So You Think You’ve Finished?

That elusive ending… 

I was sat in front of my PC a couple of days ago thinking, so what shall I write about in this my second Blog post? What pearls of wisdom shall I share? As usual when you have these thoughts, nothing comes to mind. Not really a surprise! Then, miracle of miracles, the clouds parted and blew away the cobwebs.

For about a week, I’ve been trying to write the ending of my second book, but I just couldn’t get that last paragraph right. No matter what was put down, it never looked or sounded ‘it’. Of course, what’s down now I’m not 100% happy with and I doubt if when I finally decide that I can’t make it any better that I will be either. But, it does mean that it’s finished. Approximately 6 – 7 months of toil. Okay, I did enjoy writing this much more than my first, but perhaps that’s because I actually like my lead character this time. Don’t ask me why I didn’t like her in the first, it just ended up that way and I’d rather not dwell on it.

So, it’s finished. Is it? Of course not, the hard work has only just begun. I believe there are those talented individuals out there who can turn out a finished novel in one draft, but these would be a little like rocking-horse doo-doo – rare. Now, it’s time to tear the first draft apart. Being a novice at all this, I’m still finding the best way to start and for me, that’s going to be sitting down for a marathon reading session with a clean notepad, a pen that won’t smudge and a huge glass of Dandelion and Burdock to hand. I know for a fact that the colours of everyone’s eyes are different from chapter to chapter and the notes I made as I wrote it will only help me so far. Continuity! So guess what I’ll be doing at the weekend.

But first, I’m going to obey that unwritten (ironic choice of words) rule and step away for a few days. Let my mind freshen up. Oh, after I’ve sent the last two chapters to my wonderful readers, thank you guys. Back to the ‘freshen up’ part – fortunately, I have a wonderful way to relax. My good friend Bella – she of ‘Bella’s Scribbles’ found here on Novel Kicks – has sent me the next 5 chapters to read of the book she’s currently writing, so I’ve got an excellent excuse to break out an emergency stash of scones and strawberry jam my good wife doesn’t know I have and settle back for a good read.

I’ll leave you with my thought of the day – don’t you wish you could enter the BBC Radio 2 500 word story competition? Wouldn’t it be fun! Now, where did I leave my Tardis?

Every fortnight, Mick will be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre.  Mick is a forty-something member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of a cat bent on world domination.When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.