Editing day

Today I have three thousand words to edit and type up.  Yesterday I did the same bringing the total word count of my work in progress to 39,349.  I am aiming for 120,000 words so about a third of the way through.

As some of you know, I like to hand write the first two drafts.  A rough draft goes into my notebook then I re-write onto recycled computer paper before typing.  This gives me the opportunity to change and enhance my work, effectively editing it twice before it gets typed.  Of course the editing does not end here, the red pen is out again and again and again.  

What ever you are doing this weekend, stay cool and have a good one. 

Writing day

Writing this afternoon, chapter sixteen on the way.

Handwriting first and second draft as I like to do. Typing comes later.  Will need a new pen soon as this one has almost run out!

Weekend toy

I've had this little car for six years now.  It's such great fun and one of the best cars I've owned.

Mazda MX5 British Racing Green

This photo was taken just before I had the boot lid and quarter panels re-sprayed.

Not bad for a 19 year old car.

Friday morning started...

Friday morning started with a spot of weeding in the garden.  The border along the driveway was beginning to look untidy but now an hour later and a conversation with a neighbour done its back to work.

Yesterday I spent hours preparing introductions to Literary Agents.  I'm searching for one and keep sending out information, but agents are as fussy as publishers as many of you will appreciate.  The amount of rejections that return are staggering.

Anyway, now to work.

Here we are, all set with coffee and computer.
I have a bit of editing to take care of first then about 1200 words to type up.  Once that is done its back to the notebook and pen.

The red pen has been busy, but luckily there are not too many corrections to make at this stage.

Trusty notebook, rough second hand written draft and word count record standing by and ready to go.

I'm not entirely sure about my latest novel yet.  The characters are performing well and the plot is moving but I might have an issue with a main character.  I think I will have to read the manuscript through to see how it feels.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a good one.  

Happy reading.

How I write my novels.

I am often asked how I write my novels.  I have probably covered this before in a previous blog but I am always happy to write about what works for me.

Firstly, I write the first draft by hand.  I then write it out again embellishing and adding to my work.

My first draft hand written in a notebook.

Second draft hand written on this occasion on recycled printer paper.

My research and notes are kept in another notebook.  I used to print research notes from the computer but now tend to be more selective and hand write out paragraphs and sections that I am interested in.  Everything goes into this notebook from ideas, a list of character names, notes on the ongoing plot and odd bits of dialogue.  Keep notes and never suffer from writers block!  

Research notes written out in a notebook.  On these pages I have been researching the work of Stonemasons and also Forensic Photographers.

From the second hand written draft I type up the manuscript.  This then gets its first edit, the red pen is in action here.  These edits are then made on the computer and I print out the manuscript as I go.  This can then be used as a reference when checking out who said what etc.

Typed manuscript having undergone its first edit, but I have not finished with the red pen yet.  Later I will read it through and make further changes.

The manuscript will under go many edits before it will be ready for proof reading.  I do this both with a red pen and also by reading through the manuscript on my computer.  I will read the book many times before handing it over to the proof readers.

I usually aim for 120,000 words.  With my last book I wrote just over 125,000 words but edited out nearly 5000 of these.