For those who are new, I have had an idea for a book since forever and last year I got real serious about getting that first draft written… until I completely stalled out around September.
For once, my issue is not writer’s block, or lack of creativity. I can feel the story crackling in the back of my head all the time but for the last few months finding time has been an issue. I work full time and my job has gotten progressively very busy over this year that, plus, exercise, hobbies, my podcast and attempting to have a social life, doesn’t leave a lot of time for writing.
I don’t know how people do it. Maybe you could argue that if it mattered enough, I would find the time but, selfishly, I have always loved writing and I love my story. I don’t want to do it when I am tired and grumpy. Even this blog, which you may consider a labour of love, certainly an unpaid one, I manage to find the time by spending a couple evenings scheduling once a month or so. It’s not so easy to do that with a full on bloody novel.
So, in an attempt to appeal to my natural state of a procrastinator who needs a deadline, I’ve decided to do a writing challenge for the first couple months of the year. I mentioned it in my post about my goals for 2023 but just for the sake of repetition and as extra imaginary pressure for me, let’s tell you again:
I’ve decided to set myself a goal of 5,000 words a week for the next 8 weeks (finishing Sunday 26th Feb).
That’s only 700 ish words a day…
But if I’m successful, that means I’ll have written about 40,000 words by the end which will bring the novel’s total to a very respectable 67,000 total.
Given that NanoWriMo and most other writing challenges focus on 50,000 words in 30 days, surely this is a realistic goal for me, right?
I will post weekly updates on what I have achieved, as well as sharing any interesting scenes I have written under this new category here, so if you’re interested, click the follow button, or subscribe via email, or follow me on the socials below!
Can I make a lifelong dream a reality this year? We’ll see…
Interested in my story? I have posted 3 different extracts already:
Random scene between my MC’s (also my favourite scene I’ve written so far)
Second random scene, with a little bit of the ‘who hurt you trope’ with a twist
Wish me luck! And if you have any tips on how to write around a busy life, I’m all ears (although bare in mind, I am NOT a morning person…)
Antonia Bernardin 