Stellar Gift of Death Post 61

NPI Day 31: 334 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 334
Chapter Thirteen total: 334
Total words for the first draft: 50,175
What I hate about my writing: Getting distracted so easily.
The Good: Finished NPI with a grand total of 9845 words added to my narrative.
The Bad: I got slightly distracted trying to find a program to build solar systems. I've got another one to try out.
Fave line: “Maybe I wouldn’t if they hadn’t assigned a persona for the Chief that yells at me.”
What I'm looking forward to: Playing with StarGen (the new program).
What I'm not looking forward to: Describing this latest world.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 60

NPI Day 29: 0 words - Day of Reprieve
NPI Day 30: 275 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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Well, my unspoken desire to not use any days of reprieve didn't happen. I woke up late Friday and never could catch enough time to sit down and write.

Today I tried something different. Instead of throwing myself at the narrative, I'm spending the time and word count on building the next planet my protagonists will travel to. Hopefully, this will help me visualize the scenery and write the description the first time around.

Then I had an attack of math, as in "did I do these astronomical formulas correctly?" Aggravating, so I did waste time looking to see if someone has invented a program that would let me plug in the variables I want and take care of making it scientifically sound. I downloaded AstroSynthesis, but I don't know if I did something wrong when I tried it out or if it's a problem with the program. I'll see what happens with it after I reboot.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 59

NPI Day 28: 327 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 327
Chapter Twelve total words: 3414
Total words for the first draft: 49,841
What I hate about my writing: Nothing today.
The Good: Finished Chapter Twelve!
The Bad: Funeral for a family friend today.
Fave line: His violet eyes scanned the screen. “The Military Academy Museum of Centri. That system is only eight hours away from Pathic.” Now he looked at her and pulled back before their noses collided. “Is this a new clue?”
What I'm looking forward to: Taking the rest of today and finishing up some projects I have backlogged.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

2010 Fiction Count Week 43

Week 43

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2010 Fiction Word Count Week 42

Week 42

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Caught up now.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 58

NPI Day 27: 414 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 414
Chapter Twelve total words: 3087
Total words for the first draft: 49,514
What I hate about my writing: Do I need more thinking thoughts? Do I need more description? The answer to both of these questions is probably yes.
The Good: Finished my daily words, remembered all my props, and have totally confused my coworkers with my cosplay/Halloween costume again.
The Bad: I forgot my camera, so I don't know how I'm going to get a picture of my cosplay/costume. Student worker to the rescue! She brought hers.
Fave line: “We’re having such a good time. Do you really want to ruin it by setting me up to point out that your eye is still bloody and your voice has changed registers?” Xeryl finished off his drink.
What I'm looking forward to: The end of the chapter.
What I'm not looking forward to: The end of the NPI.

Phantom Highwayman Notes 04

It was rejected, and I'm not freaked out about that. I didn't really expect a different outcome since I can't write horror.

But Whitlock Publishing was surprisingly easy to submit to and they also sent an email telling me they had received the submission. I've got no qualms submitting to them again, provided they have a project I can click with.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 57

NPI Day 26: 355 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 355
Chapter Twelve total words: 2673
Total words for the first draft: 49,100
What I hate about my writing: Not describing things.
The Good: I'm actually surprised how Zy and Xeryl haven't started sniping at each other.
The Bad: Yo scene, can you show me where to wrap this up and move onto the next scene?
Fave line: “Yipee, lump me in with the rest of the coculas. That’s what Mealte called the rest of the organization who cut and run with nearly everything that wasn’t rock.”
What I'm looking forward to: Finishing my Halloween costume for tomorrow, the end of family drama, and bedtime. Not necessarily in that order.
What I'm not looking forward to: Adding the stuff to the wiki and working on "Covenant of the Restless."

Stellar Gift of Death Post 56

NPI Day 25: 309 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 309
Chapter Twelve total words: 2318
Total words for the first draft: 48,745
What I hate about my writing: Yo scene, where do you want to wrap up?
The Good: Made my word count before lunch.
The Bad: I want to crawl back into bed and die.
Fave line: He led her around the furniture and into a seat at the table. "There's nothing else we can do today." He looked down at the already filled plates. "Your bodyguard is a waiter?"
What I'm looking forward to: Bedtime.
What I'm not looking forward to: Driving home before bedtime.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 55

NPI Day 24: 304 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 304
Chapter Twelve total words: 2009
Total words for the first draft: 48,436
What I hate about my writing: The characters keep glancing at me with those "give us something to do" expressions.
The Good: It scares me how well organized I was when I last put everything concerning this story. I found the last of the stuff to put in the wiki, the notes on the romantic scene, etc.
The Bad: I haven't put anything into the wiki yet today. And while there's nothing wrong with my notes, I think I outlined romance too early in the narrative. Considered that shoved back for now and maybe that'll jar loose the jam.
Fave line: “It’s not a relationship I’m proud of or would want to repeat. Bailingi was a trial worthy of any IGA prosecutes. And if you are concerned about comparisons, don’t be. One of the factors I find attractive in you is that you are capable of considering things beyond your own desires.”
What I'm looking forward to: Getting ahead of myself. If I had a few pages of handwritten notes to see where this scene is going instead of groping with the words on the computer screen....
What I'm not looking forward to: Getting ahead of myself. I feel absolutely drained of motivation to do anything and everything.

Screw it. I have laundry and dishes to finish. Once those chores are done, I'm curling up on the couch with a movie marathon while I look for more songs to inspire. I'll be back tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 54

NPI Day 23: 255

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 255
Chapter Twelve total words: 1705
Total words for the first draft: 48,132
What I hate about my writing: The words weren't too hard today. Now the hour I spent on the budget before I got to words, *sigh.*
The Good: *Snort* I made a marathon spreadsheet with the goal to write 7750 words by October 31st. (250 words a day x 31). Thanks to a consistant string of days over 250 words, I surpassed that goal today.
The Bad: My doors are open to enjoy the crisp fall air and low temps. Birds are trying to invade my house through the back door, which has no screen. I have no idea what they are looking for.
Fave line: “Jannuet is the odd gal out. Rejeld knew about the trap. He came there to kill her and said she had to die because she betrayed him. But he didn’t explode her head.”
What I'm looking forward to: Other projects. I have free writing time that I need to spend.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding those layouts to scan. Clean the office. Clean the kitchen. Build a plate rack.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 53

NPI Day 23: 280 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 280
Chapter Twelve total words: 1450
Total words for the first draft: 47,877
What I hate about my writing: When I have no real idea what a scene is supposed to do, the characters become talking heads.
The Good: I finished putting in all the notes from the notes binder into the wiki! It's not all of the notes on the project (I have some sketches I need to scan), but it's the biggest chunk and it gives me a frame work to organize stuff I won't change in the series like alien races and planets.
The Bad: I'm letting the characters be talking heads at the moment because it gives me the chance to figure out where this investigation is going and what has been covered before.
Fave line: “You do know the most interesting beings, Zy.”
What I'm looking forward to: Scene 2 if I ever get to it. I have to find the bones of that scene that I put on a scrap way back in 1994, 1995?
What I'm not looking forward to: Looking through the really big binder of previous drafts for that note and the layouts I need to scan. Weekend project.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 52

NPI Day 21: 323 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 323
Chapter Twelve total words: 1170
Total words for the first draft: 47,597
What I hate about my writing: I need more description.
The Good: Xeryl and Zy are having a normal conversation.
The Bad: Xeryl doesn't know anything about serial killers.
Fave line: “That Cobaine also specializes in? Exotic pleasure items. Rejeld did me a favor it seems.” His long fingers curled into a fist. “And I loathe thinking that after what he did to you."
What I'm looking forward to: Family drama to end. *headdesk*
What I'm not looking forward to: The next two weeks before my next paycheck.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 51

NPI Day 20: 308 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 308
Chapter Twelve total words: 847
Total words for the first draft: 47,274
What I hate about my writing: When I do stupid things and make more work for myself. I was struggling typing up my handwritten notes from 2005 into the new wiki. This morning, while looking for a timeline file, I found the files of those note already typed. I've had fun cut 'n pasting since then.
The Good: Zy and Xeryl are having a real conversation. And Mealte is cooking, though Zy hasn't realized that yet.
The Bad: I also had to go reread Chapters Two through Five to make sure this conversation actually reveals some new information to the reader.
Fave line: “So Ifeket and Possatact’s scheme was something you wouldn’t approve of. What is on that list?”
What I'm looking forward to: Domestic arrangements.
What I'm not looking forward to: All the formatting work I have to do in the wiki.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 50

NPI Day 19: 313 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 313
Chapter Twelve total words: 539
Total words for the first draft: 46,966
What I hate about my writing: Panic attacks.
The Good: I finally got the word count in.
The Bad: I spent my morning half-four of writing time trying to edit for a submission deadline. Which then triggered the panic attack of submission. Then I had to go to the paying job and still managed to give myself therapy before lunch. Lunch working on Stellar Gift of Death. Then back home working on Stellar Gift of Death. Now my body is stressed out from the panic attack and it's making my head hurt, or I'm getting a cold. And the scene sucks.
Fave line: His expression shifted from peeved to concerned fast enough to give someone whiplash. “Do you need to go back to the medical center?”
What I'm looking forward to: Hell if I know. Maybe it's time to formally profile the killer. Or a let's review the facts of the case scene. Right now I have no idea where the investigation is.
What I'm not looking forward to: Tomorrow.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 49

NPI Day 18: 302 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 302
Chapter Eleven total words: 5366
Chapter Twelve total words: 226
Total words for the first draft: 46,653
What I hate about my writing: I really just want to crawl back into bed now.
The Good: Finished the journal entry for Chapter Twelve.
The Bad: I totally forgot to save Chapter Twelve to the flash drive this morning.
Fave line: “I doubt everyone in the spaceport has been struck with spontaneous blindness, but it would be easier with a ship name or registration.”
What I'm looking forward to: Pain reliever to kick in on this headache I have suddenly sprouted.
What I'm not looking forward to: Tuesday.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 48

NPI Day 17: 368 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 368 words
Chapter Eleven total words: 5290
Total words for the first draft: 46,351
What I hate about my writing: Looking back at what I've done and realizing I let description slide right off the page. Readers can't see the images inside you head without words!
The Good: This chapter is probably a few paragraphs away from the outlined end. I'm pretty sure This chapter will be divided so it has a cliffhanger with the conclave.
The Bad: Caught up on the longhand notes again. Don't know if I'll have time today to scribble more.
Fave line: “How exactly is this partnership going to work? Are you going to shackle me to your desk to approve the reports or are you actually going to trust me with some responsibilities?”
What I'm looking forward to: OH. Oh boy. Xeryl and Zy can't split up like my outline had them doing in the next couple of chapters. Now they have to discover the information in a different way. And this is why I point and laugh at people who say "outlines ruin the spontaneity of writing."
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework. The wiki. Planning meals ahead but only cooking for Monday. (Trying out a new way of shopping, buying groceries more often but less so they are actually eaten before ruining.) Editing. And I don't want to do any of it. Seriously, my head feels like it wants to be spinning on the merry-go-round without me.

Guess what? It's check blood sugar time. 124 at 2:17pm. And if ANYONE ever tells you "pricking your finger for a little blood test doesn't hurt" they are lying bastards who lie and don't have to do it.

What was the funny moment for all diabetics in Iron Man 2? Watching Tony prick the same damn finger every time he tested his blood. Other than that I really enjoyed the movie.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 47

NPI Day 16: 321 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 321
Chapter Eleven total words: 4922
Total words for the first draft: 45,983 Recalculated today since when I scanned through the manuscript for alien names, I deleted the previous version chapters four and five, so no duplicates now! :D
What I hate about my writing: LATE start today. I had to fight with the computer over the InCD issue. *Crossing fingers that the first patch suggestion works.*
The Good: Conclave finished and back to the investigation.
The Bad: I just feel so meh about the scene. Oh well.
Fave line: “Just using logic. Killing me and pissing off IGA wasn’t a chance they wanted to take.”
What I'm looking forward to: Lunch, I should probably have some.
What I'm not looking forward to: Sitting here and working on the wiki. I have an hour and forty-five minutes of writing time left to catch up and I should spend it on the wiki.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 46

NPI Day 15: 314 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 314
Chapter Eleven total: 4601 words
Total words for the first draft: 45,545
What I hate about my writing: Computer is really getting on my nerves. For some goofy reason, InCD Log freezes and it causes Windows Explorer to freeze, typically when I'm trying to copy files between my hard drive and flash drive.
The Good: The conclave is nearly over.
The Bad: I think this chapter will need a lot of restructuring help in editing.
Fave line: Nobody trust me because I’m IGA; it’s okay, I’m getting used to it.
What I'm looking forward to: Having a stern talking to myself for omitting a whole murder victim because my notes are not in the wiki yet.
What I'm not looking forward to: Putting the wiki in order.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 45

NPI Day 14: 306 words

Stellar gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 306
Chapter Eleven total words: 4286
Total words for the first draft: 45,231
What I hate about my writing: Today's the first day I've had to leave my house before I got the daily word count. O.O I don't like depending on lunch hours because I am flaky when it comes to writing at lunch hours.
The Good: I got it and then some ahead in the notebook. Hopefully tomorrow won't feel like pulling teeth.
Non-Writing Good: I found how to turn my ringer off for the damn telemarketing call that is scheduled for 8pm and 8:30pm.

For those who don't know, I get up at 3am to get housework and writing (and exercise hopefully) done before going to the paying job because by the time I get home I'm too tired for any of that. The trade off: I go to bed at 8pm, though with the way the sun is setting, it's been about 7:45 this week. This means I'm about to pay my admission to the Land of Nod when the DAMN TRILLING PHONE catapults me to my feet in the start of the lurching drunken dance to ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE! All repeated thirty minutes later. I don't dare not get up and see who it is because various relatives and various states of health, it could be summons to a hospital. However, thanks to this fun game, I haven't been crawling out of bed until the light absolutely makes me and that's 3:45am for some unexplainable timer reason.

Answer: turn off the phone *maniacal laughter* and tell my parents to beat my door down if it is the above medical emergencies.
The Bad: The conclave scene, *pout* I don't think it's nearly menacing enough. I want it to be menacing.
Fave line: “I am IGA Agent Zy assigned to investigate a murder Xeryl reported.” She crossed her legs primly and met his crafted gaze. “Unfortunately, the murderer remains at large and hasn’t stopped killing. There are no reproductive relations between me and Xeryl.” (Yeah, another racketeer implied that and this is Zy clearing that up nicely.)
What I'm looking forward to: Getting back to the investigation after this diversion.
What I'm not looking forward to: Alien creation. I don't remember aliens being this nerve-wracking before.

2010 Fiction Word Count Week 41

Week 41

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Yeah, I totally forgot about updating these.

Capt. Kate Short Story Post 9

"Covenant of the Restless"

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METRICS
New Words for rewrite: 2129
Total words for the first draft: 6323
What I hate about my writing: Needing to double check details.
The Good: Bye-bye ghost monks, you were fun when you weren't critiqued as walking straight out of Return of the King.
The Bad: I should have left those forums alone. Now I've got jitters over my protagonist's bloody name!
Fave line: Kate slammed the writing box shut. “Confound it! You cannot shoot what you aim at, your swordsmanship is rudimentary, you trip over the others in the gunnery crew, you do not know a planer from an awl, and you know even less surgery skills. Prithee tell me what positions are left on the crew for a man trained for court and cannot be there because of his poor choice in friends?”
What I'm looking forward to: Stopping at the library to double check those pesky details.
What I'm not looking forward to: Submission. Now I have to go burying my brain in aliens until it decides this isn't important to fret about and I can sneak the submission past it's radar.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 44

NPI Day 13: 326 words

Stellar Gifft of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 326
Chapter Eleven total: 3980 words
Total words for the first draft: 44,925
What I hate about my writing: Yanking the words out with sharp objects.
The Good: The conclave!
The Bad: Too many place holders.
Fave line: “If Riteno spent as much time on business as he does on allegations, he would match your net worth, Bastez.”
What I'm looking forward to: Bringing out the danger.
What I'm not looking forward to: So far, it seems like a pissing match.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 43

NPI Day 12: 290 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 290
Chapter Eleven total: 3654
Total words for the first draft: 44,599
What I hate about my writing: Words did not want to crawl out of my brain this morning.
The Good: We're off to see the conclave!
The Bad: What do you mean, I forgot to name the alien species?
Fave line: “All those IGA rules are good for something, right? You know exactly what I can do and can’t do without getting into trouble.” Zy tried to step around Xeryl, but his arm blocked her path closer to Riteno. “It’s obvious that someone has called a meeting. Either I’m supposed to go or not. So can you ask tentacle face which one it is and get a location so we can proceed with the investigation?”
What I'm looking forward to: A little role reversal. Calm and collected is usually Xeryl's forte, but it's hard for even him to do when somebody he hates is holding a gun to his head. Zy will need to keep her easily frayed temper in check to get them out of this.
What I'm not looking forward to: Alien biology and names. Need more names. *headdesk*

Stellar Gift of Death Post 42

NPI Day 11: 292 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 292
Chapter Eleven total: 3364 words
Total words for the first draft: 44,309
What I hate about my writing: Stumbling in the dark when I can't quite grasp a new character.
The Good: Riteno has finally made an appearance.
The Bad: Other than knowing he and Xeryl butt heads, I have no clue who he is.
Fave line: Zy peered around Xeryl’s arm. “Incident? What you have an inability to say ‘murder?’ It’s not that hard.”
What I'm looking forward to: The next cold front, which will hopefully kill off some the bugs he keep aiming for my face as I type. I have no idea how they're getting into my house.
What I'm not looking forward to: I think I may have a leak in the office, but I have no idea how to take the siding apart to see if I do.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 41

NPI Day 10: 446 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 446
Chapter Eleven total: 3072 words
Total words for the first draft: 44,017
What I hate about my writing: It's so slow to compose on the computer.
The Good: It didn't take a whole hour to get today's word count.
The Bad: Does this mean I have bad time management skills?
Fave lines: Zy chewed on her bottom lip before answering his question. “He claimed it was for retribution, but it was also helping out the galaxy. That falls under mission-oriented.”

His hands grabbed her shoulders again, pulling her out of the poorly-lit corridor of last night. “You talked to him?”
What I'm looking forward to: The conclave! And finishing the edits to "Covenant of the Restless" so I can work on notes.
What I'm not looking forward to: I actually did work on the notes because Zy and Xeryl started talking about serial killer theory and I had to work it in. But that was new notes and not the pile of papers I need to put in the wiki. *headdesk*

Stellar Gift of Death Post 40

NPI Day 9: 251 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 251
Chapter Eleven total: 2626 words
Total words for the first draft: 43,571
What I hate about my writing: Reached the end of the longhand writing I did back on Tuesday and I need to finish the other project so I can start again.
The Good: Housework is pretty caught up, so after some quality time with my mother, I have plenty of time to write.
The Bad: Split focus with two projects to work on. :(
Fave line: Xeryl crossed his arms. “Do you honestly think I would withhold what I saw when the coronerbot’s vidPics will tell you different?”
What I'm looking forward to: The conclave.
What I'm not looking forward to: Organizing those dreaded notes. At this point, I think I'm just procrastinating to procrastinate.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 39

NPI Day 8: 443 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 443
Chapter Eleven total: 2375
Total words for the first draft: 43,320
What I hate about my writing: I put off budget work last night, so I had to pay bills this morning. I got my time in, but it still feels like I didn't accomplish anything. *pout*
The Good: I'm on schedule and have met the word count goals for a whole week.
The Bad: I have been feeling dizzy in bed and nose is trying to clog up. I hope I'm not coming down with a bug.
Fave line: The blood and gore spread over the walls and floor of the parlor looked fresher than most of the other crime scenes—except for Hiqurguet.
What I'm looking forward to: The conclave; I should get to it over the weekend.
What I'm not looking forward to: Forcing myself to go deal with the notes.

Capt. Kate Short Story Post 8

Research fun: Wikipedia: Chalice
Wikipedia: Redcap
Celtic Head Cult
Celtic Symbols

I'm up to page four in my handwritten notes of changes to make. I won't know the effect on the word count until I start typing them in. I've already changed the treasure, and got to the first appearance of the redcap. The possible word count has expanded, which leads me to think we can spend more time in the ruined fortress in the mountains.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 38

NPI Day 7: 363 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 363 words
Chapter Eleven total: 1932 words
Total words for the first draft: 42,877
What I hate about my writing: Nothing right now, though I'm glad I got a sizable chunk done before getting distracted by redcaps.
The Good: I like the cadence of Zy and Xeryl's verbal battle.
The Bad: I need to build the planets so I can actually have description instead of the bare bones. Also my lunch order getting totally lost. *Sharpens cutlass*
Fave line: Zy blinked. “They didn’t leave last night? After you warned them?” He shook his head. “How else can we help the murderer, give them signs saying ‘Kill me, I’m stupid!’?”
What I'm looking forward to: The conclave.
What I'm not looking forward to: Foraging for lunch because the delivery person is incompetent.

2010 Fiction Word Count Week 40

Week 40

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Seven days of working on the NPI has given me some progress. Something to keep in mind for next year's goals.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 37

NPI Day 6: 400 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 400
Chapter Eleven total: 1569
Total words for the first draft: 42,514
What I hate about my writing: How it makes a mess all over my desk? Do I really need all these papers?
The Good: Since I didn't have to go to work yesterday, I have a few pages ahead so I can just type without pausing to think it out.
The Bad: Still have to find those backstory details.
Fave line: “Flippant attitude? I have a flippant attitude? Just because I choose not to let my entire conversation rest on the fiasco, doesn’t mean I don’t care that the murderer got away, a colleague is injured, a woman is dead, and the murder still has a potential hostage!” She pushed him into the lift and he slammed against the wall. “I do care!”
What I'm looking forward to: A murdering redcap, wait, wrong story. The conclave in this one.
What I'm not looking forward to: Dealing with those detail notes.

Capt. Kate Short Story Post 7

Covenant of the Restless

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It's been four years since I dealt with this story. It's probably been almost three since I had a brain wave to put it in the world building I've titled "Piper of Shadows." And when I first started teasing out that world building I was creating the rules for urban fantasy, but didn't rule out historical settings. Honest, it's in my first paragraph of notes!

I have about a week to revise based on the comments from my last beta reader and tie in the changes to make it fit into the "Piper of Shadows" universe. I'm really excited about this, more than I was with the "Hitchhiking Highwayman."

Stellar Gift of Death Post 36

NPI Day 5: 386 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 386
Chapter Eleven total: 1169
Total words for the first draft: 42114
What I hate about my writing: Another day that I avoided the notes. I have to deal with backstory in the next few pages.
The Good: I got a fair bit written ahead while at work yesterday, longhand in a notebook. I finished that word count in fifteen minutes!
The Bad: I may have a split focus for the rest of the week, thanks to an opportunity I'd be a fool to pass up.
Fave line: He turned back to Zy and drew a circle in the air around his face. "This is worry, which isn’t against the law. You don’t return to your saucer and then I discover you spent the night in a medical center—"
What I'm looking forward to: The conclave of racketeers, which ups the ante for Zy and Xeryl and forces them into a more even partnership that Zy has been resisting.
What I'm not looking forward to: Looking up those backstory developments.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 35

NPI Day 4: 516 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 516
Chapter Eleven total: 771
Total words for the first draft: 41,728
What I hate about my writing: I wish I had the ability to draw so I could stop freaking out that my descriptions are changing every time I use one.
The Good: Xeryl finally made it into the scene, just in time for lunch to run out.
The Bad: Today has been a real sluggish day for some reason. Maybe because it's Monday.
Fave line: “If you don’t go up against the challenging bad guys, you’ll never have the advantage over the stupid ones.” He tugged his cap. “That sounded better in the brain matter.”
What I'm looking forward to: Piling on the angst along with the body count!
What I'm not looking forward to: Worrying that my leads are going to sound like petulant teenagers instead of full of pathos.

2010 Fiction Word Count Week 39

Week 39

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I know I have three months left, but I don't think I'm going to make the goal for the year. So of course, today I'm looking at what to do next year.

182,500 for the year is probably closer in reach. And I need to figure out my fallow time better. Out of 273 days this year, I have 225 when I didn't write anything. *headdesk* I didn't realize it was that bad.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 34

NPI Day 3: 359 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS
New Words: 359
Chapter Ten total: 2669
Chapter Eleven total: 255
Total words for the first draft: 41212
What I hate about my writing: Not doing the metrics right after I finish up, just in case I get to come back to the story, and the never-ending chore list means I never get to. :p
The Good: I'm finally out of chapter ten! Except for the pesky detail of adding in a journal entry when I can think of that correlates to the main plot.
The Bad: The evil dust bunnies of doom kept me from adding details to the wiki like I had planned to do this weekend.
Fave line: For not having kids and parents like solids do, Murdock has that down cold.
What I'm looking forward to: Xeryl finds out Zy is in the hospital overnight for observation.
What I'm not looking forward to: Revenge of the dust bunnies.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 33

NPI Day 2: 267


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No time for proper metrics. I already took my night-time medication and was halfway into bed before realizing I hadn't put my word count up yet. Tomorrow's post will be better.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 32

NPI Day 1: 373 words

Stellar Gift of Death

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METRICS

New words: 373
Total words for Chapter 10: 2309
Total words of first draft: 40,586
What I hate about my writing: Hate? There is no hate. Today was awesomesauce!
The Good: When we last left our intrepid shero*, her informant had just been shot and she and Mealte were scrambling to keep the murderer from fleeing. Now I'm in the middle of the scene where she gets to confront the murderer for the first time. I have twenty-one chapters outlined, so yes, this is the part where he gets away to commit more dastardly deeds.
The Bad: My job for the weekend is to get all the background notes into the wiki. I don't want to lose what details I have already. I'm peeved at the timer I bought. Lifehacker had a great tip on making a cheap light alarm clock, so I bought a Brinks analog timer. I sleep through audio alarm if I'm tired enough, but I don't sleep through light. It worked once, turning the lamp on Sunday. I adjusted it to come on earlier, and it hasn't worked since. I'd take it back to the store only I threw out the box already. *headdesk* So I also would like to get that working this weekend.
Fave line: She knelt beside him and didn’t breathe until his pulse brushed against her fingers on his neck.
What I'm looking forward to: Actually having all the working notes in one location. I opened a different binder today and found notes on Mealte that I have no idea if I duplicated somewhere else.
What I'm not looking forward to: Figuring out which computer files of chapters four and five is the keeper. :p

*I pronounce heroine just like the drug, so I really don't like using the word anymore. And it always makes me think of Gothic characters with heaving bosoms. Zy would cackle madly if anyone mistook her for one.