Today I need to take a step back and think about my novel. I am at a point where I think I need to outline. My characters are getting out of control on the page. Other writers will say to just keep writing. I have a little girl whose story needs telling as well as my lead character. I have scientists to develop and I’m not sure how much I can say about Professor Stephen Hawking.

Trying to give myself deadlines to try and get the words down, but I want them in a logical order. Some authors will just type, not worrying about grammar, just getting the words down. Some will just keep going with their first draft and not change anything until it is completed.

Other authors will happily write over 200 000 words easily and others like me, slow right down at about 25 000.  Maybe this comes with experience.

Some will outline the whole story and plan – plotters. Whilst others like me will just write. Another Author who does this is Lee Child. This is known as pantsing or writing by the seat of your pants. I’m letting my characters guide the way at the moment and I haven’t worked out how it ends.

I don’t think I have enough material for a part two, however, I do still need to get my crime story, Rosie written.

I’m considering Camp nanowrimo in July, some motivation and support to try and get a set number of words on the page.

When I think about my book, I feel excited about it. I can imagine the characters and places. However, it is how you get the story on the page in a way that the reader then enjoys reading. Writing really is an art and takes a lot of work. It also involves a lot of research, I don’t know anything about time travel, other than ‘Back to the future’ and maybe ‘Futurama’.

Writing this I’m now wondering if I need to add more description. I can imagine everyone but can the reader? This is still a very early project, I’m hoping that I reach a minimum of 80 000 logical words by Christmas. I am nearly halfway, as long as I don’t keep reading back through and deleting bits.

Today one of my favourite poems, The love of a mother, was published at Spillwords.com. I’m hoping that people read it and enjoy it. I need to submit more of my work for publication, to websites and literary magazines but I feel I need more writing experience first.

So, my plan for today is to have another look at my book, write some more and progress further. It’s nice having Tuesday to myself but it is so easy to just put my feet up and do nothing. Facebook is best avoided when you have work that you really need to get completed.

I envy those who have writing rooms or garden rooms to write in. I sit in my kitchen or in my recliner. Often in the evening, I’m found typing in front of the soaps. Maybe I need to review this as maybe my environment affects my writing. Maybe I need to start doing the lottery, a new house with a garden room would really help me. However, I still need to be mum and be there for the children so this may not work.

Anyway, I’m now going to go and find my pen and notebook. Put the kettle on for a mug of tea and continue writing my novel. See how many more words I can get written today. Ideally, I would like to be at 40 000 words by the weekend, I can hope.

For more see, History of me and my writing

Most of my life I have been a dreamer. I did not enjoy school, maths was my least favourite subject. I have always written poetry and at one time I wrote some song lyrics.

None of this came to anything, just a small child with dreams that were not followed. My childhood writing is buried in a box in my loft somewhere, one day I might find it again.

It was after a particularly stressful day in 2017 that I first decided that I was going to write a book. I had felt that something was missing in my life for a while and I needed to do something.

I then realised that I will often think of things, ideas that I can write about.  That night, I typed the first chapter of my book ‘Rosie’. A crime novel which at almost 30000 words is now filed in Scrivener on my laptop and one day I hope to continue.

They talk about writer’s block, but I’m thinking that ‘Rosie’ is a bigger undertaking due to the amount of research that needs to be done. I have spoken with HMP Downview, who were very helpful but I’m not an expert on crime.

I started my blog in October 2018 as my writing had slowed right down and I knew I needed to write more. Feeling stressed with life I found that writing can be cathartic.

In February 2019 I decided to expand on my Secret time warp short story. I have read so many times to just write your first draft and get your ideas down, this is quite hard. I keep going back over it.

At the moment it is about 37000 words. There is a lot that needs developing which is good. However, reaching that magic 80000 words will be a huge achievement.

So, what next with my writing?

For my novel, I need to get to know my characters. To sit down and interview them. I might sit and have a conversation alone with a Teddy bear.

I need to get to know their world and really know them, including things like their favourite colour. I’ve been told that once I know my characters writing the story gets easier.

I’m continuing my blog and my short stories. I take part in Blog Battle every month (1000 words based on a word prompt) and will write other stories as well. I will also keep writing my poetry.

All, whilst trying to run my home, spend time with my kids, help with homework and go to work. Very little in life comes easy, writing a novel is actually very hard.

I have great admiration for all the Authors that I have enjoyed reading. Enid Blyton was one of my favourites as a child. I loved the Pullen Thompson sister’s; Ruby Ferguson – Jill books; Patricia Leitch – Ginny and Shanti; The Silver Brumbies; My friend Flicka and many other pony books.

I am thankful that my parents refused to buy me the pony that I desperately wanted. Going to school and mucking out stables in all weather’s. I’m sure it is not as great as it seemed in my books or ‘Horse and Pony’ magazine.

As an adult, I’ve read many Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Lee Child books, amongst many others. A writer needs to read to help with their craft. I’m now making more of an effort to make time for reading alongside everything else.

So, if you see me sat staring at my book or Kindle, it’s because I’ve found a few minutes to catch up with my reading.

Life is busy, but one day this will be worth it. One day the hard work will pay off, I just need to keep going.

Here is my new author website.  I am currently working on two books.  At the moment I am concentrating on my novel inspired by my short story, The Secret Time Warp.

I enjoy writing fiction and poetry.  My blog is at www.justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk

This website will follow the work behind my novels.

My novels have so far involved me phoning a prison for research, reading about prisoners and then trying to understand time travel. I am researching the facts as well as reading other writers, running a home and going to work.

I am finding that it takes a lot of time to write a book.

The secret time warp novel will be my first and I hope you will follow me on my journey.