On 1st May, I set myself a goal: “This summer, I will write a novel”. Each day I would write a minimum of 1,000 words, so that by August, I’d have a first draft.

That was the plan!

Happy August! Where’s the novel, I hear you ask? Well. About that.

It’s getting there. It’s a novel of construction – pieces here and there which I am in the process of putting together to form a more coherent storyline. In actuality, I have written around 2/3rds of the novel, and only really have the final moments of drama and conclusion to write, but I am still a little while off that. I’ve continued to aim for 1,000 words a day but there have been days when this hasn’t happened, or when planning/shoogling the rest of the work around has taken over.

It’s nowhere near a lost cause. With each redraft and major reshuffle, the story becomes stronger, and each word I write is teaching me more about my characters. I hope that by the time I’m finished, it will be a really strong first novel, and (if nothing else) I’m learning so much about the process.

So, stick with me! Summer isn’t over yet …

My GOAL is remains the same: This summer, I will write a novel.

At the end of September, I’ll be returning to my university studies, to begin the second year of my MLitt Creative Writing. Consider that as my new deadline.