Wow. I can't believe it's under a week until Christmas day. I don't know where this month - and this year has gone. I've been rather absent from this blog in the last few weeks, and I apologise for that. I didn't mean for this to be my first post of December, but for various reasons I haven't felt like blogging, and I've been rather under the weather. But I'm feeling a lot better now and looking forward to Christmas!
Recently, I was wondering what have I actually achieved this year? (Yes, I've been feeling rather down). But, looking back at this blog and some of my writing projects, I realised that actually, yes, I have been rather productive, and on the whole had a good year. Sure, there have been really sucky things, but on the whole, it hasn't been a disaster!
First off, this blog - I've kept it up to date, and been able to get into a semi-good routine (that's slipped recently, oops!). Among other things,
I've written about NaNo,
YALC, which took place in the summer and was amazing,
returning home to live in the countryside again,
a magical year with MuggleNet,
another trip to the Harry Potter studios,
A YA masterclass with Sarah Crossan and Julia Churchill,
Fowey,
and my beloved cat, Posie.
While I wasn't so good at blogging regularly at the beginning of the year, I've certainly got more into a routine this second half of the year - writing about countryside things and things to be grateful for! It's safe to say that it's certainly been a year full of twists and turns. It's funny isn't it, looking back on the year, and seeing what has and hasn't been achieved, unexpected things that have happened, and more. I suppose I have achieved more than I thought, and it's not all bad things.
Writing wise, I have revised Treading Water a couple of times, and got it up to a good standard. I've had good feedback on the story too. I've completed two full length first drafts (and a shorter one), and started at least two other things that I have since abandoned. I've written several short things and done lots of things for MuggleNet - plus I completed my MA.
And now, to celebrate Christmas and all that it brings. To eat lots of yummy food, spend time with people I love, do festive things, sing carols and catch up with friends.
I hope everyone reading this has a really wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year. Merry Christmas to you all - and thanks for reading over this past year!
One last post to come this year - what I'm looking forward to next year.
Showing posts with label nano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nano. Show all posts
Friday, 19 December 2014
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Writing, Little Things, and fangirling
Well, I've been a little quiet on the blog this week, and apologies for that. I hope eveyone's had a good week! I've been busy doing lots of writing, among other things. My non-NaNo draft is steaming ahead - hit 30k earlier this week, which I was delighted with, although I'm not planning on getting to 50k by the end of November. I'm surprised by how much it's taken over - I have got rather into it, more than I thought, and thus editing has taken a back seat (more than I attended). I will get back to that when I've finished this draft. Sometimes its rather nice to just work on writing something new from scratch.
This week has turned very wet, and bit chillier, which has meant the big winter hats coming out! Today is a very wet and grey, which means hibernating inside and enjoying some comfort food.
Mockingjay came out this week, about which I was very excited and absolutely adored (despite a traumatic cinema experience). I am now addicted to the song, The Hanging Tree, from the film, which I can't stop singing.
And a trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 was released, and I am so excited!
So clearly, this week has been very fangirly.
Here are some things I've been grateful for:
Warm fires,
Old friends,
Memories,
Catching up,
Articulate,
Crafts,
Festive times,
Imagination,
Writing,
Books,
Fangirling,
Rainy days.
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone!
This week has turned very wet, and bit chillier, which has meant the big winter hats coming out! Today is a very wet and grey, which means hibernating inside and enjoying some comfort food.
Mockingjay came out this week, about which I was very excited and absolutely adored (despite a traumatic cinema experience). I am now addicted to the song, The Hanging Tree, from the film, which I can't stop singing.
And a trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 was released, and I am so excited!
So clearly, this week has been very fangirly.
Here are some things I've been grateful for:
Warm fires,
Old friends,
Memories,
Catching up,
Articulate,
Crafts,
Festive times,
Imagination,
Writing,
Books,
Fangirling,
Rainy days.
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone!
Friday, 24 October 2014
Why NaNo is great... but why I'm not doing it.
I wrote last year about the many reasons why I wasn't doing NaNo then and why it didn't work for me anymore. Those points still stand for this year. But as it's once again October and everyone starts talking about it again, I thought that I would expand on that post slightly, and write again about why I'm not NaNoing, but why I think it's a very useful exercise to do.
The thing about NaNo is that it is great for both getting first drafts down (and first drafts only), first time writers, and people who just want to write something once a year. It is a great motivation - I find that the deadline fear pushes me on, and it is a great tool to get you writing every day. After doing NaNo for seven years, the routine and feeling that you must write something every day (not necessarily 1667 words but something) has stuck with me and proved to be an important part of motivating me. I like to write something every day, and thanks to NaNo I do.
The other great thing about NaNo is that it proves to you that you CAN do it. That it is possible to write a draft of a novel. It is a great way to finish something and realise that you can do it. Rather than just starting things all the time and never finishing. I remember when I first did it, when I was seventeen (I think?), the realisation that I could finish something that was a story, a complete story, "a novel" and not a fanfic story (because I made a rule to myself never to write fanfic for NaNo) was a revelation. I didn't have to keep thinking one day, because it happened, and it was marvellous. I am always thankful to one of my school friends for telling me about NaNo - it changed the way I thought about writing!
However, I'm working on so many different things at the moment that I don't see the point of committing, and I do not think that I have ever seriously gone back to a NaNo project and edited it. And for that reason it seems like a futile exercise.
Reasons NaNo IS a good thing to do:
1. for first time writers,
2. for getting words down on the page,
3. for getting into a routine,
4. FOR FINISHING something,
5. and for knowing that YOU can do it.
Things to remember about NaNo:
1. It produces a first draft. Not a novel. It doesn't have to be perfect. It won't be perfect.
2. Don't send your draft to agents/publishers, it will need a lot of work.
3. Put it away after it's over for a while.
4. Don't worry about perfection or plans or what you're writing. Just write because you want to and you love the story.
5. It doesn't work for everyone.
6. Enjoy it!
Who's doing NaNo this year? Any thoughts/tips to add?
The thing about NaNo is that it is great for both getting first drafts down (and first drafts only), first time writers, and people who just want to write something once a year. It is a great motivation - I find that the deadline fear pushes me on, and it is a great tool to get you writing every day. After doing NaNo for seven years, the routine and feeling that you must write something every day (not necessarily 1667 words but something) has stuck with me and proved to be an important part of motivating me. I like to write something every day, and thanks to NaNo I do.
The other great thing about NaNo is that it proves to you that you CAN do it. That it is possible to write a draft of a novel. It is a great way to finish something and realise that you can do it. Rather than just starting things all the time and never finishing. I remember when I first did it, when I was seventeen (I think?), the realisation that I could finish something that was a story, a complete story, "a novel" and not a fanfic story (because I made a rule to myself never to write fanfic for NaNo) was a revelation. I didn't have to keep thinking one day, because it happened, and it was marvellous. I am always thankful to one of my school friends for telling me about NaNo - it changed the way I thought about writing!
However, I'm working on so many different things at the moment that I don't see the point of committing, and I do not think that I have ever seriously gone back to a NaNo project and edited it. And for that reason it seems like a futile exercise.
Reasons NaNo IS a good thing to do:
1. for first time writers,
2. for getting words down on the page,
3. for getting into a routine,
4. FOR FINISHING something,
5. and for knowing that YOU can do it.
Things to remember about NaNo:
1. It produces a first draft. Not a novel. It doesn't have to be perfect. It won't be perfect.
2. Don't send your draft to agents/publishers, it will need a lot of work.
3. Put it away after it's over for a while.
4. Don't worry about perfection or plans or what you're writing. Just write because you want to and you love the story.
5. It doesn't work for everyone.
6. Enjoy it!
Who's doing NaNo this year? Any thoughts/tips to add?
Friday, 1 November 2013
On Not Doing NaNoWriMo
Hey, so for the first time in eight years November isn't all about doing NaNo. And weirdly, it doesn't feel strange. All the talk about it on twitter and facebook is kinda strange, but I haven't felt any sort of twinge of regret at not doing it. I am so entrenched in other projects and with so much else on, I haven't even had a chance to think about it. September and October are normally full of it, but I haven't even visited the website. What is this? What has happened to me?
It's strange. Like a release from something I was obliged (?) to do before. But this year I'm doing it in my own way. I'm half way through one project, so I'm going to try and finish that, and then I might start something new. And this is better for me. I won't be racing to hit 50,000 words, but I will be writing. And this is the best way for me. There's all the excitement, the huge integrated network of people joining together just to WRITE (which is amazing. I love it). And I can still have the fun of that - I even did care packages with one of my good friends, because that's what we always do. So not much has changed. And it's a bit of a relief really. If there had been something I was itching to write and I had finished my current project, I might have gone for it, but no.
It's still weird though. It doesn't really feel like November yet. But at the same time, I don't feel like I'm missing out. Not yet anyway. I'm still writing anyway. And I've done this thing seven times!
NaNo, I am so over you. (I'll be back next year probably).
Everyone who IS doing NaNo this year GOOD LUCK!
It's strange. Like a release from something I was obliged (?) to do before. But this year I'm doing it in my own way. I'm half way through one project, so I'm going to try and finish that, and then I might start something new. And this is better for me. I won't be racing to hit 50,000 words, but I will be writing. And this is the best way for me. There's all the excitement, the huge integrated network of people joining together just to WRITE (which is amazing. I love it). And I can still have the fun of that - I even did care packages with one of my good friends, because that's what we always do. So not much has changed. And it's a bit of a relief really. If there had been something I was itching to write and I had finished my current project, I might have gone for it, but no.
It's still weird though. It doesn't really feel like November yet. But at the same time, I don't feel like I'm missing out. Not yet anyway. I'm still writing anyway. And I've done this thing seven times!
NaNo, I am so over you. (I'll be back next year probably).
Everyone who IS doing NaNo this year GOOD LUCK!
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Why I will not be taking part in NaNoWriMo this year
It's that time of year. If you know me, you will know that I have taken part in NaNo for the last seven years (yes I had to check that, just to make sure, because wow - really?!). THe emails are being sent out, everywhere around hte interwebs there are people announcing what they are writing, and whether they are winging it or planning it. But this year I am not going to take part.
Why?
I'm not entirely sure, but I'll try to explain. I mean, I have done this for SEVEN years. I owe a lot to NaNo and I think it's FANTASTIC. I still think it's fantastic. Without it, I probably would still be writing fanfic or starting projects that I never finish. True, I probably would have eventually got round to writing a novel and finishing it., but probably not so soon - I wouldn't have proved to myself that I could do it. I could write that many words. It taught me a lot - about plotting and the need for a routine and writing everyday, and just getting the words down - and about first drafts and the way that anything goes. Editing comes later - the important thing is to get the words down. And I write all of my fiction like that. Get the words down and then go back to edit. It taught me a lot. It's been important to me - it's magical. The challenge and the community and just the writing that 1667 words every day has always thrilled me. I've met lovely people too through it and I have many fond memories of NaNo and the forums and the community. The thrill of those first 2,000 words, breaking through the second week barrier, and updating word counts, hitting half way, and then finally clicking validate novel at the end with hours or days to spare.
So I owe a lot to NaNo. It's something that draws me back every year- last year I didn't even mean to do it, but come mid October with all my friends prepping for it, I did it.
Yet, it doesn't feel right this year. I mean I'm editing one novel, and am half way through other projects that I want to focus on, and I don't want to drop it all to write something else that, I'll be honest, I won't edit and won't do anything with. I haven't really done anything with the projects I've written in the last few years - I've had good intentions to do so, but I've always focused on other projects throughout the rest of the year and not gone back to them. Which just seems a waste. I mean, if I had some burning ideas to write and nothing else on the go, I probably would do it. But I'm always so fed up with the story at the end, and it just doesn't seem worth it so much anymore. So I'm taking a break from it this year.
(Of course I may be retracting this statement on the 31st October at 11.58pm or something).
Also - I just saw a post about 'PiBoIdMo' - Picture Book Idea Month.... I might try this out instead as something different! Find out more here.
Why?
I'm not entirely sure, but I'll try to explain. I mean, I have done this for SEVEN years. I owe a lot to NaNo and I think it's FANTASTIC. I still think it's fantastic. Without it, I probably would still be writing fanfic or starting projects that I never finish. True, I probably would have eventually got round to writing a novel and finishing it., but probably not so soon - I wouldn't have proved to myself that I could do it. I could write that many words. It taught me a lot - about plotting and the need for a routine and writing everyday, and just getting the words down - and about first drafts and the way that anything goes. Editing comes later - the important thing is to get the words down. And I write all of my fiction like that. Get the words down and then go back to edit. It taught me a lot. It's been important to me - it's magical. The challenge and the community and just the writing that 1667 words every day has always thrilled me. I've met lovely people too through it and I have many fond memories of NaNo and the forums and the community. The thrill of those first 2,000 words, breaking through the second week barrier, and updating word counts, hitting half way, and then finally clicking validate novel at the end with hours or days to spare.
So I owe a lot to NaNo. It's something that draws me back every year- last year I didn't even mean to do it, but come mid October with all my friends prepping for it, I did it.
Yet, it doesn't feel right this year. I mean I'm editing one novel, and am half way through other projects that I want to focus on, and I don't want to drop it all to write something else that, I'll be honest, I won't edit and won't do anything with. I haven't really done anything with the projects I've written in the last few years - I've had good intentions to do so, but I've always focused on other projects throughout the rest of the year and not gone back to them. Which just seems a waste. I mean, if I had some burning ideas to write and nothing else on the go, I probably would do it. But I'm always so fed up with the story at the end, and it just doesn't seem worth it so much anymore. So I'm taking a break from it this year.
(Of course I may be retracting this statement on the 31st October at 11.58pm or something).
Also - I just saw a post about 'PiBoIdMo' - Picture Book Idea Month.... I might try this out instead as something different! Find out more here.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
December Time!
Christmas is coming!
I can't believe it's December already -where has this year gone? Seriously, it has rushed by so quickly - so much has happened, and so much has changed.
I'm feeling particularly Christmassy this year. I normally resist it - or I have for the last few years, but this year I'm very much into the festive spirit, actually (on the whole anyway) looking forward to Christmas, and listening to lots of Christmas music (there's a whole radio station dedicated to Christmas music I was informed and this is amazing!), writing Christmas cards and things (which this year I've made... very exciting!). I even made mince pies on Sunday with a friend! It's hard to believe that there are only two weeks left of term - in just over two weeks I will be at home. There's lots coming up and it's going to be fun to be so busy with Carol services, and Christmas meals and all sorts of fun Christmassy stuff. I can't help but feel like I'm not as busy as I might have been last year (believe me I'll probably take back those words next week) but this weekend has been very quiet, with both my housemates away or working.
I can't believe how quickly this term has gone. It still feels like we're going to settle into it sometime, only thing is that it's nearly over! which is just insane really.
Walking to work this morning I suddenly fancied a nice warming casserole tonight like my Mum used to make (it's got so cold here in the last couple of days. Now it's stopped flooding you know). So I made that this evening and it was delicious. Now having a nice evening doing some editing, and tyring to make myself do productive stuff, or work out what i need to do. I'm putting together my end of term poetry portfolio for my module this term, which is exciting and good fun, I just have to work out the critical essay bit! I started editing the story I wrote in the summer too today, and I'm glad to get into that. I am alternating between editing the two stories, and sad as I do feel to not have my NaNo novel open every day, it is actually quite nice to be doing something else! And it gives my hands a little bit of a break.
I can't believe it's December already -where has this year gone? Seriously, it has rushed by so quickly - so much has happened, and so much has changed.
I'm feeling particularly Christmassy this year. I normally resist it - or I have for the last few years, but this year I'm very much into the festive spirit, actually (on the whole anyway) looking forward to Christmas, and listening to lots of Christmas music (there's a whole radio station dedicated to Christmas music I was informed and this is amazing!), writing Christmas cards and things (which this year I've made... very exciting!). I even made mince pies on Sunday with a friend! It's hard to believe that there are only two weeks left of term - in just over two weeks I will be at home. There's lots coming up and it's going to be fun to be so busy with Carol services, and Christmas meals and all sorts of fun Christmassy stuff. I can't help but feel like I'm not as busy as I might have been last year (believe me I'll probably take back those words next week) but this weekend has been very quiet, with both my housemates away or working.
I can't believe how quickly this term has gone. It still feels like we're going to settle into it sometime, only thing is that it's nearly over! which is just insane really.
Walking to work this morning I suddenly fancied a nice warming casserole tonight like my Mum used to make (it's got so cold here in the last couple of days. Now it's stopped flooding you know). So I made that this evening and it was delicious. Now having a nice evening doing some editing, and tyring to make myself do productive stuff, or work out what i need to do. I'm putting together my end of term poetry portfolio for my module this term, which is exciting and good fun, I just have to work out the critical essay bit! I started editing the story I wrote in the summer too today, and I'm glad to get into that. I am alternating between editing the two stories, and sad as I do feel to not have my NaNo novel open every day, it is actually quite nice to be doing something else! And it gives my hands a little bit of a break.
Monday, 26 November 2012
The end of November approaches...
Hit 60k yesterday with my NaNo novel which I am elated with. My 70k goal disappeared a little while ago, because somehow I seem to have run out of story and I physically can't type much more - my hands keep hurting and I think this is a sign to have a rest! 60k is more than I have ever done on a NaNo novel before in November so I am very happy with that and relieved to have got there - and early too. I am very surprised at myself!
As always coming to the end of NaNo is both sad and a relief. I love the experience and everything, and just writing a story every day, but this year in particular, I have realised there are other things I want to be working on/editing, and lots of poetry to do that it is has been a little tough and I think my hands are screaming out to me. Or maybe that's just the cold and rain. That's what I'm telling myself, haha! It has been a good experience though to aim for more words and I am glad I did, because it shows me I can, but I am looking forward to leaving this story be, and get on with some editing of another project I am really excited about and can't wait to work on. In a few days.... I'll take a few days off, focus on some poetry (or at least I'll try, I'm not very good at leaving things be) but I do have poetry stuff to do.
On another note I would like to say that we've posted the first writing prompt over on the Shine forums which I would love for you all to get involved in! Go check it out here.
Under a month until Christmas too - that is a scary thought. So much to do before then! And under three weeks until the end of this term, how did it go so quickly?
How is the end of NaNo looking for everyone this year?
As always coming to the end of NaNo is both sad and a relief. I love the experience and everything, and just writing a story every day, but this year in particular, I have realised there are other things I want to be working on/editing, and lots of poetry to do that it is has been a little tough and I think my hands are screaming out to me. Or maybe that's just the cold and rain. That's what I'm telling myself, haha! It has been a good experience though to aim for more words and I am glad I did, because it shows me I can, but I am looking forward to leaving this story be, and get on with some editing of another project I am really excited about and can't wait to work on. In a few days.... I'll take a few days off, focus on some poetry (or at least I'll try, I'm not very good at leaving things be) but I do have poetry stuff to do.
On another note I would like to say that we've posted the first writing prompt over on the Shine forums which I would love for you all to get involved in! Go check it out here.
Under a month until Christmas too - that is a scary thought. So much to do before then! And under three weeks until the end of this term, how did it go so quickly?
How is the end of NaNo looking for everyone this year?
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
50k!
I hit 50k the other day, yay! Very happy with that, but also kind of stunned. I don't think I ever hit it this early before. I'm still ploughing on, although I think I may be going for more like 60k now rather than 70k, but it will still be more than my usual giving up about one hundred words after 50k, so that's good right? I still have chapters planned so I want to get them done.
Hope NaNo is going well for everyone else still.
In other news we've started a blog over at Shine, go check it out!
I also wanted to post a link to this, which I saw on twitter the other day. It's really cool to see how another writer uses their notebook, and I love Lani Taylor and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, so I really enjoyed reading that, and found her tips really interesting. So go check it out and get inspired.
Hope NaNo is going well for everyone else still.
In other news we've started a blog over at Shine, go check it out!
I also wanted to post a link to this, which I saw on twitter the other day. It's really cool to see how another writer uses their notebook, and I love Lani Taylor and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, so I really enjoyed reading that, and found her tips really interesting. So go check it out and get inspired.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
NaNo Update
NaNo is going well. On 46k, so nearly at 50k! Earliest I think that I've ever got there (not that I've got there yet). I guess that's because I'm aiming for more, and I will keep on going until the end of the month and see where I get to. It's all rather exciting. Although my chapter plan is letting me down a bit and I keep getting frustrated with it. You know how you plan stuff out and think it will be enough to fill the chapter and realise that it's really not, so you start well, blabbing... and my goodness, really you have nothing to say and you're let by your planning which you think is so thorough. Yeah, so I've been dealing with that and trying to fill words and it's been up and down. But hopefully it's on the up now.
Last weekend I was kinda low, which was horrible and I couldn't really do anything except sit and be sad and cry and watch Gilmore Girls (which I'm now addicted to) and eat lots of biscuits. Monday morning I suddenly had tonnes of energy, which was very scary and lots of creative energy, so this week has been full of ideas and productivity (sort of) and it's been good. Hopefully I'll stay on this high, because that would be nice. I hate the lows, especially ones like that. It was scary.
Anyway, off to do some writing, hopefully get to 50k, write some poetry, do some reading, some other writing and planning and art and exciting things. I hope. In reality it'll probably be youtube videos and scrolling through tumblr but I may surprise myself....
Hope NaNo is going well for everyone else!
Last weekend I was kinda low, which was horrible and I couldn't really do anything except sit and be sad and cry and watch Gilmore Girls (which I'm now addicted to) and eat lots of biscuits. Monday morning I suddenly had tonnes of energy, which was very scary and lots of creative energy, so this week has been full of ideas and productivity (sort of) and it's been good. Hopefully I'll stay on this high, because that would be nice. I hate the lows, especially ones like that. It was scary.
Anyway, off to do some writing, hopefully get to 50k, write some poetry, do some reading, some other writing and planning and art and exciting things. I hope. In reality it'll probably be youtube videos and scrolling through tumblr but I may surprise myself....
Hope NaNo is going well for everyone else!
Friday, 9 November 2012
NaNo Blues
I seem to be charting my NaNo experience in poetry this year:
NaNo Blues
Struggling to find words
To put to paper.
Nothing comes to mind,
And I stare at blank
Pages, my hands hesitating
Above the keys, dirty
With crumbs from the biscuits
I have consumed in the attempt
To find some words
To put to the page
And I’m still sat there,
With nothing to say,
Wondering why the elaborate
Chapter plan I made has let me
Down only eleven days in.
Although I did hit 30k somehow earlier, so am chuffed with that. Just disheartened with my story at the moment.
Although I did hit 30k somehow earlier, so am chuffed with that. Just disheartened with my story at the moment.
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