Writing Journey

Final update: In which I wrap things up and hint at a surprise tale coming up

Status: Draft 1 complete! (now on to editing) Well this week did finish the book. It tops out at a meager 50,400 or so words. A bit less than any of the others, but a story ends when it’s ready to, so I’m ok with the shorter length. And contrary to what I originally planned, …

Final update: In which I wrap things up and hint at a surprise tale coming up Read More »

Week 12: The Lost Portal In which I find myself barreling along pushing things towards the (hopefully) exciting climax and maneuvering skillfully (well, at least as skillfully as I can) so that all the players are in place for that big finish

Word count: ~40,000 of ~50,000 [80% of draft 1] Over 40,000 words and crankin’ ’em out furiously… Now it’s really getting to be fun. The fog of uncertainty has lifted and I can see the finish line and it’s a pure joy to write each scene again after sometimes dreading some of the scenes I was …

Week 12: The Lost Portal In which I find myself barreling along pushing things towards the (hopefully) exciting climax and maneuvering skillfully (well, at least as skillfully as I can) so that all the players are in place for that big finish Read More »

Week 11: In which I definitely have concluded I won’t skip ahead writing scenes anymore and I threw in another twist to the tale that just seemed to happen without conscious intervention–Oh and I reveal the title

Word count: ~37,000 of ~50,000 [74% of draft 1] I’m rolling along with over 37,000 words now, and I’ve revised my estimate of the final length to more like 50,000 words. I can almost see the end in sight-not quite-but almost. This week I added a new world that Doug Walker and Mike Lockhart stumble into …

Week 11: In which I definitely have concluded I won’t skip ahead writing scenes anymore and I threw in another twist to the tale that just seemed to happen without conscious intervention–Oh and I reveal the title Read More »

Week 10: In which I finally began to get all my ducks in a row for the next four Empty World books by writing that scene I mentioned last week, and in the process I added a new twist to what will happen in those next four books

Word count: ~31,461 of ~58,000 [54% of draft 1] I’m doing something I haven’t done before in writing any of my books so far. I’m skipping ahead and writing scenes for specific POV’s. I’ve been averaging three or four scenes per chapter split amongst  my POV characters. Since I have a clearer picture of where I …

Week 10: In which I finally began to get all my ducks in a row for the next four Empty World books by writing that scene I mentioned last week, and in the process I added a new twist to what will happen in those next four books Read More »

Week 9: In which I abandon all hope…of following any set scene notes I’ve written, and decide to switch back to earth for a setting up scene to lead into the next four books

Word count: ~28,651 of ~58,000 [49% of draft 1] I am so beyond my pre-plotted scene notes that I’m now letting my story drag me along with it, like a large dog on a lease dragging its owner behind as it chases a cat. I am a bit annoyed with myself that I haven’t spent more …

Week 9: In which I abandon all hope…of following any set scene notes I’ve written, and decide to switch back to earth for a setting up scene to lead into the next four books Read More »

Week 8: In which I reveal a major plot incident and explain what a POV is

Word count: ~26,123 of ~58,000 [45% of draft 1] Wish I’d get more than a couple of thousand words a week but at least I am moving forward. Let’s start with the big news-but since I’m not revealing anything specific about the book, I have to keep it cryptic as usual. The major group of characters …

Week 8: In which I reveal a major plot incident and explain what a POV is Read More »

Week 7: In which I’m holding back in revealing something I had planned to spring on the reader in this, the middle of the story, and make excuses for it

Word count: ~24,210 of ~58,000 [42% of draft 1] Rolling along , if a bit slowly. I was all set to make a shocking (my term) revelation in the story this week but decided it was better left towards the end of the book. Forgive me for holding back but I think it will be a …

Week 7: In which I’m holding back in revealing something I had planned to spring on the reader in this, the middle of the story, and make excuses for it Read More »

Week 6: In Which I reveal a new ‘Bad Guy’ and come clean about my plans for the Empty World

Word count: ~22,235 of ~58,000 [38% of draft 1] I’m at 22,235 words, so the week was passable, if not what I’d want for a total. I already have a subtly malevolent new character-not human, not even alive-in Book 4. But I’ve introduced a bad guy this week. He’s a member of the Garlian race so …

Week 6: In Which I reveal a new ‘Bad Guy’ and come clean about my plans for the Empty World Read More »

Week 5: In Which I am Surprised By My Characters and Try to Make a Case for Cory Being a Nice Kid

Word count: ~19,500 of ~58,000 [33% of draft 1] Well, the word count is adding up this week. I’m rolling along at almost 20 thousand words, and I’m starting to get a feel for the total length of the story. And even though I’m following my scene breakdowns, each time I begin to explore a new …

Week 5: In Which I am Surprised By My Characters and Try to Make a Case for Cory Being a Nice Kid Read More »

Week 4: In Which I Scrap My Scrap of My Carefully Plotted Scenes and Point of Views and Defend My Choices of Story Content

Word count: ~14,500 of ??? Well, during this week’s writing, I had a small ‘aha’ moment. Not the one I’m looking for but still, a good one. And that ‘keeping it to two points of view for ease’ that I thought I’d use–out the window. Oh well, I’m back to splitting up my large group because …

Week 4: In Which I Scrap My Scrap of My Carefully Plotted Scenes and Point of Views and Defend My Choices of Story Content Read More »