Happy New Year . . .

Ugh...what a crazy few months! Glad we're now in 2020.

My last post (aside from the one where I shamelessly plugged my free book offer, and about UK tornadoes) was about my plans for Nano. Yes, that same nano that started back on November 1st. All that time ago. So, how did I get on, you ask?

Well...

Started off great. I actually managed to write just short of 20k words. This was within the first 2 weeks. Then everything kicked off. Work went crazy, I've had a few health issues, helping the parents plan a house move. Then arrived Christmas, more CRAZY workness seeing almost 12 hr days, more moving plans, the husband shifting jobs. I actually had 2 weeks off over Christmas and New Year and planned to do something pro-creative during that time. But did that happen? Did it b***cks.

So, my Nano piece, Rose Black, made it to 20k words. It' no 50k but it's a big chunk into it and it won't end there though. I'll pick up the pace again and continue with it at leisure now that things are starting to settle down again.

Why did they choose November to be National Novel Writing Month? It's more like National No Time To Write Your Novel As You're Too Busy With All Other Crap Leading Up To Christmas Month. February would be more suitable - or March (50k in 28 days? 29 in a leap year? I'll take the extra few days in March...) Hell, there are 10 other months to choose from that would be more ideal!

Still, moan over, lesson learnt, moving on.

In other news, my good friend, Simon Walker, actually published his first novel on Amazon. It's a dark science fiction based in an alternate London. It's a good read. Sounds like your sort of thing? Go check it out :) (the link is for Amazon UK but it's also available on .com)

Battlebridge by Simon J Walker -

 

Happy New Year folks :)

Plans for NANO . . .

Firstly, what do you think of the blog's new look? I was a little bored of the old look so decided to freshen it up.

This year, I've decided to take part in Nanowrimo. Normally during the month of November, I've used the hype to push the word count of a current project along as opposed to writing 50k words on something new. This year, however, I've decided to put effort into pastures new.

I've blogged about my supernatural horror, Rose Black, before when I had visions of writing it then, but it never took off. It's a perfect project for Nano though. So here's tiny a recap.

She's a victim of a serial killer but doesn't realise this until years later when a group of paranormal investigators release her from the spectral hold on her. Alone and confused, she attaches herself to this group, but when one of their investigations inadvertently opens a portal to something dark, Rose realises she is the only one who can fight this. She has to confront her biggest fear or watch as her new friends succumb one by one to this consuming darkness.

50k words in 30 days? Challenge accepted.

I've tried Nano before. Tunnel was originally a Nano story but I had a car accident half way through which left all my plans high and dry. I still finished it though - and published it on Amazon - but the 50k/30day thing didn't happen. This year all my efforts will be put towards writing, so I'm not leaving the house - ever - so I certainly won't be driving.

Also, watch this space come Halloween. In celebration of this spooky season, I'll be running a promotion on all my ebooks. Keep an eye on here and be sure to catch a spooktacular bargain... (see what I did there...??)

'Till next time, have fun :)

NanoFAILmo . . .

I can already sense that Nano for me is going to be a failure.  Last week was disastrous - mainly because I had my first car accident on Monday and haven't really written since.  The shock of it seemed to sap all my creativity.  My happy place for most of last week was wrapped under a blanket whilst wallowing in front of the TV.  Physically I wasn't hurt but I just felt really...you know...meh.  Wasn't a good week.

I knew then Nano wasn't gonna happen.

Still, I'm going to finish the piece I'm writing.  I love the whole idea of it.  It's called 'Tunnel' and is a Zombie flick about a group of people trapped on the London Underground.  It's one for Amazon :)  

So for all those out there writing their little hearts out, keep going.  You have a week.  Go boost that word count!! 

NanoFAILmo...

*lol...nanoFailmo??? See what I did there???

Aaaand back to reality:

A few weeks ago, what with everything suddenly Zombie in my life, I come up with a fun little idea for a horror story that I just couldn't stop thinking about.  So I decided I was going to write it but I didn't want to spend that much time and effort on it, time and effort that should be dedicated to my main project, so when I was reminded of Nano I thought it the perfect opportunity.

I've never signed up for Nano.  I've always put the effort into my own work, but a month off to work on said new project?  Perfect.  It would be just the push I need to write the new piece yet not spend too long on it.  I took the plunge and signed up about 2 days before it started.  So there I was, with the briefest of outlines, no research, and a looming start date - a start date I couldn't actually start on because of a planned day out in London.  Off to a good start.  I eventually started on the 3rd November, and even though I started in high spirits, I have to report that I'm actually failing in keeping up.  Life just keeps getting in the way, especially weekends.

At an average of 1.7k words a day, today I should be hitting the 16k mark.  Yep.  I'm at 5k.  Still, with quiet evenings ahead, it's still do-able.  I could still catch up.  All is not yet lost.

I'll keep you informed...  

NaNoWriMo . . .

We're now half way through November (technically two days over), and that means half way through NaNoWriMo.


So who's taking part this year? How easy or hard are you finding it? Do you think you'll reach your goal of 50,000 words in 30 days?


I've never taken part in NaNoWriMo, and this year is of no exception - but that's not because I don't agree with it, as many people out there don't. It's just that I'd rather put all my strength and creativity into the piece I'm working on at the moment. If I have to write 50,000 words in a month, I'd rather it be on my novel and not something new.


And so I'm doing just that.


I love the hype that NaNo brings. Everyone who's taking part are all 'pens and excitement`. And their encouragement and enthusiasm is enough to spur everyone else on. Despite the fact that a lot of the work written may be dribble and complete nonsense, it helps prove to some that writing a larger scale piece is do-able, and if you adopt discipline, writing a novel is no longer an unachievable goal.


For this encouragement alone, I like NaNo.


And so I'm taking part in my own little way. NaFinYowNoMo (National Finish Your Own Novel Month). I've challenge myself to write the remaining 10,000 words needed to complete my current work. My progress so far?


1,500


Yeah, you could say thing's aren't going too well for me this month (She says, holding her head low with shame). Still, there's the second half of November to work through yet. Things could still change . . .