Not doing too bad on the challenge. Well into chapter 5 and a decent flow of writing going – about 1,000 to 2,500 a day when I’m writing. Not managing every single day, but getting there. I think I can finish in the few weeks I have left, but it may be unedited if I […]
Decent going, but over 40k still to go! Story is all outlined, just tackling each chapter but by bit. Sometimes on the tube using my phone, sometimes with my laptop in bed. I think I’ll get there. Whether I’ll have time for editing is another matter!
Word count: 6,401
I thought it would be interesting to write a few notes about how I’m writing one of the serial posts here. I think it is a short story, but maybe it’ll be a novel. Also, there’s a high probability that it will be an unfinished. That’s also OK.
The parts
Writing in parts is more for convenience of writing on my phone during commutes. Eventually the plan is to go back and edit these parts either into longer chapters or combine some. During that stage I’ll recheck my poor spelling and grammar apparent in my commuting writing (I admit that some of it will just be my poor writing on a first go around as well).
The writing
On the commute, lounging on the sofa, lying in bed, etc – invariably with my right hand only on my phone. Occasionally I’ll go back and look at things on my laptop. I should really write on their because I find it cones out better and probably saves my fingers a bit (at least my thumb) from strain in the same way. Still, it’s most convenient to do it on either side of work and normal life. Mostly, I’ll do it when I’m happy as it gives me pleasure in those moments. I hate for it to feel like a chore, which is how it seems some approach it.
Idea
Immortality has always been interesting. The idea of stealing some time and living longer. Somehow being able to pull off several lives is fascinating. For me it’s not about regrets, but possibility. If there was a space program that was more active in 100 years and I got to start over my life (with all my loved ones doing the same) then maybe I’d do that rather than what I’m up to now. Or maybe I’d do that just to try something else. If you’d saved up enough money in your first life then maybe you could do whatever. Perhaps you’d be more cautious.
The prospect of a world where almost immortality is interesting. The technology is there, but society still limits it. Surely someone would try to circumvent that system eventually.
Unfinished
Always the big question when I start something. Will I ever see it through to a point where I’d call it complete? Maybe.
Everyone has a novel in them. I totally agree with this statement, but in my case I feel it’s more accurate to say I have 6/8th of a novel in me, 1/8th in a lovely blue leather bound book that my fiancé created for me from my scrappy word document a couple of Christmases ago, a copy of that same 1/8th (but without the loving inscription from my fiancé) and the final 1/8 strewn across my Scrivener file with the working title, “Is it for us alone?”
I flipped through my old notes and can confirm that this started coming out of me five odd years ago and while the dam of other things is usually quite strong, every so often a mini flood occurs and more of my novel leaves me and finds its way to the page, whether it be electronic or paper. I always enjoy those spurts and wonder why I don’t do it in the moments when I’m in full swing. Other things do come up though and I throw myself at those.
To remedy this and get the full novel onto the page, I started a WordPress blog. It would keep me writing. It would be useful to log my progress. That was a couple of years ago and I only made my first post the other day. In fact, it was only a few days before that I even came up with a name for the thing. That was another other thing that kept me from the novel. Now though, here it is, in its free customisable theme which I’m assured is good for long form writing.
As you may have guessed, I’ve been thinking about what I can write for the blog over the last few commutes to and from work (where I am writing this right now) rather than eking out the same number of lines on the novel. So it is, and frankly I enjoy the thought of it unfolding over a number of years. Whether it is published and read doesn’t matter so, but it will be fun to get it to the end.
– Bakerloo Line, London
Cow Island Publishing 