Writing my stories, revising and redrafting

How am I getting on with my stories?

I’m still writing stories but I’m finding my paranormal story very hard. I’ve revised it quite a few times and it’s still not perfect. The beginning needs to have a hook and right now it’s not good enough. My head is spinning with it, I know the story but it’s telling it well enough to pull in the reader.

These are early days and I’m hoping this gets easier, it’s certainly a challenge and despite struggling with it I know it’s a good story. It’s just telling it well enough and that’s the hard bit.

As a Pantser I rarely plan my stories, I’m starting to think now that maybe I should start planning them. It’s so hard now trying to rework the story and make it more exciting. I’m certainly learning from writing it.

Another writer told me that he had redrafted his novel many times. I’m wondering how many times I will need to re draft my time tunnel novel. Judging by this short story the answer is many times.

Recommendations to help the writing stress

1. Accept that your first draft may not be good enough. I’m learning here, those stories that need to be perfect are going to take longer than first expected.
2. Try and stay calm, your story will get written if you want it enough. You are it’s creator and it needs to be shared with the world.
3. Don’t worry about it taking longer than you first planned.
4. To try and get enough sleep, and yes, I’m not good at that one, I rarely feel refreshed.
5. To write ideas down when you think of them. I sometimes text myself when I think of something.
6. To have a notebook and pretty pens to plan and write down your ideas. It can be quite satisfying to write with a pretty purple pen.

My reading

I’m failing miserably. The story I’m writing is set in a hospital. The book I’m reading starts in a mental hospital, yes, I really need to get reading.

I wrote on my blog last week about making time to read. I need to take my own advice. What doesn’t help is social media and my blogs. How many times can you say that you go to bed with the intention to read your book? but then you have a quick look at Facebook and then get stuck. I fall into the Facebook rabbit hole way to many times.

My new rule needs to be, no Facebook in bed. I need to read my book and I want to read it.

Facebook live

Here are my Facebook live videos from the last week.

New blog post and writing pressure – 3rd December 2019

Today and Christmas – 6th December 2019

Today

We are going to see my six year old in her school nativity, she is a shepherd with one line, “please can we see the baby?” The children are also singing Christmas songs and their nativity costumes are hanging by the classroom. I’m looking forward to watching it as it sounds like it’s going to be good.

Christmas is just around the corner now, I’m nearly there. Just a few more presents to buy, and I still need to wrap everything. I’m trying not to get stressed about it, but I will be glad when it is over. It’s a shame we can’t just relax at Christmas but for most people it is stressful. Family dynamics and children’s demands.

How is your Christmas planning going?

And what recommendations do you have with regards writing stress and redrafts? What is the greatest amount of redrafts you have written? Yes, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, writing is very hard!

For more see, Tips for easing the writing pressure and being mum