01 Books are the enemy...
01 Books are the enemy...
... But they say to keep your enemies close
Current word count: 49,224
Monthly goal: 6,000
January achievement so far: 4,462
End of manuscript goal (minimum): 85,000
It’s the end of the month, so as promised, here is my monthly check in – and first proper post!
Like most Crimbo-Limbos (the bit between Christmas and New Year), I find myself feeling very tired and overwhelmed for another year ahead. However, the month started quite productively thanks to the abnormally calm return to work. This meant more time for me to write after work as I didn’t feel so drained and burnt out from the working day.
Fast forward to the end of January and it’s a slightly different story, but not all doom and gloom.
In fact, a series of exciting yet frustrating things happened this week. Whilst trying to ensure a compelling piece of prose for my current thriller/crime novel, I’ve found the filing compartments in my head spilled across the table as more plots, settings, characters and ideas came to fruition for another story I’ve made notes on over the years. This time, fantasy.
Is this something you experience too? Or are you a one-project-at-a-time kind of writer?
Scribbling notes on various bits of paper and in the Notes section of my phone, I put this down to making my way through the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas (the last book to go!)
I definitely feel whatever I’m currently reading inspires and influences the way I work (I will definitely go into this more for a post), but I won’t lie, this month I have read SO many books – upwards of 10.
I’m in the fortunate position that I’ve managed to absorb and surround myself by some great reads this month (something I’ll feature on my blog and YouTube), but instead of seeing this as only a distraction, it’s a great method of research and seeing how others write. Even though it deters me from upping the word count, it is still enjoyable and helps the writing process, albeit paired with an intense couple of weeks at work.
It is enjoyable homework. If you forced me to choose between books and TV, I think you could guess which would win. Every. Single. Time.
I’ve not quite hit my monthly target, but there are still a couple more days to go - I’ll also be heading to Hattie Crisell’s Writing Hour later today. I’m sure there will be some progress there.
But if books are the enemy, then surely it’s wise to keep your enemies close…