Still Writing...

I'm slightly amazed at how I've managed to keep writing my new novel. I'm averaging a chapter a day, and I'm yet to be bored of the story. This is a good thing!

I gave one of my best friends a sneak preview, and let her read what I had written thus far. After reading fourteen chapters, she said to me, "Hurry up and write the next chapter! I want to know what happens next!" This is certainly excellent feedback, considering that I am writing a very bare novel at the moment. I'm using very little description of what characters and things look like. I'm only giving the action and the dialogue.

The novel is written in third person.

It is anticipated that by the end of the school holidays, I will have my first draft written. I am on the cusp of the major action/conflict occurring in the story, as well as a subplot that will give some background information.

I'm trying to follow a few rules that I've learnt from a writer's fair that I attended a month or so ago:

1. Write what you know.
2. Show, don't tell.
3. Keep the action moving.

So far I've managed to do this. The question that I will have to ask myself once the first draft is done, is how well have I followed these rules?

I have two adult critical readers lined up, as well as one teenager. They will be able to give me the feedback that I need to enhance the story further.

Only time will tell whether I have written something publish-worthy or not. I'm not even thinking about the words 'best seller' at the moment!

School Holidays = Writing Time!

I've finally done it. I've managed to start writing my first novel.

On Thursday I wrote the very first chapter of what I hope will become a successful young adult fiction novel.

Today I wrote two more chapters.

Not having any stress has certainly helped me to be more creative.

I've become so focused on writing the story that I simply have no room to create an issue of ih-klek-tik for the month of December. I've delayed the next issue until the 4th of January.

So far I can see a pattern forming; I begin the day with exercise, have a shower, and eat breakfast. Once I've gone through this ritual, I'm ready to write. Thoughts that I've had in the shower are still to the fore of my mind, which adds to the process.

I type madly for a good couple of hours, not bothering to stop to correct such trivial things as tense, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure. These will be fixed after I have finished my first draft.

What matters now is simply getting the story written. It is easier to polish a first draft, than it is to write a polished draft in the first go.

Once my mind is spent of ideas, I simply stop. I go and do something else. I might spend time with my husband, watch some TV, play the Xbox, pat a cat, surf the net, go to the shops, or cook something new in the kitchen.

I cannot read directly after a stint of writing. This is similar to my long-held inner rule of not talking about an exam once I've completed it. I don't want to ruminate over possible mistakes, as I will then continue to think about them.

In the case of writing, I'll only want to go back and fix what I've done. I'm not at the editing process, and won't be for a long while!

The goal, for now, is to simply get the novel written. I have approximately four and a half weeks before I go back to work. If I can average around eight chapters a week, then I will meet my goal.

I'm excited to be in this head space. I've finally begun something that I've always wanted to do.

Today's quote from my M.C.Escher calendar sums up how I feel quite nicely:

"Any schoolboy with a little aptitude can perhaps draw better than I; but what he lacks in most cases is that tenacious desire to make it reality, that obstinate gnashing of the teeth and saying, "Although I know it can't be done, I want to do it anyway.""

Starting Anew

My idea for my first novel has long since fallen by the wayside. This is due to the perceived workload that will consist mostly of research. At the moment, I do not have the time for research to get in the way of creativity.

So, the first novel idea has been set aside. It is not known if I will get back to it any time soon.

While this may be terrible news for some of you who may be reading this blog, I am not dismayed. The reason is that I have been mentally composing a new idea of a novel - this one aimed at teenagers. I've broached the idea to a couple of people, and they like it. They've been sworn to secrecy though, as I will not be sharing the idea online.

Soon I will be able to have what I call 'free head space' to get it started.

At the moment, I am still concentrating on honing my writing skills with my e-zine, ih-klek-tik. I am in the process of uploading issue 12. This is long overdue. Moving house (again) and trying to keep up with my day job (teaching) has meant that any spare time I've had at home has been spent recharging my batteries.

I have also begun a new blog, this one is created solely for the purpose of keeping my daily thoughts in one place. These thoughts are created as images, so that they can be shared freely. Go to www.prr-losophy.blogspot.com and check it out!

Christmas is coming, which means at least a month of interruption-free writing time. I'm looking forward to this as I seek to embark on what may possibly be a successful first run at a novel for teenagers.

Two Poets

You may have noticed that my posts are now signed with 'The Other of Two'. This is because I have teamed up with a very dear friend of mine to create the blog Two Poets.

Lainie Thornton and I had a conversation a few weeks' ago about the challenges that one faces when writing poetry. Writing to a theme, writing when we don't feel like it, and attempting new styles, were a few of the issues that we had discussed. The main challenge is, of course, finding the time to write.

So, as a challenge to ourselves, and to each other, we have created Two Poets. Each week a theme will be decided by either Lainie (One of Two) or myself (The Other of Two). We will then have until midnight on the Sunday of that week to come up with a poem that addresses the theme.

We are now into our third week, and I can honestly say that I have already been stretched. Like an athlete that has a pacer running beside her, Lainie is my pacer in the world of poetry.

Take a look for yourself, and if you feel so inclined, join in!

E Liri

Something I wrote tonight.

I don't often write poems this short, or without rhyme, but it's nice to break out once in a while.

E Liri
(On behalf of L.T.)

Four fingers curled to palm,
Thumb folds them within.
Raised above in defiance.

A shake for emphasis.

Index extended,
Pointed accusations.
A hole stabbed in reticent air.

Never mind the fairies.

Thumbnail resting behind incisors,
Now flicked forward.
Literary gauntlets thrown.

Let the dance begin.

P. R. Robson
Monday, 21st February, 2011.

The Beginning

I've been in a state of mental paralysis for the last two weeks. Since firmly deciding to begin writing my novel, I have been too afraid to start. I'm afraid that all of the work that I put into creating it will be for nothing.

I've had a little pep talk with myself, and decided to follow the advice of someone who is already an established author of romance novels: "Don't think, just write."

My novel is heavily based on medical knowledege, of which I have none. I began researching, and found that there are a number of ways that I could attack my story. Which is when the mental paralysis set in. I've even shared my fears with other people, hoping that by voicing them, I overcome them. Apparently not.

Today I heard those words of advice in my head again and decided, "Bugger it, I'm just going to get into it."

I'll focus on the minor details later. It's the main story that needs to be complete. I'll still do a little research on the way, but not too much that my novel becomes more of an assignment than a labour of love.

Today's short stint of typing has seen 641 words set down. I've got a few gaps here and there, but I don't care. Right now, all I'm focused on is getting as much of the story threshed out as possible. I don't want my innate talent with words to go to waste.

Research

I have begun researching information for my first novel. Unlike an assignment, researching for a novel could take almost as long as writing the novel itself. However, I will not let my penchant for knowledge get in the way of writing a great story!

I will need to be specific about what I need to know. This means that I'll be selective about the type and depth of information.

Think of a car. There are companies and models. These are the cosmetic differences. At a deeper level, differences can be as diverse as types of engines, fuel consumption, accessories, materials used, and colour palettes.

Information gained from research can remain at the 'cosmetic' level, or go deeper. It depends on how realistic a story needs to be.

I am yet to determine how deep I'll need to delve in my research.

For now, I'm going to enjoy learning new things!