It’s been over three weeks since I confessed to the world I’m writing a book so here is update number one.
I’m not sure I like writing a book!
Ah, I’m only joking! Most of the time I am enjoying the process, but there have been moments.
To begin with the positive, I’ve written over 13,000 words since my big announcement, which means I’ve gone from almost 20,000 to 33,000 words in a little over three weeks. I’ve tried, to be a disciplined as regards making time, turning off social media and my phone, admittedly some days more successfully than others.
As regards the story and plot, anyone who knows me will not be surprised to discover I’m a pantser. To those of you not in the know writing-wise, that means I largely make it up as I go along. Roughly translated this means I began with an 
idea and had no clue of a middle or end. Thankfully the story has evolved and I now have a better beginning and a middle, sadly no end just yet.
I’ve also discovered writing a book is a big leap from writing a short story and I’ve struggled a little with that. When I write a piece of flash fiction, it tells it’s story quickly, with every word counting. Not being so picky has not come easy to me but I keep reminding myself that this is only a first draft, I can make it better when I’m finished, once I know what’s happening. That’s great in theory until I re read a chapter and itch to write it better, but if I did that I’d never get anything done.
There has also been quite some time spent googling, first and third person point of view. Which is better? How many viewpoints can I have? Google please tell me what to do!
I began writing in the first person, my young bucko telling you his own story, but four thousand words in I decided it might be better to move to third person and that’s how I’ve continued. However, each day I write a part of me itches to return to first person, so he can pour his heart out and we can all identify with him.
My other main issue with the process is the amount of filling in story I’ve to do. Descriptions of people, places or the weather do not come naturally to me. When I’m reading a book I often skip them, looking for the main plot, what’s happening, where’s she going? But now I’m re reading books trying to figure out how the author created a scene and what do I see and feel as a result. I really have a lot to learn on this front.
However, my main characters are now very real to me. We are chatting together by day and even sleeping together by night. They are guiding me along nicely and occasionally shouting at me for daring to think such a thing. Just the other day I realised something about one of them which came as a shock. I was on chapter seven and I’d not known it had happened in chapter two! It was a bit painful having to go back and re write it but I’d no choice.
Last night I took time out to attend the book launch of one of my Inspiration Project leaders, Catherine Ryan Howard. Her first, ‘award winning’ book ‘Distress Signals’ (a crime drama set on a cruise ship) was excellent and launched to great acclaim. As I sat listening to her speak of her writing journey for book two, ‘The Liars Girl,’ it was obvious that even after your first book, writing isn’t easy. Listening to her read from it I thought how wonderful it sounded, how exciting and I despaired, thinking perhaps I should go home and delete, delete, delete. Then I remembered hers was not a half finished crappy first draft and in that moment she inspired me all over again.
I can and I will some day type ‘The End.’
So I’ll leave it there. I’m hoping the next three weeks will be as productive as the last, but I’m not too sure. However, one word at a time and I’ll get there eventually.
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Because Catherine has been so inspirational I thought I’d share the blurb for her new book, The Liars Girl, with you all.
Her first love confessed to five murders. But the truth was so much worse. Dublin’s notorious Canal Killer, Will Hurley, is ten years into his life sentence when the body of a young woman is fished out of the Grand Canal.
photo credit: wuestenigel What’s new? via photopin (license)
My thoughts on a page. 
I’ve been listening to Elin Hilderbrand’s “A Summer Affair” one of the characters is from County Cork, Ireland and the actress reading it is speaking with an Irish accent. This is the first time I have read one of your posts and read it all with an Irish accent too. I love your writing. I can’t wait to read your new book. You will figure it out and be oh that’s what that was supposed to be. I have put my NANOWRIMO November project aside for a while, I am stuck on how to end this one too. I really have not figured out yet just why the main character was kidnapped yet. When I figure that out, I will be able to complete the book. My first NANO project just seemed to write itself and came to an natural conclusion. I think it is the different format that I am trying with the new one with flash backs included that is throwing me off. Best wishes, dear friend.
That’s a pity, but I’m sure you’ll return to it, or like when we try to remember something, the minute we stop thinking of it the memory returns.
I’d love to hear your Irish accent reading my post. I wouldn’t mind doing an audio blog post one day, but never a vlog. 🙂
Now that I know I am a 1/4 Irish, I understand where the love of everything Irish (my whole life) has come from. Now more than ever my dream vacation is to go to Ireland and explore. Maybe some day.
You know where I am. And I know where to get a woolly black sheep if you’re looking for one!
Oh yeah, if this dream vacation ever comes true you’ll definitely be contacted.
Wishing you great progress in your writing, Tric
Thank you Sue.
I just love hearing about your discoveries while writing, Tric. It’s so exciting, especially when those characters start moving into your life and telling you about them and their stories. And they make you go back and update their information. What a hoot. It’s the best part of writing for me.
I wanted to say one thing about 1st or 3rd person. In both types, your character can “he pour his heart out and we can all identify with him.” All your doing is changing the pronouns (in a way). To keep 3rd person nice and tight to the character, imagine he’s wearing a miner’s hat with a little light on his forehead, so you are writing what he thinks, hears, sees, feels just as if you were writing 1st person. Whichever way you end up, enjoy the process! Happy Writing!
Thanks so much. I think I need to practice not distancing myself when I write ‘he’ instead of ‘I’. I have noticed I’m getting a little bit better at it as the book is going on although I’m not sure if that’s because I know him better now and his thoughts come easier to me.
It’s great to get advise from someone who knows. Thanks so much.
I can’t wait to read the final, Tric. I have no doubt it’s going to be wonderful. 🙂
i so admire anyone who writes a book. it’s something i would like to do, but not sure the have the chops for it. keep on, keepin’ on and you will surprise yourself and find yourself at the end one day before you know it )
One word at a time Beth, pity there has to be so many words though. 🙂
Sounds like you’re making good progress, Tric. Nothing wrong with first person, but I think you need to have a good reason for using it.
Advice like that made me decide to change to third Mick. Thank you.
People are so generous with advice online. I really appreciate it.
Goodluck😊
A long way to go yet, but even the longest journey starts with a single step.
😊❤
I have no doubt about your book writing skills. But I do so enjoy picturing you being disciplined and sitting still. THAT makes me smile.
You know me too well. I’m like a bold child itching to move and easily distracted. 🙂
😉 A bold child. Perfect title for you Tric 😉
Tric, fair dues and well done, so so excited for you and to read xxxxxx
Long way to go yet I’m afraid, but I’ll find you and remind you in time. 🙂
I look forward to following your journey!
I so relate to everything you have said. As you know I’m new to this “writing a book” thing as well. The most important thing is we keep going. I laughed when you said you and your characters are chatting by day and even sleeping together by night…I hear ya…my bed is getting a bit crowded as well. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your process, Tric, and I admire your tenacity. I also understand what you wrote about the filling in part of the book. I’ve always wanted to write a book, too. Anyway, it sounds like you’re being very diligent, so the end will come and you will have done it! Good luck!
Sounds like great progress! You’ll have the first draft finished soon enough. I skim descriptive parts of books too. I often think authors must hate the idea of spending time on crafting words that I barely glance at…
Thank goodness I’m not alone. I know some who love reading those descriptions. I feel a bit guilty about the writer now!