Sinoia: great job getting your exercise in and finding a way to make it work creatively. Last year, I cast John Barrowman to play my male lead character. Exercise was watching old Torchwood episodes while walking on the treadmill.

shanhat81: great writing plan! Those are really cute earrings!

I'm still on pace. I have a write-in this evening which should keep me on pace, if we don't chat too much.

I am a slow writer, but last night ... in the bathroom ... I brainstormed the rest of Part two of my fantasy story, so I recorded about 1300 words of notes right when I got out. lol. I've only written a little less than 2000 words this month (not counting notes), but Monday was my marriage anniversary, Sunday I was at church all day, and here lately my husband hasn't been going to bed early enough for me to write. I have to be in the dark by myself to do my best.

Originally Posted by :
Last year, I cast John Barrowman to play my male lead character. Exercise was watching old Torchwood episodes while walking on the treadmill.

Had a giggle at this, he is rather cute! One of my male characters is most definitely Charlie Hunnam (the Sons of Anarchy version of him). The `romantic' male lead is Christian Bale. It is a pity my female lead is rather more me!

How's everyone doing?

Hope you are all at it still and we get to swap books at the end of it!

I got past 25,000 words today -- a day ahead of schedule! How is everyone else doing?

On 34093, but I went for the 5000 drive suggested for the weekend.

Back to 2k a day now, which suits me just fine!

Started to design my cover and preparing it with some graphics stuff I got with me Wacom tablet. Just for fun!

Sinoia: you're rocking that word count!

Thank you. I am back to where I was a dozen years ago. A familiar feeling that I welcome with open arms. I wrote four novels before life changed and made it impossible. At that time I would go to sleep thinking of the next day's work and wake with it as my first thought. I would write all day because there was nothing else I wanted to do. From the moment I started to type time disappeared and eight hours later I would stop. I only really knew what I wrote when I read it back. It sounds hackneyed but it always felt like something took over.

My novels were published and copies have been stuck in a cardboard box for the last twelve years. I don't think I will read them again or even own up to them. What I do want is what is happening now.

I found it hard to write again. Until a couple of days ago I was plotting, designing, crafting characters and winging it turning out a couple of thousand words a day and aware of every sentence (bad or good). I had chores to do, housework, dancemat, treadmill, cooking, laundry and a miscellany of other things, which meant setting time aside to write.

This morning I got up and wrote. I am at that stage of the book where the actions of my characters will dictate the ending and I have five valid endings. I am writing them all. I know that one of them will be right but I do not want to lose the words so, while I know it is likely at least 20,000 additional words that will never be used, I have to prepare them all.

So, I am back where I was a dozen years ago ...

That is scary because it means life changes again. I have to prepare full synopses, court publishers, forget the dust bunnies and put enormous strain on my partner. She is my biggest fan but change for me means change for her too, it is not all just about me.

I think you understand.

Yep. I'm not that far along in thinking of myself as a writer, but far enough to scare myself. And far enough that if I don't pursue it this, for real this time, I'm going to regret it. It does help having a supportive partner, but I worry about the strain all the way around, too. It's been stressful this month for both of us to have this going on, but exciting too.

You guys amaze me! I LOVE to read, but no way do I have the imagination to write.

Originally Posted by :
Yep. I'm not that far along in thinking of myself as a writer

Writers write =) There is actually a great little book by that name but it is true, if you write then you are a writer. When no one is looking, or within hearing, I sometimes whisper to myself and tell me I am an author but that is a big secret which I will carry to the grave!

I used to be such a social animal (way back), with loads of people who would drop in and I used to host D&D weekends, Bridge weekends, Agatha Christie weekends and invariably hosted a couple of dinner parties in the week. That was on top of going out to the theatre and restaurants. I was 45 and had done the career thing and I finally put my foot down and told my partner that my time had come and I was going to write ... at last. It was that serious that I said I would understand if he objected but I was serious enough that I would leave because it was something I had to do. (I know that sounds awful but, to put it in context, he was an utter **** and used to abuse me, mentally and physically so I actually should have left him before I even thought about writing). He deflated like an overblown balloon, which really is all he was. So I started writing and it was an everyday, everynight thing and for the first time in many years I was happy. He tried to sabotage me at every turn, all but one of my friends disappeared into the ether but I got those books out and there was no finer feeling than seeing them on the shelves of Waterstones or getting those royalty statements. It was the hardest thing I ever did, and stuck with. It is a shame that things fell apart, home burned down... partner developed early onset dementia etc etc or I perhaps would have gone from strength to strength.

Today is my 60th birthday. I reckon that I have a good few novels in me yet and my current partner is so wonderful that I know even if she gets burnt offerings or freezer suppers she will still look forward to my next chapter.

I have got to be the luckiest woman alive!

Originally Posted by :
You guys amaze me! I LOVE to read, but no way do I have the imagination to write

I think it is amazing that you posted and said this wonderful thing! Thank you so much!

I feel that way about people who sing (I am borderline tone deaf) and I watch the X Factor (okay, I confess .. the English one, the American one and the German one!) and envy the contestants with all of my heart!

I had my best day yet -- over 4000 words -- to blast through 30,000. I'm at 32,600. My story improved today, too, so I'm very pleased.

Happy Birthday, Sinoia! How is your writing today?

Anyone else still with us? :-)

Originally Posted by :
Anyone else still with us? :-)

I wondered that too! I figured they are all so busy writing there is no time to stop in. There will be a deluge of answers come December!

Glad your muse woke up and decided to help out. Mine decided to put her feet up and take a break, which is fine. I am at 41749 words and shall get 5000 done today I hope, or tomorrow. My novella is going to run over the 50k anyway so I am resigned to that.

I am slightly more concerned that my weight loss is not going so well. I am still exercising but my diet is rubbish. I am already working on a synopsis for another novel (old school 150,000, 14 chapters ... like publishers like) but somewhere along the line I have to find a balance between writing and dieting that works for both.

Go writers!

I got past 41,000 today. I realized I didn't know enough about my bad guys so I did a bit of writing to explore who they were.

How are you doing Sinoia? Anyone else?

50621 as of ten minutes ago. I am not finished though, there are a good two chapters to go. Yesterday I found myself at an impasse so I just scribbled down loads of thoughts when I went to bed and this morning woke at 5am with a drive that would make my muse proud. I did 6549 words today and worked out two really tricky plot curves. Damn I feel proud!

At the risk of sounding about twelve years old, I LOVE this novella. The plot is twisted, the characters shine each in their own right. They have great moments and suck at other times. There are bits that make me cry and bits that make me laugh.

My partner has read it as I wrote it. She loves it and looks forward to it every night when she gets to catch up on it. I felt totally wonderful when she put down her e-reader the night before last and said "Cool!". I just told her (on google talk, she is at work) that the novella was nearly finished and she said, "Aww no,I don't want it to end!" Could there be a better compliment than that?

I am going to publish, or get published. I like this book. My synopsis does it no justice. I know that sounds really too arrogant but, honestly, I feel humble. I never feel like I am the one writing ... I am just the one being allowed to pen it, if that makes sense?

I am working on my cover now. I did nominate myself in that thread but I am glad I was not selected because I have a cover design in mind that would work perfectly. I am messing with my Wacom tablet and Photoshop!

Gardenerjoy, you are being too hard on yourself. The bad guys will tell you who they are ... bad guys are like that! Congrats on the wordage! I will see you at the winners line! Hope your tee-shirt is on order!