Sunday, January 20, 2008

Today It Begins

Today dd is back at school. It feels like she hasn't been at school since the new year began and I wouldn't be far wrong in saying that. Since the 6th of January start there has been the Islamic New Year, The George Bush holiday and two rain days. Nuff said. Time for a routine - hers and mine - to appear. Of course the only glich is that the DH is home.............

So today THE ROOM will be properly christened with actual writing not just tweaking the books on the shelves and testing out the bed for lying down and reading said books in peace!

I have also decided to take the plunge into the Dickens Challenge thanks to Lisa here. Through her enthusiam I went to have a look to see what this is all about and then thought what the hell. I need to start writing again before I explode. So for the Dickens challenge I will writing something different from my 'normal' work. I will be writing in first person which is definitely not how I work. I am hoping this way I will spur on my creativity but not conflict with the serious editing that I must begin on A Cornish House.

I have really had too long a break from writing. I know I have had a very valid excuse but my brain doesn't except that so hopefully the challenge will give it an outlet while letting me get on with the import work of bashing ACH into something resembling saleable shape (she says hopefully).

Will report back in tomorrow and how the first day went- fingers crossed!!!!!

8 comments:

Nell Dixon said...

Once you get into first person it can be addictive.

Unknown said...

You may well be write. I wrote nearly 1400 in two hours this morning! I have now done a first pass at editing 20 pages - thus far a decent day back in the saddle!

Jessica Raymond said...

Best of luck, Liz! I agree with Nell; I wrote something in first-person once and I did find it very "flowy" and fast-paced.

Rachel Green said...

So glad you've jumped in with the Dickens Challenge too! :)

Flowerpot said...

sounds a good start Liz - keep at it! I've 'gone over' to first person and am told my writing has much improved. helps you get inside the person's head I find.

Karen said...

Ooh, now there's a challenge that's hard to resist! (Don't do it, don't do it, get on with your novel, get on with your novel... repeat a hundred times)

Lisa said...

Oh, I'm so glad that both you and Rachel have jumped in. Honestly, all of us who've done it seemed to have initial self-consciousness and fears of what people would think of our early draft work. Apparently, I can very easily trick myself into doing lots of things by telling myself things like, "it's only an exercise", "it's just for fun" -- and my God, has that been liberating. I'm glad you're approaching it the same way. I think you're going to really enjoy it.

Unknown said...

I loved writing in the first person yesterday. Such freedom, Jess.

Thanks Rachel. Loved your first two chapters ;-)

As I am not planning this out at all - or not at least conciously, this experiment will be very interesting. FP do you trying switching once you have start in one pov or know from the start which way you want to go?

Ah, Karen, I am working diligently on editing so this distraction is just to keep the writing muscle working.....at leat that is what I am telling myself.

Lisa, I certainlu enjoyed the writing yesterday. I may not when I go back to it to finish in a few days time and then as for posting!!!!!