‘How’s the writing going?’
It’s a common question to ask a writer. But what if you’re a writer who isn’t writing much, if anything at all? Kinda embarrassing, eh?
Here’s the truth…
My Work In Progress (WIP) isn’t doing much as far as the ‘P’ goes – I’ve only written two chapters so far. It’s no wonder then that when my fellow Cranachan author, Barbara Henderson tagged me in a Facebook thread for writers to share the opening sentence in the first few chapters of their WIP, I felt guilty. I’ve failed to sustain the momentum since I started writing my latest novel last year. I could trot out the usual excuses of life and work getting in the way but in reality, I need to stop faffing around and get stuck in!
But in the spirit of playing along, here goes… although bear in mind that as it’s a VERY rough first draft, these words might be ruthlessly chopped during the editing process.
Chapter 1 – September 2014
Saturday 19th – The Day After Scotland Decided
There was nothing else for it but to get pished last night.
Chapter 2 – October 2014
Tuesday 7th – The Naming Game
Eve had put me under pressure, I hadn’t actually promised to return with my great-granny’s badge and it wasn’t as if she knew where I lived or looked likely to do her messages in ASDA.
How’s your writing going?
Or if you’re a reader, does a novel set in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, in the year following the independence referendum sound of interest? It’s also going to weave in the story of the Siege of Leningrad too so it’ll be something very different for me to explore. Exciting and scary at the same time!
Helen MacKinven 
If anyone is going to get there Helen it’s you. Novel sounds fascinating!
Thanks Margot – appreciate your faith in me! I was so fired up with the idea so now I need to find the energy to get it all down on paper.