Discipline Under Fire

2012 Fiction Word Count Week 3

2012-01-23T12:43:00.001-06:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 152

2012-01-22T12:44:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 338
Chapter Nineteen total words: 1188
Total words for the new draft: 78,249
What I hate: I still don’t have a calendar for the purse yet.
The Good: I typed up all the words I had written in the notebook and then some. I wrote for thirty minutes and then edited for thirty minutes.
The Bad: Yesterday was a rot. The dentist put my new bridge in and I could settle into any writing or editing before or after. And today after I did that bare minimum, I never got back to the writing or editing fiction.
Fave line: “It didn’t kill you.”
What I'm looking forward to: I have 22 beat scenes left to hit. *Blinks* I have never been this close to the conclusion. I’m also looking forward to the new complication Sithna brings to the group.
What I'm not looking forward to: Being stern with myself and working everyday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 150

2012-01-19T07:19:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 50
Chapter Nineteen total words: 753
Total words for the new draft: 77,814
What I hate: I still don’t have a calendar for the purse yet.
The Good: I got more done on paper at the doctor’s office.
The Bad: The bad news I got on Wednesday is stressing me out and wrecking my progress.
Fave line: “Still doesn’t tell us how “push” works.”
What I'm looking forward to: I have 22 beat scenes left to hit. *Blinks* I have never been this close to the conclusion. I’m also looking forward to the new complication Sithna brings to the group.
What I'm not looking forward to: Being stern with myself and working everyday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 149

2012-01-18T12:29:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 410
Chapter Nineteen total words: 703
Total words for the new draft: 77,764
What I hate: I still don’t have a calendar for the purse yet.
The Good: I spent most of the day going back and forth to the manuscript and other things and I had 410 words before I went home.
The Bad: I got hit with bad news at home, and it knocked me off my creativity.
Fave line: “In IGA’s defense and if you mean psychic, they didn’t know when the assignment was made.”
What I'm looking forward to: I have 22 beat scenes left to hit. *Blinks* I have never been this close to the conclusion. I’m also looking forward to the new complication Sithna brings to the group.
What I'm not looking forward to: Being stern with myself and working everyday.

2012 Fiction Words Weeks 1 - 2

2012-01-17T09:37:00.001-06:00

Week 1

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Week 2

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 148

2012-01-17T08:19:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 293
Chapter Nineteen total words: 293
Total words for the new draft: 77,354
What I hate: I still don’t have a calendar for the purse yet.
The Good: Made it to Chapter Nineteen!
The Bad: Didn’t get as much time to work on writing as I thought I would, i.e. I ran out of energy about 8pm.
Fave line: “You are Sithna who worked at the Hyperspace club in [name of building] in [name of city] on [name of planet] until [date] when your contract was bought by [Murderer’s real name]. You traveled with him and have participated in at least seven murders of sentients.”
What I'm looking forward to: I have 22 beat scenes left to hit. *Blinks* I have never been this close to the conclusion. I’m also looking forward to the new complication Sithna brings to the group.
What I'm not looking forward to: Being stern with myself and working everyday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 147

2012-01-15T09:35:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 562
Chapter Eighteen total words: 3195
Total words for the new draft: 77,061
What I hate: Overplanning my day.
The Good: The list helped me keep on track.
The Bad: I tried to play catch up on everything I had missed during the week and over-planned my day.
Fave line: “Don’t add me to the list of everyone you’ve let down on this case, Zy. I don’t want to be there.”
What I'm looking forward to: I have 22 beat scenes left to hit. *Blinks* I have never been this close to the conclusion.
What I'm not looking forward to: Being stern with myself and working everyday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 146

2012-01-14T13:07:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 471
Chapter Eighteen total words: 2633
Total words for the new draft: 76,499
What I hate: I am way too easily distracted, even at home where the distractions are things I don’t want to do!
The Good: Spent thirty minutes, finally got to the end of the fight scene. *Digs for Beat sheet* And it is my second pinch point scene and it’s right in the ball park of where it should be.
The Bad: I meant to come back and write some more but the siren call of resumed project ate up the rest of the day. I’m still not sure how that happened. Tomorrow I have detailed out what I want to accomplish before I get sucked back into the project.
Fave line: . But she couldn’t make herself move further away from his room.
What I'm looking forward to: Seeing if my to do list helps me manage my time better tomorrow.
What I'm not looking forward to: Need to sit down and rough out the upcoming scenes.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 145

2012-01-13T11:15:00.002-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 98
Chapter Eighteen total words: 2162
Total words for the new draft: 76,028
What I hate: Getting stalled.
The Good: I didn’t go shred paperwork today and felt much better. Maybe spending an hour doing that was what made me feel so crappy the other days.
The Bad: Fridays are getting to be just as bad as Monday for getting words written.
Fave line: “I’m sorry I have to do this, Rejeld.”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”
Page 45 Meme: A meme came into my inbox. Get the nearest book, turn to page 45, and read the first sentence. It will predict your sex life for the year. The closest book was the manuscript, so I figured out which page is page 45 and this is the first sentence: He moved the handkerchief slightly, so she could see the wry smile.

Yeah, I don’t know what kind of sex life that means either.

Story idea

2012-01-12T13:57:00.001-06:00

http://www.ghosttheory.com/2012/01/12/woman-claims-she-is-from-a-parallel-universe

Stellar Gift of Death Post 144

2012-01-12T07:04:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 432
Chapter Eighteen total words: 2064
Total words for the new draft: 75,930
What I hate: I have felt like crap for the past two days and I really don’t know why.
The Good: Lots of words today (compared to my progress this year) and I had enough energy to work on Forget the Sun.
The Bad: The feeling like crap for the past two days means that this is the first day I’ve worked on anything since Monday. This is no way to finish projects. :p
Fave line: “I was going to duck, guys!”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”

Stellar Gift of Death Post 143

2012-01-09T12:52:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 536
Chapter Eighteen total words: 1632
Total words for the new draft: 75,498
What I hate: I have to go back to work tomorrow.
The Good: I finally got into the confrontation of the scene.
The Bad: Sometimes I think I have ADD. I couldn’t settle down to any writing until today.
Fave line: “And I thought you’d be more intimidating. The thing of nightmares, since you killed eighteen sentients.”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”

Stellar Gift of Death Post 142

2012-01-05T06:59:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 231
Chapter Eighteen total words: 1096
Total words for the new draft: 74,962
What I hate: Contacts that have gotten too old. Luckily, my appointment today is to get new ones.
The Good: Finished the first scene of Chapter Eighteen.
The Bad: My daily word count has dropped and I would love for it to pick up a hair over the weekend.
Fave line: “So impatient. Give me time to type.”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”

2012 Project Post 01

2012-01-04T09:39:00.002-06:00

My friend Mez has organized an edit your novel project for the entire year of 2012. This has become the new hang-up area for me and I thought I’d be done with Stellar Gift of Death (You can stop laughing now, I’ve made it to Chapter Eighteen.), so I signed up.

The final steps before you are ready to start are:
Choose what you are working on, both the revision and the new project (if you haven’t already done so!)
Set up folders, files, plotting cards, notebooks, whatever you need when you are writing and revising.
Start thinking and planning, but don’t go crazy – you need slow, sustained progress. Don’t burn out before you’ve even started.
Project 2012: … and a Plan (with a capital P)

I was supposed to write this post between Christmas and New Year’s and didn’t get to it until now. Somehow I doubt #3 will be that big of a problem.

Choose what you are working on, both the revision and the new project (if you haven’t already done so!) The new project i.e. what you are writing to get a first draft is easy Stellar Gift of Death. When I finish it, I have a list of what to pick up next. I have a list of what to revise too, but everything on it is a short story. Getting off that list—though I’m hoping to cover those stories too working through this project—there’s the Hyrueliana (fanfiction edit which only has a few scenes left to write) and Night Storm: Forget the Sun (an experimental hypertext novel set in an universe where a vampire becomes a superhero). I want a fresh start, so Forget the Sun it is.

The binders, folder, and notebook filled with the previous version and notes for new ideas I had are sitting out on my desk. The computer files are now on my USB drive. There’s more than enough material to work with, given the nature of the hypertext novel.

More importantly, how am I going to structure my day to do this and write Stellar Gift of Death? I’ve done editing at the paying job and it is much harder than writing first draft. Plus the binder is a full two-inch monstrosity that I have no desire to haul to the paying job every day. So 2012 Project is a home project. Luckily, I have more time at now since I changed my paying job hours and I’m not nearly as brain-dead when I get home.

That said, I have no idea how much I’ll get done this first week. My FSA renewed and I promptly filled the week with medical appointments that I have put off for a few months. :p

Stellar Gift of Death Post 141

2012-01-04T07:49:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 328
Chapter Eighteen total words: 865
Total words for the new draft: 74,731
What I hate: I have to figure out how long I should stay in Baton Rouge after my chiropractic appointments again.
The Good: The scene outline works! Granted, I didn’t get much typed, but writing during supper went super smoothly.
The Bad: I ended up spending too much time in traffic and I have another after-work appointment tomorrow night.
Fave line: Zy bit down on her bottom lip to keep from saying anything out loud, while her brain jumped between “gotcha!” and “we can’t be this lucky.”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”

Stellar Gift of Death Post 140

2012-01-03T10:16:00.001-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 255
Chapter Eighteen total words: 537
Total words for the new draft: 74,403
What I hate: I never should have told my mother I’m still writing. It has never been important to her so she has no problem keeping me at her house for hours after I get home from work.
The Good: I read Prentenious Title: How I Went From Writing 2000 words a day to 10000 Words a Day. I don’t expect that amount of results, but her observations on time, excitement, and using a scene outline will help me get through the scenes when I feel like I’m floundering.
The Bad: I’m floundering right now.
Fave line: “I don’t want to calculate the odds out of one thousand six hundred seventy spaceport docks limited to passenger travel of just how many are big enough.”
What I'm looking forward to: Charting uncharted territory. I have a fight scene coming up, but I’m going to outline in the rough draft before expanding it.
What I'm not looking forward to: I have a lot of uncharted territory between me and “the end.”

My Year in Fiction 2011

2012-01-02T15:18:00.002-06:00

Word Count for 2011

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I do like how this forces me to examine the results I made in the previous year. Often I surprise myself.

Stories I finished:

"Words of Parting" - 4966 words, the only original story I finished all year. I submitted it to the Triangulation contest, but it wasn't selected for publication.

"Something in the Air - 2673 words for Crossover Challenge #4. It's a brief glimpse of Glitch and Az in Kansas from the sequel to Dragons and Ninjas. If I participate in more of these challenges, I may get the major scenes of this story written before I actually write the story.

"Representing the O.Z." - 198 words written for tm_challenge Round 20. I couldn't resist answering the challenge with a little bit staring the Mystic Man and my OC Franklin.

Tin Man/Medical Investigation: Alchemy - 33,804 words for the annual BDPT. This story had been banging around my head for a while, so I made it fit into the prompts to help my team win, and then the results were never tallied!

I wrote 107,062 fictional words in 2011, which leads to a new section in this meme. Stories I didn't finish:

Untitled steampunk mystery - 434 words. I have the characters, setting, and plot, but it hasn't gelled completely yet. I typed up an opening scene and haven't gotten back to it.

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone - 8974 words are done in this sequel to Tine Man: Pirates of the Nonestic. I thought turning to this story on Mondays (which are brutal days to write on with the paying job) would give me a boost when I turned back to Stellar Gift of Death. I didn't really see a boost, but I have typed the first two chapters now.

Stellar Gift of Death - I wrote 56,013 words in 2011, giving this story a total word count of 74,148. I have the beat sheet and it works. I have characters who I understand. So I think my brain, Perfect Girl, and the Fear Monger are latching onto what I don't know about the setting and the universe to freeze up the process. In 2012, I will have to break past that.

My favorite story this year: Alchemy. I was a tad bit nervous about the Medical Investigation half, but everyone who has read it has enjoyed it.

Story most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion: "Something in the Air" but I really don't blame anyone. I think it needs the context of the rest of the story.

Most fun story: "Representing the O.Z."

Stories I wrote that I never thought I'd write: "Words of Parting" I didn't think this part of Mealte's back story could work as a separate story. It needs revising, but the core holds up.

Hardest story to write: Stellar, otherwise I'd be finished with it!

Biggest disappointment: I only typed 158 days out of 365. Granted some of the remaining 207 days were spent on rough drafts, plotting, or unmeasurable world building stuff, but that still leaves plenty when I didn't do any of that.

Biggest surprise: Miles/Az in Alchemy. With as much brainstorming I did on that story, it didn't develop until I started writing.

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would, less, or about what you predicted? I got really close to the total number of fictional words I wanted to write 182,500, 59% complete. But I had a goal of not writing fanfiction until I finished four original stories and I only finished one. And still wrote three fanfics!

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them? I meant to submit more and promptly forgot all about doing that.

Did you meet last years' goals? Write 182,500 fictional words between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011

Specific: Write at least 500 words every day - Considering I only have 158 days when what I wrote was countable, I'm mildly impressed I got to 107,062 words.
Measurable: Post the weekly total every Saturday at DUF using the Writertopia progress bar - I've been consistent with the posting.
- Keep track of daily progress with a marathon spreadsheet - I've been consistent with this posting too.
Action-oriented: Finish Stellar Gift of Death by March 20, 2011 - nope.
- Finish a 5000-word short story for Triangulation submission by March 31, 2011 - yes.
- Finish steampunk mystery - nope.
- Finish another story in the Piper of Shadows universe - nope.
- Finish the "Blue Man on the Porch" - nope.
Realistic: Finish four original stories before any fanfiction - nope.
Trackable/Time-based: Each story has a marathon tracker of its own, and metrics are posted daily at DUF - yeah, I think tracking is now a habit.

Submit enough stories to get rid of the anxiety over it

Specific: Submit to six markets by Dec. 31, 2011 - I submitted to two markets and neither was accepted.
Measurable: Find a tracking method that I can update without fuss. - I found Sonar3, which I like for as little as I have used it.
Action-oriented: Look for 12 markets - didn't do.
Realistic: Send out at least one story in February, April, June, August, October, and December - didn't do.
- Have conversations with the Fear Monger; it helps - didn't do.
Trackable/Time-based: Honestly note the anxiety over each submission on tracking method - Sonar3 lets me do this; I just banished the whole goal of submissions out of my mind.

Do you have any goals for the coming year?

Fiction Writing

Specific: Finish Stellar Gift of Death
- Edit "Words of Parting"
- Edit "Blue Man on the Porch"
- World building for the steampunk mystery
- World building for Piper of Shadows universe
- World building for Zy's universe
- Edit Forget the Sun for Mez's 2012 project.
- Write 2000 words a week and pick out a new project once Stellar is finished.
Measurable: Post the weekly total at DUF using the Writertopia progress bar.
Action-oriented: Dedicate at least 30 minutes on a writing project every day.
Realistic: Write what I feel like I can't not write.
Trackable: Each story has a marathon tracker of its own, and metrics are posted every day at DUF.

Submitting more stories

Specific: Submit to three markets.
Measurable: Enter submissions into Sonar 3
Action-oriented: Look for 12 markets.
Realistic: Look for email markets.
Trackable: Note how anxious I am about the submission in Sonar3.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 139

2011-12-24T12:37:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 541
Chapter Seventeen total words: 3256
Chapter Eighteen total words: 282
Total words for the new draft: 74,148
What I hate: What do you mean I forgot to post this?
The Good: Happy holidays!
The Bad: There is no way I’ll finish this novel by Dec. 31st.
Fave line: “Rejeld thinks he’s doing the galaxy good by killing racketeers, I don’t know why you want to stop him from doing us a bit of good by getting rid of Riteno.”
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 138

2011-12-23T10:02:00.001-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 886
Chapter Seventeen total words: 3082
Total words for the new draft: 73,607
What I hate: Holy crap! When was the last time I cleaned the stove top?
The Good: I’m happy with the scene so far, but Riteno has been rather sedate.
The Bad: I’ve figured out how the trap will be sprung, which is good because I’ve been rather clueless about it ever since I thought it up five or six years ago. Now I just don’t know if I should start Chapter Eighteen or put it in Chapter Seventeen.
Fave line: “And you are his zy.”
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 137

2011-12-22T19:40:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 41
Chapter Seventeen total words: 2196
Total words for the new draft: 72,721
What I hate: Getting distracted when I got home.
The Good: I’m off tomorrow, I can concentrate on writing.
The Bad: Chores have piled up and I will have to do them and write tomorrow. It’s all well and good for the advice books to say ignore that stuff, but I’m nearly out of dishes.
Fave line: She had no way of see if the first ones were smeared by Rejeld.
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 136

2011-12-21T06:50:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 176
Chapter Seventeen total words: 2155
Total words for the new draft: 72,680
What I hate: Where the hell do all these people come from when it’s time for me to go home?
The Good: Words made it to the file.
The Bad: In the shadow of Mount Parnassus, the office party was distracting!
Fave line: “Where the hell did you stand to watch, Rejeld?”
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 135

2011-12-20T06:43:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 692
Chapter Seventeen total words: 1979
Total words for the new draft: 72,504
What I hate: There will be no way I get home tonight even close to on time.
The Good: Wow, the work holiday party was not as big a distraction as I thought it would be.
The Bad: I’m still way far behind.
Fave line: “Bastez’s organization is shy.”
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 50

2011-12-19T19:36:00.000-06:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 134

2011-12-19T07:38:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 142
Chapter Seventeen total words: 1287
Total words for the new draft: 71,812
What I hate: Why the bloody hell do I make plans?
The Good: It’s a new week. Mom’s better, which meant she got to catch me up on everything since this weekend. Which also meant no time to work when I finally got home. *headdesk*
The Bad: Thursday, I bought a tire. Friday, I waited for something else to go wrong. Needless to say, my brain went into distraction mode and I didn’t get anything done this entire weekend. I’m not beating myself up over it, but I really need to make some forward progress on this story.
Fave line: “If I ever have to take a case in the Erm system, I’ll be sure to conduct interviews outside.”
What I'm looking forward to: The holiday and I will be locking myself in my house for the majority of the duration.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting pulled out of my house for family obligations.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 133

2011-12-14T19:34:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 57
Chapter Seventeen total words: 1145
Total words for the new draft: 71,670
What I hate: This whole week. See Intentionally Left Blank for details.
The Good: No, I don’t have anything good for today.
The Bad: I’m not surprised at the shitty output. Go look at the rest of my week and you won’t be surprised either.
Fave line: “Do you have the coronerbot’s report?”
What I'm looking forward to: This week to be over.
What I'm not looking forward to: Buying another tire and talking to my credit union.

2011 Fiction Word Count Weeks 43 - 49

2011-12-12T08:59:00.001-06:00

Week 43

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Week 44

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Week 45

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Week 46

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Week 47

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Week 48

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Week 49

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 132

2011-12-11T12:39:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 780
Chapter Seventeen total words: 1088
Total words for the new draft: 71,613
What I hate: This whole week. See Intentionally Left Blank for details.
The Good: Got close to the word count I wanted.
The Bad: My focus was going every which way for no real reason. I don’t know what was wrong with me.
Fave line: “You’re aptly named for a Solid. No wonder Riteno didn’t know what to do with you.”
What I'm looking forward to: This week to be over.
What I'm not looking forward to: Buying another tire and talking to my credit union.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 131

2011-12-10T10:26:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1761
Chapter Sixteen total words: 4953
Chapter Seventeen total words: 308
Total words for the new draft: 70,833
What I hate: Where do all these dirty dishes come from? Are they breeding?
The Good: Finished Chapter Sixteen and started Chapter Seventeen.
The Bad: I couldn’t make it to over 2000 words. Maybe tomorrow.
Fave line: “The Chief set the trap.” She jerked her eyes away from her painting to Xeryl’s wide eyes. “We came to Fuge 3 because the Chief told me there was a murder victim here. There is no victim and we were supposed to be killed in route.”
What I'm looking forward to: The weather will still be cold this weekend, so I’m going to stay curled up next to the heater and write.
What I'm not looking forward to: I will have to take breaks for food, dishes, and laundry, but otherwise just writing!

Stellar Gift of Death Post 130

2011-12-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 122
Chapter Sixteen total words: 3500
Total words for the new draft: 69,072
What I hate: I have no idea what Mustard has against Tony Hillerman, but those are the books he keeps pulling off the bookshelf when he wants me to get out of bed.
The Good: Wow, this week I have felt like a sleep-deprived zombie and I still got words done.
The Bad: Wow, I barely got any words out this week because I felt like a sleep-deprived zombie.
Fave line: “All their shipments go through the Per spacelane, so what do you think.”
What I'm looking forward to: The weather will still be cold this weekend, so I’m going to stay curled up next to the heater and write.
What I'm not looking forward to: I will have to take breaks for food, dishes, and laundry, but otherwise just writing!

Stellar Gift of Death Post 129

2011-12-07T12:56:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 225
Chapter Sixteen total words: 3378
Total words for the new draft: 68,950
What I hate: My cat deciding to wake me up when I’m trying to go to sleep.
The Good: Despite the tired brain, I got some words in.
The Bad: I feel like every transition has sucked and continues to suck long after the scene has shifted.
Fave line: “If you don’t mind me asking, what did you run into?”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the fourth scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: Will I actually make it to that scene?

Stellar Gift of Death Post 128

2011-12-06T12:55:00.003-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 117
Chapter Sixteen total words: 3153
Total words for the new draft: 68,725
What I hate: Sleep? I need more.
The Good: I managed to get a few words done today.
The Bad: This is the last night I should be awake until 10pm. So maybe tomorrow I’ll get more words.
Fave line: “With the outbreak of civil war? Cobaine had a note here to disguise the operation as a refuge opportunity, so the victims would be compliant.”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: Will I actually make it to that scene?

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 14

2011-12-05T07:59:00.001-06:00

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 673
Total words for the first draft: 8974
What I hate: This is the week that SyFy Channel doesn’t want me to sleep.
The Good: Finished Chapter 2.
The Bad: It came in much shorter than Chapter 1.
Fave Ahamo line: “Ditched your mother?”
Fave DG line: “I’ve been working hard to mellow Wyatt out. What’s your excuse?”
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.
What I'm not looking forward to: The characters I have to juggle with the ball scenes.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 127

2011-12-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 861
Chapter Sixteen total words: 3036
Total words for the new draft: 68,608
What I hate: I was supposed to work on this story Saturday and Sunday. Saturday writing didn’t happen at all.
The Good: This was a section of the rough draft that refused to develop in the notebook. Typing in some stuff I had left blank finally opened it up for me. Also I rearranged the office slightly—added another bookshelf—and created a charging station for the cell phones away from the speakers. No more feedback!
The Bad: What is in the damn trunk turned out to be a MUCH harder question to answer than I had first anticipated.
Fave line: “I’m glad he did too.” Her face heated again as he blinked at her. “I think Rejeld had figured out Ifeket and Possatact had done to make him target them was done without your knowledge. But that’s no reason to trust he’ll skip you again.”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: Will I actually make it to that scene?

Stellar Gift of Death Post 126

2011-11-30T12:44:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 556
Chapter Sixteen total words: 2199
Total words for the new draft: 67,747
What I hate: Bad news totally knocked me off the game plan of getting 800 words.
The Good: The scene shifted in a better direction than I had in the rough draft.
The Bad: I heard back from the potential second job and the rejection sent me into a pity party.
Fave line: “Fine, a different topic of discussion than your hard-headed detriment to your health. What do you have against decorations?”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 125

2011-11-29T11:44:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 530
Chapter Sixteen total words: 1643
Total words for the new draft: 67,191
What I hate: People who don’t return phone calls.
The Good: The new schedule has me getting home at 4:30 with energy to do stuff like typing.
The Bad: I need a rug with foot support for the standing desk.
Fave line: “Trouble with the restraints?”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 13

2011-11-28T12:23:00.000-06:00

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 1837
Total words for the first draft: 8301
What I hate: I still didn’t reach the catch-up word amount the marathon says I should.
The Good: Progress is still a wonderful thing.
The Bad: I don’t know where to open Chapter Three. I thought about jumping straight into the ball, but then I had a second thought of an arrival scene.
Fave Cain line: “Word of advice, Lord Gruffudd, the sooner you get it through your thick skull that nobody tells a Gale woman what to do and you are constantly insulting Princess Dorothy Gale by doing just that and by accusing everyone else of the same thing, the sooner she’ll stop wanting to set you on fire.”
Fave Ahamo line: “Did DG managed to pick out something the Outer Zone considers poor taste?”
Fave Carroll line: “The Viewers will allow that?”
Fave DG line: “Don’t tempt me.”
Fave Galinda line: “You didn’t give him a wet nurse either? Not naming him is bad enough.”
Fave Mrs. Gamgee line: “She’s got no cause to be correcting your staff, who are running your household according to your directions, and especially not so harshly as to scare the beginning servants, m’lady.”

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.
What I'm not looking forward to: The characters I have to juggle with the ball scenes.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 124

2011-11-23T12:34:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 303
Chapter Sixteen total words: 1113
Total words for the new draft: 66,661
What I hate: Not enough time to do what I want to do!
The Good: Something typed is better than nothing.
The Bad: I was hoping to get a big amount so I wouldn’t worry during the Thanksgiving trip.
Fave line: “Never thought I’d praise this awful hairstyle you’ve adopted.”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 123

2011-11-22T10:20:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 602
Chapter Sixteen total words: 810
Total words for the new draft: 66358
What I hate: Stop planning on working at home because you’re too tired to think straight.
The Good: Lots of progress today.
The Bad: I’m in the middle of this fight scene isn’t good enough waffle and trying to ignore it.
Fave line: “You do realize you are the only Agent employed by IGA who actually follows that!”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 12

2011-11-21T07:21:00.000-06:00

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 272
Total words for the first draft: 6464
What I hate: Getting paranoid about my flash drive.
The Good: It’s better than no words.
The Bad: We left the building for an office party at lunch and I was seized with a sink feeling that something awful would happen to the flash drive if I left it behind. So I unplugged it and never had a free moment after we got back to plug it back in.
Fave Cain line: “I didn’t think you’d want an audience, but if that’s your preference, I can call them out of the stonework.”
Fave Gruffudd line: “You don’t fool me, Lord Wyatt, you never have. You will never be the power behind the throne. No child of yours will ever rule the Outer Zone, I promise you 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.
What I'm not looking forward to: The characters I have to juggle with the ball scenes.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 122

2011-11-18T07:14:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 167
Chapter Sixteen total words: 167
Total words for the new draft: 65756
What I hate: Forgetting to type anything.
The Good: I got the journal entry done, but most days I’ve been working on the rough draft.
The Bad: I have no idea which way this scene is going.
Fave line: “That is probably true, but why in the galaxy do you need to know how faster than light travel works?”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 121

2011-11-16T08:55:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 843
Chapter Fifteen total words: 2765
Total words for the new draft: 65589
What I hate: Waiting.
The Good: Finished Chapter 15!
The Bad: I keep feeling like absolute shit by the time I make it home, so I haven’t been doing any typing and barely any writing after I get home.
Fave line: “Has anyone ever told you that you are bad at making sentients feel better?”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 120

2011-11-15T11:39:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 977
Chapter Fifteen total words: 1922
Total words for the new draft: 64746
What I hate: When I wake up and it doesn’t feel like I have slept at all.
The Good: Two straight days of progress!
The Bad: I need to write more in Chapter 16.
Fave line: “By the shades of the ancestors, no. If it hasn’t been buried for a length of time, Uffget has no interest in it. We’ve talked about our research on Holy Days.”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: I still haven’t heard back from the second job I interviewed for.

Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 11

2011-11-14T08:06:00.000-06:00

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

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METRICS
New Words: 537
Total words for the first draft: 6192
What I hate: Real life insanity.
The Good: I couldn’t juggle Stellar Gift of Death and the family drama, so I turned to this for some relief from both.
The Bad: I’m not about to beat myself up over any words developed, no matter if they weren’t for what I have a bigger deadline on.
Fave DG line: “If Mother is messing with the decorations, you have my permission to shoot her.”
Fave Franklin line: “Finishing his eggs in between complaints.”
Fave Cain line: “We can’t do anything right? Let’s get him on his way back to where standards match his expectations.”
Fave Gruffudd line: “No guards to help thrown me out, Lord Wyatt?”
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. What I'm not looking forward to: The characters I have to juggle with the ball scenes.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 119

2011-11-14T07:31:00.000-06:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 956
Chapter Fifteen total words: 956
Total words for the new draft: 63769
What I hate: Taking so long to get off my ass.
The Good: Look! Progress!
The Bad: I’ve been finding it easier to ignore WIP with all the real life ups and downs that have slammed me for about a month. I wasn’t completely slacking, but even my longhand rough draft went slower than it should have.
Fave line: “Look, I understand this jartbetahraas thing is a punishment, but I don’t want to punish you. You are doing a great job with the bodyguarding, which you shouldn’t be doing since you are a witness, so please if there is something you want that makes your life with me easier tell me so I can get it.”
What I'm looking forward to: The nasty surprise for Zy in the second scene of Chapter 16.
What I'm not looking forward to: The complete and utter exhaustion that I have right now.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 39 - 42

2011-10-24T08:28:00.002-05:00

I didn't realize I had missed so many, so you get one big post to catch up with.

Week 42

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Week 41

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Week 40

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Week 39

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 118

2011-10-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 3445
Edited Chapter Fourteen total words: 5084
Total words for the new draft: 62,736
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: The need for more caffeine.
The Good: Finished Chapter Fourteen.
The Bad: So this means I spend the rest of today filling in wiki blanks and mulling over Chapter Fifteen before starting on it this weekend.
Fave line: “Director, I’m hunting a sentient who has killed nine others, more likely eleven. Who could possibly be murdering someone else as we speak.”
What I'm looking forward to: The weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: The list of things to do over the weekend.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 117

2011-10-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1639
Edited Chapter Fourteen total words: 1639
Total words for the new draft: 59291
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: If the whole point of testing to see if we can allocate the invoices is rendered moot when the program refuses to take the payments.
The Good: This week has been cleaning up the Zy Universe wiki, something that had been triggering my procrastination reflexes. I buckled down and made myself clean species and planets lists. Today I buckled down and made myself create planets. Holy Asteroid Fields! it is so much easier when it’s just ONE star!
The Bad: So far most of my changes are on papers so I cannot lose them before I move them into the wiki.
Fave line: “Do you have any idea how much trouble you and your friends are in for interfering with an IGA investigation?” She showed her teeth in the smile. “First, the Academy most likely has strict behavior rules for its students and I doubt ganging up on civilians with the express purpose of hurting them is allowed. Good-bye military career.”
What I'm looking forward to: Buying AstroSynthesis 3.0 so I can have pretty, pretty images.
What I'm not looking forward to: Building aliens and languages.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 116.5

2011-10-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

I took today off from the narrative to add notes to the wiki. Surprisingly, the brain bent to the task when I promised no brainstorming on the computer. I would print everything out to make changes on. Who knew that was what was freaking it out and triggering the procrastination reflex? Not me, but the alien species section is ready to be printed.

AstroSynthesis 3.0 is out! And I still can’t invest in it. *Headdesk*

Updated the character list. So now I need to move to planets, and more to the point actually pin down some vitals for the planets.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 116

2011-10-10T15:13:00.000-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 4130
Edited Chapter Thirteen total words: 4130
Total words for the new draft: 57652
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Happy Columbus Day! Seriously, the federal government takes today off along with banks. I have to go to work because Louisiana trades the day off for Mardi Gras. My job depends on receiving checks mailed to us. I drove the same commute to work on my novel most of the day.
Second thing I hate: Working with numbered lists in Word. STOP DOING WHAT I’M NOT TELLING YOU TO DO!
The Good: Finished making all the edits to Chapter Thirteen, found the notebook that I started Chapter Fifteen in (and my badly drawn hyperspace lane map of the galaxy), and for my next trick I’ll be updating the wiki.
The Bad: I’m dreading updating the wiki and it’s triggering my procrastination reflux. Even though I know it will be easier to find information and won’t be the bad once I do it.
Fave line: “Let’s call them interviews, okay? And most sentients are willing to tell you information if you just ask, so we start with that.”
What I'm looking forward to: Castle!
What I'm not looking forward to: The wiki.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 115

2011-10-06T08:02:00.000-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 319
Edited Chapter Twelve total words: 3665
Total words for the new draft: 53522
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: I didn’t do this post already?
The Good: Finished Chapter Twelve and I think I have found all the spots where sidebars will need to go when I write the sidebars.
The Bad: I don’t know how I managed such a massive shake up in the narrative thread that has basically soothed itself out in what scene I have already written.
Fave line: “If you’re finished being an art critic, I’m finished copying now.”
What I'm looking forward to: My weekend plans.
What I'm not looking forward to: Moving mattresses.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 114

2011-10-05T12:06:00.002-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1319
Edited Chapter Twelve total words: 3474
Total words for the new draft: 53203
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Going through a whole revising draft and forget to do one major highlight.
The Good: I finished most of Chapter Twelve, but I realized there was another bit I wanted to add to the scene.
The Bad: Way back when I first conceived of this novel, I was impressed by West End Games use of character POV inserts in their GM manual for their Star Wars RPG. They even went so far as to include universe appropriate ads, like a recruitment poster of the Empire. So I had the idea of including sidebars of a book that Zy consults about the aliens she meets as a way of describing without slowing down the narrative and providing some in-universe color.

The problem with this? They fell by the wayside as I skipped over alien creation. And I just realized I could have been at least putting a sidebar-goes-here notice during this edit and I had completely forgotten about it. *headdesk*

Fave line: “Centri 10? That’s where the false information for Rejeld was implanted; another reason for us to go there for clues.”
What I'm looking forward to: My weekend plans.
What I'm not looking forward to: Fixing this mess I made.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 113

2011-09-30T15:41:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 29: 0 words
NPI Day 30: 1381 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1381
Edited Chapter Twelve total words: 2155
Total words for the new draft: 51884
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: My forgetful brain.
The Good: Yeah, I have fell down twice in the last week. So why is it good news that I missed typing anything yesterday? I FINISHED THE BLOODY LAWSUIT PILE!!!!!!!!
The Bad: ~~I eeked out the bare minimum today before posting this. I’m hoping I can add more when I reach home, but with how my luck is going this week… I thought it best to post this now.~~ Got more done. Will hopefully finish Chapter Twelve and start on Chapter Thirteen this weekend.
Fave line: “This guy doesn’t strike me as the boy toy type, so disgruntled prostitute is probably out.”
What I'm looking forward to:Weekend relaxation!
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework and fixing my mother’s table.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 112

2011-09-28T15:40:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 28: 529 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 529
Edited Chapter Twelve total words: 774
Total words for the new draft: 50503
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Forgetting to post this the day of.
The Good: I’m glad I got this much done at the paying job because the lights had been knocked out by the weather when I got home.
The Bad: By the time the lights came on, it was time for bed.
Fave line: “No. I need a bigger saucer, but that ain’t happening. If you need something in your bunk moved, Mealte will have to help with the lifting. Be sure to ask him nicely.”
What I'm looking forward to: No more oopsies with my power supply.
What I'm not looking forward to:

Stellar Gift of Death Post 111

2011-09-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 27: 351 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 351
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 5218
Edited Chapter Twelve total words: 245
Total words for the new draft: 49974
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Getting the math all wrong on the lawsuits countdown.
The Good: Finished Chapter Eleven and started Chapter Twelve.
The Bad: I thought I was down to only 87 lawsuits to finish, but somehow 106 didn’t get counted.
Fave line: Third mistake: Thinking the spaceport workers would help me find Murdock or the saucer’s hanger bay. That one makes me fear for small children who get separated from their parents in these places.
What I'm looking forward to: Working on Chapter Twelve.
What I'm not looking forward to: Giving my cat a flea bath.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 110

2011-09-26T18:12:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 26: 561 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 561
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 5112
Total words for the new draft: 49623
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Flea infestation.
The Good: I almost finished Chapter Eleven.
The Bad: Mondays suck. I’m surprised I got this much done.
Fave line: “And if I don’t agree to that, you’re going to convince Mealte locking me aboard your ship is the best way to keep me alive?”
What I'm looking forward to: Other than killing the damn fleas? Getting into Chapter Twelve.
What I'm not looking forward to: Giving my cat a flea bath.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 38

2011-09-26T15:56:00.000-05:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 109

2011-09-25T17:22:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 24: 0 words
NPI Day 25: 1404 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1404
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 4551
Total words for the new draft: 49062
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: I can’t eat caramel. What is the only candy I have in the house? Caramel. :p
The Good: Progress! Lots of good progress.
The Bad: Mom owned my butt yesterday, and I didn’t get anything done on the story.
Fave line: “Do you want me to be an accessory to your murder? Because that sounds like what you want!”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing laundry.
What I'm not looking forward to: Back to the paying job tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 108

2011-09-23T19:50:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 23: 1556 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1556
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 3147
Total words for the new draft: 47658
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Repeats already?
The Good: Finished the rough draft for Chapter Eleven.
The Bad: Didn’t do as much as I would have preferred.
Fave line: “How else can we help the murderer, give them signs saying ‘Kill me, I’m stupid!’?”
What I'm looking forward to: Haven tonight!
What I'm not looking forward to: Writing around moving furniture for my mother tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 107

2011-09-22T13:22:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 22: 576 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 576
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 1591
Total words for the new draft: 46102
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Lawsuits. They are real easy to hate right now, especially since more will come tomorrow and I won’t be at the paying job to make the number decrease.
The Good: I worked on Chapter Eleven and I’ll have time while waiting for traffic to lessen to work on the rough draft stuff tonight.
The Bad: I just reread Chapter Twelve and realized the information given in that scene shouldn’t move up a chapter, so I don’t know where the scene is going to go next.
Fave line: “Is that how he strangled you? Someone you trusted wrapped their hands around your throat?”
What I'm looking forward to: I’m taking the day off tomorrow!
What I'm not looking forward to: To get my car fixed, so not because I emptied the lawsuit basket or got a holiday or something fun like that.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 106

2011-09-21T15:40:00.002-05:00

NPI Day 21: 1015 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1015
Edited Chapter Ten total words: 2768
Edited Chapter Eleven total words: 1015
Total words for the new draft: 45526
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Starting this and getting derailed and forgetting about finishing it.
The Good: Chapter Ten isn’t the shortest, so I’m leaving it along for now. If I do need to extend things later, more flirting between C.M. and Zy.
The Bad: I probably won’t get any work on the new scene done tonight.
Fave line: “That sounded better in the brain matter.”
What I'm looking forward to: Early bedtime tonight.
What I'm not looking forward to: Fixing the air mattress.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 105

2011-09-20T18:56:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 20:1038 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1038
Edited Chapter Ten total words: 2768
Total words for the new draft: 44511
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Waking up on a Tuesday after staying up to watch Castle.
The Good: I managed to get enough words done before my lunch was interrupted.
The Bad: They finally decided we can move from Windows XP to Windows 7 at the paying job. Then they decided they should do more hardware testing when confronted by the fact that I have to have a functioning check scanner to do my job. I agreed with them, those scanners are temperamental.
I have reached the end of Chapter Ten’s events, but I think I need more words. I need to compare it to the other chapters tomorrow.
Fave line:
What I'm looking forward to: Counting words tomorrow.
What I'm not looking forward to: Chapter Eleven rough draft. I’m not stuck, I just haven’t had quiet time this week.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 37

2011-09-19T13:02:00.000-05:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 104

2011-09-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 19: 1197 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1197
Edited Chapter Ten total words: 2095
Total words for the new draft: 43473
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Before I had to take the day off and deal with the car, my lawsuits totals were down to 213. On the day off, 199 more lawsuits came in.
The Good: Zipped through a lot of words during lunch.
The Bad: I probably won’t get to work on the rough draft of Chapter Eleven during the rest of the work day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can work on it at home tonight.
Fave line: “I love this case. The racketeers don’t trust me because I’m an IGA agent. You don’t trust me because of my hidden background. So far only the Chief and Murdock trust me because they gave me this case, and I think they both had mental breakdowns when they did it.”
What I'm looking forward to: Eureka, Warehouse 13, and CASTLE!!!!! *Snoopy dance*
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting up tomorrow morning.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 103

2011-09-18T19:10:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 18: 898 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 898
Edited Chapter Ten total words: 898
Total words for the new draft: 42276
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: That I don’t have a footstool in my office, not that actually have room for one.
The Good: Started Chapter Ten today. Reached the first completely original scene in the rough draft of Chapter Eleven, not just moving scenes written in other chapters to new places and fixing the transition.
The Bad: It’s a fight scene.
Fave line: “Oh I shouldn’t have used that term without a psychiatric evaluation. But can we agree that someone who blows sentients up and watches it happen is not normal?”
What I'm looking forward to: A nice quiet day at the paying job tomorrow that probably won’t happen because it’s Monday.
What I'm not looking forward to: A Monday at the paying job.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 102

2011-09-17T21:10:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 17: 4299 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 4299
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 6573
Total words for the new draft: 41378
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: My feet and my lower abs hurt. The feet I’m used to, but the lower abs surprised me.
The Good: Finished the new Chapter Nine! And I have the rough draft edits made for Chapter Ten. Nothing like a quiet day at home.
The Bad: I kept doing words to change the stupid marathon counter phrase. It still hasn’t changed.
Fave line: “What kind of black hole floatasm do you think you are; coming in here, busting my inventory, and asking stupid questions?”
What I'm looking forward to: Tomorrow should be quiet too, since most of my chores are done. And crossing fingers, I think I finally found all the computer’s hiccups. I would love to have the rough drafts done for chapters eleven through thirteen before returning to the paying job, but I won’t freak out if I don’t get there.
What I'm not looking forward to: Making my feet sore at the standing desk again tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 101

2011-09-16T20:43:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 16:716 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 716
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 2274
Total words for the new draft: 37079
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Foot pain.
The Good: I can still drive my car and I reached the rough draft end of Chapter Nine.
The Bad: The car still needs fixing; I just put it off until next Friday when I get paid. And it also took until 1pm before I found out so there was no going to the paying job today. :p Then the computer is still messing up.
Fave line: “What pretending? I lost your competence and gained Possatact non-malleability as a figurehead. And after all this, I won’t have a choice over assuming public control of the organization.”
What I'm looking forward to: Lovely weather for Saturday. I’m hoping to do some yard work.
What I'm not looking forward to: The computer to crash again.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 100

2011-09-15T21:50:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 15: 252 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 252
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 1558
Total words for the new draft: 36363
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: The engine malfunction light on my dashboard.
The Good: I finally got the NPI done.
The Bad: Computer issues and car issues. Hopefully I can get ahead tomorrow while I’m waiting for the mechanic.
Fave line: “I really hope the other racketeers listen to you and leave.”
What I'm looking forward to: A day off maybe?
What I'm not looking forward to: Taking my car to the shop tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 99

2011-09-14T19:31:00.003-05:00

NPI Day 14:271 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 271
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 1306
Total words for the new draft: 36111
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Catching up on the metrics.
The Good: I managed to keep at the minimum.
The Bad: Home computer has been having issues. I had hoped to add more after I got home, but I ended up in tech support chat instead.
Fave line: “In other words, call me tomorrow or next week. Sara, are you finished with the download?”
What I'm looking forward to: Getting more sleep tonight.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 98

2011-09-13T15:55:00.003-05:00

NPI Day 13:281 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 281
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 1035
Total words for the new draft: 35840
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: The morons who can’t drive who ALWAYS wreck on the Amite River bridge, so I’m thirty minutes late for work.
The Good: Despite all the challenges for today, I got words done.
The Bad: Somehow I completely missed my supervisor leaving to go to the hospital. It’s just vertigo, but I took tuning out to a whole new level.
Fave line: “I know you had something to do with that riot! But my superiors have said that you are to be given everything concerning the Hiqurguet homicide and are not to be detained. But just try another infraction.”
What I'm looking forward to: Getting more sleep tonight.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 97

2011-09-12T21:17:00.002-05:00

NPI Day 12: 310 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 310
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 754
Total words for the new draft: 35559
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Lack of sleep.
The Good: I haven’t given up yet, slow progress.
The Bad: Let’s not talk about my budget working that I haven’t done yet.
Fave line: “Retina and vocal patterns match. I have been taking messages for you, Agent Zy, but your delay in returning to the saucer has agitated Sentient Mealte.”
What I'm looking forward to: A decent night’s sleep.
What I'm not looking forward to: Not having to work overtime tomorrow.

2011 Fiction Word Counts Week 36

2011-09-12T07:26:00.000-05:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 96

2011-09-11T22:15:00.002-05:00

NPI Day 11: 269 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 269
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 444
Total words for the new draft: 35249
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Trying to work when away from home.
The Good: Finally got the NPI amount done.
The Bad: Bedtime was knocked off kilter by doing it.
Fave line: “Blobs tend to find me precocious. I thought it was just Murdock, but maybe I affect the whole species.”
What I'm looking forward to: A chance to work more on chapter nine rough draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Going to the paying job tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 95

2011-09-10T11:03:00.002-05:00

NPI Day 10: 337 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 337
Edited Chapter Nine total words: 175
Total words for the new draft: 34980
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Not having a laptop of my very own.
The Good: Even though I’m far from home and programs set up the way I like to use them, I still got the minimum done.
The Bad: The minimum does not make the marathon to get it done by the end of the year happy.
Fave line: “Just used logic. Killing me and pissing off IGA wasn’t a chance they wanted to take. You were focused on Riteno, otherwise you would have seen that.”
What I'm looking forward to: A chance to work more on chapter nine rough draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Make sense of chapter nine.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 94

2011-09-09T15:47:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 9: 426 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 426
Edited Chapter Eight total words: 5524
Total words for the new draft: 34643
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Distractions, distractions.
The Good: I’m almost done with Chapter Eight and wrote some in Chapter Nine.
The Bad: I have to find time to work and visit so I stay on schedule and keep up with the NPI.
Fave line: “Nobody trusts me because I’m IGA; it’s okay, I’m getting used to it. But can we all agree that Xeryl does not want to be arrested as a racketeer?”
What I'm looking forward to: The interrupted trip I had planned for last weekend is rescheduled for this weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: I’m not even thinking about the damn lawsuits until Monday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 93

2011-09-08T19:50:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 8: 1295 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 1295
Edited Chapter Eight total words: 5098
Total words for the new draft: 34217
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Too much to do and not enough time.
The Good: Wow, my word count! Actually, it was a quiet day at the paying job so I just kept adding to it, mostly to see if I could switch the marathon spreadsheet encouragement back “Right on Schedule!”
The Bad: I haven’t done anything on Chapter Nine since I had to go back to the paying job. Oops.
Fave line: I don’t know; I’m just cooperating.”
What I'm looking forward to: The interrupted trip I had planned for last weekend is rescheduled for this weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: 524 lawsuits, holy shit! I have NEVER seen that total that low.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 92

2011-09-07T18:25:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 7: 892 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 892
Edited Chapter Eight total words: 3803
Total words for the new draft: 32922
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: My weakness for chocolate milkshakes and not getting a straw for milkshake. You can’t eat a milkshake while driving. *shakes fist*
The Good: I finally got to Riteno!
The Bad: I’m 90% sure that I have named all the alien species, but now I have to go back and work out their backgrounds: biology, planet building, and probably some language stuff too.
Fave line: “The contents of his head decorated the room. Sounded like who we’re hunting for. You didn’t know?”
What I'm looking forward to: Working on Chapter Nine.
What I'm not looking forward to: Another early bedtime for me.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 91

2011-09-06T13:02:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 6: 2174 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 2174
Edited Chapter Eight total words: 2911
Total words for the new draft: 32030
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Staying up late because I think the news has a story that pertains to me but it doesn’t. They kept announcing flooding in a parish I have to cross on the commute, so I need to make sure bridges weren’t washed out. They weren’t!
The Good: I got everything that I’m salvaging pasted in. Now I just have to type.
The Bad: I haven’t had a lot of time to work today.
Fave line: “You are smearing the blood worse, Mistress.”
What I'm looking forward to: Working on Chapter Nine. That’s right, I finished Chapter Eight rough draft yesterday!
What I'm not looking forward to: Keeping myself awake until I go home.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 35

2011-09-06T07:18:00.000-05:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 90

2011-09-05T21:10:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 5: 998 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 998
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 5659
Edited Chapter Eight total words: 737
Total words for the new draft: 29856
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Putting off dusting for too many months. :p
The Good: Finished Chapter Seven and moved into Chapter Eight.
The Bad: I haven’t finished the revisions to Chapter Eight yet.
Fave line: “See, that’s the attitude the racketeers have such a problem with. The one that gets me a gun in my face when I try to find out who’s killing them and how.”
What I'm looking forward to: Wrapping up the conclave scene, I think it should close out Chapter Eight.
What I'm not looking forward to: Back to the routine tomorrow. :p

Stellar Gift of Death Post 89

2011-09-04T19:13:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 4: 974 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 974
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 5399
Total words for the new draft: 28858
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Rain, never-ending rain and a cat ready to go outside again.
The Good: The enforced inside time has me cracking on this manuscript.
The Bad: My feet hurt thanks to the standing desk.
Fave line: Her eyes opened wide when she realized she wanted to hear from Xeryl. Oh that wouldn’t do at all.
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the conclave scene.
What I'm not looking forward to: Is Lee ever going to leave? The center is supposed to be by Bunkie now. Oh it has no steering currents, well that’s good to know, Mr. Weatherman.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 88

2011-09-03T18:29:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 3: 965 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 965
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 4425
Total words for the new draft: 27884
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Maybe I need a cushioned mat for the standing desk?
The Good: Haven’t lost power yet, but it’s blinking pretty regularly now. So I got enough changes done today. My editing changes are now in Chapter Eight, so it looks like Lee is giving me a chance to make lots of progress.
The Bad: The squalls of rain.
Fave line: “Now that’s just stupid. All good assassins insist on payment in full before taking an assignment.”
What I'm looking forward to: Xeryl’s reappearance.
What I'm not looking forward to: More rain tomorrow as Lee leaves Louisiana.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 87

2011-09-02T20:28:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 2: 804 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words:804
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 3460
Total words for the new draft: 26919
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Worry if I’m going to have electricity over the weekend because Tropical Storm Lee is coming through.
The Good: Finished my maximum amount again today, despite not having time to really work on it while at the paying job.
The Bad: The method I found to work on novel while working on lawsuits only works when I can work uninterrupted on the lawsuits.
Fave line: “I don’t even have metaphors for how aggravating it is that the ONLY cooperating I have gotten in this case has been from you and Xeryl!”
What I'm looking forward to: Nothing happening tomorrow but me getting hours to work Chapter Seven and Chapter Eight.
What I'm not looking forward to: I’d tell you how many lawsuits I have left but I’m at home now and I don’t remember.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 86

2011-09-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 1: 803 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 803
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 2656
Total words for the new draft: 26115
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Dishes and this new interface that won't publish this post.
The Good: YES! Finally cracked the 800 daily limit I want. I figured out how to make the edits while still working on lawsuits without screwing up on either.
The Bad: Hopefully I’m not setting up my NPI for impossible standards. And I’ll have to spend my after eating lunch time editing the paper copy.
Fave line: “I decide what to take serious and what not. And you’re full of salvia if you think I believe these lies!”
What I'm looking forward to: The meeting with the Chief Inspector.
What I'm not looking forward to: 891 lawsuits to process. That’s the lowest amount I have seen in that tally in MONTHS.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 85

2011-08-30T10:18:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 0: 785 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words:785
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 1853
Total words for the new draft: 25312
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: All I want to do is sleep.
The Good: Woot! Finally got over 500 and almost reached the 800 daily I would like to have.
The Bad: I got it with a big chunk of cut n’ paste of what I’m keeping.
Fave line: “I wish you guard types would comprehend I don’t want to lose my bartending license due to poisoning the customers.”
What I'm looking forward to: The meeting with Hiqurguet, if I have any time free at lunch to work on it.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1004 lawsuits to process. That’s the lowest amount I have seen in that tally in MONTHS.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 84

2011-08-29T10:40:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 0: 280 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words:280
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 1068
Total words for the new draft: 24527
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: The To Do List isn’t even close to being done.
The Good: Got a little bit done today.
The Bad: So far all I can reach is my minimum. :(
Fave line: “So we have to figure out how to contact him without triggering a street brawl.” She propped up her chin. “At least Ckitatans are not homicidal maniacs.”
What I'm looking forward to: Meeting Hiqurguet.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1094 lawsuits to process.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 34

2011-08-29T06:58:00.000-05:00

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Stellar Gift of Death Post 83

2011-08-26T10:16:00.000-05:00

NPI Day 0: 515 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 515
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 788
Total words for the new draft: 24247
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: I can’t even finishing the metrics posts on time?
The Good: More words than I got yesterday.
The Bad: Yeah, I must find more time to work on it if I’m going to make the deadline at all.
Fave line: “My citkemraas tsaihet, clan sisters, always knew if attentions from a male were insincere or not.”
What I'm looking forward to: What’s coming up in Chapter Seven. Events that happened on two different planets are being shifted to one, Zy and Xeryl’s forced partnership is getting shoved forward to become the first plot point, and I think I have to recount the murders again. My weekend plans: Captain America and Doctor Who. *Snicker* I’m so glad I dropped the time-traveling Nazis from my original big idea about this novel.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills, filing paperwork, and 1095 lawsuits to process.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 82

2011-08-25T10:08:00.001-05:00

NPI Day 0: 279 words

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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METRICS
New Words: 279
Edited Chapter Seven total words: 273
Total words for the new draft: 23,732
Total words for the last draft: 58,916
What I hate: Remembering all the errands I needed to run but one and I was in the neighborhood to run it.
The Good: No problems jumping into the draft and getting something accomplished.
The Bad: But this is the reason why I started before the NPI starts on September 1st. Writing at the paying job is possible and productive when I’m dealing with first draft out of my head. When I’m dealing with revising (finding the parts of the previous draft I want to keep and making them work again), it’s not so productive.

”So just use your lunch hour.” The problem is I have to EAT. And since I can be a klutz with food at my desk, I don’t pull out my manuscript until I’m finished eating. That leaves me with about thirty minutes and the above total is roughly what I can do in thirty minutes. I obviously need to pull time from somewhere else to work on the revising part, but I haven’t figured out where yet.
Fave line: “Good, I don’t think there’s enough room in the saucer for a hydroponics unit.”
What I'm looking forward to: What’s coming up in Chapter Seven. Events that happened on two different planets are being shifted to one, Zy and Xeryl’s forced partnership is getting shoved forward to become the first plot point, and I think I have to recount the murders again. My weekend plans: Captain America and Doctor Who. *Snicker* I’m so glad I dropped the time-traveling Nazis from my original big idea about this novel.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills, filing paperwork, and 1095 lawsuits to process.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 81

2011-08-24T12:24:00.001-05:00

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

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I’ve practically dropped this project from my radar for nearly a month. But I’m picking it back up today in preparation for NPI for September and finishing the bloody thing before the end of the year.

There’s 122 days left in the year, not counting the dregs of August. My minimum for NPI is 250 words a day. By my calculations, I should reach the 120,000 words by the end of the year if I write around 800 words a day. Before the whimpering starts, that’s where I was ending up daily with Alchemy. So it IS doable.

That said, I’m trying to gaslight the roadblocks or otherwise stupid mistakes that I make with my original fiction. Just play along with the scenario.

There was a wacky but wonderful show that was cancelled because the fans were too few and the networks didn’t know what to do with it. It was about a human detective in outer space and her alien sidekick. There was a mystery of the week to solve, usually murder, and a reoccurring romantic interest who was on the wrong side of the law but the detective trusted him. None of the crimes took place on Earth, but rather exotic alien locations. You can see why the networks had issues with it. Couldn’t decided how to market it and couldn’t afford the special effects.

The show dropped hints of how the characters found the close rapport they displayed onscreen, but never did a flashback story to show it. So I’m picking up the slack.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 27

2011-08-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 811
Total words for the first draft: 29990
What I hate: Remembering the last time I had something in my hand and can’t remember how it left my hand.
The Good: Finished Part 36. OMG, I finished this story!
The Bad: What am I supposed to do now between lawsuits for the rest of the day?
Fave Jack line: “Go on and kiss her, Dad. I know you’re dating.”
Fave Connor Line: “I don’t want you to have my regrets. Because I can’t save everyone. I try, but nature doesn’t care.”
Fave Natalie line: “Typical Kate meeting?”
What I'm looking forward to: Go home, clean the office, and get ready for Sept. 1st.
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting the house clean so my weekend is free.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 26

2011-08-22T07:29:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 780
Total words for the first draft: 29179
What I hate: Remembering the last time I had something in my hand and can’t remember how it left my hand.
The Good: Finished Part 35.
The Bad: One more part to go and more lawsuits came in.
Fave Jack line: “I already got all the merit badges you can get in first aid when I was a Cub Scout.”
Fave Cain line: “Your father just showed you how not to bait a hook, so we’ll practice that. Get a worm out of the bucket.”
Fave Connor Line: “You’re both adults, you don’t need my permission. Now, go; I’m supposed to be enjoying this time with my son.”
Fave Natalie line: “First aid, you should be helping him with merit badges in that.”
Fave Azkadellia line: “DG thinks I have a chance to be happy on Earth and she wants me to take that chance.”
Fave Miles line: “Maybe now’s not the best time.”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing this story
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting the house clean so my weekend is free.

2011 Fiction Word Counts Week 33

2011-08-22T07:15:00.001-05:00

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Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 25

2011-08-21T07:16:00.001-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 621
Total words for the first draft: 27684
What I hate: Chores!
The Good: Finished Part 32.
The Bad: Four more parts to go.
Fave Jack line: “My RBI sucks. The coach says I need to pick one sport instead of baseball and football.”
Fave Cain line: “Children games played by adults intent on breaking their skulls for entertainment?”
Fave DG Line: “The Counts left for Central City. Let’s play ball!”

New Words: 326
Total words for the first draft: 28010
The Good: Finished Part 33.
The Bad: Three more parts to go.
Fave Jeb line: Jack was like a little brother his parents had never given him.

New Words: 378
Total words for the first draft: 28388
The Good: Finished Part 34.
The Bad: Two more parts to go for Monday.
Fave Azkadellia line: “Oh I don’t doubt that there will be plenty of things I’ll get confused about. But what do I have here, DG?”
Fave DG Line: “And how much time have you spent out of Dr. McCabe’s company lately?”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing this story
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting the house clean so my weekend is free.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 24

2011-08-20T11:38:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 829
Total words for the first draft: 27063
What I hate: No energy to do anything on the weekend.
The Good: Finished Part 31.
The Bad: It took all day to motivate myself to finish the scene.
Fave Connor line: “Jack has my empathy, the stone-cold son-of-a-bitch of the N.I.H.?”
Fave Natalie line: “If you want to pretend this never happened when we get back to Bethesda, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
What I'm looking forward to: Can I find enough motivation to finish the next five parts?
What I'm not looking forward to: Dishes and laundry. I forgot about them today.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 23

2011-08-19T11:36:00.001-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 810
Total words for the first draft: 26234
What I hate: Commute construction.
The Good: Finished Part 30.
The Bad: Sheesh, I hope this isn’t going to be a trend, taking two days to finish one. I have 6 more parts to go and I need to have them finished before August 31st.
Fave DG line: “Your paranoia is usually right, but I have a plan if that scenario comes true.”
Fave Connor line: “They grow up so fast.
Fave Cain line: “You do realize this is a test.”
Fave Natalie line: “No picking on Miles.”
Fave Frank line: “Is this how it feels when the kids are finally old enough to go to prom?”
What I'm looking forward to: Using the copier at the paying job to decrease the amount of papers I have stored at home.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1277 lawsuits. Yes, parishes sent us more, but I’ve been chipping away at them.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 22

2011-08-18T07:29:00.000-05:00

DUF: Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 22
Date: 08/18/2011
Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

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METRICS
New Words: 1342
Total words for the first draft: 25424
What I hate: Commute construction.
The Good: Finished Part 29.
The Bad: Why the heck did it take three days?
Fave DG line: “It’s not my fault he crossed over before the eighties.”
Fave Miles line: “Baron Colfer knew what he was doing when he threw the soup bowl at you.”
Fave Connor line: “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
Fave Azkadellia line: “Why do you all keep making up words? Is it a something that happens when you go through a travel storm? I thought DG was just indulgencing in bratty behavior but maybe she can’t help it.”
Fave Cain line: “Bigger question is did anyone change the punishments when Galinda returned to power?”
Fave Natalie line: “At least five more labs following my recipe.”
Fave Eva line: “We clearly chose the wrong time to take a lunch break judging by how the servants are gossiping. What did we miss?”
Fave Frank line: “So what’s going to happen to Vandervort now?”
Fave Raw line: “Better now. No sickness.”
What I'm looking forward to: Using the copier at the paying job to decrease the amount of papers I have stored at home.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1342 lawsuits. Yes, parishes sent us more, but I’ve been chipping away at them.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 21

2011-08-15T09:50:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 875
Total words for the first draft: 24081
What I hate: Commute construction.
The Good: Finished Part 28.
The Bad: I was hoping to knock three more out like I managed last week.
Fave DG line: “Get this murdering bastard out of my sight before I make some Queen of Hearts declaration that violates everything we stand for.”
Fave Miles line: “If Raw is a lie detector too, let the record show I got no issues with him detecting on me.”
Fave Connor line: “How hard did he hit you?”
What I'm looking forward to: Using the copier at the paying job to decrease the amount of papers I have stored at home.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1406 lawsuits. Yes, parishes sent us more.

2011 Fiction Word Count Week 32

2011-08-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 20

2011-08-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 903
Total words for the first draft: 23,203
What I hate: They didn’t fix the speed bump at the end of my driveway Saturday.
The Good: Finished Part 27.
The Bad: I was lazy this weekend, but at least I got the laundry done.
Fave DG line: “So should I start with my inexperience at dating that’s not true on the Other Side? Or the fact that I can count on one hand the nobles my own age who have actually done anything toward rebuilding the O.Z.? I love Wyatt Cain and I am marrying him. If you don’t like it, you can hand in your resignation now.”
Fave Cain line: “Maybe we should look at how history is being taught across the Zone if they’re getting mixed up on what just happened an annual ago.”
Fave Glitch line: “That’s the same speech you gave Galinda when she turned down your betrothal for Ahamo’s! Dangling from the balloon and staring down into the Gap wasn’t punishment enough the first time?”
What I'm looking forward to: Using the copier at the paying job to decrease the amount of papers I have stored at home.
What I'm not looking forward to: 1232 lawsuits.

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy Metrics Post 19

2011-08-12T11:08:00.000-05:00

Tin Man & Medical Investigations: Alchemy

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 919
Total words for the first draft: 22300
What I hate:Okay, my weekend goal is to get my damn sleep schedule fixed because nearly falling asleep at my desk is ridiculous.
The Good: Finished Part 26.
The Bad: Only one section today because it was take the August birthdays out for lunch day today at the paying job. It really cramped the writing, but the food was great.
Fave Miles line: “It’s Blue Oyster Cult. I’ve got some Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Hole, R.E.M.; those are names of the bands.”
Fave Azkadellia line: “I’m not nearly as brave as Lily. I don’t want to die with the witch’s sins still on my soul.”
What I'm looking forward to: A new car that doesn’t give me so much shit.
What I'm not looking forward to: Not being able to afford new car until 2020. :p