Starting To Feel Like A Real Writer! #AmWriting

09 Apr 2018 81 Comments

by Ritu in My Writing, RiNoWRiMo, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #AmWriting, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Life Of A Writer, Wedded Stress, Writer

We’re back from our little family break.

I vowed that I wouldn’t think about my writing for the few days we were away, and I didn’t… well, not technically!

Yes, I did venture into my reader… yes, I did draft a couple of posts… yes, I did manage to take part in the challenges I like to participate in, a few days later, but I did it.

But I didn’t open my WIP.

I was tempted.

I guess the urge was there, having picked up a real momentum last week, but I didn’t want to rush the end.

Having spent so long getting it to this stage, I didn’t want to mess things up!

#AmWriting

I’ve mentioned this before, but as a blogger, I am truly a pantser! And somewhat the same when writing 80,000-word stories so it would seem!

I tend to write posts about what comes into my mind at that time, and not think too much.

With my story, it was the same. I mean I had a skeleton idea when the WIP was born, eighteen years ago, but that was it.

I managed to write brief character profiles for a couple of the main protagonists as well, around fourteen years ago, but that was it.

Last summer, I stepped totally out of my comfort zone.

I actually planned the whole thing. From start to finish!

I created a storyboard and everything!

And that is how I write too. I can’t jump from chapter to chapter, write the middle first, then add a preceding scene before bouncing to the end, then back again.

I need to go from the beginning of where a story starts, and build upon it, to a suitable end.

I am but a mere couple of chapters away from finishing this epic first draft, and I decided to take advantage of a bit of free time today, once we arrived home.

And I wrote.

Just a few hundred words, but it was something quite key to the ending.

Until I had a mental block.

Things weren’t flowing.

So I stopped, intent on starting up again properly, tomorrow.

Then, sitting here, my mind started to turn… how about I move that bit to there, and add this bit here, to make that scene lead into this one…

And then I got it.

That feeling.

Look at me, thinking about storylines and flowing…

Dang, maybe I really am a writer, instead of just a blogger who waffles on!

Onwards and upwards Peeps!

Here’s hoping I can finish this first draft by the end of the week… Now that would really be epic!

All Fired Up! #AmWriting

03 Apr 2018 49 Comments

by Ritu in Fiction, My Writing, RiNoWRiMo, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #AmWriting, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Life Of A Writer, RiNoWRiMo, Wedded Stress

Hey! I hope my Peeps are all well out there, not shaped too much like the chocolate eggs you may, or may not, have consumed over the Easter weekend!

I am officially at the start of the Easter break, Hubby Dearest is at work, and the kids are occupying themselves with TV, computers and more TV!

We are off on an impromptu London break again this weekend, so I thought, “why not be a little productive these next few days, before going?”

I loaded up my infamous WIP.

I say infamous as I appear to have guest posted a few times about it… here, at Shaun’s Clockwork Clouds, and here, over at Blonde Write More… and even here at Sue’s Daily Echo!

My plan was to re-read what I had written over the month of August last year. If you remember, I decided to have my own writing month, #RiNoWriMo, and I did a grand job, if I do say so myself, finishing at just over 69,000 words!

But I still hadn’t finished that age-old WIP. It’s so old, it’ll be able to drive soon enough, and drink too!

So, the idea was to read, and refresh my memory, and maybe, just maybe, start thinking about how I could finally finish it.

Well.

I read it. And ended up smiling.

I don’t know how right it is to smile at your own writing. But that’s what I did. I enjoyed reading what I had managed to create in the summer. And that was it, the fever pitch had been reached.

I needed to type!

And now!

So, I made sure the kids and pets were all fed and watered, then hunkered down for some serious writing.

Two hours and 2100 words later, I surfaced!

I read the scene I had written to Lil Princess. My kids have both been really interested in my writing, and though I have had to censor some scenes, they have heard a lot of it.

She sighed at the end. (A good sigh, I mean!) “Mummy, even though I have kinda read it all already, I think I’d really like a copy of this book.”

I know she’s only ten years old, but my first beta reader is happy… and even though there is still a while to go to tie up the ends, and truly finish it, her comments have given me the will to carry on! I guess I have another couple of writing days to use now before going away!

I really #AmWriting!!!!!

#AmWriting

#RiNoWriMo – The Finale! #canidothis ? #ididit !

01 Sep 2017 84 Comments

by Ritu in RiNoWRiMo, Sonu Singh, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #ididit, Author, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, First Draft Problems, Furry Muse, Life Of A Writer, RiNoWRiMo, Sonu Singh, tired, Traci York

Can you believe it? I completed a whole month of writing my WIP? (Along with blogging, and being wife and mother!)

It’s Bank Holiday on Monday… I appear to have promised to take the kids swimming one one day… and those damn uniforms refuse to label themselves… Can I get this WIP nearer the finished end??

Day 28

I am seriously exhausted. I am not sure if I can write any more for a while… My brain feels like it’s turned to mush. And I need to get rested for back to school… will I be able to get myself to the computer?

Hell Yes!

An hour and did a few more words. Then took the army swimming!

Word Count: 1139

Day 29

I’m definitely in a writers funk. I finished a section that I absolutely loved writing last week. The words just flew! Now I know what I want to happen, but I can’t find that smooth path to sail across, to get the story finished. It was hard, but, despite still feeling tired, I managed another few words. I’m not pushing myself… I want this to flow…

Word Count: 1007

Day 30

Thought I wouldn’t be able to do this today. I had to get up early and drop the kids off to my in laws as I needed a blood test done first thing. Feeling tired after having to wake earlier than my body was used to, was a trying time.

But once I got home, and full of a renewed energy. I managed to write, and then looked at a weekly tarot post by my friend Traci York. The cards I am drawn to are surprisingly accurate for my situations at the time, and today was no different!

Knight of Pentacles

Keep your focus. You were so excited and full of energy when you took the first step on your new journey. Now you feel like you’ve lost your steam, and all you’re doing is trudging along, without getting any closer to your goal. Don’t give up hope! Stick to your plan, stay focused on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and remember what Amelia Earhart said – “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”

Thanks, Traci! I am staying focused! But taking it a little slower!!!!

Word Count: 1241

Day 31

The last official day of #RiMoWriMo.

I never thought I would make it to the end! I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet, you know!

When I say the end, I don’t mean of my first draft. No, The end of the month! The story is a little while away from finishing, but it is so close, I can smell it!

I’ve got a busy day ahead of me, those name tapes aren’t going to fix themselves, and then I have to get the boy to cricket training, and a well-deserved meal out with my ladies tonight meant I wanted to give my last writing day a good go before starting everything else.

So I wrote…

Word Count: 1156

PHEW!!!!! I’m done!!!!!!!!!

Taking everything into account this means I wrote 4,543 words this week, and the #RiNoWriMo word count stands at

55922 words in a month!

What have I learned in this last month?

If you have determination and time, you can do what you set your mind to.
Writing can be really, really, really, REALLY exhausting!
Sometimes time away from a story helps you put a totally different spin on it.
Support from some special writing friends, a furry writing muse and family makes a HUGE difference.
You need lots and lots of sticky notes and pens and notebooks… (great excuse to go stationery shopping!)
You can write anywhere if you want to.
NEVER GIVE UP!

My work in progress now stands at a few words shy of 70,000. When did I ever think I could write so much????? This has taken me a step closer to my dream of having a novel out there.

I will let you know when the #firstdraftwoes end and I have a complete manuscript in my hands. No doubt then I will flood you with questions and worries about editing, and proofreading, and editing, and rereading, and covers, publishing and promotion… but that is still a while away.

Now I am off to dream about the day I can conclude my story… whilst ironing labels on uniforms!

Thank you for staying with me on my #RiNoWriMo journey Peeps! Your support has been invaluable. Seriously. Mwah!

#RiNoWriMo – Week 4 #canidothis? #MondayBlogs

28 Aug 2017 42 Comments

by Ritu in RiNoWRiMo, Sonu Singh, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Author, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, First Draft Problems, Furry Muse, Life Of A Writer, RiNoWRiMo, Sonu Singh

Instead of boring you each day, and I really have had to stop myself, I thought I would do a weekly post to let you know whether I have managed to accomplish what I wanted during this creative month of August that I have named, #RiNoWriMo! (Ritu’s Novel Writing Month).

What barriers do I have to overcome this week? Tiredness. Sleep overs. Playdates. Hmm… this’ll be fun! Oh, and I need to label uniform!

Day 21

I was seriously shattered this morning. Didn’t think I would be able to get up, let alone do any writing. I was so tired I couldn’t even remember what I had written last. But I tried. I figured even a few hundred words would be something.

Then something came over me, possibly inspiration, and I was so excited that I forgot to eat breakfast!

My fingers worked their magic, despite my furry muse wanting to give me a morning massage, whilst I was trying to type!

Right in front of my keyboard!

We also had the first of several playdates in the afternoon!

Word Count: 2523

Day 22

A little more awake today, and words got written! Though as I write, I wonder how much will actually stay in the end result… after final edits etc. Actually, why am I thinking about that? I need to finish the first draft yet!!!

Writing in bed!

Word Count: 2718

Day 23

It was a manic kinda day today. I had words to write, a house to clean, words to write, five kids to occupy with the sleepover, words to write… you get my drift?

I’m not actually sure what I wrote today, whether it made any sense at all, and I was a little annoyed with myself that I didn’t it 2,500, but I was close, and having over achieved on previous days, theoretically, I was still on target!

Word Count: 2430

Day 24

Typical kids! You’d think that after being up so late, they would sleep in? That was the hope. That Hubby Dearest would go to work, and I’d get, maybe an undisturbed hour, two if I was lucky, to write something at least.

But no. They were all up by 8.30am!

So, fed and watered, I left them to it and camped on the dining room table to try and write a bit more., with my furry muse to keep me company.

I got this!

They departed after lunch, then we had another little friend coming to visit, and I had to be sociable with her mum for a couple of hours, so writing time cut short… again! but still…

Word Count: 2549

Day 25

There’s a chance we’ll be busy this weekend, bank holiday and all, so I decided to really focus. After writing a bit, I cleaned the house. I wrote more, then fed the kids lunch. Then I showered and wrote even more!

Sonu Singh tried hard to distract me…

How can you ignore that face?

Then he decided to commandeer an old laptop – If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!

As I looked at my word count, it dawned on me that I had, in less than the 30 days that NaNoWriMo allows, written over 50,000 new words! OMG!

How did that happen?!

Word Count: 3171

Day 26

I contemplated a day of no writing today… I was shattered. A late night, followed by an early wake-up call from my Finnish family meant I was running on empty. Yet I had to get this section complete. I still didn’t end it where I wanted yet, but managed a few words at least!

Word Count: 1021

Day 27

I decided, as I was shattered, that I needed a day off!

Word Count: 0

Taking everything into account this means I wrote 14,412 words this week, and the #RiNoWriMo word count stands at

51,379 words in four weeks!

4 days to go!

Enjoy your creativity Peeps, and I’ll be back with another update next week!

(I still have the uniform labelling to do!)

#RiNoWriMo – Week 3 #canidothis? #SundayBlogShare

21 Aug 2017 56 Comments

by Ritu in RiNoWRiMo, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Author, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, First Draft Problems, Life Of A Writer, RiNoWRiMo

Back home and hoping to get back to 2,000/2,500 words a day, if I can manage it! Still got to keep the kids occupied though, I don’t have the luxury of sending them to the grandparents for days at a time this week, and we have a wedding to attend, so a couple of days may have to be written off!

Day 14

I was relieved when Hubby Dearest decided against working from home today. Him getting up and going signals time for me to write!

I still had shopping to do, the cupboards were bare when we arrived back home yesterday, and there was cleaning and laundry to do too!

But first things first, writing time! Split it into two sittings, but I managed!

Word Count: 2511

Day 15

He did it again. Threw me first thing by announcing he was working from home! But I left him to it and settled myself on a table in the living room.

I had a throbbing foot, where I managed to lose a toenail the day before (thanks, Lil Princess for stepping on my foot – hard!)

The plan is to write and maybe visit the nail place, today or tomorrow, to get a refresh done before the wedding on Saturday.

It was hard today, the words weren’t flowing in the same way as they had previously. Possibly because I was writing about a place and situation that I hadn’t experienced myself.

I find it so much easier to draw on past experiences when writing. It’s not an autobiography by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel that the realism shows clearly when I can relate to what I am writing about!

Still, I had my determined hat on and I managed!

Word Count: 2597

Day 16

Great start to today! Hubby at work, kids still asleep, and it’s early.

I’m hoping to be productive again today!

And boy was I!

Word Count: 2802!

Day 17

I wasn’t sure I’d be up to writing today, to be honest. Been caught with a dodgy tummy the night before, I was shattered, and didn’t think I had it in me.

But I waved Hubby Dearest off to work, settled the kids down for the morning, with activities they wanted, and had a go. Smashed it!

Word Count: 2568

Day 18

I woke up feeling dog tired, literally!

But determined to get something done, I set myself up. The kids interrupted, as usual, and then I had housework to get done too.

And even though it took a little longer than previous days, I managed,

Word Count: 2637

Day 19

We’re going to a wedding reception today, and staying out. Will I get anything done? I have shopping to do before we go, as well as packing, since we are staying out for the night….

Ok, so I cheated a little. Well, actually, it’s not cheating, but rather forward planning. I knew I wouldn’t get time today, so the day before, I kept on finding time to go and write. And I added this much to it, to count towards today’s word count!

Word Count: 2556

Day 20

Today I felt like curling up into a little ball and hibernating, but I couldn’t! I was so tired from the wedding, late night, and then even though we stayed close by, we still needed to get up and drive home.

I totted up my numbers and decided I deserved a writing free day (apart from my post, obviously 😉 ) Took advice from my friend Spidey, who was extremely wise yesterday. If you didn’t get a chance, read his wisdom here!