Four months in and where am I? Here’s the plan …
April:
Write a minimum of 3,500 words every week.
Reach the first plot point.
Hmmm. I’d say I’m sort of on target, or at least heading in the right direction. It’s been another busy month. On top of the usual routine of editing and critique groups, I was still away for the first couple of weeks of April, and my online course on Shape a Publishable Novel kicked off while I was still in Wales. Once back in Cornwall, I hooked up with the local Shut Up and Write group again, and over at The Writing Retreat we focused on the novella at our Sunday retreat in Flushing (the next one is on the novel). I’ve also started my Tuesday night online writing sprints, and I’ve done one podcast interview and one radio interview. Even though I cringe horribly at the sound of my own recorded voice, I will share those with you when I have them, because it seems to be the case that facing one’s demons is all part of the process of becoming a writer. So, all in all, it’s been pretty busy.
In my ideal world of writerly bliss, I’ve stuck to the plan and have written a total of 20,000 words and reached, or nearly reached, the first plot point. In the land of cold hard facts, I haven’t achieved either of those things. I’m thinking it’s probably wise to reflect on why not, and to analyse what I’ve been doing instead. One thing I can confirm is that I haven’t spent the time sipping margaritas in some exotic (or even pedestrian) location. So why, I ask myself – while remembering that I have promised not to beat myself up during this process – have I failed to stay on plan? Is it just because I’ve been busy? Chances are, every month is going to be busy, and if being busy was a valid excuse for not meeting a writing target, then very few writers would ever get anything finished, so that’s not exactly helpful. Instead of whining about being busy and focusing on what I haven’t managed this month (hit a 20,000 word target / reached the first plot point), I’m going to consider what I have achieved, because I have been working at it, honest.
I have reached 15,000 words of manuscript, which I’m going to allow myself to believe isn’t too shabby. I have also made around an extra 10,000 words in notes as I’ve delved deeper into the characters and pushed harder with clarifying the overall concept, so words have been spilled onto the page. Just not the kind of words I’d planned to spill. But still, words, right? And while I might not have reached the first plot point yet, I do know what needs to happen by the time I do. I’ve also once and for all pinned down my story type – Voyage and Return – and that has helped me to clarify my thinking around the structure, particularly the ending. So, while the word count hasn’t racked up as much as I’d hoped, the planning and developmental side of things has continued to deepen, and that feels like anything BUT a bad use of time. I’m getting to grips with the central character more now, and I’ve been playing with a narrative device that I haven’t tried before, which I hope will have the effect of building in tension much earlier than a straight forward first person singular narrative can manage. All in all, progress has been made.
On that basis, I’m going to forgive myself for not hitting the base target, and will allow myself to remain confident that the thing is happening. We’ll see what this month brings. If I’m still way behind with the word count by the end of May, then it will be time to take another look at the plan and apply some strategic tweaks. Which is totally fine, because that’s how a flexible plan works. When it comes to the plan for the novel itself, I’m pretty confident that I know what the first half looks like. Beyond that, I know the major beats. But how the thing will unfold from one beat to the next remains, for now, a mystery. I’ll stay flexible with that, see what happens as things unfold, while still aiming to hit the final target. And I’ll stay flexible with the schedule too.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep on turning up.
If you would like to join in my Tuesday evening writing sprints, make sure you are signed up to my website and you’ll be sent a link. It’s been great to see familiar and new faces in the zoom room, and those who have come tell me they are finding it hugely productive and useful. If you’re already signed up, you should have received an email from kathmorganwriter@gmail.com with the link in it. If not, drop me a message via email or my website and I’ll get one to you. We start at 6.00pm and end between 7.00pm and 7.15pm. It’s strictly drop in, no prior notice required.
Have a happy month of May and enjoy the sunshine, which seems to have finally taken a modicum of notice of the calendar.
Kath
Kath Morgan Writer 