Philippa East

  • RichardB replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Or to put it another, slightly less discouraging way, if you’re writing fiction that’s coming from inside your head, right? So anything outside that is Real Life.

  • Jules replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Haha just seen your comment, Ath. 76,000 words so far on NaNo this year – I’m not quite as fast as you’re making out. (Also only 5 books a week maximum, usually)
    I think it depends what you write as well. I find urban fantasy is very speedy. Fantasy and historical are a bit slower. Sci-fi is slower to write again. Horror seems to be somewhere in…[Read more]

  • Raine replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    @alanr that seems a doable timeline. I usually take about 6 months from starting to plan to end of first draft, although this one might be quicker thanks to NaNo. The six zillion edits are kind of scattered about in between other projects, beta readers etc, so I don’t really know how much actual time I spend on that. Plus it’s bloody endless anyway init?

  • Raine replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    That’s the one, John. šŸ™‚ I exclude writing from that because, well, I’m not sure really. Because it doesn’t involve anyone’s needs but my own, and doesn’t involve money!?

  • John S Alty replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    RL = Real Life

  • Athelstone replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    I’m way behind – my family invasion came early and is continuing. On a more positive note, it has made me get going on a completely new novel that I’m reasonably happy with so far. I’m trying something I’ve seen recommended elsewhere and not bothering with chapters (yet). Seems OK for now.

    I’m doing a weekend away in mid-January (Dunford…[Read more]

  • Raine replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Yay for plots resolving themselves @alanr! Always a good feeling. šŸ™‚

    HOw’re other NaNoers doing? I’m on 36k, struggling a bit with days being taken up with RL, but am hoping to make it early next week – before a family invasion!

  • Raine replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Fever Dream by Samanta Scweblin is a novella too – although I don’t know the wordcount – and it got shortlisted for the Booker!! I wasn’t her debut in Spain, but I think it was her first translated book.

    I think there is more scope for novellas with the smaller presses, but yeah, I think a new writer would find it nigh on impossible to get…[Read more]

  • RichardB posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago

    Editing: they say cut cut cut, don’t they? Hmm. I don’t work like that. When I finished the first draft of my ghost story six (My God!) years ago it was only 47,000 words long. When I submitted it two years later it was 74,000 words. Now its creeping up to 80,000. Mind you, there’s some rather drastic cutting needed near the end.

    • I think it works like that for some, doesn’t it? Writing the bare bones first and then fleshing out. (I’ve always hated the term ‘fleshing out’ – too many dissection classes and JEkyll and Hyde stories!)

      I seem to always end up at roughly the same word count – cutting a lot and feeling all pleased with myself, then realising I need whole new scenes…

  • Elle replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    @AlanR — it’s not often but it can happen Meg Hunter’s debut, The End We Start From” was only 17,000 or 18,000 words if I remember correctly.

  • Bella posted an update 7 years, 5 months ago

    Saw a post on Facebook that could easily apply to one’s writing (mine, anyway).

    “Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it.”

    • That’s wise advice, Bella. I guess that’s the writerly version of the outfit that has never been worn but remains in the wardrobe because it was expensive. Alas, I’m guilty on both counts!

  • Giselle replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Hello all!
    I thought about doing NaNoWriMo but I don’t have time to write a sentence these days, let alone 50k!
    That being said, I need some motivation so I’d love to do a Denizen’s SloMoWriMo – sounds like perfect motivation, and what great people to do it with!

  • KazG replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Well done on the creative burst @alanr – that must feel good. And I really like that title.

  • JaneShuff replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    Yes. Great title. Hope the creative/productive jag lasts.

  • Elle replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    @alanr — intriguing title! I like it.

  • Thank you everybody! xx

  • Raine replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 5 months ago

    That’s great, @alanr! Hope the flow keeps going. I am in the process of hauling myself over my 25k wall. Getting there, but oof.

  • Well done, Elle. šŸ™‚

  • Well done @elle. Such a sad little piece, and the bird image is perfect.

  • KazG replied to the topic Setting The Place in the forum Blogs 7 years, 6 months ago

    Really interesting, thanks for posting @elle. Place is crucial – for me it’s pretty much as vital as character and sometimes feels like character itself. I can’t write anything half decent without knowing what surrounds us, what the history is, how it has formed and influenced what’s going on ‘onstage’…

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