So I started jogging last week.  It was time.  I have never successfully jogged more than a click or two in my life, until last week.  My wife taught me not to jog too fast.  No wonder I couldn't do it, I was tired out after a few minutes.  Now when I jog it is barely faster than my fastest walk but I don't stop.  I did 4 km today.

I do have to say that I find one thing troubling so far.  I have often heard that when you go for a run, you feel 'so much better' when you are done.  That is definitely not my case.  I feel worse all day long.  Ok I guess I have to give it more than a few days.  I'll let you know next week....as long as the running doesn't kill me first.

Writing routine

I've discovered that I need to have a writing routine.  We went to our cottage for three days last weekend, where I thought I would have time to write more, but low and behold, I only wrote 300 words all weekend.  I think I am a creature of habit and not being in my normal zone threw me off, even though I had less to do.  I guess I'll have to establish a cottage routine.

Working at working

I've been getting about 2300 words per day this week.  I have lots more time to write now that I cut back my 'other job' hours.  So it turns out that the old axiom 'you need to write to learn how to write', is true.  In my case at least.  Who would have thunk it?  I'm 57000 words in to my book and as I look back at my writing in early chapters compared to now, there has been a marked improvement in my writing.  That's good in the sense that I am improving, but bad in the sense that I now have to do more rewriting than I planned for.  Oh well. Its all part of the Journey.  Is there anyone else writing their first novel out there who wants to connect?  If you don't want to publicly send me an e-mail:  john.ava@eastlink.ca.

Plugging Away

When I first started my book I thought that I wanted it to be about 150000 words long. That's about 50000 words longer than what is recommended for first time writers.  I hit the 50000 word mark last week and felt a lot of satisfaction from doing so.  After spending several hours this week taking a hard look at my plot and outline I decided I could do better and re-wrote a lot of it as well as the scene descriptions.  I am much happier with the result now and think I can get it closer to 100000 words which is a bonus. 

It sure seems a long time ago that I started writing this even though it was only in January.  I have had a zillion self-doubts as I am sure every writer has when they first start out.  Here is a list of some of the things I worry about, for the heck of it:

1. My story will have poor grammar and seem too simple.
2. The prose is too simple.
3. It will be uninteresting to readers.
4. My characters are too flat and readers won't care about them.
5. My concept is just a re-telling of a story common to the genre (fantasy)
6. My attempt at not having over-the -top characters will disappoint readers.
7. I often think that it lacks that certain 'oomf' to get a 'wow' from readers

Here is how I try to overcome these doubts:

1. I walk about an hour a day with my kindle talking to me through my earphones.  Nearly always it is an e-book about writing or publishing or how I wrote my first book, type stuff.  I have never been much of one for motivational talks and the like but man does this keep me fired up.
2. The books/websites etc that I see almost daily now, repeatedly tell me its OK to have those doubts and that everyone else does as well.
3. I tell myself that knowing my weaknesses is the hardest part of solving them.  The rest is just hard work, which I am not afraid of.
4. I have researched enough to know that I will be re-writing, re-writing, re-writing lots and lots, and I have resigned myself to..., nay, I am looking forward to being at that point.
5. I have decided that I will get a content editor and copy editor come hell or high water. 
6. I have decided to self publish and know I will have to put a great team in place to do so. 

All of these things combined will help me polish the book to a standard that I will be happy with.

Anyway I'd appreciate any input from other writers out there.  I am an information sponge at this point.
Have a great day
John