A short but very overdue manuscript update.
I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since I posted last. I’ve been busy, not necessarily on what I should be doing though.
Short run down on what I’ve read recently:
I read Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker. This is a book on outlining a novel aimed at writers to tend to write by the seat of their pants instead of outlining. It is an excellent book on writing and increasing your productivity when you write.
I am still trying to get through Bob Mayer’s NaNoWriMo Survival Kit. This must be the War and Peace of how to be a writer. All good but I think I’ve been reading it for three months now. I will finish this.
Meantime for lighter writing how to I have read part of 2000-10000 by Rachel Aaron. Another good book on increasing your writing speed (outlining is a major factor). Seeing a pattern here? I stopped after the first third of the book to concentrate and finish off Bob Mayer’s NaNoWriMo book.
For fun, I have started Stacy Claflin’s Deception. I have not gone too far and decided to go back to the Mayer book but I’m probably going to read a couple chapters again soon. Reading to learn is fine, but I need something I can just enjoy for a bit.
A couple weeks ago, I did finish Power Games by Richard A Peters. I’d recommend this book if you are looking for something to read over Memorial Weekend. There may be some donation to vets involved so check the link. If you like Tom Clancy books, I think you’ll find this book a great read. I’ll give this book the full review eventually but I’ve decided it deserves it’s own genre – Political Horror. I am looking forward to reading the rest in the series. I was really unprepared for the quality of writing and intense story.
As a disappointment, after listening to four books in a series by Sherillyn Kenyon she apparently left the series to her co-author. On a cliffhanger.
I am sure I am forgetting some book here.
In the meantime, I have amassed a huge supply of digital books to read. Really. Between that and some actual paper books I’ve got and want to read also, I’ve got more to read than time to read it. As much as I like to watch movies, I won’t have time to watch a DVD for months.
Now for the overdue word count on my own writing.
The last time I posted the word count was 72672. It is now 83631. A total of 10959 words. Awful for the time it took me.
Most of that was also written in the last week. I am approaching the end of the story. Looks like it would be right on target for total word count if I did think I’d be cutting a lot out in editing. With some added scenes with other character points of view it should be right about the “correct” length for a thriller.
I fully expect to finish the first draft of the book by the end of May. I’ll be spending a good part of June working on some outlines for the next books I plan to work on. In July, I’ll start writing a new book (using an outline prepared in June). I’ll return to edit and rewrite this book in August and get it to some beta readers (I need some). The final step will be finding an editor before publishing it.
I’m getting close.
I plan to do Camp NaNoWriMo in July. This is a challenge for writers. Usually it is done in November and to write a 50000 word novel in a month. I’ll be doing 50000 in July (and hopefully repeat at least that much in November too). I believe I am fully capable of doing it as long as I don’t make excuses to myself.
I was motivated by Stacy Claflin’s 150000 word Camp NaNoWriMo in April. There is no way I could do that right now unless someone stood guard over me and forced me every day of the month – for about eighteen hours a day, every day. But 50K is doable for me and a good way to build up my writing speed. I have a lot to prepare for as I plan to start a fantasy series. Although I do have a prequel in mind for my current book.
Till next week then – I’m going to do some more writing tonight.
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