Week 14 - Fiction's Foothills

It is 14 weeks since I began the Novel Blog. Over these weeks I have received many emails from those writing or thinking about writing a book. They have certainly helped the time fly; so thanks!

Indeed, it seems incredible that that time has passed so quickly, and even more amazing that I have just hit my target of getting to Chapter 20 by 21 December.

But that is exactly what I have done.

Now, lest you think I am sounding like a smug git, I would say that it has been anything but easy. In fact, it has been damn hard. Along the way, there has been a death in the family, I have had to resist the temptations of friends, Spooks and a beautiful wife (didn’t do too well on the latter two. Or the first); and all of life's other demands have been trying to distract me from that keyboard.

Somehow, though, I managed it - and I have identified three main practical reasons which might help others struggling to write with all of life’s distractions banging on the window of your study.

1. I discovered Scrivener - a writing software that has done nothing less than revolutionise my work flow. It really is that good. Not only does it manage not to come between me and my work, but it actually helps me write more. Sadly, it’s only available for Mac; but then again, if you own a PC it’s time you bought a Mac anyway. Find it here: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.html

2. Starbucks started opening at 7 am. Brilliant! I have liberated that former “dead” hour between 7 & 8 am and now write for 75-90 minutes a morning. Of course, not everyone works/lives near an early opening coffee shop (and some people would rather go to Africa to be eaten by an elephant than enter a Starbucks), but if you can grab an extra hour before whatever fills your day, it will be habit forming in all the best ways.

3. I write a chapter a week. Whatever happens. Trust me, once you have set this standard, you can not bear to write less.

Of course, I still have a long way to go. If writing a novel is akin to climbing a mountain, then I have just reached base camp.

That is where I am going to spend the holiday season before returning to complete chapters 21-30 and finish my first draft by Easter (20 March).

But those chapters are still shrouded in mountain mist.

For the next 10 days I am going to make merry, enjoy the company of all those people who have been so patient with me over the last three and a half months and prepare for the ascent to Chapter 30.

Merry Christmas.