Here is a (hopefully) encouraging post for those of you taking up pens/typewriters/notebooks etc this year.
Here's what I learned last year, my very first.
1. It's only 1666 words per day.
2. I managed 50,001 words on one idea, no plan. If I can - you can.
3. Pay attention to the other established author tips that come in, I found I had more in common with regard to their writing dilemmas and problems than I could have imagined.
4. Don't wait for inspiration. Write!
5. You've reached that point, you think what you're writing is guff! Write it anyway! Between 39,000 and 43,000 I thought what I had written was indeed utter guff, it took me ages, it made no sense. I read it back after, I couldn't tell where it was, it did make sense (perhaps because it was all guff!? No matter! It was my guff!). It's the equivalent of a runners stitch.
6. Once you get going, you wont want to stop (until 5 happens and even then you can write through that).
7. Finishing is amazing.
8. If you are thinking about it and not writing, stop. Start writing. If you are thinking about it and can't wait to get back to writing regardless of the circumstances, then you are hooked, keep going!
9. Only you will stop you from writing.
10. Apologise in advance to relatives/ friends/ team mates/ work colleagues. You are going to be busy and selfish for 1 month. Now...write!
I can't join you this year- work and children have to take precedence. I am sad about that, but I did win last year "grins". I really enjoyed it.
I hope you do too! Good luck!
BD
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48,007 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 14 56
Can I add to this, never underestimate the importance of back-ups.
*DO NOT* only have one copy of your master piece.
*DO NOT* keep all your copies in one place.
Back up to a flash drive or disc. keep that back up away from your PC/Mac?laptop/netbook. if they are all together and you get robbed, it's all gone.
Email a copy to yourself *EVERY DAY*, and set your email so that it stays on the server somewhere. if you don't have that facility, get Hotmail or look into Google documenst or something.
Do NOT risk losing your work.
Every night, ask yourself. Is my work safe, is at least one copy off-site on a server somewhere?
if you can answer yes, you may rest your weary head and fingers. if you answer 'no' get back out of bed and sort it!
That is the end of your public service announcement, we return you to your scheduled browsing.
;-)