As you may have heard, I wrote 98,000 words in 5 days.* This is not quite the average feat for me…or probably anyone. Except maybe writers who live in Antartica and have nothing to do except avoid icicles and polar bears so just stay indoors and write all day. ** But it’s now my new personal writing best. OH! And the good news is: I keep smashing my personal best goals so pretty soon I’ll be finishing writing before I start! HOW DREADFULLY WONDERFUL.
Today I’m sharing three things: a) an outline of my day when I’m binge writing and b) basically my first-draft writing process.
EXCITING, IS IT NOT? *** (Shhh, it is.)
Oh and before you go, you can see my Plotting Process and also my Editing process. And I plan to add in an Idea Building Process. And probably a Cake Eating Process because that’s crucial.
* Now, I’m not repeating it to brag! I’m actually terrified of you squinting at me and going “Well, gawsh, all she does is yabber on about her speedy writing skills and I kinda want to drop her down a dark well” and then have you never reading Paper Fury again. First of all: DON’T DO THIS. I wouldn’t like it. And second of all: not everyone reads ALL of my posts, so I have to repeat things. So pleeeeease, don’t think I’m bragging, okay?
** What? You think there isn’t a group of people like this? PROVE ME WRONG.
*** Oh and I did write knowing Camp NaNoWriMo was going down, but I didn’t join into any cabins because I’m a hermit. But it is nice writing in months when I know dozens of other people are stressing out over writing too. THE CAMARADERIE. HUZZAH.
(NOTE: I would just like you to know that I work from home due to physical/mental health issues, so I’m able to clear my schedule for, say, 5 days if I want to do nothing but write. I also treat writing a bit like a job, since I’d like it to be a career someday. As of yet: it’s not though. SAD FACE. Anyway: I am not a mystical creature who has 24 hours to do with as she pleases. OKAY? OKAY. GOOD TALK.)
MY FIRST-DRAFT WRITING PROCESS
(Well, sorta. This is a rough estimation of how my day would go down).
4:30am — Wake because Daylight Savings literally just ended this week, the week you genius decided to write, ergo you are awake at this UNGODLY HOUR and it’s very dark and your dog is sleeping on your head. Vaguely you think of the plot hole from yesterday, but seriously? You kind of lie there catatonically. Because 4:30am, dude.
5:20am — Oh screw it. You usually are a 6am waker, but close enough.
5:30am — Draaaaaag dog on a 2.3km walk/run. Dearest Doggy Atticus, whom you bought SPECIFICALLY as a running-partner actually hates the idea of exercise. #typical During this time you go over some scenes you’ve imagined 394839 times because a) it’s kind of like a movie in your head which is fun, and b) it helps you to write them later.
6:00am — Emails. Shower. Breakfast.
7:00am — Vague contact with the Family Unit so they remember you exist. Complete various jobs around the house. Like killing freaking spiders that think your bathroom is their bathroom. #HowAboutNo
8:00am — Open Scrivener. DO NOT AT ANY POINT LOOK AT WHAT YOU WROTE YESTERDAY. Study the outline. Tell yourself you have a minimum of 15,000 words to write today. Because so far you have NOT written less during this book.
8:01am — Atticus The Fluffy Mutt decides it’s nap time and honestly, he’s the only smart one around here. He curls up at your legs and is comforting motivation.
9:00am — Having written 2,000-words you break to wander vaguely upstairs while your smallest sister leaves for school. You jump on a trampoline for a few minutes because a) you are a child truly, and b) exercise is insanely good to get the creative juices flowing. Honestly. You might hang out washing. Clean the ceiling. #NotProcrastinating Also you find your dog has ripped open the lounge pillows (WHEN DID HE EVEN HAVE TIME) and you must clean that up while lecturing him about safety hazards with he ignores, the ungrateful little wretch. Pretend you are not on twitter. When in fact you are tweeting snippets because it amuses you.
9:30am — Write write write. Atticus naps naps naps.
10:30am — Your mother, WHOM YOU LOVE DEARLY RIGHT NOW, possibly has made a coffee or a dandelion latte. You twitter while you drink. And check your blog’s stats because you’re worried they’re plummetting while you’re on hiatus.
10:31am — Turns out your abandon blog’s stats are AWESOME. You vow never to blog again because they’re honestly better while you’re away. And you’re also writing like a demented bat, but pfft. This is the first draft. Mistakes are life.
10:50am — Get back to writing. You nearly have 5,000-words by now. Most of your characters are mangled which is posing a problem.
11:30am — Whenever you write something funny, you vaguely edit the 3 lines or so and then screenshot them so you can admire your genius later.
12:00pm — LUNCH TIME OH GLORIOUS INVENTION.You have 10,000-words. Food is your reward. Your fingers are vaguely tired. Your dog hates you because why the heck aren’t you playing ball? jERk. Also you’re like 90% sure that what you’re writing is UTTER RUBBISH, plus your characters are all dying/dead/mostly dead. But whatever. You need food.
ME TALKING TO MY WRITING BASICALLY
12:40pm — WRITE…at least another 1,000-words. Atticus has realised if he licks your fingers while you’re typing he gets attention. Sneak.
1:30pm — Collapse catatonically on bed and try to go over the next few scenes in your head. Honestly this is one of your BEST ways to be able to write fast. The book is a movie just waiting to be transcribed.
1:32pm — Did I say “go over scenes”??? HAHAHAAHHAH. You nap.
3:00pm — Feeling like death vaguely refreshed, you eat an apple, then … ready for this? WRITE WRITE WRITE. It’s weird, but writing is the ONLY thing you can do for hours. For everything else, you have the attention span of a hyperactive grape.
5:00pm — You know have 14,000-words and are kind of unfocused and laugh dementedly at things (like that magpie outside your window doing nothing that deserves hysterical laughter…that’s just where you’re at). Go for the same walk you took in the morning, again with Atticus protesting and complaining that he wasn’t BORN FOR THIS TORTURE.
6:00pm — Dinner. Oh sweet dinner. Both you and Atticus agree it’s a grand time of day. You’re pretty happy with your word-count. You’re NOT thinking how you described something as “metally metal” or how your secondary character is more awesome than your protagonist or how autocorrect is THE ENEMY and your book is going to need translating into English, probably.
7:00pm — Baaaaack to writing. After, um, checking the internet, particularly twitter. I LUV U TWITTER. Write with more breaks than usual because you are seriously getting TIRED now.
9:40pm — Q.U.I.T. You quit. You absolutely quit for the night. 
You have 22,000-words which is your NEW PERSONAL RECORD for words in a day. You are extremely excited but you try to formulate a calm tweet because everyone thinks you’re psychotic enough. Probably answer a few messages/texts and update instagram.
10:30pm — Go fetch your dog from watching TV with your dad (no joke; the dog literally likes a good action movie apparently) and collapse into bed. Well, 1/4 of the bed because Atticus (who is actually classified as a “small dog” takes up the rest). S.L.E.E.P. Sort of. You are not the world’s best sleeper. So actually envision what you’re going to write tomorrow. Particularly since all your characters ARE DOWN AND WOUNDED DANGIT. You’ll have to write them out of their tragic pickles tomorrow.
4:30am — And then it starts aaaaall over again.
Thank you to EVERYONE for supporting my writing by either a) telling me encouraging things on twitter, b) cheering me on, because do you realise how entirely amazing that is??!! and motivating?!?! eeep; also c) for just reading this post. THANK YOU. THANK YOU A LOT.
I admire you so much for forcing yourself to sit there and write like this! I’ve been wishing I could do this for such a long time now, but I akways come up with reasons not to. A lot of the time it’s because I don’t have any ideas of what to write, and the other times it’s because I don’t feel like I’ve planned my idea out enough to actually write it. I’m a huge over planner when it comes to my writing which stops me from actually writing 🙈 I would love to make writing a career like you want to, hopefully some day I’ll get the motivation you have and a good idea to go with it! I love the sound of your plot as well by the way, it sounds so interesting and not like anything I’ve heard of before! Have you thought about trying to submit it to a publisher? Because I think it would do really well!
GracieFM recently posted…Monthly Goals: April
Oh oh I totally understand. I DO. I don’t usually abandon projects anymore? But I used to because I’d think they were ready to write — BUT THEY TOTALLY WEREN’T. Now I kind of just know when a book is ready?! Although I was freaking out about this one because I only finished the outline ONE DAY before starting to write. 😂 Eh. It turned out. ;D
I think with the planning it’s important to make it realistic? Like give yourself a time frame to do it. That’s why I DO like NaNo’s because I know when the 1st of April (or July or November) comes I just have to abandon all planning/research and WRITE. Good motivation to get things organised. ;D
This is more of a ‘just for fun’ project. 😂 But I am working on being published traditionally…so fingers crossed it happens someday!
“It turned out” It turned out great from the snippets you put above! Especially your characterisation, it’s amazing!! And if you can write that many words with an outline finished the day before then you are my writing inspiration! I’m hoping my creative writing module at university will help get the creative juices flowing and I’ll be able to at least plan out a story that I’m happy with!
That does sound like great motivation! Next time I have an idea I’m happy with I’m just gonna write it down and set myself a time limit to flesh it all out before I start my first draft! You’ve helped me realise that I just need to start instead of coming up with excuses! 😂
Aww it os fun to have your fun projects, and not write for anything other than yourself, but this does sound like it would make a great published novel! I hope it all works out for you! From what I’ve read you are a really talented writer, and I can’t wait to be seeing the hype across the book blogosphere for your debut and review all your books on my blog 😉
Aww, I’m glad!! And trust me, I sooo know about excuses. PROCRASTINATION HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AROUND HERE. 😂 Although the reward of having DONE the writing is a lot to keep me motivated. Ooh, I hope your creative writing module goes well!! That sounds exciting. 😀
Omgggg *flails* YOU ARE SO KIND. I honestly dreeeeam of being published so let’s hope, right?! (Although it will be SO nerve-wracking to have everyone reviewing my book. 😂 )
Reading this made me want to try your schedule..
😀
Thank you for your inspiration! 😀
But it means I.need to take days off (leave) from my work!
Maybe I will try every weekend 🙂
Thank you Cait!
Hope the editing goes well so I.can read never never prince on wattpad 😀
Omg, thank you, Hana!! *showers you with cake of happiness* I honestly couldn’t do this without the time off work, that’s for sure! And omg, I’m honoured that you’d want to read it. THANK YOU. <3
No words, only applause.
This is brilliant. Your writing day sounds wonderous (but exhausting) and your dog sounds adorable and like my spirit animal because exercise is good for you, i know, but terrible for the lungs i practically cough up afterwards and all the other things; OMG amazing.
I love hearing about your writing day because 4:30? Yeah, that’dnever happen with me.
Also, those snippets are life. I love Roo like I love rainy days and kittens (that’s a lot).
After all this; you deserve an entire cake. 🍰 *more clapping*
(I can’t wait to read this on Wattpad eventually. I’m so freaking excited about all the dragons and chocolate and killing and death and *sighs* I can’t wait.)
Kat recently posted…IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO PUT YOUR BOOKS IN TIME OUT?
*SHRIEKS AND GIVES YOU CAKE* HONESTLY, KAT, YOU ARE SO ENCOURAGING. I JUST FJDKALFSD I AM SO SO LUCKY TO KNOW YOU BASICALLY. <3 YOUR COMMENTS AND SUPPORT IS EVERYTHING. IT IS.
Roo is possibly my favourite.
So he should die yes?HOPEFULLY…I’ll let it rest 6 weeks and then start editing. HOPEFULLY. But I’m so lazy about editing… 😂
Ahaha it’s only you who could slip so many cake references into one snippet! I absolutely love the idea of your book and WOULD be cheering you on on Twitter, but I don’t have it. I KNOW HOW DO I EVEN HAVE A LIFE. And I love Roo! He is awesome! I LOVE HIM DON’T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT KILLING HIM YOU EVIL MADMAN. Altai seems pretty awesome as well, and so does Shay! I cannot believe you write this good in FIRST DRAFTS, it takes me TWENTY to get that good! AND GOOOOOO CAIT!!!!! CAKE FOR EVERYONE!!!!!
OMG OF COURSE THERE IS CAKE IN MY BOOK! I’m kind of ashamed it took me to 40K to get to it though. 😂 Caaaaake. OMG NO TWITTER? EL. YOU ARE EITHER VERY WISE OR MISSING OUT ON A LOT. Probably both. But probably more wise. Twitter is too addictive for procrastination. 😂
(Actually there is a sequel [arghrugh I don’t like sequels 😂] half planned so the cast DID basically survive. Which is a first for me.)
A LOT OF PRACTISE. THAT’S WHAT IT IS. But trust me the draft is horrendous. It is. These are just little tiny snippets that I kinda edited up. 😛
OH MI GAWD. I love your snippets so so so so so so so so so MUCH!!!
When you lay out your writing day like that it almost seems feasible, but I am not cyborg dragon Queen. :’D I will have to read how you plot because I always mean to, but never do and then regret it for the rest of my existence.
Atticus sounds adorable!! What breed is he? Is there a picture somewhere?! Must see doggy!
AHHH THANK YOU, JEN. I AM MONSTROUSLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW. *shrieks* Ahem. But YES. Plotting is quite fun. I plot like a weird thing, but I feel like writing is more about trying a zillion methods and then mix-mashing to make your own? That’s what I do and it midly works. :’)
OH OH I should’ve put a picture of Atticus up shouldn’t I!?? He’s a Schnoodle (Schnauzer x poodle) and his adorable face is here. Don’t let the cuteness fool you. He is evil. (BUT I LURVE HIM.)
Oh my God, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your snippet posts. I already love Roo just from reading the snippets. 😉
I’ve written for full afternoons before, but full days? Ha ha, no.
You write 25,000 words in a day. I’m trying to write 20,000 in a month. It is not even happening. I may have to try your strategy next weekend (assuming I don’t get any surprise essays and I’ve actually gotten my reading done).
Rain @ Ivyclad Ideas recently posted…Flesh-eating water horses. That is all. (The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater)
AHHH I’M SO GLAD. I fully admit to Roo being my favourite too. 😂 Only 22K so far in one day! But I kind of want to, in November, go for 25K in a day and get the 50K in 2 days because I am not normal. AHem. BUT GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR UPCOMING WRITING WEEKEND! It is really exhausting doing this? like I feel DRAINED at the end. Aka I need to devour books and cake and energise myself again. :’)
I like Roo… like… a LOT?
I wish I were Atticus at this very moment… life would be dandy is I could just curl up and sleep and watch movies, and the only annoyance were exercising every morning… I could so go for that life, RIGHT ABOUT NOW!
How do you even write 22,000 words? It took me two whole days to write like, 2000 words… damn!!!!!
All that aside… wishing I could be reading your book right about now as opposed to… I don’t know… wracking my brains over real life issues… ugh.
I need cake… or ice cream… actually, both!
I’M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU LIKE ROO. 😂 ME TOO. He is such a dork, but omg, how come the secondary characters are always the most fun?!? Ahem.
(Tbh, Atticus is living his life RIGHT.)
Just…practise! I’ve been writing for 6 years. 😛 It used to take me 2 months minimum to write a book…so LOTS OF PRACTISE. 😂 (Omg but thank you. <333 YOUR COMMENT IS THE NICEST. *gives you virtual cake*)
I would lurv to give this thing a try! I don’t think I’ve ever had a full day to just write, but maybe I can set a few aside in the summer and see how I do. Minus the running though. I don’t do running.
Also, 10,000 words before lunch? You are incredible. My best word count has been 5,000 in a day. Such a light weight. :p
And OMG the snippets are perfect. Especially the cake snippet. What kind of horrible monster could keep Roo from his cake and Altai from her house burning? I can already tell I love these characters. <3
Okay, here's two snippets (because overkill) form something I'm currently working on. It's more like a side project then a main project.
…
She got up and grabbed the shock stick that mom had bought for her out of its holster by the night stand, not because she was paranoid, but because she was sensible (okay, maybe she was a little paranoid), and went downstairs to check it out.
She pulled back the curtain covering the window by the door. Instead of a tall, tan UPS guy, there was a teenage boy standing there, his arms a little too long for his body, his skin way too pale for Arizona. He was tapping the side of a box and humming something. He seemed harmless enough, but didn’t they all before they came in and stabbed you fifteen times in the chest?
…
“Sorry,” She said, “I shouldn’t have texted you this late, um, early.”
“It’s fine. I was watching Criminal Minds, so I was awake. What’s up with you? Why are you texting me weird things?” He gave a nervous laugh after that last part.
Aster sighed. “I’m really sorry. It’s nothing. It was just a dream.”
“Oh, okay. That’s good, because I was starting to think I was going to have to burst in waring my Sponge Bob pjs and beat Freddy Krueger's brains out with my baseball bat. And no one wants to see that.”
“Yeah, please keep your Sponge Bob pjs at home.”
Katherine Rebekah recently posted…Beautiful People #16: March Edition
BUT RUNNING IS FUUUUUUN. All that speed and freedom! :’) Unless, ya know, it’s dark like it is at 5:30am here and you greatly risk running into a pole. But whatever. I like to live on the edge.
(Shay honestly is dead inside with his aversion to chocolate. I can’t even with him. I don’t even know why that happened, but he needs to amend his ways in the sequel or I’ll let a dragon eat him.)
DUUUUDE YOUR WRITING IS AMAZING. I’M ABSOLUTELY ADORING TAT FIRST SNIPPET SO MUCH. 😂 omg. So true about the killers. You can never trust anybody really. *shifty gaze* And the second one is golden. omg, you are an incredible writer. yoU ARE.
Okay, I’ll admit I like running in drizzling rain. I feel like a free horse as my hair blows majestically in the wind.
Aw you sweet little pineapple. You’re too nice. I’ll tell you a secret. *whispers* I’m writing this one for Wattpad. Shhhh don’t tell anyone.
WHAT IS THIS GLORIOUS NEWS I HEAR.
ERMAGERD.
I CANNOT WAIT.
WHEN WILL ITS DIVINE PRESENCE GRACE WATTPAD? TOMORROW? IT’S TOMORROW RIGHT? *collapses laughing* I joke I joke, omg, but this is such good news! I can’t wait to read it!! 😀
Well, thank yourself because you’re one of the reasons I’ve found the courage to post original work there.
It will be awhile because I want to have it all written out (I’m almost to the half way mark). I’m sure you’ll be among the first to know when it’s out. I’m so glad you want to read it. You’re so full of squishy niceness. 😀
I always enjoy thanking myself so CONSIDER THAT DONE. And yesss, I am full of squishy niceness. I’M LIKE THE NICEST PERSON OF EVER. #humble
YOU ARE AMAZING YAAAAAAY! I have pulled off the write-for-a-full-day thing once or twice during NaNo events, but usually I’m dead pretty soon afterwards when I do. So the fact that you can do it for five days straight is insane.
I love the snippets. I really do. 😀 Why is Shay refusing chocolate, though? That’s just insane.
Also, a comment: writers in Antarctica probably spend a lot of time distracted, actually. Why? PENGUINS. Seriously. How could you possibly write undistracted when there are delightfully dapper flightless birds waddling adorably around outside your window? (Writers in the Arctic, on the other hand . . . yeah. Nothing to do but avoid polar bears and icicles, as you said.)
Sarah recently posted…March Doings
ZOMG THANK YOU, SARAH. *shrieks* I’m dead after the 5 days though. 😂 I think I spent the 6th day accomplishing absolutely nothing but letting my tired hands rest hehehe. (And, ya know, letting my family know I still exist, because I really don’t come up for air while writing.)
IDEK WHAT IS SHAY’S PROBLEM. He was dropped on his head as a child, probably.
And I totally agree about the penguin theory, actually. I would be distracted by penguins, *sigh* So maybe there is NO place on earth to go without distractions? I mean, tbh, the greatest of procrastinators could get distracted watching snowflakes fall, right?
YOU’RE WELCOME! And even if you’re dead on day 6, it’s still amazing you can do so much so fast. *nods*
That could be. *nods*
And that is very true . . . watching snowflakes can by hypnotizing. Though I guess if you’re staring out the window, you could still be thinking about your story? Maybe? (Fun maybe-fact: I heard somewhere that some famous author divorced his first wife because she didn’t understand that when he was staring out the window, he was actually working.)
Sarah recently posted…March Doings
Omg, really?!?! 😂 Authors are crazy. I heard one crazy-classic-author story of a wife burning his work??? EVERYONE IS CRAZY.
It was entertaining to read through your daily writing schedule. I have a full time job as a teacher, so I cram in my writing days on the weekends. Your snippets are hilarious! I look forward to reading The Never Never Prince when you post it.
Ooh, good on you for keeping up writing with a full time job! That would be hard to balance I can imagine *gives you chocolate* AHHH thank you, though, you are SO VERY NICE. :’)
Your writing skills do not anger me, but they sadden me and make me cry and at the same time a teeny part of me is inspired to write more. But mostly I cry.
Your writing process schedule thing and Atticus made me cackle out loud several times 😀 As did your snippets. Can I just say I love Roo? He’s adorable and knows what matters in life (chocolate = nomoreproblems). I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL ALL YOUR STORIES ARE PUBLISHED/ON WATTPAD SO THAT I MIGHT DEVOUR THEM ALL IN GLORIOUS TEARS AND WAILING AND SHRIEKING AND DYING.
DUUUDE DO NOT CRY. *gives you chocolate cake* Just remember this is all horrifically unedited. Those little snippets are like 1% of the MESS this novel is. 😂 And I’m glad you like Roo because I adore him omg. Awww, you are so nice. SO NICE.
Hey Cait! LOVE this post. Your writing process is a little mind blowing. How are you surviving without chocolate?!
I’ve had a full day to write once and it’s not for me. DISTRACTIONS ABOUND and sometimes sitting down to open the same word document is a little boring. I’m thinking about trying Scrivener. I write best when I’m running out of time–it acts as a sort of motivation. Write, write because you have limited time and don’t know when you’ll be able to make more.
The snippets were pretty good! I’d TOTALLY READ THAT. ALL 98k.
Omg, thank you, Kaelyn! *flails wildly* I DON’T KNOW HOW I LIVED WITHOUT CHOCOLATE THOUGH. I think my brain must have had a malfunction or something because wut EVEN. Chocolate is life.
Ooh, scrivener is awesome!! I’m not sure it particularly helps with distractions, but I just love the program. 😂 And the ticking-clock can be a good motivator!! I kind of do that because I give myself a deadline of 5 (or 6 maximum) days and I HAVE to have it done by then. 😛
*Hamilton peeps sing* You really do write like you’re running out of time~
I’ll have to try Scrivener! Do you write with music on? I sometimes do, but only to set the mood when I’m stumped while writing.
Actually I NEVER write with music. EEEK. 😂 I used to? But now I can’t concentrate. It has to be very very quiet. The quieter the better.
This is an amazing post because you right your crazy writing process so beautifully. And then your spinets sound awesome and I can’t wait to reda the whole thing. I’m not much of a writer myself though really at all except for blogging with is different.
Nabila // Hot Town Cool Girl
Aww, thanks, Nabila!! 😀 *flails* Blogging is still writing, but yes, it is different right?! Unless it counts as non-fiction writing?!
This was a great post, Cait! I really enjoyed reading about your writing process. Ive never spent a full day writing or reading. When I worte The Terrible Novel That Is Yet to be Edited (aka Entreaty) last June, I would write for 2-3 hours until I had written 3000 words then go do something else. You’re insane, but I really admire you for it. I also went on a run every day, with or without a dog entourage. (my dog has friends. We call them the furry fence). At the moment… I usually write if I can during the weekends and edit during the week, depending on all the other stuff in my life. I loved the snippet about multi tasking and cake. This is from a short story about a jewel bearer who has to go get a jewel cursed for his sultan, based on when the mughals invaded India. “people are afraid of uncertainty more than they are afraid of death, and that fear can spurs them to magic”
Shanti recently posted…Why are we so obsessed with World War Two?
also: are you sure that polar bears live in antarctica *squinty eyes*
Shanti recently posted…The Game of Shanti loves this and Death
Excuse you for questioning my polar bear theories. OF COURSE THEY DO. *flips hair majestically*
Omg, that’s not a very nice nickname for your novel! 😂 But I understand…I kind of want to refer to this one as The Beast That Is Twice As Large As It Should Be And I Don’t Want To Edit It Ever. AHHHHEM. 😂 I will. Eventually. One day. Ahem. I’m glad you admire the insanity and aren’t, like, running away screaming. You are true wonderfulness. :’)
Oooh, I like that quote. I REALLY like it. It’s super intriguing.
Well DONE Cait! *hands out cake because apparently you don’t need chocolate* I haven’t ever written all day, although I do have homework and church and clubs and stuff which all get in the way. Honestly, however insane your book might be, the amount of creativity and self control and mental strength it takes to write a freakin’ novel is EXTREMELY impressive. *hands out strawberry tarts for a change* I did write for over an hour today thuough *congratulates self* on a very depressing short story about sexual abuse and hope. I also wrote a short story about a boy chasing a fairy around the city then letting it go when he finally catches it because the person he’s catching it for wants to use it.
Snippet #1 (and I assure you this is a very silly story) ‘“Here, fairy, you might want this-“ I pull the somewhat crumpled flower, the rock, the can out of my pocket. She says something and they disappear again. I feel self conscious about the whole talking-to-a-fairy thing, but I say, “I hope you don’t feel angry about the whole trapping you thing. And the spell, or whatever it was you needed everything for.” I have no idea if she understands or even hears, but she lands on my hand, bends down, then pushes off and flies up, up, up, until all I can see is a blue afterimage in the darkness.’
snippet # 2 ‘. “ I already said. You’re going to have to believe that fairies exist, because I need you to catch the one in you’ll find in the car park past the Chen Tai in”- she checks her watch- “Twenty minutes.” She blinks her eyelashes. “I need you, B.”
I’ll have time to deal with the fairies-exist-and –my-whole-worldview-is-changed thing later. Right now I just roll with it. It’s Rosine, after all. What did I expect?’
🙂
shar@Virtually Read recently posted…Why are we so obsessed with World War Two?
*EATS ALL THE CAKE* I don’t even know why I didn’t need chocolate. LIKE WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!?!? I usually exist on chocolate while writing. 😂 *also accepts strawberry tarts* I mean, for me, it’s kind of just becoming second nature to write this way? Although I get VERY exhausted afterwards. But it works for me! And I think it’s important for writers to try lots of things and figure out what works for them. *nods* Clearly my way wouldn’t work for a lot of people, omg, because of the time committment.
AHHHH, congrats on writing short stories! I THINK THAT’S AWESOME. Trying to write something under 50K is just impossible for me. *facepalm*
AHH I LOVE YOUR FAIRY SNIPPETS. FAIRIES ARE AWESOME AND YOUR STORY SOUNDS SO SO GREAT.
OH MY-FREAKING-WORD. YOU ARE THE WRITING QUEEN. I absolutely love the snippets at the end. They are G O R G E O U S. 🙂 And your books sounds, well, genius.
THANK YOU, YOU PRECIOUS BEAN. I SHALL JUST FLAIL NOW AND POSSIBLY SHRIEK WITH HAPPINESS.
The fact that you wrote 98k in 5 days makes my brain implode. Seriously, omg, what the heck. I may have to try your novel writing method and see if I can pull it off xD
ALSO, OH THESE SNIPPETS. THESE ARE GLORIOUS. THIS NOVEL SOUNDS AMAZING OKAY AND YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY PUT IT ON WATTPAD. BECAUSE LIKE I NEED THIS. Okay? Cool *nod*
IT IS REALLY FUN TO DO. And really, like, satisfying?! I felt so productive those 5 days. Except…ya know, the inbox imploded and everything else kind of just screamed at me for attention but I ignored it. 😂 I’m so not good at multi-taskign. AHem.
OMG THANK YOU. <3 I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE THEM.
I cannot wait for this book! I can just feel that it is going to be amazing, hilarious, blood curdling and heartbreaking all at the same time. I have to say that my favorite snippy is definitely when Shay buys the teapot.
You are an amazing writer and I know you will get picked up by a publishing house because MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ YOUR STUFF!
I’m sooo glad you like the teapot snippet. 😂 THAT’S MY FAVOURITE TOO. omg, the banter between those two is my favourite. I’m so glad it turned out. AFJDASKLFD THANK YOU, SARA. <3
OH GOOD GOLLY GOSH CAIT. I took a break out of my unannounced commenting hiatus (even though scheduled posts are still going up every week (when..my blogging stats are probably definitely not as good as yours LOL)) to comment on this because IT DESERVES A COMMENT also I am going slightly insane because EXAMS ARE LIKE..THREE WEEKS AWAY..why am I still procrastinating..
Anyway. cAIT. YOU WROTE THE SAMR AMOUNT OF WORDS I DID IN PROBABLY 9 MONTHS..IN A DAY. give me strength. IM going weak at the knees. My head hurts. genuine question though: how do your eyes not hurt from staring at a screen all day? Mine would 🙁
The snippets look SO GOOD and yes yes to putting it on wattpad. Let’s hope that after my exams I manage to finish my WIP in a week..LOL (I think I’m going to finally take a leaf out of your book and actually write my first ever outline though..it seems like a good idea..)
OMG YOU CAME BACK TO THE INTERNET WORLD OF COMMENTING FOR MEEEEEEEE?!???!?! *dies* I AM SO HONOURED. I’LL PROBABLY GIVE YOU CAKE RIGHT NOW. AND SHRIEK. Ahem. Okay. Calming, calming. Ahem. (Duuuuuude good luck for those exams though. *shrieks* STUDY HARD. BRIBE YOURSELF WITH CHOCOLATE.)
Bahhaha, okay, but I have practised writing a LOT and I think one gets faster the more they do? I take lots of breaks! And the exercise really does work, because it takes you fully away from the screen and gets the blood pumping and all that etc etc. ;D So that helps. My arms get tired but not SORE so that’s also a relief.
DUDE YES! Sometimes it’s good to try different things right?!? I’ve outlined and non-outlined and definitely figured out the outline is what works for me. 😂
“You should stop thinking of strangers this way, I told myself. Stop caring. It happens too often, and if you feel this for a stranger, when it’s someone you know, you’re going to get hurt.”
My NaNo has been going SO SLOWLY!!! I seriously overestimated how much time I would have when I set my word count goal. But writing is still tons of fun!
My dog will not nap at my feet, she will nibble on my fingers and try to chew on my hair by jumping on my face. But she is still SO CUTE!!!!!😍
Your snippets are AWESOME! I want to read your book, like, now! I cannot wait for the day when you will be published!😀📕
OHHHHH. THAT SNIPPET. I LIKE. AND NOW I’M SO INTRIGUED!! 😀 *flails* I’m glad it’s fun for you, even if it’s being slow! It’s not the speed that matters anyway, right?! It’s just getting the story written. *nods*
Oh cute dogs are very very cheeky because I’m pretty sure they figure out that we just CAN’T IGNORE THEM. *cuddles fluffy puppy* My dog also has a habit of squeezing between me and the computer and lying on my fingers. 😂
So…I basically want to read your novel. Now.
I was dying of laughter over Roo and Shay. I can tell that your cast of characters has great chemistry.
I don’t know how you wake up that early, but you are an inspiration to us all. I’ll have to try your writing schedule one of these days that I’m feeling particularly adventurous and sleep deprived. 😉
*squawks and flails with comlete joy* I AM SO SO GLAD. :’) Like there’s always a moment when I’m like “Is this funny? Or do I just think it’s funny?” 😂 So I’m glad it’s ACTUALLY funny, omg. Ahem. Ohhhh Shay and Roo are amazing. THEY ARE GLORIOUS BUDDIES.
I have not written all day before. I probably could, if I wanted to, but I actually share my writing laptop with the family and so they would get slightly annoyed if I hogged it all day. AND WITH EACH NEW THING I LEARN ABOUT THIS NOVEL I TOTALLY WANT TO READ IT.
And I actually can’t post any writing snippets, not because I’m not brave (I’m EXTREMELY BRAVE. But only on the internet), but because it is a TOP SECRET THING I’m co-writing writing with a internet friend. We’ll be posting it on Wattpad.
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Ohhh, you share a laptop? You nice bean you. I totally get that you couldn’t do this then. 😂 And I mean, it’s not really for everyone anyway, right?!? I think the most important thing for writers is to figure out what works for them. 😀
AHHHHHH. A TOP SECRET THING THAT’S GOING ON WATTPAD OMGGGG. *hyperventilates* I’M SO RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED.
It was so cool to get an inside look into how you do it. 22,000 words in a day is incredible. This is why you are a queen.
Those snippets are awesome, especially the ones involving cake.
*adjusts crown regally* OF COURSE.
😂
(Although tbh, it’s going to need so. much. editing hehehe. But first drafts are for mistakes, right?!)
I’ve never actually wrote for a whole day straight, because of school, and chores and such. But I do get up at 5:00 AM to write most days.
ARGH YOUR BOOK IS SO AMAZING AND IT DESERVES TO BE PUBLISHED WITH A BEAUTIFUL COVER AND THEN SELL BAZILLIONS OF COPIES AND THEN BE TURNED INTO A FANTASTIC MOVIE.
Idk what my favorite snippet is because they are all so awesome, I can’t choose 0_o
Here’s a snippet from my story Bumble Bee:
So last month I was staying in my flat in Toronto (yes I’m Canadian) when the ‘good guys’ contacted me. Now obviously since they’re good guys and I’m technically a bad guy (I prefer the term super-cool-fiend) they aren’t supposed to hire me. But they wanted to hire me for this really big heist, and since they were offering quite a nice sum of money, and I needed said money badly, I accepted. Mistake number one. I should have stuck to crime lords.
Anyway, I love your book, it’s amazing.
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aHHHHHH A FELLOW EARLY RISER!! *hi fives* Tbh, early mornings are the best because everyone is so quiet. I get a LOT done when that’s the case.
THANK YOU THOUGH. THIS COMMENT IS SO ENCOURAGING AND NICE. *shrieks*
I loooove your Bumble Bee snippet. LOVE IT. She has such sass and attitude!!! 😀
Fantastic results!! Do you ever get arm, shoulder, or hand pain from typing that much? That must be hard! But if you’re doing it in smaller chunks like this, it’s probably not too bad. Love your snippets! Sounds sarcastic and funny. 🙂
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I get tired but not actually achy or anything?! I’m VERY lucky I know. And I know people who’ve ruined their hands from typing too much so I’m trying to be cautious. I guess it’s good that I only do this like two or three times a year. 😂
Like so freaking impressed with this! During NaNoWriMo I typically write about 2,ooo words a day and sometimes that’s a stretch. Please, please, please put this up on Wattpad! Each and every snippet gets me more excited and I love the whole premise. I’m going to be starting your Dead Boy and a Paper Cut book soon and I’m super excited to have my heart torn to pieces. Totally normal thing to want by the way…
AFDJKASL THAKN YOU. I’M SO RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED THAT YOU LIKE THE SNIPPETS! *shares cake with you* It will need so. much. editing. But I so enjoyed writing it so hopeful the edits aren’t too mean to me. 😂 Omg, *flails nervously* I hope you like my Dead Boy story, and critiques are totally welcome!
I would give anything to spend a full day writing, then I could actually get some stuff done. I’m stuck doing just a little bit a day and it’s torture. Sometimes I go weeks without writing and it’s killing me slowly inside. I can’t wait for summer time when I get to go home and I don’t have homework to deal with. UNLIMITED WRITING TIME! My process would be pretty similar to yours – especially the excessive pintrest creeping. I love pinterest. though my cat likes to curl up on my hands when I’m trying to type – or she will sleep on my laptop just to spite me. She’s my little devil.
As for your snippets, I loved them all <3 Especially Roo. Roo sounds wonderful and I want more, dammit! I would share mine but I haven't written anything of my new project yet – I'm in a plotting/planning frenzy at the moment. I do have my new Snippet Sunday where I plan to share little things, or full things like poems or scenes, each week – so there's that. 🙂
AGH. I HEAR YA. I know I’m insanely lucky to even have this opportunity…gahhh. I’m so glad too, or else writing wouldn’t work for me! I have to get so hyper focused and just do NOTHING else or I lose it. 😂 YAY FOR SUMMER FOR YOU THEN!! And pinterest creeping is marvellous. ;D I usually do that before I write though? Or else I keep wanting to add in scenes and omg at 98K this book does NOT need anything added. Just edited. EEEEEEP.
hehe. Pets are so very demanding aren’t they? 😉
I look forward to your snippet sunday project!! 😀
No, I have never written for a full day – or even non-stop. I don’t think I have the capacity to write continuously without thinking of something else, too.
“Except maybe writers who live in Antartica and have nothing to do except avoid icicles and polar bears so just stay indoors and write all day.” I think this is so true, though. I mean, when I’m in the midst of an idea and not distracted, my best per-day is about 4000, and that’s very rare, but I rarely even edit 2000 (ie. a chapter) a day nowadays because of my undergrad finals. It’s sad. I guess I’m slightly envious of your insomnia/mindset of getting up early. The best I can do is aim to start working at 9 – and that’s normally not having showered.
What’s a dandelion latte like? I noticed at my mum’s she has some dandelion coffee, but I’m both curious and terribly afraid of trying it. I have a massive sweet tooth, so I’m a coffee-with-syrup girl, as I don’t like the bitterness of lattes without an additional flavour. (Sorry if this is totally off topic.)
Hre’s a snippet from the bit of the novel I’m editing at the moment:
‘”Well, there exactly is your problem,” announced Victoria. “By a man. Science is all well and good, but sometimes one needs a woman’s touch.”
Impressive reasoning, if not a mite fallacious. Cathy chortled and wandered forward. Her sleeves had ripped from wrist to elbow, and using this, she tore the cotton away and bared her flesh. She tingled in anticipation of the needle that would undoubtedly take her blood (again). Besides, her clothes were already in shreds. She surprised herself in how readily she accepted their fate.
But public decency still existed in the Italian escarpments.’
PS. You so need to get these books about dragons published one day*, so I can have them in my hands and bookstagram them. 😉 😀
*Even self-published, ’cause I bet we, your fans, would make your novels shoot up the Amazon lists.
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Trust me, insomnia isn’t fun. 😂 It works well when I’m like hyper-focused on something and can really be working on it…but I kind of crash and burn afterwards. XD But omg, yes, I know I’m lucky to be ABLE to do this. Because it’s definitely not something most people could even do with busy lives and all.
BAHAHA. It’s not off-topic! I don’t even ever have sugar, so I shall shush on that part. ;D But dandelion lattes are DELICIOUS. I don’t really know how to describe it? I imagine it’d be very similar to a dandelion coffee.
OMG THAT IS SUCH AN INTRIGUING SNIPPET. *applauds* I LIKE IT!!
(hehe, I don’t plan on self-publishing. 😂 But I’m working on the traditional route! Although not with this. This is just my fun project. ;D)
Aw, that sucks. For me, it’s like I get that way after 10.30 or 11pm, so I can’t even do writing after then because I get like a lazy cat and just bat at my laptop.
Okay, I tried the dandlelion coffee this morning, and it was actually quite nice. I had it with almond milk, so I don’t know if the nutty-ish taste was from the milk or the ‘coffee’, but I was an interesting flavour.
Aww, thank you, Cait. *_*
(But fun projects can be awesome and publishable too)
Ooh with almond milk? I’m actually not sure how my mum makes ours, but no almond milk because I’m allergic to nuts. 😂 I think we probably use coconut milk. COCONUT MILK ROCKS. 😀
(Fun projects miiiight be?!? It’s always hard to tell, but we can hope, right?! :P)
A publisher needs to pick this up now. Like right NOW. I loved all the snippets and a Genghis Khan retelling sounds awesomesauce. I think my favorite snippet though is the teapot one. I do have disagreeable pets. I have a dog named Coco who chooses to listen when she wants to. I also have a Bearded Dragon named Smaug. He thinks he can walk through walls and every time that doesn’t work he cuddles up with the wall and goes to sleep. My pets are odd. I really liked your planned out writing day, but 4:30 a.m. is sooooooooo early. That explains how you get so much writing done though. I also like your dogs name, Atticus, that’s cute. I know what you mean when small dogs take up half the bed. The struggle is real.
AFJDAKSLD THANK YOU, LEAH. YOU INCREDIBLY NICE THING. 😂 It’s a bit unconventional though, with the dragons + dystopian + retellign. 😂 omg, my brain is an odd thing and it comes up with the craziest stuff.
Ohhh, I’m so glad you relate to the disagreeable pets. Seriously. After all we do and tHIS is how they repay us?!? *huffs* Okay, I’m slightly jealous that you have a dragon though…
Cake Eating Process?! That would be awesome!
Seeing your writing updates on twitter has been so motivating for me!
I think I need to find a job that makes it possible to work from home too. I can’t deal with being out there every day 🙁 You WILL be a writer, Cait. You already are ❤
AHHH YAY SNIPPETS!
Roo! He needs the cake, give him the cake! This sounds so good — and yay for a non-American setting, seriously!
I want to read it! Let me know if you need a beta reader 😉
Waaahh I’ll stop rambling, but GREAT WORK on your WIP!!! And nice to have you back 😉
AHHH YOU ARE THE NICEST. *shrieks* I’m actually kind of flailing every time someone says I’m motivating. EEEEEEK. I’m really really glad that happens. I just…ajfdlkasfd you are all so very nice to me. :’) (And omg working from home is very nice. Although hard? Like I’m trying to get my business up and running and it’s definitely not supporting itself yet. *sobs*)
Roo probably deserves the cake. THEY PUT HIM THROUGH A LOT. But he also has a jacket of secret pockets which he stashes full of chocolate. I like this boy. I like his priorities.
(And omg I’ll let you know when it’s edited, yessss.)
I’m so happy for you Cait! I decided on April 3rd to participate in Camp Nano. I’ve never actually tried writing a book other than maybe when I was a teenager but those stories are lost and I never finished them. I have over 5000 words which I’m proud of and I’m trying to write consistently. I missed 2 entire days of writing ( one I was sick and the other I was house hunting).
I looked at that Pinterest board and apparently we both have a pin in common. Thought that was cool. I’ll be updating my writing process as it happens but I love your writing posts and advice. I need writing buddies. These posts help.
Snippet:
She was trying to create snapshots of memories she could later recall. The warmth of the sun, the smoothness of his lips, the wind chimes playing their methodical songs, the tart lemonade, and the promise of forever. She couldn’t stop smiling.
YAYYY FOR NANOERS! *hi fives* I hope this draft treats you well! It’s always a good time to get back into writing, I think. :’) (Also good luck with your house hunting! I know that can be a vaguely stressful thing. >_>)
Oh, pin twins?! *hi fives again* CLEARLY WE HAVE GOOD TASTE. (And I’m also reeeeally glad you find my posts helpful! That’s encouraging for me. 😂)
OMG YOUR WRITING IS BEAUTIFUL. 😀
Haha, I love the snippets! (And I’m still jealous over this Scrivener font, it’s gorgeous.) This book definitely sounds like something I want to read.
It’s interesting to read about your writing routine, I guess the alternation of extreme write sprints and exercise does make sense (*makes mental note to get out of chair more often*). So far, I’ve never dedicated an entire day (or week or anything) to writing, I think it could be very productive because other thoughts don’t get in the way as much and you stay connected to the story much more than if you write 500 words each day. But routine is good, too.
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
It’s SUCH a nice font. I think you can download it for free on one of those fonty sites? (I can’t remember…freefonts? Fontsquirrel? SOMETHING. I’m so unhelpful 😂)
I honestly think the exercise does WONDERS to keep the creativity flowing. Plus, you know, it gets your eyes off the screen and your blood pumping after being stationary for so long?! It helps me. 😂 And YES, I always feel super connected to the story when I’m just writing so intensely. It also doesn’t give me time to forget what I’m trying to say. MOSTLY. 😛
I… Am flabbergasted. I can barely manage an hour of writing without getting distracted. The most I’ve managed in a day is 3500 words. Oh my god you are word machine! All I can do is virtually bow at your feet. 😮😥🙇
hehe. It just takes practise, honestly. 😂 And….obsession??? I have the attention span of an over excited puppy for like EVERYTHING else. But with writing…I can just write and write and write. IT’S WEIRD. I AM PROBABLY INSANE.
CAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO AMAZING!!!!
First off I’m kind of freaking out because CAN I PLEASE BE YOU?? GETTING UP AT FOUR THIRTY AND WRITING TWENTYK A DAY AND WHATNOT. YOU ARE MY LIFE GOALS.
Also how on earth did you do all that without chocolate? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE????
Seriously though, congratulations!! That’s so incredible!!! Literally whenever I read your blog I get super excited and I’m like okay I need to be productive and awesome like Cait. Let’s try this. XD
I love the snippets that you posted!! Now you have me wanting to read the entire thing!!! I’ll have to check out your Wattpad:)
ANYWAYS THIS WAS BASICALLY THE COOLEST THING EVER AND YOU DESERVE CAKE.
*FLAILS* I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT AND THAT YOU’D WANT TO READ IT AND JUST AFDJASKLFD YOUR COMMENT IS SO TERRIBLY ENCOURAGING, I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. <3
Although, waaait, I don't get up at 4:30. Just wake up. 😂 I am not a big fan of sleeping. hehe.
YES LET’S BOTH GO DO SUPER PRODUCTIVE THINGS AND BE WONDERFUL. *shares chocolate cake with you*
Wow! I can’t even imagine writing that much in one day! That’s insane! You go, girl! Also getting up at 4:30 in the morning? I would sleep til 10am every day if I could!
~Sara
HEHEH, not quite getting up at 4:30. Just waking up. 😂 I am such a morning person, omg.
Cait!! Awesomeness. 🙂 I have never written solidly for an entire day. I wish my brain would work that way because it would be insanely epic. But no.
I also don’t work from home. Sad face.
Loved the snippets (esp the one about things burning that are NOT toast, oh, and also the teapot).
Snippets:
“Elf is my sister, my only family,” Xandra went on, volume rising inexorably. “Do not even BEGIN to think you know what that means to me. I will be calm, and I will be resolute for my country BECAUSE I HAVE NO CHOICE.”
Her heels impacted the marble floor like gunshots as she paced.
“Impeccable timing, as always,” she gasped out, heaving a shock grenade down the hallway, then ducking into an open doorway to shield herself partially from the shockwave. Micha-el mirrored her response instinctively.
“Did you get bored while I was gone?” He inquired mildly, pulling out his sidearm.
Alys grinned at him unexpectedly.
“You have no idea,” she replied with feeling. “Do you have any sentimental attachment to this dump?”
Micha-el paused to fire four precisely timed shots down the hallway.
“Nope,” he said.
“Excellent,” Alys said, fishing in her pocket. “Ready?”
He grinned back at her.
“Always,” he replied.
Margot sighed internally. She would have punched the man already and walked away. Good thing Malachi was handling this.
And… Yeah. Thanks for sharing!
AHHHH, YOU ARE NICE, BRITTANY. :’) And I’m lucky to be able to do this, I knoooow, especially since it’s the only way that seems to work for me with writing!!
Ooh, I loved your snippets! They sound like a great action-y duo in the 2nd one. :’)
*screams because your writing is AMAZING and I think i might be in love with Roo*
*screams because you liked it* <333
5 days? 5 days!!??? Wow…you’re just inhuman. And awesome. 😀
How do you even get up so early? I hate mornings. I wake up at 9 or 9:30 (I also go to bed at like 1am) Also I love it that your dog hates exercise. 😀 Also I love Roo. 😀
I REALLY LIKE EARLY MORNINGS. 😂 No one else is awake, it’s quiet, it’s cool, it’s kinda dark… ahhhh, SO PEACEFUL. :’) And omg thank yoooou. I’m so glad you like Roo. HE IS THE DARLING OF THIS BOOK.
That makes a lot of sense. Families are great but they can be loud once everyone wakes up lol. 😀
Omg, I know right?! SO LOUD. 😂 And they always want you to do things. I swear, my family never needs me UNLESS I’m writing and then they have 934839 things I have to do. 😂 😂
Yes! Gah yeah that’s how it was in my family too. 😀
I LOVE THE SNIPPETS, CAIT! My favorite is the one where Shay is wanted and a criminal. <33 Your dialogue is so witty and awesome, and I adore the character names. I would love to read The Never Never Prince on Wattpad, if you were to post it. 🙂
I've never written for a full day but now I really want to because goals. I need to start fulfilling my writing goals instead of procrastinating them. Your blog posts on writing are really motivational.
*screeches with happiness* I AM SO GLAD, THANK YOU, AUTUMN. CAKE FOR YOU. :’)
Oh oh yes definitely start writing if you haven’t already. *nods* Writing is a GRAND thing, and the more you do it, the easier it gets. Well, maybe not EASIER? But I feel like you get to know yourself better as a writer the more you do it? And that is really wonderful. :’)
I HAVE ONE! And yes, I’m brave, so I will share. 😀
“Evs, when I said junk food, I meant a place that wasn’t titled ‘Grease and Not Much Else’.” Barrett said, slowly picking up a french fry. “This is disgusting.”
I LOOOOOVE THAT SNIPPET. IT IS MARVELLOUS. 😂
You have pretty much the most awesomest daily writing schedule while drafting. Also the most insane, but in the pest possible way (after all, we’re all mad here). I have written pretty much nonstop for an entire day before, when I was doing my 30k day a couple of years back. That was a toughie. But there’s a strange sense of exhausted accomplishment at the end of it, like “I spent this day doing something worth while. Oh yeah, and I wrote something in there somewhere.”
I’m seeing a theme with these snippets. Tea pots. Which is entirely not a bad thing at all. II love them all! Though I am surprised at the fact that this was all created with no chocolate. You must have been too busy writing to think about anything else much!
WE ARE ALL MAD HERE. And I only do this for 4 or 5 days, so it doesn’t go on TOO long. 😂 30K a day is AMAZING. Like, seriously, omg I acutally die at 22K?! So I can’t even imagine going that much further. :’) Actually I have a vague idea that I want to do NaNoWriMo in november in 2 days….but we’ll see. SOMETIMES DOING THIS MAKES ME GO A LITTLE NUTS. (Nuttier?) And yesss, the exhaustion is so so big but so so good. I feel so productive when I do this. :’)
TEAPOTS. It’s a running joke throughout the book. Shay buys them for his girl-crush. She breaks them. He buys another. It’s so doomed that I ship them.
YOU ARE MY SUPERHERO. I’ve been in what you can say is a writing slump for awhile now and your post has ignited that spark for me again. It made me laugh so much and your snippets make me want to read your book even more! I can’t say that the hint of dragons hadn’t tempted me already because everything is so much better with dragons. XD
PS: I’ve been reading The Dead Boy and the Paper Cut and I AM LOVING IT. I have been trying to persuade the handful of friends I have to read it too! I’m positive they’re going to love it.
OMGGG REALLY?!?!??!!? THAT IS SO SO AWESOME. AHHHHH. *gives you cake to encourage you to keep writing* Yes yes do write! DO WRITE. It is the most rewarding thing to finish off projects. YOU GOT THIS. *cheers you on* Ahem. And omg yes to everything-is-better-with-dragons. This is only my second dragon book ever (#shame) but I seriously think I need to rewrite all my books of ever and just add dragons.
(OMG YOU LOVE DEAD BOY!?!? *dies happy* And you’re recommending it…omg. I just…I shall be here in stunned joy forever. :’) *HUGS YOU*)
Oh my lands. Just… W.O.W. How do you pump out that many words in five days? (Well, obviously you just explained it to us, but stiiilll… XD) Do you have everything planned out in a super detailed outline? Because I feel like I would hit snags along the way if I wasn’t 100% sure where I was going. That, or there would be ginormous plot holes I would just turn a blind eye towards while drafting, and vow to patch up later. XD
Just–CONGRATULATIONS. You deserve all the cake. All the cake in the world. And this post is completely hilarious! I loved it! (Killing spiders in the bathroom! Meep. Big spiders? *shudders* Here in Canada, the biggest creepy crawlies that ever make it indoors aren’t much bigger than a toonie. But that’s large enough for me.)
Oh, oh! Those snippets! Girl, your snark! I be penslain. I especially love the one where Roo accuses him of blushing. XDDD So accurate.
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WITH A LOT OF PLANNING YES. 😂 I do have a super detailed plot. The plot for this one was 4K? I also envision the scenes a lot and for some reason that just helps them come out reeeeally easily. :’) And omg, don’t think the story is perfect though. 😂 So many plot holes. I actually couldn’t even figure out my protagonist’s main motivations for most of the book so THAT’S a mess. heh. Edits, oh how I do not want thee…
GUGH TO SPIDERS. They’re not so big? I’ve seen bigger. But the smaller ones are just as creepy because they move so fast. *cries*
ROO IS THE WORST TEASE IN THE UNIVERSE.
*whistles* A 4k plot? That would explain things! I’m also finding that visualizing things ahead of time is really helpful! Especially when I’m driving or at work or washing dishes or something, I can prep for my next writing session by playing things out in my imagination.
Ooh, have fun with those edits… heheh. I extend my sympathy. *sends you more cake*
Big spiders, fast spiders, ANY spiders = no. Except for the teensiest, tiniest ones you can hardly even see. Those are okay. XD
I think I love him already.
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CAIT YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. The most I’ve ever written was about 10k and that was with work that night *pats self on back* So no, I’ve never gone the WHOLE DAY WRITING. My life is literally insane. But omggggggggg I’m obviously first in line to read this, right? RIGHT? *threatening glare*
10K + work?! YOU are the inspiration you incredible loony thing. :’) But omg, I totally understand why most people couldn’t do this even if they wanted to. I’m severely lucky. I DO KNOW THAT. But this way of writing really suits me, so I’m glaaaaad I can do it.
AND OF COURSE YOU CAN READ IT IF YOU WANT IT. I’M JUST SO PLEASED YoU’D WANT IT. :’) <3
This is so great Cait. AMazing. I wish I could write like you. Often I get some small idea and they vanish before I put it to paper. Good luck with more writing. 🙂
EEEEP. THANK YOU. 😊 😊 *flails happily* I think catching those small ideas on paper is hard at first, but it gets easier with practise!! And then they GROW. So watch out. 😂
This is freaking amazing!!!!! I LOVE ROO! Ahhhhhh! I think that comic relief will definitely be needed considering the heavy topics in the story. I’m so proud of you, Cait. This is really an amazing achievement. 🙂 I admire how you soldiered on through those tough times in the writing process and wrote a whole book(!). You know what, here’s a cake for you. No, make that two or three. Okay, fiiiiiine, five but that’s as high as I’m going.
AHHHH THANK YOU. *blushes* YOU ARE REALLY TOO KIND. 😊 And YES. I do like to mix the humour with the tragedy, or else things get FAR too dark and depressing, right?! *eats all five cakes*
Agh I love all of the little snippets, I’m already so hyped! I usually don’t read things online (funny I know, especially since this is certainly ONLINE. um yeah) but for you Cait, I’ll make an exception. Wow that sounds sappy.
I’m also super impressed at how you managed to write all of this. I still can’t get over 98K. Agh! Also currently swooning over your interactions with Atticus. Alright, maybe not swooning, but you get what I mean. So cute.
Awww, Zoe, I’M HONOURED. *gives you cake* hehe I’m glad you liked the snippets too! And Atticus is an adorable little mutt…very attention demanding, but adorable. I should’ve put a picture of him up there too! GAH. Opportunity missed. *facepalm*
OH MY GOSH. 4:30 FREAKING AM?? This is why my life is void of meaning, because I have probably literally never started writing before 11am. And nope, never have I ever spent a whole day writing. I CANNOT. Even if I didn’t internet or see anyone, I never don’t read.
I LOVE YOUR SNIPPETS. Like A LOT. Especially Roo. AND SO MUCH FOOD. Thumbs up for all the food! All books need more food. ~shovels food at books~
HAHAHHA 11am??! THE DAY IS GONE, EMILY. YOU LAZY GRAPE. 😂 Okay, to be fair, I’m a huge morning person, and after about 7:00pm I’m very unintelligible because beeeeeed. (Not that I go to bed at 7pm. I just think about it a lot….) 😂 Well I AM interneting between all of this! But I can’t read and write. Nope. It gets too tangled/muddled in my head.
AHHH I’M GLAD YOU APPROVE OF THE FOOD. My books could totally fit into the Foodie Fiction category.
Sounds tedious! But also really fun… XD I usually write for a half hour at a time, but I don’t always have a lot of time with school and all.
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I totally get that! This is definitely not something for everyone, right?! And I can’t keep it up longer than 5 days. I think I did up to 7 days once? But I wasn’t writing QUITE as much that time. 😂
I love all of this so much and my favorite quote is the cake one and I’d loooove to read it on Wattpad if you put it on there! Also, weird writer question: What font do you use?
I’m using cochin! It’s the default on Scrivener and I’ve kind of fallen in love with it. :’) I used to be a total Times Romans writer but NOT ANYMORE.
O_O I am in awe of your writing process. I am such a slooowww writer, but I am slightly glad I am slower than you because 4:30 a.m. wake-ups sound difficult (and I thought 6 a.m. wak-up for school was hard). Still, I am slightly jealous.
Your snippets are so good! I actually was hiding my gigantic grin while reading them from my sister as she walked past (me grinning at a screen is apparently suspicious). I may or may not have been silently laughing. I love your characters so much! <3
Hehe, thank you, Melissa. 😂 I mean, it’s not perfect and definitely not for everyone! But we writers just have to figure out what works best for us, eh?!?
aHHHHH THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY OMG, THANK YOU. 😂
Oh, Cait – this is why I KNOW you’re a fantabulous writer – because even your schedule is hilarious. I now need to go catch up on TDBatPC because I am a terribly impatient person so I was waiting till it was closer to being finished to start on it. I think it’s time …
HAHHH. I’m glad you think so!! 😂 Zomg but you’ve been reading my Dead Boy?! *SCREAMS* NICOLE. YOU ARE BEYOND WONDERFUL.
so I possibly had way too much fun narrating//reading those snippets out loud. MAN your dialogue is the best for reading out loud XD
also your daily schedule is like, whoa, woman. Your dedicating is seriously something to be admired though. Getting up at 4:30? I thought I was doing good when I get out of bed before /seven/. Basically you’re amazing. But I think you already knew that. But in case you forgot: you’re amazing.
SERIOUSLY?!?! OUT LOUD?!? YOU CRAZY WONDERFUL FISH. *tackle hugs you* (Okay I admit to rereading them myself occasionally because I find myself endlessly amusing. :’) #noshame)
I don’t get UP at 4:30 though!! JUST WAKE UP. 😂 I should’ve underlined that, eeehehe. Ahem.
I will take accusations of amazingness. *flips hair*
This literally sounds like the most epic story ever. I LOVE
Crap. Messed up and didn’t finish that comment. IGNORE IT. Fail moment.
ANYWAYS… I LOVE all things about dragons. Serious. Dragons are life. And that character, Roo, sounds like the greatest, most funniest character ever. I really want to read this story and see what happens. All those snippets were fantastic and made me want to read the story even more.OH! Please post this on Wattpad or something so I can read it. Thank you, please!
Omg don’t even worry!! hehe Anyway, YES. Dragons are life. I want tok now why dragons aren’t in every book of ever. LIKE SERIOUSLY. WHY WOULD WE READ ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE WHEN WE COULD READ DRAGONS. Ahem. Ahhh, I’m glad you like Roo. He is my adorable darling and he’s so immature it’s adorable. 😂
I totally and completely agree with you! We need more dragons in more stories because they are wonderful and fantastic and beautiful and I love them. Lol every story would be better if we added the dragons. I very firmly believe this. I wish I could write a character like Roo. My characters usually just sound like witty smarta**es. Which I love, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t have that adorable snark that you’ve created. I’m jelly of your all-mighty writing abilities.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE EVERY STORY WOULD BE BETTER WITH DRAGONS TOO. 😂 I once wrote a post about it and listed popular books and how they’d be much better. *hi fives* WE know what’s up.
(I’m 99% sure it’s just practise!! And trying a hundred different things and figuring out what works for us, right?!)
I can’t write for a whole day. Heck, I can’t even read for a whole day. My butt gets sore. Hey, maybe my butt is telling me I need one of those desks that are attached to a treadmill. Although, I’m not sure my brain is up to multitasking like that; typing and walking simultaneously would probably result in some sort of injury. (“These treadmill burns on my knees? Yeah… just a writing injury. No big deal.”)
I didn’t realize you work from home due to health issues. Well, you’ll get no judgment from me; I’m in the same boat. (I did wonder how you managed to get so much done if you also had to go to work every day! But now I understand.)
I don’t have a disagreeable pet now, but we used to have a dog that had mommy issues in her old age. As she got old (and blind and deaf), she developed really bad separation anxiety. If my mom went out, the dog would wait by the door… and eventually forget that she wasn’t completely alone in the house. Then the howling would start. We’d have to go and reassure her that someone else was still there and that she hadn’t been completely abandoned. Then she’d forget in five minutes and start howling again.
Omg, I cannot read for a whole day. NOPE. Not even in the slightest. I feel accomplished if I manage to read for an hour without stopping. 😂 For some reason writing is the only thing I can do obsessively without coming up for air?!? For everything else I am a deranged low-attention-span puppy. 😛 (A treadmill sounds like a good idea, but omg I don’t know if I could multi-task it either.)
Ahhh, well HI FIVE for us figuring out ways to manage our health and still get things done. *hi fives*
Omg, your pet story sounds veeeery similar to my Atticus. -_- He’s had bad separation anxiety since he was a PUPPY. Tbh, he probably inherited it from me and his breed (he’s a poodle x schnauzer) is apparently prone to anxiety? But gahhhh he just howls and tears the house apart if he’s left alone. It makes me feel horrible!
98,000 WORDS IN FIVE DAYS! I WOULDN’T EVEN BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN TWO YEARS! I wish you the best of luck with your book, from the snippets it sounds like it’s going to be amazing!
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AHHH THANK YOU, LILY. 😂 It takes practise! Aaaand they’re not very good words. But that’s where (copious amounts of) editing comes in, right?! 😂
YOU ARE MY HERO. Knowing that there are people out there (or at least one crazy pineapple) who can write 22,000 words in ONE DAY is pretty encouraging for writing my dissertation. :’) It’s a whole different kind of writing of course, but still! Also, the snippets sound COOL. I should really read your wattpad story, but I’m scared! Both that it’s going to break my heart and that I will keep reading and forget about above mentioned dissertation entirely. :O So I guess I’ll wait for a while yet. :’)
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I am most definitely a crazy pineapple. 😂 But don’t think that they’re good sensible words!! hahha Omg NOPE. More like deranged dribble that needs so much editing. BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. Good luck with this dissertation though!! (And hehe my wattpad story has been rumoured to break hearts, but pfffft. I’M SURE THAT’S AN EXAGGERATION.)
Yes Cait! Your writing schedule sounds like the bomb and you make it sound a lot easier than I’m sure it is. AH YOU SUPER WRITER YOU.
I am so digging the humour (humour and violence tend to work well, and a FLIPPIN’ Genghis Khan story – that’s insanely brilliant!
And also: you should put all your stories on Wattpad (if anything, it will help me build a stronger heart because The Dead Boy was brutal!
It gets easy with practise!! 😂 I did this 3 times last year so now it’s kind of becoming second nature. :’) AFJDSKLAD I’M GLAD YOU LIKE THE HUMOUR. I feel like if one is going to write dark/violence they have to mix it with humour or the book is too depressing. AHHH THANK YOU. 😂 I should probably apologise for the trauma of Dead Boy? But naaaah. *evil laughter*
Haha, this is so true of what happens when you write all day (although, I’ve only written about 12,000 in a day and not 22,000). I’ve only done that twice though; I am way impressed with your writing skills! As far as pets, my cat sometimes likes to come sit on my hands while I try to type, which obviously causes problems, and waht how did you not eat chocolate for five days. *may have a small addiction to it*
Also, I have to say, THAT FIRST SENTENCE IS AMAZING. Who knows, maybe I’m just evil and dark, but I think it’s fantastic. 😀
12,000 IS STILL AMAZING OMGGGG *applauds you* And trust me, once you can do huge hunks like that, you kind of just keep building it up! I used to think 10K was all I would ever be able to handle. 😂 Omg, your cats probably conspire with my dog. -_- He also likes to sit on my hands but he’s HEAVY and my computer goes psycho when he does that. Ahhh. BUT OMG I KNOW?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME. I think I was too exhausted to remember to eat chocolate. I clearly have problems.
(Zomg I’m glad you like the first sentence. <3)
Thanks! I do think my writing speed is improving (or maybe I just don’t stop to think about what I’m actually writing anymore) so maybe someday I will achieve writing skills like yours! 🙂 Oh my gosh I bet our pets totally do. What they’re conspiring for, I have no idea, BUT STILL. THEY’RE CONSPIRING. Yes, one has many problems when they can’t eat chocolate. *may or may not be tempted to force-feed you chocolate and solve all your problems*
Wow! 22,000 words in one day – THat’s amazing, huge congrats on your new record! I’m lucky if I can ramble out a thousand each day – I think my best is only 5000, half of which I probably ended up deleting.
But thanks for sharing these posts, they a re hugely motivational! I’m really competitive so seeing someone achieve this makes me think there is no reason why I can’t do it too! Unless you forgot to mention that you’re not human and are in fact some mythical creature who can freeze time and turn one day into a week or something? Sometimes I do wonder lol …
I’m sure I will be deleting a LOT when I go back to edits too!! 😂 For me, first drafts are just about getting it down, even if it’s not very good. hehe. Ahhh, I’m glad you found it motivation though, omg, that’s really encouraging for me. YOU CAN TOTALLY DO IT TOO!! AND I WOULD CHEER FOR YOU. Although it’s possible I am a dragon? Just putting it out there….
Agh, I really must get back into writing! I WANT to so badly, but I just can’t seem to pick what point to start with and it’s driving me nuts. But wow. Let’s talk about your accomplishments here! 98 000 words in 5 days?!! *Showers you with chocolate in celebration* 😀 That is amazing! Also omg, those snippets are SO GOOD. I WANT MORE, CAIT!! I totally understand the whole thing of editing and everything, but I totally would love to read it on Wattpad. 😛 This sounds so epic and so amazing! (You had me at stabbing and shooting things. And all the other awesome things.)
YES GO WRITE, ANALEE. IT IS MARVELLOUS. 😂 hehe I mean, starting is hard. Honestly if I don’t have a first sentence in mind before I start, I end up staring at a blank screen for 9389 years. Which is daunting. *gulps*
Aww, thank you though!! YOU ARE SO NICE. :’)
Okay so first of all. This is just… well, either it is epic or insane or maybe a little of both, but it is impressive either way. I cannot even imagine. Like, NOPE. HEY- you should do an actual author’s retreat IN Antarctica! I mean, you only have to bring people you know, so you don’t have to worry about the other humans, and plus, it’s just something to cross off the ol’ bucket list, right?
4:30 in the morning is… no. Just no. I am awake then too, but it’s because I haven’t even gone to sleep yet. I feel like my body is not designed for anything to happen to it before noon though, so maybe it’s just me. I read that it makes me MORE evolved, so there’s that. Current society just doesn’t appreciate me.
Anyway, this book sounds AH-MAZING. Like… I have lost words, because HOLY CRAP. I LOOOOVE when there is humor in an otherwise dismal book- because I NEED some chuckles with my apocalypses. Seriously, if it’s too bleak, I can’t. I need the characters to feel like humans, and yours definitely do! So you edit, I’ll finish TDBATPC (with sadness, I had to pause for ARC April, because for the first time EVER I am behind on my ARC schedule and I am ashamed), and we’ll meet back up so I can read this one 😀
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I can confirm that is it not just you. Whenever I don’t have to work or be anywhere in the morning, my sleep schedule reverts to WHY ARE THE BIRDS SINGING OUTSIDE I HAVEN’T EVEN GONE TO SLEEP YET.
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@Shannon: I LIKE TO SAY “EPICALLY INSANE” that way all bases are covered and it can be my official title. I can wear it on a teeshirt, or get stickers printed perhaps and stick them to my forehead. I do want to do an author’s retreat in Antartica now. I can ride penguins in my breaks.
OMG YOU NEVER SLEEP THOUGH AND I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU FUNCTION. 😂 I complain when I only get around 5 hours. (Okay I usually only get around 5hrs because dangit insomnia.) Current society must leeearn to appreciate you, Shannon, BECAUSE YOU ARE WONDERFUL.
And yes, omg, yes, dismal books NEED humour or else they are too depressing. And I write very depressing stuff apparently. I tried to write something happy once? It failed. *nods* So DOOM and DRAGONS and HUMOUR = me. (Omggg, don’t worry about TDBATPDC, okay!??! Even if you never read it, that’s totally fine. *pats shoulder* *feeds you cake*)
It sounds like you were super productive while you were away Cait, absolutely smashing it! And I loved the little snippets about dear Atticus the adorable dog. What do Dandelion lattes taste like?
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Eeeep, thanks, Jeann!! It was definitely a good time…I mean, apart from when Atticus was trying to cONTROL MY LIFE. Good thing he’s so cute. 😂 (The dandelion lattes taste DIVINE.)
My day looked exactly the same. Like Atticus’s, I mean. YOU’RE insane. (Possibly in a good way.)
Anways, since you already destroyed any emotional trust that may have been between us with The Dead Boy and the Paper Cut, I must EMPHATICALLY ask you to forward this book to me too. You know, just so I can make sure I didn’t imagine it and you’re actually going to break my feelings again. One can never be sure of these things.
I’m not writing anything right now, because I have to get started on my Bachelor thesis soon and I don’t want to write for university AND write a book, but I’m reaaaally looking forward to writing again afterwards. I never FINISH anything, but I’ve finally figured out that, while I’m a pantser at heart, I should actually plot everything extensively from now on. I never get stuck when I actually know what I’m going to write, so I feel like I could really get shit done that way. I’ll definitely try to clear my schedule the next time I attempt any writing so I can get the job done, because I’ll never finish it if I do it on the side. I’m very project-oriented and also I won’t remember anything otherwise and reading my first draft would just discourage me from ever putting my fingers to the keyboard again haha. I haven’t quite figured out how to do it yet, but I WILL.
Congrats on finishing another book! 😀
AT LEAST ATTICUS IS NORMAL. I RAISED HIM RIGHT. #PuppyParentingWin
HAHAHAH. Omg, you make my day. 😂 I can assure you this beastly book is just as traumatising, probably more so because there’s more characters to torture. But who knows? Maybe after Dead Boy you will know me too well and not be affected? *nods* IT COULD HAPPEN.
Omg, I can imagine not being able to write books AND thesis. Agh. That would be exhausting. Best of luck though, omg. I am definitely project-orientated too. 😛 I like just focusing (like hyper-focusing I suppose??) on something and getting it DONE and then moving onto the next things. I feel really productive when I write likes this?! As opposed to my usual blobby existence. *blobs about* AHEM. Anyway now I’m going to pretend that editing is not a thing and maybe this book will edit itself.
It’s cool seeing into your writing process! The last time I wrote for a day straight was a few years ago. Since I like to write by the seat of my pants with a vague outline, I usually write at night and sometimes in the day like during NaNoWriMo. I have to let my juices replenish lol. Best wishes writing this story!
Aww, thank you, Victoria! *flails* AND OMG YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON WHO’S SAID THEY’VE WRITTEN FOR A WHOLE DAY!!!! YAY. *hi fives* I basically jus go flat out for the 5 (or 6 sometimes?) days and then let my creative juices replenish over the next month or so. I’m not a very consistent writer. 😂
Haha really? I did it once and it was really rough. XD I got 8K.
OH. MY. WORD. CAAAAAAAIIIT.
1. i love this
2. i have no words to describe exactly how much i love this other than that IT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME GAAAAAAAAAHHHH.
3. i am going to attempt to figure out how to take time off so i can actually conquer one of my writing ideas because you TOTALLY just inspired me to do that
4. the snippets = SO AWESOME. MY YEAR WAS MADE.
5. ROO. i need him to be real. can you do that? because i want him to be real so i can keep him. THE SASS.
6. I WILL READ THIS BOOK SO MUCH. over and over. so let me know when its on wattpad because I WILL BE SO HAPPY.
basically don’t stop writing or anything because its all amazing. and you’re amazing.
and yes to the disagreeable pet. that actually happens to me. my dog hates it when my attention is focused on something other than her. WHY.
and so many congrats on breaking your own record! (i love it when that happens.)
you rock, girl.
*FLAILS WILDLY* YOU ARE THE NICEST SAMI. 😊 😊 Also I’m ginormously honoured that this was inspiring. I TRY I TRY. 😂 (Roo is possibly my favourite character-ish creation at the moment. As one can tell since he’s basically in every snippet. #noregrets)
WHY ARE DOGS SO SELFISH ABOUT ATTENTION!? I swear mine sighs whenever I look at my computer.
(THIS IS SERIOUSLY THE NICEST COMMENT OF EVER THOUGH AND I NEED SHRIEK HAPPINESS.)
Man this is totally awesome, Some of them were really hilarious! I am amazed at your dedication (honestly) .
Yep I write everyday, that’s my job, But never written a novel though,..
From your other posts, its awesome how much plot you think of and the characters as well. I hope to read the published work soon. (Do it already!!)
Aww, thank you!! *flails* I mean, it seems like a lot?! But then I don’t write for a couple of months, SO YEAH. 😂 I figure it all evens out and I’m a normal writer in the end. *nods* *pretends to believe this* *doesn’t*
I would love to have something published someday. Fingers crossed!! 😂
Reading this was so, so enjoyable and I don’t know why. ^_^ Your writing routine is really fascinating. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Also, that the last snippet was my favorite by far. Just saying. x’D
I’M SO GLAD. 😂 Basically Roo is just my darling baby. I don’t even know why it’s not his story, tbh, everyone else is boring in the face of his endless sass. :’)
(AFDJKLSAD THANK YOU, NICE BEAN.)
Your draft writing schedule is crazy awesome in its insanity! (And also, very oddly motivating. Damn.) But seriously, you totally kicked butt! AND those snippets are GLORIOUS and make me want this story SO DAMN BAD 😀
Omg I’m glad it was motivating and not terrifying. 😂 I AM A LITTLE ODD, I FULLY ADMIT. Ahem. And zomg I’m soooo glad you liked the snippets!! *happy dances*
First, if I haven’t already said so, your book sounds AMAZING. Because dragons and Mongolia (and chocolate cake). Second, I don’t know why, but I found your schedule immensely hilarious. (And kudos for getting up at 6:00/4:30 every day — that’s awesome.)
I feel like maybe I should answer at least one of your wonderful discussion questions: No, I have not written for an entire day, but I have written for an entire afternoon… it resulted in a grand total of 2,000-ish words, which is pretty amazing for little perfectionist me, who writes almost every sentence — and sometimes full paragraphs — in her head before typing it out.
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AHHH THANK YOU, SERENA. 😂 And even when I’m not writing I get up at 5:30am. I KNOW. I’m nuts. But who needs sleep anyway?! *stumbles around like a deranged zombie* AHHHHEM. (But really you are so kind and this comment is soooo nice.)
Being a perfectionist AND a writer is really really hard. I totally get that!! I had to really learn how to control my perfectionism to do this? Because I used to be the person who wrote half a book, realised it wasn’t good enough, AND THEN STARTED RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. *cries* Least to say I didn’t write very fast back then. 😂
I must read this book. Seriously. Edit it and make it pretty, and then send it off to a publisher, because I think it could go far. I love the humor and I love the action and the seriousness–just the general feeling I got off of reading the snippets. Keep it up!
Also, thank you for sharing your writing day. I’m the sort of person who’s insecure and compares her writing to other people, so I normally read writing posts and then feel at least vaguely sorry for myself. However, this post really encouraged me, and I actually started crying just because of that warm fuzzy feeling of understanding that serious writing is possible, and that someone who struggles with mental/physical stuff like I do could actually do all of that. You inspire me.
Awww, you’re so nice. 😂 I will edit it eventually! But it’s my “just for fun” project for now! EEEEP. I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THE SNIPPETS.
omg a warm fuzzy feeling?! I FEEL REALLY HAPPY AND HONOURED RIGHT NOW. *sends you cake* And just do know that these snippets are like a TEENY part of this massive mammoth of a badly written book. 😂 It will need much editing. Like MUCH. But omg, we must share cake for our mutually dysfunctional brains. CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR BOTH OF US.
This is great! I love how you write so fast. That’s awesome. AND YOUR SNIPPETS! AAAAAH!
“Can we set the place on fire?”
“Can we take the cake?”
Roo is exasperatingly hilarious. I like him. I love them all! I would love, love to read it on Wattpad. That would be fantastic!
Also, that Pirates of the Caribbean was just so perfect! I laughed so hard. Actually, I laughed a lot throughout. . . CONGRATS on writing your book!
EEEEEP. *commences happy flails* And YES, Roo is annoying and a child. He’s like 2 years older than Shay but we know who the mature one is. (Spoiler: it ain’t Roo.) And fingers crossed I get around to editing it, right?!? It needs SO MUCH WORK. *cries* But I’m still quite happy with how this draft turned out. :’)
Woah! That’s like simply… woah!
Congratulations on writing another book though! But 4:30? Seriously?! I umm… well I usually go to sleep at that time. No I might not be a human. I totally suspect myself. But well… sleep does not come to me and sometimes I forget to watch the clock while I’m reading, so there’s that. BTW, love your snippets!
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hehe, I WARNED YOU IT WAS POSSIBLY INSANE. 😂 I’m not very good at sleeping hehh, but hey I don’t get up at 4:30!! I just contemplate life and fight with my dog for room on my very small bed. Seriously. How much room can a small dog take?! (Spoiler: all of it.)
THANK YOU THOUGH, OMG I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED MY SNIPPETS!!
I LOVE Roo! And Shay. The dialogue makes me want this book! Also, I see you sneaked cake in there, you sneaky hermit, you! 🙂
Of coooourse I sneaked cake in. WOULD YOU EXPECT ANYTHING LESS OF ME? :’)
(Also omg thank you. <3)
Jesus Christ, you are productive! But now we finally know your secret: YOU DON’T SLEEP. I think I would keel over on just six hours of sleep. I need eight minimum so I don’t either die or tear someone’s head off.
Secondary characters always end up being more awesome, don’t worry! xD
YOUR QUOTES I CAN’T. The first line is glorious, and also I love Roo. “YOU’RE BLUSHING SO THAT MEANS YOU LIKE HER.” *continues giggling for ages and ages*
I AM THE PRODUCTIVE QUEEN. *flips hair productively* (Well? When I’m writing? otherwise I am a squid of procrastination.) And this is why I’m still not caught upon Supernatural. 😂 Ahem. Agh, insomnia isn’t nice. I feel really happy if I get 6 hours. But infrequent daytime napping doesn’t help. (No no I’M LYING ON THE FLOOR PLOTTING MY NEXT BOOK NOT SLEEPING OF COURSE.)
HOW ARE YOU SO FUNNY, CAIT???? I am so jealous right now. Not that I can actually figure out what your story is ABOUT but its hilarious! Which, of course, so are you and your blog so why should I be surprised? You’re basically my idol…
CONFESSION TIME: When I love something a lot, I procrastinate REALLY REALLY HARD over doing something about it because I want to do it justice and don’t know how. So this is the reason for my shameful lack of comment on this post which may in fact be my favorite post of yours of ever. <3333 (And then losing internet forever and a day did not help matters… *cough*)
A month later, I am STILL in awe of your writing 98K words in 5 days. THAT'S HOW MANY WORDS I WRITE IN A WHOLE YEAR IF I'M GOING STRONG AND ALSO DO NANO IN NOVEMBER. Basically you are amazing.
I kiiiind of want to reply to every single line in this post but obviously that has length issues SO I will just say that I adored every bit of it.
GETTING A GLIMPSE AT YOUR DAYS OF WRITING/LIFE LIKE THIS WAS WITTY, HILARIOUS, FUN, AWESOME, AND FASCINATING AND I LOVED IIIIIIT!!!!!! It was so awesome/hilarious that I had to read it aloud to various family members because I can't help myself when genius humor is happening.
The gifs too. PERFECTION.
Okay so the snippets were so glorious and hilarious and make me so so so happy and make me need to read the book which is tragic because I caaaaaaan't yet! So only you, Cait, are amazing enough that you can take a subject I would normally never ever be induced to read by any means (a.k.a. I am not into dystopian, usually don't like sand, and Mad Max terrified me, plus I really don't like present tense BUT I REALLY DON'T CARE WHEN YOU WRITE IT) and then turn it into a book I'm dying to read. YOU DO THIS ALL THE TIME. Like, normally I will read most fantasy things and will make some concessions if something's funny, but I don't travel out of my genre much. WITH YOU I WILL READ LITERALLY ANYTHING YOU WRITE EVEN IF I DON'T LIKE THE GENRE BECAUSE IT WILL BE HILARIOUS ND PERFECT ANYWAY.
The biiiiickering and their stabby relationships and just aaaaaaahhh I love them so much. <3333 Roo and his humor and Shay and his grumpiness and Altai and her stabbiness and just OH MY WORD I LOVE THEMMMMMM. Every. snippet. is. gold. Ack. How you so brilliaaaaant of a writer???? Because you're amazing. Because characters + bickering + sarcasm + humor + fighting + epicness + dragons = <333
THANK YOU FOR SHARING SNIPPETS AND ALL ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS BECAUSE IT REALLY DID MAKE MY DAY AND PROMPTLY GAVE ME STAGE FRIGHT BECAUSE HOW DO YOU EVEN RESPOND TO SUCH GRANDNESS???
So it is horrible of me to love something so much and never comment and say so because I honestly had stage fright from its amazingness, but I have commented now and it doesn't do justice but AT LEAST I SAID SO!
CONFESSION TIME: YOU’RE AWESOME. 😂 I’ve probably said that before? But it needs be repeated. <3 *smushes cake crumbs of happiness in your hair*
OMG. I'm so glad you thought it was funny!! MY GOAL HERE IS DONE. *flaps about in deranged happiness* Oh! Oh! But I'm kind of IMMENSELY honoured that this interests you even though it's a collection of your least favourite things. 😂 Clearly my pitching skills are awesome yes? *flips hair* JUST KIDDING. Omg, it needs SO much editing. But I fully intend for this one to make an appearance on wattpad! So you should see some ... and eeep, I'll then wait nervously to see what you think. 😛
I'M GLAD YOU THINK IT'S FUNNy tHOUGH. Because sometimes I'm worried my sense of humour is too strange. 😂
THESE THREE THOUGH. <3 They are one of my new favourite combos of ever. (Although, omg, Altai and Roo honestly have the best ship and they're only the secondary characters. Hoooow did that happen, I HAVE NO IDEA.)
But omggg noooo I don't want to give you stagefright. *drags you back out* YOUR COMMENT IS THE MOST EXCELLENT. JUST SAYIN'.
‘Write write write. Atticus naps naps naps’ This sounds like Shake it Off haha AND I LOVE THE SNIPPETS SO MUCH CAIT. The characters are all awesome (I especially love Roo), the first line is so intriguing, the others are so sassy and witty, the relationships between the characters… I hope you do put it up on Wattpad – if you do I’ll definitely read it 😀
OMG IT DOES SOUND LIKE SHAKE IT OFF. 😂 MY OWN WRITERLY PARODY. Ahem. But omg thank yooooou. <3 (I'm like 90% sure it'll be a wattpad story! But probably towards the end of the year.)
I love those snippets they’re hiralous.
Omg thankyou! *flails happily*
Okay, this book is officially brilliant, and I NEED to read it. You had me hooked at Genghis Khan retelling, and then you proceeded to mention DRAGONS, and I just – I need it! Haha. You’re so awesome 🙂 I love this post so much! I write from home too, due to similar reasons, but I’m not as productive as you! 98,000 words in 5 days?? I wish I could do that! My problem is balance. Instead of sitting down to write for days, I chose to read and write during the day. I think this might be the solution. Also, where can I read this book??
Fatima @ NoteablePad recently posted…Ramadan & semi-hiatus
AHHHH THANK YOU FATIMA.😂 This honestly is the nicest thing to hear. <3 But you're probably on a more healthily balanced track with reading and writing *nods* I tend to be all consumed with either/or. hehe.
And I might be putting it up on wattpad … maybe.😂
Oh my god, I’m giggling. Giggling. Me. Wow.
That was kind of really funny -is it on Wattpad? Because I can’t find your username; the link you’ve written down isn’t working. Do you mind giving me your username for Wattpad?
Thanks so much and chocolate is life.
AHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU LAUGHED! And that we agree chocolate is life *hi fives* And, agh, yes sorry, I took it down from wattpad for now! It was only up for 6 months.