Getting off to a cracking start usually sets the pace of writing. Get a load of words down, and the pages mount up. Soon enough, the finishing line is in sight. I started off great. Notched up 3.2k in day 1, and then rounded off a total of 8.2k words after 4 days of writing. Not bad. With a target of 60k, I was way in target.
However, reality set in. The plot for Novel 4 requires some thought and appropriate wording to be deemed believable in the most unbelievable manner. The first 8.2k didn’t get my heart pumping.
So . . . out came the hatchet.
I’ll be jumping back to the beginning and redo Ch1-3 with a little more zest and quirkiness to encapsulate the overall voice. Then, I can move on with the rest feeling a little less unsure.
I’m being harsh with targets – but – I have to be, otherwise I’ll melt into the lazy pot and drag my feet.
Week 1 (Starting today) should see 10k notched
Week 2 should see 16k
Week 3 = 26k
Week 4 = 38k
Week 5 = 48k
Week 6 = 60k
Here’s hoping I can update on Sunday and say: “Yay – new improved version makes me smile.”
+10
That sounds like a solid plan for your novel. I hate when things don’t turn out quite how you want them in the first go, but there’s nothing a little editing won’t fix.
Good luck sticking to your goals! I’m sure it will work out.
If there’s one thing about writing, it’s that it can be salvaged in some form. The plot behind Novel 4 is still alive. A few teaks and it’ll be fine again.
To be honest, in the last 5 mins, a sudden thought has made the ‘process’ of what Novel 4 is all about that much more dark and exciting. I will be pushing the boundary of YA with this… I think…
Good luck with your novel too
Exactly. Writing is fairly easy to improve, because the editing process is much simpler than it used to be. We can just change the words in a Word Document, unlike years ago when writers wrote with typewriters. Now editing on that is not quite so easy.
Dark and exciting is always good, and so is pushing the boundaries! Thank you.