Daily writing – I’ve blown my new habit already!

Like sooooo many other people, I started the year (yet another – this is getting tedious) with the New Year’s Resolution of writing everyday. This wasn’t just any old resolution though. I was on a mission. I needed to finish my draft for submission for my master’s degree. So finally, this year, (unlike any other) I did write every day. 

Then I finished. 

Then I started editing. 

And now it’s nearly February and I’ve realised that I haven’t actually ‘written’ for over a week. Yikes. Such a great habit was forming and I’ve blown it already.

Anyway, it made me realise how important it is to have other projects to contribute to outside of the novel. Because sometimes, let’s face it, you need to step away from the writing of the novel to complete the novel. You need time away from you work in order to look at it with fresh eyes. Time away from it because you’ve been writing it and re-reading it for so long that you are (dare I say it?) bored with it. 

So what, as writers,  do we do this problem? I’ve heard of writers having several novels on the go. But I think it would be the death knell for all of my novel ideas if I started trying to write multiple novels at once. Instead, (and Elle will be pleased about this) I’ve realised how important it is to keep on blogging; that I should start journaling again, and; that all writing counts, so why not use part of our creativity to come up with fresh ways to practise our craft each day. 

And having a writing partner helps too. Elle is currently taking a masterclass in scriptwriting and will no doubt come back inspired enough for both of us! 

I’m sure you’ve all got some great ideas on how to keep on writing – be brave, share your thoughts.

Sash.

Writing resolutions

It’s the first day of the new year and I will definitely be counting my blog contribution as part of the day’s word count. Why? Well really, it’s a difficult day, filled with so much hope, so many resolutions and not a few expectations. And what a disaster if we fail at fulfilling our resolutions on the very first day? Tragic.

That said, I have pulled out my trusty, dog-eared copy of Dorothea Brande’s Becoming a writer. First published in 1934, the book is one of those gems you come to rely on as a writer… just to remind yourself that it’s about the writing and not some magical process the novel writing fairies forgot to tell you about. Brande recommends writing every day and training yourself to write when required, instead of waiting for the muse. Perhaps this is where blogging can actually be a writer’s tool, rather than the inanity Doris Lessing suggests it can become. If a blog can get us writing every day, can make us think more about the writing than the potential audience (because for all the people passing their days reading blogs there are still an awful lot unread), can help us develop a habit that could improve our skills or just make us think a bit more, then isn’t it worth doing?

Well I’ll give it a go and see what happens.

Hopefully this month you’ll get to read a review of Simon Higgins Tomadachi. It’s published by Pulp Fiction Press and I was lucky enough to be given a copy last time I visited the fantastic Pulp Fiction bookstore. I also picked up the Uglies series while I was there, so perhaps I might write something on that for the few people left who haven’t heard of this great series by Scott Westerfeld.

Enough for today. I don’t want to peak too early. And I suppose I must write a bit of the novel if word count resolutions are to be met.

Good luck with all your resolutions, especially those involving word counts.

Sash.