NaNoWriMo: Progress
So, how is National Novel Writing Month going for me? Not great, actually. I started out strong, having a really detailed outline to work on.  But then I did a rough pass of all the most interesting scenes.  Now I have to go back and flesh out more, fill in gaps.  It’s the less fun part.  I got to 18,000 words with no trouble, then things started to get slow. Apparently it is typical for the NaNoer to slow down considerably in the second week. The wind is a little less in the sails, as it were. I also started having issues in my personal life, as you can see in yesterday’s post. It’s been difficult to focus on my writing, when my brain is going into love-sick mode!  Instead of efficiently spending the free time I have all day on Saturday, I...
Read MoreDev Cycles
I’ve said before that some people find their devness is something that they must act out in real life and others are satisfied with disability in fantasy alone. There’s more to it than that, though. Â I know I experience cycles, and it seems from other devs that I speak to, that they do as well. There are “high dev” periods and “low dev” periods. Â The change between these two states does not seem to have any known trigger. It’s not connected to female cycles, it can be changed by any number of different kinds of moments or experiences or thoughts. There is no telling what will bring on a change in the dev state. During high dev, I know I become obsessive and exhibit behaviors common to addiction. Â Many people find this to...
Read MoreDating and Books
In case everyone is getting sick of NaNoWriMo posts, back to my regular sort of post! My friend, Sherilyn, who is also a writer, made a great analogy the other day between being an author and dating. I’ll get to that after I fill you in on some background. I called her because I’ve been struggling with feelings that I’m not used to. Â I haven’t had a relationship in a year now and it’s been several months since I went on a date. I kind of gave up after much frustration and disappointment. Â I tried Internet dating, but it doesn’t work well for me. Â From this blog, from my videos, and from my books, you might think that I’m very articulate and well put together. Â I manage communication a lot better through writing than face...
Read MoreNaNoWriMo: Editing
I seem to be very unusual as a novelist. From everything I hear and read about other novelists, it seems that people have a hard time writing briefly. Most commonly people write many, many extra words and need to trim dramatically. Â A complete draft is 100, 000 words for them! I am exactly the opposite. Â My natural style is extremely brief: short sentences, to the point, nothing flowery. Â What this means is that I am able to take a huge idea and write a complete draft that’s 40,000 words. Â It’s ridiculous. Â That draft isn’t any good and most of what’s wrong with it is that the pacing is far too fast, important concepts and moments are not given enough weight, and there is more telling than showing. For those who don’t know, the...
Read MoreSix Sentence Sunday: NaNo Two
I’m back for my third foray into Six Sentence Sunday with another six sentences from my current NaNoWriMo work…  ### “Trent, seriously, we have to be realistic here. We’re not ever going to be able to be together. We can’t even touch! This is ridiculous.” Trent bit his lip. “I can’t keep doing this,” Talia whispered....
Read MoreProgress Trackers
At proofreaders; available for pre-order
What Is Meant To Be
Second draft
Homework & Homicide (working title)
Second Draft
Book Montage
RFW winner October 7, 2011
