As I said last time, I wrote in secret everyday. I literally opened a file on my computer and labelled it as my book - away I went. At this point I had no idea what I was doing but my struggle became my apprenticeship. I was open minded enough to try anything so whether it be free writing, timed writing, picture prompts or word goals - I'd give it a try to see if I was productive or not  by using the method. I soon learnt that for me setting a kitchen timer which bleeps and having a specific window for writing worked. My concentration was best with a thirty minute window especially if I noted my word count at the beginning and the end. I am competitive by nature but not necessarily with other people, simply myself. Back then it felt good to see I'd written 300 words in thirty minutes and improved on yesterday's word count. It gave me the buzz I needed to repeat tomorrow or, later the same day.

I soon realised that my writing was even more productive if I thought about my planned writing session during the day whilst driving, standing in queues at coffee shops, waiting for the kettle to boil, waiting for others - in fact any moment during the day when I could be still and quiet. If you start analysing your daily routines you'll see there are plenty of opportunities for the thinking/planning stage. Once settled at my desk the words literally poured from me. Even now, I never settle at my desk without knowing the thing I'm about to write. Thinking time remains away from my desk.  

Within a matter of a few changes I had altered my writing output. It felt as if I was on a roll and the positivity in me simply soared which in turn motivated me even more. This circular model of 'think, write and motivate self' became my primary goal. Day after day, I simply repeated the habit.

I then began seeking the answer to my age old question 'how to write a book' was it the chapter by chapter method of write it, read it, polish, polish, polish it to death or not. It isn't. I was doing it wrong. By this time I had spent six years writing a novel called 'Her' which is unpublished but one day I'll rewrite it for publication as it is a decent story. I had also joined the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA) which runs a fabulous scheme for New Writers (romance based) where you submit a manuscript and receive a written critique. I'd taken the plunge to join and begun attending their parties to network amongst other authors. Not that I dared speak to many of them at my first few parties I was overwhelmed to be in the same room to be fair. Though I still have 'girl-fan' moments with certain authors as my admiration remains sky high regards their achievement.

Anyway, I booked myself on to a writing retreat with Alison May on which I learnt that you start at the beginning and write to the end of the story or as much as you have planned or not planned as you can (I'll come to planning later) Draft one should look like a straight line from start to finish and not the laborious curling-back-on-yourself style I'd developed constantly revising before moving to the next chapter. Guess what, I tried the straight line writing - it worked. I now think of it as layering because I now write draft 1 then go back to the beginning save the document with the name draft 2 and start adding bits, defining details in a straight line again until I get to the end of that draft. I save the document as draft 3 and reread adding and changing as I go until I get to the end. In fact I never go backwards, I always go forwards and make notes of things that come to mind so I can amend on the next draft. Note: always go forward!  It also meant that I always have the last draft should I need it. I'd addressed mistake number one (see previous Aspiring author - part 1)

So imagine, I now have 100,000 words labeled as draft three. I was ecstatic. I'd written a book, hadn't I? Nah, I'd got 100,00 words but not necessarily in the right order or the best sequence. That came as a shock. It suddenly dawned that with the best will in the world I might have ordered the sequence of events in the wrong, addressed issues in the wrong light, forgotten to craft arcs for the conflict, characterisation motivation and development, worse still have no pace - how the hell was I supposed to address those issues?  And here is where us authors are divided into two groups: planner or pantser. Planners plan. Pantsers wing it by the seat of their arse and simply write. I had initially written as a pantser - I simply wrote my story but now I was being asked to think about the fine details. I had to go back through and find the bits that needed improving. Yes, finding specific bits in a 100,000 word document - I found that hard. I got through it, I did the best I could but I vowed I'd be planning the next book. Can you see how my writing rules came about by doing it, tripping up and realising my own errors. I'd written 100,000 words but still I hadn't written a book. 

I have plenty of author friends who remain as pantsers. I admire them for their bravery, their nerve and their dedication because I did it once but never again. I'm told that pantser spend 25% writing 75% editing to reach the end of a project. Their dedicated time goes into editing/polishing their 100,000 raw words into a book. I am now a planner. I feel I spend 15% planning, 60% writing and 25% editing to reach the end goal of a book. I think that in terms of days or months it equates to the same amount of time but tackled and handled in a different way. Only you know which will work for you. I have realised that pantsers seem to love the editing task (which is a bloody good job given their one and only draft can be pretty raw). And, I've noticed that planners love the writing task but not the editing. If you plan there does seem to be less editing which may decide it for you.

Pantser method of writing:
1. create a document
2. write until the end
3. Edit like crazy 


My planning method of writing:
1. find the 'nugget' of your story and create a mind-map showing a multitude of possibilities for that idea
2. I create a note book for each book I write into which goes any details that I might need to refer to e.g., family trees, street maps, character pictures cut from magazines, character profiles and additional notes to myself.
3. create characters onto which you can hang those mind-map possibilities onto (I find photographs and paste them my note book)
4. note each scene upon a post-it note (this can be as complicated as you want using coloured notes for each character)**
5. try to pin point a theme which is surfacing from your planning - there is always a theme (can this theme be highlighted more?) - add it to your post-it notes where you can
6. I pin my post-it notes to a cork board or stick it the length of the staircase and spend several days looking/changing the sequence
7. I begin writing when I can't not begin writing - at this point I'll be itching to start.
8. create me document template and chapter headings
9. create a spreadsheet showing chapter by chapter the events I've written 
​10. I begin writing at the beginning and go straight through to the end one post-it note at a time. I create draft 2 and add details as I read through from start to finish. Draft 3 if I need to reread and add more details. Stop writing at approximately 100,000 words.
11. Spell check. Print a hard copy. I then read through creating a note sheet of queries as I go - my main focus is the sequence of structured events. I'm looking for holes in the story too***
12. Create a new draft and amend depending on what I found during step 11.
13. Once happy with the structural order I print a hard copy and begin seeking out the smaller errors then amend as necessary. After this stage, I feel I have a book but not before.
                                              
​** I plan 75% of my story in this manner I know I'll have moments of inspiration whilst writing and I'll want to include the new ideas to but they arise for me as I write the book.

*** It is a bugger when you find that you've written an event in the wrong place or realise that it would be better else where but then you have to unpick that section and work it in else where. 

For me the planning method works. I feel it is more logical and my brain can organise a huge amount of information in this way. I'll do research at any stage of the sequence but it can't take up precious writing time. I usually do research during downtime otherwise it simply swallows up your writing time.

Anyway, I'll love and leave you for today. I have a writing meeting to attend tonight. I have rejoined a large city group as it offers much more scope and has many published and aspiring authors that actually write!!! Unlike the one I mentioned in my previous post. I attend not to read my own work aloud, I have editors and readers doing that, but more because I missed the energy and buzz amongst authors. I enjoy listening to their ideas and giving support where I can.

I'll write part 3 of 'Aspiring author' in the coming days.

Once upon a time, I was an aspiring author. My dream was to write a book and have others read my book. If the truth be told, I'd have done anything to spend time with a published author to know 'how they do what they do' but at the time pre-social media and such like - it was difficult to glean info. My only option was to read 'How to' books on the subject of writing. They were helpful in some respects but not entirely honest. They promised to help me become an author whilst taking my money. But the worst thing was their methods didn't feel like me, they felt like a 'painting by numbers' way of writing. As I read, I struggled to match my imagination with their instructions... the result is I have a shelf of 'How to books' about writing which I never refer to which sadly, didn't really teach me how to write a book.

Last week, I gave two library talks which coincided with the publication of my fourth book 'New Beginnings At Rose Cottage' and several members of the audience asked how I got started. I talked for 90 minutes non-stop - seriously, I did. I'm known for sharing details - I remember how difficult it was for me. 

It took me six years to write my first book* - my last book took 108 days from blank page to submission to my editor of 95,000 words! I think you can safely say back then, I was doing it wrong! *This book remains unpublished but one day I'll rewrite it.

Three mistakes I was making back then:

I'd write chapter one then keep reading, rereading and editing it seeking perfection. Then I'd write chapter two and repeat - this isn't how you write a book. Or, it is if you want it to take six years.

I wrote only when the mood/muse inspired me - which means I might go three days without adding a single word to my manuscript - this isn't how you write a 95,000 word book.  

I kept thinking that writing had to be some sort of struggle, pained process of creativity which tortured the soul - I'd learnt that detail from my 'How to books'. Yes, I was feeling frustrated flailing around in the darkness without a clear path on how to tackle writing a book but I wasn't tortured, pained and suffering for my art! I really don't think that is the way to write a book despite what the 'How to books'  told me. 

So, I joined a writing group. Surely there I would be given hints, tips and some direction on how to write a book and that is when a lightbulb moment occurred for me. I soon learnt that many aspiring authors want to write but don't actually write. Some of you may have just sat up and your nerves are bristling at what I've just written. So, I'll say it again just to get under your skin because it might be your lightbulb moment. Many aspiring authors want to write but don't actually write. They are going to write tomorrow, next week, the next free weekend they have, maybe in the holidays or when the kids grow up, when my retirement arrives, when the mortgage is paid or when the new kitchen is fitted... On many occasions, I was the only person who had written in recent weeks and had something to read aloud at the monthly meeting. I ask you, how can a writing group call itself a writing group if the members aren't writing? That would be like a band saying they were a band but they never play music. A dentist saying she is a dentist but never turning up for appointments since 1999! Seriously, my dentist turns up everyday at her dental surgery in order to sustain her job title of being a dentist!

That was my lightbulb moment. Hearing the stream of excuses each month for why members hadn't done the one thing that they were saying was their dream: to write!   

​It might seem really harsh pointing out the obvious but we all have busy lives, we all have family commitments, we all want to mong on the sofa and stare at the box, are all tired and are all feeling, dealing and coping with a plethora of things in this modern world in which we live. But, writers write! My dentist dentists (I know that isn't a word).

So my first big change was I would write everyday - which erased mistake number 2 (see above). I made it a rule in my life. I wanted to be a writer so I would write everyday. It didn't matter what I wrote, whether I wrote on computer or paper, for how long or how many words. The rule was simple: write everyday... and I still do. The knock on effect was that by the end of the week I had pages of written words, I'd clocked up lots of minutes being a writer and the best feeling in the world was I began to feel like a writer. I suspect my dentist feels like a dentist after doing dentistry all day. 

I still didn't have a structured path or know what I was doing regards writing a complete book but, I was writing everyday!

I need to go and write now so, I'll publish this blog and explain how I addressed my other 'two writing mistakes' another day.  But before I go, I do need to say that I was writing in secret. My writing was a secret because earlier in my 'dream of being an author' I'd chosen to share my dream with the wrong people. These people then constantly asked 'published yet?' when it was quite obvious that I wasn't as I'd have been dancing about and celebrating if that had occurred. My lesson here was that not everyone is going to support you and my inner writing goddess can do without the constant jibing, questioning and put downs. So, my second rule was to only share on 'a need to know' basis. In my world that came down to a tiny amount of people. I felt back then, and still do, the need to protect myself from any negativity be it comments, certain people, situations, even news clips and films scenes - it does us no favours in this world. Having now been published, I do realise that some people who I didn't tell could have been supportive towards me - I failed to give them the opportunity but they've been utterly fabulous since my publication so, I harvest that now. Back then, I didn't share that I wrote or had a dream of writing a book. I just didn't. Though, it felt kind of awkward once I'd signed a publishing contract and had to inform my family what I'd actually been doing for near on two decades. Oh yeah, sorry if that comes as a shock but that's how long I was secretly writing for. But as I said earlier, I was doing it wrong!  

Anyway, I need to go... I have book to write and, if you're an aspiring author so do you! 

    


​

Regular followers will know that there are occasions when I take myself away from the family home simply to write. Last week, I did just that. I didn't go far, simply to Birmingham city centre where I booked an apartment and set up camp. It might seem strange to some and a little decadent to others - to me, it is necessary.

I have a daily routine in which I constantly juggle my writing time with other aspects of my life and a day job so, to have a dedicated week, alone to focus upon a specific idea is the most productive thing I can do. My intention was to submerge myself in a specific project and write without distraction, responsibility or interruption. And, this is what I did.

I realise some people may struggle being on their own for the entire time - which isn't a problem I have. I am a pretty solitary creature by nature.

I stocked the food cupboards, rearranged the apartment's furniture to suit my needs and literally lived, breathed and slept my project for seven whole days. I took my sketch pad and pencils providing a creative activity for my downtime and a reading book.

​It was heaven.

I managed to plan, research and write during my retreat time which now, that I'm home, becomes the backbone of my focus over the next few weeks.

I have previously attended writing retreats organised by authors: Alison May, Julie Cohen and Roman Coleman which have been three day affairs with other writers - which have a structured routine of workshops, one to one appraisals and plenty of interaction with other authors. My solo retreat might seem extreme, it might sound indulgent but other writers may find they benefit from a little bit of 'author time' away from daily life.

Publication days are exciting there is no denying that but today, the eve of publication is also special to me. Today, is the final day when myself and a handful of people (editors, proofreaders, bloggers and reviewers) know the story whilst the readers are kept waiting. From tomorrow onwards, the story is free available to anyone who wishes to invest their time in reading my latest novel. From midnight tonight the ebook will download onto various tablet devices and the story will be out in the big wide world. In the morning the paperback deliveries will begin arriving and I will be sent lots of wonderful photographs of readers with their new book.

Tomorrow, readers will devour it in approximately ten hours and will have their own opinions on each of my characters, plot lines and location. There will be reviews, blogs and stars awarded based on their opinions, understanding and relationship towards: Benni, Ruth and Emma.

Some readers will create a magical world in their head of locations whilst others will recognise many landmarks in and around Brixham. Some readers will connect with the backstories of the three female characters and perhaps reflect upon their own circumstances.  

Amongst the story line and the characters, I have dotted little bits of my personal history. I do this in each of my books as my creativity comes from deep within and is inspired by the life I've led. My first full-time job after leaving education was as a bank clerk for NatWest bank in Tamworth, my paternal grandmother lived in a bungalow in Redwood Drive, Burntwood and my paternal grandfather used to demolish brick cooling towers - each is mentioned within the book.

And finally, Rose Cottage is a beautiful holiday let in Brixham in which I stayed during August 2018 for one week thanks to a kind invite from good friends. It is in the small rear garden that I sat on Thursday, 23rd August 2019 and wrote the synopsis which was to become tomorrow's publication. 

Today, the eve of publication is filled with excitement and delightful memories knowing that tomorrow my readers can share in my latest novel 'New Beginnings at Rose Cottage'.

Available to purchase Amazon or Waterstones

​The countdown has begun with a week to go until my fourth book ‘New Beginnings at Rose Cottage’ is published. I am so excited for Thursday, 8th August to arrive – like a child waiting for Christmas.
 
All book publications are special to an author but this one feels a little different from my previous three. Book four is my first novel published with the fabulous team at Headline Publishing Group – who’ve embraced my creativity and vivid imagination.  
 
‘New Beginnings at Rose Cottage’ feels different because I have written about a cottage in which I actually stayed whilst visiting Brixham in August 2018. It was a last minute invite from friends to join them on holiday. I hadn’t any intention of planning a novel whilst on holiday, I was there purely to enjoy a good rest amongst such a beautiful location. But my mind never switches off and within three days an idea sprung from nowhere. I noted down three lines outlining my main character cast into my phone app. I still look at those three lines and smile knowing what has been born from those tiny lines.
 
I use the world around me to stimulate me as an author. Everything that I see, feel and encounter on a daily basis plays a part in creating the world which inspires me. I love people watching. I’ve always been fascinated by watching human beings interact with one another, their gestures, their exchange of communication and body language. It’s no surprise that I felt the urge to study psychology – which helps me to portray my characters.   
 
It’s quite common for me to be intrigued by a passing individual and wonder about their life and experiences. This is how my three new ladies came into the world. In any crowd, I see women who lead full busy lives, for which they sacrifice certain aspects in order to maintain a balance elsewhere. I wanted to explore the nature of these individuals and their inner worlds.
 
I created three females and sent them on a solos holiday where they know nobody and yet, are expected to live alongside two other strangers in Rose Cottage.
 
Benni is in her twenties but she’s yet to embark upon the independent life which she craves being a little scared to break free from her comfort zone.
 
Ruth has dedicated her five decades of life to loving and looking after others but sadly, she’s lost her sense of herself over the years.
 
Emma is an energetic thirty-something who recognises that she’s taken the wrong path in life. She wants to be her own boss but can she use her talents to secure her future?
 
I wanted to see their personalities and experiences entwine capturing the changes that can occur when we are placed in a new surrounding and allowed to be ourselves for two weeks. And so, ‘New Beginnings at Rose Cottage’ was born. 

New Beginnings at Rose Cottage is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

​

     I class myself as a fairly tidy person. I'm a 'everything has its place and everything needs to be in its specific place' kind of person - especially where my writing room is concerned. But, and here is a huge confession from me... in recent weeks I've got into the habit of dropping things into my writing room without putting them away, clearing or generally tidying it. My attitude was simply 'I'm busy, I'll do it another time'. But another time didn't arrive before the next pile of papers/notes/books and so, in quite a short time my room which was the solace for all I do has become an utter disgrace.
     To the extent that I couldn't actually work in there without feeling the need to chastise myself every twenty minutes for the piles of paper, books, notes which cluttered every surface. The reality was I had morphed into a grungy teenager with a cluttered bedroom.
     Today, I mucked it out!
     It has taken hours.
     Seriously, I'm not joking but boy, have I done a grand job. 
I have thrown out years of stored paper be it notes, synopsis, scribbled details - gone. All gone! Three bin liners worth of gone!
     Whilst 'mucking out' I have reminisced my love for this particular room, the tiniest room in our house. In this one room, I have created all five of my published books. I have written each NaNoWriMo project. I have pondered my possibilities of ever being published, cried about the hours spent writing before becoming a published author, opened numerous rejection letters and even, sat questioning whether I should sign the first publishing deal I was ever offered? Seriously, I did. All those things have happened in this tiny room, which I claimed as my writing room. Each one a moment on my journey towards becoming a published author.
     And now, just two years after publication, I've had to literally 'muck it out' in a ruthless manner to clear away the debris enabling me to breath. Amidst the fragrant polish and clear surfaces, I have regained my quiet solace and tomorrow, I will say goodbye to the dining room table and return to writing in my writing room. 
     And should I need to deliver a pile of paper to my work room, I promise to put them away immediately - otherwise I will ground myself for a week without internet connection in an attempt to curb my unwanted habit.
 
​      

​Seven days ago, I chose to challenge myself to see how many words I could manage on my current WIP. I wanted to push myself, I wanted to prove to myself what I could do if I stepped from my comfort zone for absolutely no reason – other than I can!

The answer: just over 18,000 words - I'm chuffed to bits!
 
I add such details not to boast or receive praise from others but simply to share with other writers, published or not, what can be achieved. Before I was published I wanted to know the true experience of an author, wanted inside information regards writing habits, daily routines and accomplishments... which is why I share and, share honestly about my writing. 
 
My photos speak for themselves. Push yourself, why not?

When life hits the tracks* by Erin Green
 
Today, your life hit the tracks and we shed silent tears for the stranger unknown.
 
We waited, some complaining, in uptight carriages while red lights were hollow.
 
An hour late for the party - no worries. Nothing, but my deepest remorse for you and yours.
 
Three hours later, I alight the Euston escalator heading home. In your honour, hundreds protest upon the cold marble floor, silently contemplating and praying that life never hits the tracks without a lover to call.
 
Amidst the confusion, we navigate our way - staring at departures board: ‘cancelled’ repeated for ever more.
 
 
 
(suicide at MK station - November 2017)
 
The Samaritans – call 116 123 (free charge)

It's been a while since I was a member of a writing group, but recently I rejoined. I know that 'rejoined' sounds slightly strange but it's the truth, honest.

I've been a member of several different groups in the area - each one unique. The first group I attended was in a neighbouring town, they were supportive of each other but no of newbies joining their established group. I wanted to fit in, I wanted to join in but sadly, an invisible barrier couldn't be penetrated so I didn't attend after six sessions.

My next group was a brand-new group, its newness was probably sought out specifically due to the aged code within the previous one. Any way, this group had a leader who was hot on admin. Over hot on admin to the point that the formality of the meeting stifled any creativity to the point that people left, in droves. Arguments occurred, bank accounts were closed and the admin was deleted. All I wanted to do was talk about writing, give feedback on writing and possibly encourage others to write! That group partly dissolved, we kept the name and a nuclear core remained but it didn't really survive. The group went down to four members, who'd meet in a local pub once a month. Sadly, if one person was away or ill the whole night was a waste of time. And over time, less and less feedback was given to the point that it wasn't a supportive group for me to attend, so I left. Actually, I left when I asked the folks to read my website to check if it was OK. I didn't read that night because I'd made a request upon their time outside of the group. They didn't read my website, didn't show much interest and I asked myself what was I doing giving up time to attend? Because that's what it comes down to really, we each have just 168 hours per week in which to live our lives. If you're trying to accomplish a goal, such as writing or any other dream, you need to cypher that valuable time away from the rest of your life. And that, isn't easy at the best of times. 

I then joined a very well established group, a group which was valued in the local area, varied in genre, known and respected amongst writers in the Midlands. Boy oh boy, talk about in house fighting and silent battles. I used to travel a fair distance to attend so, it was a whole night given up for me. Sadly, over time certain characters dominated with their views, their strops and their resignations to the point that a full blown argument occurred. I wasn't present to witness it, but at the next meeting I instantly knew that something dreadful had occurred! Knife. Cut. Atmosphere. With - arrange as you like, but it was dreadful - I never went back again. I hear on the grapevine that this group has now disbanded which is a shame because it had great potential.

I was a little lost without a writers' group - I've always embraced the idea that 'birds of a feather flock together' and benefit each other by doing so.

Then finally, I took the bull by the horns and joined a city based writing group in Birmingham. What a difference! The group was held at the newly built modern Birmingham Library, which is a joy to behold inside and out. I went for several months and it was great. There was a huge gathering of writers each meeting 20+ people writing all sorts of material short stories, poetry, autobiography plus a wide range of genres - which I never read but still found interesting to listen to and give feedback on. It was fair trek for me but I was loving it. Such is life, the minute you settle something or someone unsettles you so, the library decided it could no longer support our group as the library opening hours were being changed. What's that I hear you say? A brand new library making cut back almost as soon as it opened! Yep, that's what happened, so the group and to move to another venue. As many members went straight to the writers' group from work they brought the start time forward which made it almost impossible for me to continue at the new venue. So, I had to say goodbye.

And, I've stayed homeless without a writing group for four long years. I've missed the exchange of ideas, the feedback given and received by members, the genuine encouragement but most of all I've missed the people. the members who are each striving for their dream of being published, holding their novel/anthology/poem and acknowledging that their hard work paid off. I have genuinely missed being amongst the grass roots of being a writer, and chasing that dream. During those four years, I worked incredibly hard and was generously awarded time and attention from others in the industry - together those elements meant I gained publishing contracts and a literary agent. My dreams came true, I became a published author. And to date, I've had four book published, I'm currently working on number five. 

Now 2019 has proved to be a strange year so far, so I thought 'let's do it' and I've returned to the Birmingham Writers' Group in their new venue. It is still going to be a struggle for me to arrive on time, it will always be a huge trek given my location but it's worth it. I attended for the second time last night, I even paid my annual subscription so I'm a fully fledged members again... and, I loved it. I'd forgotten how nice it is to hear other peoples' work, to give encouragement to others and be able to converse with like minded people. I'm hoping that the coming months I will be able to attend when I can and support others.


​

It is 00:01 hours on Monday, 1st April 2019 so, I should be fast asleep and dreaming but I'm not. I'm sitting at my desk and have been for the last ten minutes waiting for the local church clock to strike midnight so, I can begin CampNaNo 2019. CampNaNo is the April equivalent to November's NaNoWriMo 50,000 word challenge which I do each year, but this year I've decided to complete the extra challenge where you set your own writing goal. I've set a CampNaNo goal of 30,000 words to be written by 30th April mainly because I already have a major project occurring this month given that my next book needs to be submitted by Friday, 3rd May. I know, I know, I can hear you berating me but I love a challenge. So, for this month I will continue to edit Book 5 but will also finish off the first draft of a 'secret book' project I started a while back which currently sits at 53,200 words. I'm sure this 'secret book' needs just 30,000ish words to finish the tale then I can begin editing - who knows it might even become another published book!

My plan for the month is to revert back to my three writing sessions a day: morning, late afternoon and evening to write, edit and edit to achieve my goal by 30th April. It would be an added bonus if my Book 5 submission were ready a few days early!

​Anyhow, I now need to begin writing the first of those 30,000 words if I am ever going to achieve... so, goodnight and I'll keep you updated on the 'home' page regards my CampNaNo word count.  

I have managed 1032 words for my CampNaNo project and then spent the rest of the day editing my current 'Work-in-progress'. I've had a happy day, as today is also my birthday so, a special day all round. Have a good evening and I'll update tomorrow.

Day 4: What a great start I've had! I'm chuffed with myself for managing to juggle the two projects side by side. See, you never know until you try! CampNaNo secret project has gone well, I've managed to write 4168 words in four days which is two complete chapters. One of which was a pinnacle plot point and that simply flowed from my finger tips - a pleasure to write. My current project to be published January 2020, is doing very nicely. I'm about to begin writing the third strand of the novel, which will be a really fun story line given the situation and circumstances but will also be quite emotional in places. I have no doubts that's I'll cry when I come to edit it. I am hoping to spend the entire weekend working on this project so, Monday should see a huge difference in my word count. I'm almost treating the next few days as a 'writing retreat' at home so, I'll be doing very little else but submerging myself.

​Day 10: What a super day of writing I've had today! Writing is a strange business, I think about what I'll write before you sit down at the laptop and then, my fingers tap away delivering the goods. Other days, like today, I do the exact same process but my fingers cannot keep up with the speed in which my mind is delivering the goods. Literally, I was speed typing for England and when I eventually stopped... 3012 words. 3012 words in one single writing session - that's  amazing for me! I usually record such output after an entire day not in just over 90 minutes. I don't think my brain drew breath! Can I repeat the same tomorrow? I doubt it. Sessions such as these come along every now and then, purely to give author's joy and hope that the next 'amazing writing session' is just around the corner. My CampNaNo project is still plodding along nicely, alongside this main project (on which I'd had a superb day) so, the juggling act continues to work for me. 

Day 15: Half way through the month and so, far I'm on track. My major project (the deadline is 3rd May) continues to grow. I've reached a particularly lovely section of the manuscript where the fun is still happening but the end is in sight. I have seventeen more days until my deadline so remain in the thick of it. My CampNaNo wasn't so easy to write today, I've got to a section which feel as if I can't lose myself into the actual story without doing more research but I can't really afford the time due to my major project. Ah well, I'll write what I can adding 'notes to myself' as I go which I can work on later. The word count is fine, its the detail that I'm not happy with at the moment.

Disaster: Notre Dame Cathedral on fire - so very sad. Guess who has half a chapter based at the Cathedral in her next book (the major project) - looks like there'll be a few description changes during my edits.