Nano

Not been about much over the last couple of weeks. My time has been spent engrossed with Nano.

I'm really enjoying it, never having attempted a novel before, I'm finding the flow of words easy at the moment. Whether it will stay like that for the remainder of the month remains to be seen. I must confess that writing to a set goal is something I have never accomplished before and the challenge set before me has increased the muse.

I sit down at my computer every night at seven o'clock, my fingers poised over the key board and away I go. Usually if I am writing a short story I sit staring into space, play a game of card on the computer, make a cup of coffee - anything, rather than sit and write the words, until I slap my wrists and force myself to just get on with it.

Nano is different, maybe because I have a set plan, a story in my head, a few paragraph ideas written down, a target word count and the best thing of all I know where the story is going.

It's definitely encouraged me to write more and I have even picked up a few ideas for some short stories, although once this month is over I must get a few stories that need editing polished up and subbed out.

Okay, must go, got to get a few more words down before bedtime.

Chapterseventynine

A brand new writing site will be going live within the next few weeks.

If you find you want somewhere to stay a while: post your work, read some great stories, get hints and tips, this is the place for you.

I always love something new and refreshing, hanging around with new and old writers, see the talent that is all around us.

So if you fancy a fantastic new experience join up and become part of the community.

Preparation

I'm really getting into the mood for Nano. Never having done this befor I'm not quite sure what to do so have set up my own guidelines.

This last week has been spent doing he ground work, creating characters and giving them each a history. This I found a fun thing to do, does my MC have green eyes or brown, what sort of complexion. What sort of job, who are the parents, are there any children, how about if the can drive a car, whose there best friend - so many questions.

Once the MC has been created I have moved onto all the others and no doubt as I begin on the 1st November there will be a few more added as my creative juices begin to flow (well that's the plan)

Next I've begun to start outliningthe chapters, not sure how many there will be and how many words per chapter but at this stage its the fun of creating a beginning, middle and end. Hopefully by the start of next month I shall be ready although I can see it all going out the window from day one so I am going to have to be strict with myself.

So the countdown begins. I also hope to complete a couple of more stories for comps and subbing before the end of October so it looks as though I'm going to be pretty busy.

Roll on the 1st December, by then I might have the bones of a novel.

Nano

I've decided this year to enter the many thousands of other writers and try and write a novel in thirty days.

Yep, that's what Nano is all about. You flex your fingers on the 1st day of the month and write as manay words as you can until hopefully you reach 50,000 by the end of the month.

Have I got a story in mind? Sort of, I'm trying to do a rough draft to follow i.e. characters plot and chapters, just quick references so that I can keep the motivation going. Only hope that I don't dry up before the end of the month.

Anyway I'll keep a record on how it goes on my blog - even if nobody else reads it, it will help me keep focused.

Before that I must get on with a few more short stories that I want toenter for some cops and a few to sub to mags - having had one acceptance has spured me on to increase my submissions.

and finally

Today has turned out to be great. After a bad day at work, turned on my laptop to check my emails. Surprise, surprise, I have had my first ever accepted story and it PAYS.

Floating on air at the moment. Writing is a hard slog with sometimes no reward but with hard work and listening to fellow writer advice, your dreams can come true.

Off to have a celebratory drink - well the first sell only happens the once.

A First for me

I was interviewed by the Police today- oh, don't worry, I wasn't in trouble. Had to confirm a telephone conversation.

It's strange that in todays modern world, where at a click of a button, anyone can know where anyone else is - or can they?

Having been contacted by this particular Policeman, I was asked to ring back on a number. I tried and tried and tried without any success, the phone just kept ringing and ringing with no voice mail cutting in. Eventually I managed to get through to a Duty Sargeant and was told not to bother contacting again problem had been sorted. Okay, fine by me,which it was, until I had a call saying that I would be arrested for obstruction - obstruction of what, I followed to proceedure.

I put in a complaint and today was visited by alovel lady who was investigation by complaint. After filling her in with the details I ended by saying, it would have be so simple if I could have left a message on a voicemail.

"Oh," she said, "there had been a problem with the voicemails, been going on for about six months and no one reported it."

So the phone never rings at the Police Station - no wonder crime figures are up.

I have just finished reading 'No Time For Goodbye' by Lynwood Barclay, fantastic page turner, couldn't put it down.

It tells the story of teenage Cynthia, who wakes up one morning to find her parents and brother have disapeared. Twenty-five years later she appears in a television show about her families disappearence and waits for answers.

The story is told from the POV of her husband as he follows his wife through her search for the missing links.

What I liked about it was how the writer keeps you guessing all the way through, at no point fdid I guess the ending but with twists and turns where you begin to doubt Cynthia's sanity, to her daughter who can't understand why her mother is so protective of her.

If you are looking for a good read and page turner, this is the one for you.