So this week's word was a no-brainer. I've signed up to do Camp NaNoWriMo and so I have been getting into my groove with the novel after a long time leaving it on its own.
I passed the 10,000 word point and that felt really good. I'm not sure how many words the average novel contains but I'm happy to have cracked a major number.
I think I've found my peak writing time as well. I write the best in the afternoon apparently. This came as a surprise to me as I thought I could write at any time. And of course I can but I'm finding that the words seem to flow best in the afternoon. So I've started to get other stuff done in the morning - shopping, ironing etc - then I can write without guilt in the afternoon.
So that's my week in a word; full of writing!
Friday, 8 July 2016
Monday, 4 July 2016
Camp NaNoWriMo Day 4
Well so far so good. Everything is on track and I've really enjoyed getting into a good writing habit. I've struggled to sit down and write on a regular basis as I'm forever finding things to do instead - mostly faffing about if truth be told but hey, it's what I do!
I'm also enjoying getting back in the swing with the novel. I had left it for a while as I was struggling to love it. It was all planned out and ready to go yet something about it was not right. I tried to follow all the advice to just write the first draft and then fix the problems but it was like wading through treacle. I hoped that the rest would do us both good and I could attack it with gusto.
I have to report that it's not really been like that. I've been following the plan to an extent but something strange has happened. The novel seems to have a mind of its own and is pulling me in a different direction. Something about the story I was planning to tell isn't right and I'm fighting it every step of the way. Now here's the thing: do I fight for the story I planned, even though it doesn't seem to 'feel' right anymore? Or do I let the story that wants to be told have its head?
I've read about writers who have had characters misbehave and refuse to do what they are told. I always smiled at this; after all, the writer is in control, right? Well now I'm starting to understand - my novel isn't behaving and I have to make a big decision about its future. So what to do, what to do ...
But before that I will keep plugging away at the NaNoWriMo and aiming for a win at last.
I'm also enjoying getting back in the swing with the novel. I had left it for a while as I was struggling to love it. It was all planned out and ready to go yet something about it was not right. I tried to follow all the advice to just write the first draft and then fix the problems but it was like wading through treacle. I hoped that the rest would do us both good and I could attack it with gusto.
I have to report that it's not really been like that. I've been following the plan to an extent but something strange has happened. The novel seems to have a mind of its own and is pulling me in a different direction. Something about the story I was planning to tell isn't right and I'm fighting it every step of the way. Now here's the thing: do I fight for the story I planned, even though it doesn't seem to 'feel' right anymore? Or do I let the story that wants to be told have its head?
I've read about writers who have had characters misbehave and refuse to do what they are told. I always smiled at this; after all, the writer is in control, right? Well now I'm starting to understand - my novel isn't behaving and I have to make a big decision about its future. So what to do, what to do ...
But before that I will keep plugging away at the NaNoWriMo and aiming for a win at last.
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Review - Baby X by Rebecca Ann Smith
I read this book in one day, something that rarely happens these days. I was gripped from the first chapter and wanted/needed to find out what happened to Alex and Baby X.
I struggled to decide which genre I though Baby X fitted into. There are many elements of thrillers in it but it is so much more than that. It is the most thought provoking book I have read for a long time. I found myself pondering the themes in the book long after I closed it. There is a strong scientific thread running through the novel but as a non scientist I never felt that I didn't understand what was going on. I cannot speak about the accuracy of the science in the book but it seemed believable to me. I was forced to confront my thoughts about motherhood, artificial fertility and scientific ethics. These are serious and weighty themes so please don't think that this is a heavy tome; it has serious themes but it is a lively, lovely read. I considered what I think a mother is - is it only the biological mother, someone genetically linked to a child, or is motherhood more complex than that? I also wondered how far I thought science and technology should be part of the process of bringing a child into the world - I was lucky in that I conceived my son naturally; but how would I have felt if I needed intervention? How far would I have been prepared to go to have the child we both wanted? But I also enjoyed some stunning writing about motherhood. Mother's Milk Books who published Baby X are concerned with all aspects of motherhood, especially breastfeeding, so was a perfect fit with this story. The descriptions of looking after a newborn and experience's of breastfeeding brought back wonderful memories of my son's first weeks and months. I especially loved the description of Baby X swooning after a feed - so vivid and exactly how I son behaved.
The story follows the narrative of three women - Alex, the research scientist developing the Artificial Uterus technology; Karen, a woman with a history of miscarriage and failed IVF; and Dolly, a research assistant working closely with Alex. The story of Baby X is told through their interactions with him and their involvement in his short life. My feelings about these women changed as their narrative arcs played out. Alex was the most complex in that we first meet her towards the end of her narrative arc. The Alex at the start of her narrative is a rather cold, austere scientist and I found her difficult to like. However as her story unfolds I warmed to her considerably and was really rooting for her to get her happy ending. Karen was immediately a sympathetic character; it would be a hard hearted reader who didn't feel for her as she went through multiple failed pregnancies. She grew as a character towards the end of her narrative arc and became a stronger woman because of her experiences. Dolly seemed to me to be a little light relief among the serious characters. She's younger, more free spirited and a little naive. Her actions help to drive the narrative and she is pivotal in bringing the story to a satisfactory conclusion. I was rather torn at the end as I wanted two endings but was only allowed one. The very end of the novel brought tears to my eyes with its touching description of the newborn Baby X, beautifully written from a mother's viewpoint.
I look forward to passing this book on to my sister. I think she will enjoy it and get as much from it as I have. I also hope that she will pass it on to a friend and it will begin a journey, enlightening and entertaining many other readers. A stunning debut from Becky, I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I struggled to decide which genre I though Baby X fitted into. There are many elements of thrillers in it but it is so much more than that. It is the most thought provoking book I have read for a long time. I found myself pondering the themes in the book long after I closed it. There is a strong scientific thread running through the novel but as a non scientist I never felt that I didn't understand what was going on. I cannot speak about the accuracy of the science in the book but it seemed believable to me. I was forced to confront my thoughts about motherhood, artificial fertility and scientific ethics. These are serious and weighty themes so please don't think that this is a heavy tome; it has serious themes but it is a lively, lovely read. I considered what I think a mother is - is it only the biological mother, someone genetically linked to a child, or is motherhood more complex than that? I also wondered how far I thought science and technology should be part of the process of bringing a child into the world - I was lucky in that I conceived my son naturally; but how would I have felt if I needed intervention? How far would I have been prepared to go to have the child we both wanted? But I also enjoyed some stunning writing about motherhood. Mother's Milk Books who published Baby X are concerned with all aspects of motherhood, especially breastfeeding, so was a perfect fit with this story. The descriptions of looking after a newborn and experience's of breastfeeding brought back wonderful memories of my son's first weeks and months. I especially loved the description of Baby X swooning after a feed - so vivid and exactly how I son behaved.
The story follows the narrative of three women - Alex, the research scientist developing the Artificial Uterus technology; Karen, a woman with a history of miscarriage and failed IVF; and Dolly, a research assistant working closely with Alex. The story of Baby X is told through their interactions with him and their involvement in his short life. My feelings about these women changed as their narrative arcs played out. Alex was the most complex in that we first meet her towards the end of her narrative arc. The Alex at the start of her narrative is a rather cold, austere scientist and I found her difficult to like. However as her story unfolds I warmed to her considerably and was really rooting for her to get her happy ending. Karen was immediately a sympathetic character; it would be a hard hearted reader who didn't feel for her as she went through multiple failed pregnancies. She grew as a character towards the end of her narrative arc and became a stronger woman because of her experiences. Dolly seemed to me to be a little light relief among the serious characters. She's younger, more free spirited and a little naive. Her actions help to drive the narrative and she is pivotal in bringing the story to a satisfactory conclusion. I was rather torn at the end as I wanted two endings but was only allowed one. The very end of the novel brought tears to my eyes with its touching description of the newborn Baby X, beautifully written from a mother's viewpoint.
I look forward to passing this book on to my sister. I think she will enjoy it and get as much from it as I have. I also hope that she will pass it on to a friend and it will begin a journey, enlightening and entertaining many other readers. A stunning debut from Becky, I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Friday, 1 July 2016
Camp NaNoWriMo Day 1
Well despite me not being ready for it July has arrived. This year seems to be whizzing by faster than ever and the lack of summery weather isn't helping. However, today is July 1st and the start of another Camp NaNoWriMo, another chance for me to get into a good writing habit and write 15,000 words during the month.
I thought perhaps if I documented my experiences with Camp NaNoWriMo I'd find it easier to keep on track. I've had a go at NaNoWriMo before but I've never managed to 'win'. This time I've been more realistic about the word count. I'm aiming to write 500 words every day and I think this is achievable. In previous attempts I've set a high word count, fallen behind early on and lost faith in the whole experience. So a lower word count may mean that I can stay on track and manage those 15,000 words.
I've decided to use the time to keep writing the first draft of my novel. It seems to be taking a different direction to the one I had planned but I'm letting it have it's head and I'll worry about it when I come to editing - gosh that sounds like proper writerly stuff, doesn't it?
So here we go with Day 1 and the first 500 words towards the 15,000 and a NaNo win!
I thought perhaps if I documented my experiences with Camp NaNoWriMo I'd find it easier to keep on track. I've had a go at NaNoWriMo before but I've never managed to 'win'. This time I've been more realistic about the word count. I'm aiming to write 500 words every day and I think this is achievable. In previous attempts I've set a high word count, fallen behind early on and lost faith in the whole experience. So a lower word count may mean that I can stay on track and manage those 15,000 words.
I've decided to use the time to keep writing the first draft of my novel. It seems to be taking a different direction to the one I had planned but I'm letting it have it's head and I'll worry about it when I come to editing - gosh that sounds like proper writerly stuff, doesn't it?
So here we go with Day 1 and the first 500 words towards the 15,000 and a NaNo win!
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