Day 31: Still writing.

Okay, I'm not writing right now (apart from writing this post, obviously) - I'm actually searching for pictures online of my "characters" - so I can have a visual image in front of me, rather than just in my head, of what I think my characters look like :) I'm also hoping that it'll help me choose a name for one vampire who doesn't like her current name, and needs a new one.

So, the reason I'm posting again is because Ayesha is bored and asked me to xD Not kidding :P But hey, I don't mind cheering up my writing buddies when they need it :) Ayesha is being helpful and telling me she likes the names of my vampires, and she might help me choose one for the stubborn, awkward one :D How exciting!

Day 31: January, almost over already? And where is my (veggie) sausage sandwich?

I've been writing pretty well this morning, considering the fact that my shoulder still hurts (but first thing in the morning, it doesn't hurt quite so much. FACT) but I'm trying typing with two hands as its way quicker and I prefer that really.
I've written quite a bit this morning - I finished chapter 6 and am now onto chapter 7. I know I wanted to be at this point a few days ago, but never mind - I'm there now, and funnily, I'm still ahead of my target for this month... my quite a lot.
On my spreadsheet, it says my target for January 31st is 21,235 and my total word count at the moment is 32,709 - that's 11,417 words more than I need xD I know that Heather will read this and tell me that I should have set my target higher (cause she's always saying that to me :P) but, I feel like I've achieved something if I'm beating my target xD

Quick breakdown for the month (this might change as I'm still writing):

Novel: 27, 046

Short stories: Superheroing made easy - 1,163
Random - 274

Other: Planning - 4,226

Total word count: 32,709

I'm feeling pretty pleased with that :D Even though my novel isn't NaNo worthy (that'd have to be 50,000 in a month) I think it's still good :) I'm working my way up to finding NaNo easy this year. Maybe xD

Day 30: Typing with one hand is a no-no.

I've hurt my shoulder (think it's a trapped nerve) and yesterday, did no writing, as writing with one hand is impossible - for once, my brain was working quicker than my hands ;)

So today, I am writing a little. I've done a critique of someone's first chapter of their novel, which was quite fun - their novel is pretty good :) I've written 105 words today of my current novel, and I'm enjoying writing :) It's always nice when you enjoy writing, isn't it?

I'm tempted to watch TV, but I've learnt that watching TV and writing at the same time is a bad idea. Otherwise the plot of Eastenders might turn into the plot of my novel (I don't actually watch Eastenders, but whatever - it's an example :P) and I don't particularly want that to happen xD But TV is so tempting... what do I choose? :P

Day 28: Youtube is too distracting. FACT.

I've been watching videos on youtube this morning, including an iTunes advert that Heather showed me - that was Mr Bean :D It's incredible and I watched it several times - iBean :P I've also been watching music videos for "inspiration", although really, it's just an excuse to not do writing. I also watched the Monty Python sketch about defending yourself against fresh fruit ;) I'm well prepared in case I get attacked by someone with raspberries (RELEASE THE TIGER!)

On the actual writing front, I have written just over 600 words this morning, but as I have no plans for today, I think I might just write all day, make some novel covers for my next two novels (I have too many plans O_o) and just chill out and chat to people :) I'm glad I have no plans for today, as I quite enjoy sitting around and writing all day.
Also - back to the youtube thing - I found a NaNoWriMo song :o You should listen to it.

Stats update:
Novels: 25,113
Short stories: 274
Planning: 3,471

Total: 28,858

:) I'm quite pleased with that. I know Heather will be telling me that I should have set myself a higher goal xD

Day 27: Stop, cover time!

Two days ago, I wrote just over 3,100 words.
Yesterday I wrote 0.
Today, I've written 1,081 words.
I think that evens it out for the lack of words I wrote yesterday. I didn't even go on the computer yesterday as I was busy and doing stuff all day xD So today, I got on with some writing :)

I think it was last week - Heather made me a cover for my novel, which I absolutely loved, but thought might be too seductive xD So I've used the cover she made me as inspiration for a cover, and have finally made one that isn't too seductive, but works well enough (even though both me and Heather agree that it makes it look like a vampire novel xD). This morning, I've been attempting to come up with a subtitle for my novel as there was empty space and I didn't want it looking too vampirish - and I think I've finally perfected it :D
I feel quite pleased with myself :P

I have work this afternoon though, and I really don't want to go >.> 3 hours of cleaning and washing up - wahey, my favourite >.< But nevermind, it's a bit more money, isn't it? :)

Day 25: Lookey at this!

I've been writing already this morning - where is this motivation coming from? xD Not that I should complain about it, to be honest.
I'm about to introduce another character to my novel. Technically, he's already been in it, but not referred to by name, so this should be fun. I'm not sure how my MC will react to meeting him again... we'll see.

I really want to watch Mean Girls - I haven't watched that film in yonks, and for some reason, I feel like watching it. Perhaps I'll do that this afternoon, as well as cleaning out my hamster's cage and making brownies (I'm not doing those two things at the same time, cause that'd be disgusting. Ew). I really want to watch some of Miranda too - I watched 2 episodes from the first series last night I think, and it's so funny xD It's one of those things that I think I could watch over and over again. Sometimes, I can relate to her a little too, though I'm no where near as bad!

I am excited about making chocolate brownies though :D They're going to be brownies (obviously, duh) with chocolate fudge frosting on, and I am sure they'll be amazing. Possibly. Hopefully. I'm very much looking forward to eating them :D

Should probably do a run down of my WriYe 'stats':

Novels: 20,559
Short stories: 274
Planning: 3,471

Total: 24,304
Left to write: 225,696

I can't wait to get to the point when I've written 50,000 (if this was NaNo, I'd almost be there :P) and then I'll have 200,000 words left... it might feel like a milestone xD

Day 24: Starburst and NaNo forums = A good day.

I've been re-reading one of my favourite threads from the NaNoWriMo forums which is "Things in your novel you didn't know, but your characters did" because I find it so funny. Currently, my characters in Take a Bite don't seem to be taking advantage of their freewill - but when I was planning characters the other day, they were making their minds up themselves all over the place! Last night, one of them decided that she's bi, which I didn't know! She's a cool character though - I look forward to writing her.

I bought some Starburst this morning, and they're good, although they got taken off me, so I don't eat too many xD You'd think I was a small child, sometimes :P

I've been writing and my current novel word count is 19,744, which means that my total WriYe word count so far is 23,489 which means my word goal for the year is 9% complete :D I'm feeling quite pleased with myself, as I shouldn't actually be at that stage until the 3rd February :D

Day 22: Making my day.

Some lovely people described my blog as witty and cool - you made my day Ayesha and Heather :D Glad some people think I am witty, and I don't just think I am... *shifty eyes*

I had work today, and now my feet hurt again. Work always makes my feet hurt, cause I'm stood up for like 6 hours and standing up for six hours is painful, trust me. If you don't believe me, you should try it, though I don't really recommend that.

I'm straying from the point. Right now, I'm writing character charts for my waiting-to-be-written fantasy novel :) Fantasy isn't my usual area of writing, so I think it'll be challenging, but fun at the same time. I'm looking forward to it, and already love the characters I have chosen :)

WriYe thread on boolprop is fun today xD So glad to see people joining in the madness known as WriYe :D

Day 21: Characters outlining is the way forward. FACT.

I was double checking over at the WriYe forum just to check that I hadn't imagined this instead of actually reading it, but no, I had seen it - your outlines, planning, character planning etc all count towards your word goal. I don't feel like actually writing my novel today as I've got back from work and am feeling so unbelievably tired, that my brain isn't quite functioning well enough to write my story.

Instead, I'm planning my characters for my other novel that I am going to write at some point this year :D I wasn't sure where there novel would be going, hence why I haven't started it yet, but had some bursts of inspiration whilst at work today, and decided to get down to character planning :D It's quite fun, and it counts towards my word count. I wrote 960 words apparently, just for the first character sheet.

I'm currently writing my second character sheet and am having fun doing so. My characters are technically writing their own sheets, as they know lots about themselves, and are teaching me xD

I wonder how much Heather has written today....

Day 21: Inspiration vs motivation (why can't they work together?)

I have a lot of inspiration right now but a complete lack of motivation, which is kind of weird. Why can't I have both at the same time?

To start with, writing my novel was quite easy (at around day 5 or 6 when I wrote nearly 5k in a day?) but suddenly, I haven't wanted to write quite so much, and I really can't explain why. Perhaps I'm just not as into this novel as I thought I was. I like my novel idea, but maybe my writing is letting me down and that's why I'm not enjoying it? I'm really not sure.

I'm going to work today, so will do some writing if it's quiet, and perhaps get quite a bit done (there's always hope?) because if not, I'll have to write when I get home and I'll be tired and just want to play the sims xD I need to make novel writing fun - cause most of the time, I really really enjoy it. Maybe it's the January blues... again. Can you get the blues 21 days in? xD

On a slightly better note - I have started to get an idea for my NaNo for this year, even if it is a ridiculous amount of time away, but hey - perhaps I'll plan it well :D I finished my planning for '10s NaNo during the month as I didn't decide to take part until November xD Oops.

Heather is zooming off ahead still - which is probably a good thing, as her target is way higher than mine xD

Day 17: I don't know what this heading should be.

Nothing exciting is really happening today, so right now, I have nothing to inspire a heading for today's first blog (I'll most likely post more than one).

I just did a ten minute sprint, and managed to write 430 words, which I'm quite pleased about. I'll probably try and do 2 or 3 more sprints today because working like that seems to be good for me, and I use the time a lot better. I'm still planning where parts of the chapter are going - the hard bit is, there's a main 'plot' point for each chapter, and then it gets difficult writing any filler. I'm sure inspiration will hit me soon (well, seeing as Heather has finished her novel now, I can steal my inspiration back ;) ) and I can try and write maybe 1,000 or so words today.

I have another university interview this week, and getting there might involve going through London which I'm not looking forward to. London is nice and all, but I'm not a fan of crowds or lots of people. At least I won't have to go on the tube, so I'm grateful for that!

What else is there to say? Oh, I played the sims lots last night, and might go on it this afternoon after I've done my writing for the day. I made a new sim and am starting a challenge with her so it should be fun :) I have way too much free time on my hands.

Day 16: Hitting the wall

I did four writing sprints and then got tired. Perhaps I could claim that writing so much in so little time made my arms hurt - but that would be rather untrue. I just hit the wall in my story and need a little more time to actually think about the scenes in this chapter, because I don't want to write anymore utter nonsense like I've been writing for the last four chapters ;)

So, instead, I've opened up the sims and am waiting for it to load - cause it's taking a lifetime... Please don't crash game :'(

While I'm waiting, I'm post wordcounts:
1st sprint: 528
2nd sprint: 540
3rd sprint: 498
4th sprint: 365

My current total wordcount for WriYe is 17,727 which means I have 232,273 words left to write :)

Day 16: Sprint like your life depends on it.

I've never tried writing sprints before, as I was never sure if they would actually work for me, but as Heather is trying to finish her novel in sprints today, I decided I'd join her for moral support and motivation (and so that I'm not sat there being bored for 10 minutes while she's writing her socks off ;) )

In my first ten minute sprint I wrote: 528 words
2nd 10 sprint minute: 540 words

I think I'll keep a record of my sprints for the day, and blog them later xDD I'm actually finding it really helpful, despite not knowing where my novel is actually going right now... (My MC is watching another character read a book... I mean, boring much? :P )

Much writing love.

Day 15: My feet hurt.

I've just come home from work... well, about an hour ago, and my feet hurt. I hate standing up all day, but at least I'm sat down at my laptop now, right?

I opened my word document for my story and stared at it for a little while, then learnt that Heather has had a mammoth writing day today, and I was jealous :P Okay, not really. But I wish that I could have more days like that, even though when I did during my first week, I complained and wondered if it was normal. Perhaps it isn't, and normal for me is staring at a page, just waiting for the words to form as if it were magic.

Wouldn't that be wonderful? Like, if you knew what you wanted to happen in your novel, and your characters and stuff, and you just thought about it, and it would write itself? :P Or not. I should get a quick quotes quill or something, although typing doesn't really make my hands hurt... I'm talking absolute nonsense right now - I do realise that, but hey - where's the fun in being normal?

So I'm quite enjoying writing today. Heather was so shocked yesterday when I said I was bored of writing. Perhaps I just shouldn't admit that xDD There's no massively major plot in my novel... well, maybe it's all plot so I don't realise it. I'm not sure. But I'm at a bit which should be good fun to write, and hopefully amusing to read (at least I hope it will be... I think I'm funny sometimes, and I'm really not!)

My wordcount at the moment is 15,351 which means I've got a whopping *gets calculator* 234,649 words to write. Right, best get cracking.

Day 13: Unlucky for some?

So, confession time. I did no writing yesterday but I have a very good reason - I was at a university interview, and I did get an unconditional offer, so the no-writing thing was a good thing really :D I was going to write on the way there and back, but didn't in the end cause I'm silly like that.

I have been writing this morning though - and am starting the exciting parts of the novel I think. I think character development is really important now in my novel, as I really need to show the kind of...extremes of some of my characters personalities - without being too stereotypical! xD I've set myself a hard task I think.

I've been talking to Heather this morning and she had a mega writing day yesterday, so I'm proud of her and glad that she's productive when I'm not there to nag her to write xDD

My current wordcount: 13,645
Still to write: 236,355 (not much then xD)

Day 10: Chocolate Fridge Cake makes me happy.

So, yesterday was not a good day. Our printer stopped working, I was tired and missing my bf, and then my guinea pig got ill and died :( Not good.
Needless to say, I didn't get much writing done.

Today - I feel a lot better. I've been cuddling my other guinea pig and I made some chocolate fridge cake too - chocolate really cheers you up. Heather has been lovely and even critiqued the first chapter of my novel for me (how many embarrassing mistakes is it possible for one person to make?! O_o Mirror, not middle! xD) which I appreciated so much and it really helped. Perhaps my writing isn't so bad after all ;)

I've done a little bit of writing today and am about to do some more :) I'm feeling quite tired, so will probably make even more spelling mistakes, but nevermind, eh?

I also said I was going to play the sims and write a sims update... I still haven't gotten around to it. It's just an odd day today I guess. Better crack on with the writing then.

Word count: 12,238
Words to go: 237,762

Day 7: I'm no longer on the bread.

Excuse the very bad pun (you know, yesterday I was on a roll? Hahahaha - I know you're laughing really :P ) but today, I seemed to just come down from that writing high. Perhaps I was just not in the mood as much today.

Or perhaps daytime TV is too distracting, as I keep telling Heather. She probably thinks I'm very sad because of the amount of Come Dine with Me and Dragon's Den I've been watching. Oh, and Top Gear, cause you know, that's all they seem to be able to show on Dave. Perhaps I'm just watching TV to get away from the writing - writing is an escape from life, and TV seems to be an escape from the writing!

I've been doubting my novel again. I shouldn't, because it's probably not quite as bad as I think it is, but maybe it's the Day 7 blues or something. Or perhaps it just is for me. I think my idea is a good one (I think so anyway xD) but maybe my writing isn't up to scratch. I was under that impression when I wrote my NaNo novel, and then as soon as I started editing it and reading it back to myself, it wasn't half bad. Maybe I just need to have a little faith in myself and stop doubting my writing.

So, I'm writing the first of a series of novel, and yesterday, I came up with a different one for the series, which I'm quite excited about, although I haven't quite come up with the complete plot - but I know a very basic outline. I've got another one planned for after that as well.

Maybe I'll make the book covers to procrastinate a little...

Wordcount: 10,829
Words left to write: 239,171

Day 6: Am I ill or something?

I've been on msn to Heather for quite a lot of today - and she's probably fed up of my moaning. Especially as I'm moaning about something that isn't even bad. Want to know the problem?

I am on a writing roll, and this is rare!

I started off on 4,692 this morning and am now on 9,321... where the heck did all this inspiration come from? It's normally Heather who writes like the wind (heehee - Bullseye :D ) but today, I just haven't been able to stop writing. I shouldn't complain - because its not a bad thing at all, it just feels so unusual. I feel fulfilled though!

Perhaps this is just something I should get used to.

Day 6: Is finding this easy a bad thing?

I took part in NaNo during November last year, and as anyone I complained to can tell you, I struggled to get my words everyday because of the pressure. For NaNo, I had to write 1,667 words a day, and weirdly, once I'd got past that amount, I could just keep writing with no problem and without thinking about my word count.

I think that is my mentality for WriYe - although my year target is 250k (50k of which will hopefully be NaNo in November), I only have to write roughly 685 words a day, and I have been writing more than that daily.
Maybe it's because there's less pressure or perhaps it's because I like my novel.

I have started a novel from my series (they're not sequels so it didn't matter what order I wrote them in!) and am enjoying it. My MC is quite sarcastic and a bit of a cow - and she is so much fun to write! Coming up with character names for my novel was quite easy as well - the names all mean something, and for each character, there's something that their name should mean, so I really like that.
I may do some character sketches later, even though my drawing is positively awful :D I'm tempted to make a novel cover as well but haven't quite decided what I want it to look like, so we shall see.

Word count of 5th January: 4692
Words left to write: 245,308 (too many xD)

Day 4: Is it a miracle?

Yesterday, I actually did some writing, and then doubted my writing and hated my story already. Luckily, Heather read it for me and told me it wasn't as bad as I thought ;)

I've done some writing today, and so far my word count is 1,932 but most of that was written yesterday. I did a lot of writing this morning and came up with a few random plots whilst I was writing so I know where some parts of the story are going to go, but not others. I'm hoping this will be good and I think my MC has a very strong character already xD She's a bit of a cow.

Anywho - back to the writing!

Day 2: What do you mean I'm meant to be writing?

Okay - I am a bad girl. I have not done any writing today either, but I have good reasons. I have been re-editing and formatting my NaNo novel so that I can get my proof copy and get it over and done with. I know full well that I should be writing my new books - but I still haven't finished planning (not even the character's names are ready) but I will wing it.

Haven't heard from Heather today, so no idea if she's written anything. Just hope she's feeling better soon :)

Day 1: Happy New Year :D

Happy New Year to everyone, and the 1st of January means it's the start of WriYe - and guess what? I'm off to a flying start.

...Okay. I'm not really. I haven't written any yet today and it's 9pm - I went to a New Years sleepover last night, and well, I'm pretty tired so haven't got around to writing anything, but I will write double tomorrow morning to make up for it :D If I write some planning - that'll count ;)