50,000 approaches
50,000 page views is just around the corner. I am sitting here reflecting and wondering where to now with Love versus Goliath. We’ve come a long way and the book is coming along. Maybe not as fast as I’d like, but I have a full-time job and a large family. There are only so many hours in the day and strangely enough I like to sleep for at least a few hours out of 24.
I’m now gleaning writing tips from anywhere I can. Thank you to our readers who gave me links to some very valuable resources! I try to spend Sunday mornings writing and aim to get 3,000 words done. This isn’t as little as it sounds, as my writing is more about revising, editing and expanding much of this website text, which runs in at well over 100,000 words. I am not starting from scratch. I have the characters, but I have to paint them on paper to our audience. The plot is factual, I don’t have to make it up, but I do have to construct how I relate those facts.
I have learnt that authors need to have a social media presence: thankfully Kristen Lamb says a web site and Twitter are sufficient (see the comments)! Just as well, because as much as I probably shouldn’t say this and I am sure Raincoaster will chastise me, I find some other social media platforms VERY HARD WORK! Is that an age-related perspective, or just because there are not enough hours in the day? 
I thought Google+ might be a more mature platform than Facebook (the people, not the technology) but I am yet to be convinced!
Perhaps I should do a writing course or two, but where on earth am I going to find the time? Not to mention courses aren’t the cheapest investments! I need to write the book in order to pay for the courses, but I need the courses to write the book. Is that a chicken and the egg situation or a Catch-22?
I don’t remember my English classes from many years ago – I am no longer sure of the punctuation rules around writing dialogue. 
Not a lot of dialogue in the technical manuals I usually write. Not a lot of emotion either! Does the “?” go inside or outside the quotation marks? Then I see Scribbla use italics instead of quotation marks. Have the rules changed?
Where do I put pictures? I remember reading biographies with a clutch of photos in the middle of the book. I don’t like that. What pictures should I include?
Then there is the question of sex. Our children will read this book. Other children might too. Do I stick to alluding to romantic interludes or try the Mills & Boon approach? Come to think of it, have I ever even read a Mills & Boon publication?
I read lots of “stuff” about the changing landscape in the publishing world. “Indie” gets thrown around a lot, there is “traditional”, self-publishing and endless discussions about which is the “best” way to go. Heavens, I haven’t finished writing yet! I’m shelving that concern until later!
A particular government body read 41 articles of mine today, which makes me curious. Perhaps I’m still a little paranoid! 
Where to from here? I’m not sure, but I’m staying. A comment the other day said: “Hi Robyn, I’m really impressed with all this. You make such a difference for people. Keep sharing your thoughts as you encourage others not to lose hope.” This was from a professional I highly respect. That comment alone is enough motivation to continue. I don’t know what future articles will bring. Sometimes we will be serious, sometimes silly, sometimes fun. Hopefully we will continue to make that difference and give people hope.
Related articles
- What Buck learned from Kristen Lamb (deboeybuck.wordpress.com)
- Writing again, finally (teamoyeniyi.com)
- Love versus Goliath – The Book (teamoyeniyi.com)
Get writing and keep writing… Don’t worry about the minutiae as those get sorted out eventually. Ditto extra editing work. Go with the flow of your story and the rest will follow.
That’s the approach I am taking. I am pretty sure that the final version will look vastly different to the first draft – but isn’t that always the way? I’ve never done this before, so I just have to follow my instinct and listen and learn from others with more experience!
3000 words in one session is a VERY ambitious, possibly impossible, goal. But do what works for you; most professional writers would be very happy with a thousand words in a session, but more sessions throughout the week.
You don’t need to be everywhere in social media, but Google Plus is a good place to make connections with high-level people who are not so accessible on Twitter or Facebook.
And look into Fundrazr. It’s integrated with Facebook and yes, you can use it for your fight too. Not just Julian’s!
In my word limit defence, I am not writing “from scratch”. So much of what I am writing is already written, in one form or another. Mind you, I remember back when I was doing my Year 12 as an adult student – once I got into my chemistry study I’d just keep going and then suddenly realise it was 3am.
I wasn’t quite that way with maths or physics 
Certainly it will need way more than one pass – this pass is essentially to get it all in a semblance of order.
I’ll look into Fundrazr, but I think I’d feel guilty. Now, THAT may be crazy, but it is the way I am!
I wouldn’t worry about bad writing – look at Stefanie Meyer and twilight! She is a bajillioniare now and there is a buttload of people who say she can’t right for peanuts….as long as you capture an audience you will be fine!
A BAJILLIONAIRE? Well, that would be nice!
I’ll have to ask the bank manager if their accounts go that high! 
Thanks for the tip. Oh, and I edited your comment for typos.
You guys are all inspiring. Be silly, or serious, or fun. Inspiration won’t mind
Please don’t look at my ‘grammar’, lol. I use my blog for a lot of experimentation, and frequently break the rules. Actually, I’m worse. I’ve forgotten most of the rules and am trying to relearn them, while breaking them at the same time. I think the most important thing is to just keep going. The rest will sort itself out.
Congratulations on your 50,000 words, that is a master achievement!
By the way – glad to hear you’ve forgotten most of the rules! Doesn’t make me feel quite so old now – you’ve been around long enough to forget ‘em too!
Good luck. Do what feels RIGHT to you.
Oh, I will Nancy. I always do. I think this whole website is proof of that!
Robyn I do wish you luck with your book. You have a story to tell which will help ordinary folks begin to understand the words” Aslum Seeker” and the trauma both for the family and the individual concerned. The news we are presented maybe skewed and the real truth is seldom told. When ever I watch the news on TV now, I never know what to believe. Stories like yours should be told.
I will def be buying your book!
As for misplaced commas I’m sure a proof reader will sort those out!
Carole
Thank you Pip! I wish you have been able to see the SBS programme they screened here. You may be able to watch it over the internet, I am not sure. http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/goback It is extremely interesting.
I say I am not sure because I know much streaming video has region restrictions. I often try to watch stuff to find I get a message about not being in the USA, for example, and I know at least one of the YouTube videos I posted once could not be seen in the USA – and YOU are in Portugal, so I have NO idea!
Robyn, why not take the blog into a different room and start posting everyday articles, things outside the family, etc, etc.
The battle isn’t over yet, Harry. Not until we get permanent residency. Also I still want to drive change to the system. That may be more my focus in future. I have Quizzically Musing for general stuff. Sadly neglected of late!!
I thought the fight was over, still a bit to go yet then.
Provisional visa for two years from date of application but it can take 6 to 8 months to decide the PR. Why that long I have NO idea!