Refining Book 1 of the Cirtolia Series and Writing in Composition Books

CURRENT WRITING PROGRESS

Well, I have been changing the title of this first book as often as I change my clothes. Therefore, I have decided to keep it blank for now. It's probably safer that way.

I have been writing like crazy for the last 5 days and have discovered a new way to write. I am now writing by hand in Composition Books. I have filled one already of 100 pages and am working on the second one. Hence, I have 22,500 words written so far. Each composition book is about 21,000 words for the size of my handwriting.

I am not editing. Nor am I typing it up as I go. I am just writing at this point.

If I keep going at this pace, I should finish writing the first draft of book 1 by the end of August.

I would love to tell you what it is about, but I am still staying to figure it out for myself. I have a general idea, but am writing at this point to help me figure out what exactly this book and series will be about. We shall see.

I will be quite as I write like crazy and will not blog every day. But, I will sure try to make it count when I do.

USING COMPOSITION BOOKS TO WRITE

Using composition books to write is a whole new medium for me. (Medium as in a way of writing.) I have heard of others using them, but I didn't think it would be appealing for me. However, when I realized I really need to handwrite my first drafts, I decided to go on a search last week to see what I might find.

Needless to say, I headed to Walmart, but my car took me to the dollar store here in town. I figured it was on the way to Walmart, so it wouldn't hurt to look. I went to the store trying to find spiral notebooks smaller than letter size of 8.5 x 11. The spirals they had would work, but I wanted something else. But, I had no idea what that something else was.

As I squat on the aisle, looking on a tiny shelf of writing supplies near the floor, I found a composition book. The size of 9.25 x 7.5 had appeal and I loved the thick and hard front and back cover. Plus, it laid flat for easy writing and for later when I have to type up everything. Moreover, it would store nicely and not take up too much room. Huh. Those reasons appealed to me. Well, for a buck, how could I go wrong? I bought three just in case. I know when I start writing, I go tend to write fast and in large amounts. There isn't anything more frustrating than getting on a writing kick and you realize you don't have another blank book of any kind to write on, so you have to stop and go to the store. Thus, three seemed a good amount.

I started using the composition book and within a couple of hours, I was... In. Love. It seemed as though it were exactly what I needed. Hallelujah! Phew.

By the end of the next day, I realized I was hooked on writing in composition books.

I have since shopped around and found them in town for 80 cents. Hence, it will cost me about $20 with pens and paper to write the first draft of this book and the books hereafter. I can handle the cost, that is for sure.

I really recommend writing with composition books if you are a writer or a journal keeper.

Now, pardon me, please. It's time to get writing.