Monday, May 30, 2011

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 04

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 532
Total words for the first draft: 2010
What I hate:A month that flew by.
The Good: No problems with reaching my daily goal.
The Bad: Too much to do with everything!
Fave Ahamo line: “We’re not doing this, Lavender. This is a trip to see our daughter, her husband, and our new grandson, not to score points in political intrigue.”
Fave Galinda line: “She knows exactly what kind of message not greeting us sends. Why would she do that?”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the floor plans for Kiamoko. I think I’m finally at the point where I can start dealing with what rooms are on which floors. Finish the style sheet. Start chapter two.
What I'm not looking forward to: The rest of the week.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 21


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Friday, May 27, 2011

Stellar Gift of Death Post 74

Stellar Gift of Death

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Or alternatively, Why Is Writing THIS Novel So Bloody Hard!

When I last reported in, I was applying the Story Structure checklist to Stellar Gift of Death. Really what decided me was the Guest Post by Linda Yezak and her opening question: “Ever have a devil of a time getting a stalled story to kick in again?”

Boy if that doesn’t describe Stellar right now, I will eat every scrap of paper this manuscript has generated so far. I also have a feeling that most readers would be proscribing that I trunk this story and move onto something new. The idea was had too long ago, has set too long, you’re just not that into it. But something about the characters, the setting, and they mystery are compelling me to keep hacking a new path through the hedge maze.

So a new set of machetes in the form of Story Structure. And I’ve spent two days on the checklist and haven’t gotten further than the First Plot Point. I have an event in the proper place for it: a racketeer who Zy tried unsuccessfully to warn is murdered right in front of her. While it’s pretty shocking, especially since Zy can’t figure out how it was done, it doesn’t change her agenda going forward. It’s already her job to catch the murderer and the victim wasn’t a sympathetic character.

Scratching my head, I figured maybe I was misunderstanding the Story Structure concepts. I would plug the formula onto another story of mine and see that I miss one of the milestones or I put them in a different spot. Tin Man: Pirates of the Nonestic was picked because I had the numbers handy.

In a correctly structured story, the First Plot Point is found in the first 20% - 25% of the narrative, the Mid-Point around 50%, and the Second Plot Point at 75%. Based on the word count, 25% of Pirates falls in Chapter Ten, 50% is in Chapter Twenty-One, and 75% is in Chapter Thirty-Four. Chapter Ten is when the pirates of the title finally show up (I even made a funny that it took so long to get to them!). Chapter Twenty-One is when the Shaman forces two big secrets into the open, changing things for the characters and the readers’ assumptions. Chapter Thirty-Four is when DG finally accepts and harnesses her magic and makes taking out the antagonists possible. Bam! Story Structure right where it is supposed to be. Which also means I know how to do this instinctively, I just lacked the terminology for what I was doing.

It also means that my current sequence of events in Stellar is not working and that’s why I don’t want to work on it. Not because I’m lazy or the idea is bad, the story is just forced into the wrong structure and the only want to stop it is to block the construction. So where is my true First Plot Point? What event causes the quest to change for Zy, changes the stakes, creates risks and opposition?

That would be the plot point I put down as the Mid Point when the racketeers force her and Xeryl into an active partnership solving the murders. It shifts the need from protecting the racketeers and doing her job to protecting this male and potential romantic partner while living with him when she doesn’t trust him not to have an agenda concerning her. The consequences are now personal because the racketeers may decide the paranoid nut is right and killing Zy eliminates the threat of the serial killer. Risk and opposition is what this scene sets up.

So what does this mean for my plot and the timeline of events I have created? Big holes shot through them, but I think the big events can be salvaged and improved. When I’m bored by the investigation I’m creating, it all needs help. :p

Let’s see if I move Hiq to Xitat 5 and make his death the reason for the conclave.... Good thing I have a holiday three-day weekend to figure this out.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

StoryFix Checklist

Kait Nolan reviewed Larry Brooks's new book Story Engineering and recommended his blog as one you should be following, so I've been reading (and nodding my head a lot).

Today I got to StoryFix: The Single Most Powerful Writing Tool You’ll Ever See That Fits On One Page post and dutifully printed out before reading the rest of the Story Structure category that explains the concepts that these questions are designed to make you think about.

You know when you actually get the concept and pull out examples from what you have written or are planning to write. Yeah, I was getting the concepts, but none of my examples were coming from Stellar Gift of Death. In fact my brain would skit after any other example than deal with that WIP.

*headdesk*

It's not getting away with it though. My afternoon project is to answer the checklist for Stellar Gift of Death and to add the information to the Master Story Summary file. I'm crossing my fingers that I have most of the pieces already, maybe in the wrong places, but essentially there.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 03

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 502
Total words for the first draft: 1478
What I hate:Today isn’t over yet?
The Good: No problems with reaching my daily goal.
The Bad: Haven’t finished the first chapter of the longhand notes like I wanted to.
Fave Ahamo line: “You must have gone through a small forest this winter.”
Fave Galinda line: “I hope it is not an imposition, Lord Wyatt.”
Fave Gruffudd line: “The princess couldn’t bother to greet her parents?”
Fave Cain line: “Not tonight. We wouldn’t turn anyone out of Kiamoko to find their way in the dark.”
Fave Franklin line: “Your luggage will be up momentarily. Evening meal is usually casual by Palace standards. Princess DG called it Sunday best.”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the floor plans for Kiamoko. I think I’m finally at the point where I can start dealing with what rooms are on which floors. Finish the style sheet. Finish chapter one.
What I'm not looking forward to: The rest of the week.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 20


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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Stellar Gift of Death Post 73

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 377
Chapter Fifteen total words: 0
Chapter Fourteen total words: 5068
Total words for the first draft: 58,916
What I hate: Struggling to stay awake all day long.
The Good: Finished Chapter Fourteen.
The Bad: Didn’t get started on Chapter Fifteen like I thought I would.
Fave line: “We’re in the same solar system. Might as well cross it off the list of possibilities before the next victim shows up.”
What I'm looking forward to: New idea: give myself a day where I have to reread what I have written to work on some background stuff. Filling in the questionnaires for my alien species is a good starting place. I know the sequence of events, so I need to surround myself with details until it’s Zy, Xeryl, and Mealte’s voices I hear. I’m considering scheduling this for Saturdays.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding time to edit other projects.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Stellar Gift of Death Post 72

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 550
Chapter Fourteen total words: 4691
Total words for the first draft: 58,539
What I hate: Brain and muse want to be anywhere else but here.
The Good: Met my daily goal.
The Bad: Maybe if I’m not so bone-tired tonight I can add more to the notebook.
Fave line: “You’re late and cost me five credits.”
What I'm looking forward to: New idea: give myself a day where I have to reread what I have written to work on some background stuff. Filling in the questionnaires for my alien species is a good starting place. I know the sequence of events, so I need to surround myself with details until it’s Zy, Xeryl, and Mealte’s voices I hear. I’m considering scheduling this for Saturdays.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding time to edit other projects.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 19


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2011 Fiction Word Count Week 18


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Monday, May 16, 2011

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 02

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 505
Total words for the first draft: 976
What I hate: Bribery day is smooth as butter. :p
The Good: The narrative just bubbled forth.
The Bad: Making Stellar Gift of Death’s narrative bubble like that tomorrow.
Fave Ahamo line: “She offered her son to be DG’s gigolo because Cain couldn’t possibly keep giving her babies for much longer.”
Fave Galinda line: “Her family always had strange ideas about matrimony.”
Fave Gruffudd line: “That was rather rude.”
Fave Cain line: “Your Majesty, your Highness, welcome to Kiamoko.”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the floor plans for Kiamoko. I think I’m finally at the point where I can start dealing with what rooms are on which floors.
What I'm not looking forward to: The rest of the week.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Words of Parting Post 24

The Triangulation anthology rejected "Words of Parting."

I'm not crushed and the editor offered me reader's notes to look over, but I haven't worked up my nerve to do that yet. Mostly because I got the news Tuesday night and Wednesday I was still suffering from the sinus passages of pain. Today is my first day where I can feel my brain functioning again.

So I'll have a look when I go home today.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 70

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 0
Chapter Fourteen total words: 3783
Total words for the first draft: 57,631
What I hate: Making it all the way to the paying job before my body really convinces me I feel like crap and shouldn’t be here today.
The Good: After skimming through chapters one through thirteen and roughing out my space map (to be made prettier at a later date when I can afford the software), it dawned on me why it feels like I’m driving with the emergency brake on with this novel. I’m not immersed enough.

Usually, I’m immersed so much, the outline of the plot helps pull me along where I need to be. Due to my constant picking up and letting go of this novel, that immersion has drained away and I’m finally experiencing the dreaded middle. Dreaded middle is feeling all the threads unravel in your hands, your prose feels like dreck, and why the bloody hell did you start this project becomes your new mental question. I have been here for a while.

The Bad: It was hard to wake up this morning, but I just attributed it to bad sleep for the past couple of nights. I usually don’t go back to sleep, but I pulled my ass out of bed, through the commute and to the paying job, where the “I feel like shit and want to sleep” hit full force. After taking all my medication and Tylenols to get rid of headache.

I just packed everything writing related back up. THAT’s how bad I feel. I’m going to give the paying job another thirty minutes and then I’m going home.

Fave line:
What I'm looking forward to: New idea: give myself a day where I have to reread what I have written to work on some background stuff. Filling in the questionnaires for my alien species is a good starting place. I know the sequence of events, so I need to surround myself with details until it’s Zy, Xeryl, and Mealte’s voices I hear.
What I'm not looking forward to: This headache trying to split my head open.

Monday, May 09, 2011

Something in the Air Post 11

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 379
Total words for the first draft: 2477
What I hate: Running late. I got to the paying job at straight up 7:30am and have felt like I’m playing catch-up ever since.
The Good: FINISHED!
The Bad: I haven’t gotten much else done today.
Fave Allie line: “Not my job description.”
Fave Glitch line: She was obviously female and the leather was black instead of brown, but it still carried a jolt of familiarity to Glitch.
Fave Zack line: “Chelsea also has the shotgun loaded and aimed at the door.”
Fave Azkadellia line: “But I can stop it once whatever is traveling is deposited.”
What I'm looking forward to: Going home. I’m ready for today to be over.
What I'm not looking forward to: Energy crash once I get home. Never fails.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Something in the Air Post 10

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 557
Total words for the first draft: 2098
What I hate: Making plans that I don’t have enough time for.
The Good: I’ll be going over my 2000-word goal in this story, but I left out the parts of the chapter that don’t support the theme.
The Bad: I still haven’t gotten my alone time with a notebook this weekend, but it’s Mother’s Day and I have to spend time with mine. :D
Fave Allie line: “It’s Kansas, Sammie. Unless you want a harvest prediction, there’s not much to report.”
Fave Glitch line: “Maybe it’s the oncoming storm? Falling pressure.”
Fave Zack line: “That’s not right.”
Fave Azkadellia line: “Do you think Cain changed his mind?”
What I'm looking forward to: Me and Mom have a movie date and then I should be free for the rest of the day.
What I'm not looking forward to: The list of five items I want to have done in the notebook before Monday. :p

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Something in the Air Post 09

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 525
Total words for the first draft: 1541
What I hate: Pants that are uncomfortable because they are just a little snug. :p
The Good: I got lots of words done because 500 is my daily goal. I don’t have it ready out of Stellar Gift of Death, so I did it out of “Something in the Air” instead.
The Bad: It takes me hours to get up and running on writing on a Saturday. I need to set up a routine that means “hey get the butt in the chair and brain into the universe.”
Fave Allie line: “I never figured our lives could be summed up into one sentence, wow.”
Fave Glitch line: “I guess this trip would be a good time to start my Slipperisms translation guide.”
What I'm looking forward to: It’s Friday and I should spend some time with just me and a notebook this weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: The housekeeping second job. I’m all for earning the money, but it’s hard work.

Friday, May 06, 2011

Something in the Air Post 08

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 80
Total words for the first draft: 1016
What I hate: Grocery shopping.
The Good: I got my research done. And using Protect Your Vision worked because I didn’t end up with the headache I had Wednesday thanks to the lawsuit entries.
The Bad: Worried about the other project.
Fave Zack line: You were raised in the same city.”
What I'm looking forward to: It’s Friday and I should spend some time with just me and a notebook this weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: Lawsuit entries. The six-inch-deep basket on my desk is full and there is a seven-and-a-half-inch stack waiting to go into the basket if I will ever get it empty. *Weeps*

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Kick to the rear

Making it Look Easy by Jim C. Hines Just another kick to the rear that I need to spend more time dedicated to writing.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 69

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 74
Chapter Fourteen total words: 3783
Total words for the first draft: 57,631
What I hate: Grocery shopping.
The Good: I got some words done.
The Bad: I feel like working on this novel is like trying to keep Murdock in a bear hug. The problem is I know I can keep a better handle on all the threads, but when I’m working it feels like they are all slipping through my fingers. I was counting on restaurant time to get into the next scene, and slammed up against the “I’ve already covered this” feeling.
Fave line: “He should stay.”
What I'm looking forward to: I need to update the binder I’m keeping the printouts of the chapters in, so I’m going to read it from start to where I am now and hopefully that will make my brain connect with the notes of what to do next.
What I'm not looking forward to: Doing that and grocery shopping and lawsuit entries. :p

Something in the Air Post 07

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 86
Total words for the first draft: 936
What I hate: Eyestrain. To combat the eyestrain, I’m trying out Protect Your Vision while I work today.
The Good: Finished the longhand draft minus a few things I need to research.
The Bad: When can I research?
Fave Zack line: “You think Donatello’s awake yet? This is full of his kind of words.”
Fave Allie line: “Just because you don’t know what they mean, city boy, doesn’t mean Donnie is the only one who does.”
What I'm looking forward to: Ice cream sandwiches, Mexican for supper, and getting my back adjusted.
What I'm not looking forward to: Lawsuit entries. The six-inch-deep basket on my desk is full and there is a seven-and-a-half-inch stack waiting to go into the basket if I will ever get it empty. *Weeps*

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Something in the Air Post 06

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 92
Total words for the first draft: 850
What I hate: The price at the gas pump *whimper*.
The Good: If things remain calm today, I should be able to finish my longhand draft.
The Bad: If I ever get the urge to put up a wind turbine for home electrical generation, I’m going to buy a kit because there was only one website that covered making one as a DIY project.
Fave Zack line: “We’re here to help.”
Fave Glitch line: “And my wife.”
What I'm looking forward to: Pizza! I love Employee Appreciation Week.
What I'm not looking forward to: Lawsuit entries. The six-inch-deep basket on my desk is full and there is a seven-and-a-half-inch stack waiting to go into the basket if I will ever get it empty. *Weeps*

Stellar Gift of Death Post 68

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 202
Chapter Fourteen total words: 3709
Total words for the first draft: 57,557
What I hate: Not being able to afford the things I need and want. This paycheck it is car maintenance. :p
The Good: I got some words done.
The Bad: I have no more handwritten notes. For some reason, I can’t focus when composing straight to the computer. Getting these words was pulling mental teeth.
Fave line: “However if I’m prevented in completing my business, all the footage is packed in a communiqué to your Headmaster General. All I have to do is send it.”
What I'm looking forward to: A quiet morning to get into the next scene.
What I'm not looking forward to: More composing on the computer if I don’t get some quiet time to myself tonight.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Stellar Gift of Death Post 67

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 533
Chapter Fourteen total words: 3507
Total words for the first draft: 57355
What I hate: Paying job distractions.
The Good: I found the handwritten notes I had done over the weekend.
The Bad: I’m at the end of those notes and will be fumbling for the narrative again.
Fave line: “Best coming from you, I think. The authority of an IGA Agent carries more weight. Mealte and I will scowl at them from beside you.”
What I'm looking forward to: A quiet morning to get into the next scene.
What I'm not looking forward to: The drive home. Ugh, which means I need to leave now.

Something in the Air Post 05

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 83
Total words for the first draft: 758
What I hate: Getting up on time was a real bitch this morning.
The Good: I’m maintain where I’m supposed to be.
The Bad: Have to work in some research today, probably between lawsuit entries.
Fave Azkadellia line: “Thank the stars. I hope you know how to turn on the lights and water, Zack.”
What I'm looking forward to: Paying job is giving us donuts today!
What I'm not looking forward to: Lawsuit entries. The six-inch-deep basket on my desk is full and there is a seven-and-a-half-inch stack waiting to go into the basket if I will ever get it empty. *Weeps*

I changed the metrics a little. After all, if you’ve followed them at all, I nearly never have anything to hate about my writing, but other things annoy the crap out of me.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 01

DUF: Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 01
Date: 05/02/2011
Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 471
Total words for the first draft: 471
What I hate about my writing: The need to bribe myself.
The Good: Well, so far the first week of my bright idea is off to a flying start.
The Bad: Why do I have more enthusiasm for fanfiction than my original stories?
Fave Ahamo line: “Or maybe it was easier to wait until the snow melted.”
Fave Galinda line: “Our grandson is almost four-cycles-old and no announcements. People will start believing something is wrong with the first Prince of the O.Z. born in fifteen generations.”
Fave Gruffudd line: “That husband of hers was raised here.” Lord Gruffudd sniffed disdainfully. “He should understand these things. Or at least hire help that does.”
What I'm looking forward to: Drawing out the floor plans for Kiamoko.
What I'm not looking forward to: Waiting for next week to add more. But I have to be good and work on Stellar Gift of Death.

Something in the Air Post 04

Something in the Air

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METRICS
New Words: 279
Total words for the first draft: 675
What I hate about my writing: Nothing today. Today has been really productive.
The Good: I caught up to where the marathon trackers says I need to be to finish on time.
The Bad: Nothing today. I got a lot of handwritten notes done over the weekend holiday I had.
Fave Allie line: “You are still describing me that way to people?”
Fave Glitch line: “I suppose my communication didn’t reassure you of our capabilities.”
Fave Zack line: “Longcoats again?”
What I'm looking forward to: Staying on track.
What I'm not looking forward to: End this short bit. It’s been fun.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 17


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