Saturday 16th October 2021 

A novel is a big complex thing.  It’s a bit like a car.  You put your foot on the accelerator; the car moves forward.  But underneath that, to make that happen, there’s complex engineering. 

I’ve always been seeking efficiencies in my writing.  From building systems for tracking and accountability, to processes to maximise my word count, to swap from being a pantser to a plotter… I’ve looked at the process of writing a novel, and tried to be more efficient. 

I don’t want to shortcut.  That will just lead to problems, but I’ve put the work in to write more consistently, and efficiently. 

It’s not just word count.  I’ve done a lot of editing this week.  When you add my writing and editing together, I’ll probably be on close to 50k words this week.  Yet, I still think there’re improvements to be made. 

I don’t want to waste words.  I want to sit down and know what I’m writing both from an emotional point of view and plot.  I’m really interested in writing better outlines. 

The Accursed had a framework but it was loose.  I needed something that would work, and I needed to put it together quickly.  It meant that whilst I had the novel mailed down from a beats perspective,  I didn’t really know each scene.  I also cut the last 3rd off of it.  I wasn’t bored (though I’d been writing it for a long time), it just felt like the right place to end. 

Similarly,  editing always feels like single rapier to me.  I’m good at the weapon.  I’ve won medals at a national level in it.  Yet, I always feel I’m waving the sword around with little in the way of skill.  It’s obviously there, but I don’t really understand it. 

Similarly,  I’ve done nothing but edit over the last few years.  Yet, I’m never sure whether I’m efficient with it.  I either feel like I read something over and then agonise over a verb or change a few sentences,  or I skim read and think that will do. 

Again, I obviously can edit… but I need to be better at it. 

And so, I’ve turned my attention to a different genre for a fresh look.  Between writing sessions, I’m looking at other writers in other genres, looking how they approach plotting and editing, and seeing what I can learn from it. 

This week’s experiment has really opened my eyes to writing a completely different way.  It’s pushed me and certainly challenged me, but it’s proved to me that I can write… and that’s something I was doubting. 

I’m outside of my comfort zone right now.  I’m learning to build a boat rather than a car.  Still needs and outside, still needs an engine that works, but it’s given me a way to reexamine how I approach writing, challenge it and see if there are more efficient ways to do it. 

Some people can turn out a draft in 6 weeks.  Some people can turn around a finished novel in 3 months.  I want to learn from those people.  I may ultimately decide to do the complete opposite because I will not compromise on quality, but I’m sure there are things I can learn. 

I’ve written close to half a million words this year so far, and edited over 150,000.  If I could ensure those words weren’t wasted… how many books would that be a year? 

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