Writing feels good

I have just written the opening scene for my novel and it feels good. Sure, it's a first draft and a mere 600 words, but, well, it is the beginning.

When I met with L earlier in the month to set March goals for our novels, I mentioned that my head had left the right space and I was having trouble getting back into it. That's what family commitments and other life distractions do. So, I set the goals I was always going to set and added that I'd try to write the opening scene as well. I say 'added' because it seemed like an afterthought even then, but one that I knew would hopefully provide the right kind of inspiration to keep going. It's fair to suggest that it may have just done this.

Of course, as I type now, I realise that saying I am only now writing the opening scene might seem rather odd, as if that should have happened aeons ago. In hindsight, maybe I should have written it last month to reinvigorate myself, but, mostly it was not meant to be written before now. For the first time, I am approaching this novel by (being very anally retentive and) planning as much of the main plot and background stuff as I can.

There are two main reasons for doing it this way, other than just to find out if it suits me better. Firstly, I'm lucky if I can find more than three hours to work on it in any given week (which I hope is very temporary) and secondly, because I thought I needed to start by doing a comprehensive character study, and then I kind of kept going with the planning. So far, it is working out reasonably well. We meet again next Thursday to set new goals, and with the opening scene safely saved, I am ready. Perhaps I'll be more ambitious next time?

In regard to my last post, I apologise if you hoped to catch up with me at the Spinning Room, but thanks to a damn cold, I didn't make it. Thinking about trying again for this coming week, Ian McBryde. Also unsure whether I'll actually get to the Dan tomorrow. Thankfully my novel planning is working out a whole lot better than me planning to leave the house.