I’m not sure that this was a great idea, this NaNo malarkey. Until I signed up I wasn’t fully aware of the level of my existing commitments. But whatever, it’s having exactly the desired effect. I’m knocking out my 1700 words a day on Barry 2, pretty slapdash stuff though. I’m sitting down, setting my Scrivener session meter on 1700 and I’m writing until I get there, no matter what time.
It’s 10pm now and I’ve finished for today which is early enough for a change. Thing is I work 9 – 5.30, I coach three evenings a week, I’ve got a half-marathon to run this Sunday etc. For once I’ve literally no spare time whatsoever.
I’m line-editing A West Cork Mystery in my lunch break when I’d normally read the paper. World War III could have started for all I know. I’m beginning to think that a 1st December launch might be optimistic. There’s a load of tidying up to do and I haven’t got a cover yet. Before Christmas though, for sure.
And I’ve had little or no time to catch up on all your blogs. I’m saving all the ‘new post’ notifications and will get to them eventually.
Here’s a random passage from A West Cork Mystery. Miranda is trying to persuade 77 year-old Jim to accompany her back to Ireland to help the ghost of his long-dead younger brother rest.
She slumped forward, defeated. Her eyes brimmed and, despite herself, the tears silently fell onto the carpet. Embarrassed she fished in her handbag for a tissue. She tried to speak but no words came. Instead she stood up ready to take her leave.
‘I’m sorry Ma’am, I truly am. Even if I wasn’t sick, I couldn’t afford to go.’
She composed herself enough to say ‘Money would be no object, Jim. We’re rich.’
‘I’m sorry Ma’am, I truly am.’
‘Well, thank you for seeing me Jim. Thank your wife as well.’
‘Janie was killed two weeks ago Ma’am, but it don’t make no difference.’
Back On The Rock 
You have a lot on your plate. I’m impressed you’re doing NaNo at all. Good luck juggling it all!
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Thank you Carrie. It’s sure got me working hard – I was getting to used to cruising through life 🙂
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I love the “and, despite herself,” – wonderful few words that say so much. Great job on churning out the words.
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Thank you Letizia. I’m very happy with AWCM and want to get it out there soon 🙂
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NaNoWriMo is tough when you’ve got a full-time job and other commitments…kudos to you for staying on track, Roy. When I met the challenge in 2010 and 2012, I made sure I wrote 1667 words every day and more on the weekends. It was difficult many days, but in the end, you feel a sense of accomplishment even though the writing is often rubbish…until the re-writes. I’m cheering for you now and on Sunday!
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Thanks Jill – yes I know you’ve been through it and know the task involved. I know that there’s at least one day when writing anything will be impossible so I need to get ahead of the curve. Fortunately the last two days of November are a weekend! Thanks for the Half Marathon cheer 🙂
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Go, Roy, Go . . . Go, Roy, Go . . . a little impromptu cheerleading from Canada.
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Thank you Fran, just what I needed 🙂
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You little devil, Roy – now I’m desperate to know what happened to Janie. I can quite sympathise with the lack of time – all I’ve wanted to do this month is settle on the plot for “Plank 3”, and I have even managed that so far, let alone written a gazillion words like you. Courage, mon brave!
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Thank you Susan! In many ways this manner of writing is fun. There is only a vague storyline and the characters themselves write it as they go. Surprises to come yet I think.
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Holy crap, Roy! That sounds like a Britt schedule. 🙂
You know we’re all rooting for you. And hey, the great thing about being Indie is you can publish when you want. I had to delay NFE and people waited. If nothing else, it builds more suspense.
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Well it’s work for idle hands – certainly it’s making me creative in discovering pockets of time I forgot I had 🙂
Yes, true about the publication. I’ve no intention of rushing it out before I’m 100% happy.
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I must say I thought about you a few days ago and wondered how it was going! Well done for sticking at it so far, 1700 words is no mean feat! I’m especially impressed now that I know how much else you’re dealing with. Good luck for the rest of the month, and keep going!
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Thanks Jenny. Unfortunately some stuff isn’t getting attended to but it only goes to show how peripheral some of our activities are. If I ever had a social life I haven’t this month.
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I have visions of you writing as you run through Howard Davis Park. Just as well there aren’t too many roses leaning up at you! Good luck with it all and keep on going. You’re nearly half way there so hack on!
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Hello Jean – happily I’m gathering pace and really getting in to the story now. As for Howard Davis Park I still walk through there each morning – looking a bit forlorn and bleak right now with all the flowers gone. They’re using it as the central focus of the Island Games next year, 3,000+ competitors.
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That’s good to hear you’ve the wind behind your back.
Ah Jersey!
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Whew, you have got a lot on Roy. Good luck with the writing and with the half marathon!
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