Summer days drifting away.

But uh, oh those summer nights.

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This week felt like summer, which made me not want to do much work… and yet I did loads of work! I’m a puzzle to myself.

Oh and I said last week that I’d hopefully be able to post the cover for The Harry Styles Effect. Still not allowed! But should definitely be next week.

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SUNDAY

Did not intend to write today. Thought I’d just write a bit… to give me a head start on the week…

Words today: 1,056

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MONDAY

Wrote in bed first thing. Well, not first thing - I woke up at 6 - but before 9.

Words: 1,020, which is more than my Pacemaker plan suggested.

But then I noticed that I’m not far off 22,000 words total, so I had another sesh later.

Words today: 1,396 to get me to 22,002

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TUESDAY

Didn’t feel great when I woke up, so decided not to write first thing but to read, exercise, and eat a massive bowl of chilli crisp cashew brown rice in front of an old episode of Taskmaster instead.

And then, fortified, I wrote 1036 words. And finally found the setting on Pacemaker that updates my future word targets when I do extra words. (Today’s target was 536.)

Total words: 23,038

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WEDNESDAY

Still not feeling 100% - I suspect cos I keep waking up at 4am - so dragged myself to 1504 words. Felt quite pleased until I noticed it’s just another 458 to get to 25k. Curse this obsession with round numbers.

Words today: 1,963

Total words: 25,001

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THURSDAY

Wrote 300 words and realised I either need to read what I’ve got so far or think about structure. Ugh. I’m just waffling on with no direction. Gonna read a bit of Jackie Collins and come back (hopefully) refreshed.

Read some Jackie Collins and then went to the cinema with the 19yo to see Shallow Grave. Got home and shared a New Choco Hazelnut Aero with the 15yo and wrote the rest of my words. And randomly solved a plot problem that had been playing on my mind.

Words today: 1,356

Total words: 26,218 (these figures don’t add up but I cba to work it out)

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FRIDAY

Meant to write 1,393 words today and it feels a little intimidating, so I try a method that’s worked well in the past - setting an alarm on my phone for every hour and then, when each one goes off, setting a timer for 15 minutes to write. The plan is then to have the other 45 minutes to read, but it’s unlikely to work out that way. But let’s see.

9am: 565 words and I enjoyed them too. And now I will READ and not tit about online.

9.20am: INSTANT CHANGE OF PLAN. That was fast, even for me. The sun is shining so I’m going to take the opportunity to go to Asda (ooh, the life I lead, etc.) and listen to Zayn’s new album on the way.

11am: Another 313 words. I was writing about Sam searching Facebook for Dan and so of course I had to go and search Facebook for someone from my teens and then check out many of their photo albums, because of course I couldn’t just make up a 50-something man’s profile and cover photos. (I copied a real person’s profile pic, but did indeed make up the cover photo… eventually).

12noon: Another 904 and I write for a lot longer than 15 minutes. First because Joe appeared and wants to go down on the prom with his bike, so I know later writing sessions probably won’t happen. And then because I notice I’m almost at 28k and so push on.

Words today: 1,782

Total words: 28,000

Added to playlist: Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede (is that really who it’s by?? I don’t remember that at all).

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TELL ME MORE, TELL ME MORE

Okay, so this week I wrote quite a full-on sex scene and I feel a bit blushy about posting it. Do you want to read it? Maybe next week?

Instead, I’m posting the bit I wrote yesterday and really enjoyed writing.

(In case you’re new here, these extracts are intentionally fresh and unedited! Please do not judge. There will be more - probably many more - drafts.) (And, yes, I really need to give the husband a name. Or find the name I already gave him.)