C&J Project is my current, as-yet-unnamed novel attempt. It's amusing that this is going to be my most difficult project yet, and not because of the writing. It's going to be difficult because I'm writing with a 2-month old baby. In the rare moments I have been able to write, I've been too tired to put words to page.

So, to help me stick with the project against the odds, I started a marathon spreadsheet, using the

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I've set it for 15000 words in 30 days, which means 500 words/day.

So far, so good.

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Great to see you tackling a serious project.

However, it's very dangerous to hit the ground running too fast, especially if you have other important obligations.

Good luck and keep plugging away. Just be careful that you don't burn out.

I've got an old analogy about how writing is the same as dieting.

I think I'll make that my blog article today. It's been a long time since I used it. Don't worry, it's not about you or your situation, I just remembered it now is all.

It's nice to think of something to write about on that dang blaggy blag...

I admire your commitment. I hope I'll be as dedicated when the time comes. (Which I plan to postpone into the distant future for now.) Good luck with everything.
So... what's your story about? Just curious

I'm doing up a synopsis, so I'll post that when it's done.

Are you postponing writing or procreation?

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Probably a bit of both at times.
But it was more the aspect of having children I was thinking of.

Ten years ago the invaders came to Jin’s world; to harvest it for the riches that his people didn’t even know existed, destroying their way of life forever.

Five years ago, Jin’s older brother Camar walked out of the rebel base to join the invaders, betraying thousands of his people.

Now, Camar has returned, and he seems to have only one goal in mind; to capture or kill the remaining rebels and take them off the planet. It won’t be easy though; in ten years of occupation, the rebels have learned how to use vehicles and guns and how to fight back against armoured men and win. The invaders are withdrawing, and Jin intends to keep it that way.

But there’s a greater threat out there than two warring brothers, and it’s literally tearing the planet apart. In the battle to save the last of his race, Jin may have to team up with his brother against an enemy bigger than both of them. With betrayal on his mind, will he listen to Camar’s pleas for redemption, or is it just a ploy to capture the last defenders? Are these the final days of his civilisation?

Well I broke 5000 words tonight. I'll celebrate tomorrow with something, I don't know what. I was trying to think of a reward system but there's really nothing I want out there. Other than food, and that's not good when I'm trying to keep the weight off...sigh.

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No comments on my back cover blurb, but I'm not concerned. The proof is in the writing, as always.

I'm on track to finish my 15000 word marathon by the due date, and that means about 16% of the book done. So far in the first act I have 11 scenes, and the 15000 should just cover them.

Then I have to take a few days off to sort out the scenes in act 2, which are all higgeldy-piggeldy at the moment. I hope to break 7000 words tonight, if I can get them out before dinner is cooked.

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It's good to see you pluggin away at it.

Oh, and don't EVER worry about a lack of comments on your writing. "Comments" don't get the job done, your hard work does.

Struggling at the moment to make time to write, but so far I'm still progressing. 10% on the WIP and 53% on the marathon.

When I write, I usually have a little text editor open to keep notes on things that I think up as I'm writing, so I don't have to go searching through the text. It's very handy for all those little names and places you think up on the fly.

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I broke 10,000 words today and I'm very happy. Not with the writing, which is pedestrian and vile, but with the fact that I am still going in the face of some fairly steep odds. Not only do I have to fit writing in around the Princeling, I have just started back at work, so there goes another 2 hours in the day that I can't write. And since work gets priority over writing...I'm behind the 8-ball yet again.

But I'm still going, dammit. Because I know if I stop now, I won't get started again for a long time, because it's just so damn TIRING and god I wish I could get a few hours more sleep.

The marathon ends in 12 days, and after that I am going to take a short break, and do some editing of another older story. Then I should be right to start fresh on the next marathon month.

At this rate I will be completed in 6 months.

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That's the right attitude! Good job And I know, it's so annoying to lose precious writing time. I just started school again myself, and have to adjust my routine a bit.
By the way, your story sounds interesting. How much of the plot does the outline cover though?

Thanks Elanor

The outline covers the entire story from beginning to end, but it's very simple. When I'm outlining, I'll write 1-2 sentences for each scene that I need in the story. Then I put them all in order from beginning to end, and fill in any gaps in the flow. Then I write each scene, focusing on the goal of the scene, and letting the characters speak for themselves.

This way I have a general map of where I'm going, but I don't get bogged down in details, and I'm free to be creative when I write.

As an example, here are the first 3 scenes:

1. Jin and his shan investigate the deserted ban Rel compound. A quake hits.

2. Camar and his group land in the compound. Fight between the two groups.

3. Camar sends the soldiers home with the prisoners and chases Jin. Another quake hits and Jin escapes.

As you can see, the scenes are very sketchy. I usually write between 1000-2000 words per scene, depending on how much is going on.

I only have one plot line, but each character has his/her goals and needs, and they form part of the story.

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Well I finished my 15,000 word marathon today and I'm happy. I'm now taking 1-2 weeks off from the novel to get the next act in order, and also review a couple of older short stories.

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That sounds like a good way to work with an outline. When I wrote mine (which was the first one I'd ever done, just so that's said ), I found that it quickly became too detailed, almost a story on its own. I'm not sticking too closely too it though, but next time, I'll try your way, and save myself from all the unnecessary work.

Good work on reaching your first goal