Melissa:
Once again, I'm late at posting about the month past. But with holidays it's hard! lol.
So I had planned to write my second Christmas story in the month of December with all the craziness that comes with Christmas. I didn't get to do that. The events of life, kiddo and knee therapy along with the go-go-go of the holidays disrupted the idea this year.
But that's okay!
Why? Because it gave me the month to listen to the seasonal music, and listen I did. I had the radio on constant Holiday cheer from Thanksgiving. And to get into the season so I could come up with ideas for the story. I now have a list of things that can happen. I also made verbal notes into my phone that would be the scene or part of a scene. I have typed those up and have those ready for when I get to planning and writing.
This is a step forward for me. These holiday stories come in a completely different fashion than other stories have. They are almost outlined in my head. Keep in mind, I don't outline very well. AT ALL. So this is something new for me.
My plans are to make a plot board for the book so I can keep track of all that is to happen and influences in the story by the 'holiday spirit'. I'll share that with you next month.
Here's to producing more words!
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Sunday, December 20, 2015
October AND November Update
Melissa:
*sigh* Where on Earth does the time go?!?
I am going to try and recollect what I've done for two months.
October... I believe my main focus for the month was reading and noting rewrites along with changes to the Steampunk story. Nothing really new started.
November... Now, this is a whole full month. I did participate in NaNoWriMo. And... I WON!! Woot woot!
I started the second story for the steampunk world I was working in. The story came to a total of 43,622 words. I knew in starting this book that it should NOT hit the 50k goal for NaNoWriMo, but that was okay as it would get me a started story. (In the completed product, it should mark out over 60k but that's a lot of work to it.) I got a bare bones story there. One I like? Not really. There needs to be more heartache and work in the beginning to grow the character from. I also realized that there's a whole line of thinking that needs to be added through the story, from the beginning. I didn't realize this until I came across it at about 40k. So yes, loooots of work.
But then I started my second Christmas Business story. It's set in the same world I started last year but with a different couple-to-be. I only got 7,223 words. Which is A-okay with me. This takes me into December and something to ponder and write through the holiday season.
While I was working on all of this, I was reading my first steampunk story at lunch at work, still making notes of things to fix or look further into. There's a few things here that really need fixed. I was also doing content editing work as well. So with doing this I only wrote a max of 2,000 words a night, which worked out well for me and life that happened...
See, life does interject with plans all so often. My son was to get ACL reconstructive surgery and meniscus repair at the end of November, the 23rd. I figured I had a huge chunk of the month to get myself set for this week off with him... Hahaha. We were lucky (and yes, I mean lucky as the sooner he got in the better) to get a call that there was an earlier opening for surgery as they had a cancellation. November 6th he went in. That was the first day I didn't make any words, but I didn't let it stop me. Nope! I did dive in and kept to the minimum count to keep moving forward.
What I found was at the beginning of the month, those 1666 words took two hours to find. But by the end of the month, I was kicking out that number of words in little over an hour. (**Lesson learned: Keep writing.)
Now that we are into December, life is still kicking my kester but I'm planning out some of Christmas Warmth and hope to get back to writing it.
Here's to the holidays! And writing through the craziness.
*sigh* Where on Earth does the time go?!?
I am going to try and recollect what I've done for two months.
October... I believe my main focus for the month was reading and noting rewrites along with changes to the Steampunk story. Nothing really new started.
November... Now, this is a whole full month. I did participate in NaNoWriMo. And... I WON!! Woot woot!
I started the second story for the steampunk world I was working in. The story came to a total of 43,622 words. I knew in starting this book that it should NOT hit the 50k goal for NaNoWriMo, but that was okay as it would get me a started story. (In the completed product, it should mark out over 60k but that's a lot of work to it.) I got a bare bones story there. One I like? Not really. There needs to be more heartache and work in the beginning to grow the character from. I also realized that there's a whole line of thinking that needs to be added through the story, from the beginning. I didn't realize this until I came across it at about 40k. So yes, loooots of work.
But then I started my second Christmas Business story. It's set in the same world I started last year but with a different couple-to-be. I only got 7,223 words. Which is A-okay with me. This takes me into December and something to ponder and write through the holiday season.
While I was working on all of this, I was reading my first steampunk story at lunch at work, still making notes of things to fix or look further into. There's a few things here that really need fixed. I was also doing content editing work as well. So with doing this I only wrote a max of 2,000 words a night, which worked out well for me and life that happened...
See, life does interject with plans all so often. My son was to get ACL reconstructive surgery and meniscus repair at the end of November, the 23rd. I figured I had a huge chunk of the month to get myself set for this week off with him... Hahaha. We were lucky (and yes, I mean lucky as the sooner he got in the better) to get a call that there was an earlier opening for surgery as they had a cancellation. November 6th he went in. That was the first day I didn't make any words, but I didn't let it stop me. Nope! I did dive in and kept to the minimum count to keep moving forward.
What I found was at the beginning of the month, those 1666 words took two hours to find. But by the end of the month, I was kicking out that number of words in little over an hour. (**Lesson learned: Keep writing.)
Now that we are into December, life is still kicking my kester but I'm planning out some of Christmas Warmth and hope to get back to writing it.
Here's to the holidays! And writing through the craziness.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
September Update
Melissa:
Where on Earth did September go?!?! I'm at a loss that the month is even over.
I'm starting to realize I am terrible at multi-tasking. I can't write or brainstorm while doing all the things life brings at me. I also am one of those that likes to be involved in everything. When Kiddo has sports stuff, I like to be there to see it. Which cuts into the time I could be putting into writing or brainstorming or even re-writes. That seems to be one of my biggest downfalls with trying to get through stories, of any length.
That all being said, I'm sure you know how much I got through this month...nothing. *sigh* I know. I should be more organized. I should be better at this. But, well, I'm not.
I've had ideas bouncing around in my head, but the small things that have to happen to take my characters from one point of their lives to the next are what's tripping me up this time around.
I'm going to have to get my act together this month to get plans for NaNoWriMo! If I can do it with work and life this year. Here's keeping my fingers crossed.
Where on Earth did September go?!?! I'm at a loss that the month is even over.
I'm starting to realize I am terrible at multi-tasking. I can't write or brainstorm while doing all the things life brings at me. I also am one of those that likes to be involved in everything. When Kiddo has sports stuff, I like to be there to see it. Which cuts into the time I could be putting into writing or brainstorming or even re-writes. That seems to be one of my biggest downfalls with trying to get through stories, of any length.
That all being said, I'm sure you know how much I got through this month...nothing. *sigh* I know. I should be more organized. I should be better at this. But, well, I'm not.
I've had ideas bouncing around in my head, but the small things that have to happen to take my characters from one point of their lives to the next are what's tripping me up this time around.
I'm going to have to get my act together this month to get plans for NaNoWriMo! If I can do it with work and life this year. Here's keeping my fingers crossed.
Monday, September 14, 2015
August Update
Melissa:
Sorry I'm late. It's been one heck of a ride in the month of August and into September here. With all the sports and family events (step-daughter got married), I've also been sick with a head cold.
I did get through the end of my steampunk story. Woot woot! I have it printed with notes to go through and make the adjustments, additions, and moving things around. Now to get through this part of it.
I sat down for a few hours and went through my notes and scraps of paper with small ideas on it. I tried piecing things together as they would fit. I found that the Urban Fantasy idea I've been wanting to work on for some time, needs to go back to the drawing board. The Dystopian idea I love is a world setting, not a story yet. And I have a man with troubles that's to be set in Science Fiction, but no world setting yet.
This is a beginning! It really is. Doesn't sound like much, believe me I have told myself that several times since sitting down with these ideas and doubts have crept in. But, every story starts somewhere. Right? Well this is it. Now to brainstorm and figure out what's happening.
At this point, as much as I'd love to do the Dystopian idea, I think I'm going with the SciFi story. I have the person and his dilemma he'll start in. I know what he wants and what *should* happen at the end of the story. It's just creating the world around him that he fights through. Oh don't get me wrong, he has lots of work to make him complete too, but I have a story to work with.
Sorry I'm late. It's been one heck of a ride in the month of August and into September here. With all the sports and family events (step-daughter got married), I've also been sick with a head cold.
I did get through the end of my steampunk story. Woot woot! I have it printed with notes to go through and make the adjustments, additions, and moving things around. Now to get through this part of it.
I sat down for a few hours and went through my notes and scraps of paper with small ideas on it. I tried piecing things together as they would fit. I found that the Urban Fantasy idea I've been wanting to work on for some time, needs to go back to the drawing board. The Dystopian idea I love is a world setting, not a story yet. And I have a man with troubles that's to be set in Science Fiction, but no world setting yet.
This is a beginning! It really is. Doesn't sound like much, believe me I have told myself that several times since sitting down with these ideas and doubts have crept in. But, every story starts somewhere. Right? Well this is it. Now to brainstorm and figure out what's happening.
At this point, as much as I'd love to do the Dystopian idea, I think I'm going with the SciFi story. I have the person and his dilemma he'll start in. I know what he wants and what *should* happen at the end of the story. It's just creating the world around him that he fights through. Oh don't get me wrong, he has lots of work to make him complete too, but I have a story to work with.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
July Update
Melissa:
So, I've put this post off long enough. I need to face the music.
Doing this post always makes me cringe. I hate that I can't reach my goals each month. And I feel as I've not written anything in ages. I'm in the vicious cycle of re-writes and life.
I, once again, did not get to the goal I wanted by the end of July. I planed on getting through the last 50 pages and printing it all out to work out the bigger kinks. I felt like I was on a roll and doing well. But in my defense, I need to take the pay jobs and at this point in life that's what is needed. I received a content editing jobs. At this time in my life the pay items come before the fun, and writing is fun for me now.
I'm done with the major part of the content editing job and have time to get back to the grind on my own words. I also got through my birthday weekend where I spent lots of time with friends and family.
So now it's serious time.
I'm working to get caught up with a few things so I can focus my time properly - writing and editing for pay.
I'm not going to give myself a huge goal. If I did that, I'd just disappoint myself again. *sigh* It's coming into school starting and football starting. Football is time consuming for the parent as it is for the kiddo. So my 'me time' is going to be cut once again. I'm good with this. I am accepting this. I'm owning it.
My goal is to get through these last pages. I really want to re-read and make the major changes while the story is fresh in my mind. But I also need to start plotting and figuring out the story for NaNoWriMo coming in November. I want to put time into mapping out what's to happen. For August I hope to finish the first round of re-writes and start into the next round of big changes and their affects through out the story, so it's consistent. Also, figure out what story in the jar I want to work on fleshing out for NaNoWriMo. Hmmm....
So, I've put this post off long enough. I need to face the music.
Doing this post always makes me cringe. I hate that I can't reach my goals each month. And I feel as I've not written anything in ages. I'm in the vicious cycle of re-writes and life.
I, once again, did not get to the goal I wanted by the end of July. I planed on getting through the last 50 pages and printing it all out to work out the bigger kinks. I felt like I was on a roll and doing well. But in my defense, I need to take the pay jobs and at this point in life that's what is needed. I received a content editing jobs. At this time in my life the pay items come before the fun, and writing is fun for me now.
I'm done with the major part of the content editing job and have time to get back to the grind on my own words. I also got through my birthday weekend where I spent lots of time with friends and family.
So now it's serious time.
I'm working to get caught up with a few things so I can focus my time properly - writing and editing for pay.
I'm not going to give myself a huge goal. If I did that, I'd just disappoint myself again. *sigh* It's coming into school starting and football starting. Football is time consuming for the parent as it is for the kiddo. So my 'me time' is going to be cut once again. I'm good with this. I am accepting this. I'm owning it.
My goal is to get through these last pages. I really want to re-read and make the major changes while the story is fresh in my mind. But I also need to start plotting and figuring out the story for NaNoWriMo coming in November. I want to put time into mapping out what's to happen. For August I hope to finish the first round of re-writes and start into the next round of big changes and their affects through out the story, so it's consistent. Also, figure out what story in the jar I want to work on fleshing out for NaNoWriMo. Hmmm....
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
June Update:
Melissa:
And I think I'm terrible at re-writes! I can't seem to get far with this stuff.
I've decided I need a better method of preparation before I start writing. Yes, I'm a pantser in what I've done. But after trying to put the mess back together (and feeling as I'm failing miserably) I have decided I need more of a line to follow when writing. *cringe* That is going to be a lot more work upfront but I think in the end, well worth it. I'm going to have to diagram the world mechanics and outline the story better.
I don't do outlines well, it's been something I've struggled with since I was in elementary school. My mind doesn't understand why someone would put words on the page if they were not important, so to me everything is important and should be in the outline. I took special classes to learn how to do outlines, and failed. I was found to be a lost cause at the whole process. I squeaked by that semester in English and moved on. This is why I don't do outlines. So, I'm going to have to find some sort of method that works for me that I can use.
I tried something different with my Christmas story a year and a half ago, and it seemed to work well for me. I used note cards and created a timeline of events that way. I'm going to have to try that in future writings.
So, for June what did I accomplish, other than learning I need a new method to my madness?
I have tried to stick to the every other day schedule of writing then blogging and other things. It's worked, for the most part. Life still interferes with many things, but I'm making it work. It's just not every other day as I'd hoped. But, I'm getting there.
I have 50 more pages to read and adjust. After this I can print and work out the bigger kinks that the story has. Then, I'll need a set of eyes to help me with things I know are wonky, I don't like, or need help seeing the light through. I know I was hoping for the end of July, but I don't know if that will happen. We'll see how much time I get to put into re-writes with work and life happening too.
Here's to another month full of words!
And I think I'm terrible at re-writes! I can't seem to get far with this stuff.
I've decided I need a better method of preparation before I start writing. Yes, I'm a pantser in what I've done. But after trying to put the mess back together (and feeling as I'm failing miserably) I have decided I need more of a line to follow when writing. *cringe* That is going to be a lot more work upfront but I think in the end, well worth it. I'm going to have to diagram the world mechanics and outline the story better.
I don't do outlines well, it's been something I've struggled with since I was in elementary school. My mind doesn't understand why someone would put words on the page if they were not important, so to me everything is important and should be in the outline. I took special classes to learn how to do outlines, and failed. I was found to be a lost cause at the whole process. I squeaked by that semester in English and moved on. This is why I don't do outlines. So, I'm going to have to find some sort of method that works for me that I can use.
I tried something different with my Christmas story a year and a half ago, and it seemed to work well for me. I used note cards and created a timeline of events that way. I'm going to have to try that in future writings.
So, for June what did I accomplish, other than learning I need a new method to my madness?
I have tried to stick to the every other day schedule of writing then blogging and other things. It's worked, for the most part. Life still interferes with many things, but I'm making it work. It's just not every other day as I'd hoped. But, I'm getting there.
I have 50 more pages to read and adjust. After this I can print and work out the bigger kinks that the story has. Then, I'll need a set of eyes to help me with things I know are wonky, I don't like, or need help seeing the light through. I know I was hoping for the end of July, but I don't know if that will happen. We'll see how much time I get to put into re-writes with work and life happening too.
Here's to another month full of words!
Friday, June 5, 2015
May Updates:
Melissa:
And where did May go!?!?
May was a quick month. It felt like it didn't even have 31 days in it. I did get to do some reading/re-writes on my current WIP, but nothing like I had hoped to accomplish.
As for the schedule... well, I didn't really stick to it as much as times and days. There are days that I did neither of blogging or writing because kiddo had a track meet or something going on with school and sports. Then there was Balticon and being down with a sinus infection (this one lingered as I'm still feeling the effects of it!). What I have done is if I blog one night, the next night I'm home I use for writing. And every evening about 9 o'clock is work time for my content editing clients.
So, we are into June now. And I'm determined to get through this WIP. My plan is to make small changes and adjust things. But others I'm making notes of what to add and where (if I know what section at that moment). I'll then print out the word document with all the changes to add in what I have noted so I can flip back and forth between pages. I'll then get on to Scrivener and make changes.
This is going to take time, so maybe by the end of July I'll have some chapters to send to a friend to read. Though it'll have to be someone that's kind and can walk me through what a mess I have.
That all being said, I don't have a word count to share as increasing. But I'm working to get back at the process and determined to get through this dreaded re-write process.
Onward we go! Words to be slashed and molded!
And where did May go!?!?
May was a quick month. It felt like it didn't even have 31 days in it. I did get to do some reading/re-writes on my current WIP, but nothing like I had hoped to accomplish.
As for the schedule... well, I didn't really stick to it as much as times and days. There are days that I did neither of blogging or writing because kiddo had a track meet or something going on with school and sports. Then there was Balticon and being down with a sinus infection (this one lingered as I'm still feeling the effects of it!). What I have done is if I blog one night, the next night I'm home I use for writing. And every evening about 9 o'clock is work time for my content editing clients.
So, we are into June now. And I'm determined to get through this WIP. My plan is to make small changes and adjust things. But others I'm making notes of what to add and where (if I know what section at that moment). I'll then print out the word document with all the changes to add in what I have noted so I can flip back and forth between pages. I'll then get on to Scrivener and make changes.
This is going to take time, so maybe by the end of July I'll have some chapters to send to a friend to read. Though it'll have to be someone that's kind and can walk me through what a mess I have.
That all being said, I don't have a word count to share as increasing. But I'm working to get back at the process and determined to get through this dreaded re-write process.
Onward we go! Words to be slashed and molded!
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