Category: Writing Fiction

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: 2014 words, and sneaking up on my ending

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: 2014 words, and sneaking up on my ending

    Today I discovered something I did not know — that the layered conspiracy that pulled Cady and her allies into danger did so with way more initial planning than I’d realized. That the horrifying crimes she uncovered and solved might have just been a convenient way for someone to get her in front of a…

  • Dead Man’s Party: I lost a character I loved today

    Dead Man’s Party: I lost a character I loved today

    I got my words today — 1112 of them, which was more than the 1075 I had to get. And they absolutely flew. And mostly I loved what I got, and the part that I hated still was necessary and important to the story. It was good storytelling — and good storytelling beats being nice…

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: 2094 words, and a bit of grimdark at the end

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: 2094 words, and a bit of grimdark at the end

    Started rough, ended well. That’s been a theme lately. I love the words I got, but just getting started getting them was an uphill run blindfolded. Once my guys started Shooting To Thrill, and came Back in Black, though, my fingers got moving and did not stop. And at that point, I had the story twist…

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: Still in the exciting “first ending” bits

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: Still in the exciting “first ending” bits

    Herog decided to be difficult this morning. I had what he was going to do all nicely planned out, and then it didn’t go the way I’d planned at all. Cady is now in a bad situation that’s about to get worse, Herog is in a dreadful situation that he might not be able to…

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: Down to the wire on Plot One…

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: Down to the wire on Plot One…

    Today was fun. I got 2024 words, two complete scenes, and am now rolling out the end game for the part of the story that I haven’t been hiding.  I’ve hinted a couple times at the part I have been hiding — it’s cheating if you don’t. But by the end of this week, I…

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: The twist that took me by surprise

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: The twist that took me by surprise

    Had a hard time getting going today, but something Becky mentioned in one of our recent podcasts (with derision and loathing) turned out to be a step that helped… Her comment? A reminder that at one time I’d written to an eternally looped version of Classical Gas played by Mason Williams. That was back in…

  • The Wishbone Conspiracy: Cady comes up with a terrible idea — 2101 words

    The Wishbone Conspiracy: Cady comes up with a terrible idea — 2101 words

    Today went well, and when I say that, I say it with a positively evil laugh. The little secret I’ve hinted at in the Settled Space series emails is now open knowledge to Cady and her team. Well, the fact that Cady has a problem is now open knowledge.  The person behind the problem remains…

  • And I’m back to fiction, and Wishbone… Kind of…

    And I’m back to fiction, and Wishbone… Kind of…

    Got 1883 words of the 2000 I’d planned for the day. Had, however, a brutal time getting anything done at all. Have been fasting since Sunday, (just water and coffee and a bit of salt), and today my focus was just gone. So I broke my fast with some pecans and cheese. Tomorrow will be…

  • Why I chose Ko-Fi to replace Patreon

    Why I chose Ko-Fi to replace Patreon

    Today is the last day of my How to Write a Novel launch, so I’m pulling this post from an email that just went out. I apologize for duplicating, but this needs to go to all my folks, and this is…. Efficient. Today, I need that. Quick catch-up if you missed it. I left Patreon.…

  • Why I shut down my Patreon fundraiser

    Why I shut down my Patreon fundraiser

    I’d intended to send a Questions & Answers email to my How to Write a Novel launch list, but that’s going to have to wait.Instead, I did THIS. Closed my “Move out of Florida while writing fiction” fundraiser. Here’s why — it’s this clause in the Patreon Legal Agreement https://www.patreon.com/legal By posting content to Patreon you grant us a…