Watching Paint Dry

Watching paint dry would be infinitely more amusing than what I've been doing at the Real Job (tm) lately. At least then I would have the hope of getting high on the paint fumes. But no, we are stuck with the most unbelievably mind-numbing, soul-sucking tasks this week.

You would think, being this bored, that it would lend me more time to write, in amongst. You would be wrong. This much boredom isn't good for creativity, and I spent all day painfully grinding out about 600 more words on chapter 16. While they were decent and offered interesting insight into the character...I have the sinking feeling I'll be cutting/severely editing them in later revisions.

Ah well, that's what first drafts are for.

Today's Efforts

I churned out about 700-ish words on chapter 16 today, and then the Real Job (tm) reared its ugly head and that was all she (well, I really) wrote. But it came at a point where I'd written myself into a stuck place, so the timing was good.

And oddly, it isn't a stuck place where I don't know what happens next. This project is fairly well outlined, (one of the reasons it's going so quickly, I think) but occasionally I hit a snag where I simply can't string more than three words together to get from Point A to Point B. This usually occurs when I am transitioning between scenes without a chapter break. There's only so many graceful ways to do it, and sometimes, I flounder.

I trust, however, that when I pull up the document tomorrow morning, the solution will spring right out at me and then I'll feel ridiculous for struggling with it in the first place.

Sunday night

I wrote nothing this weekend, but I did finish off all the books in Kim Harrison's Hollows series. I won't spoil the end of For a Few Demons More, the newest one, but if anyone else has read it, may I just say WTF??? Had some stuff there I never expected, but oddly, it makes me more anxious to read the next, to see how the characters adjust to events.

Hopefully, back to my own alternate world tomorrow.

Ah, blessed weekends

I finished chapter 15 yesterday, and today when I attempted to start chapter 16, I think I typed a grand total of 59 words. In my defense, I was distracted by the jets and bi-planes doing acrobatics outside my work-window, in preparation for the air show this weekend. And even better, now I don't have to GO to the air show, seeing as how I've just seen all their tricks for free and minus the heat.

I may write this weekend, I may not. I am currently working my way through Kim Harrison's Hollows series (and I have developed an unnatural obsession/love for pixies as a result). So, with lovely thick books so conveniently within reach, it may be a weekend of getting lost in someone ELSE's fantasy.

Struggling through Muck

Well, sleep didn't help me resolve my chapter 15 issues. I still don't like what I've done.

I tried editing things, to make it flow better. I tried tying it into a new section at the end of the chapter that would "undo" what I did that I don't like. But when all is said and done, I think I'm going to be deleting a huge chunk of text. Sadly, I'm not sure what I'm going to be replacing it with.

The hazard I'm stumbling into, with chapters 15-18 is that these are the ones I wasn't sure about in the first place. This would be day four in my story's timeline, and it's the day when I'm not sure what happened. Sure, I have things to put in there NOW, but they didn't just spring fully formed into my head like the rest of the tale. And because I struggled with the idea, I wonder if the actual writing of the idea will feel like a struggle too. (or, if because I struggled with the idea, it means its actually a BAD idea)

Today's Efforts

I finished off chapter 14, and found it woefully short. Now, keep in mind that they're ALL shorter than I intend them to be, at this point, but this one is shorter than the others, and therefore has more cosmetic surgery to be done in the revision. Chie, dear wonderful Chie, already spotted the perfect way to expand this one, though, and it should go smooth as silk.

I also knocked out a huge chunk of chapter 15, but I'm honestly not sure I'm happy with it. It seemed to write itself, as this project largely has, but I don't know that I like the things that occur. Realistic? Yes. Probably truthful to the story? Yes. Revealing more about the character? Yes. But....I 'unno. I'm not pleased. I may sleep on it tonight, and revisit it with fresh eyes in the morning.

I also finally got Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking from the library. Yes, as much as I love urban fantasy, it's shameful that I haven't gotten into this series yet. (I chalk it up to the library filing it under mystery, where I never thought to look for it. WTF is up with that?) I'll keep you posted on how I like it.

Today's Efforts

Well, I wasn't nearly as successful at writing from home as yesterday. Got about 700 words into chapter 14, but the kiddo just wouldn't settle two days in a row. I have to say, for four years old, she has an amazing amount of patience with me.

Still...it was a good weekend. I have high hopes for this project.

Today's Efforts

Chapter 13 is in the bag. I don't normally write at home, so I'm extremely pleased that I was able to, today!

Now, I'm having issues getting my head to return to the real world. I really got involved in that chapter, and it's a bit of a jarring transition

Deep Thoughts, by...

Well, I'm no Jack Handy. Maybe I'm just having an introspective morning.

I sit here, and I'm tired of being ordinary. I'm tired of "ok, just keep at it, and in the future, all this great stuff MIGHT happen!" I want my great stuff now, dammit!

I'm envious of those I read about on Absolute Write, who now have book releases...or book sales...or new agents...or query rejections. Heck, I'd love to have a query rejection. At least then I'd know I was out there, I was DOING it instead of just talking about it.

I'm no where near that stage yet. Earlier this year, with Project #1, I thought I was close. But realistically, I know now that I wasn't. The rewrite was a good thing, even if it pushed my personal deadline back. Putting out crap is worse than putting out nothing, in my mind.

And now of course, I have project #2 which is flying by quite nicely. First draft of that might be done by Christmas, if I don't hit a snag. Maybe have revisions done by March? Start sending out queries? Either way, it's not NOW. I want something wonderful to happen NOW.

Have I mentioned that patience is not my strong suit?

O.o

Ok, the above isn't technically a title, it's an emoticon (I think) but it rather accurately reflects my mood.

I finished chapter 11 today. Then I started chapter 12. Then I finished chapter 12. And I'm mulling over chapter 13 in my head right now. I'm not sure I've ever written this much in one day! And even stranger, I still got a ton of Real Work(tm) done too!

I wish days like this would happen more often!

Rollin' rollin' rollin'...

keep them dogies rollin'...! Hmm...anyone know how to spell dogies? Y'know, the one that means cows, not canines.

Finished Chapter 10, and it came out way longer than the other chapters I've worked on. Yes, this is a good thing. It means I have less to revise later. I also got started on the first 200 words or so of chapter 11!

Part of me feels very guilty about ignoring project number 1 for so long, especially since I pretty much dumped it in the middle of a rewrite. (rather like breaking up with the girl who just got plastic surgery to make you happy) But I'm terrified if I break my momentum on project 2 that I'll stutter to a stop altogether. I suppose I should just be happy that I'm writing SOMEthing, and not sweat the details.

Still, maybe I should buy my original protagonist flowers or something. Though...she's probably prefer a new gun or sword. Maybe a new pair of boots. Sea water is hard on leather.

On the Road Again

Back to work as of yesterday, and back to writing!

I didn't do any writing at all while Chie was here. We didn't even talk about it. It was really pretty nice! A relaxing break with adult conversation. (nevermind that I was sick the entire time. *sigh*)

So, yesterday, I managed to tack about 700 words onto chapter 10 of project #2. It's actually a chapter I've been looking forward to writing, becuase it's where I really start to get into the supernatural aspect of the book. Get to flex my descriptive fingers and pull really cool stuff outta nothing!

I'm hoping to finish the chapter today, Real Job(tm) permitting.

Is There a Maid in the House?

So, instead of having four days to do the frantic housecleaning I needed to do, kiddo and I both came down sick on Friday and I have instead had two days to do all of that.

Right now, Chie has been told that she is confined to the kitchen, the living room, and if she has to pee, she has to do it in the yard. (bathroom just isn't up to my "guest" standard)

Still, picking her up in the morning, and I'm so excited! (If for no other reason than to hear a sentence that doesn't being with "Mommy!") I'm sure we'll talk about writing and all, but really, I'm just looking forward to the relaxation and companionship.

Insert Title Here

I'm tired of thinking up titles for the time being.

I didn't get much writing done today, but it was for a good reason. Work was super hectic (trust me, the good reason is still coming). It was super hectic because.... I'm on vacation next week!

I doubt I'll get much writing done then, either, but I have learned to value a good break. And while I'm not writing, I'll be brainstorming because my beta-reader Chie is coming out here to visit me? (can you imagine visiting me counting as a vacation? The mind boggles.) We're going to pal around town and do things sans children for a bit. It should be heaven.

Too Many Choices

I finished chapter 9 of project number 2 today. I was rather gung ho to plunge on into chapter 10, until I got home and found...

A lovely package in my mail box, courtsey of The Knight Agency (blog link to the left)! No, I haven't been submitting queries in secret. But I did enter a contest on their site to win an ARC of Jennifer St. Giles' The Lure of the Wolf, and I won! My book arrived today, and I may just settle in tonight for some good reading.

Cruel Cruel World

I have to say, this no-blogging-from-work is seriously cramping my style. I think I need to start keeping a blog notebook handy, so I can jot down all the random thoughts I want to share, but forget by the end of the day.

In hashing out the title for my urban fantasy project, hubby and I also managed to hash out a section that I'd been hazy on. I'm currently working on updating my outline and brainstorming the chapters contained therein. This is the first time I've ever tried to outline BEFORE I did my writing, and I find that I'm liking it. I'm sealing up plotholes before they ever come to life (they're harder to kill if you let them sprout first, y'know).

I wonder how difficult it would be to go back and outline my fantasy project, which seems to have stalled even in the midst of its rewrite.