TalysMana

From the monthly archives:

September 2010

Back on track, I think

by Holly on September 29, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

534 words tonight in 23 minutes.

And my monster is proving his worth this time, instead of being a stumbling block to the story in the part I ripped out.

My total story count is 36,340 words out of a planned 50,000 for the first draft. I estimate the revision will run around 90,000—I tend to write so lean in first draft that the revision explodes.

This also means, of course, that reading the first draft, you’re just getting a pale broth of the final story. I can feel the weight of the real story building as I sketch out this part of it. It’s interesting. I know I’m not getting the real words—but I’m getting the watercolor laid down where the oil paint will go.

Anyway, how are your words coming along?

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Definitely the wrong road

by Holly on September 28, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

I ended up pulling about 700 words tonight. Wrote 64. I’m having to rethink my monster. I dithered while I tried to find the right direction, but it was not a great writing night.

You?

{ 23 comments }

Uncomfortable Alliances

by Holly on September 27, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

The collective will of humankind stepped into the story today in the form of several odd personifications.

Again, partly this feels like a great direction to take in the story, and partly it feels like unfortunate plot drift. I’m going to run with it for a while—if I have to shift gears or backtrack, I will.

391 words in spite of insane vertigo and, still, the freakin’ headache.

You get any words?

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Started new scene with 525 words tonight. It started rough…had a hard time finding the story.

Last week was awful, and I’m working on yet another migraine tonight.

But I’m hoping this week to be able to maintain a steady 250 words or more.

The monsters Fred found last week revealed his name tonight, and something of his origin. I’m not sure where he’s going—he’s a walk-on I didn’t expect or plan for. He might disappear in the revision, but for now, I’m letting him tell his story. It, too, isn’t what I would have expected.

How are you doing? Sorry I vanished again. Hoping to be around every night this week.

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Got 323 words tonight, in spite of dizziness and a migraine hangover. And posted the next scene. I’m hoping this week will be better than last.

Fred revealed a lie, and an uninvited ally joins the hunt for Blade.

How about you?

{ 56 comments }

What Fred Caught

by Holly on September 15, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

Still in the same scene, 409 words tonight. Fred caught something, and now I’ve seen it, and heard it…and I’m not sure what to do with it. Which will be something to sleep on.

The vertigo is awful. The headaches today have been steady, but not as bad as they have been in the past. A few icepick clusters, the low, inescapable baseline headache. Does not make anything easy.

How is your story coming?

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Got 452 words tonight on the story. None last night. Wasn’t up to it then, not really up to it now, but I don’t want to give in to the vertigo and the headaches, so I’m doing the 20 minutes as my “I can do this, dammit” to all the things that remain undone today.

Today’s story hinged on my folks discovering that they need to look not at what they see, but at what they don’t.

Hope your words are going well.

{ 12 comments }

Where The World Dreams

by Holly on September 12, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

534 words tonight in twenty minutes (not including the lot of time it took me to read through the last two chapters and get myself back up to speed.

Fred had the Basset hound version of a life-altering event.

I, on the other hand, am having a hard time even sitting up. Was charging through my office a few days ago, tripped over a briefcase, slammed into the wall in front of me…and apparently knocked the magical balance crystals in my ear out of place again.

The headaches are back. The vertigo is back. And I’m annoyed as hell at myself.

How are your words coming?

{ 5 comments }

Two Chapters Posted

by Holly on September 10, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

Just finished putting “What The Dead Guy Saw” and “Interlude #4–Blade Dancing” into Aweber.

First time in a looooong time I’ve posted two scenes in the same week.

Still not feeling well. I’m going to retreat, take today and the weekend off, and come back to this Sunday night, and to work on Monday.

Those of you who are playing Write A Book With Me…have an excellent weekend, and I hope you get good words. See you in a couple days.

{ 4 comments }

Art — and NOT Art

by Holly on September 9, 2010

in 1: The Story,Write A Book With Me

Got a bit more into Blade’s head tonight. Discovered how he’s managed to keep himself so completely off the grid. Finished up the Interlude, and tomorrow I’ll be back with Kettan—and fervent cheers for that.

But I got 444 words in twenty minutes. Having to call it a night. BAD headache.

Hope your writing is going well.

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