A · writer's · diary

I started writing my novel as per the rules on November 1st, but unfortunately at the time my twin girls were ill and were keeping me up all night. I was not getting any sleep, so was constantly exhausted. My other son was on half-term from school so he needed to be kept occupied (thankfully he never became ill). So my writing did not go to plan.

But I was not put off, because my girls soon recovered and let me sleep through the night once, then unfortunately I started feeling ill. I had caught what the girls had, but without the conjuncivitus. So again I was back to not sleeping and looking after the kids as well in the day time. I tried sitting at the computer and writing every evening, but with my head pounding, constant sneezing and coughing fits, the odd bout of nausea, I could not look at the screen for too long.

So I finally submitted and gave my self a tonic of rest. The kids were better, the eldest is back at school, so I just relaxed on the sofa and tried not to worry about the un-moving word count. With feeling ill, my enthusiasm had done a runner anyway, so I would only have written rubbish, just to get words on the screen.

Anyway, I am now feeling a lot better and my enthusiasm has slowly returned. I have also read through what I had written and was glad that I chose to wait until I was better to carry on. I am now officially starting my nano novel today. I have amended my first couple of chapters and am happy. I am really behind on my word count, but I will not let that stop me from enjoying myself.

I have now got three weeks to complete my book, If I do it, that is great, if I don't that is great as well. Because at least I have tried and under different circumstances I am sure I would be on target.

So here's to the next 3 weeks, Happy writing everyone.

Mia~Rosie

Well today is my first day of writing this journal. I am going to use it to help me get through November, when I succumb to world of writing and begin the nanowrimo experience. This means, from midnight on November 1st I am going to be seated at my computer, writing my long awaited novel. And yes I am going to finish it by midnight 30th November. Utter madness, possibly. Exciting? Absolutely.

My novel has been swimming around my head for years. I have always said I would write it, but I have been having difficulty on getting onto paper. I have researched my setting (set in Victorian London), and I have a basic plot.

However, I feel I need more planning to make myself confident enough that I can do it. So these next 11 days are going to be aimed mainly at planning my structure and characters. Unfortunately, I also have other writing things that need completing by November. I am completing a correspondence writing course, and I am on the last assignment for non-fiction. I have to plan a non-fiction book, research possible publishers and write the first chapter to a max of 2000 words. It does not have to be completed by Nov, I just wanted it out of the way so I can fully concentrate on my novel.

I am a full time mum of 3 young children, so time is really important and I have to make the most of what I have. So these next few days are going to be hectic.

I also need to tidy up my desk. It is full of so much rubbish and bits of paper, it resembles a dustbin. I think I need to get organised (I have always been a bit messy and dis-organised), I can say it, but whether it will happen is another story. I have a picture in my head of how my desk should look like. Obviously, there is the computer screen and keyboard, but I also want my index card with research bits at hand (not easy when you have 2 year old twin girls trying to reach for them and seeing if they can fly!!), I also want a notice board placed above my desk, with details of where my story is heading. Hopefully this will happen.

So here is my checklist of what needs to be completed.

* Sort desk out - Plan for tomorrow
* List of characters with small bio's
* More structured plot - with chapters mapped out with small outline (I think I am hoping too much here).
* Complete non-fiction assignment and posted it off by October 31st.

I will keep you posted as to what I actually achieve.

Thanks for reading.