My Writing Ramblings: Whoosh, There Goes My Deadline….

‘I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.’ – Douglas Adams.

Happy Friday all.

I can’t quite believe that August has gone and we’ve now reached September.

It’s been one of those weeks where the day job has kind of taken over. I’ve been on mid shifts which on the whole don’t bother me but it’s meant that productivity of everything else has been put on the back burner. This includes the Austen challenge.

However, I now have a few days off so I will be back on track with finishing Emma before I know it…I hope. For the people doing the Austen reading challenge with me, the book for September is Mansfield Park.

My deadline to begin my novel was yesterday.  I’ve not fully finished my planning so I’ve not started writing yet. Not finishing my planning has been my number one procrastination excuse. No more. I have given myself one more week.

I have so many feelings about beginning my novel. It has been something I have been talking about for such a long time. It’s this thing that has been built up in my head. I do worry about whether I am going to be able to begin it and keep going this time. However, I also think about when I’m a lot older and what I would regret more. Finishing a novel that possibly is not publishable but I’ve done it or not starting. Plus, there is also editing.

I worry about the end result. I am anxious that it won’t be good enough. All these things are not something I should be thinking about at this stage but habits are hard to break. So many times I’ve told myself that I am just going to start and then I talk myself out of it. I let that niggle voice of doubt win. I give it all the power. I am not sure why I do this. Has anyone else had this problem?

The thing about writing is that it is so solitary. What is not realised soon enough (especially from a new writer) is that all writers go through this stage. What you need to do is make sure you become one of those authors who come out the other side.You are not alone. I once sat in a talk with Julie Cohen (brilliant writer) whose advice was to ‘let yourself write crap.’ Words to live by. I have that on a post it near where I write.

Another quote I’ve come across recently is from Churchill. I think this is fast becoming my mantra as I get closer to embarking on my novel. ‘Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.’ Words for all of us newbie writers to live by I think.

Until next week writing people.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.