Month one of my novel writing challenge

An update…

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

One month into my novel writing challenge and the goals have already changed. My original plan was to write a novel in three months so that I could enter the Comedy Women in Print (CWIP) competition.

I’d already started work on the book and felt confident that with hard work and a small miracle, I could have a draft of some sort by July.

Ambitious, yes.

Worth a try? Definitely.

Nothing ventured, as they say.

So, I set to work and just as I was getting into the flow and enjoying myself because I love a deadline, entries for the competition opened. I rushed to the website, eager to read the rules, and that’s when everything changed.

The organisers did not (I repeat, did not) want writers to enter the competition unless their manuscripts were complete. They would contact the authors on the longlist from early June, asking them to submit the entire novel, not just the opening chapters as I’d hoped. If I was lucky enough to be on the list, not having the manuscript ready would be the ultimate failure.

Imagine how I’d feel. ‘Sorry, CWIP people, I will have to withdraw from this potentially life-changing competition because I’m still sitting at my desk, bashing out the book.’

Awkward.

I wondered if I could up my word count, writing like I was on fire for the rest of April and into May. I thought about it, I really did. Unless I resigned from my day job and became a full-time author overnight, and did not leave my desk or stop typing for the next 30 days, it wasn’t going to happen.

So, the decision was made for me. Obviously, I was disappointed. I genuinely believe that entering competitions helps with energy, motivation, momentum and is just a very positive thing to do. But, if my manuscript wasn’t ready, it wasn’t ready.

I’m sad writing this because I don’t like to miss opportunities, but this one is probably for the best. I was already flagging. The spring energy I usually feel at this time of year has yet to blossom. I’ve been tired, tired and more tired. Life has been hectic. My horse has not been well, so we’ve had vet call outs and the stress and worry that goes with that, and the bills (I can’t forget the bills which just about bankrupt me every time).

As if that wasn’t testing enough, a massive cold sore erupted on my mouth. It was so big I’m sure it would’ve been visible from space. I don’t get many cold sores but when I do, it’s a sign that I’m doing too much, pushing too hard and I should put my feet up and have a minute. Perhaps it wasn’t the right time, after all.

Competition aborted, I decided to stick to my original goal of writing the first draft of my novel quickly, but rather than doing it in three months, I’m going with six. That seems a nice, gentle number. It might be easier and less stressful. There’s not the goal of a big competition with that all-important publishing deal, but I’ll be so proud of myself when I finally, finally write The End.

In a very unusual move for me, I stopped typing and went back to the beginning—not to the opening chapter—but the bit that most authors do before that and I always avoid — the planning. I’ve always been a discovery writer, which means I sit down at my desk and write. Whatever words tumble onto the page, I shape them and go from there. I never plan in advance. Planning fills me with dread, sucking all the joy out of the creative process.

With a novel, I was thinking I might try a different approach. I don’t want a detailed plan involving spreadsheets or anything frightening like that, just some kind of map that helps me keep on the right narrative track. It might even speed up the process.

The first step of my new approach was to buy a new notebook. I love notebooks but don’t use them enough because I’m more of a switch on the laptop and away we go kind of writer. With my new way of doing things, I don’t have to be at my desk to write. I can scribble notes and ideas as they come.

I’m using my scribbles to get to the heart of my novel. I started with character—doing some deep thinking about my main character and why she is like she is. What’s made her like this? What are her flaws? What does she want and need? What problems is she facing? Why hasn’t she already achieved what she wants?

I had some of the answers floating around in my head, but often struggled to remember. Some days, I can’t remember my own name and what’s made me like I am and what my flaws are, let alone the name of my protagonist and all her flaws. Now, when my memory eludes me, I will open my notebook and remind myself.

Once I’d sorted that, I turned to the story, looking at the premise, the key external events and the internal story, linking this to my main character. How is she going to transform and what is she going to learn? What’s going to happen and when?

I told my husband all about my plans over dinner on Wednesday, mentioning I was focusing on story structure, using a simple three-act plan and developing the character arc.

‘Sounds good,’ he said. ‘But I don’t have a master’s degree in writing, so don’t know what you’re on about.’

‘You don’t need a degree,’ I said. ‘They’re just basic things we all expect and know about story even if we don’t know we know it.’

He took a bite of his pasta bolognaise and smiled.

I sometimes feel sorry for Chris, being married to me when a lot of the time I’m lost in my own little story world, away from reality. Either that or I’m at the kitchen table, eating a bag of Tyrell’s, drinking a Diet Coke while listening to Chesney Hawkes. Please don’t judge—both are great for creativity.

The ideas have been flowing and although it’s tempting to dive straight into writing them, I’ve resisted. Instead, I jot my ideas in my notebook, piecing the story together. Without the urgency of the Comedy Women in Print deadline, I can take my time and enjoy the process. ‘I will get there,’ I keep reminding myself. ‘Just keep going. One step at a time…’

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About me: I’m Liz Champion, a writer from Yorkshire, on a mission to complete a romcom, preferably in the next decade. I’m sharing the highs and lows of my writing life in a Wednesday update here on Substack. I also write essays and nonfiction which I share on Sundays. Thank you for being here. Your support means a lot.

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