NaNoWriMo 2010

It's that time of year again. NationalNovelWritingMonth is fast approaching - November 1st - and I'm just about to hit the panic button.

For those of you who haven't heard of the madness that is NaNo, the aim is to write a 50,000 word novel - in a month! Yikes!

Now, I've never written a novel before - well, not a complete one - but nothing ventured nothing gained as they say, so this is my second attempt to hit the magic 50K. Last year I reached 35,424 before my plot went pear-shaped, my characters stopped talking to me, my prose became so stilted it resembled a circus performer and I finally lost the will to live.

This year I'm prepared! (It's what comes of having been a Guide Leader). No, honestly. I've packed my work-in-progress off on an eight week holiday and probably won't see it again until after Christmas. And I've done my preparation. I have:
A plot (of sorts)
A cast of characters (ditto)
A list of scenes
Some snatches of dialogue
And a cracking opening.

Now all I need is a plausible ending. Oh, and a reason why the person wotdunit, dunit. (It's supposed to be a crime novel.)
Not much to ask, is it?

I am sure that during the month I shall write such a pile of unmitigated tosh that my specially commissioned crapometer will need the turbo-thrust setting engaged on a daily basis.

Time will tell.

I hope to add up-dates during the month - so stay tuned.

Happy writing.

Lynda

An introduction to Towcester Writing & Illustrators Group (TWIG)

Hello and welcome to TWIG. We are a very informal, writing group based in Towcester. We meet at the Dolphin Cafe on the main street of Towcester twice a month, as we have done for the last year and a half. There were 6 of us at the beginning, but due to work commitments and a writing course in Oxford we now stand at four. We love to write but find it difficult to fit it into our busy days. This blog is a new idea and we hope that it will give us something to focus on as a group and in the hours that suit us best.

There are no plans as to which way the blog may go, we just hope it will be interesting, varied and fun. If anyone would like to join our group or have something included in our blog then please contact any of us through the 'comments'.

THE TWIGLETS

Julia

This is me on my trip to Uganda last year as a volunteer worker for Friends of Iganga. I am a mother of 2 boys and writing for me is something that I try to do to keep my brain working! Apparently writing should be a 'habit', starting off with 15 minutes every day until you pick up a pen and paper without thinking. I did get to this point when I was in Uganda, wrote whenever I sat down, and loved it, back home though, nothing. We are having a big extension done at the moment though and am trying to keep a daily diary, so I am improving.

Lynda

Lynda has just given up her long time hobby of Guide Leader. She lives with her husband, 'Sir', and has been writing a children's novel for the last 18 months now, which is her main focus. Lynda does not think she will have too much time to add entries on to the blog but we are hoping that she may add in 'diary' entries every now and then to update progress on her book.


Emma

Emma is also a writer, of childrens books. She is working on the illustrations at the moment and is hoping to get published in the next few months. Emma is a mother of 3 and a very busy woman with a number of properties to maintain and a part time job related to schools.

Emma will be adding in some 'diary' notes to the blog whenever she can, they are always so energetic in their style (as she is) so we look forward to those.




Sue

Sue is a teacher and often has foreign students staying with her to perfect their English with Sues help.

Sue is a dramatic writer, loves a bit of intrigue, and is trying to prioritise her writing a little more.