Write-ins

Writers: a lonely occupation, made up of odd people lost in the worlds inside their head, people a bit cut-off from normal real life. That's the impression a lot of people have of writers. Many more think of writing as an essentially solitary activity - I certainly did that. Until I went to a write-in today, in London. For the non-NaNoers amongst you (and I shall flatter myself that one day, someone who isn't a NaNoer will read this blog entry, even if it's just because it accidentally comes up under a search for purple polka dotted umbrellas, or something - sorry about that, if you were really looking for purple polka dotted umbrellas. I own one, but that's probably not much help to you - I bought it in C&A in Nice. They probably don't have any more. Umbrellas are like hen's teeth down there.)

Anyway, write-ins - a whole load of writers - in this case, all doing NaNoWriMo - meet in one place, and sit for two hours writing. Interspersed with chatting, and eating and drinking. It was surprisingly fun, the people weren't at all weird like I half-feared, and I shall definitely make an effort to go again soon!

Thank you, London NaNoers, for making me feel welcome - and for helping me boost my wordcount to a very respectable 6674! I've now caught up from Tuesday's almost complete failure and am back where I should be!

And we're off...

A late plane ride back to London meant that I was, in fact, awake at midnight so could make an early start to my new and shiny story. I managed to get 250 words done before I got home and slept, and am now up to somewhere near 900, handwritten on the train to and from work. Plan for tonight: type up the words done so far, and carry on bravely into the night. My goal is 1700 words a day, though I probably ought to aim for nearer 2000, since chances are that my Saturdays, at least, are going to be non-writing days. We'll see - slow and steady might be the way forward, after all...

I also think I have a working title: The Island. Not very imaginative, but it's a crime novel, not fantasy, it doesn't need so much world building. (I hope. I may yet regret the rash impetuousness of that statement, I realise.)

Other NaNo participants, do feel free to chime in in the comments at any time to let me know how you're doing, or send me a message on Twitter - I'm @nicolehill.

Good luck everyone!

ETA: 1848 words! Stopping for dinner now...

Friday update

NaNoWriMo is getting closer... I'm getting more and more excited, and hope to meet up with London NaNoers when things are more settled in my flat and I have functional internet again!

The plot for Krystal is bubbling slowly at the back of my mind - it's going to tell the story of how she came to join Lerrix's army, the civil war, and her relationship with Derryn. It's going to span a much, much longer period of time than Exile did (that covered only a year or so) and be a challenge to write. I can't wait to get started!