Once again, this November, I have won National Novel Writing Month for the fourth time running. It surprises me every year how different I feel on completion, and validating – to see the words ‘congratulations novelist, you’ve won’. Feeling have ranged from relief at the end long hard slog, ecstasy at completing something so hard.

This year, I have quiet satisfaction at a job well done. I don’t think this is just about my novel though. As ML I’ve been witness to the countless struggles of the writers under my care, and even those that aren’t. I am so very proud of all my wrimo’s, and their efforts. I would like to think I have been a positive influence on them and somehow my being here has helped them out.

And I’m so pumped about doing it again next year

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Since starting my nano novel this month I’ve changed my mind a couple of times what I’m writing, but even so I’m please I’ve got stuff down for those other ideas. at the moment however I’m finishing off the MOW files. as such, I’ve spent a great deal of time procrastinating researching topics as diverse as poker rules and ‘the tree of life’.

I’ve also created two book covers for The MOW Files. I think I like the second one better but I thought I’d just stick these up for people to have a look at. All images are courtesy of Getty Images.

The MOW Files, cover 1
The MOW Files, cover 2

Let me know what you think

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I’m really stuggling atm with my Nano project. As I’ve mentioned I changed my plans and was trying to write a non-fiction book: housework for enginers. Well it’s going slowly, so very slowly. In two days it’s gotten to 2200 words. The main thing I think is it’s just boring. Technical documents are supposed to be detailed instructions [read boring], then I’m writing about housework [something I personally don't like at all] and it add up to something I’m really not interested in writing. Listening to everyone talk about their novels, I feel like the kid who’s being kept in during lunch to finish homework while the other kids go out and play.

So I swapped back to my fiction idea, about the LLP and Cloud Dragons. But… I don’t know what exactly it is, I’m just not really feeling it. I don’t have a clear picture in my mind of the people and things and places I’m trying to write about. all I can see is words on a screen. I don’t know if this is an effect of the non-fic [where I have to be about the words rather than the images]. everything that comes out is just so dry and I feel literately constipated.

The Hat doesn’t help either.

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