Writing progress: August

I had a writing post planned for today, just not this one. It was a rant; a moan; a whinge, and I didn’t want the blog as an outlet for frustrations but a place full of motivation and inspiration.

I’ve certainly been inspired recently. At the end of July, I realised it was annoying me that I wasn’t managing to find time to write: I was too tired when I got home from work and best intentions and all that wasn’t getting me very far.

I started getting up early. I normally get up at 6:45, but set the alarm for 45 minutes earlier with the intention of having a writing session every morning before work.

It’s working. At the time of writing this, I’ve just capped 30k words this month. I know – it’s quality, not quantity. But my ideas flow, inspiration grows and I want to write the more I do it. I can edit afterwards – I needed to start getting words on a page before I could get to that point.

It hasn’t been focused on one project alone: the novel, the blog (although not so much), even getting back into writing fanfiction. Writing has been an escape for me for so long and it’s doing me the world of good embracing that.

I’ve always been a morning person. No wonder my evenings are spent in a tired haze; it’s never been when I’ve functioned at my best. I think I’ve finally realised the importance of listening to what your heart and body want, and if that means getting up early to write so I can start the day feeling satisfied and accomplished, then that’s what I will do.

It’s not just how I’m feeling it has benefited.

After years of talking about my novel, speaking of rewrites and edits and never feel like I’m making progress, I’ve only gone and done it.

I’ve finished the first draft.

Don’t get me wrong, I have so much work to do on it. I’m not sure if it falls under ‘major edit’ or ‘complete rewrite’. I haven’t been letting myself edit for the last couple of months, adamant that I would reach the end of the plot before I started to sort it out.

I was having a writing session on Sunday, trying to make up my word count. Suddenly, it came to a close. A natural conclusion. Did it end where I was expecting? No. But I always overthink final lines, so coming to a natural close has to be much better than trying to stick to a plan.

I haven’t been this excited for it for a long time. I can take a big step forward with it now, and see where it takes me. I’ve figured out some of the parts that are weak and its just a matter of starting at the beginning and working my way through.

Writing each day has definitely moved projects on, and I’m really looking forward to where this takes me!

How about you? Do you find time for your hobbies?

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