Entry for 9th March, 2008

31 Days to Write
a
50,000 Word Novel
DAY 09
Wordcount 18,400
I'm still on target to make 50,000 words in 31 days, but only just. I was going to take it easy today, until the Couch Potato sent me a comment yesterday reminding me that he is Keeper of the Grand Forfeit for Failed Novelists. He is not a potato to be trifled with. And with the thought of public humiliation burning in my mind, I dragged myself in front of the keyboard just before dinner, and managed to force out another 500 words when I felt like sleeping on the sofa.
They were a very odd 500 words. I was not expecting zombies to turn up in the novel.
I had a pleasant hour doing the gardening earlier today. It's badly needing tidied up. Very badly actually. Over the early spring, several film crews have approached me asking if it would be available as a location for the follow up to Day of the Triffids.
I enjoyed the fairly mindless physical task of hauling the weeds out. Frankly, it's about all I'm fit for after 9 days of speed novel writing. My mind is starting to feel drained, and any activity which does not involve a laptop is hugely appealling.
Speaking of which, I am turning it off now. You should do likewise. Computers make you depressed and they hurt your eyes.
Go on. Turn it off.
Go and speak to your family or something.
Anything. Tidy up the cupboard that's annoying you.
Honestly. You'll feel better if you do. Surfing the internet like this is an enormous waste of your potential.
Turn it off.