Don't rest on your laurels!

Just because you've completed the target number of words - 80,000 in my case - don't rest on your laurels!

The job is not finished, not by a long chalk. You need to look at your work with a critical eye. Better yet, try and get someone who knows what they are talking a bout to look over your work.

Then take on board any criticisms.

That is vital. Don't fool yourself into thinking what you've done to date is somehow perfect, or the best you can do.

It isn't. Be honest with yourself. Improve your work. It's all part of being an author. It's all part of the editing and book publishing process.

Almost reached the target!

Almost reached the target. Some 3,000 words to go! Then comes the second draught :( which hopefully shouldn't take as long as the first. And they say writing a book is easy.

Trying to distance yourself from what you're writing is very difficult. Yet, somehow, there must be objectivity, otherwise any areas of the book which are weak will remain so.

That's where someone who has all the major resources of a mainstream publisher is so lucky. They have many eyes to scrutinise their work. Not so when you are not only the author, but also the editor, proof reader etc...

Writing Is The Easy Part!!

Writing is the easy part. So they say (who ever they is). Then comes the next step, writing the second or third draughts...sigh!

But you've gotta be honest, real honest, and not think everything you do must be set in stone because of its 'brilliance'. That's the WRONG attitude.

Everything you do can be improved, should be improved. Only then will you be able to step back and look proudly on your work. Is an author's lot a happy one? Don't know, is the honest truth.

Enough said. Take a look at the little excerpt from today's effort:


We came to a small hotel and went around the side and up a narrow dimly lit staircase. Mick said he had to meet someone in one of the hotel rooms, so I followed him and Franky without thinking much about it. I found myself in an empty room as Franky stood outside as if on guard. Mick put a finger to his lips to tell me to be quiet before bending down and pulling out a large suitcase from under the bed. It was as if he knew it was all ready there, just waiting for him, and I felt uncomfortable. Something didn't feel right.


See you all soon!

Can't Beat Writing A Book...

Can't beat writing a book when the creative juice flows! Today was one of these rare days when inspiration flowed, unhindered. If you're an author, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Why can't every writing day be the same? Here's a little excerpt:


The light from the bedroom flooded across the livingroom floor, illuminating two naked bodies locked together. Mick turned his head, startled, transfixed, and leaped off. I flew at him.

I screamed, "How could you!".

"She led me on", he squirmed, trying to push the blame away.

Doreen sat up and grabbed a blanket and quickly wrapped it around herself. She said nothing and offered up no defence, staring at the floor to avoid looking me in the eye.

"Pack your bags and get out. We're finished. No more excuses!"

Mick knew I meant it. He'd never seen me in such a rage before. He fumbled at his shirt buttons and pulled up his trousers and beat a hasty retreat out the door, mumbling something about picking up the rest of his clothes in the morning. I was glad to see the back of him. Doreen sat dumbly on the settee, still clutching the blanket.


That's it for today!

Writers Block

Writer's block happens to every author. It can strike unexpectedly, to any writer, any time, for no reason. Best advice? Take a break. Do something completely different for an hour or two. Take more time if you need to. It'll all come back. That's for certain.

Made the target of 1,000 words today. Difficult day. Not quite writers block. But pretty close. Sometimes, you've just got to keep struggling through. No matter what. Plenty of breaks. Plenty of cups of tea!!

A little excerpt from today:


Mick was in the kitchen when I went through, scrubbing hard at the cupboards, hardly able to look at me. He scrubbed so hard I got the feeling he was trying to do some kind of penance for what he did, attempting to wash away the stain, the memory of last night. I couldn't talk to him. I didn't want to. He knew what he'd done to me and he'd have to deal with it himself, without any words of comfort or forgiveness from me. I made myself a cup of tea and left him to get on with it. Later on, he tried to make amends by suggesting I go back to Aberdeen and visit my sister.

"It'll do you some good. You've not seen her in a while. You can spend some time with her. What do you think?"

"Yes", I replied, grudgingly.


That's all for now...

To Write A Book Or Not?

To Write A Book Or Not? Every one on the planet has a book inside them. Right? Yes. A tiny percentage even make a start, writing a few thousands of words or so. Maybe even more than that. Right?

Yes. Then they realise just how hard it really is. And how lonely it can be. that's because any would-be author must focus, focus, focus. To the exclusion of all else, practically. Even family. It's a tough job, full of highs and lows.

If you can take the strain then do it. I'm doing it and feeling the strain. Every day. But I've reached 70,000 words and I'm over the moon. A few thousand more to go!

Anyway, enough of all that. A little excerpt from today's effort? Read on.


He kept on and on, screaming out the same question, grabbing me by the hair and pulling me around the room. I screamed in pain.

"Where's he hiding?"

"Honestly, there's no one here", I cried out, begging him to stop.

But he didn't believe.

"Lying bitch!"

He smacked me hard across the face with the back of his hand and I stumbled and fell to the floor. I don't know how many times he kicked me as I curled up into a tight ball to protect myself. When he was finished, he lay down on the settee and fell into a deep sleep. I slithered across the floor and pulled myself up and into bed, battered, bruised and aching from head to foot, hardly able to comprehend what had just taken place. Why had he acted this way, with such violence, when I had done nothing wrong? I sobbed my eyes out until I fell asleep.

That's it! See you soon.

A milestone!

Today is going to be a bit of a milestone.

I'll have reached 70,00+ words - only some 10,000 more to go.

That's 200+ pages.

And what's the main thing I take from everything so far? In a word - discipline.

Right from the word go, I said to myself I would write 1,000 words a day. Every day. No matter if I could be bothered or not.

And sometimes I couldn't, especially when the sun was shining.

But, if necessary, I forced myself. I stuck to the task in hand.

Discipline. Determination.

All authors require both!