Hi
I'm up to page 291 of my fantasy story The Girl In The Mirror. I can't believe I'm still enjoying the process. I usually get bogged down long before now. I'm actually into the second book as I haven't split the two books yet. That will come second draft.

Going well

Hi

I've had a break from writing The Girl In The Mirror as I was on holidays for a month. Now I'm back writing the first draft of my second book. I'm up to page 267. It sounds a lot but I haven't separated the books and have them in one file. When I get to second draft then I'll separate them. I'm up to chapter 8 so I have a way to go.

I'm busy building the world. I use a small program called Microsoft Inspiration (uses graphics) to help me keep track of the characters, places, animals, etc. I create clouds. Then I connect them to whoever they belong to or place they belong to. And I add notes which hide away when I don't need them. In those notes I put anything and everything I can think of about the person, place, etc.

Olga

Still writing my fantasy story

Hi
I'm up to page 224 of my fantasy story 'The Girl in the Mirror.'
I should have been at the end of my story but I wasn't. Then after a lot of thinking I realised that I couldn't end this story without making it complete and I couldn't do that in one book. I was going to have to make this story span two books. How was I ever going to do that? Was I crazy, I thought. Anyway, I've gotten loads more ideas to continue. I don't know where they (the ideas) come from but somehow I manage to get them down page by page. I'm still enjoying the process which is amazing for me. Maybe this is because I'm trying very hard not to look back on what I've written but keep moving forward. The polishing will come next draft.
Olga

Nearly there

Hi
I'm up to page 202 now. I went for a long walk today to think. The track meanders through an estate of about 30 acres with stables and pastures for the agistment of horses and a few cottages. There is an abandoned two story residence which has the plaster ceiling on the veranda falling in. About two weeks ago when I was walking past the residence, some production company was making a move with two men dressed in white judo type outfits doing battle. I love walking there as it inspires ideas. I had a problem with how my main character could get close to the man who scared her the most and get him to want something that she had. I came up with the solution on my walk. As soon as I got back I let it pour out into my computer. It doesn't sound as poetic as pouring it onto the page but its the way I work. I can touch type at about (I guess) 100 words per minute so its the fastest way for me.

Writing is 20% inspiration and 80% perspiration.
Cheers.

The Girl In The Mirror

Hi I'm up to page 196 of my fantasy story. Still loving it. I will be finished first draft soon.

Here's a link to some manuscript editing software: http://www.autocrit.com/

Olga

Writing the first draft

Hi

I'm up to page 193 of my fantasy story. I'm still having fun. Nearing the end now of first draft. It's been an easy story to write up to now. I was reading that some writers finish a story in six months. Well, I'm not one of them.


Writing the first draft:

Points to remember.

• Have fun
• Do a rough outline of where your story is going (if it works for you)
• Look at the snowflake method  http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
• Profile - Write down your main characters likes, dislikes, e.g. what makes them tick. And keep updating the profile as you write. 
• Why is the main character in this story?
• What is their want to keep them in the story until the end?
• Profile any other characters and what makes them tick.

First draft

• Start anywhere you want. Some writers start in the middle of the story. There is no right or wrong here. some writers write in large slabs and then move these slabs around until they are happy with they way they connect.
• Set realistic goals. E.g. Mine is 10 pages per week.
• Allow yourself to write badly.  http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/5-tips-for-quickly-writing-your-first.html
• Watch out for middle sag. Often if the main character (MC) doesn't have strong enough motivation to get what they want or you have not fleshed out this character enough your story will sag and you will feel like you can't move on. Go back to your MC profile and fill it out some more. Then look at the first few chapters. Did you start the story in the right place? Maybe you need to get rid of the first chapter because it doesn't start at the pivotal point. 
• Stuck: Starting at a blank screen is so disheartening. Only do this if you are really stuck otherwise move forwards. Go back to the previous chapters and check that you have the MC on character. 
• Keep moving forwards. Don't go back and make each chapter perfect. That's done in the second draft otherwise you'll be stuck there for too long and you lose the flow.
• Keep to the story. When you are writing a thriller ensure that you don't end up writing about flowers or how beautiful the river is.
• Remember. You have to start somewhere. A baby doesn't give up because it falls over when it first attempts to walk.
• When you get to the end. Celebrate and congratulate yourself. You've just run a marathon, literally.

Cheers. 

The girl in the mirror

Hi

I'm up to page 122 of this story and loving it. I'm not sure if I should put in more thoughts which will slow down the pacing. It is first draft though.