Not anywhere near what I hoped for. 490 sad, sad word count. I seem to be having a problem with the story right now. I know where it's going, but yesterday's writing felt really bogged down and not moving the story forward. I had to hunt for my index cards with notes jotted down and, yay! I found them. At least the hunt didn't take me long. I also knew there was one scene that I forgot to put in, so maybe I just need to write that and stick it where it belongs. Who knows, maybe it will turn into more than one scene. I guess I can dream. After that I don't know, unless I just write gibberish until I hit The End.
Played a little bit in Google Docs and found you can make folders. So I did just that and 'lo and behold, while checking what all I had I found something I had I don't remember writing. Okay, all I have is:
A title, but I really, really like it.
Characters: 5 maybe or 4?
Main character: male or female?
Genre: SF or F?
Setting: Other planet or Alternate Universe or Futuristic?
Yeah, I know, not much, but maybe a start. I could possible look into some of my older stuff and use some characters that never went anywhere. Not yet, though. I have enough to get finished before November.
And once again I've frittered most of the day away already. Time to get busy and get something accomplished. If I'm lucky maybe I'll get more words in today or tonight.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
No writing/New idea
No writing tonight. Since I broke my glasses I feel tired all the time and there's no way to fix them. So I took the night off. Hopefully sometime within the next week I can get new ones. It's not like I don't need a new prescription anyway.
I did get an idea for something to write in November, though. Jotted some things down. I have 4 characters ::5 if you count the fire entity:: and their basic descriptions: age, hair color, eye color. The main character has a younger sister, which for some reason I wasn't surprised, but when a younger brother popped up out of nowhere, well, that startled me. I mean, where the hell did he come from? Good thing I was sitting on the couch or I might have fell over. Perceptive little thing he is too. I almost know more about him at this point than any of the others. There's also a guy who is a couple of years older than the main character. Is there romance in the air? :Sniff Sniff:: Maybe. Good element for conflict.
This will be a Young Adult, something I've wanted to write for a long time but just never had a good idea for one. I'm really hoping this one takes. So, a YA paranormal. I'm still trying to figure out if and how thriller might be attached to that. YA Paranormal Thriller is something I've been hearing about, but still need to connect the P and T together. I mean, wouldn't paranormal be enough by itself? Thrillers stand alone just fine without falling down. Guess I need to do some more digging around to find out how to connect those two dots.
I'll be doing lots of digging anyway for this to come up with enough meat to see it through and make it a full story.
I still want to get Treasure Trove finished, and after that Shattered Souls. Those two are from NaNo last year so I need to see The End within the next couple or so months on both.
I did get an idea for something to write in November, though. Jotted some things down. I have 4 characters ::5 if you count the fire entity:: and their basic descriptions: age, hair color, eye color. The main character has a younger sister, which for some reason I wasn't surprised, but when a younger brother popped up out of nowhere, well, that startled me. I mean, where the hell did he come from? Good thing I was sitting on the couch or I might have fell over. Perceptive little thing he is too. I almost know more about him at this point than any of the others. There's also a guy who is a couple of years older than the main character. Is there romance in the air? :Sniff Sniff:: Maybe. Good element for conflict.
This will be a Young Adult, something I've wanted to write for a long time but just never had a good idea for one. I'm really hoping this one takes. So, a YA paranormal. I'm still trying to figure out if and how thriller might be attached to that. YA Paranormal Thriller is something I've been hearing about, but still need to connect the P and T together. I mean, wouldn't paranormal be enough by itself? Thrillers stand alone just fine without falling down. Guess I need to do some more digging around to find out how to connect those two dots.
I'll be doing lots of digging anyway for this to come up with enough meat to see it through and make it a full story.
I still want to get Treasure Trove finished, and after that Shattered Souls. Those two are from NaNo last year so I need to see The End within the next couple or so months on both.
Moving forward
Or not, as the case may be. Did my 2,000 words last night - 2,043 to be exact. I had to change the POV, but had been switching back and forth between the two main characters anyway. I think Kaste has had more time than Devon so far but that can be fixed in rewrites.
My problem is, I feel I'm just dragging the story, and it's not the dreaded sagging middle since the story is past that. I think. Maybe I need to take some time today to put this one into chapters and begin finishing it that way. Checking my notes might not be a bad idea either as those haven't been looked at in quite awhile.
I'm not sure if it's become too serious at this point or not, but it feels a bit like that to me. Before I was pretty much having fun with these two characters and the play between them. Could be it needs some sex to liven it up, but I can't see where that will happen when there are other people around and there's no way to get Kaste and Devon alone. I'm getting the strong feeling that I need to throw a monkey wrench into this about now. Maybe toss in some space pirates to make matters worse, as if knowing they are going to be killed isn't bad enough.
I really, really, really need to work on this during the day and stop waiting until the last few hours of the night. I'd like to get back into a few other pieces as well. I somehow can never manage my time. Good about frittering it away and that's about it.
And, I'd really, really, really like to write The End on this.
My problem is, I feel I'm just dragging the story, and it's not the dreaded sagging middle since the story is past that. I think. Maybe I need to take some time today to put this one into chapters and begin finishing it that way. Checking my notes might not be a bad idea either as those haven't been looked at in quite awhile.
I'm not sure if it's become too serious at this point or not, but it feels a bit like that to me. Before I was pretty much having fun with these two characters and the play between them. Could be it needs some sex to liven it up, but I can't see where that will happen when there are other people around and there's no way to get Kaste and Devon alone. I'm getting the strong feeling that I need to throw a monkey wrench into this about now. Maybe toss in some space pirates to make matters worse, as if knowing they are going to be killed isn't bad enough.
I really, really, really need to work on this during the day and stop waiting until the last few hours of the night. I'd like to get back into a few other pieces as well. I somehow can never manage my time. Good about frittering it away and that's about it.
And, I'd really, really, really like to write The End on this.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Challenging myself
Starting yesterday I set up a calendar and entered 2,000 words to write per day for the rest of this month. I hit my mark last night at 2,017 words. If I can maintain that this month the total will give me around 72,000 words. I have no idea if it will get me to the end or not. I also have no idea if I can do this every day, but I want to up my average until I can hit, well, I don't really have a specific amount set at the moment, but I'm thinking ahead to NaNo.
I'd like to see the end of this WIP too. After that it can sit in the background and wait until I'm ready to begin going through it. I think I may need to go look for some exercises on writing description. I so suck at that and it shows. I could probably do dialogue all day long and not have much of a problem, but describing things, blech, just can't seem to get it in there.
Once I get Treasure Trove finished I might devote more time to Shattered Souls. That's sort of the plan, anyway. Of course I'm still thinking ahead for NaNo, although nothing brilliant has exploded in my head yet. My problem with Shattered Souls is that it's taking me longer to write. I guess the in depth stuff is what's slowing me down, and that seems to be a lot of the story itself. That and working on something that makes me stretch my writing skills, as lacking as they are.
Then there's the two shorts waiting to be finished. One is done, but still in editing mode. The other isn't quite there yet.
Last part of Treasure Trove I wrote yesterday.
I'd like to see the end of this WIP too. After that it can sit in the background and wait until I'm ready to begin going through it. I think I may need to go look for some exercises on writing description. I so suck at that and it shows. I could probably do dialogue all day long and not have much of a problem, but describing things, blech, just can't seem to get it in there.
Once I get Treasure Trove finished I might devote more time to Shattered Souls. That's sort of the plan, anyway. Of course I'm still thinking ahead for NaNo, although nothing brilliant has exploded in my head yet. My problem with Shattered Souls is that it's taking me longer to write. I guess the in depth stuff is what's slowing me down, and that seems to be a lot of the story itself. That and working on something that makes me stretch my writing skills, as lacking as they are.
Then there's the two shorts waiting to be finished. One is done, but still in editing mode. The other isn't quite there yet.
Last part of Treasure Trove I wrote yesterday.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” the captain said. “Everyone has been give orders to not harm any of you.”
“Including your niece?” Devon wanted to remind the captain of what he had already allowed her to get away with when she had him alone and away from the others.
“Of course. She will not disobey me. I can assure you of that.”
“You may be assured but, sorry, I don't buy it.” Devon rubbed his ribs to get his point across. Just in case the captain had forgotten so soon.
Last paragraph of Shattered Souls, which was written over two weeks ago. ::hangs head::
His hands covered her fists, his fingers prying hers open in slow movements. Caden jerked but Kane held fast until their palms touched. Shock waves went through her body and she no longer saw Kane standing before her. Instead she saw the past; painful and raw.
Neither have been edited yet so if anyone does read this, please be kind! :)
Off to do some cave chores!Saturday, July 21, 2007
Tracking my words
Just had a thought, this morning, right now. Scary! Not finished with my coffee yet. I think I'll make a track sheet of some kind so I know how much I've written each day, er, the days I get some writing done. Since I work on more than one project this won't have me running madly around and through my files. That way I can see how much wordage I've done in a week or for the month. Since I'm a visual person this might help with a bit more motivation also. If I see really low numbers that could be a kick in the butt.
Now I need to mull over just exactly how I want to do this. I have one I made up for NaNo, but I want something a little bit simpler for this one.
One project sits at over 50,000 and I'd like to have it finished before November when NaNo rolls around again. The other is at a sad 16,000+ and I'd really, really like to see the end of that one. Not because I'm tired of it but because I just want to make it to the end. A sequel to the latter one might be nice to get set up for this November. Now if I can only come up with a good premise for another.
Aha, just had another idea! Since I'm soooo good at putting stuff off, maybe doing a sheet of some sort to list projects I'd like to get finished might be in order. Mainly a few shorts I need to either finish or edit.
Now see, that would be organizing, and my personality test said I am disorganized. I can organize my stuff, the problem is for me to remember where I put it. As my husband is fond of saying, "Please don't put stuff away, because you won't remember where you put it and now we'll never find it." He's right, of course, and we do laugh about it.
Now I need to mull over just exactly how I want to do this. I have one I made up for NaNo, but I want something a little bit simpler for this one.
One project sits at over 50,000 and I'd like to have it finished before November when NaNo rolls around again. The other is at a sad 16,000+ and I'd really, really like to see the end of that one. Not because I'm tired of it but because I just want to make it to the end. A sequel to the latter one might be nice to get set up for this November. Now if I can only come up with a good premise for another.
Aha, just had another idea! Since I'm soooo good at putting stuff off, maybe doing a sheet of some sort to list projects I'd like to get finished might be in order. Mainly a few shorts I need to either finish or edit.
Now see, that would be organizing, and my personality test said I am disorganized. I can organize my stuff, the problem is for me to remember where I put it. As my husband is fond of saying, "Please don't put stuff away, because you won't remember where you put it and now we'll never find it." He's right, of course, and we do laugh about it.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Write. Not writing.
I thought I'd get more writing done this week, but it didn't happen. Some writing, and sometimes lots of it, but too many days there was nothing. Mom is here this week and while she isn't more work, I seem to get uptight anyway. It's the Alzeimer's Disease, although, there hasn't been a lot of change from last month when she was here for a week. One week out of each month doesn't seem like much, but it feels as if it drags.
The last few months or so she's had this mantra. That's what I call it. She repeats over and over praying to God for one of her kids to come get her. Hurt more when it first started, not as much now, and I know it's the memory loss, and I'm not sure she realizes she says it either.
Sometimes she knows who I am and sometimes she doesn't. Too often anymore she thinks this is some kind of "home" that people come to and I take care of them. Sometimes she thinks she's only here for the day and someone always picks her up before it gets too late and night descends. There isn't much she enjoys doing anymore. A little crocheting, but nothing like she used to. Television just has no attraction for her no matter what I turn it to, so I don't bother to turn it on unless I want to watch something. She is still fairly addicted to her crossword puzzles, but there are times she seems to get tired of those too.
It's a sad, sad disease. She's told me things she's done that I know didn't happen, but it's best to let her think it did. She'll talk about "her husband" as if he wasn't my dad, which tells me at that moment in time she doesn't know who I am. Her quality of life has lost so much and there's nothing to be done to change that. It's more like she just exists, and not much else.
I miss the talks we used to have. Now you can't keep her attention long enough, so we don't talk like we used to. I have the memories of all our talks; she doesn't. So, I hold those memories because that's pretty much all I have left of my mother.
So, the tension I feel keeps me from writing as much as I'd like to this week. Not to mention it makes me tired. Ah, well, there is next week and the week after that, and. . .
Until next month.
The last few months or so she's had this mantra. That's what I call it. She repeats over and over praying to God for one of her kids to come get her. Hurt more when it first started, not as much now, and I know it's the memory loss, and I'm not sure she realizes she says it either.
Sometimes she knows who I am and sometimes she doesn't. Too often anymore she thinks this is some kind of "home" that people come to and I take care of them. Sometimes she thinks she's only here for the day and someone always picks her up before it gets too late and night descends. There isn't much she enjoys doing anymore. A little crocheting, but nothing like she used to. Television just has no attraction for her no matter what I turn it to, so I don't bother to turn it on unless I want to watch something. She is still fairly addicted to her crossword puzzles, but there are times she seems to get tired of those too.
It's a sad, sad disease. She's told me things she's done that I know didn't happen, but it's best to let her think it did. She'll talk about "her husband" as if he wasn't my dad, which tells me at that moment in time she doesn't know who I am. Her quality of life has lost so much and there's nothing to be done to change that. It's more like she just exists, and not much else.
I miss the talks we used to have. Now you can't keep her attention long enough, so we don't talk like we used to. I have the memories of all our talks; she doesn't. So, I hold those memories because that's pretty much all I have left of my mother.
So, the tension I feel keeps me from writing as much as I'd like to this week. Not to mention it makes me tired. Ah, well, there is next week and the week after that, and. . .
Until next month.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Personality Test
secretive, reclusive, messy, disorganized, introverted, unassertive, rarely worries, dislikes large parties, does not like to fit in, does not need to control others, solitary, ambivalent about chaos, tough, leisurely, does not respect authority, not aggressive, observer, abstract, impractical, dislikes leadership, daydreamer, bizarre, does not make friends easily, not a perfectionist, suspicious, rarely irritated, strong physical instincts, unsympathetic at times, risk taker, submissive, weird, sarcastic, strange
K, let's go through these one by one.
secretive: No, not secretive at all. I leave that for others I know.
reclusive: As much as I can be.
messy: Now that makes me sound horrible. My husband is messy. The cats are messy. I get tired of cleaning up after them, so, gee, that makes -me- messy.
disorganized: Hey, there is a method there. I organized. Just can't remember where I put the dang things.
introverted: Knew that one already. No surprise to me.
unassertive: For the most part, yes. Just don't back me into a corner. I take a lot, and I mean a lot! But there comes a time. . .
rarely worries: I worked hard to find that state of mind. Wasn't an easy journey, but certainly worth it in the end.
dislikes large parties: 100% right.
does not like to fit in: Not that I don't like to fit in, not always sure where that spot is.
does not need to control others: I think there's enough work involved in controlling yourself, why bother making your life harder.
solitary: Well, yeah, that kinda goes along with reclusive. Yes?
ambivalent about chaos: What the hell does that mean? I'm uncertain about confusion and disorder? Oookaaay.
tough: Um, not so much. Really. Trust me.
leisurely: Why be anything else? Just makes you uptight.
does not respect authority: Oh, come on. I respect authority. Just don't shove it in my face, please. And, if that -authority- deserves the respect of others.
not aggressive: I can be determined, but in my own quiet way, and pretty much only to myself. Doubt anyone else sees it. I'm also not energetic in any kind of pursuit.
observer: Ha! Funny how everything around me gets past my observation antennae. I'm too much in my own little world to notice much of anything around me.
abstract: Confusion abounds in mind on this one.
impractical: So, so wrong. I'm quite practical.
dislikes leadership: Well, that sorta comes from liking to be alone. I prefer to lead myself -- not lead others, just myself.
daydreamer: 200% right. Was born with that trait.
bizarre: Excuse me? I don't even get this one about myself. Doesn't fit. Doesn't compute.
does not make friends easily: True enough, for a couple different reasons. Part from the way I grew up, and part from getting stabbed in the back more than once. Tends to make one leery.
not a perfectionist: I can be picky about a few things, but on the whole this one is pretty much true.
suspicious: So not me. I leave suspicious natures to others in my family and they are welcome to them as far as I'm concerned.
rarely irritated: Quite true.
strong physical instincts: Ahh, no.
unsympathetic at times: Well, if the person deserves my sympathy then they have it, in spades. I refuse to sympathize with anyone who wallows in their problems just for the sake of getting others to feel sorry for them.
risk taker: Bwahahahaha! Does that answer that one?
submissive: Again, to a point. Depends on the circumstances. Remember that backing into a corner thing above?
weird: Huh? Guess we all get called weird at least one time in our life.
sarcastic: Oh, please. Oops, was that sarcastic?
strange: And there's something wrong with this? Actually I don't find much about myself that's strange. Strange, isn't it?
I know, personality tests are not accurate and I've never to date been labeled correctly. Hmm, maybe that does make me strange and bizarre.
K, let's go through these one by one.
secretive: No, not secretive at all. I leave that for others I know.
reclusive: As much as I can be.
messy: Now that makes me sound horrible. My husband is messy. The cats are messy. I get tired of cleaning up after them, so, gee, that makes -me- messy.
disorganized: Hey, there is a method there. I organized. Just can't remember where I put the dang things.
introverted: Knew that one already. No surprise to me.
unassertive: For the most part, yes. Just don't back me into a corner. I take a lot, and I mean a lot! But there comes a time. . .
rarely worries: I worked hard to find that state of mind. Wasn't an easy journey, but certainly worth it in the end.
dislikes large parties: 100% right.
does not like to fit in: Not that I don't like to fit in, not always sure where that spot is.
does not need to control others: I think there's enough work involved in controlling yourself, why bother making your life harder.
solitary: Well, yeah, that kinda goes along with reclusive. Yes?
ambivalent about chaos: What the hell does that mean? I'm uncertain about confusion and disorder? Oookaaay.
tough: Um, not so much. Really. Trust me.
leisurely: Why be anything else? Just makes you uptight.
does not respect authority: Oh, come on. I respect authority. Just don't shove it in my face, please. And, if that -authority- deserves the respect of others.
not aggressive: I can be determined, but in my own quiet way, and pretty much only to myself. Doubt anyone else sees it. I'm also not energetic in any kind of pursuit.
observer: Ha! Funny how everything around me gets past my observation antennae. I'm too much in my own little world to notice much of anything around me.
abstract: Confusion abounds in mind on this one.
impractical: So, so wrong. I'm quite practical.
dislikes leadership: Well, that sorta comes from liking to be alone. I prefer to lead myself -- not lead others, just myself.
daydreamer: 200% right. Was born with that trait.
bizarre: Excuse me? I don't even get this one about myself. Doesn't fit. Doesn't compute.
does not make friends easily: True enough, for a couple different reasons. Part from the way I grew up, and part from getting stabbed in the back more than once. Tends to make one leery.
not a perfectionist: I can be picky about a few things, but on the whole this one is pretty much true.
suspicious: So not me. I leave suspicious natures to others in my family and they are welcome to them as far as I'm concerned.
rarely irritated: Quite true.
strong physical instincts: Ahh, no.
unsympathetic at times: Well, if the person deserves my sympathy then they have it, in spades. I refuse to sympathize with anyone who wallows in their problems just for the sake of getting others to feel sorry for them.
risk taker: Bwahahahaha! Does that answer that one?
submissive: Again, to a point. Depends on the circumstances. Remember that backing into a corner thing above?
weird: Huh? Guess we all get called weird at least one time in our life.
sarcastic: Oh, please. Oops, was that sarcastic?
strange: And there's something wrong with this? Actually I don't find much about myself that's strange. Strange, isn't it?
I know, personality tests are not accurate and I've never to date been labeled correctly. Hmm, maybe that does make me strange and bizarre.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Writing Again
564 words written last night.
Last night I got back into Treasure Trove and was fairly happy with the scene. At least it moved it along. Kaste has found that it's handy to have Stella on her side now. Even after being searched, Stella manages to have a very tiny knife hidden on her person. With a weapon, even one that small, might help them get some valuable information out of Jezel.
I only wrote a little over 500 words, but that's more than I've been doing. One word would have been more than I've done in months.
It's funny, in a strange way. Kaste was created as a character for another novel, a fantasy, but I decided she wasn't really needed in that one. I wasn't sure what to do with her for a time, then when NaNo started getting nearer I thought I could use her for that. The first one I started didn't go where I wanted it to, but at least I didn't have very many words done. So I switched from yet another fantasy with her and dumped her into a space opera. Even though there were times last November that I wasn't sure where this story was going and got stuck a few times, I've had fun with her and Devon. I also discovered that when I got stuck it helped to switch between them for chapters.
It left off where Devon is being held captive in some other area of this big ship and Kaste doesn't know where or if he's all right, but she's pretty sure he is still alive. He has information the captain needs, but since Devon still has amnesia he isn't going to be able to help the captain. Whether the captain will believe Devon can't remember or thinks he's faking it remains to be seen... or written.
I know where I want to take this tonight. Now I'll have to hope it comes off as well written as it is in my head. Kaste will come face to face with the captain.
There's also another character that hasn't made an appearance yet, only been background fodder, so I'll need to flesh her out, right down to finding a name for her. I think she will be entering the story soon.
Last night I got back into Treasure Trove and was fairly happy with the scene. At least it moved it along. Kaste has found that it's handy to have Stella on her side now. Even after being searched, Stella manages to have a very tiny knife hidden on her person. With a weapon, even one that small, might help them get some valuable information out of Jezel.
I only wrote a little over 500 words, but that's more than I've been doing. One word would have been more than I've done in months.
It's funny, in a strange way. Kaste was created as a character for another novel, a fantasy, but I decided she wasn't really needed in that one. I wasn't sure what to do with her for a time, then when NaNo started getting nearer I thought I could use her for that. The first one I started didn't go where I wanted it to, but at least I didn't have very many words done. So I switched from yet another fantasy with her and dumped her into a space opera. Even though there were times last November that I wasn't sure where this story was going and got stuck a few times, I've had fun with her and Devon. I also discovered that when I got stuck it helped to switch between them for chapters.
It left off where Devon is being held captive in some other area of this big ship and Kaste doesn't know where or if he's all right, but she's pretty sure he is still alive. He has information the captain needs, but since Devon still has amnesia he isn't going to be able to help the captain. Whether the captain will believe Devon can't remember or thinks he's faking it remains to be seen... or written.
I know where I want to take this tonight. Now I'll have to hope it comes off as well written as it is in my head. Kaste will come face to face with the captain.
There's also another character that hasn't made an appearance yet, only been background fodder, so I'll need to flesh her out, right down to finding a name for her. I think she will be entering the story soon.
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