Finishing the First Draft of Your Novel: What to Expect

Okay.... I don't have children as yet, but finishing a draft of your novel (particularly the first one) is the closest I can imagine what giving birth must feel like.

Maybe I'm waaaaay off (and please feel free to correct me!), but here is why:

You carry this "child" around for months, maybe even years like me. You nurture it, feed it, wake up in the middle of the night with cravings (to write) related to it, research all about it because you need to make sure it arrives healthy and strong... And then all of a sudden, it's out and you need to care for it and raise it, and make it grow, turn it into something special that can one day stand on its own.

The range of emotions I've gone through in the past week and a half?

Here they are, IN ORDER:

1. Joy (it's done!)

2. Disbelief (it's done???)

3. Giddiness (I wrote an actual book... a WHOLE book...with chapters!)

4. Doubt (what if no one wants to read it? What if it sucks? Oh my God, it sucks!)

5. Motivation (No, I did this, I stuck with it this far... I can do ANYTHING!)

6. Stress (have you SEEN the querying process... there's NO way I can do this!)

7. Ambitious (I need to start on the sequel... like NOW)

8. Anxious (leave it alone... it has to rest... but it needs major editing! Major re-writing! No... MUST... LET...IT...REST!)

9. Sadness (what do I do now that's it's done... it's like a part of me is missing... I feel so alone...)

10. Overwhelmed (in both a good way AND bad - it IS done, now it's time to keep moving forward)

Um... yeah... so that's what my last few days have been like. One big roller coaster... can you imagine what the actual publishing process will be like (I know many of you are already there, and I'd love hear your stories)? I hope I get that far to find out!

Have you ever gone through this? With writing, finishing or starting your first drafts or anything else? Please share!

Guys... Guess What?

Happy Monday everyone... I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Yes, today is the big reveal that I promised last Friday, although if you've spotted my sidebar, it may not be that much of a surprise... but here goes ;)

I've finished the first draft of my first novel!

Yes... two years of blood, sweat and tears, but I finally wrote the last 15k on Monday, January 3rd, 2011, after waking up in a panic after my bout with the flu during the holidays.

It's clocked in at 95,977 words, 367 pages double spaced.

Um... yeah... it's a little longer that I had originally anticipated (80k), and needs some major editing and lots of rewriting, but figuratively speaking, it's finished.

In early December, I thought I was only 4k away, but the novel needed a lot more than that to wrap it up.

And now it's sitting and marinating while I do some research. Yup, we've got a lot of stuff to talk about this week, I hope you'll join me on Wednesday and Friday.

How about you guys? Any news... writing or otherwise?

Welcoming 2011

Happy New Year everyone!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, and has returned restful and ready for 2011 :)

I think this is our year guys, and we're going to take it by STORM!

I have to say, I think 2010 was one of the fastest years for me. It seriously just zoomed by.

Now, I love to make resolutions. I don't know why, because I never stick to them (except for one that I made last year -- which I won't tell you about until next Monday -- yes, I am just evil like that :D).

Despite the fact that I forget about them by mid January, I'm still hopeful, so I'm going to make some this year as well. I will keep them very short and sweet though.

2011 Resolutions:

1. Write more + Start querying

2. Become a better blogger

3. Start going regularly to the gym (3 years in a row people)

I think these are quite manageable (especially compared to the 6 I had last year).

I don't know if you noticed a very crucial one missing... but that's what you're waiting until Monday for :D

What were some of your resolutions or NON-resolutions for 2011? What are you excited for this year?

Peeking out from the Dungeon

Ah guys, I've been a horrible blogger this month I know, and I'm sorry! I promise things will be better in the New Year.

Work has been crazy and I've also managed to catch the worse flu I've had in ages during the last 4 days. Yup... guess how I spent Christmas Day ;)

I'm a little dizzy now even as I write this (please excuse any typos), but I've missed my computer! And I've missed you guys!

I have lots of updates to share, but they will have to wait... until the New Year, when I will return bright and shiny and fresh :D.

I hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying the holidays, as well as a little down time. I'll be around in the next couple of days to visit you all.

See you soon, and Happy Holidays!

What's YOUR Story?

So today I wanted to share a little bit more of my journey to date with you, and briefly touch upon the ever present self-doubt.

Everyone is different. And although we share this common goal of writing, being published, and we go through a lot of similar situations, the experience is unique to each one of us.

I've been trying to write this novel for about 2 years now... yes, 2 years. You have no idea how much my outlook on things have changed since I started, and it's all for the better.

I honestly used to think I'd write the book in one month, send it out the next, and it would be published by the end of the year... yeah.. DOH... what rock was I living under, right?

I think there are a very, very lucky few of us who actually have a fairytale story of being being able to begin and end our journey in a matter of months because it just all worked out. And kudos to them :)

I started writing my novel back in November of 2008. Then I stopped. Scrapped it. Then started again in February of 2009, then scrapped it too and well... you get the picture.

The first time round I wrote 65k and it took me almost a year of blood and sweat, and then I scrapped it yet again.

Because I worried. And I kept doubting myself. I kept wondering if I was good enough. I'd read books and stories that seemed too similar to mine, and end up in full panic mode because I really loved my story and didn't want to have to change it.

The thing is... all this worry... all this self doubt, was just holding me back. And to be completely honest with you, I still have all these fears. I always will. I am human after all :)

The only thing that's changing (hasn't changed completely yet) is my attitude towards it all. And the fact that I'm allowing myself to move forward regardless.

Right now, I'm still writing that same story--it's changed quite a bit along the way, but it won't let me go.

So what if there's a story like yours?

So what if there are books out there better than yours?

There will always stories similar to yours and there will always be books out there better than yours... that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. It just means you should try harder, believe in yourself, and don't give up.

And remember, only you can write like you... regardless of what the story is.

So give that doubt a run for his money.

You've got it in you. It's your turn to shine :)

What do you guys do when you feel like doubt is threatening to take over? What's your journey been like so far? I'd love to hear your story :)

The Verdict's In.. Which side do you choose?

It's hard to believe we're in December already, isn't it? Where did the year go?

Thank you all for your comments regarding my NaNo inquiry a couple of weeks ago :).

I've decided that I won't officially post it on the site, even though I think it counts halfway (50k in 30 days, right?). But just to adhere to the rules and the spirit of NaNo, I'll just keep it here between us ;)

The fact of the matter is that I know I did it, and what's more, now I know I can do it.

I think that's what the driving factor was from the very start... overcoming that self-doubt and pushing myself to see if I could.

Because I didn't believe I could.

There's just too much going on in my life, it's almost impossible to balance and it's just so... hard. But I think this was just my excuse... something to make me feel better about tottering on the edge of the fence, afraid to see what might be on the other side.

I'm going to delve a bit more into the power of doubt and its inhibiting role on Monday, but today I wanted talk about pushing yourself to do things you never thought were possible.

50k... heck, even 20k is no small feat. It's a lot of work, and it takes a lot of commitment, perseverance and time--which is something we never seem to have enough of. And it's always more or less depending on what stage of life you're in.

But you can do it.

You just have to believe in yourself that much, and know that even if you don't get to it today, you will get to it. Just don't give up.

Because this is your dream. And you want it that badly.

We can't always follow our schedules... life, kids, families, work... don't always allow for things to be cookie cutter perfect, but that's okay. Don't beat yourself up over the small things. They'll always be there - we just have to learn to accept them.

My goal for this weekend is to finish the novel. I haven't touched it for two weeks. I'm about 4k away, but I know it will take a bit more than that to tie up the loose ends, but I am going to do it.

Because now I know I can.

And I hope you know you can too. At the end of the day, you can't stay on the fence forever--you need to pick a side, and the positive side is a heck of a lot nicer than the one filled with doubt.

And of course you know it's sharing time :)

Have you ever felt this way about your writing, or anything else? Did you ever accomplish something that you thought wasn't possible? How did you feel?

I hope you all have a wonderful, inspiring, and hopeful weekend!

Hurry... You Don't Want to Miss This!!

Hi Everyone,

I have a very special announcement for you all today!

Fabulous blogger and author Talli Roland's debut novel, The Hating Game is being released today as an e-book on Amazon!

And you don't even need a Kindle to read it! You can just download the software, and off you go :D

See below for more information regarding The Hating Game, and Talli's amazing undertaking!

Help Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book up the rankings, making it more visible to other readers.

Where you can find it:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com

No Kindle? Download a free app at Amazon for Mac, iPhone, PC, Android and more. Coming soon in paperback. Keep up with the latest at www.talliroland.com.

About THE HATING GAME:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

Okay, are you not excited for this? I know I am! Alright, stop wasting time here, and GO! :D

p.s. I apologize for my long absence - I'll be back to regular posting on Friday!

NaNo Update and A Very Serious Question

Err.. okay... guys, I THINK I've completed NaNo, but I don't think I played by the rules *hangs head in shame*

For starters, I guess I need to say I kind of began NaNo way earlier - as in on October 18th.

But I had to!

I was too scared that if I waited until November 1st, I would lose the drive to write, and if you caught my last post, you know the crazy spot I've been in.

From October 18th to November 14th... I've managed to write 50, 239 words.

I know the aim of the game is to write the novel during the 30 days of November, BUT since it's also to write 50k in 30 days.....

My question to you IS:

Since it still falls within 30 days, and 30 days is 30 days, does it count?

Please, please say it does! I hope it does, because my head is just swimming right now, and I'm still not ready to slow down.

It's honestly a crazy, hectic, fun, insane, TIRING place to be!

I hope everyone else is doing extremely well with their NaNo projects. If you have time, let me know!

Writing Frenzy

I'm exhausted. And for some reason I really want to watch Dancing with the Stars, even though I told myself I don't like that show... but it's really growing on me! Just like American Idol did.

Le sigh.

But I can't.

Because I need to write. I NEED to.

If I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing, I'm thinking about my characters, I'm thinking about the plot.

Even right now... I'm taking a very short break before I get right back into it.

But I need to sleep too.

I don't know why I feel completely consumed by this story right now.

It's good though, right? I think it's good... I hope it's good.

I've been writing almost nonstop since October 18th (with the exception of a few glitches in between) - I wrote the date down because it's been like a fire spreading within me. It ignited and hasn't stopped raging.

I have exactly 16, 794 words left to finish my WiP. It may be less by the time you read this, because as soon as I post this, I'm going back to it.

Maybe that's why I'm feeling this burning need to not stop.

Whatever it is, I'm riding it out, and hoping for the best :)

Have you ever been bit by this bug? You know the one that glues you to your computer... makes your hands move of their own accord across the keyboard?

Music to my Eyes

So... a strange phenomenon has been happening to me lately.

We've previously discussed whether or not we listen to music while we write, and I am one of those writers that needs complete silence (or rain) to concentrate, so I very rarely have any music or outside distractions going on.

Lately, while I've been in the car driving with the radio on, or walking by a store where they have songs playing, I've been getting these strange... visions.

Yes... visions.

Before you stop reading, allow me to explain ;)

They're random songs that have nothing to do with my book, yet I'm seeing my characters in a multitude of scenes in correlation with the songs.

Some examples?

"Mine" by Taylor Swift

"The Hardest Thing" by 98 Degrees (remember them?)

"Just a Dream" by Nelly

And the scenes have nothing to do with the songs, yet it's actual stuff that COULD happen in my book. Quite a bit of it has gone into my pages already.

It's not with every song I hear... it's quite literally at random. It's like a little switch clicks on in my brain.

Is that weird? Does this ever happen to you?

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend filled with lots of writing... and other fun things!