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get inspired to write, how to write a novel, how to write a novel in 3 weeks, novel writing, the writing life
I know I keep posting lake photos, but I have to credit the place where the plot all this came together in June, at this lake house with a view.
I told you last time that putting my daughter in part-time preschool and getting her to start taking a nap again had allowed me to focus on writing my next novel, and I got 10,000 words written in the first week alone. Well…
That kind of accelerated from there. I just finished the rough draft for that novel, at 50,000 words, in just over 3 weeks! I’m just floored by how quickly that happened.
Now, I need to focus on finding an agent and a publisher for my first novel while this second one percolates a bit, but I’m still just in shock.
What made this increased acceleration possible? Well, I can’t explain it entirely. I suppose I had some pent up energy from not letting myself start writing it for the whole year I researched it, while I finished editing The Little Seer. But I also was pretty careful to keep my work pace in check, believe it or not. I took breaks, even had to start icing my wrists to keep my carpal tunnel from coming back. I credit this resting with helping me keep up the pace all the way to the end. Good news for arguing with my workaholic self in the future!
Have you ever written something this quickly? How did you do it? Did it turn out the way you wanted? I’d love to hear about the ups and downs of your experience in comments.
I’m embarrassed to say (well, not really) I’ve done 30,000 in a week, and it wasn’t bad either. I tend to draft very quickly, getting stuff down first even in broken language, in-line notes to self and all, and then clean up afterwards. Is it pent-up energy with me? Hmmm, maybe it was more the advance fee I received … that tends to do the trick for me.
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Maybe I’ll write even faster when I’m actually getting paid to do this! That’s a nice thought.
This has nothing to do with this entry (and I apologize for that), but I just wanted to say the pic on your blog is beautiful! From that angle you remind me so much of Marion Collitard
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Wow, thanks Dee! She’s one of my favorite actresses.