Monday, November 25, 2013

55647

Validated today on first day. 

Just wish I were done with the story! 

Friday, November 22, 2013

50095 official; 50370 Scrivener

So I finished the monthly goal around noon.

Now I just need to finish the story. only 25-30k more words to go!

Oy.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

36230, chapter 5

Chapter 5 is complete, and I'm at 36k words. About right for an 80k word novel in 12 chapters, but I can't help thinking I'm a bit behind (also I'm not sure if what i have planned for the leadup to the final scenes will actually work).

I had wanted to get through chapter 6 today, but it looks like I'll finish 06 tomorrow. Finishing 50,000 words will not be much trouble--I likely will have that Friday--but it'll be a lot harder to get the STORY done. That, I'm not so sure about.

The story itself should take at least 75k words--the question, of course, is whether or not I can get that many done in less than two weeks. I'm not quite halfway there, but I should pass 40,000 words tomorrow. But I don't think I'll have enough time, late in the week, to write all the words.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Day 14, 25909

So looking at my historic info, every other year I have been behind pretty much until the last week. Close, but still behind.

I think my smallest overage this time around was 600 words.

Now, I have to admit: it's a bigger story. And I bet I'm further behind story-wise than I am usually.

But it's still a Big Deal.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

7959

This would be my fourth NaNo (fifth if you include Camp) since the first time I won.

Usually I struggle to get a thousand words in a little over an hour.

My first session, on November 1, I got 1667 words (exactly!) in 50 minutes.

I'm stunned.

Granted, practice helps. I've spent a lot of time over the past 4-5 years working through techniques and tactics and learning how I write.

But the most hopeful thing, to me, is that I'm not bored. A lot of times if I reach a certain low level of mastery or understanding of a topic or field, then I just... stop. I'm just not interested in it anymore. It gets boring. I am done with what I came to see.

Here, it feels like I still have a long ways to go before I get bored. And I really, really like that.

The current novel is the sequel to the Perdita story. I am hoping I can get this one to the 75-85k word range. If I can do that during Nano, that would be even better.

If I work out the next step, I should get another writing session or two in today--which will get me to 10k in the first weekend. That's... never something I expected to happen.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Nano

I don't think I've ever hit 1667 exactly on day 1 before. 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Writing week 2013

This was my writing week off for 2013. 

- I wrote synopses for the remaining six volumes in the Perdita-Ankaret series.
- Just finished reviewing chapter 6 of the first book in writer's group. 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Editing update

I'm currently running Perdita through my writing group, and I have one set of notes from a beta reader. 

Overall, their observations are fairly consistent. 

I'm hoping to get another draft done in October but it may be better to wait until the group has finished it's review. 

Friday, July 5, 2013

Camp NaNoWriMo

I've started the second book in the fantasy series. I'm trying a new method if drafting--a bit more planning than I usually do. So far it seems to be working without me feeling that it sucks the interest or creativity out of what I do. 

After all, half the reason I wrote the stories is so I too can find out what happens next. 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Research

"But there is an end to everything, even tears." -Clara Longworth de Chambrun in Charles Glass's Americans in Paris, p. 43. 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Editing -Chapter 6

So I've split chapter five into two because of all the rewriting I've done to change the lead up to the ships. At this point I'm back closer to editing rather than writing new scenes or cutting 90% of what I have. Less than 20k words to go. I've done the hardest parts.

But I'm feeling stuck at the start of six. Did I get lost in the rewrite? Have my characters become different people? I'm not sure.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Editing - chapter 2, second draft

As I logged all of my early NaNoWriMos to help me figure out what my process is, I probably should do that with the editing too.

The first draft of chapter one is done. Fairly happy with it, although I suspect there will be some issues with POV although I revised it.

Problem: Astrology.

It's pretty clear to me that the world needs an astrology system that's fairly integrated into their worldview.

Now--there's a point in the story where there's a bit of a deus ex machina--at the beginning, to set the story in motion. I could use a star chart as a more logical departure.

I'm not sure though--will this unnecessarily complicate the story? (probably not) Is it helpful? (unclear) Is my resistance mainly due to lazyness? (likely)

Sure, I can just add in some language here and there and explore the system in full in a later novella (which was kind of my original plan). But does that make the system part of their lives? It really should be....

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Editing updates

I've been editing the Perdita story for the past few days and what a difference practice makes!

Granted, it really really helps that it's my own world, so historical accuracy isn't really a problem. I suspect this may be why fantasy seems so appealing to new authors--no accountability to facts outside the story; and you can literally save the world.

Still--I'm looking over my paper copy and making pen edits and it's really really easy.

But then again, I've had a lot of practice by now.