I’m back at work, and playing with my index cards again this morning. I’d like to have at least most of them filled out by the time I run out of work time today. I have Baanraak’s cards filled out already — by starting with the villain (or the one who’ll have actual scenes of… Continue reading More on notecards
Category: Writing Neep
Today it’s notecards
I need at least 55 sentences written on notecards, one per, that I can spread out on the floor and look at and put into various orders to see if I can find some surprises and some coolness in the story. Some stories just flow — they don’t require this approach. This, being more of… Continue reading Today it’s notecards
“Requested” takes precedence over “on-spec”
In the writing universe, at least, those projects which an editor is waiting to see take precedence over those which are purely speculative. I’ll still be doubling up — working on both the requested thing and Midnight Rain. However, between yesterday afternoon and this morning I’ve had a serious re-think. First thing in the morning… Continue reading “Requested” takes precedence over “on-spec”
Tarot imagery and the payoff
A couple days ago, I wrote the scene where Phoebe has a premonition of her own doom that involved tarot cards. For the scene, I shuffled the deck and pulled out two cards at random. The first was the Seven of Swords, which seemed really appropriate. It is essentially a negative card, involving risky or… Continue reading Tarot imagery and the payoff
Forgot to mention
When I rolled over 60,000 words yesterday, I also turned over 300 pages. So I’m right on target with my 200 words/page estimates. It’s silly, I know, but I like it when my numbers add up. It makes all my project completion math feel worthwhile, and gives me a feeling of stability. The numbers add… Continue reading Forgot to mention
I just cut 15,874 words
This leaves me with 57,166 words in Midnight Rain, out of a planned 100,000, as I get started today. More than halfway done, but no longer closing on 75% done. The pages — stuff I had written earlier and that I hoped to be able to save, turned out to be unsalvageable. They usually do… Continue reading I just cut 15,874 words
Anger costs too much
I lost my night of sleep Wednesday and, in consequence, my writing day Thursday, being angry with those creeps at FeaturePrice.com, for my money — which they still have — the worst host on the Internet, the most inept, and the most intentionally dishonest. If you’re looking at them as a possible host, run far… Continue reading Anger costs too much
760 words
I always expect more words the first time I check the count. I’m always disappointed. Later on, I usually have more than I expect, and am delighted by my progress, but that first check is always frustrating. I’ve gotten so that I hold off on checking, just so I won’t get a low first number… Continue reading 760 words
Oh, my hours are SO screwed up
I went to bed again around 5:30 a.m., got up at around 8:30 a.m., and am now, thanks to fortuitous changes in everybody’s schedules, back at work. Starting in with scene 34, so I’m making progress, even if it is slower than I’d like. I need to finish the outline to day, and I need… Continue reading Oh, my hours are SO screwed up
Back to it.
Finished through scene 20 last night — have done 21 and am starting on 22 right now. These are rough two-to-three-sentence outlines that just hit on how each scene expresses that scene’s conflict and how it ties in to the major theme (or secondary theme). It is, from experience, not something you can show to… Continue reading Back to it.
