How will I know when my manuscript is ready?

 I dedicated some time to my manuscript this weekend. I did the painstakingly arduous task of editing (apologies if you are someone who enjoys this) and spent a few hours on Sunday re-reading through the entire re-draft. I always find it weird reading my own work. Sometimes it almost feels like it is written by someone else and sometimes it really does feel like it is written by me (and a little bit cringey as a result). I like it when I come across a bit that I think works really well but I hate the bits that still feel a bit forced, as if I was including them to purely move from one moment in the novel to the other. I also feel like I am not the best at ending chapters. It never feels natural. Perhaps I should look through my favourite books and look at how their chapters end?

To give myself a break from the editing, I decided to write my synopsis. Having to decide what key moments and strip it back to its basics without losing the key essence of it all is never an easy feat. But I suppose it is a great exercise in really getting to know your book and really thinking about the meaning and message you want to convey.

I am hoping to start sending my first few chapters to agents in the next few weeks, but taking that step is always a terrifying one! I always feel like the manuscript is never quite ready no matter how long I spend on it. I can’t go on making tweaks forever. I will have to find a point where I do feel happy with it and then take that plunge.

I would love to know where you are up to in your writing process and what the experience is like for you. Any comments are welcome below.  

Small Successes

I have decided that the best way to motivate myself this January is to celebrate the small successes. On the 1^st of January, I had dreams of spending multiple hours editing and redrafting my manuscript with the view of being ready to start thinking about submitting to agents mid-January. I am willing to accept that this isn’t going to happen.

However, what I have done (and what needs to be celebrated) is that I have entered a short story competition and have found another that I would also like to enter. I also spent an afternoon last weekend editing my manuscript and, although it still has a long way to go, there is definite progress there.

So, well done me. I wonder what I will be able to achieve this weekend 😊

Writing Routines

 Let’s be honest, I haven’t done a single thing towards my writing since I last blogged. I could use the excuse of the ‘last minute’ lockdown a day into the school term and getting used to an entire different way of teaching in just four short days (and I think that would be a valid one), but if I really was going to stick to my resolution, I could have made the time.

I think the issue is routine. Obviously, I had to get used to an entirely new routine in a short period of time with irregularities (such as a parents evening from home) throwing me out of my usual way of things. I hadn’t factored in how I could squeeze writing into my week. Something I could stick to. So that is exactly what I need to do. Now I (sort of) know how my weeks are going to look, I need to plan in some writing time and stick to it. Last lockdown I had the leisure of full days to write whenever I fancied. I haven’t that luxury anymore, so I need to be much more rigid with my writing time.

I would love to find out the routines of other writers (if they stick to a routine at all). Is it better to write in the mornings or evenings? Weekday or weekend? For a length of time or short bursts? What would suit me best and be most productive for me? Let me know if you have a ‘writing routine’ and what it looks like below 😊

Time to start writing again

 I found it really hard to write over November and December. Work had gotten ridiculously busy, lockdown number 2 had just started, and the evenings had gotten incredibly dark. I just wanted to get in from work, eat and then sleep. Writing was the last thing I wanted to do, which was such a shame because it is supposed to be something I enjoy, something to relax me and take me to another place for a little while. I was annoyed at myself for feeling this way about writing, but figured that (rather than force it), maybe I should take a break. It was nearing Christmas time so when I felt I should be writing (but really couldn’t bring myself to), I would spend the time baking or crafting, or ‘getting ready for Christmas Day,’ as I put it. I love Christmas time. It is my absolute favourite time of year. I baked cookies and cupcakes. I made festive garland, place names, decorated glasses, napkins. I went overboard on the Christmas preparation. And now Christmas is over, I figured that maybe it is time to get back to writing…

I always struggle with January. It such a long, dark, cold month, and work is always really intense as the usual lead up to the GCSE exams commence (although I am entirely unsure of how that is going to look this year). One of the things that get me through is the whole ‘new year goals.’ I never set resolutions, but I always set aspirations/ goals and do all I can to try and get into the ‘motivated mindset.’ It may be all a bit forced, but it does work for me, and somewhat diminishes those January blues.

So, I am determined to get my motivation and drive “to write” back. I am going to make the time. I am going to be as excited by the prospect of writing like I felt back last February. And it starts with writing this blog post- yay!