Little bit snowy today!
So, the whole novel writing thing is done and suddenly I feel a little lost, as though a rug has been pulled under me. Don't get we wrong, I'm very happy not to be waking up with a word count ahead of me, but I had a month of driven purpose which has now come to an end and it's a slightly odd feeling.
But what did I learn?
Discipline
It was amazing, really, how good I was about keeping up the work throughout the month. I have never been one much for self-discipline, but setting myself these firm daily targets worked a treat. I took it very seriously and so I made the time for it when it needed it. I was lucky, in that I already had daily time set aside for writing which was just about enough for what I needed. I certainly fell off the wagon once or twice and so near the end I was having to use evenings as well, but to be perfectly honest, outside of the last couple of days, the project actually had very little impact on my normal evening activities. Well, except for the fact that I felt a bit knackered.
Style
I was certainly brought face to face with my limitations as a writer, at least as the writer I am currently. The lack of real prose work for a number of years definitely shows in what I was doing. My writing felt blunt and clumsy, with no real gift for descriptive work. I wouldn't say it felt beyond me, but it definitely felt as though that particular set of skills were atrophied. That's not to say there was nothing to be happy about. I occasionally churned out a neat turn of phrase or a nice piece of action. The character work wasn't a total dead loss either, though still (always, really) needs some effort. The overall effect of being confronted with this was quite disheartening at first: can I actually write at all? That kind of stuff. As I went on, however, I learned to relax into it. I even have the feeling I might be pleasantly surprised by some of the work when I go back to it. I've no illusions about discovering some kind of masterpiece there, but I think there may well be some good stuff.
But the real lesson is: needs work.
Plot and Pacing
I read work by people I know, just blogs and the like by people who aren't employed in any capacity as a writer, who have writing styles that make me feel incredibly inarticulate. Not the style per se, but the sense of flow and structure. I used to pride myself on the structure of my essays. I always approached them as I would have a programming exercise, repeatedly breaking down questions into smaller and smaller chunks. I can tell you one thing though: I have no instinct for it. I approached this novel with a mind towards making it up as I went along. In some ways that was great. I felt total freedom to take the story where I wanted it to go and enjoyed the challenge of writing myself in and out of corners. To be honest, at this point I have very little idea how it all sits in terms of pacing and plot. I'm not optimistic though. Next time I plan to spend some more time laying out the structure. Not to slavishly follow, but rather to control the pace a little more and better allow myself to build tension and character development.
Patience
I must admit, this is a real problem for me. I hate the amount of time it takes to get anywhere while writing prose. Don't get me wrong, I love getting into that flow where suddenly hours pass without you realising, but I do find myself despising the drudge bits. The necessary exposition that I don't really want to go over because I know it already. Silly, really, but I guess that's the ditch-digging writers always go on about. Still, beats real work, eh?
Was it Worth it?
Absolutely. I loved doing it; loved the feeling of purpose while I was doing it and loved the sense of accomplishment at the end of it. I feel my writing has had a real shot in the arm and feel much more confident about tackling other projects that now present themselves. It's the longest narrative I've ever completed, not to mention the first creative thing I've actually finished in years. For anyone who has been dithering over half a dozen projects they haven't quite been able to finish, or really wishes they could get back to doing some writing but [insert reason], I recommend giving this a go. It's a great procrastination-beater.
What Next?
Well, I'm doing nothing for a week, then I'm going to get some journal writing done again as well as start working on a radio-play for young master Tom Crowley. I want to do an adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's Captain of the Polestar. I'm not going to even look at the novel (which I don't actually have a title for yet) until after I get back from Australia at the end of March. I harbour no illusions of it being anything great, but there were at least a few salvageable ideas in there. After that, we'll see. I'm definitely going to do NaNoWriMo again in November and I think I know the story for it, so I'll start prepping that later this year. I think I'll try and stick to one project at a time, as it's too easy to seize up otherwise.
And that was that! Thanks for the support folks, and for those who thought about doing it this time but didn't manage it, let's go for November!
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Monday, February 02, 2009
JaNoWriMo - A Round-up
Saturday, January 31, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 31 FINISHED!
Words Written Today: 4630
Total Words Written: 52389
More thoughts on the whole thing in the next couple of days, but for now I'm off to Gaucho Grill for some Argentinian steak, then out to Bermondsey to get righteously pissed.
Ciao!
Friday, January 30, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 30
Words Written Today: 5191
Total Words Written: 47759
Day 29? Err...try 1043. Not exactly a banner day when I needed to be hitting near 3000 words.
But then came today. Pretty much all I did today was write, travel into town, meet Dana for lunch, write, wander back to Angel, write, come home. It's now coming up on 6pm, so I've still got the evening free.
What a relief it is to have gotten today under my belt. I'm well within sight of the finish line now, hopefully getting to the end tomorrow morning. I've had the end in mind the last week or so, so I should be able to tie it all up fairly quickly from here. All the key players are where they need to be and the big bad guy is at the gates. Him and his undead army.
Just to go a bit meta here for a second: my spell-checker doesn't recognise the word "undead". Peculiar.
Anyway, pretty much just a climactic fight to get out of the way and some sort of nice final chapter and we're done. And maybe I'll kill someone, because hey, why not?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 28
Words Written Today: 2388
Total Words Written: 41525
Nearly there! Below required today and I'm still a little worried about tomorrow, but I still have Friday up my sleeve, and I may have more time on Saturday than I thought if I need to take it. It's funny to think it'll all be over soon!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 27
Words Written Today: 3380
Total Words Written: 39137
Man down, man down!
Okay, so I missed a few days there. The weekend kinda took me by surprise, by which I mean "I did sweet FA". Made a paltry effort on Saturday, got pissed Saturday night, hung over Sunday morning, shattered Sunday night.
Needless to say, the daily word count required has taken a bit of a hike. A hike I'm pleased to say I've managed to overcome the last couple of days. Still, the old morning and lunchtime effort no longer quite does the trick. I'm now having to stop in to Starbucks on my way home for an hour or two each night and I'm a bit worried about how effective I'm going to be on Thursday. I've got Friday off if I need to make a last sprint, but Saturday I now have to work. So Friday should be it! Going to a party on Saturday night, so I plan to get bladdered. I mean...celebrate.
Storywise, what's to tell? I'm still not quite sure exactly how it's going to end, but I'm well on my way there. We're barrelling along to the finish now, fighting crocodile/bear hybrids in city sewers and so on. Funfunfun!
Daily count required now : 2715.75
Friday, January 23, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 23
Words Written Today: 1910
Total Words Written: 32665
Well, not great, but better than I thought I might do. I knew this week was going to be a bit of a washout and it hasn't disappointed in that regard. Well, I guess the final week will be the stressful race I didn't want it to be but expected it probably would be. Really, though, given most of my efforts so far have been confined to just the mornings and the odd lunchtime, I'm pretty confident that I can get it done.
Doug's birthday this weekend, so I expecting the mix of hangover and work will taint things a little on Sunday, but from Monday on, baby, I'm like greased writin' lightnin'!
Things I am learning:
- I'm not sure I enjoy writing fantasy. I also have a greater appreciation of those folks who write fantasy which is halfway decent (see: Joe Abercrombie). It's far too easy to fall into shitty cliche.
- I love writing horror. Love it. The scenes where things get a bit horrific are where everything comes alive for me, writing-wise. It's the stuff I'm happiest with, the stuff that writes itself the fastest, and the stuff that really fires my enthusiasm. A good signpost for the road ahead, then. Roll on, November!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 22
Words Written Today: 0!
Total Words Written: 30755
Well, as expected, today was a wash. Having planner for it, however, I don't feel so bad. I've also planned for no words next Thursday, but I'm beginning to feel I may not have the luxury...
I am, however, reading some good comics.
Oh, hey, Morgue and Cal are getting married this weekend. Congratulations to you both! Everyone think happy, congratulatory thoughts for them!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 20
Words Written Today: 1416
Total Words Written: 29709
Bah! No time, no time! This week doesn't look like getting any better any time soon! I have the feeling next week is going to involve some heavy lifting, keyboard-wise.
Daily target (allowing for Thursdays off) now: 2254.5555555555555555555555555556
Monday, January 19, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 19
Words Written Today: 2594
Total Words Written: 28293
Ahh, very good. Had a nice, satisfying day today. Got my writing done first thing, moving halfway through from Tinderbox, which I always find to be filled with sullen, self-involved staff and similar people, to Starbucks, which at least gives me a free drip coffee refill now.
After that I went to see The Wrestler, which I thought was great. It really does all hinge on Mickey Rourke's performance, who is totally believable in the role. Submerges himself in it, one might say. Marissa Tomei is pretty good as well, giving the kind of performance critics like to call "courageous", which is to say she gets her kit off. But it's a good turn and its nice to see her back on the screen.
Bought myself the second book in Joe Abercrombie's First Law series as well. Haven't been so excited about a fantasy novel in a while. I love getting excited about new books. It's a shame it happens so little now I'm all grown up, even though there are more books around I want to read than ever before. Just not that many I get really excited about.
Not sure how tomorrow will go. Lunch and after work are both booked up, so I'll have to go for gold before work. Doubtful I'll hit the target though.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 18
Words Written Today: 1024
Total Words Written: 25699
Oh dear, just not on game today! Well, at least that puts me over the halfway mark, and only a few days over schedule. Not too bad, maybe I'll get this thing done after all.
I guess I'll have to pull it up in the next few days. I'm off tomorrow, so lets see what I can do (around maybe catching The Wrestler, of course).
Saturday, January 17, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 17
Words Written Today: 2258
Total Words Written: 24675
Another slow start this morning, but I wound up having a bit more time than I thought thanks to Alex sleeping in, so I still managed to get it done. I was sorely tempted to push through to the 25,000 mark, but I've run out of time today. Still, I suspect tomorrow might wind up a bit of a stinker, so it'll be nice to have something positive to report.
Busy day today, actually. Wandered around the Barbican, taking in the Museum of London while we were down there. Popped down to Cannon Street to have a look at the London Stone, then went wandering around the back alleys of the City. Popped out at Liverpool Street where we had a very late lunch before walking home via Shoreditch. Nice!
Friday, January 16, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 16
Words Written Today: 2127
Total Words Written: 22417
Well, that's worked okay.
To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to get to the target count today, but I had a bit of a late burst, so got it all done in one session this morning.
Anyway, not much time to get this down tonight, as I have a small window of opportunity to settle in and play some Fallout!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 15
Words Written Today: 684
Total Words Written: 20290
Well, another duff Thursday, but I guess I kind of expected it. As with last week I started too early to do anything before work and I don't take a lunch break on Thursday, so it was down to stopping off on the way home and doing some. I did make myself stop at Angel to write, but just couldn't get my thoughts together.
I've decided the sensible thing for me to do now is revise my daily count to exclude the remaining two Thursdays. I'll try and do something, but I won't rely on them. This gives me a couple of days off as well, which is no bad thing really.
SO: With 14 writing days to do 29,710 words, my daily target is now 2122.1428571428571428571428571429.
Shit a brick.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 14
Words Written Today: 1848
Total Words Written: 19606
Well, another morning where I thought I might crash and burn, but came in okay. I clipped the one thousand word mark in the morning, finishing at lunch in pretty good time. I'm certainly coming to favour one character over the others and find writing for him a good deal easier. Mind you, it helps that his story thread is the most action-fueled at the moment, all ghouls, chases and dramatic rooftop escapes. Well, not quite escapes yet, but next chapter...
Bit of a nothing comics week this week, though I'm not looking forward to being asked about the Obama issue of Amazing Spider-Man all day tomorrow. Let me fill you in: the main story of the issue is a nice Betty Brant character piece with poor art, the Obama back-up is predictably a bit lame with poor art and you are not going to retire on the proceeds from your Obama cover. Case closed.
Okay, better hit the sack. Tomorrow is gonna be another tough day to make myself write. I'm getting the idea in my head that I won't be home until 6 or 7, which should give me plenty of time to get stuff done even if I meet Andrea for a coffee first. That way I won't finish work and immediately think "Must get home and chill out". I'd like to get over the 20,000 mark at least!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 13
Words Written Today: 1454
Total Words Written: 17758
Bah! Just wasn't feeling it this morning. Lots of window gazing (including watching a woman right outside the window throw up - nothing untoward, I think she was just sick) with the occasional burst of "Fuck it, write something!"
I can't make my mind up as to whether this is going quickly or not. On the one hand the past week particularly seems to have flown by, but then in some ways it feels like I've been doing this an awfully long time...
18 days! 1791.2222222222222222222222222222 words per day!
Go! Go! GOOOOO!
Monday, January 12, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 12
Words Written Today: 1851
Total Words Written: 16304
Man, I'm feelin' the burn.
I've hit a point where the writing each day seems pretty daunting. The initial thrill of progress has died down somewhat and I'm too far from the end to feel it as any kind of inevitability. What's more, I'm about one third of the way through and I've no idea how it will end yet. Worse, I'm about one third of the way through and I still feel like I'm in the early stages. I guess by the standards of normal novel length I would be. The result of this will be a novella really. I think next time I do this (and I definitely will do it again in November) I'll bring the scale of it right back. A world-spanning fantasy of rebirthed gods and apocalyptic scenarios was maybe a little ambitious in scope. Still, it should be fun trying to wrap it up!
Today's writing was started before work and then finished at the Starbucks near Angel on my way home. I feel pretty good about actually making myself stop there to do it, as my natural instinct on winter evenings is to get home, eat and veg. I suspect if I'd gotten a bus home I wouldn't have done it, but walking makes it that much easier to stop in.
19 days to go. The halfway mark approaches! Daily target is now: 1773.4736842105263157894736842105
Up and attem, Atom Ant!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 11
Words Written Today: 2095
Total Words Written: 14453
Surprised myself a bit with this today, given I wasn't feeling it at all this morning. Cops buzzing on the building door at 1.30am for some kind of disturbance upstairs meant a piss-poor night's sleep and I felt it when I woke up. But once I sat down I didn't have any trouble at all, finishing up over the pre-work and lunchtime period. So, happy with that.
I'm starting to be a little concerned about how I'm going to wrap things up. To make matters worse I introduced a third major character today.I guess as long as I can wrap her quickly into what else is going on it shouldn't be a problem. There was always going to be a moment where the different threads converge.
In other news, my ghosts have now become zombies. Sort of. Though they may just be possessed. The initial ghost-like figure has become the embodiment of a kind of mad god-like figure from the ancient past. Things are slowly taking shape and hopefully there will still be some shred of internal logical consistency by the time I'm done.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 10
Words Written Today: 1459
Total Words Written: 12358
Well, another day below my target. I'm going to have to put in some good days over the next week to get back on track.
It would seem that my days off, for all the extra time I have to get things done, are actually going to prove harder than my work days, if only because it's that much easier to faff about.
I'll tell you what I did do today: play video games. More than I have in a long time. Played the X-Box Conan game. Played Fallout. Played Mario Kart, Wii Sports Tennis & Bowling AND did 30 minutes on Wii Fit. Gaming Babylon!
Okay...21 days to go, daily target now 1792.4761904761904761904761904762.
Ready? FIGHT!
Friday, January 09, 2009
JaNoWriMo Update Day 9
Words Written Today: 1396
Total Words Written: 10899
Well, hardly the plucky fightback I was hoping for, but better than nothing I guess, with the added bonus of nipping over the 10,000 word mark.
I found I had real trouble getting into things this morning. I wonder if that had anything to do with the lack of time pressure. Normally I'm cramming time in before work and during lunch, so I'm more inclined to go for it. There was a lot more dithering this morning. In fact, I started at around 9am at the Starbucks down by Angel and by 11, when I had decided to head into town to catch a movie at 12.45, I had only done around 800 words. The rest was done across the road from the cinema in about half an hour before the session started. After the movie I had a bunch of domestic things to get done, so I pretty much gave up for the day then.
Saw Slumdog Millionaire, by the way, which was a nice little film. Well, maybe nice is an inappropriate word for most of it, but I did enjoy it a great deal. Not without some serious flaws (one particularly jarring time jump and a lack of chemistry between the leads being the main two irks for me), but what Danny Boyle film is? Also, I think Irfan Khan should be in as many movies as is humanly possible. God I loved The Warrior.
