This post theoretically covers two weeks, but there was so little going on in the first of them that it’s probably better we all pretend that it never happened. Instead, this week has had writing, trips outside the writing room and time with family and friends. The grand planning session has led to a slight recalibration in priorities. Between now and the end of the year, I hope to be able to share a little bit more of this with you.

Creative – new ideas and first drafts

This has been a good week for getting words down. I wrote over 10,000 words on the first draft of my next lesbian romance novel, all in those dark hours before 7am. Mostly. I allowed myself a little bit of overrun, but it sounds more disciplined and virtuous when you use round numbers. I had a little burst of joy when a character who was meant to be purely secondary came to life and was huge fun. These are the moments that keep you going when things get tough.

I also managed to get in a little bit of a field trip to do a bit of research into ancient civilisations. I’ve got a partial story and sometimes you have to find out more to know whether or not to make it into something bigger. I found a handful of nuggets that make me more inclined to try than to walk away, which is always exciting. My notebook also contains three separate one liner scribbles that are the seeds of new ideas. For people who want to know where story ideas come from, I would have to say it comes from constant new stimulation and exposure to new ideas and subjects.

Plus, of course, preparation for NaNoWriMo has been completed. Plot is outlined and typed into Scrivener, now I’m just itching to go with it.

Editing – the slow, tortuous road to publication

I have been trying to polish up a YA novella I wrote some years ago. I have no idea if I want to do anything with it yet. It’s a good story, but it’s a bit raw and contains perhaps a little too much of me in it.

Publishing – and all the other bits that go on behind the scenes

Shhh. Nothing. Don’t tell anyone. I only got a little bit distracted on Facebook and I’m sure that doesn’t count.

Planning and dreaming – what’s coming up next week

Nano!!! My favourite writing event. I am seriously excited about it again this year. We’ve been lucky that for the past two years we’ve had a weekend to get started. Tuesday is not known for being a high word count kind of day. I’ve got travel plans the week after, so I have no choice but to get my head down and my fingers flying!

Writing Best Bits

Watching the characters of a new story come to life. I tend to have plots and themes detailed before I begin writing. Characters (apart from key motivators and history) are much, much more vague. They then get to come alive from some other part of my brain and it feels like meeting and making a new friend. This week, that happened in spades.

Weekly success score: 8/10 – mainly my favourite bits this week. Plus old worlds and secret societies. What’s not to love?