Splendiferous September 500 words/day, all genres welcome - Page 3

Ken Hoss · 09-07-2011, 09:51 PM

Hugs HJ. Hope you're feeling better.

Zelenka, step back and take a deeeep breath. Okay, now put the MS down and step away. Relax for a few days.

for WORDAGE, Wonder, Sassy and Namatu!

No words for me the past several days. I guess I'm waiting for my trip to NYC next week, then hopefully I'll get some inspiration and will fly through the WIP.

BfloGal · 09-08-2011, 04:46 AM

Just when I think I'm back in a regular writing routine, something happens. I took the last ten days to pore over my galleys. Done!

Today, I managed 463 new words between two WIPs.

tarak · 09-08-2011, 05:41 AM

Hugs for jude. I hope you feel better.

Congrats to all with forward progress.

I think August went by in a blur. Got very little writing done, but finally started muddling through a few things yesterday. Not netting much in terms of numbers. But at least I did something.

Zelenka · 09-08-2011, 02:41 PM

I'm taking a couple of days off, as I'm going back to Scotland anyway to collect stuff and the less stuff I take home (ie notebooks) the more I can bring with me when I come back. Finally I may get some of my reference books over here. So a bit of enforced retreat from various projects.

Sassy3421 · 09-08-2011, 04:25 PM

Doesn't seem like I'm moving forward with edits when I look at the page count left, but I'm inserting new scenes so that counts for something lol

Namatu · 09-08-2011, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelenka

I'm taking a couple of days off, as I'm going back to Scotland anyway to collect stuff and the less stuff I take home (ie notebooks) the more I can bring with me when I come back. Finally I may get some of my reference books over here. So a bit of enforced retreat from various projects.

That sounds like a good thing. Gives you time to think without the pressure to produce.

I had an Idea last night and am mulling over its implications in my WIP.

wonderactivist · 09-08-2011, 06:47 PM

HJ and Zelenka, I can so relate. Sometimes your passion for the piece just flatlines. When that happens, don't touch it. I agree with Ken - step away.

I got a big, fat R yesterday - 2 1/2 months after sending the query. It was personalized and I do appreciate it, I mean at least that agent wrote me back. The one with my revised full hasn't said a peep in two months now.

Still I have a character telling me stories again so I'm writing them down. 950 words and a new murder.

Maybe I'm just mental or maybe someday someone will see some use in the things I write.

Warm regards,

Lucie
off to teach about the wheel and axle today - and juniper trees

Ken Hoss · 09-09-2011, 02:06 AM

Hoping to get some work on the WIP tonight. Don't plan on going out tomorrow night, as usual, so will be sure to have my Butt In Chair then too.

DocBrown · 09-09-2011, 06:14 AM

I did a little editing on a short story after getting some more incredible advice from HJ tonight. Really minor polishing type stuff, but as important as the writing itself.

Overall, I have been letting myself get bogged down with too many responsibilities of late. As a natural result, my mind has been rebelling and doing nothing but the bare minimum. While at work tonight, I am going to sit down and make a list of the projects I need to focus on for the next few weeks so I can get a grip on what I need to do, what is more important, and when I need to do it.

Hope everybody is still muddling along!

Ken Hoss · 09-09-2011, 06:14 PM

Doc, HJ always has great advice.

Did get some work on the WIP last night, though it only amounted to a whopping 212 words, and most of that was dialog. Will definitely get my BIC tonight and get some more done. I want to get this chapter wrapped up and move on to the next, that's where all the real fun starts!

wonderactivist · 09-09-2011, 07:48 PM

So rare. I feel like I'm just taking dictation. 2600 words after work ... and I'm tired.

I'm skipping Bouchercon in favor of my son's scout canoe trip. Bullies in the Boy Scouts. Sure, the mountains and river will be great for writing, but the convention would have been better for my career (or maybe not if I'm not ready anyway).

Parenting trumps dreams.

Lucie

GailD · 09-10-2011, 04:26 AM

Hi all.

August, for me was a 'down', and then an 'up' month. In May I wrote a short story (my first ever) for the Lorian Hemingway competition. I discovered early in August that it didn't get even an 'honorable mention'. I was disappointed but not surprised - if that makes sense. A couple AWers, however, told me not to give up on it. I submitted it to a US publication and at the end of August I received an email from the editor accepting the story. Oh boy, was that an 'up'!

Now it's September and all the fuss is over and it's back to cutting this behemoth a novel down to size. Working from a very outdated Writer's Market I thought a novel had to be around 195,000 words. Mine came in at just over 194,000!
Then I discovered AW and found out just what a mistake I'd made. So, what am I going to be doing in September?

Cutting, cutting, cutting.... I'm 37k down and three quarters through the first edit. This is very, very rough going.

DocBrown · 09-10-2011, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderactivist

I'm skipping Bouchercon in favor of my son's scout canoe trip. ...

Parenting trumps dreams.

Kill two birds with one stone, take the kid to BoucherCon.

tarak · 09-11-2011, 05:39 AM

GailD, congrats!

Not much of anything here. Just when I thought I was back in a groove, Tropical Storm Lee came to visit and flooded everything within a 30 mile radius. Okay, maybe not everything. But close. Several days of non stop rain, three stir crazy kids, and most of our entertainment possibilities either underwater or inaccessible made me not want to write so much as hide in the basement with a bottle of Scotch. Hoping next week is more productive.

TheIT · 09-11-2011, 09:57 AM

Still muddling along on revising. So far I've managed to cut about 1000 words, but we'll see how many come back when I rewrite the scene(s). Feels like I'm dangling my manuscript on a yo-yo. Sometimes up, sometimes down...

Zelenka · 09-11-2011, 08:32 PM

Got back from Scotland. No writing done while I was there thanks to lack of laptop but I have filled a big chunk of notebook with ideas for the rewrite. I think the new version is *nearly* there, it's just missing something.

Sassy3421 · 09-12-2011, 02:48 AM

Finished another round of edits! I'm thinking it will be pretty much the last one for this book!

DocBrown · 09-12-2011, 07:14 AM

I spent a few minutes on some writing, but not much.

I also made a new blog entry, 495 words, but that's supplemental writing.

Tonight will hopefully not be too busy at work. I'd like to start editing an old novella. I have two drafts, one 23k and the other 18k, I'd like to marry the two into the perfect 20k novella.

wonderactivist · 09-12-2011, 10:24 AM

Busy weekend of working, writing, remembering, writing, working on my synopsis--and now I feel like an AWFUL writer. Can I just give up on publishing and write for fun? The pay's the same and it's less stress.

Lucie

PS: About 800 words for the weekend and I'm glad to be writing again. Turns out, I actually enjoy writing mysteries. Just not marketing.

heyjude · 09-12-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderactivist

BCan I just give up on publishing and write for fun? The pay's the same and it's less stress.

Of course you can. Publishing is hard! As long as you enjoy writing, let it be a hobby.

Yay for everyone with forward progress.

I actually managed a page or so yesterday. My characters are starting to give me intriguing hints. It'll come together.

DocBrown · 09-12-2011, 05:22 PM

I managed to get together 1300+ words at work. Not sure how much of that is actually new wordage. Not much I suspect. But even copy and paste with a few edits is progress for me!

Jilly McGilly · 09-13-2011, 07:53 AM

Majorly detoured with some nonwriting stuff over the past several days, but I did want to check in with you guys and give you a "yeah!" on all your accomplishments.

TheIT · 09-13-2011, 08:46 AM

Wrote about a page in the notebook at lunch today.

Namatu · 09-13-2011, 05:25 PM

Had a Bigger Idea over the weekend and now I'm wondering what the original Idea was that I posted about previously. Hm, I knew I should have written that down. It'll come to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderactivist

Can I just give up on publishing and write for fun? The pay's the same and it's less stress.

I try to approach it all as just for fun. That doesn't motivate me to be too focused on querying

, but it takes pressure off of the writing process, and querying just becomes a thing I do (slowly) that could be good for me. Like exercise. Maybe. Don't think too hard on that comparison.

Ah! I remember the original Idea! Now I need a new character or two.

Zelenka · 09-13-2011, 10:59 PM

No words today but a few more notes on the rewrite. It's a bit frustrating since I seem to have all these ideas and pictures but no real idea how to start writing it without just making all the same mistakes. And I'm very glad I cut the part about the TV show I had in it since I just found out they have actually made the show that I made up for my novel.

09-07-2011, 09:51 PM	#51
Ken Hoss My alter ego Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Right behind you Posts: 3,034	Hugs HJ. Hope you're feeling better. Zelenka, step back and take a deeeep breath. Okay, now put the MS down and step away. Relax for a few days. for WORDAGE, Wonder, Sassy and Namatu! No words for me the past several days. I guess I'm waiting for my trip to NYC next week, then hopefully I'll get some inspiration and will fly through the WIP. __________________ For Kindle and in paperback Ken Hoss - Author

09-08-2011, 04:46 AM	#52
BfloGal Opinionated Wannabe Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Western NY Posts: 682	Just when I think I'm back in a regular writing routine, something happens. I took the last ten days to pore over my galleys. Done! Today, I managed 463 new words between two WIPs. __________________ Writing The Bridal Bouquet Mystery series for Berkley, as Beverly Allen. Debuts 2014. Gold, Frankincense and Murder available for Kindle, Nook, PDF, and now audiobook. Yes, I blog, facebook, and tweet. Doesn't everybody?

09-08-2011, 05:41 AM	#53
tarak for certain qualities of "sane" Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Pennsylvania - the gateway to Harrisburg Posts: 758	Hugs for jude. I hope you feel better. Congrats to all with forward progress. I think August went by in a blur. Got very little writing done, but finally started muddling through a few things yesterday. Not netting much in terms of numbers. But at least I did something. __________________ The Query Ate My Brain

09-08-2011, 02:41 PM	#54
Zelenka Going home! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Prague now, Glasgow in November Posts: 2,627	I'm taking a couple of days off, as I'm going back to Scotland anyway to collect stuff and the less stuff I take home (ie notebooks) the more I can bring with me when I come back. Finally I may get some of my reference books over here. So a bit of enforced retreat from various projects. __________________ The blog for work - ghosts, legends and all manner of things in Prague: McGee's Ghost Tours of Prague Latest post - Underground Prague My story "Full Moon" available here.

09-08-2011, 04:25 PM	#55
Sassy3421 Plotting murder..most of the time Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,688	Doesn't seem like I'm moving forward with edits when I look at the page count left, but I'm inserting new scenes so that counts for something lol __________________ My Blog - A Writer's Journey My Website Twitter Watch the book trailer for ELEVEN here My Books Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon France Amazon Germany

09-08-2011, 06:47 PM	#57
wonderactivist move along, nothing to see here Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Great Plains Posts: 1,828	HJ and Zelenka, I can so relate. Sometimes your passion for the piece just flatlines. When that happens, don't touch it. I agree with Ken - step away. I got a big, fat R yesterday - 2 1/2 months after sending the query. It was personalized and I do appreciate it, I mean at least that agent wrote me back. The one with my revised full hasn't said a peep in two months now. Still I have a character telling me stories again so I'm writing them down. 950 words and a new murder. Maybe I'm just mental or maybe someday someone will see some use in the things I write. Warm regards, Lucie off to teach about the wheel and axle today - and juniper trees __________________ *Distortion* is out now for Kindle, Nook and in Paperback from Buzz Books USA. I tweet @luciesmoker and blog at reverse perspective.

09-09-2011, 02:06 AM	#58
Ken Hoss My alter ego Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Right behind you Posts: 3,034	Hoping to get some work on the WIP tonight. Don't plan on going out tomorrow night, as usual, so will be sure to have my Butt In Chair then too. __________________ For Kindle and in paperback Ken Hoss - Author

09-09-2011, 06:14 AM	#59
DocBrown Hopes to one day write for food. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the foothills of nowhere... Posts: 1,430	I did a little editing on a short story after getting some more incredible advice from HJ tonight. Really minor polishing type stuff, but as important as the writing itself. Overall, I have been letting myself get bogged down with too many responsibilities of late. As a natural result, my mind has been rebelling and doing nothing but the bare minimum. While at work tonight, I am going to sit down and make a list of the projects I need to focus on for the next few weeks so I can get a grip on what I need to do, what is more important, and when I need to do it. Hope everybody is still muddling along! __________________ Dim Speak, available on Amazon and SmashWords. The Obligatory Blog: http://trickbrown.com

09-09-2011, 06:14 PM	#60
Ken Hoss My alter ego Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Right behind you Posts: 3,034	Doc, HJ always has great advice. Did get some work on the WIP last night, though it only amounted to a whopping 212 words, and most of that was dialog. Will definitely get my BIC tonight and get some more done. I want to get this chapter wrapped up and move on to the next, that's where all the real fun starts! __________________ For Kindle and in paperback Ken Hoss - Author

09-09-2011, 07:48 PM	#61
wonderactivist move along, nothing to see here Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Great Plains Posts: 1,828	So rare. I feel like I'm just taking dictation. 2600 words after work ... and I'm tired. I'm skipping Bouchercon in favor of my son's scout canoe trip. Bullies in the Boy Scouts. Sure, the mountains and river will be great for writing, but the convention would have been better for my career (or maybe not if I'm not ready anyway). Parenting trumps dreams. Lucie __________________ *Distortion* is out now for Kindle, Nook and in Paperback from Buzz Books USA. I tweet @luciesmoker and blog at reverse perspective. Last edited by wonderactivist; 09-09-2011 at 07:51 PM.

09-10-2011, 04:26 AM	#62
GailD The usual suspect Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 5,247	Hi all. August, for me was a 'down', and then an 'up' month. In May I wrote a short story (my first ever) for the Lorian Hemingway competition. I discovered early in August that it didn't get even an 'honorable mention'. I was disappointed but not surprised - if that makes sense. A couple AWers, however, told me not to give up on it. I submitted it to a US publication and at the end of August I received an email from the editor accepting the story. Oh boy, was that an 'up'! Now it's September and all the fuss is over and it's back to cutting this behemoth a novel down to size. Working from a very outdated Writer's Market I thought a novel had to be around 195,000 words. Mine came in at just over 194,000! Then I discovered AW and found out just what a mistake I'd made. So, what am I going to be doing in September? Cutting, cutting, cutting.... I'm 37k down and three quarters through the first edit. This is very, very rough going. __________________ Writing is the most fun anyone can have by themselves - Terry Pratchett New blog - Fact, Fiction and Dead Crocodiles

09-11-2011, 05:39 AM	#64
tarak for certain qualities of "sane" Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Pennsylvania - the gateway to Harrisburg Posts: 758	GailD, congrats! Not much of anything here. Just when I thought I was back in a groove, Tropical Storm Lee came to visit and flooded everything within a 30 mile radius. Okay, maybe not everything. But close. Several days of non stop rain, three stir crazy kids, and most of our entertainment possibilities either underwater or inaccessible made me not want to write so much as hide in the basement with a bottle of Scotch. Hoping next week is more productive. __________________ The Query Ate My Brain

09-11-2011, 09:57 AM	#65
TheIT Impulsive Thinker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 6,264	Still muddling along on revising. So far I've managed to cut about 1000 words, but we'll see how many come back when I rewrite the scene(s). Feels like I'm dangling my manuscript on a yo-yo. Sometimes up, sometimes down... __________________ Weave a web of words and trap the unwary on the stickiness of meaning. WIP: Shapes and Formalities (Gamma): In revision. Working on the query letter... NaNoWriMo 2012: Taunting the Phoenix, Part 2/Abyss

09-11-2011, 08:32 PM	#66
Zelenka Going home! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Prague now, Glasgow in November Posts: 2,627	Got back from Scotland. No writing done while I was there thanks to lack of laptop but I have filled a big chunk of notebook with ideas for the rewrite. I think the new version is nearly there, it's just missing something. __________________ The blog for work - ghosts, legends and all manner of things in Prague: McGee's Ghost Tours of Prague Latest post - Underground Prague My story "Full Moon" available here.

09-12-2011, 02:48 AM	#67
Sassy3421 Plotting murder..most of the time Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,688	Finished another round of edits! I'm thinking it will be pretty much the last one for this book! __________________ My Blog - A Writer's Journey My Website Twitter Watch the book trailer for ELEVEN here My Books Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon France Amazon Germany

09-12-2011, 07:14 AM	#68
DocBrown Hopes to one day write for food. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the foothills of nowhere... Posts: 1,430	I spent a few minutes on some writing, but not much. I also made a new blog entry, 495 words, but that's supplemental writing. Tonight will hopefully not be too busy at work. I'd like to start editing an old novella. I have two drafts, one 23k and the other 18k, I'd like to marry the two into the perfect 20k novella. __________________ Dim Speak, available on Amazon and SmashWords. The Obligatory Blog: http://trickbrown.com

09-12-2011, 10:24 AM	#69
wonderactivist move along, nothing to see here Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Great Plains Posts: 1,828	Busy weekend of working, writing, remembering, writing, working on my synopsis--and now I feel like an AWFUL writer. Can I just give up on publishing and write for fun? The pay's the same and it's less stress. Lucie PS: About 800 words for the weekend and I'm glad to be writing again. Turns out, I actually enjoy writing mysteries. Just not marketing. __________________ *Distortion* is out now for Kindle, Nook and in Paperback from Buzz Books USA. I tweet @luciesmoker and blog at reverse perspective. Last edited by wonderactivist; 09-12-2011 at 10:26 AM.

09-12-2011, 05:22 PM	#71
DocBrown Hopes to one day write for food. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the foothills of nowhere... Posts: 1,430	I managed to get together 1300+ words at work. Not sure how much of that is actually new wordage. Not much I suspect. But even copy and paste with a few edits is progress for me! __________________ Dim Speak, available on Amazon and SmashWords. The Obligatory Blog: http://trickbrown.com

09-13-2011, 07:53 AM	#72
Jilly McGilly Crumpled! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 394	Majorly detoured with some nonwriting stuff over the past several days, but I did want to check in with you guys and give you a "yeah!" on all your accomplishments.

09-13-2011, 08:46 AM	#73
TheIT Impulsive Thinker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 6,264	Wrote about a page in the notebook at lunch today. __________________ Weave a web of words and trap the unwary on the stickiness of meaning. WIP: Shapes and Formalities (Gamma): In revision. Working on the query letter... NaNoWriMo 2012: Taunting the Phoenix, Part 2/Abyss

09-13-2011, 10:59 PM	#75
Zelenka Going home! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Prague now, Glasgow in November Posts: 2,627	No words today but a few more notes on the rewrite. It's a bit frustrating since I seem to have all these ideas and pictures but no real idea how to start writing it without just making all the same mistakes. And I'm very glad I cut the part about the TV show I had in it since I just found out they have actually made the show that I made up for my novel. __________________ The blog for work - ghosts, legends and all manner of things in Prague: McGee's Ghost Tours of Prague Latest post - Underground Prague My story "Full Moon" available here.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode