Unless you have been living under a rock, you know I am currently writing my first book! Whilst having a base which is a rare thing I knew that this would be the best time to get my manuscript to the first draft stage. It was the reason I made the decision to temporarily cut my videos down to twice weekly and also why I have not been blogging.
I thought about the time and effort I put into my blog posts and decided that it would benefit me more to direct that effort into my manuscript! It’s working!
I am yet to set any sort of date for the release of my book. Knowing that I will be 100% self publishing, I have no idea how long I will need. However I will be pushing for a release this year!!! As of now, my manuscript is two thirds complete at it’s first draft stage. I will then need to make at least 2 full edits. Bulk out certain chapters. Fill in lots of detail. Get it to flow, because right now, it’s all over the place! Then I will need to hire an editor to guide me through where it doesn’t make sense etc.
Writing an 80,000 word book doesn’t happen over night and I have never fooled myself into thinking such. I am currently writing about 5,000 quality words per week trying to reach my target. I know deep down that my first draft is the easiest part. The hard work comes later. The edits. Scrapping entire chapters and feeling as though I have been set back 50 places. So I made sure I was under no disillusion that this would be smooth and quick.
This is why I am powering through. Right now, day in and day out in revolves around writing. Notes. Flow plans. Bulking out chapters. Sometimes I love it and other times I just want to lob my laptop against the wall and have a nap. However, I am not getting too many of those moments… yet!
We only have 4 weeks left in Auckland and we are pumped! We can finally grab our backpacks and start moving, seeing, smelling and experiencing travel again. On the one hand, I am jumping up and down in excitement. However then realisation hits that I promised myself to complete at least my first draft before we leave.
When you have a traditional publisher, you are set strict deadlines, which pushes you onwards. But knowing that I have “all the time in the world” can make you lazy. It made me lazy. Just like with making YouTube your job, YOU are the CEO. You are the boss. No one to tell you when or what to do. However, when you honestly love what you do, it’s not too hard! I will get to 70,000 minimum in 4 weeks. I’m so close. I can taste it!
But like I said, the first draft will be easy… What comes next will be the challenge.
I thought I would just update you all quickly as I feel as though I have abandoned my blog for too long. However, I am sure everyone knows why!
My question to you: What kind of information (videos/blogs) would you like to see regarding book updates? I plan to do a full series of my struggles and wins once it has been published on YouTube but would anyone like anything sooner than that? Let me know.
Until then, GET EXCITED ABOUT DAILY VLOGS RETURNING IN JUST 4 WEEKS!!! Daily vlogs, travelling and editing a manuscript… I can see some possible hair pulling in my future! To hell with it! LET’S GO! 😀
