With 19 hours to spare, I finished the last of my six short stories for the Clarion Write-a-thon. Woof, what a slog.
I had eight donors total. Thank you, all you lovely people! I'll be drawing a name out of a hat (or, more likely, using an RNG) to pick who will be the lucky winner of naming a character in one of my steampunk stories. Expect that in a day or two. I just don't even have the brainpower necessary to write names on bits of paper right now, I swear.
If you'd like to read an excerpt from this last story, you can check the blog for my write-a-thon team.
This has definitely been a learning experience for me.
Total, I wrote around 35,000 words over six weeks. Last year, I wrote 99,000 words over those same six weeks. And let me tell you, for all that's over twice as much, those 99K words were a hell of a lot easier.
I have a rough time with short stories. I did a lot of staring at blank pages and trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. It's way harder than just having a big plot and writing until it's done. Of course, one of the mistakes I made this time around is that I didn't have six stories planned out. I didn't even have base ideas for them. Of the stories, two were planned in advance. Generating the other four ideas quickly and under pressure was a lot rougher than I expected it to be.
My brain is toast. I'm definitely short-storied out for a while, at least for new writing. Two of the stories I think I can submit for open calls that are due on August 31, so I'll be doing some editing between now and then. The rest can percolate a while longer.
I still have plenty of work that needs doing. I owe my patient editor the first round from Murder on the Titania. I want to get this damn novel draft finished some time soon. I need to start outlining the next Captain Ramos story, since the first draft of that will be due by the end of the year and once I get back to school my writing time is going to be very limited.
I also came up with an idea that I've fallen in love with, just randomly as I was leaving work today. I'm letting it percolate, and we'll see if I'm still in love with it when I can start working on something new that's long. Because this feels big. But the working title for this project is The Bridge Over the Graveyard of Whales. I know, I know, my title fail. Right now my excuse is that my brain is just juiced. I'll come up with a different excuse tomorrow.
Showing posts with label write-a-thon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label write-a-thon. Show all posts
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Thursday, July 05, 2012
I want YOU to be the underwire in my authorbra.
Well, it sounded funny at one in the morning. What could possibly go wrong?
But seriously, I would love your support. I'm now 1/3 of the way through my self-imposed Clarion write-a-thon torture and chugging right along. I've finally set myself a donor goal, and it's not for some amount of money - I just want ten (or more) supporters. I don't care if the pledge is a nickel a story. I want - nay, NEED - to be well supported! Cross my heart!
Like a... well, you get it.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! (she says in a sad parody of deep announcer voice guy.)
Ever wanted to take part in a steampunk adventure which may or may not include zombies? I mean, who doesn't? And who wouldn't want to do that while simultaneously supporting an amazing scifi/fantasy writing workshop?
I'll be writing at least four more stories about Captain Ramos and her pirate crew in 2013. If you donate to the write-a-thon cause, no matter the amount, I'll throw your name in my awesome kangaroo leather hat. At the end of the write-a-thon, I'll draw a name from the hat, and if you're the winner, you'll get naming rights (within reason[1]) to a character in one of these steampunk pirate adventures. Want to be a pirate? A drooling corpse? One of the lawmen hot on the trail of the notorious Captain Ramos? We'll get it figured out.
Sound awesome? Want your name in the hat? (Of course you do.) Head over to my write-a-thon page and pledge your support!
Also, if you're curious about my progress thus far, here are my two reports from the team blog:
Report one: Eyes Burning With Smoke
Report two: Significant Figures
1 - No, I am not going to name one of the characters IP Freely, or Mike Rotch, or name a zombie after your least favorite politician no matter how much I agree with you about them being a giant turd bag. Of course, I know everyone who reads this is way too mature for those kinds of shenanigans, but I figured I ought to throw that out there just in case someone has had one too many espresso shots today.
But seriously, I would love your support. I'm now 1/3 of the way through my self-imposed Clarion write-a-thon torture and chugging right along. I've finally set myself a donor goal, and it's not for some amount of money - I just want ten (or more) supporters. I don't care if the pledge is a nickel a story. I want - nay, NEED - to be well supported! Cross my heart!
Like a... well, you get it.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! (she says in a sad parody of deep announcer voice guy.)
Ever wanted to take part in a steampunk adventure which may or may not include zombies? I mean, who doesn't? And who wouldn't want to do that while simultaneously supporting an amazing scifi/fantasy writing workshop?
I'll be writing at least four more stories about Captain Ramos and her pirate crew in 2013. If you donate to the write-a-thon cause, no matter the amount, I'll throw your name in my awesome kangaroo leather hat. At the end of the write-a-thon, I'll draw a name from the hat, and if you're the winner, you'll get naming rights (within reason[1]) to a character in one of these steampunk pirate adventures. Want to be a pirate? A drooling corpse? One of the lawmen hot on the trail of the notorious Captain Ramos? We'll get it figured out.
Sound awesome? Want your name in the hat? (Of course you do.) Head over to my write-a-thon page and pledge your support!
Also, if you're curious about my progress thus far, here are my two reports from the team blog:
Report one: Eyes Burning With Smoke
Report two: Significant Figures
1 - No, I am not going to name one of the characters IP Freely, or Mike Rotch, or name a zombie after your least favorite politician no matter how much I agree with you about them being a giant turd bag. Of course, I know everyone who reads this is way too mature for those kinds of shenanigans, but I figured I ought to throw that out there just in case someone has had one too many espresso shots today.
Friday, May 25, 2012
It's that time again!
The Clarion Write-a-Thon is now accepting writer sign-ups! So as you've no doubt already guessed, I've signed up.
Last year I wrote the rough draft for Fire in the Belly and even met that goal a bit early. However, I know I can churn out large walls of text on command, so long as I have a compelling story to write. I've done NaNo enough to know that, and the fact Clarion gives you six weeks instead of 30 days actually makes it a little more relaxed as far as pace goes. So I've set myself a goal that feels much more challenging - I'm going to write a short story a week, for six weeks.
As far as word count goes, this seems laughable compared to pounding out over 100k words in six weeks. But to me it sounds pretty intimidating because I have a hard time keeping it short, coherent, and interesting. I need more practice with short stories, so this will be my chance to do just that.
Oh yeah. And I'll keep working on the current novel draft during that time too. Not sure if it'll still be King's Hand or if I'll have moved that one to the percolating pot and gotten started on the next thing, but we'll see.
Of course, the write-a-thon doesn't actually get moving until June 24, so I can always change my mind and crank my writing goal up a notch. We'll see. Maybe if you all heckle me enough, I'll do it.
Either way, please consider supporting me in the write-a-thon!
Last year I wrote the rough draft for Fire in the Belly and even met that goal a bit early. However, I know I can churn out large walls of text on command, so long as I have a compelling story to write. I've done NaNo enough to know that, and the fact Clarion gives you six weeks instead of 30 days actually makes it a little more relaxed as far as pace goes. So I've set myself a goal that feels much more challenging - I'm going to write a short story a week, for six weeks.
As far as word count goes, this seems laughable compared to pounding out over 100k words in six weeks. But to me it sounds pretty intimidating because I have a hard time keeping it short, coherent, and interesting. I need more practice with short stories, so this will be my chance to do just that.
Oh yeah. And I'll keep working on the current novel draft during that time too. Not sure if it'll still be King's Hand or if I'll have moved that one to the percolating pot and gotten started on the next thing, but we'll see.
Of course, the write-a-thon doesn't actually get moving until June 24, so I can always change my mind and crank my writing goal up a notch. We'll see. Maybe if you all heckle me enough, I'll do it.
Either way, please consider supporting me in the write-a-thon!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 34: KO BABY!!!!!
HEY GUESS WHO JUST FINISHED THE ROUGH DRAFT OF HER NOVEL??????
Today's word count: 7857 (NEW RECORD!)
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 99231
Average daily word count: 2918.56
OH YEAH BITCHES
I DID IT WOOOOOOOOOO! I haven't written anything novel-length since Throne of Nightmares in 2007. And I admit, I was scared - maybe I couldn't do it any more. But I just did it! And I finished my write-a-thon goal with a week to spare! Now to let it stew and percolate a bit, give my head time to clear, and the dreaded editing process will begin. I feel like this one will edit a lot faster than ToN (which took three years), because if nothing else I think I've grown a lot as a writer since then and have a much clearer sense of how I want to put this bad boy together.
Soundtrack for writing this was primarily from Serenity, Firefly, and the three Transformers movies. Yet in spite of the latter, my novel contains only one explosion, and it doesn't happen in slow motion. And no one runs away from it. So yeah. (What can I say... didn't much like those movies, but I think they have excellent scores.)
And yeah. That's all I have to say. Because my brain has now lost its ability to produce words.
EXCEPT OH YEAH YOU SHOULD TOTALLY PLEDGE MONEY NOW THAT I'VE DELIVERED THE GOODS! :D
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Favorite sentence I've written today: The rocks snarled like living things and then the world cracked, lightning and gunshot and bone, a sound that touched her at the base of the brain and told her to fucking run.
Today's word count: 7857 (NEW RECORD!)
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 99231
Average daily word count: 2918.56
I DID IT WOOOOOOOOOO! I haven't written anything novel-length since Throne of Nightmares in 2007. And I admit, I was scared - maybe I couldn't do it any more. But I just did it! And I finished my write-a-thon goal with a week to spare! Now to let it stew and percolate a bit, give my head time to clear, and the dreaded editing process will begin. I feel like this one will edit a lot faster than ToN (which took three years), because if nothing else I think I've grown a lot as a writer since then and have a much clearer sense of how I want to put this bad boy together.
Soundtrack for writing this was primarily from Serenity, Firefly, and the three Transformers movies. Yet in spite of the latter, my novel contains only one explosion, and it doesn't happen in slow motion. And no one runs away from it. So yeah. (What can I say... didn't much like those movies, but I think they have excellent scores.)
And yeah. That's all I have to say. Because my brain has now lost its ability to produce words.
EXCEPT OH YEAH YOU SHOULD TOTALLY PLEDGE MONEY NOW THAT I'VE DELIVERED THE GOODS! :D
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Favorite sentence I've written today: The rocks snarled like living things and then the world cracked, lightning and gunshot and bone, a sound that touched her at the base of the brain and told her to fucking run.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 33
Today's word count: 3427
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 91374
It's much harder to write thinky, feeling-ish scenes instead of action-y ones. Particularly when one of the characters is all, I DON'T HAVE FEELINGS, DAMNIT. I think she's still bitter because I made her murder her first ever boyfriend when she was a teenager. (I totally had a good reason. I promise.) The exciting part is that I wrote up to the start of the FINAL EPIC BATTLETM and after that, it's just basically a bit of tying up loose ends and general plot post-mortem. The ending is so close I can just taste it! GO TEAM GO!
Favoritesentence bit I've written today:
"You called me with blood."
She snorted, then gently probed at the back of her head with one hand. Her fingers found stitches, which was story enough for her. "Didn't work the last two times I tried to do that."
"You used a lot more blood this time." He looked down pointedly toward the gun still pressed against his side.
"You should be more careful about how you wake a body up. Some folk get mighty sensitive about it."
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 91374
It's much harder to write thinky, feeling-ish scenes instead of action-y ones. Particularly when one of the characters is all, I DON'T HAVE FEELINGS, DAMNIT. I think she's still bitter because I made her murder her first ever boyfriend when she was a teenager. (I totally had a good reason. I promise.) The exciting part is that I wrote up to the start of the FINAL EPIC BATTLETM and after that, it's just basically a bit of tying up loose ends and general plot post-mortem. The ending is so close I can just taste it! GO TEAM GO!
Favorite
"You called me with blood."
She snorted, then gently probed at the back of her head with one hand. Her fingers found stitches, which was story enough for her. "Didn't work the last two times I tried to do that."
"You used a lot more blood this time." He looked down pointedly toward the gun still pressed against his side.
"You should be more careful about how you wake a body up. Some folk get mighty sensitive about it."
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 32
Today's word count: 4142
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 87947
Tonight was a bit tougher to write, and I got kind of bogged down between point A and B for this section. It's definitely something that'll require some smoothing over when I edit. If I end up keeping it at all, since once again I feel like it's stuff I wrote just so I made sure I knew what was going on. But it's moving on. Ticked off another plot point. It's going to be hard, but I still feel like I can get this thing finished before we start drilling at Gilmore Hill. I mean, it's okay if I don't, but it'd be nice to not have to do this crazy level of writing while drilling, when you only get like 5 or 10 minutes at a stretch.
Favorite sentence I've written today: Raff pulled a dusty deck from his pocket; the cards scraped and scratched as he shuffled and dealt them each a five-card hand.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 87947
Tonight was a bit tougher to write, and I got kind of bogged down between point A and B for this section. It's definitely something that'll require some smoothing over when I edit. If I end up keeping it at all, since once again I feel like it's stuff I wrote just so I made sure I knew what was going on. But it's moving on. Ticked off another plot point. It's going to be hard, but I still feel like I can get this thing finished before we start drilling at Gilmore Hill. I mean, it's okay if I don't, but it'd be nice to not have to do this crazy level of writing while drilling, when you only get like 5 or 10 minutes at a stretch.
Favorite sentence I've written today: Raff pulled a dusty deck from his pocket; the cards scraped and scratched as he shuffled and dealt them each a five-card hand.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 31
Today's word count: 6226
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 83805
A new, new daily word count record! I'm pooped. And sadly, I didn't tick a point off of my outline, because most of this was stuff that happened between my major plot points. Unexpected stuff, which is nice. Editing this bad boy is going to be mighty interesting...
Favorite sentence I've written today: Its head was bigger than his, its breath a meaty furnace.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 83805
A new, new daily word count record! I'm pooped. And sadly, I didn't tick a point off of my outline, because most of this was stuff that happened between my major plot points. Unexpected stuff, which is nice. Editing this bad boy is going to be mighty interesting...
Favorite sentence I've written today: Its head was bigger than his, its breath a meaty furnace.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 30
Today's word count: 5744
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 77579
New daily word count record! This one was really dialog heavy... I feel like some of it's a bit shaky, but I'm mostly pleased. I just have to firm up a couple of plot decisions in this section, but I think that'll need to wait until I've given the whole novel time to percolate. I also ticked another plot point off my outline! :D
Favorite sentence I've written today: "Stupid happened."
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 77579
New daily word count record! This one was really dialog heavy... I feel like some of it's a bit shaky, but I'm mostly pleased. I just have to firm up a couple of plot decisions in this section, but I think that'll need to wait until I've given the whole novel time to percolate. I also ticked another plot point off my outline! :D
Favorite sentence I've written today: "Stupid happened."
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 29
Today's word count: 1247
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 71835
Had a rough time of it. Can't seem to sleep since it's not my bedtime yet, but couldn't buckle down to write at all this night. Bleh. Anyway, my goal is still to finish this bad boy up this week if at all possible. Hopefully I'll get more writing done tomorrow since I won't have been trying to get all my sleep in a car. I think it's do-able. I've only got five major plot points left.
Favoritesentence two sentences I've written today: "Ambition is a laudable quality in man in our business, Mr. Rolland. Curiosity, not as much."
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 71835
Had a rough time of it. Can't seem to sleep since it's not my bedtime yet, but couldn't buckle down to write at all this night. Bleh. Anyway, my goal is still to finish this bad boy up this week if at all possible. Hopefully I'll get more writing done tomorrow since I won't have been trying to get all my sleep in a car. I think it's do-able. I've only got five major plot points left.
Favorite
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 28
Today's word count:
2827
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
70588
Two thirds of the way done and still going strong! Ticked another plot point off on my outline tonight and made headway into another. I'm very pleased. I'm hoping to make a big push this next week and get the entire thing done before I go back out to Wyoming on July 31. It would be nice to just write whatever during night shift and not be trying to concentrate on a gigantic Plot Of Doom. So we'll see! No favorite sentence tonight either, I'm sorry... I don't have time to hunt one down.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
2827
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
70588
Two thirds of the way done and still going strong! Ticked another plot point off on my outline tonight and made headway into another. I'm very pleased. I'm hoping to make a big push this next week and get the entire thing done before I go back out to Wyoming on July 31. It would be nice to just write whatever during night shift and not be trying to concentrate on a gigantic Plot Of Doom. So we'll see! No favorite sentence tonight either, I'm sorry... I don't have time to hunt one down.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 27
Today's word count:
2908
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
67761
Tonight was calmer, so I got some good writing done! I also did a third draft of my outline for just the ending portion of the story this morning, so I'm following that now. I'm pretty excited about this. :)
Still no favorite sentence today, since I've got to get this finished up so I can go back to the motel and sleep!
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
2908
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
67761
Tonight was calmer, so I got some good writing done! I also did a third draft of my outline for just the ending portion of the story this morning, so I'm following that now. I'm pretty excited about this. :)
Still no favorite sentence today, since I've got to get this finished up so I can go back to the motel and sleep!
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 26
Today's word count:
1283
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
64853
Today was rough just because we were getting slammed all night shift with core after core. Drilling was going fast. So I didn't really get to sit and write for more than a few minutes at a time, and it really shows in what I did produce. Also, I've hit a plot issue where I need time to sit and think about what sequence things ought to happen in - logically - and I can't really do that sort of thinking when I'm running back and forth. And tired. So tired. The tired doesn't help. So I'm just going to give up on the writing for the day since I managed to do *something* and there's less than an hour left in my shift. After which I'm going to go collapse into bed.
No best sentence today. It was a lot of fucking around with something I'd already written and then adding to it, and I'm not happy with the quality of what I came up with. Thankfully, it looks like we may get done with this hole sometime tomorrow night, so I might get part of my shift as writing time while we log it.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
1283
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
64853
Today was rough just because we were getting slammed all night shift with core after core. Drilling was going fast. So I didn't really get to sit and write for more than a few minutes at a time, and it really shows in what I did produce. Also, I've hit a plot issue where I need time to sit and think about what sequence things ought to happen in - logically - and I can't really do that sort of thinking when I'm running back and forth. And tired. So tired. The tired doesn't help. So I'm just going to give up on the writing for the day since I managed to do *something* and there's less than an hour left in my shift. After which I'm going to go collapse into bed.
No best sentence today. It was a lot of fucking around with something I'd already written and then adding to it, and I'm not happy with the quality of what I came up with. Thankfully, it looks like we may get done with this hole sometime tomorrow night, so I might get part of my shift as writing time while we log it.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thong Day 25
Today's word count:
3422
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
63615
Got a good amount of writing done while we waited for the rig to move to the new site for drilling. And we're still waiting but I think I've done enough for now. The next part, I'll hopefully get to work on tomorrow. Preferably in my motel room, but beggars can't be choosers.
Favorite sentence I've written today:
Mr. Green smiled like the warping of half-melted wax.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
3422
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count:
63615
Got a good amount of writing done while we waited for the rig to move to the new site for drilling. And we're still waiting but I think I've done enough for now. The next part, I'll hopefully get to work on tomorrow. Preferably in my motel room, but beggars can't be choosers.
Favorite sentence I've written today:
Mr. Green smiled like the warping of half-melted wax.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 24
Today's word count: 4149
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 60193
New single day word count record! I got to tick two points off my outline. I am pleased.
Favorite sentence I've written today: Because it was those little, silly similarities, so easily dismissed by someone who was overworked and focused on a different goal, that could be the difference between a living spy and a 'We regret to inform you' letter to one's parents.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 60193
New single day word count record! I got to tick two points off my outline. I am pleased.
Favorite sentence I've written today: Because it was those little, silly similarities, so easily dismissed by someone who was overworked and focused on a different goal, that could be the difference between a living spy and a 'We regret to inform you' letter to one's parents.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 23
Today's word count: 3725
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 56044
The time period for the write-a-thon is now half over, and I'm feeling reasonably certain that I'm going to meet my goal. I'm still adding ever more notes to my outline, but I think it's not adding too much plot bloat and I seem to be on track. Also, the schedule for my field work got changed around in a kind of annoying way - but on the bright side, it means that I'll have almost a week at home between two separate trips to Wyoming, and that ought to give me ample time to work on finishing up all of the points on my outline before the end of the write-a-thon. At least I hope so.
It's been so long since I've written something of this length that I'd almost forgotten how much fun it is. I did a crazy amount of word count tonight. And I didn't even actually hit all the plot I was hoping to finish up tonight, but I'm starting to feel kind of punchy now and I could tell the prose was really starting to suffer and I was kind of straining to keep going.
Had a fun discussion with my dad over dinner in Las Vegas about the technology on the planet. I've got a nice little MacGuffin that explains why the tech level has to stay low in certain regards, and my dad made an offhand comment about how silly something was in Road Warrior, where they were burning ridiculous amounts of gas just to get a little bit more gas. So then I realized that while I've got my beloved ZOMG MOTORCYCLES IN THE DESERT, it really made no sense to have them be gasoline-powered... and there are plenty of other options available for a place with a ridiculous abundance of solar energy. So yeah, that was kind of fun. I've also had to go back and leave myself notes in previous chapters to fix certain inconsistent technology things, such as GPS shouldn't be able to work.
So that's fun. Considering my other novel was pretty much fantasy and more fantasy, it's been nifty to have to think hard about technology, and what makes sense and what doesn't within the limitations of the world. (Not that you don't do that with magic if you build a world with consistent rules, but it feels a lot different when you're doing it with tech.)
Favoritesentence two sentences I've written today: Mag stared at the little square made by the cigarette case in the pocket of Hob's coat. "Don't know what could be givin' his lungs fits," she said, tone edged with sarcasm.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 56044
The time period for the write-a-thon is now half over, and I'm feeling reasonably certain that I'm going to meet my goal. I'm still adding ever more notes to my outline, but I think it's not adding too much plot bloat and I seem to be on track. Also, the schedule for my field work got changed around in a kind of annoying way - but on the bright side, it means that I'll have almost a week at home between two separate trips to Wyoming, and that ought to give me ample time to work on finishing up all of the points on my outline before the end of the write-a-thon. At least I hope so.
It's been so long since I've written something of this length that I'd almost forgotten how much fun it is. I did a crazy amount of word count tonight. And I didn't even actually hit all the plot I was hoping to finish up tonight, but I'm starting to feel kind of punchy now and I could tell the prose was really starting to suffer and I was kind of straining to keep going.
Had a fun discussion with my dad over dinner in Las Vegas about the technology on the planet. I've got a nice little MacGuffin that explains why the tech level has to stay low in certain regards, and my dad made an offhand comment about how silly something was in Road Warrior, where they were burning ridiculous amounts of gas just to get a little bit more gas. So then I realized that while I've got my beloved ZOMG MOTORCYCLES IN THE DESERT, it really made no sense to have them be gasoline-powered... and there are plenty of other options available for a place with a ridiculous abundance of solar energy. So yeah, that was kind of fun. I've also had to go back and leave myself notes in previous chapters to fix certain inconsistent technology things, such as GPS shouldn't be able to work.
So that's fun. Considering my other novel was pretty much fantasy and more fantasy, it's been nifty to have to think hard about technology, and what makes sense and what doesn't within the limitations of the world. (Not that you don't do that with magic if you build a world with consistent rules, but it feels a lot different when you're doing it with tech.)
Favorite
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 22
Todays word count: 3105
Cumulative word count: 52319
I have successfully stayed up through the night in preparation to getting on night shift for drilling. And wrote a lot in the process! Next hurdle: sleeping through the day when I get home.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 19
At a hotel with ridiculously expensive internet access so I am posting from my phone. That means no fancy post format, and no favorite sentence since it's too much of a pita to retype it.
Got an okay amount of writing done. Surprising really since I'm at TAM and I had to say no to drinking with friends to write. And because I was already tipsy. And sleepy.
Today's word count: 2133
Cumulative word count: 46066
Almost a highly amusing number, considering one of my characters is named Old Nick and another is named Hob (though she isn't old yet).
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 18
Today's word count: 3396
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 43933
I did a second draft of my outline today, since I was starting to drift pretty badly. At which point my plot underwent a terrifying sort of mitosis; it would be almost impossible to fit so much plot into one book, I think, without it being an absolutely ridiculous length. So I think I may have two novels on my hands. We'll see how it looks when I get to the first major endpoint, what length the thing is. I threw together a rough outline for what would happen in the second half of the plot, and it's sort of horrifyingly long.
Favoritesentence 2 sentences I've written today: "Girl bit him when he was little. Never got over it."
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Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 43933
I did a second draft of my outline today, since I was starting to drift pretty badly. At which point my plot underwent a terrifying sort of mitosis; it would be almost impossible to fit so much plot into one book, I think, without it being an absolutely ridiculous length. So I think I may have two novels on my hands. We'll see how it looks when I get to the first major endpoint, what length the thing is. I threw together a rough outline for what would happen in the second half of the plot, and it's sort of horrifyingly long.
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Clarion Write-a-thon Day 17
Today's word count: 2352
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 40537
I feel very, very bad for one of my characters now. Enough said.
Favorite sentence I've written today: People ate chicken with dirty fingers, wiped dust from their faces with the corners of tablecloths.
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Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 40537
I feel very, very bad for one of my characters now. Enough said.
Favorite sentence I've written today: People ate chicken with dirty fingers, wiped dust from their faces with the corners of tablecloths.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Clarion Write-a-thon Day 16
Today's word count: 2871
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 38185
Finished up a really long section that's probably multiple chapters. This part, I'm very pleased with. I think the next set of things I need to write will be from the viewpoints of several different characters, which should be pretty cool. Not that I'm tired of writing for Hob, just the other people are going to be doing some interesting things. I hope.
Favorite sentence I've written today: "You smell like blood," he whispered, his tone almost flirtatious.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
Cumulative Write-a-thon word count: 38185
Finished up a really long section that's probably multiple chapters. This part, I'm very pleased with. I think the next set of things I need to write will be from the viewpoints of several different characters, which should be pretty cool. Not that I'm tired of writing for Hob, just the other people are going to be doing some interesting things. I hope.
Favorite sentence I've written today: "You smell like blood," he whispered, his tone almost flirtatious.
Like what I'm doing? Pledge your support!
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