well done also. You sat down and you poured your heart onto a page. We are all winners! I'm very proud of you.