A Novel in My Lunch Hour

My friends and colleagues are often involved in writing challenges like NaNoWriMo where they write a novel in a month. The mind boggles in admiration - I have neither the time nor the ability to produce this mega output.

But recently I found that I have accidentally set myself a challenge after all. I have always believed that there is no such excuse as "I don't have time to write." While logistically there are always time constraints and it is very true some people have extremely small windows of spare time - the moment a person makes time, the moment they prioritise their writing - they have taken the first step towards becoming a writer. Even if it is only ten minutes at the bus stop.

I was speaking on a panel a few months ago and during the break, a woman approached me to say: "I have always wanted to write. I just don't have the time." I immediately dragged out my soapbox and explained: "You never will, until you make the time." After the break she said goodbye and started to leave. "Aren't you staying for the second half?" I asked. "No. I'm going home to write. I'm starting now." So either I inspired and motivated her or bored her so badly in the first half she was glad to have an excuse to get away. I hope it was the former.

Lately I have had to eat my words. Literally. For lunch. I have been so time poor with the demands of the holiday season and family issues. While I am lucky enough to have a full time writing schedule (two books a year), I'm too early in my career to be making even a part-time income and I need to juggle writing with a full-time job. With five books on the shelf, I not only have to find the time to write but to answer reader emails, run workshops, visit schools, manage two websites and follow up promotional opportunites.

Suddenly I am so tired. My 10pm - 1pm window has shrunk. And at 12pm I just can't think anymore. So what's left? Lunch hour. And that's what I am doing. I am writing a novel in my lunch hour. So far it's working well. I did the last few chapters of Fire Lizard (Samurai Kids 5) this way and the initial editorial feedback didn't include: This sounds like someone wrote it in their lunch break *grin*

Strangely enough, that hour in the middle of the day is a very productive one when it comes to spitting out 500 words. By lunchtime I've been rattling my ideas and thoughts around in my brain for hours. Some days now, I even know where the plot is going before I start typing!

I'm making time and the words are flowing faster than ever.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR - the schedule

The countdown is coming to an end. Saturday 1st August Monkey Fist arrives. My tour is booked. My bag is packed (I've hardly had to take a thing) and my accommodation in place (my friends are generous hosts) - I'm ready to roll.

Here's the tour stops if you want to come along with me:

Saturday 1/8/09
Dee Scribe Writing –Dee White, author of the recently released YA novel, Letters to Leonardo will be interviewing the narrator Niya Moto to find out what it’s really like to be a Samurai Kid
Sunday 2/8/09
Orangedale Journal – Dale Harcombe, poet and children’s author (latest release The Mystery of Goanna Island) will be interviewing me about writing Samurai Kids
Monday 3/8/09
Lets’ Have Words – I will be visiting Claire Saxby, children’s author (latest release Sheep, Goat and the creaking gate August 2009) to talk about the unique challenge in writing a historical novel about a group of children with disabilities
Tuesday 4/8/09
Spinning Pearls – I will be visiting author and manuscript assessor Sally Odgers (too many books to name but the Jack Russell Dog detective series and the e-Manual (Giving our Kids) A Reason to Write are just two examples) to discuss ‘the hour of the rat’ and how I get to Japan and China inside my head
Wednesday 5/8/09
Tales I Tell – Storyteller and author Mabel Kaplan interviews me about how my interest in Japanese and Chinese history has influenced the series. Mabel uncovers the meaning of Monkey Fist.
Thursday 6/8/09
Sally Murphy’s Writing For Children Blog – I will be visiting Sally Murphy (author of many books for children including the verse novel, Pearl Verses the World) to talk about book promotion and how to harness cyber resources.
Friday 7/8/09
Writing Children’s Book with Robyn Opie – I will be visiting Robyn Opie, author of more than 75 books including "How to Write a Great Children's Book" and the novel “Black Baron”. I will be discussing Zen and the Art of Writing for Children – my view on why the series has been so successful.
Saturday 8/8/09
Alphabet Soup – Magazine editor Rebecca Newman will be interviewing me about my research techniques and asking questions to discover whether all that historical research is really any fun
Sunday 9/8/09
The Book Chook – Writer, reviewer and children’s literature advocate Sue Stephenson will be interviewing me about how my children’s reading experiences have influenced my writing
Monday 10/08/09
Words and Pictures – Writer and artist Jefferey E Doherty will be interviewing me about writing illustrated novels – the artwork, graphics and working with an illustrator