Back to Reality...

Well I'm back to the computer today and have been able to get some writing done- hurray!!!!

Now I have to admit that I've not physically been here the last few days as I was away from home- an extended weekend break-as well as trying out the writing with pen and paper (in different locations).

What worked?

I tried writing on Scarborough beach on Sunday and did get one side of A4 done (I do have large handwriting though) but the temperature was 25 degrees and it was just too hot for me to concentrate.

Monday afternoon was better, I went into the bedroom and shut the door and managed an hour's writing, plus I found out something about my hero that will be very useful- it hadn't occurred to me when I was writing his character profile a few months ago...

So the four pages I managed were not a complete waste of time.

I have learnt:

I DO need quiet to write. It doesn't have to be complete silence but low level background noise that isn't intrusive is fine.

I do go into 'the zone' when I write at the computer. It is easier to put myself into that state where I am with my characters in their surroundings, watching and listening to their conversations.
With a pen and paper I couldn't do that properly, it was a superficial level.

Personally for me, using pen and paper to record ideas and scenes that come to me at any time, works, but I write better sat at the computer without interruptions.

I've been adding to my current work in progress this afternoon and incorporated some of the pen and paper insights from the weekend, so I'm satisfied with the progress I've made.

BUT I have a deadline, so there's still work to do yet...

I Need To Write....

I need quiet to write. I can't write on the computer with the noise my family create and the interruptions they bring when they're around.

School summer holidays are frustrating and by the first week of September my fingers are itching to get the keyboard for extended sessions to let all the pent up creativity out.

And with the recent computer upgrades it has been even worse. My brood can access their favourite websites even quicker and their, 'I've just got to read this...'is annoying; the graphically gifted offspring can do so much more on this system that hours go by- I'm normally polite, but, friendly blog readers, you probably know I am silently swearing in frustration...

I have a deadline. A synopsis and first three chapters to get ready by the end of the month for one of the annual competitions at the writers' club I attend. So my current project- my WIP, work in progress, is going to take priority for the next few days.

Instead of trying to write at the computer- in quiet I can't get- I'm going the pen and paper first route-not my normal process, so it will be different.

I have the chapter outlines I'd worked out and the early (already printed) chapters I got down before school finished (so I'm not starting from scratch). I know it won't be perfect, but it will be as good as I can get it. I can type the hand written pages as I get time (before the deadline)...

(Then later in the year there may be a paraphrasing of the judge's comments- if I've not done really badly.)

But a writer has to do what a writer really has to do, so no Saturday or Monday blog posts. But there will be as soon as possible after then.

See you next week...