Now that April is done

I did not "win" Camp NaNo this time out. However, I did add 9,000 words to the story and may have had a breakthrough on character motivation. (I've always known what would happen but was missing the key of why? What pushes him over the edge? I think I know now.)

While that percolates, I'm going to work on revising my paranormal romance book. That is May's writing goal.

Things Decided

Well, Camp isn't going as well as I could hope. Partly, it's where I am in the story - what I know, what I don't, what is tripping me up. Partly, it's been a busy (and challenging) time at work and it's been difficult to disengage my brain from it.

So, the things I have decided:

• 50,000 words is not attainable. I've lowered the number to 30,000. We shall see how close I get to that.
• Taking a lesson from SharedWorlds - specifically Sharon Shinn's advice - I'm just going to put words down. It doesn't matter if they aren't the right ones. It doesn't even matter if they don't make it into the final version. Just write the words and fix them later.

Right now, I'm going to pack my bags for the office, fill my water bottle, set the timer and get words on the screen.

April 5 update

In an attempt to reconnect with my antagonist, I'm rewriting scenes from old files. (I was surprised to see just how long ago I began his part of the story.) It's been slow going so far. Might have something to do with the way the work week has eaten most of my energy.

I have hopes for the weekend. Maybe even some 'scribbling' over breakfast at my favourite restaurant.

Camp goal: 50,000 words
As of now: 2,655
To go: many

Dear Neglected Blog

I know it's been a long time. August? Really? Well, that still falls under the definition of long. It would be an indicator of how much writing I've been doing.

There have been words. I finished a short story and made notes for another novel. But ...

I'm taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo again. This time, it's in April. My goal is 50,000 words on Timus' part of the fantasy novel. I'm sure he'll enjoy the attention. I'm not so sure I'll enjoy everything he gets up to but I just need to get the words down. We'll come to some sort of agreement.

Wish me luck.

Progress - August 31, 2012

I didn't do as well on updating here as I'd hoped. However, after scrapping the first day's work and writing about 19,000 words from last Saturday to last night, I finished the first draft of Long Legged Beasties. A day before the deadline for Camp NaNoWriMo.

I was astonished to do it. At one point in the month I was so far behind I didn't think it was possible to catch up. But I did. The first draft is finished and I'm taking a little break to focus on unpacking and organizing the apartment I moved into in July. After that, I begin revisions on the NaNoWriMo novel (Environmental Hazard) I wrote last November.

I may share a snippet or two from LLB later in the weekend.

Progress - August 19, 2012

Title: Long Legged Beasties
Words Total: 23,683
Words Today: 2,166
Reason for stopping: My brain is getting tired and I still have to gather things for work tomorrow.

Wordage I liked: "Jessica?"

I glanced back. Shawn's eyes were closed but he said, "Don't fight with him because of me."

"I won't. I'll be fighting with him because of him."

Things discovered: Things are about to go very badly.

***
What I've discovered is that I need to go back and add more scenes between my two main characters. And figure out what the sub-plot is. Possibilities. Possibilities.

Progress - August 16, 2012

Title: Long Legged Beasties
Words Total: 18,511
Words Today: 2,046
Reason for stopping: It's getting late. One more work day until the weekend!

Wordage I liked: My hand gripped the staff tighter as a flash of off-white sped by the place I'd entered the clearing. [...]

I followed the rough path I'd made back toward the cabin. Every few steps I stopped to listen and watch for whatever had been watching me. I breathed easier when I cleared the tree line. Shadowy Cat still sat at the bottom of the stairs, the tip of his tail twitching.

When I sat on the bottom stair, he looked at me as if to say he'd told me not to go.

"Ya, ya," I muttered and scratched him on the head.

Things discovered: Jessica needs to learn more about Gil's culture.

***
I managed to write 1,000 words between work and my massage tonight. The other 1,046 were harder to come by. One of the side effects of writing in the evenings is that my brain doesn't like to shut down quickly. Makes sleep difficult at times.

Plans for the weekend include more writing, cooking and moving some furniture so I can continue unpacking. Such a glamourous life.  :-)