Hi all,

I really enjoyed the latest Dark Descent and the article on creating a good writing environment and habits is ace.

When writing I usually have some background / ambient noise (its much better than my tinnitus), my go to favourites are steam trains, waves, storms, or preludes to Wagnerian opera. So long as it isn't intrusive but covers the pervasive background noise of the real world.

My hearing is very poor and I wear two hearing aids, so any background sound that I use tends to be a little loud, the upshot of this is to be careful when I am writing. Insomniacs may wish to be mindful of their other halves trying to sleep in the next room.

My personal best writing times tend to be in the evening, but its important for me t have a good cut off time where real life and trying to sleep has to take a priority, unless, of course, the muse really isn't going to let me go until I've reached a sensible cut off point.

Daily targets are good to use, whether its a couple of thousand words or completing a chapter (which involves an earlier start admittedly) but the rewarding feeling of having achieved a target, or a good day's / night's work is worth it.

Whether I am writing a short story, or, as I have now discovered working on my first novel length story, there's no such thing as a good first draft. The temptation to go back and edit before completing this first draft is very strong, resisting it can take effort. I have one piece of work for which I did 15 first chapters and barely started on the others, its a terrible trap to fall into. Though minor corrections, to me, don't fall into the category of editing.

Kerry / Darkholme has an editing service and I would definitely advise engaging with this. She takes a good story and make its a great story.

Lastly, its good to have close people to use as sounding boards, but be careful of becoming obsessive. I have failed on this, it's great to have enthusiasm, and if you have someone who shares this is lovely, just be mindful to change the record occasionally.

Have a lovely day everyone, and keep typing.

CJ.