<SQUEAK>
Rule number one in writing for a living: Things Change. If you want to keep eating, sometimes they change quickly.
Books now comprise 276 working days, up from 251. That’s 88 buffer days, but NONE OF THEM can be front-ended to Hawkspar.
Here’s my new schedule:
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Finish HAWKSPAR and have it in on APRIL 25.
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HAWKSPAR PLAN
200,000 words at completion
200 words per page
1000 pages at completion
3000 words per day
67 working days to end of first draft
10 work days for re-thinking, redirecting
30 days for one-pass revision plus type-in
107 work days to completion
Actual completion day April 25. No buffer days.
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Finish pseudonymous novel JULY 31.
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PSEUDONYMOUS NOVEL PLAN
65,000 words
200 words per page
325 pages at completion
3000 words a day
22 working days to end of first draft
10 working days for re-thinking, re-directing
20 days for one-pass revision
52 work days to completion
Completion date if no buffer days used: JUNE 16.
Buffer days: 46. (This novel is going to take significant research way outside my usual field. I anticipate needing all of these days.)</li>
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Skip "C" entirely this year — now is not the time.
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Finish Next Onyx novel (if contracted) OCT 31.
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE THRILLER
100,000 words at completion
200 words per page
500 pages at completion
3000 words per day
34 working days to end of first draft
10 work days for re-thinking, redirecting
20 days for one-pass revision plus type-in
64 working days to completion
Completion date if no buffer days used: Oct. 2
Buffer days: 29.
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Consider second pseudonymous novel
for completion around the end of the year.
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PSEUDONYMOUS NOVEL II PLAN
65,000 words
200 words per page
325 pages at completion
3000 words a day
22 working days to end of first draft
10 working days for re-thinking, re-directing
20 days for one-pass revision
51 work days to completion
This includes no buffer days, but at this point, it’s also not contracted yet, and four books away. If I contract for it, I’ll probably see if I can get the due date a week or two into 2006 so I’m not working over Christmas.
