Monday 2 December 2013

The Trials and Tribulations of Writing

                     

As many of my readers will know Novemenr is NaNoWriMo month, where all those writers who take part pledge to write 50,000 words over the month. Last year, 2012, I zipped through the words and emerged victorious at the other end, well before the deadline. This year, 2013, however, has been a totally different story.

I started well, the words were flowing and I was getting a great head start on my new novel. Then everything that could go wrong went wrong. There were days where, despite the fact I got up, my muse stayed firmly fast asleep in bed. Rather than flowing swiftly along on a river of words I felt like I was trudging on fly paper. This was an unusual feeling for me as I am used to being able to write with abandon. 

Add a pre booked weekend away and a rather unexpected hospital admission into the mix and you will get a general idea of where my month was going. The hospital admission and subsequent recovery meant more days where taken out of the writing equation. However, Looking on the bright side it did give me a lot of inspiration for my writing. The writer in me knows I can't let an opportunity pass to expand my knowledge and develop my skills. It also gave me a lot of thinking time which is often missing in my life. There were many other disasters and issues which got in the way of my writing but I won't go in to them here. These could be made into a novel and I don't want to give any plots away. 

The month culminated with a washing machine flooding the utility room which is at the end of my, fortunately, large office. The subsequent clean up operations and mending of said washing machine took up a great deal of writing time. However, the good news is, the month also culminated in my completing NaNoWriMo by the skin of my teeth amidst some degree of stress. 

What has this month taught me. Firstly it has taught me that No matter how hard I plan things will go wrong and this is out of my control. It has also taught me that despite everything I should keep writing. Putting one finger I front of the other on the keyboard is crucial. I've learned that sitting at a desk typing is not the only form of writing and sometimes I need to take time out to think. 

I've also learned that I need to go with the flow and the important thing is to keep writing when I can. Using up spare moments can often be as productive as sitting down for long swathes of time. The one thing I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, is that I now feel like a real writer. I've had the month from hell and still managed to come through at the other end victorious and determined to write. 

That' sit for this week Bookaholic's. Normal service will be resumed next time with another review of a great book. 

12 comments:

  1. There's always a washing machine just waiting to get in on the chaos, isn't there? What a rollercoaster of a month. All grist to the mill, but who wants that kind of grist in the first place? (Whatever grist is ....)

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  2. Those washing machines always know when it's the best time to cause havoc. Your right what is grist? I can feel some research coming on

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  3. I understand what you went through. Your message of putting one finger in front of the keyboard is a great message. I have been struggling with my muse for a few years now and I know that I have now become undiscaplined in my writing. Tyhanks for the kick in the butt!!

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  4. Thanks Candy. Sorry your muse was MIA. Hope you get back into it soon.

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  5. I'm sorry to hear you've been ill and of your other troubles, as well. You are absolutely right, though. There will always be something happening that will take us away from our writing. We can only deal with what's in front of us and move on. That is a lesson I've learned well these past two years!

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  6. Thinking as well as pen on paper are equally important to a writer--I couldn't agree more, Wendy. Thank you for sharing your experience with me and I hope both you and your washer are in much better shape.
    All the best

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    1. Thanks Leanne, wee both seem to have returned to excellent health and all is well.

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  7. This article is enlightening.. Sometimes it becomes to accomplish a task within the time frame.. so do we leave that work in the mid way? I would like to know about the novel you were working upon.. Is it complete now??

    All the best for your work.. You seem to be very passionate to writing..

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    1. Thank you Swati. Book one is complete but book two isn't as yet. However, I am 50,000 words into it so that is something

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  8. Congratulations on completing NaNoWriMo, Wendy, despite all the trials thrown at you. Sorry you were ill and hope you are completely well again. I am grateful to you for urging me to take part this year, as I had decided never to put myself through the horrors of it again after failing to complete it last time I tried. I'm not sure what was different this time but it may have been the realisation that it didn't matter what nonsense i was committting to the page - the important thing was to keep going - as you put it, one finger in front of the other. I haven't dared to look at what I wrote - after Christmas will be time enough - but thank you, because even if half of it is total rubbish, at least some of it will be usuable and wouldn't have happened if you hadn't said, 'Go for it.'

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