WIPmarathon - the illegal check-in

I'm feeling guilty for not blogging for a few weeks. please forgive me, especially since I could have posted this two weeks ago!

First draft of my Albinia novel completed: word count 52,500 words.
Enough to count as a novel in the mslexia novel writing competition, yippee and in October it will be winging its way to the Times/Chicken House children's fiction competition.

Newsflash:
Second draft also completed. Amazing, huh? I think I was just in the zone after the marathon in August (if you don't know what I'm talking about check out Ifeoma Dennis' blog or #wipmarathon on twitter. I believe there is another one happening in December.)

Newsflash number two:
It is now my Ophelia novel as my very lovely SCBWI critique group think Albinia is too like the name Albania. Sad to say goodbye to Albinia but think Ophelia could be an even stronger name. Let's hope so.

The book is now entitled:
The Hunt for Ophelia,    In line for the throne, on the run for her life.
(Gives me goose bumps every time I say it.)

Elevator pitch is almost good enough for the SCBWI agent's party that I'm attending on Thursday. I'm really hoping that I don't make an idiot of myself in front of too many agents. Especially as Madeleine Milburn will be there!

What's next for Ophelia?
She needs a synopsis - please shoot me now!
and I need to finish my third draft now that my critique notes are in from my three chosen victims. God bless anyone who agrees to critique an entire book for a buddy, it's a big job.

What's next for the blog?
I shall try and update more regularly. I'll definitely be putting up a report on the SCBWI agent's party event, I have a few book reviews I'd like to add, a list of my top ten modern picture books and who knows what else....

WIPmarathon check-in #4

Better Late Than Never

It's been a hectic week and I couldn't bare to put up my last post with a diddy word count so I have accidentally on-purpose waited 'till Monday morning.

Started Marathon with         : 18,000 words

Last Saturdays Word count : 39,992 words

Today's word count            : 48,151 words

Estimated Count needed to finish the book : 4,000 words.  

So near and yet so far I'd say another weeks worth of writing.

How did everyone else do? Have a look.

What I learnt in writing this week?
You can;t finish your book on a chosen day or at a specific word count. I organised my marathon around the idea that I would finish at 47,000 words and although I hit that goal the characters hadn't finished wrestling with their life and death situations.

What Distracted me this week.
I've realised that nothing distracts me from writing, The truth is that other things just get in the way. The baby was poorly, got two new teeth and stopped sleeping. The need for sleep then got in the way of my writing, but it never distracted me, I was fully focused on what was happening.

And now for my last 200 words. It's not the end of the book, so I guess it's OK to share:

The woman turned rudely away and Albinia smiled, she would rather the woman wasn’t watching her anyway. A large group arrived at the door and the woman took a step forwards to halt their progress whilst asking to see their tickets. Albinia simply slipped through the entrance behind her and disappeared into the crowd. There must have been a thousand people inside. The gallery was huge, a thin wire kept guests from getting too close to the magnificent paintings which adorned the walls, but few people were actually looking. The beautiful people of Sydney’s arty-farty world were too busy hobnobbing with one another, swilling champagne and snatching tasty morsels off passing platters. Somewhere in amongst this mess of dickie-bows and high-heels was Albinia’s mother and potentially some rather hostile individuals as well. Albinia began moving through the sea of people, trying to keep to the natural flow and avoid drawing attention to herself.