Writing A Novel - The Writing Begins
This morning I sat down and actually started writing. I gave myself an hour between 8 and 9 and did three 20 minute Pomodoros. The first saw my put down 867 words, the second 698, and the third 762, for a combined total of 2327 words over the hour of writing.
It’s a good start. I’m definitely failing at keeping this first chapter short - I’m already closing in on the total word count I was aiming for for this chapter - but that’s fine. Editing is where real writing happens, and my favourite part of editing is making cuts. This first chapter is also serving the purpose of letting me get a feel for the characters, which always takes time.
I tried to write yesterday afternoon and failed, and I felt much more ready to sit down and work this morning when I was feeling fresh. (Yesterday I’d done a full day of work before I tried to write, which is never going to be productive.) It felt good this morning, but 8-9 is normally the time I’m at the gym and the only reason I’m not there today is that I’m still recovering from surgery. So once I’m back I’ll have to find a time in the day that works for me that doesn’t also eat into my ability to do Actual Work.
I’m pretty happy with 2,300 words per hour at the start of this, especially as I spent a lot of time sitting and thinking and not putting words down. I feel like these opening sections are always going to go much slower than the later chapters once I have a feel for the characters and the voice that I’m attempting to strike with this.
I’m happy with this as a first day. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.