The To Do List 22nd to 28th October

Posted on by

Last week was a stressful week. Have I ever said writing is easy? I hope not, because, trust me, it isn’t lol. I’m always as honest and open with my readers, so can I just say that this week sucked! lol.

I needed to start writing my piece for the Faber course, I asked everyone’s advice, made a start, got to 2321 words then had a major melt down 😦 I’ve written it in 1st person and I’m just not gelling with it. Perhaps I’m a 3rd person kind of girl? Perhaps it’s the wrong thing to write? Perhaps I’m over thinking? Lol. I dunno….but what I do know is that this writing malarkey is hard work! 🙂

So, how did I get on with last weeks list?

1. Faber homework. Well, I’ve made a start, but, it’s not going well 😦 I read all the handouts and made some notes. I’m beginning to wonder if starting a new novel from scratch was a big mistake.

2. Finish reading current book. Nope, in fact I haven’t done much reading at all this week 😦

3. Get out winter clothes and boots. Done! But I’ve not put the summer stuff away lol

This weeks list…

20121020-192639.jpg

1. Continue with Faber homework. We’ll probably get more handouts tonight.

2. Do synopsis for writing group. For which novel? I seem to have 4 now lol

3. Change Faber piece from 1st person to 3rd person.

4. Finish current read.

5. Make some decisions. Yeah, my brain aches. I seem to have two WIPS, Nano looming, and it seems my tutor liked the piece I submitted to Faber in the first place.

Going tonight, so might have a chat to him, see what he thinks 🙂

What are your writing plans for the week?

29 thoughts on “The To Do List 22nd to 28th October”

  1. Hi Vikki
    Well done for even putting pen to paper – I haven’t written anything for weeks! Blog coming soon though about the results of my manuscript critique, plus I’ve got some time off coming up and I’m hoping to get back into the swing of writing! Thanks for the inspiration.
    Sandra 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  2. Hi Vikki,

    You did have a tough week, poor thing. Before you give up on the first person completely and embark on a rewrite, would you like me to read it? I write and read a lot in the first person, I’d be happy to give you my thoughts. Email it to me if you like. 🙂

    When I’m trying to decide which of many current projects to focus on, I try to step back and tap into which excites me the most. I think your new novel for the Faber course needs to fit two criteria: it needs to be something worth the investment (i.e. something in a genre which stands a good chance of getting you an agent at the end of the process), and it needs to be exciting enough to you to keep you interested throughout the process. I’m going to be going through the same thing with my new novel for the MA soon, so I’m looking forward to hearing which way you go.

    Jo x

    Like

    Reply

  3. Well done, Vikki. It must be something to do with the dark, miserable, wet days, because I’ve also had the most awful week. I haven’t written a word! There, I’ve admitted it! And I don’t feel a damn bit better. Deep sigh… Hope you have a brilliant week this week. Love Maddie x

    Like

    Reply

  4. Vikki, I find with a novel, writing in the third person is much better. Short stories are easier to write in the first, because you don’t have to sustain the ‘I’ the ‘personal experience’ for too long. But unless it’s an experience you’ve been through, that you’re writing about, I think first person is very hard to sustain. This is my personal view. Other’s may argue, but I think if you’re used to writing in the third person, you should stay with it. Stay with what you know and what you feel comfortable with. At the end of the Faber course, I’m sure you’ll be able to write in both. At the beginning of it, do what you do best. Hope this makes sense. Good luck. xxx

    Like

    Reply

  6. Vikki, take a deep breath: you will get through this. I had the reverse issue when I started writing my first novel. I began in the third person because I wanted an omniscient narrator but I just simply couldn’t do it. So, I went back and swapped the first 20K words (!) over to the first person. Yes, it was tedious. Yes, I doubted my decision right until the last ‘she’ had disappeared. But I saved my WIP and from then on it flowed. So, that’s one thought. As for everything else… time management is your answer, and you will arrive and conquer. Hang in and keep rocking… er, writing. x

    Like

    Reply

  7. Oh Vicki … that is a daunting list of things “to do” anytime !! Love that you can “multi-task” and work on more than one piece. It’s also a tribute to your right/left brain functions. Keep up the good work … I love hearing more about your weekly progress.

    Me? I am beginning to settle down into my new nest and have four new blog posts planned. Will edit and get my mystery to my last reader and with any luck get back to my new work. Oh yeah … I forgot … I am editing two novellas I haven’t the foggiest idea of what “to do” with 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  8. Sometimes it is hard to determine if first or third person is better. I had to go back and change one WIP because I decided later that first worked best, but I’m like you where I generally prefer third person when writing.

    It is great that you are able to work on more than one piece at a time. You can do this! You’re already off to a good start since you’ve got a few thousand words down already. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  10. Vikki, I understand. You are not alone. I wish I had more time for everything in general. Since I began my new job, it has been more difficult to schedule in writing. You are also not the only one not to put away your summer clothes. With 78 and 80 degree F days, I won’t put them away until December, maybe January.
    You will get it all done in excellent fashion! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  11. Hope you get to check off more at the end of the week.I feel you on reading,my tbr pile is growing cobwebs. I do like your #5,make decisions.So much to do and so little time. Least you beat me in pulling out the boots 🙂 Eventually we will get things done.

    Like

    Reply

Lets chat!