These are the visitors I had in my back garden on one of the recent colder October days. My computer is in a back room where I sit side on to the window and I couldn't believe it when a sudden movement caught my eye. Guess who couldn't get on with any more writing for a while! I was amazed at how long they managed to enjoy their outing before the neighbouring cats finally appeared.
How come I always feel inspired to get on with writing when I'm out for a walk and coffee with my husband, or even while chatting over lunch, then as soon as I'm back through at the computer I do everything but write what I'd planned? Please tell me I'm not the only one to be full of great writing ideas and plans when doing something else. At least a lovely visit to my little granddaughter the other day (now 5 months old!) meant I was able to write on the train for a while. I now have to transfer that into the computer, so maybe that's a good place to start.
Now that we're heading towards the end of the month, I'm starting to think about signing up for the November NaNoWriMo again this year. Although I didn't quite reach the 50,000 word target last year, it did make me write a huge chunk of the next historical novel, Midwinter Masquerade - which is now almost redrafted at last. It's one way of ensuring I get on with one of the other writing projects. Anyone else signing up?
Enjoy your weekend.
Rosemary
11 comments:
Oh, Rosemary, I can assure you, you are not the only one who has great ideas at the wrong times! I have lots of little scraps of paper on which I've jottted down what I hope will remind me of my good idea but they don't always make sense later.
I am definitely NOT signing up for NaNoWriMo this year - felt too much of a failure last time, and the time before that.
No! ( to NaNo). I couldn't face that under any circumstances! But good luck if you decide to go ahead.
I've signed up for NaNo, will be a very busy month! Sometimes I struggle to get inspired at the computer too (although I suspect the internet doesn't help) when this happens I write by hand in a notebook away from the computer. When I type up my notes I usually get inspired to keep typing :)
All my best ideas come when I can't do anything with them. And when I sit down to write, I can't believe how much time the distractions take up before I start doing something with the ideas that seemed so urgent and thrilling at the time!
NaNoWriMo isn't for me, but I admire hugely any writer who signs up for it. I tend to put too much pressure on myself as it is, getting up ridiculously early to write and often unable to think about anything else! I think I would get too uptight about the word count and drive my husband mad if I was lagging behind!
Best of luck with the challenge, Rosemary. I'm very interested in how you get on. I think it's a daunting but extremely exciting task to take on and has given your novel a fantastic boost.
How lovely to have a gorgeous baby granddaughter. That's a fabulous way to spend the day, especially writing on the train as well. I hope I can do the same one day in the future. x
Enjoy NaNo, Rosemary! I won't do it this year, but I might consider it another year. I think next time I would like to have a plan before I start. Keep us posted on your progress (if you have time!)
Yes, I have scraps of paper too, Mary! Every so often, I enjoy trying to transpose them into my ideas book. Even if I do NaNo, I won't beat myself up if I don't make the target - now maybe that's the wrong attitide to start with!
Thanks Frances - I can understand those opposed to such a manic target!
Hi Charmaine - many thanks for commenting and following! Glad you're doing NaNo. I'm exactly the same as you, sometimes needing to write with pen and paper away from the computer. And my favourite place (apart from trains) is while having coffee and cake at my favourite Costa!
Joanna - thank you, you've perfectly summed up the experience of having ideas and then the subsequent distractions! NaNo definitely isn't for everyone, but I often need a strong incentive to get something finished. Little Iona May is so cute and I had to stop myself kissing her plump wee cheeks all the time!
Hi Joanne - a plan is a very good idea! Will let you know if I manage to achieve my aims this year.
You can be forgiven to be a bit distracted with those visitors...Good luck with NANo! I'm too much of a sporadic writer for that one to work for me
Thanks, Vikki!
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