finish the first draft of my novel

I’m starting again. 1008 words into it, and I’m aiming to at write at least 50,000 words.

My computer crashed, big time, and… I didn’t have a backup of what I’ve written so far. Talk about learning the lessons you need to learn the hard way.

So, I’m starting my first draft again. At least I know I can write 27,000 words, which is more than I’ve ever done before, and I plan on surpassing 27,000 words in a shorter time frame, and hope I “find” my story faster this time, so it would appear to actually have a plot.

I guess any progress would be good, right? I currently up to 27270 words. I thought I was writing about an “invented” character taking a weird and wonderful journey, and now I find I’m really writing about myself… still I read somewhere that first novels are generally more autobiographical than subsequent novels. And sometimes those first novels never get published. They are the practice novel.

When I started out, I honestly never dreamt I’d even get this far. I’ll just keep plugging away at it.

I’m still working on this goal, just not as regularly as I’d like. Yesterday I reached 25,148 words, and I’m planning to write 50,000 words, for my first draft at least, so I’m half-way there. Writing a novel is one of those things I’ve been promising myself I’d do for years, and it’s been my New Year’s Resolution for more years than I care to remember.

No matter how rough my first draft is, whether it’s so-so, good, bad, indifferent, a work of genius or fit only for the garbage bin, I’m looking forward to completing this goal, so (deep breath!) onward and upward!

I’ve stalled on this project for a long time. I wrote some more today, and I’m at 23,398 words. I want to meet my goal of 50,000 words by the end of the year, because then at least I can say that I’ve done it!

Well, I’m writing again, and I’m over 20,000 words. I keep thinking when I get past 25,000 words it’ll be easier because I’m over half way. I’ll find out when I get there, I guess. I haven’t planned anything, I have no plot outline, no character notes, nothing, and still I’m writing, and still I’m excited about this project. I can’t understand it. How is it possible to write this way?

You’ll notice, this is only my first draft, and if it doesn’t make sense, it’s not the final product. That’s what the second and subsequent drafts are for, I suppose. That’s when you make sure the story makes sense. Actually, I view the first draft as giving myself some raw material to work with. When I sit down at my computer to write, I don’t know where the story comes from, though.

I’m not doing any major writing sessions or anything, but I have begun again. The truth is, I regret stopping my writing. And I don’t think I’ve mentioned how weird my story is, but strange as it sounds, it seems to want to get written. That sounds like something Natalie Goldberg, or Julia Cameron, who have written books about writing, and art, would say.

Anyway, I’m up to 18831 words, and counting…

I’m not writing much at the moment. I’ll be honest, I’ve hardly written anything. When my children start school again, I’m planning to get back into writing, but of course, planning to do something and actually doing it are sometimes two different things…

Here in Queensland, Australia, school starts on the 29th of January. I figure I’ll put my deadline back to the 15th of March, which is my birthday, so I won’t forget the date. I might even use a personal challenge on this one, (no promises though) to get this one done. I was thinking today, if I don’t complete my first draft by my new self-appointed date, I’ll apply for a part-time job as a cleaner, because although the money will be useful, I think I’ll hate the job.

My word count is currently 15,138 words. If I write 5000 words a week for the next 7 weeks, I could have my first draft finished by mid-February. That’s my goal.

At the moment I have written 13,524 words, and I aim to write 50,000 words. I am inspired by Chris Baty’s book, “No Plot? No Problem!” but I am not trying to write 50,000 words in one month. (although I admire everyone who tries.)