The name of our blog and our goal for 2011 are one in the same – Get on in Writing for Children!
Now, if I could just get rid of that annoying little man who sits on my shoulder as I type telling me that every word I write is rubbish and every character is bland I’m certain that progress towards that goal would be faster.
My target for January was to finish the first draft of the children’s novel I’m writing which I started, oh, about this time last year. So far in 2011 I’ve written 2,000 words. Dismal progress, yes I’m aware of that – and although blame is unattractive – I really hold the man sitting on my shoulder with the whiny voice responsible. The one who tells me I’d be better off focusing on something else that I’d surely be better at.
But, in the words of the great Heidi Klum, “Don’t say no to yourself.” So, my new year’s resolution for 2011 is to ignore him (even if heavy duty ear muffs are required to do so.) I know I’m not one of those writers who can turn out a beautifully crafted first draft and both old whiny voice and I need to accept that and make the best of what we have – ideas tumbling out untidily leading me down unexpected corridors and alleyways. And once I’ve got my scruffy first draft completed then I can begin to sort it out, re-write and hone it. Re-writing’s where the real magic happens anyway, right?
Although National Novel Writing Month took place in November (which I just discovered while catching up on a pile of unopened Writing Magazines - another tool of my procrastination) I’m going to take inspiration from its aptly named seat-of-the-pants approach to novel writing and go all out to finish my first draft by the 20th February. Who’s with me?
- Victoria
