My big fat novel-writing diary - week 1

I'm writing my first proper novel.

And now here I am writing a blog post about writing a novel. There may be more blog posts on this subject. There may be none.  I'll see how it goes.

Week 1 has been research, research, research.

It has also been the week in which my email address I've used for almost 20 years finally gave up the ghost and died. Stressful? Oh, yes.

And it's been the week in which I discovered a novel set in the place I want to set mine has already been written. 'So what?' you may say. Well, the similarities were too great, including the lead character's name and the area where the story was set.  Uncanny, I know. But no idea is original. At least it shows I'm on the right lines with place, plot and what-not. However, my idea has an extra bit to it that I've not been able to find in any research, so I do believe it has a USP. We'll see.

This week has been spent locked away in a library sweating over old tomes. And what a joy that was - books! libraries! research centres! people!

I now need to delve further into the different area my novel will now be set. Fortunately it's an area that not only do I know well, I love with all my heart.

5 things I take away from week 1:

1. People are lovely, helpful, amazing. I've been overwhelmed by the help people have given me, from volunteers at Beamish museum through to local writers, historians and museum staff and curators.

2. Losing my email address after almost 20 years is something I never want to go through again. Tears were shed.

3. Be flexible. When advised to change what I thought was my own idea, and finding out it wasn't, I listened and took advice from a professional. They know what they're doing, I don't.

4. Be focused. I'm going to have to leave social media alone, as well as the biscuit jar and indeed the world for the next few months while I focus every ounce of attention and energy on writing my book.

5. Be organised. Notes are swamping me. Research is addictive and fascinating and all I want to do right now is find out more and more and more, and well, that leads me back to number 4 above. Focus. Organise. Make a plan and a list then think, and dream and prepare to write soon.

Next week is another week of research before writing begins in August.

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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora