Melissa:
So I've been thinking about this post since the middle of July. *sigh* I started off the month with great high hopes. I was gaming and ready to roll. Then the month dropped into the real world. Being massively behind from the lack of time to do anything book wise in June along with the stress I still was feeling, I just didn't realize how tough July would be. Then things happen too. Anniversaries, family stuff that I still had to get to, and just life. So, I didn't get far with Camp NaNoWriMo, which I was hoping for.
I can say I failed. In a way, I did. I didn't hit the 10k I set as a goal. But, any number of words is better than what I had before. I clocked in at Camp NaNoWriMo at 1,570 words, but didn't verify them. I actually did better than that. See, I was trying to work on revisions for a Novella story and hoped to start the second Novella story to the series. Well, life had other plans. By my record of word counts I actually added 3,368 words at the beginning of the month.
I'm not going to let this get me down. Not at all. It's done, life sucks at times, and we move on.
I do have a few ideas that keep circulating through my mind. Percolating, if you will. The worlds are growing and I'm trying to think what the underlining plot thread is in addition to minor little threads. But those are just notes on paper for now.
What's the goal now? I have no clue. I want to get one of these two stories and actually get one completed. Not necessarily "publish" finish, but a complete thought and story to work from. I need to pull all this stuff out and see what mood I'm in. I'd like to take the next few months and work on Jayda's story. Get the first book up to a zero draft form so I can head on to book two for NaNoWriMo in November. Although, I think the current Novella story would be enjoyed by a few of my friends who kinda sound like they want to read it. Maybe I can sneak it in from time to time.
I guess I was bound for a failed NaNoWriMo at some point. My record had been going far to well. ;) Everyone has to have a bad NaNo. But now that it's out of my system, I'm totally kicking it's arse in November....if I can get through this first six-below-draft to be ready to do book two. *sigh*
Now, it's time to crack down and get serious. I've got lots to read, lots to write, and lots of help to offer others with their books. The table is heaping and I'm bound and determined to get through it all. *nod*
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
What is Dark?
There are books that we call Dark. There are ideas we call Dark.
What is Dark to readers?
Are we sitting in a room trying to read with no lights on. No, although ereaders do help with this dark issue these days. ;P
What makes a read Dark to you?
I've used the term when writing a few reviews as well. The author has gone deep into emotions -- emotions that are sparked from not so pleasant happenings. Not always does there have to be death, but it's a very good indicator too. The world of the story can have a dark feel. Now, I almost wanted to put negative in the place of dark. The world is usually not a happy place, bad things are at work and that adds to the dark feel for me. The characters can be dark. This might be where some of the death comes in. And unpleasant things are done to other characters, or maybe already done to the ones you have.
I'm thinking you need some light in this to counter the dreariness created. Some sort of hope to balance out the down of the dark. Or even a small spark of hope that things can change. Something needs a spark to shine through, show there could be something good that comes from all the dreariness that pulls down.
Or, is dark simply a scary feeling you get when reading? I've heard that reference a few times.
Words...are there words associated with the dark feeling of a story you read?
Where have you found dark books at? Fantasy, Urban Fantasy? What about with Romance? A blend of a dreary dark tale and a spark of a romance that could make it through the doomed world around them?
Just a thought to maybe spark some thoughts...
What is Dark to readers?
Are we sitting in a room trying to read with no lights on. No, although ereaders do help with this dark issue these days. ;P
What makes a read Dark to you?
I've used the term when writing a few reviews as well. The author has gone deep into emotions -- emotions that are sparked from not so pleasant happenings. Not always does there have to be death, but it's a very good indicator too. The world of the story can have a dark feel. Now, I almost wanted to put negative in the place of dark. The world is usually not a happy place, bad things are at work and that adds to the dark feel for me. The characters can be dark. This might be where some of the death comes in. And unpleasant things are done to other characters, or maybe already done to the ones you have.
I'm thinking you need some light in this to counter the dreariness created. Some sort of hope to balance out the down of the dark. Or even a small spark of hope that things can change. Something needs a spark to shine through, show there could be something good that comes from all the dreariness that pulls down.
Or, is dark simply a scary feeling you get when reading? I've heard that reference a few times.
Words...are there words associated with the dark feeling of a story you read?
Where have you found dark books at? Fantasy, Urban Fantasy? What about with Romance? A blend of a dreary dark tale and a spark of a romance that could make it through the doomed world around them?
Just a thought to maybe spark some thoughts...
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Writing Update - June
Melissa:
Jackie's been buried under school work and I've been buried under family stuff.
It's been a rough month of June around here. Not much writing is getting done. June was to be a big month for me. I had HUGE plans for my stories - research and re-writing to prepare for July. Ha! Life always has different ideas for us. Although, I know my mind keeps wondering back to the stories I have here and want to get working on to get to a ground zero draft. Even to the thanks of Danielle (a great friend on Twitter) I've come up with more LOADS MORE! ideas in one world I've been working. And maybe even different stand-alone novella stories. :) We'll see what happens, if I ever get to experiment with them.
But with the month of hellballs I've not got to make any actual words. Lots of family issues to get through and I haven't even got to do around my own house yet. As of the weekend, I was digging a long ditch in the rain and mud. So, July is off to a slow start.
But, talking about July. You know I can't refuse a challenge. Not that it's a challenge, but I'm totally addicted to NaNoWriMo. Gives me a reason to sit my arse in the chair and work. Well, Camp NaNoWriMo is running for July as well. I had to sign up. Yes, it was a last minute thing, but I'm doing it.
My goal...only a simple 10k words. I know, that was my goal in April and I not only met it I surpassed it by 20k. I'm not planning on that this round. This round I'm going to re-write and write new. They both will be in the same world, just different characters in the next novella book. The story will continue. That is my goal, and I will stick to it. (It's hard for me, but I want to do it and have my mind set on it.)
So, if you see me struggling on Twitter during July, give me a shove to keep going. Now, into July we go...
Have a great month!
Jackie's been buried under school work and I've been buried under family stuff.
It's been a rough month of June around here. Not much writing is getting done. June was to be a big month for me. I had HUGE plans for my stories - research and re-writing to prepare for July. Ha! Life always has different ideas for us. Although, I know my mind keeps wondering back to the stories I have here and want to get working on to get to a ground zero draft. Even to the thanks of Danielle (a great friend on Twitter) I've come up with more LOADS MORE! ideas in one world I've been working. And maybe even different stand-alone novella stories. :) We'll see what happens, if I ever get to experiment with them.
But with the month of hellballs I've not got to make any actual words. Lots of family issues to get through and I haven't even got to do around my own house yet. As of the weekend, I was digging a long ditch in the rain and mud. So, July is off to a slow start.
But, talking about July. You know I can't refuse a challenge. Not that it's a challenge, but I'm totally addicted to NaNoWriMo. Gives me a reason to sit my arse in the chair and work. Well, Camp NaNoWriMo is running for July as well. I had to sign up. Yes, it was a last minute thing, but I'm doing it.
My goal...only a simple 10k words. I know, that was my goal in April and I not only met it I surpassed it by 20k. I'm not planning on that this round. This round I'm going to re-write and write new. They both will be in the same world, just different characters in the next novella book. The story will continue. That is my goal, and I will stick to it. (It's hard for me, but I want to do it and have my mind set on it.)
So, if you see me struggling on Twitter during July, give me a shove to keep going. Now, into July we go...
Have a great month!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Writing Update - May
Melissa:
And this is waaaaay late in posting. Sorry. I had an unexpected family emergency and it's taken a week to try to get to a breathing point. And it seems it's going to shoot June in the kester before it even starts.
So...seven days into the month and I hadn't wrote much of anything. I was exhausted. Beyond exhausted, thanks to allergies. I even found myself napping at lunch hour. Yeah, not me. I didn't get much reading in either.
I seem to be at a lack for words this past month, with being so exhausted I can't seem to focus. But the brain wasn't completely idle...started dreaming up new worlds.
But, on the 4th - Saturday during my down time starring at the television like a blob on the couch - I was watching the H2 channel. A History channel, I have no idea who had it one but it was on when I turned tv on. Anyway, there was a show about the oceans. Icebergs melting, whirlpools, images under water with the mountain ranges and so on and so on. A new world idea started to hit me. One I started noting and forming in my mind's eye. I wrote 334 hasty words of a short happening in this world. There is lots of worldly myth that needs to be laid out and created here as I think I like the idea of this world and people. BUT! Yes, this is a big but. I don't have a story for the world yet. So, I continue to create the world, hoping something will spark for a story line. I think one might be forming...we'll see as I create the world. ;)
I did manage to get a few words squeaked out. Okay, so I'm a slacker, the total I got... 637. *sigh* I know disgraceful. I left May with HIGH hopes for June. I have lots I want to get done. After Balticon, I had the feel for creativity. Had the first day all planned out, I'd finish cleaning, read the remaining forty pages of a current read, then dive into my novella story. I didn't even get the cleaning done before I got that call we all dread. So June is seeming to be a bust for words as well. *sigh* We'll see, but I'm thinking not much will come.
Jackie is swamped with school. Sorry, she wasn't able to post this time around.
And this is waaaaay late in posting. Sorry. I had an unexpected family emergency and it's taken a week to try to get to a breathing point. And it seems it's going to shoot June in the kester before it even starts.
So...seven days into the month and I hadn't wrote much of anything. I was exhausted. Beyond exhausted, thanks to allergies. I even found myself napping at lunch hour. Yeah, not me. I didn't get much reading in either.
I seem to be at a lack for words this past month, with being so exhausted I can't seem to focus. But the brain wasn't completely idle...started dreaming up new worlds.
But, on the 4th - Saturday during my down time starring at the television like a blob on the couch - I was watching the H2 channel. A History channel, I have no idea who had it one but it was on when I turned tv on. Anyway, there was a show about the oceans. Icebergs melting, whirlpools, images under water with the mountain ranges and so on and so on. A new world idea started to hit me. One I started noting and forming in my mind's eye. I wrote 334 hasty words of a short happening in this world. There is lots of worldly myth that needs to be laid out and created here as I think I like the idea of this world and people. BUT! Yes, this is a big but. I don't have a story for the world yet. So, I continue to create the world, hoping something will spark for a story line. I think one might be forming...we'll see as I create the world. ;)
I did manage to get a few words squeaked out. Okay, so I'm a slacker, the total I got... 637. *sigh* I know disgraceful. I left May with HIGH hopes for June. I have lots I want to get done. After Balticon, I had the feel for creativity. Had the first day all planned out, I'd finish cleaning, read the remaining forty pages of a current read, then dive into my novella story. I didn't even get the cleaning done before I got that call we all dread. So June is seeming to be a bust for words as well. *sigh* We'll see, but I'm thinking not much will come.
Jackie is swamped with school. Sorry, she wasn't able to post this time around.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Writing Update - April
Melissa:
So, as you probably noted, I changed the title of the posts. From: NaNoWriMo Re-Writes Update, To: Writing Update. I hope Jackie doesn't mind.
It seems we are picking up so many different things as we go and noting more than just the NaNoWriMo projects. And what a better way to track all we do, even our sidetracks... as I know I've been sidetracked. *sigh*
I've been participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this month. I produced a little over 10k words in the first 9 days, yes I did take a few off. I was excited! And wasn't ready to let go of the story yet.... At 10k I knew I'd have another 10k to finish, at least. Then I talked with Danni on Twitter and....decided another 15-20k to finish. See, I was trying to keep this a *short* story, novella length. And left a character out that could turn things at the end. So, the question is Happy Ending? Not so happy ending? Does the main character *really* need a man to fall back on? I was going to go with no. But...seeing it feels like a romance, figured there should be a good man in her life. So...now I need to go back and add this character in. *sigh* It's all good though. More words, more creating, more fun.
This story seems to be coming this way: I had a "plan." Okay, it was a rather rough plan, but a plan, to start with. This guy was in it, but I wanted to keep the story shorter so left him out. Well, it seems I do want him there, and have added him. The writing comes in sections. Strange really, for me anyway. I think at one point I had three scenes going at once. I started a scene, thought of something I wanted to mention so started another scene to come, and went back to the previous one. On the days I wasn't writing, the brain was stuck on what I had wrote and added little things and hints to it.
It's definitely it's own process this round. Toward the end there are some things that need to be added as I skipped a section where there is a great opportunity to shine with some steampunk ideas....but I need to come up with them yet. lol. But I just couldn't wait to get to the end, and excitement thing. I knew what was to happen and wanted to write it. And I did.
Then! I started a bar scene that I've had stuck in my head...376 words only and more to it than that, but that's what you get when doing it at work.
So...I also wrote an acknowledgement to people for a work I've done. It's for one that no where near done, and may never be published, but I wanted to remember those how helped inspire. Also...I might have wrote a bit about where the name of a character came from and why it means so much in the characters personality and what I based it off of. I'm goofy! I swear! LOL!
What did I clock out at in words this month... lets say 30,052! Outstanding, right!? 24,893 at the Main Camp Nano project. 3,218 at a separate short story. 1941 at another short story.
All these have lots to add. The short stories are started and there for me to play with any time I need an escape. That's what they are for, for me at this time. One day, maybe I'll fine tune them and sell them to anthologies or something...who knows.
What did I learn this month... um, I'm not sure. Haha... Alright, I have to say what I learned is I can work through it. The more I do, the more the mind roams and creates other things. Everywhere I look now I see something I can question or create something from. Is it a full novel? No, but the mind has been open to different ideas.
Now, back to re-writes on previous and the new project created here. Lots of work to do and create. There are whole new leg of work to do with WIP 1, and lots to redo on WIP 2.
Jackie:
I love the new title of the post! Though, really, had Melissa asked me before changing it, my suggestion would have been more like "The Funk to End All Funks". Considering it was only me struck by this affliction, it would have been one sided though, so it stays as is :)
Really, I started the month with great plans. I figured 10k would be easy to achieve, especially considering my new line of thought for the main WIP that I planned to have completed. I even posited at one point that I might make the 25k mark with all the new stuff I wanted to add. Well, it turned out to be harder than I imagined.
Poor Melissa had to (virtually) listen to me whine about lack of time, regardless of how true it was, and the fact that nothing was coming out. I would rack up word counts of 80 or 376 in a day, versus the 1300 we would do on a normal November NaNo day. It was seriously pathetic. But Melissa kept encouraging me, so I plodded along, typing in whatever dismal additions that I could.
Late in the month, like say April 29th late? I had an idea. I started typing a silly line but it's one that always gets me going. It has something to do with a cartoon pooch that types out great works of mystery on top of his doghouse. This morphed into 5k by the end and added into the total for my main WIP and another short story I was working on, I finished the month at 10101 words (which apparently has no meaning in binary, I checked.)
So, as Melissa worked out a conclusion to what she learned last month, I'll add in my two cents also. First, I should always listen to Melissa; she knows what she's talking about :D Second, I am a world-class procrastinator and my own worst enemy. I will not get the word count out if I don't actually sit down in front of the computer and type. If I want to make something happen with my writing, I have to write.
This seems obvious, but let me tell you, screwing the pooch (and I mean this in the proverbial sense, not the rooftop typing pooch I referred to earlier) is a way easier thing to do than pouring your heart, soul, or imagination into something that someone may read down the road. It's intimidating to think about what you're doing under these terms but from the point I'm at to the point where a shiny new book would be placed into someone's hands is miles away. One step at a time, right?
Three, I was able to sufficiently stick to March's promise to bombard Melissa with my clichés and idioms, though I didn't do it on a daily basis. I did however, work hard to not include them in my writing, unless it was for the purpose of making fun of it, then that made it okay, lol.
I'm happy to say that coming into May, my new idea has taken more shape in my head and has worked itself into a fuller story, complete with a potential arc for a multi-book thing...wait, that's me getting ahead of myself again! Anyway, hope May is good to all of you and your word counts.
So, as you probably noted, I changed the title of the posts. From: NaNoWriMo Re-Writes Update, To: Writing Update. I hope Jackie doesn't mind.
It seems we are picking up so many different things as we go and noting more than just the NaNoWriMo projects. And what a better way to track all we do, even our sidetracks... as I know I've been sidetracked. *sigh*
I've been participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this month. I produced a little over 10k words in the first 9 days, yes I did take a few off. I was excited! And wasn't ready to let go of the story yet.... At 10k I knew I'd have another 10k to finish, at least. Then I talked with Danni on Twitter and....decided another 15-20k to finish. See, I was trying to keep this a *short* story, novella length. And left a character out that could turn things at the end. So, the question is Happy Ending? Not so happy ending? Does the main character *really* need a man to fall back on? I was going to go with no. But...seeing it feels like a romance, figured there should be a good man in her life. So...now I need to go back and add this character in. *sigh* It's all good though. More words, more creating, more fun.
This story seems to be coming this way: I had a "plan." Okay, it was a rather rough plan, but a plan, to start with. This guy was in it, but I wanted to keep the story shorter so left him out. Well, it seems I do want him there, and have added him. The writing comes in sections. Strange really, for me anyway. I think at one point I had three scenes going at once. I started a scene, thought of something I wanted to mention so started another scene to come, and went back to the previous one. On the days I wasn't writing, the brain was stuck on what I had wrote and added little things and hints to it.
It's definitely it's own process this round. Toward the end there are some things that need to be added as I skipped a section where there is a great opportunity to shine with some steampunk ideas....but I need to come up with them yet. lol. But I just couldn't wait to get to the end, and excitement thing. I knew what was to happen and wanted to write it. And I did.
Then! I started a bar scene that I've had stuck in my head...376 words only and more to it than that, but that's what you get when doing it at work.
So...I also wrote an acknowledgement to people for a work I've done. It's for one that no where near done, and may never be published, but I wanted to remember those how helped inspire. Also...I might have wrote a bit about where the name of a character came from and why it means so much in the characters personality and what I based it off of. I'm goofy! I swear! LOL!
What did I clock out at in words this month... lets say 30,052! Outstanding, right!? 24,893 at the Main Camp Nano project. 3,218 at a separate short story. 1941 at another short story.
All these have lots to add. The short stories are started and there for me to play with any time I need an escape. That's what they are for, for me at this time. One day, maybe I'll fine tune them and sell them to anthologies or something...who knows.
What did I learn this month... um, I'm not sure. Haha... Alright, I have to say what I learned is I can work through it. The more I do, the more the mind roams and creates other things. Everywhere I look now I see something I can question or create something from. Is it a full novel? No, but the mind has been open to different ideas.
Now, back to re-writes on previous and the new project created here. Lots of work to do and create. There are whole new leg of work to do with WIP 1, and lots to redo on WIP 2.
Jackie:
I love the new title of the post! Though, really, had Melissa asked me before changing it, my suggestion would have been more like "The Funk to End All Funks". Considering it was only me struck by this affliction, it would have been one sided though, so it stays as is :)
Really, I started the month with great plans. I figured 10k would be easy to achieve, especially considering my new line of thought for the main WIP that I planned to have completed. I even posited at one point that I might make the 25k mark with all the new stuff I wanted to add. Well, it turned out to be harder than I imagined.
Poor Melissa had to (virtually) listen to me whine about lack of time, regardless of how true it was, and the fact that nothing was coming out. I would rack up word counts of 80 or 376 in a day, versus the 1300 we would do on a normal November NaNo day. It was seriously pathetic. But Melissa kept encouraging me, so I plodded along, typing in whatever dismal additions that I could.
Late in the month, like say April 29th late? I had an idea. I started typing a silly line but it's one that always gets me going. It has something to do with a cartoon pooch that types out great works of mystery on top of his doghouse. This morphed into 5k by the end and added into the total for my main WIP and another short story I was working on, I finished the month at 10101 words (which apparently has no meaning in binary, I checked.)
So, as Melissa worked out a conclusion to what she learned last month, I'll add in my two cents also. First, I should always listen to Melissa; she knows what she's talking about :D Second, I am a world-class procrastinator and my own worst enemy. I will not get the word count out if I don't actually sit down in front of the computer and type. If I want to make something happen with my writing, I have to write.
This seems obvious, but let me tell you, screwing the pooch (and I mean this in the proverbial sense, not the rooftop typing pooch I referred to earlier) is a way easier thing to do than pouring your heart, soul, or imagination into something that someone may read down the road. It's intimidating to think about what you're doing under these terms but from the point I'm at to the point where a shiny new book would be placed into someone's hands is miles away. One step at a time, right?
Three, I was able to sufficiently stick to March's promise to bombard Melissa with my clichés and idioms, though I didn't do it on a daily basis. I did however, work hard to not include them in my writing, unless it was for the purpose of making fun of it, then that made it okay, lol.
I'm happy to say that coming into May, my new idea has taken more shape in my head and has worked itself into a fuller story, complete with a potential arc for a multi-book thing...wait, that's me getting ahead of myself again! Anyway, hope May is good to all of you and your word counts.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
NaNoWriMo Re-Writes Update - March
Melissa:
I've now started a word number chart, to track the change in numbers...up and down as I'm deleting and adding as I go. It's not as dramatic as it was with Nano but I've added lots in notes and have many scenes to completely write. I've noticed I did a lot of telling and I need to show it, create a whole scene to convey my thinking.
Now. Question. What is a person to do when they keep getting distracted with other ideas? lol. Seems the creativity is flowing and jumping around.
Between the adds and deletes, I've added 7,642 words to my NaNoWriMo Re-writes. These were added from my reading and from now as well.
Then, I caught the bug for a short story from a song. I wrote 3,951 words for that this month. Which I do need to get back to.
AND, thanks to Skyla Dawn Cameron (who seems to know I have a weakness) I've signed up to do Camp NaNoWriMo in April. This is yet another idea I want to try. It's a fairy tale remix with steampunk to it. I signed up to do only 10k words. I'm not ready to do another 50k just yet. I've got to much mapping to do.
THEN! Yes, there's more. lol. Jackie and I were joking around one rough day... we came up with a dual novel project. I've got LOTS of research I need to do to get caught up, even half way close, to what Jackie knows. I think she's going to have to carry me on some aspects. ;P lol. But that's partners, right?
I really need to get through Jayda's story so I can go back through and finesse the words, sentences, paragraphs...ALL OF IT! lol. I'm still in the writing stage and have soooo much to get through. I might be about a quarter of the way through at this point. (no page numbers, sorry. Haven't figured that part of Scrivener yet.) I even have a whole leg of the journey that needs to be written yet. *phew* So much to get done!
Oh! I had a new character pop up on me too! She was to be a step on to show a connection and explain the world a bit. Ha! That's a joke. This girl decided she's a lot more than what I thought. So, it seems she'll be sticking around more and I'll have to write her in where she's needed. But there are a few characters I need to write in anyway.
So, I have my work cut out for me. I'm learning the goods and the bads with NaNoWriMo. I still think it's an amazing idea and will continue to do it. Maybe that topic is for another post... ;)
Jackie:
I'm happy to report that even before the last day of March hit, I was finished with my entire read through. Woot! I made a lot of notes for things to be changed or expanded throughout, so I will have a bigger word count once I translate all the handwritten notes. I usually have fairly neat penmanship but some of these puppies look like hieroglyphics, I tell ya!
Adding to that was something that started out so little, my deciding I didn't like the name of my project, which turned into a whole new direction for the story to go. This is a really good thing because the original draft had so much focused on the one part that there wasn't much mystery to the mystery book. It's always good to have a few things going on and I think that the change is a good way for it to happen. Here's hoping I can work it all out.
I also have a very small cast in my story, making it hard to incorporate a change like another story line. This goes along with what Melissa said about NaNo...the time restriction didn't really allow me the opportunity to flesh out more interesting people. So, I will attempt an outline in future projects, with a larger bunch of players to keep the reader on their toes ;)
I am also participating in Camp NaNo; this filtered down to me from Melissa, who decided to do it with Skyla...a total domino effect, I'd say. I'm keeping on with my 2011 NaNo project, to grow its numbers (or at least I hope so.) I registered for 10k but if I can muster the time, I'd like to see 25k added to get it closer to a publishable level. We'll see, I guess.
I had started a short story in March as an experiment. And totally contradicting myself about the outline, I just winged it. I got about 1400 words and that's where it stalled. I have an idea of where I want it to go but not sure how to get there yet. I think I'll use it as a writer's block project; if I get stuck on my main project, I can switch over and type something else for a bit. It's kind of like what Melissa asked above about the multiple ideas, but with a (reasonable?) argument.... thoughts?
And yes, we concocted a story that we've thought of a way of writing together. It's kind of exciting with just the small ideas we've tossed around so far but I have a crap load of library books out to do more research. And I've been sending stuff to Melissa to get her up to speed. She now knows things about me that many don't but instead of running away screaming, she's jumped on my crazy train and I'm more than happy to share my hobby :)
My last point is about my writing: I've noticed I tend to lay the clichés on thick. So, to work them out of my system (and keep them out of my actual writing), I've started hitting Melissa with them on Twitter :D I'd love it if anyone could add some here too, just to see if I've missed any...though I'm still not done with my existing collection. Watch out, Melissa!
So, March was a success, but there are still miles to go to hit the mark. Wish us luck!
I've now started a word number chart, to track the change in numbers...up and down as I'm deleting and adding as I go. It's not as dramatic as it was with Nano but I've added lots in notes and have many scenes to completely write. I've noticed I did a lot of telling and I need to show it, create a whole scene to convey my thinking.
Now. Question. What is a person to do when they keep getting distracted with other ideas? lol. Seems the creativity is flowing and jumping around.
Between the adds and deletes, I've added 7,642 words to my NaNoWriMo Re-writes. These were added from my reading and from now as well.
Then, I caught the bug for a short story from a song. I wrote 3,951 words for that this month. Which I do need to get back to.
AND, thanks to Skyla Dawn Cameron (who seems to know I have a weakness) I've signed up to do Camp NaNoWriMo in April. This is yet another idea I want to try. It's a fairy tale remix with steampunk to it. I signed up to do only 10k words. I'm not ready to do another 50k just yet. I've got to much mapping to do.
THEN! Yes, there's more. lol. Jackie and I were joking around one rough day... we came up with a dual novel project. I've got LOTS of research I need to do to get caught up, even half way close, to what Jackie knows. I think she's going to have to carry me on some aspects. ;P lol. But that's partners, right?
I really need to get through Jayda's story so I can go back through and finesse the words, sentences, paragraphs...ALL OF IT! lol. I'm still in the writing stage and have soooo much to get through. I might be about a quarter of the way through at this point. (no page numbers, sorry. Haven't figured that part of Scrivener yet.) I even have a whole leg of the journey that needs to be written yet. *phew* So much to get done!
Oh! I had a new character pop up on me too! She was to be a step on to show a connection and explain the world a bit. Ha! That's a joke. This girl decided she's a lot more than what I thought. So, it seems she'll be sticking around more and I'll have to write her in where she's needed. But there are a few characters I need to write in anyway.
So, I have my work cut out for me. I'm learning the goods and the bads with NaNoWriMo. I still think it's an amazing idea and will continue to do it. Maybe that topic is for another post... ;)
Jackie:
I'm happy to report that even before the last day of March hit, I was finished with my entire read through. Woot! I made a lot of notes for things to be changed or expanded throughout, so I will have a bigger word count once I translate all the handwritten notes. I usually have fairly neat penmanship but some of these puppies look like hieroglyphics, I tell ya!
Adding to that was something that started out so little, my deciding I didn't like the name of my project, which turned into a whole new direction for the story to go. This is a really good thing because the original draft had so much focused on the one part that there wasn't much mystery to the mystery book. It's always good to have a few things going on and I think that the change is a good way for it to happen. Here's hoping I can work it all out.
I also have a very small cast in my story, making it hard to incorporate a change like another story line. This goes along with what Melissa said about NaNo...the time restriction didn't really allow me the opportunity to flesh out more interesting people. So, I will attempt an outline in future projects, with a larger bunch of players to keep the reader on their toes ;)
I am also participating in Camp NaNo; this filtered down to me from Melissa, who decided to do it with Skyla...a total domino effect, I'd say. I'm keeping on with my 2011 NaNo project, to grow its numbers (or at least I hope so.) I registered for 10k but if I can muster the time, I'd like to see 25k added to get it closer to a publishable level. We'll see, I guess.
I had started a short story in March as an experiment. And totally contradicting myself about the outline, I just winged it. I got about 1400 words and that's where it stalled. I have an idea of where I want it to go but not sure how to get there yet. I think I'll use it as a writer's block project; if I get stuck on my main project, I can switch over and type something else for a bit. It's kind of like what Melissa asked above about the multiple ideas, but with a (reasonable?) argument.... thoughts?
And yes, we concocted a story that we've thought of a way of writing together. It's kind of exciting with just the small ideas we've tossed around so far but I have a crap load of library books out to do more research. And I've been sending stuff to Melissa to get her up to speed. She now knows things about me that many don't but instead of running away screaming, she's jumped on my crazy train and I'm more than happy to share my hobby :)
My last point is about my writing: I've noticed I tend to lay the clichés on thick. So, to work them out of my system (and keep them out of my actual writing), I've started hitting Melissa with them on Twitter :D I'd love it if anyone could add some here too, just to see if I've missed any...though I'm still not done with my existing collection. Watch out, Melissa!
So, March was a success, but there are still miles to go to hit the mark. Wish us luck!
Monday, March 4, 2013
NaNoWrimo Re-writes Update...February
Melissa:
February was a huge month for me. Why? Well, I'll tell ya...
That moment when you move the HUGE clip to the beginning portion of noted pages and the big clip to the last part to do. Yep, that was me this month! That's a cool feeling to know you are on the downward slide.
I went on my Friday Pub Writing day and on this afternoon excursion, I added a 2000 word scene, that needs lots of work and focus. But it's a start. Now after the months done, I know what to do with this scene, and it's going to lead to a whole section I need to add to round out a few things.
And to close out the month.....*drum roll* I finished the whole first read through!!! Wow. I have to say I was getting tired of not being done. So I kept at it. I have a patience issue, I do think. I felt I was taking to long and possibly forgetting things, so wanted to get through it all while still fresh in my head.
Now what? I'm not sure. Is there any suggestions?
I've found there are many things I have decided on which way I'm going, and things I still need to make choices on. I've got the scene started from that Friday afternoon at the pub, and it has lead to (along with another scene I read) a whole new run in the story as well. I'll have to sit down and map what my point of the run it, what the characters will come across and why, along with what we will learn about them on this trip. This is a great thing. I've filled in some gaps in my mind for future about the world as well. I just need to drop hints to have the reader think and question things so I can explain them later and they won't feel like they are hit out of left field when they come.
One thing I do keep noting, "Show, don't tell." I found I made notes of simply telling me what's to happen. I need to create the scenes to show it. There is lots of that to be filled in. So still lots of creating and writing to come. Then maybe I can go through and pretty up the sentences adding together two sentences that describe the same thing. You know, make it make sense.
I did start filling in what I want to add to a few sections, and I'm really enjoying what I'm creating.... at this point. I go through phases of love then hate and want to scrap the whole thing. But right now, I'm feeling the love. The hate will come again soon, I'm sure.
For me, it's on to adding/deleting words/sentences along with reading as I go. I'll be writing up the gaps too. This will be a long phase and I think will take me longer than the two months to get to this point.
Jackie:
Melissa has been awesome in her dedication to getting through the first draft. Me? Not so much. I have screwed the pooch more times than I can count when I should have been writing but....
My positive spin lies in the fact that I actually made it beyond the 25% mark! That sounds bad in comparison with Melissa's amazing progress (I'm so proud of her!), but for me it's a good thing because I haven't tossed it aside, or set a match to it, etc. I may be slow in reading it, but I'm not giving up! (I'd be pumping my fist in the air now if I wasn't typing ;) )
I still have my project divided into two parts (mainly because I didn't have the huge clip that my writing buddy spoke about above) but more pages get flipped kitty-corner as the days pass.
What I have done is decided on a whole new title and undercurrent to the story. I think I'll still be able to keep much of the original scenes, and I hope all of the original humour in it, but there is definite room for growth and change throughout the whole piece.
On that note, I just want to mention the feeling of "I've bitten off way more than I can chew" with my new approach. Normally, this would be enough to find the matches and ignite; I don't like being a quitter but sometimes it's the easy way out, right? NO, darn it all! And this is what I keep telling myself: I will not quit just because my ideas are....well, a bit grandiose, considering my lack of knowledge on the subject. I will grab the bull by the horns and make him my household pet, dammit! (Was that a good metaphor? LOL. I need all the help I can get.) To this end, everyday I'm thinking over how to tackle the subject, how to make it plausible and how to make it interesting to any future readers out there (I'm nothing if not hopeful of the end result.)
So, as February closes out and March brings the promise of Spring, I renew my vow to have this first draft read and a firm grasp on the new material before the month is out.
February was a huge month for me. Why? Well, I'll tell ya...
That moment when you move the HUGE clip to the beginning portion of noted pages and the big clip to the last part to do. Yep, that was me this month! That's a cool feeling to know you are on the downward slide.
I went on my Friday Pub Writing day and on this afternoon excursion, I added a 2000 word scene, that needs lots of work and focus. But it's a start. Now after the months done, I know what to do with this scene, and it's going to lead to a whole section I need to add to round out a few things.
And to close out the month.....*drum roll* I finished the whole first read through!!! Wow. I have to say I was getting tired of not being done. So I kept at it. I have a patience issue, I do think. I felt I was taking to long and possibly forgetting things, so wanted to get through it all while still fresh in my head.
Now what? I'm not sure. Is there any suggestions?
I've found there are many things I have decided on which way I'm going, and things I still need to make choices on. I've got the scene started from that Friday afternoon at the pub, and it has lead to (along with another scene I read) a whole new run in the story as well. I'll have to sit down and map what my point of the run it, what the characters will come across and why, along with what we will learn about them on this trip. This is a great thing. I've filled in some gaps in my mind for future about the world as well. I just need to drop hints to have the reader think and question things so I can explain them later and they won't feel like they are hit out of left field when they come.
One thing I do keep noting, "Show, don't tell." I found I made notes of simply telling me what's to happen. I need to create the scenes to show it. There is lots of that to be filled in. So still lots of creating and writing to come. Then maybe I can go through and pretty up the sentences adding together two sentences that describe the same thing. You know, make it make sense.
I did start filling in what I want to add to a few sections, and I'm really enjoying what I'm creating.... at this point. I go through phases of love then hate and want to scrap the whole thing. But right now, I'm feeling the love. The hate will come again soon, I'm sure.
For me, it's on to adding/deleting words/sentences along with reading as I go. I'll be writing up the gaps too. This will be a long phase and I think will take me longer than the two months to get to this point.
Jackie:
Melissa has been awesome in her dedication to getting through the first draft. Me? Not so much. I have screwed the pooch more times than I can count when I should have been writing but....
My positive spin lies in the fact that I actually made it beyond the 25% mark! That sounds bad in comparison with Melissa's amazing progress (I'm so proud of her!), but for me it's a good thing because I haven't tossed it aside, or set a match to it, etc. I may be slow in reading it, but I'm not giving up! (I'd be pumping my fist in the air now if I wasn't typing ;) )
I still have my project divided into two parts (mainly because I didn't have the huge clip that my writing buddy spoke about above) but more pages get flipped kitty-corner as the days pass.
What I have done is decided on a whole new title and undercurrent to the story. I think I'll still be able to keep much of the original scenes, and I hope all of the original humour in it, but there is definite room for growth and change throughout the whole piece.
On that note, I just want to mention the feeling of "I've bitten off way more than I can chew" with my new approach. Normally, this would be enough to find the matches and ignite; I don't like being a quitter but sometimes it's the easy way out, right? NO, darn it all! And this is what I keep telling myself: I will not quit just because my ideas are....well, a bit grandiose, considering my lack of knowledge on the subject. I will grab the bull by the horns and make him my household pet, dammit! (Was that a good metaphor? LOL. I need all the help I can get.) To this end, everyday I'm thinking over how to tackle the subject, how to make it plausible and how to make it interesting to any future readers out there (I'm nothing if not hopeful of the end result.)
So, as February closes out and March brings the promise of Spring, I renew my vow to have this first draft read and a firm grasp on the new material before the month is out.
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