NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Twenty-Two

November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 Peter Germany Books, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Nanowrimo, Writing Horror, Horror Anthology, Horror Book, Horror Writer, Horror Writers, I Should Be Writing, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Comunity, Writing Journal, Writing Life, Writing Routine

Good morning folks, how are we all doing on this brisk autumn morning?

I was going to blog last night, and write but I fell asleep. So I got a mighty 295 words written and I am now below the projected total I should be at. I was thinking about how to hit my words on days when I had an afternoon/evening shift as I was overlaying each morning due to poor sleep the night before. But now I’ve actually looked at my rota’s for the next two weeks I’ve got all morning shifts (they could change but we’ll see), so I should be able to get home, grab a bit of lunch and then get cracking.

Today I am aiming for a nice 2k day, maybe more if I can get my arse into gear. Then continue the 2k a day through the rest of the week. I need 1900 a day to hit target, so I really need to pull my finger out and get those words down. I can do this. I just need to be disciplined and sit in the chair and write until the target is hit. I keep telling myself I want to be more professional with this, to treat it like a career. So, I need to properly put the time in and not have the TV on in the background.

So, my arse is in the chair. I’ve got bits and pieces around the house to do as well, but I’m going to work that into my targets for the day. Write a 1000 words, go take the rubbish out.

Today’s featured piece of my published work is Pumpkin Attack in the Beneath The Leaves anthology that was written to celebrate the birth of the one and only Em Dehaney. When I got invited to submit I knew what I wanted to write about these antagonists but I knew I couldn’t just write a story from their point of view. I wanted to go a route I haven’t gone before and that’s where the protagonists came into it. Writing about teenagers I found tough, especially a teenage girl, because I’m not a teenage girl but I thought about someone who is finding their confidence and overcoming shyness, while still keeping to what they were comfortable with. I also wanted to write something about a parent who was themselves growing as a person, while still being who they are. So it was very tough, and a lot of the depth of the story I wasn’t really planning and it evolved as I was writing it.

Right, thats enough procrastination! Armand, if your reading this please yell at me because I’ve fallen behind when I’ve had no real reason to have done.

Rock on, folks! 😀

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Twenty-One

November 22, 2020 Peter Germany Books, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Nanowrimo, Reading, Short Fiction, Writing Book, books, Burdizzo Books, Corona-Nation Street, Horror, Horror Anthology, Horror Book, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Life, Matthew Cash, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Reading, short fiction, Short Stories, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Angst, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Good evening, all. One very tired human being here. Work was good, had a good laugh, and a work out. Since coming off leave at the start of the week I’ve not really had a shop floor shift (I’m a retail worker), and today made me realise that maybe I relaxed a little too much during my time off!

Words wise, as I overlaid I didn’t get as much written as I should have done, only 480 words, but I went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting. It’s also made me realise I’ve been playing it safe a little too much. Time to get brutal and bloody! Mwahahahahahaha!

I write this blog for myself. When I started out blogging I wasn’t sure what I was doing. Over the years it’s evolved into what this is now. I share word counts not to brag, not to get one over over writers. I do it because it reminds me that some days I can’t get words out, while other days I can knock out 2k easy.

If you read this and think or see other people talking about their word counts, don’t get put off if you aren’t getting the numbers that other people do. Especially during NaNoWriMo it can be off putting seeing so many hitting big counts, but as long as you’re getting words down it doesn’t matter. A hundred words a day, you’ll have a story completed before you know it!

Just write and edit at the pace you’re comfortable with.

My next published piece was in Corona-Nation Street. My story ‘The Wank Diaries’ has an interesting journey. I wrote it with the intention of submitted it to this anthology but I wrote it and wasn’t happy with how it came out. So I dropped it. This was when I wasn’t in the best of places. Then I had a big change in my life and I was lower than I’d ever been in my life. I wasn’t writing, but I saw Burdizzo Books MC Matthew Cash putting a post online reminding people of the deadline, so I looked at it again. Scrapping the ending immediately. What I then wrote I could never have predicted and wasn’t quite sure I was capable of writing. So much of the despair I was feeling came out in the ending of this story. Brian Keene calls it ‘Bleeding on the page’ and I definitely bled on the page here. I’m very proud of this story. It gave me something to focus on and get writing again.

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Twenty

November 20, 2020 Peter Germany Life, Nanowrimo, Writing Cat, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Only 902 words before work today and now after that. I need to pick up my word counts but I can’t expect to be hitting 1500 words a day when I have an afternoon/evening shift. How do I compensate for that? Check my rota and plan ahead.

Super short post tonight as I am knackered. Back at it again in the morning!

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Nineteen

November 19, 2020 Peter Germany Dog, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Mental Health, Nanowrimo, Short Fiction, Writing Dog, Elements Of Horror Book Two: Air, Goals, Horror, Horror Anthology, Horror Book, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Life, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Planning, Red Cape Publishing, short fiction, Short Stories, Sleep, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Today was a good day. I got some good sleep, first time in ten days or so. I wrote 1781 on NaNo and then 231 on a short story I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2019 for a total of 2012 for the day.

The short story I worked on in 2019 was one that I was done with. I’d not had any urge to edit it because I wasn’t happy with it and I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. Then today when I wasn’t even thinking about writing and BANG!!! The solution hit me and I had to write some of it down. Not much, just those few hundred words to serve ad a reminder when I come back to it.

I am now on par for NaNo. The last two days have wiped out my banked words. I still don’t need to write 1667 a day, but I’m going to try to as I’d like to get some more words banked when I can.

I also did some rearranging in my office today, and am a lot happier with it. I just need to find somewhere for my bin to go and then most bits and pieces have a home.

I also prepped for an appointment and then had the Zoom appointment. It was after that that I got the words down.

Out and about, running an errand this morning 😊

I cracked on and worked. That is something I need to push myself harder and be more consistent. Arse in chair and work! Simple as that. When I can’t get my arse in the chair, write when I have time. I’ve got Apple devices that are all synchronised, so no reason why I can’t write at any opportunity I have.

Time to get my head where it needs to be. I definitely have more than enough time.

Elements of Horror Book Two: Air from Red Cape Publishing is the fourth book I’ve had a story published in. Walking was a story that had a few twists and turns in it but I’m very happy with how it ended up. I was skimming through it earlier as I looked for a detail and I found myself smiling as I looked through. I’m not at the stage where I’ve discovered who I am as a writer, or what my style is. Sometimes I think I’m not quite self-aware enough to know that yet. Or I’ve not read enough of the genre I’m working in. Whatever the reason is, I’ve not found who I am as a writer yet. Each thing I write is more often then not coming from the gut, especially short fiction, I think Walking is a prime example of that. So, please hit the link and check it out.

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Eighteen

November 18, 2020 Peter Germany Life, Nanowrimo, Writing Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Insomnia, Life, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, Sleep, Sleep Problems, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Angst, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

388 words today.

Crap day. I finished work early but after a shower and some dinner all the energy in my body fucked off.

I don’t feel like I dragged those 388 words out, I feel like I walked into a fight club and questioned their mother’s honour.

I am getting next to no sleep, I’m getting down on my words counts and yes, I’m being a whiney little brat right now.

So, I’m going to bed. (Don’t worry, I’ll be okay in the morning).

These two don’t have a problem sleeping.

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Seventeen

November 18, 2020 Peter Germany Cat, Nanowrimo, Writing Cat, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Less than 900 words today. I overlaid so couldn’t get much written before work, and finishing late meant not a lot of time to write once I’d eaten.

I am still ahead, but if I have another day like today then I won’t be ahead.

Right, I’m going to get my head down and see if I can have a better nights sleep than I have done the last week or so.

A picture of Raven cuddling her pink mouse 😊

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Fifteen

November 15, 2020November 15, 2020 Peter Germany Books, Cat, Home Office, Horror, Horror Writer, Insperation, Life, Nanowrimo, Podcasts, Reading, Writing Book, books, Cat, Goals, Horror, Horror Anthology, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Life, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Reading, Short Stories, The Mando Method, Under The Weather, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life, Writing Space

Wow, halfway through the month already. I’ve had a chill out day today, which I need to stop doing. I need to get up on a day off, have breakfast, get dressed, get writing. Simple as that. No thinking I’ll watch an episode of this or that (today it was The Queen’s Gambit, which was lethal as I’ve all but watched it now). I still got 2317 today, but I could have got 3000 words done, if not 3500. I know I have the ability to do that when I’ve got a day off and I should be doing it. For the speed I can write at and the time I have, it is easily doable.

I was on a Facebook live event tonight with the Mando Method Podcast folks. It was a lot of fun and in the hour before it I managed to crack out about a 1300 words to add to the 1000 or so I’d already written throughout the course of the day. We talked about NaNoWriMo at the halfway point and how we were all progressing. We touched a few other topics as well. It was a lot of fun, its been a while since I laughed that hard. It was really good to talk to these folks in real time as well. Armand Rosamilia and Chuck Buda have been very supportive to myself and many other writers. Please give it a watch 😊

I’ve got one more days leave before getting back to my normal working week, so writing time will be cut down. But I can still get all the words done I need to, and more. I’m going to set myself a target of an hour at my desk a day. That’s head down and writing/editing. I’m not going to set word count goals at the moment, I want to get in the habit of spending that hour a day at the desk. My biggest enemy is myself and in particular my lack of discipline. That is something I need to overcome.

Under The Weather is the third book I’ve been published in. With my story, The Snow, I knew roughly what I wanted to do with it but it took a few little twists and turns along the way, but it was never a difficult write. One major element did change in the story which changed the entire theme of the tale. I still think it works, and it’s one that I’m really happy with.

Well folks, that’s me wrapping it for the night. I’m gonna watch a bit of tv and then read a little before bed. I’m aiming for an early start tomorrow.

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Fourteen

November 14, 2020November 14, 2020 Peter Germany Books, Horror, Horror Writer, Nanowrimo, Reading, Short Fiction, Writing Book, books, Burdizzo Books, Chickens, Horror, Horror Anthology, Horror Book, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Reading, short fiction, Short Stories, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Good evening, folks! How are we all doing tonight? Today I’ve written 1592 words and past the halfway mark! I’m currently at 25751 words for the month.

It was a good productive day’s writing before I went into work for a little training. I was planning on getting some more words down tonight, but I think I might just chill out a little bit and have a good go at it tomorrow.

I started writing this post at 6pm and after dinner, washing up, a couple of emails, and extensive procrastination I’m back to finish this post! 😀

Right, where was I?

Yes, getting back at the wording tomorrow. I’m still ahead bit I’m still not getting back to being on 1667 words a day. I wasn’t far off today, so tomorrow I’m going to push through, get the 1667 words and then maybe push through to the 2k mark. But we’ll see.

12 Days of Christmas 2017 was the second anthology I was published in. This was one of the easiest stories I’ve ever written. The anthology has stories inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas song. I snagged Three French Hens. I had a story in mind and I think I wrote it over three days. I had plenty of experiences from years of keeping hens to use when I was putting the story together (if you’ve read it, which ones do you think are true and which ones aren’t?). The most difficult part was working these experiences into a story, and when I say difficult, it really wasn’t. Although it’s not the longest story I’ve written, I definitely think it’s a fun one.

We don’t keep hens anymore, but it was fun and very interesting while we did.

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Twelve

November 12, 2020November 13, 2020 Peter Germany Books, Editing, Horror, Horror Writer, Insperation, Life, Nanowrimo, Sci-Fi, Short Fiction, Writing Book, books, Burdizzo Books, editing, Horror, Horror Anthology, Horror Book, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Life, Movies, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction, short fiction, Short Stories, The Cave, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

1185 words written today. I’m at the point with NaNo where the urge to edit is kicking in! So I might try and do some editing on a short story and see if that quells that urge.

I didn’t write as much as I wanted to, today. I had a phone call just after midday and then a friend who is a very skilled writer text me asking if had five minutes to brainstorm a problem she had with a story she’s gearing up to write. That five minutes ended up being three hours, it a damn good three hours. It was good working ideas out and just letter her talk out her ideas. The story itself sounds damn good and I’m kinda itching to read it. So I’m gonna start bugging her to make sure she’s writing, because that’s what friends do!

The first story I ever had published was in Sparks, from Burdizzo Books. I still can’t quite believe that I’m a published author, but I have proof of it, even if I have to pinch myself once in a while. My story, ‘The Last Charge’ is one that was very easy to write. I wrote from the hip, no real idea where I was going with it. Looking back, I’d have done a few things differently, but I don’t look at it and cringe. It’s still something that I am still very proud of.

Imposter syndrome is real, very real. But I don’t feel as bad about having it hitting me once in a while when I hear of well established authors suffering from it. What beats over that feeling is the buzz you get from having a story published. I’ve only encountered two things that have given me a better high (no, not narcotics!).

Right, folks! I’m settling in for a movie (The Cave), and then a busy day tomorrow.

Have a good one folks!

NaNoWriMo 2020: Day Eleven

November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 Peter Germany Cat, Editing, Horror, Horror Writer, Life, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nanowrimo, Planning, Preparation, TV, Writing Cat, Daybreak, editing, Goals, Horror, Indie Writer, Indie Writers, Life, NaNo, NaNo Kent, Nanowrimo, NaNoWriMo 2020, Netflix, short fiction, Word counts, Writer, Writer Life, Writers, Writers Angst, Writers Community, Writers Journal, Writers Life, Writing, Writing Community, Writing Journal, Writing Life

Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re at day eleven already. In some ways the last eleven days have flown by but in others it feels like its dragged out. I’ve been off from work as well, which I think plays a part in that weird time displacement that’s been going on the last eleven days.

One of my guest appearances on Stefan’s Daily Gaming 🙂

I’ve written 2002 words for a total of 21423 words. I was aiming for 1667 words every day, regardless of what I wrote the day before. I’ve failed at that. I’ve had three days where I got under that target, and that’s not good enough when I look at the why I haven’t written 1667 each day. I know the why, and I’ve got to figure out how to stop it from happening again. I’m looking at trying a few things in the next few weeks to see to it that it doesn’t happen again. My biggest hindrance is I’m not as disciplined as I could be. That’s what I need to get a handle of. I can’t let my wondering mind destroy my concentration. I need to focus better and make the most of the resources that I have in place to get these stories done.

Today, I feel like I did good. I wrote those 2002 words and then made some red pen edits on a short story (only a couple of thousand words), and I prepared for a Zoom appointment this evening and did a little gaming.

Dizzy wasn’t interested in gaming, but made herself comfy.

After the Zoom call I’ve put my feet up, had some dinner and am now watching Daybreak on Netflix. Tomorrow I’m going to (try) to get up at about 8am like I did today, and get some words done nice and early because you know what? I’ve had a productive day. I’ve felt more relaxed today than I have done in a few weeks. I know that’s not just the writing, but that is a good percentage of it. If I can keep being productive, I have better days.

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