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Wednesday 30 January 2013

Pep talk to self



It's been a gloomy January in the U.K with icy roads and cold dark nights with the prospect of lying on a beach months away.

At this time of year it's easy to become disheartened, to wonder: will I ever get published? I've been writing for ten years in August (although I've had two children during that time) and I don't want to be sitting here typing the same words in ten years' time.  I'd rather my blog post at the end of January 2023 was entitled 'How I got published...'

If I don't get Book 1, The Grandson published before I'm happy with Book 2, The Painting then I'll rewrite it. I put my heart into The Grandson for a long time and thought carefully about its plot and structure, so ideally I don't want to cast it aside. At the moment The Grandson is written in third person from three points of view: the heroine's, the heroine's mother's and the hero's ex-girlfriend's (who knows if those apostrophes are in the right place). Part of The Grandson includes excerpts from the heroine's grandfather's journal written during WW2 in Italy. I may rewrite those journal excerpts as scenes and make the book up to 120,000 words so it has a similar structure to The Painting. At the moment The Painting is part eighteenth century, part present day.

On those days when I can't think of where to take draft 1 of The Painting: I need to scan the word file I've created and zoom in on a section, expanding it; increasing the word count until I come up with an idea on where to take the story next. My outline for The Painting is a spreadsheet with key scenes loosely mapped out. I can't decide on all scenes in advance because as I write and research, the plot takes on a mind of its own. Then there are those minor characters who appear out of the blue with subplots which mirror the main plot all by themselves.

Has this January been good for your writing?

Thought I'd include the beach photo just in case you want to imagine yourself lying on it, the sun warming your skin: as you sleep, read, eat ice-cream or stare out to sea...the waves jostling against the shore.

And if that isn't enough, here's a motivational tune:

8 comments:

  1. I understand how you feel, Anita, and well done on persevering with two novels. I think it's always helped me in being a published short story and article writer before going on to novels. I still have to write a variety of things to keep me happy. So far in January, I'm having success with articles and that helps when I'm struggling with the next part of a novel, or writing a short story on spec! Your novels do sound really interesting so hopefully this will be your year.

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    1. Hi Rosemary, thank you! Glad to hear that you've had a good January with your writing. Would love to have a go at short stories-have a few which I've started but the process is so different from novel-writing, haven't got the hang of it yet. I enjoy writing flash fiction, especially as it doesn't take long and I like the challenge of squeezing a story into hardly any words.

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  2. Hi Anita!
    January has been a roller coaster for me, but I am learning to make my way through the highs and lows of writing. My walls are starting to fill up with motivational excerpts in the hopes that when I look at them in times of desperation, I can gain some relief, and forge ahead. Frustration is setting in, though, as I feel I am trying to write too many stories at once, and getting nowhere with any of them! One positive was participating in a daily word prompt, which has been awesome. I have some great openings (rough, but I think I can do something with a few of them), and it has kept my creative side moving.
    All the best as we move into February, and a day at a time closer to getting you to the beach!

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    1. Hi Leanne, thanks for visiting my blog. Good idea putting motivational excerpts on the wall! The daily word prompt sounds good too. All the best to you too. Yes, need to get a summer holiday booked!

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  3. I was at my lowest before I signed with my agent and then again before I got my first book deal. I don't know why it happens that way, but for me it does. And I've seen others say the same. Persistence is key.

    January was great for me. I had Touch of Death and Love All release. I've been busy promoting them, while also doing client edits and plotting a new book.

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    1. Hi Kelly, yes persistence, perseverance and patience seem to be three essential qualities a writer needs! Glad to hear January has been good for you. Best of luck with Touch of Death and Love All and with the new book!

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  4. Keep up the good work, Anita. The Grandson and The Painting both sound so interesting - sending you best wishes as ever for every success. I think you're right about persistence, perseverance and patience. Wish I could knit a supply or something!
    January has been all good here, thanks. I've got my plot for Bk 3 and have just started the first draft.
    Thanks for the photo of the beach :-) xx

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment Elle! Glad you've had a good January with your writing. Best of luck with writing Book 3.x

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