So I'm into the rewrite! Let's get last weeks totals first:
Mon: 2009
Tue: 2102
Wed: 2120
Thu: 1178
Fri: 1437
TOTAL: 8846
So it's a FAIL. But I also wrote a handful of short stories (okay, two short stories) that impeded my writing time by a little bit, making this failure a little more acceptable. Either way, this week: No fails. Seriously, I'm back on this damn horse and I don't care who knows it.
Rewriting has been an interesting experience. First, I'm finding myself cutting a lot and I find myself shifting a lot of scenes to make the narrative more streamlined. Right now, the book is at 9274 words, and I'm at the same spot that is 15,000 words into the original draft. I like what I'm writing a lot more, that's for sure. Cutting all that has made more room for me to flesh out the ending and add a little more action to those points. The biggest cuts will likely be in the middle, though, and I'm excited for that part. In any case, I need to actually get writing! More to come!
Monday, September 22, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Rewrite Time!
So, while I have a handful of projects ready to go for my next novel, I've shifted my priorities some. It's time to work toward publishing, in some capacity, and as a result I've decided to rewrite my first book, for a couple of reasons.
The primary reason is that I love that book, but I'm not the same writer I was when I started it. I'm much better, writing more concisely with consistent voice and overall, better habits. As I said, I still love the tale itself, and I want to preserve that. It perfectly sets up the universe I write about, has some memorable and fun characters (more on them in a moment), and really works as a story.
As I said, I love the characters in this book. They're also the characters in books two and three of the same series (obviously), and after writing one and a half more books about them I really feel like I know them better than when I had started book one. So, going back to rewrite (especially the beginning chapters) of book one, I'm getting a chance to write them as they should have been and much more consistently. They're coming across even stronger than the first time I'd written them and I love that.
The last reason I'm doing it this way is more professional. It's always been my plan to get my work out there in some capacity, and I've been practicing and writing my ass off to try and make that happen. Not necessarily in traditional publishing circles, but at least in a self-publishing effort. My first book is one that I would like to self publish, and would want to self publish its sequels eventually too. I think it has a chance with a publisher/agent in a traditional way, but not as much as one of my current works in progress, which I plan to finish after I rewrite this book. That work, its own standalone story, will likely be the one I push for real, traditional publishing, while trying to market and make a name for myself with the series I self publish.
What does this mean for you, my blog reader? Well, nothing, really. Yet. It means that I'm working to publish something, something of mine you can read as fiction and this blog will then sort of make sense. It means that the word counts I'm putting up will now be in line with the work I do on that rewrite. And of course, it means that I've changed my mind yet again about what I'm working on.
In any case, Friday will bring a new word count total. I know I did over 2K yesterday, but only about 1,100 on Monday. So we'll have to catch up! Also, I am still planning on posting some of my short works and flash fiction for you to read, so be ready for that!
Bishop
The primary reason is that I love that book, but I'm not the same writer I was when I started it. I'm much better, writing more concisely with consistent voice and overall, better habits. As I said, I still love the tale itself, and I want to preserve that. It perfectly sets up the universe I write about, has some memorable and fun characters (more on them in a moment), and really works as a story.
As I said, I love the characters in this book. They're also the characters in books two and three of the same series (obviously), and after writing one and a half more books about them I really feel like I know them better than when I had started book one. So, going back to rewrite (especially the beginning chapters) of book one, I'm getting a chance to write them as they should have been and much more consistently. They're coming across even stronger than the first time I'd written them and I love that.
The last reason I'm doing it this way is more professional. It's always been my plan to get my work out there in some capacity, and I've been practicing and writing my ass off to try and make that happen. Not necessarily in traditional publishing circles, but at least in a self-publishing effort. My first book is one that I would like to self publish, and would want to self publish its sequels eventually too. I think it has a chance with a publisher/agent in a traditional way, but not as much as one of my current works in progress, which I plan to finish after I rewrite this book. That work, its own standalone story, will likely be the one I push for real, traditional publishing, while trying to market and make a name for myself with the series I self publish.
What does this mean for you, my blog reader? Well, nothing, really. Yet. It means that I'm working to publish something, something of mine you can read as fiction and this blog will then sort of make sense. It means that the word counts I'm putting up will now be in line with the work I do on that rewrite. And of course, it means that I've changed my mind yet again about what I'm working on.
In any case, Friday will bring a new word count total. I know I did over 2K yesterday, but only about 1,100 on Monday. So we'll have to catch up! Also, I am still planning on posting some of my short works and flash fiction for you to read, so be ready for that!
Bishop
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Surgery
So I had some surgery.
That's the main reason I've been gone, but the other is just life getting in the way. The surgery I had was a septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction. They fixed up my nose, and for a while there I was completely unable to breathe through my nose and experiencing serious sinus pressure headaches. In any case, the air is returning to my nostrils and with it my will to write and post and all that. I've been a flake on this, my own blog, for a while now and I really want to get back into the habit of writing here.
SO! In the interest of starting fresh... I finished my latest novel not long before the surgery, and am starting one of three new projects that I have planned and partially started. I'm working on about the first 5-10k this week and the week before and will have a good chunk of story to see which I think has the most potential. Next week begins fresh, accurate counts and good meaningful posts.
That being said, for now I'm writing casually on these three projects, getting just a little in for each, probably around 1K words a day for them. It's relaxed, and it's helping me get back into the swing. Also, I'm going to start a third category of posts on my blog... my actual writing. I do a lot of flash fiction for a competition on the web each month, and I'm going to start posting some of the shorts I've written, or maybe even some of the chapters of one of my novels--we'll see on that part.
Stay tuned!
P.S.
Apparently, when the hospital asks for an emergency contact, if you say "Scarlett Johansson", they don't look up her number and call her. It was a real disappointment.
That's the main reason I've been gone, but the other is just life getting in the way. The surgery I had was a septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction. They fixed up my nose, and for a while there I was completely unable to breathe through my nose and experiencing serious sinus pressure headaches. In any case, the air is returning to my nostrils and with it my will to write and post and all that. I've been a flake on this, my own blog, for a while now and I really want to get back into the habit of writing here.
SO! In the interest of starting fresh... I finished my latest novel not long before the surgery, and am starting one of three new projects that I have planned and partially started. I'm working on about the first 5-10k this week and the week before and will have a good chunk of story to see which I think has the most potential. Next week begins fresh, accurate counts and good meaningful posts.
That being said, for now I'm writing casually on these three projects, getting just a little in for each, probably around 1K words a day for them. It's relaxed, and it's helping me get back into the swing. Also, I'm going to start a third category of posts on my blog... my actual writing. I do a lot of flash fiction for a competition on the web each month, and I'm going to start posting some of the shorts I've written, or maybe even some of the chapters of one of my novels--we'll see on that part.
Stay tuned!
P.S.
Apparently, when the hospital asks for an emergency contact, if you say "Scarlett Johansson", they don't look up her number and call her. It was a real disappointment.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
IT Intel 1
A good chunk of my job in the IT department at my company is to take calls from field managers where they are having issues with their local networks and servers. These managers are often better suited as managers than as computer technicians, so my team and I provide on the phone support for them for the tech aspect. As you can guess, as with any job out there, there are the technically illiterate people among us. That isn't to say they're not skilled or intelligent; they're just not great with computers. So much of my job is taking calls that end with simple solutions. Restart the computer, SHAZAM! It's fixed. That sort of stuff.
Most of these people on the other line, I've never met in person. I come up with images of them in my head, and ideas about what they're like. In fact, I have characters in my mind, and whenever I receive the call, I sometimes have to have them repeat what they said because I was busy daydreaming about their 'character' attempting to hit the computers with a ball peen hammer.
Other times, I wonder what's going on that I'm not hearing. Like the other day, I had a call from a manager who began to speak, but then was immediately cut off. I expected him to call back immediately, as they often do when they cut out, but so far it's been six hours and he's not responded. I tried to call him, and his phone rings for a while and goes to voice mail.
I chose to believe that he is, in fact, not just a manager with my delivery company, but an international super spy, and that the conversation would have gone like this in a narrative format:
"Patrick. I need your help, the computer just started--*click*" Jackson looked at his phone, bemused by the 'no signal' indicator which had, only moments ago, five bars. The silent air of the office filled with a low, rumbling laughter, and Jackson's eyes narrowed at the familiar sound.
"Agent Jackson... We meet again." The voice echoed from the doorway as Professor Malestorm turned and entered.
"Malestorm." Jackson said, closing the laptop in front of himself with one hand and putting down his ball peen hammer with the other.
"I wouldn't drop your only weapon, Jackson." Malestorm reached into his long silver lab coat with a gloved hand, producing a laser pistol. "I'd say this fight will last six hours, minimum."
Jackson cracked his knuckles. "Guess I won't be calling him back..."
I mean, that's realistic, right?
Most of these people on the other line, I've never met in person. I come up with images of them in my head, and ideas about what they're like. In fact, I have characters in my mind, and whenever I receive the call, I sometimes have to have them repeat what they said because I was busy daydreaming about their 'character' attempting to hit the computers with a ball peen hammer.
Other times, I wonder what's going on that I'm not hearing. Like the other day, I had a call from a manager who began to speak, but then was immediately cut off. I expected him to call back immediately, as they often do when they cut out, but so far it's been six hours and he's not responded. I tried to call him, and his phone rings for a while and goes to voice mail.
I chose to believe that he is, in fact, not just a manager with my delivery company, but an international super spy, and that the conversation would have gone like this in a narrative format:
"Patrick. I need your help, the computer just started--*click*" Jackson looked at his phone, bemused by the 'no signal' indicator which had, only moments ago, five bars. The silent air of the office filled with a low, rumbling laughter, and Jackson's eyes narrowed at the familiar sound.
"Agent Jackson... We meet again." The voice echoed from the doorway as Professor Malestorm turned and entered.
"Malestorm." Jackson said, closing the laptop in front of himself with one hand and putting down his ball peen hammer with the other.
"I wouldn't drop your only weapon, Jackson." Malestorm reached into his long silver lab coat with a gloved hand, producing a laser pistol. "I'd say this fight will last six hours, minimum."
Jackson cracked his knuckles. "Guess I won't be calling him back..."
I mean, that's realistic, right?
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Critiquing the Idea
For those who don't know, I'm a member of a writing forum. One of the things I've seen asked a lot is for people to give advice on or critique an idea for a story or a novel. It's something that's difficult for me to get a full grasp on, because until recently, I've always been rather private with my ideas (see: how this blog has very little of my actual ideas written out!) and have never really sought advice in that stage of the process. These people obviously have a different mindset, and it makes me wonder how they're approaching the process.
Mainly, I'm curious how others' advice affects their ideas. If I were to say, here's my story: A, B, and C, and you were to say, "Change C to D", I'm not sure I'd make the change. Mostly because my thoughts would be on 'well, that's not how the story is supposed to go'. But it's not the fault of the suggester: They only have the barest of bones on the tale.
A wise man once said, "if it ain't broke don't fix it" (I said 'wise', not 'grammatically astute'). How can anyone know what's wrong with a story when there's no story? How can an "idea" be broken? No one knows what the story really is yet because the story doesn't exist. I worry for these writers because I think they're getting too plagued by the starting line.
If you ponder over ideas, making changes and asking questions about just the spark of inspiration you received, how will the story ever get made? Some writers go in with a chapter by chapter plan of their story, and some of them might start exactly as I've described here; checking up on the idea first. But I know for a fact that there are writers who get bogged down in this opening stage so much that they soon find themselves months, maybe years later with this great idea, but not a single word written toward it.
I suppose if I were inclined or qualified, my advice would be to get an idea and then write the story. Close the world out until "The End" is written, and then critique it yourself. Edit it, clean it up, leave it alone, and clean it up some more. Then, show it to the world and see what they think. You'll probably need to make more changes once other people see it, but I doubt they'll be as sweeping or story-altering as they would have been if you sought advice with just that idea. Instead, the critique will focus on style and structure, making your writing better rather than trying to make your story better.
Mainly, I'm curious how others' advice affects their ideas. If I were to say, here's my story: A, B, and C, and you were to say, "Change C to D", I'm not sure I'd make the change. Mostly because my thoughts would be on 'well, that's not how the story is supposed to go'. But it's not the fault of the suggester: They only have the barest of bones on the tale.
A wise man once said, "if it ain't broke don't fix it" (I said 'wise', not 'grammatically astute'). How can anyone know what's wrong with a story when there's no story? How can an "idea" be broken? No one knows what the story really is yet because the story doesn't exist. I worry for these writers because I think they're getting too plagued by the starting line.
If you ponder over ideas, making changes and asking questions about just the spark of inspiration you received, how will the story ever get made? Some writers go in with a chapter by chapter plan of their story, and some of them might start exactly as I've described here; checking up on the idea first. But I know for a fact that there are writers who get bogged down in this opening stage so much that they soon find themselves months, maybe years later with this great idea, but not a single word written toward it.
I suppose if I were inclined or qualified, my advice would be to get an idea and then write the story. Close the world out until "The End" is written, and then critique it yourself. Edit it, clean it up, leave it alone, and clean it up some more. Then, show it to the world and see what they think. You'll probably need to make more changes once other people see it, but I doubt they'll be as sweeping or story-altering as they would have been if you sought advice with just that idea. Instead, the critique will focus on style and structure, making your writing better rather than trying to make your story better.
A Month of Failure
Greetings internet! It's been a short while, eh? Let me explain. So when we last talked, I'd not been here in a while because things were getting busy around me. Well, just when I thought the storm had cleared, I got floored! My boss came in with the news that she got another job elsewhere (a better one!) so while we were all very happy for her, it did make for some real changes here in the office. We had to restructure a few things and one of the senior members of the IT team got promoted to her place. We're a medium sized delivery company, as you might know, and we also get more deliveries going in the summer because the weather makes things easier to work with. So all in all, my office time was mostly spent either working for real, or writing my book. I just didn't have time for the blog, I'm sorry to say.
I also went to a convention, got a tattoo, joined a new gym, and have been preparing for a minor surgery (nothing scary!). So my time's been pretty monopolized and what little free time I've had at home has been spent relaxing with my wife, Bishopette. So I apologize for having been a dead duck for a couple of weeks. For now, let's get the counts over with, I got more to say!
Summing up the last couple of... erm, I just looked at the date, and it's been a month. SO: Summing up the last month:
Week 1: 2597 (This was the convention week)
Week 2: 7677
Week 3: 4548
Week 4: 8625
As I said, it's been hectic. It's safe to say July was a month of failure. But, I am making progress in "Observer", the latest novel, and am about 70,000 words in. Things are really moving in the story and it's coming together beautifully.
So that sums up the return-to post, let's get to the discussions!
I also went to a convention, got a tattoo, joined a new gym, and have been preparing for a minor surgery (nothing scary!). So my time's been pretty monopolized and what little free time I've had at home has been spent relaxing with my wife, Bishopette. So I apologize for having been a dead duck for a couple of weeks. For now, let's get the counts over with, I got more to say!
Summing up the last couple of... erm, I just looked at the date, and it's been a month. SO: Summing up the last month:
Week 1: 2597 (This was the convention week)
Week 2: 7677
Week 3: 4548
Week 4: 8625
As I said, it's been hectic. It's safe to say July was a month of failure. But, I am making progress in "Observer", the latest novel, and am about 70,000 words in. Things are really moving in the story and it's coming together beautifully.
So that sums up the return-to post, let's get to the discussions!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Not Dead!
>.>
<.<
^.^
No! I'm not dead! Wait, you didn't notice? Oh... okay... Let's go to the counts! FOR TWO WEEKS!
Mon: 4032
Tue: 2605
Wed: 3602
Thu: 2700
Fri: 2067
TOTAL: 15006
Mon: 2011
Tue: 2061
Wed: 2026
Thu: 2135
Fri: 1579 FAIL
TOTAL: 9812 FAIL
I'm calling it a win. Nearly 25K in two weeks is not bad, if I do say so myself. Deal with it!
So what's been going on? Well, not a lot. What's up with you? Okay, okay, I've been busy lately. I've been working on judging a short story contest, making a costume for a convention coming up rather rapidly, making a video game, writing this book, and to top it all off, we had a massive data issue at work recently that ate up a lot of time. It is, in fact, the sole reason for the Friday failure in the second week up there.
So what now, you may well ask... I'm taking a break for this week. Not to say there's going to be no writing, but I've got a lot on my plate right now and will only be at work half of this week (leaving town on Thursday for the costume thingy :D ) and deadlines for the short story contest, said costume, and some work stuff are all taking priority right now. But I'll be back later this week with an "adventures" story and for now I'm going to go read more short stories and work at work, I suppose!
<.<
^.^
No! I'm not dead! Wait, you didn't notice? Oh... okay... Let's go to the counts! FOR TWO WEEKS!
Mon: 4032
Tue: 2605
Wed: 3602
Thu: 2700
Fri: 2067
TOTAL: 15006
Mon: 2011
Tue: 2061
Wed: 2026
Thu: 2135
Fri: 1579 FAIL
TOTAL: 9812 FAIL
I'm calling it a win. Nearly 25K in two weeks is not bad, if I do say so myself. Deal with it!
So what's been going on? Well, not a lot. What's up with you? Okay, okay, I've been busy lately. I've been working on judging a short story contest, making a costume for a convention coming up rather rapidly, making a video game, writing this book, and to top it all off, we had a massive data issue at work recently that ate up a lot of time. It is, in fact, the sole reason for the Friday failure in the second week up there.
So what now, you may well ask... I'm taking a break for this week. Not to say there's going to be no writing, but I've got a lot on my plate right now and will only be at work half of this week (leaving town on Thursday for the costume thingy :D ) and deadlines for the short story contest, said costume, and some work stuff are all taking priority right now. But I'll be back later this week with an "adventures" story and for now I'm going to go read more short stories and work at work, I suppose!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)