You may have noticed, since I haven't posted an update on my Nano Word Count since day ten, that my Nano isn't going well.
I had plans to beat my July record of 74k in 30 days, but honestly, I forgot how chaotic the November Nano always is for me. I've only completed the November version of Nanowrimo once, and only then by the skin of my teeth. Between family members having to go for unanticipated hospital check-ups, a series of migraines I've suffered myself, and an unfortunate case of writers fatigue, I'm wasn't even on track to hit 50k, let alone my stretch goal of 90k and a completed manuscript. Then I had a solid week where no writing. During that time I did some more editing on Changeling, so managed to get another 2 chapters sorted. And then I went to book my editor...
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Hello everyone, it's been a hell of a month! Ready for an update? Let's dig in... Since my last update... Since my last update, I've been taking part in Nanowrimo. I had plans to beat my July record of 74k in 30 days, but honestly, I forgot how chaotic the November Nano always is for me. I've only completed the November version of Nanowrimo once, and only then by the skin of my teeth. Between family members having to go for unanticipated hospital check-ups, a series of migraines I've suffered myself, and an unfortunate case of writers fatigue, I'm not currently on track to even hit the 50k, let alone my stretch goal of 90k and a completed manuscript. But I have made some progress, around 10k words. Small, but still progress. I'm sitting comfortably at chapter seven, and if I can get to just chapter 10 over the next couple of weeks, I'll consider it a success. Plans for the coming month... As I mentioned, I'd like to reach and complete up to chapter ten of the Darkling first draft this month, despite my delays so far. That should get me another 10k or so, and hopefully I can continue writing into December, although at a decreased rate. If November is busy, then December, for me, is chaos. I don't anticipate getting too much work done next month. I am hoping to order the cover for Changeling around the end of November, however, and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing what the design ends up looking like after I've talked it over with the designer. I also want to really crack down on the final self-edits of the remaining Changeling Chapters. So I've got coming up too! Want to see more?My newsletter subscribers get to see sneak peeks first, hear my updates earlier, and gain access to an exclusive flash fiction sent straight to their inbox.
If you'd like to never miss one of my updates, and see these exclusive pieces of bonus content, consider sign up for my newsletter via Sign Up Page! And... we're officially well behind lol.
It's okay though. There's still time. And even if I write nothing else this month, I've made 5k progress! I have plans for making this weekend a 10k weekend to try and catch up. Gonna set myself up with a Social Media ban, and just write all day on Saturday and Sunday, and see where I end up. The last five days weren't a complete collection of zero days though. Although I didn't count any of it for nano, I did spend some time editing another chapter of Changeling. That needed some rewriting. So I've got some words in, just none of the words I actually needed. The 787 words I did get were done between 11 pm and midnight on the 10th, so right at the 11th hour. I'm hoping that's a sign of things beginning to pick up again. How's everyone else doing? November is always my worst month for writing. It doesn't matter how carefully I plan, something always crops up.
This year, that something was a hospital checkup for my mum that I had to help out with. She's fine, the outpatient procedure went well, and she's recovering at home, but it's made the start of Nano a slower one than I'd like. Not only haven't I managed to get the 3-4 day buffer I prefer to have in place by the end of the first week, but I've actually fallen a little bit behind. And considering this year my goal is bigger than I've ever aimed for, I'll admit to being a little concerned. But the thing is there's no point stressing. All words are good words, and all forward progress is good progress. And if I have to keep writing into December, then I do! How's everyone elses words coming? On target? Ahead? Or behind, like me! Let me know in the comments <3 Soul Court Ascension: Book 1City of Souls was a really enjoyable read. It made a change to read about a female character who was confident in her abilities, and sharp-tongued to those she didn't trust, without coming across as a nasty person in general. There was enough characterisation to show Hel's soft spots and weaknesses to the reader, and it made her a relatable and highly enjoyable character to follow on an adventure. The author, Mel Harding-Shaw, replicated this skill with the other main character, Bastion, too. While he shows a dark, and sometimes harsh, persona to the world at large, he has softer, kinder moments that are reserved for private moments behind closed doors, and amongst those he trusts. The blackmail that Bastion holds over Hel's head, combined with a fake-relationship theme, could have easily crossed over into uncomfortable territory, but the material is handled with skill and class, and never strays too far. Hel being very handy with a weapon, and having an unsubmissive personality, even when faced with blackmail and threats helped with this greatly, but that doesn't detract from the skill of the author. But it's not just the characters that are handled adeptly, the plot is also clever and intricate, and filled with dangerous political manoeuvring. You constantly have the feeling that there is so much more to this almost post-apocalyptic world running beneath the surface, and I for one can't wait to see more of this world, and these characters, as the series progresses. Release Date is November 9th 2022
You can preorder/purchase a copy of City of Souls, in E-book or Paperback form via; Amazon UK or Amazon US Barnes & Noble Book Depository Bookshop.org Check out the Author's Website for a free prequel short story! Day One...
We're trying to break my own record this month. My previous record was set in July of this year, when I wrote 74k in 30 days. But to complete Darkling by the end of the month, or close enough, I need to hit 90k. 90k in 30 days. 3,000 words a day. Can I do it? Who knows! But even if I fail, I'll be drastically closer to the end of the book than I am right now. Day 1 we're already under target, but I've been editing since August, so it's going to take me a little time to get back into the writing mindset. I don't transition between one and the other very easily. I'll be posting updates every 5 days across my social's for accountability, and now it's time to dig in. What's everyone else working on this month? What are your wordcount goals? The traditional 50k? Or have you upped/lowered your goal for your lifestyle and project needs? |
Arista Holmes
I'm a writer in her thirties, who is based in the South East of England. Archives
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