Prosperous soul in the making

doingitanyway

Sorry your lovely day ended on a down note. Hope DD gets sorted soon.

clearmydebts

Sorry to hear about your day. Does DD usually get PMT?

savingholmes

Thanks Bad Memory, MF, CMD and DIA
Yes DD has bad PMT and pain despite being on the pill and even when I give her heavy duty painkillers. She was much better today and dyed my hair so that was a positive at least. 

I've been reading/listening to some more children's fiction - check out Morrigan Crow - and feel inspired again. I've had a really productive writing weekend and finally have book 1 in the shape I want having changed the beginning last week, and the ending slightly this week. I think my initial style of writing is quite bare bones - so I tend to go through it several times (enormous number of times) before it feels 'rich' enough in detail to be classed as finished. I've also added a new first chapter for book 2 which appears to be working better than the original. I will leave it to settle for a few days at least before re-reading/editing.  The reason why this all matters is that ideally when I publish book 1 - I want to give the first 3 chapters of book 2 to hook people in and hopefully making them interested in pre-ordering book 2. 

I am trying to apply the principle of 'finished is better than perfect' to actually getting the book out there sometime soon rather than it being an 8 year project - yes really - that drags into year 9!! I've spent 3 years trying to make myself write Book 2 and was stuck at around 8.5K words for about a year. As of today I am at 13,106 words that I am pretty happy with. For comparison, Book 1 is about 70,000 words. One day I could be a famous writer - but if I ever want that to happen - I need to actually publish!! Doh!

Moneywise we are doing okay. Trying to resist the siren call of sales - I tend to find once I loosen the reins it goes to pot and takes a long time to get back on track. Waiting to see what the govt ends up doing to xmas plans. I hate not being able to plan. I'd reconciled myself to rule of 6 and 2 households but now my wider family seem to be thinking of stretching it - and I'm not sure I feel safe with that after months of being told it's not safe!! Really doesn't help mental health. 

WelshKitty85

Great progress with your writing. Well done! Now keep the momentum going and get your books out there!!

MovingForwards

When did DD last change her type as they vary so much.
3 chapters is very generous as an enticer. Publishing will happen next year.
With sales, if you put off buying you don't need it and are spending just because it's a sale. Save your money and put it to better use and focus on long-term goals.

Blackcats

Sorry, I'm a bit behind on your diary. (It moves so quickly!).
i love the idea of moving overseas - it's an adventure and a definite lifestyle change.  Could you keep a foothold in the UK to keep in touch with family and friends?  Would your children go with you? 

savingholmes

Hi Welshkitty - thanks for the encouragement. 
MF - DD has stayed on the same one for about 18 months - she hates change and she is under 18 so needed psych approval to be even on it so not easy to mess with. 
Blackcats - I think on the moving overseas idea - I want to focus on getting as much £ into our pensions as reasonably possible so that we have options when we come to draw them.  DS is planning his own overseas dream. DD says she wouldn't move but who knows? 

I had a really good day today but was writing a section before the area I was stuck on. I hope tomorrow I can continue Chapter 6 but if not I may write a section later in the novel and then come back to the earlier part later. I am about 20% through the book currently. I am hoping to use the time off over Christmas to get a lot more done.

savingholmes

Decided to make a one-off payment to sipp of £50 - so worth £62.50 with tax relief.  Every little helps. Now it is set up as a payment option - hope to add adhoc amounts as well as repaying debt.

Honeysucklelou2

Exciting progress on the writing front - well done! Has your DD been able to be furloughed? To my  surprise I have been furloughed from second job, despite only starting in mid September.

savingholmes

Hi HSL - thank you. DD wasn't furloughed - as she assumed she wouldn't qualify and jacked the Sunday before furlough started!! She refused to ask them to furlough her after all. I desperately want to pay more off CCs but can't without depleting EF/savings which isn't sensible, especially given that we have to pay for new patio in a week.