Magic beyond the plan

I can plan a book as much as I like—write detailed outlines, scene lists, synopses; I can map and collage and color-code as much as I like, but the actual story happens when I sit down, open the window into that other world, and let the characters go, do their thing. It is only in sitting down, day after day, that I discover that one character, a taciturn ex-soldier, really loves cats, and shows another character a secret about barn cats that has some very strong metaphorical underpinnings for the girl’s journey. I couldn’t plan that, because I didn’t know it. It’s only in the writing, only when a character takes a sudden turn into a new action that surprises me, that I learn who she really is beneath her Paper Doll Place Holderness. -- Writer Unboxed: Day After Day After Day by Barbara O'Neal

And this why I don't understand when writers say they can't plan a story because that takes all the fun of discovery out. You still get this no matter how much you plan!

The Wins File - Something to Read When I Feel Anxiety Over Writing

After running across the advice on Mez's blog and at Writer Unboxed, and then followed by a bad episode of the inner rage monster spitting vile, I decided I needed to write these out and remind myself how far I have come. In rough chronological order:

• The first of the few teachers who encouraged my writing and I can't even remember her name. She took over the gifted program and I finally got to do what I was really good at, reading and writing and not the math that everyone else was good at. She could have just let me read and write book reports to my heart's content, but asked if I wanted to write my own story. Help! Something's Out to Get Me in 1988
• You got Ms. Ernst to read a story about incestuous sexual abuse and ghosts to a high school class when you asked for feedback. That wins some kink points.
• Jesse said he really liked the character, that they seemed real after he read the Sherlock Scam. That was the first time I didn't have to dig for something beyond "good story."
• My query letter to Star Wars Adventure Journal got me a submissions packet in my senior year of high school. Lucas is still an idiot for taking the liscense away from West End Games before I had a chance to submit the game. And he can't write dialogue to save his life.
• I was the go-to script girl for the skits put on my Math-Science Upward Bound in Oklahoma, and I collaborated well with others; our skits got the biggest laughs.
• Play writing class--that format I had never attempted before, the one I chose such personal material to write about--everyone loved the "Front Porch."
• ARGUS Northwestern State University's literary magazine:
  • "The Bloody Hand" won first place in the Fall 1995 contest
  • "The Rose" was published in 1998 edition
  • "Dreams of the Dead" won first place in the 1998 Fall contest and "Elizabeth's Oak" won second the same semester
  The rest of the staff was under no obligations to publish anything I submitted or give me my first prize money for writing.
• "Gargoyles: Regrets" won second place at the 2001 Gathering.
• "Gingerbread Girl" was published by someone I don't know, so in no way can it ever be called a personal favor.
• "Covenant of the Restless" gained attention and would have gone further if the whole venture hadn't gone belly up. Which was not my fault because I dared to submit something.

2012 Fiction Word Count Week 27 - 38

To list this quicker, I'm only going to put in the weeks that had change.

Week 27

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 31

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 32

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 33

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 37

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 38

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Bat/Cat Thoughts pertaining to my fanfics

The Dark Knight Rises hit the muse HARD. That's the only explanation for it. The following links are other people's thoughts that made me go "ooooh!"

Martha Wayne's Pearls in the Nolanverse -- I didn't even have this in mind when I wrote Partners, but damn, it fits perfectly with what I went with.

Christian Bale's quote about Catwoman in the movie and Bruce's attraction to her.

So what do you think Selina meant when she said come away with me? To add to The Bat and the Cat Tumblr's answer, Bane already hurt Bruce once to the point where she thought he was dead. She couldn't see that happen again, which tumbled into she couldn't let it happen again and she turned the Batpod around.

More on the symbolism of the pearls

Bruce and Selina are courting in TDKR Yes, and they will end up together because Talia is DEAD! *Triumphant laughter* Oops, that was my outside voice again.

Maybe Christian Bale should write Catwoman.

Talk about the costumes

Selina came back for Bruce Of course she did and then the bastard goes and blows himself up.

You could have gone anywhere scene, Batman stops to deal with Selina's vulnerability I don't like my Batman suicidal, but a person I was discussing the movie with had the thought that it was Selina and her kiss that made him turn on the autopilot and give life a chance. If that theory is true, this is where the boot met his bat cowl.

Bruce's half of the romantic journey My only quibble is Bruce's bit to Miranda in the dungeon. I didn't read the line as romantic, Bruce was there to rescue Fox and resurrect Batman. He owed Miranda an explanation and she deserved rescue too, so he was promising to get her out in the language all good guys in a cape use.

Alfred and the letter and eight long years My first thought back to the Dark Knight is Rachel should have NEVER put Alfred in the middle of it. Second thought, I had to write a reconciliation fic between Alfred and Bruce, in which Alfred confesses to Selina he should have told Bruce the truth before Bruce jumped back into Batman.

There's the end of the pile. I hope I don't make another one.

A new twist to my writing life

I started compiling background information for stories into Tiddlywiki for a couple of years now. It was easy to use between home and paying job, and easy to keep updated. Until this week. It works fine at home, but at the paying job, the browser won't let me save any changes.

What I have to work on in every writing project I've got going is background material. So progress has ground to a halt. I don't know the best method to fix it. The files work at home so the problem is probably a security measure they've added at the paying job. So do I find a new way of keeping the information or shop for a laptop that I can bring to work?

Stellar Gift of Death Post 225

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 306
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 3386
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 3464
Total words for the new draft: 101,965
What I hate: Not packing enough food and getting headachy.
The Good: I found the missing 75 words from Chapter Twenty-Two at home!
The Bad: Disaster hit at the paying job. Now I'm really glad that the main thrust of the narrative is done, because I'll probably just have home time to write for a while.
Fave line: My foot connected with Possatact's shin strictly to wipe the smug smirk off his face.
Details I'll probably need again when editing: Bruise and How do you get a blood clot in your eye to dissolve?,
What I'm looking forward to: Filling in all the places where I skipped book quote sidebars, creating alien languages so I can name characters, the end of first draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding all the places I skipped book quote sidebars. Why didn't I make notes of where I skipped? Taking the aliens species I have described and giving them believable biology, languages, and cultures.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 224

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 342
New Words I Can Count: 267
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 3311
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 3240
Total words for the new draft: 101,659
What I hate: Not hitting save when I should.
The Good: After a weekend spent on language creation and a Monday and Tuesday too busy to write at the paying job, I got back in my grove on the holiday and finished off the journal entry for Chapter Twenty-Two and a big chunk of the journal entry for Chapter Twenty-Three.
The Bad: The power blinked and rebooted my computer since my battery backup died and I haven't had the funds to replace it yet. I didn't need Word for what I had left to do, so I didn't reopen the program. So I have discovered that 75 words that ended the journal entry for Chapter Twenty-Two are missing on the 5th when I reopened it to finish Chapter Twenty-Three. Hopefully I can find them in the home computer's auto-save tonight.
Fave line: "Nah, it's not what I want, but you won't give her what the little traitor deserves either. My crew could break her mind and spirit without hurting a cell on her body and you know it."
Details I'll probably need again when editing: Bruise and How do you get a blood clot in your eye to dissolve?,
What I'm looking forward to: Filling in the six journal entries I need, finding all the places where I skipped book quote sidebars, creating alien languages so I can name characters, the end of first draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding all the places I skipped book quote sidebars. Why didn't I make notes of where I skipped? Taking the aliens species I have described and giving them believable biology, languages, and cultures.

2012 Project Post 08

The map of Haganville and surrounding areas is done enough for me to say finished on it. If the story needs for me to expand a different location, I now have the basics to work off of.

This is the entire Greater Haganville area.

This is Downtown Haganville, including the city limits.

This is Outlook, a neighborhood where the rich have lived for decades if not longer.

Next background detail to concentrate on is making sure characters have birthdays and they work with the timeline of events. I hope it doesn't take as long to do as the maps do. :p

2012 Fiction Word Count Week 26

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Stellar Gift of Death Post 223

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 361
Chapter Nineteen total words: 3858
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 3233
Total words for the new draft: 101,392
What I hate: My sore body right now.
The Good: Wow, I managed to get that many words done despite the marathon letter folding session during the paying job.
The Bad: Going to friends' this weekend, so I'm dropping writing for alien language creation.
Fave line: "And here I was thinking that you kissed all the females who worked for the organization."
Details I'll probably need again when editing: Bruise and How do you get a blood clot in your eye to dissolve?,
What I'm looking forward to: Filling in the six journal entries I need, finding all the places where I skipped book quote sidebars, creating alien languages so I can name characters, the end of first draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding all the places I skipped book quote sidebars. Why didn't I make notes of where I skipped? Taking the aliens species I have described and giving them believable biology, languages, and cultures.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 222

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:262
Chapter Fourteen total words: 5167
Chapter Eighteen total words: 3374
Total words for the new draft: 101,031
What I hate: I am so over feeling this crappy fatigue.
The Good: I managed to squeeze in thirty minutes of writing in today and figured out all but the last missing journal entry.
The Bad: I've only written two of the six missing journal scenes. And tomorrow is folding Fraud Assessment invoices if they ever get the right amount on them, so I don't know when I'll get to finish the rest.
Fave line: I still don't know why I was called into a meeting between Xeryl, [Name of Bekth Lieutenant], and Ifeket, but when Ifeket didn't show, it meant I was the least important in the room to go fetch him.
Details I'll probably need again when editing: Bruise and How do you get a blood clot in your eye to dissolve?,
What I'm looking forward to: Filling in the six journal entries I need, finding all the places where I skipped book quote sidebars, creating alien languages so I can name characters, the end of first draft.
What I'm not looking forward to: Finding all the places I skipped book quote sidebars. Why didn't I make notes of where I skipped? Taking the aliens species I have described and giving them believable biology, languages, and cultures.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 221

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:898
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 3682
Total words for the new draft: 100,769
What I hate: The fatigue that set in today. I hate that I never seem to have PMS, I always have MS. :p
The Good: Except for additions I have left to write, I'm through with the narrative.
The Bad: I lost count of 1657 words along the way. I'm pretty sure I wrote them, I just have no idea where they got deleted. *Shrugs* I wasn't counting deletions.
Fave line: "I solved his murder; the little Targey owes me."
Details I'll probably need again when editing: Bruise and How do you get a blood clot in your eye to dissolve?,
What I'm looking forward to: Feeling in the six journal entries I need, finding all the places where I skipped book quote sidebars. The end.
What I'm not looking forward to: The end.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 220

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:368
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 3215
Total words for the new draft: 99,871
What I hate: New exercise routine plus that week of the month equals ruined clothes.
The Good: Got my thirty minutes done and it's a word count I'm happy with.
The Bad: The busy time of the year for the paying job is about to begin, so it's a good thing I'm in the last chapter because I'll probably lose my daytime writing time.
Fave line: "Is that a play? Because I don't remember anything in the holoadvert called that."
What I'm looking forward to: The end.
What I'm not looking forward to: The end.

2012 Fiction Word Counts Week 25

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Stellar Gift of Death Post 219

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:118
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 2847
Total words for the new draft: 99,503
What I hate: Heat wave, yuck.
The Good: I wrote for thirty minutes on a Sunday.
The Bad: It was a pulling teeth writing session. I don't know why it's so much harder to write at home.
Fave line: "So help me, if you arrest anyone, you will never see your natural skin color again."
What I'm looking forward to: The end.
What I'm not looking forward to: The end.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 218

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:294
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 2729
Total words for the new draft: 99,385
What I hate: Cramps. Why did they have to start today when I have so much to do?
The Good: It's Saturday and I got words done! Maybe I have finally gotten over the no-writing-on-the-weekend thing.
The Bad: I have to stop myself from heaping on more projects. I had the bright idea that I can afford to build my office built-ins next months and started down the rabbit hole of researching that before I stopped myself.
Fave line: "She attempted murder and didn't want to get arrested for it. I also noticed you didn't put in my suggestion to scan the visitors for weapons."
What I'm looking forward to: Lunch.
What I'm not looking forward to: Cleaning the kitchen, which now includes moving furniture.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 217

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:304
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 2435
Total words for the new draft: 99,091
What I hate: Why is everyone breaking my train of thought today?
The Good: I ploughed through the interruptions and have successfully described the surroundings.
The Bad: I really just want to go home right now. Just don't want to be at the paying job any longer today for no real reason.
Fave line: "Find something you want to do. You're on vacation too."
What I'm looking forward to: The beginning of the end. Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

DUF: Tin Man: Prince Metrics Post 15

Tin Man: Prince of the Outer Zone

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 863
Total words for the first draft: 9837
What I hate: Figuring out the best way to use up this fun writing time I have accumulated: writing in longhand or typing up to add to my word count.
The Good: Since last I posted one of these, I have finished so much! I finished the floor plans for Kiamoko, finished the style sheet, and racked up a few hours in fun writing rewards for doing the chores I should be doing. Today I worked on typing Chapter Three and writing Chapter Four in longhand.
The Bad: I should have cycled around to working on the original fiction too with so much free time on my hands, but I promised to do it on Sunday coming up. Or tomorrow depending on how it goes.
Fave Cain line: "The whole idea revolted her and she had a whole list of Other Side medical reasons why she should feed her baby herself. Frankly, if you missed that because Junior was hungry, you are luckier than you know."
Fave Galinda line: "We only have those who curry favor and would feign friendship as long as they get what they desire. As soon as you have a need, they abandon you for the new hierarchy. DG is too naïve to understand this, but I thought you did."
Fave Treasure line: "Where's the new baby? He's got presents!"
Fave Betsy line: "I'm a beached whale."
Fave Malachite line: "Slander, I only got you pregnant. Jenkins is the one who threatened to voyage around the world if you didn't stay off the You and What Navy? until the new tyke is here."
Fave Glitch line: "I thought we'd might need to hitch a horse to the bumper to make it up some inclines, but we managed."
Fave Azkadellia line: "I'm not looking forward to going down them."
What I'm looking forward to: Introducing the Scourge.
What I'm not looking forward to: The characters I have to juggle with the ball scenes.

Now, nobody get excited because I posted an update. This project and anything else I do under "fun writing" is not on the official "I'm working on this" list. Fun writing is my reward for being a good adult and doing things I'd rather procrastinate on, like housework and exercise, and it's spent on whatever I feel like writing when it's time to use it up. Next fun writing session may be something completely different.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 216

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:356
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 2131
Total words for the new draft: 98,787
What I hate: Started new medicine today and didn't feel off until after I got to the paying job. I don't know what's wrong.
The Good: Despite everything going wrong this morning (slept late thanks to a nightmare, skipped exercising, feeling icky now) I finished up the scene between Mealte and Zy.
The Bad: Seriously, if I'm going to pass out I wish it would happen and get it over with. Likewise, if I'm going to puke.
Fave line: "I was afraid you'd say something like that. This jartbetahrah—"
What I'm looking forward to: More fun conversation between Mealte and Zy. The beginning of the end. Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Next Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 215

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:389
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 1775
Total words for the new draft: 98,431
What I hate: Not keeping my marathon trackers as meticulously as I should.
The Good: I actually have the journal entry for Chapter Twenty-Four written in the new words I have done today. I have five chapters that still need entries.
The Bad: Nothing bad about today. I feel great about the progress and this chapter will prove to be fun. I have a character from Zy's background that I can't wait to give a spotlight to.
Fave line: The House personnel said I would scare off any clients looking the way I do, so I think the sick leave is in effect until the blood clot in my eye and all my bruises are gone. Who's arguing with that? Not me!
What I'm looking forward to: More fun conversation between Mealte and Zy. The beginning of the end. Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Next Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 214

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:234
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 3047
Chapter Twenty-Four total words: 1386
Total words for the new draft: 98,042
What I hate: Forgetting to this before starting a new task.
The Good: Today was a really good day. On time with Stellar, caught up on Forget editing by trying to make sense of the backstory's chronology), and I may get to do something fun before bedtime tonight!
The Bad: Other than forgetting to do my metrics post, I don't have a bad today. :D
Fave line: The black-bladed knife in his grey hand vanished up the sleeve of his robe.
What I'm looking forward to: Chapter Twenty-four tomorrow! The beginning of the end. Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Next Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 213

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:370
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 2945
Total words for the new draft: 97,808
What I hate: Thinking I packed enough food but getting hungry regardless. Tomorrow I'll bring more snacks.
The Good: I wrote on a Monday! *Snoopy dance*
The Bad: That was the longest fifteen writing session I have ever had at home (I had to stop the timer and check on supper as it cooked).
Fave line: Now wait your turn. And just so you will stop with the rescue attempts.” Her pistol floated off the floor near the bar to [Murderer’s real name]'s outstretched hand.
What I'm looking forward to: Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Next Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

2012 Fiction Word Count Week 24

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Stellar Gift of Death Post 212

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:257
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 2575
Total words for the new draft: 97,438
What I hate: I was supposed to write on Stellar for an hour (got thirty minutes), edit Forget for an hour (got thirty minutes), use up some of my earned fun writing (didn't do any of that) today. So what did I get done? Meals cooked for the rest of the week and all the dishes washed. :p
The Good: Words came better today, but I'm still creaky when it comes to writing this story at home. But at least I had better results this weekend than I have had on all my traveling weekends.
The Bad: That whole day of rest thing, the one where I lay out on the couch and daydream? That's not working out so much.
Fave line: That was unfair, he should have to kick the doors in like everyone else.
What I'm looking forward to: Day of rest next Sunday. That means all projects and housework done on Saturday.
What I'm not looking forward to: Next Saturday, so I better do everything I'm supposed to during the week.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 211

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:156
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 2318
Total words for the new draft: 97,181
What I hate: The words fighting me and have scheduled too much to do today.
The Good: I wrote on a Saturday for thirty minutes!
The Bad: It came in spurts and fought with me as I had to go break to take Dad to his Father's Day movie, break to go grocery shopping, and only got thirty minutes of writing. I was hoping I would get to come back to it.
Fave line: "Fine, I have no idea how you're suffering. Let me take to someone who will."
What I'm looking forward to: Finish all the projects that are in various abandoned states in my house.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 210

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:362
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 2162
Total words for the new draft: 97,025
What I hate: Waking up with a sore neck. How can you hurt your body just by sleeping?
The Good: Extended fight is playing nicely. Zy wants to take the murderer alive, murderer is hunting for Xeryl and Sithna, who are hiding and running from the murderer.
The Bad: Will I be able to break the no-writing-at-home streak this weekend?
Fave line: "Hey scumbag, you're not the only one in the galaxy who has lost their family."
What I'm looking forward to: Finish all the projects that are in various abandoned states in my house. Also scheduled for today: a trip to the library and a meat sale.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 209

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:226
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 1909
Total words for the new draft: 96,663
What I hate: Having to refigure out my commute time again. The good news is the three lanes from Juban Lane into Baton Rouge are now open. The bad news is they've started construction to start the three lanes at Walker.
The Good: During supper last night, I brainstormed six additions to expand my climatic fight scene. So far the first two on the list have been hit.
The Bad: Chapter Twenty-Three is all about the fight. I needed additional ideas because my first stab at it came in around 1200 words. So far most of the chapters have been at least 3000.
Fave line: "Should I even bother to offer it?"
What I'm looking forward to: Finish all the projects that are in various abandoned states in my house. Also scheduled for today: a trip to the library and a meat sale.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 208

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 502
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 3285
Chapter Twenty-Three total words: 1683
Total words for the new draft: 96,437
What I hate: Write every day; why is that so hard to do!
The Good: I made up what time I missed on Tuesday and now I'm in the middle of fleshing out the climatic battle.
The Bad: Writing is the first thing I don't do at home. I don't like this development. It's made even more disturbing by the fact that I told myself all day Tuesday that I needed to write and I never did.
Fave line: "We already knew we face this enemy alone, Mistress."
What I'm looking forward to: Finish all the projects that are in various abandoned states in my house.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 207

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 347
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 3201
Total words for the new draft: 95,935
What I hate: Unable to type straight.
The Good: I got my words done on a MONDAY!
The Bad: I'm trying to work in all the wonderful ideas I had that I didn't take notes on. Why didn't I take notes?
Fave line: She had to find his sister and tell her how she failed him.
What I'm looking forward to: Finish all the projects that are in various abandoned states in my house.
What I'm not looking forward to: Housework.

2012 Fiction Word Counts Week 23

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Stellar Gift of Death Post 206

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 537
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 2854
Total words for the new draft: 95,588
What I hate: Keeoing a blank mind the entire weekened.
The Good: Got 45 minutes of writing done.
The Bad: I was trying for an hour and a half, so I could take the weekend off without guilt.
Fave line: "No, Agent Zy, sentient Xeryl has not contacted me yet."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again. Playing Say Yes to the Dress with my sister.
What I'm not looking forward to: The long drive to Bossier City.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 205

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 653
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 2317
Total words for the new draft: 95,051
What I hate: Getting hungry way before lunch.
The Good: Worked for an hour today and made up what I missed on Monday.
The Bad: I shouldn't be making up days.
Fave line: "It does not seem sufficient motivation for his murder sequence. You lost your shell parents to death and have not done the same."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again. Playing Say Yes to the Dress with my sister.
What I'm not looking forward to: The long drive to Bossier City.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 204

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 282
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 1664
Total words for the new draft: 94,398
What I hate:Not doing anything at home because the only distractions there are the ones I create.
The Good: I got my words done despite Ray Bradbury's death. *Lips quiver* I won't cry at work, I won't cry at work.
The Bad: Losing track of my open documents during the day. I thought I had finished this and posted it already.
Fave line: "Message: [Murderer's real name] has been access my reports to IGA to find out how the investigation was going. I just found out that he may have the ability to track my saucer, so the not leaving any reports lately isn't helping us hide from him. He's probably coming straight for you right now. Please put more guards in your house."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again. Playing Say Yes to the Dress with my sister.
What I'm not looking forward to: The long drive to Bossier City.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 203

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 317
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 1382
Total words for the new draft: 94,116
What I hate: It's Tuesday before I get any words established.
The Good: A couple of details worked themselves out when I got to this chapter that I'll have to be sure to emphasize in the second draft. The most important one: ships can't receive communiques while traveling through hyperspace lanes.
The Bad: I need to straighten out my weekends. Ideally, I should have one day for special projects and the second day for rest and writing my fingers off. But lately, I've been cramming in as much special projects as I can do in two days, not finishing the special projects, not resting enough, not writing, and then spending Monday not writing and trying to recover. Must stop doing that. :p
Fave line: "I feel incompetent enough to make up for all their competency."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again. Playing Say Yes to the Dress with my sister.
What I'm not looking forward to: The long drive to Bossier City.

2012 Fiction Word Counts Week 21 - 22

Week 21

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 22

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Stellar Gift of Death Post 202

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 508
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 3507
Chapter Twenty-Two total words: 1065
Total words for the new draft: 93,799
What I hate: Not getting what I bought and paid for delivered with my lunch. I don't eat ketchup. :p
The Good: I finished off Chapter Twenty-One! Now onwards to fixing the location details I got wrong in the already written scene for Chapter Twenty-Two and tying it with Chapter Twenty-One.
The Bad: I'm trying to avoid thinking about how my chapter word lengths are all over the place. Now is not the time to think about that. Here, have a YouTube video of a cat on a ceiling fan and stop thinking about it!
Fave line: "I'm glad to hear the racketeer did something for the side of law and order, Agent. But you have no jurisdiction here."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 201

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 361
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 2999
Total words for the new draft: 93,291
What I hate: This screwed up sleep schedule I'm on this week.
The Good: My bedroom is cold again! Oh wait this is supposed to be writing good. I finally have gotten Zy and Mealte in the same location with the member of Asseff's local police force.
The Bad: Next chapter because I forgot what the location looked like in the scene I wrote ahead, so I'll have to rewrite it.
Fave line: "You have to speak with the police. And if you get anywhere with them, tell them the other residents would appreciate them taking the remains off-premises."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again.
What I'm not looking forward to: Paying bills.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 200

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 413
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 2638
Total words for the new draft: 92,930
What I hate: Slow paying job days make me anxious that I'm going to be scolded for writing.
The Good: Holy crap, the inner editor shut up about filler and let me work today.
The Bad: I thought I had the home computer up and running, but found it shut off this morning. Yeah, I'm thinking the surge protector I found to make do might be out of date.
Fave line: "News commentators treating a racketeer's death like it is a political problem instead of a crime. LLEOs not sharing everything is common enough, but the reporters aren't pressing for how Tonork died."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again.
What I'm not looking forward to: Switching the AC units around.

And holy crap, I've reached 200 posts on this novel and still haven't finished it yet! Here's hoping it doesn't take another hundred.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 199

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 109
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 2225
Total words for the new draft: 92,517
What I hate: Missing three days of writing.
The Good: I got fifteen minutes of writing done while at the paying job.
The Bad: After a three day break, it's hard to get back to where I was and the progress I was making.
Fave line: Xeryl's smile twisted to a grimace. "And hurry back."
What I'm looking forward to: Getting a new battery backup so I can work at the home computer again.
What I'm not looking forward to: Switching the AC units around.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 198

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 295
Chapter Twenty-One total words: 2116
Total words for the new draft: 92,408
What I hate: Being this sleepy in the middle of the day.
The Good: I already tacked in one of the already written scenes into Chapter Twenty-One, so now I just have get my characters to that point.
The Bad: I'm really tired of my head screaming "FILLER!" at me when I start to write.
Fave line: "My place is with you. If the tkultaraas is waiting for you on Per 3, you will need aid in arms."
What I'm looking forward to: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!tonight!
What I'm not looking forward to: How my momentum will probably crash and burn over this weekend.

2012 Project Post 07

This post has been a long time coming. Back on May 16th, I started transferring notes I have in separate files into the StrixWiki. I'm still working on the character matrix, but I hope to have it done by the end of the week.

I built Haganville and its surrounding areas in a trial version of Map Maker Pro. The program is easy to use, though I never fully grasped how to save projects and layers and lost everything I had done at one point. My other issue was with scale and how everything had to connect with its beginning gave me trouble when it came to roads. Roads in my experience are straight lines that eventually dead end.

So now that I have a glimpse of where areas are in relation to each other, I'll redraw the map in PaintShop where I'll have a better grasp of scale. I hope. I put "to scale" the Kiamoko layout's file name, but I can't remember the scale I used. :p

Usually, I don't worry so much about background before I write. But part of what has given me so much waffling with Stellar Gift of Death is undecided background details. So with Forget, I'm deciding on them before I start on the new narrative. And that can't hurt the non-existent description from the first version.

Next post I should have images of Haganville and the major locations to reveal. And have most of my wiki posts created.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 197

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 290
Chapter Twenty total words: 5739
Total words for the new draft: 92,113
What I hate: Going to bed on time and I still don't want to get up.
The Good: Transitioned into the already-written restaurant/date scene and closed out Chapter 20.
The Bad: I don't know how I want to start Chapter 21 yet.
Fave line: “That integrity of yours, how it gives you hell.”
What I'm looking forward to: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!this coming weekend!
What I'm not looking forward to: How my momentum will probably crash and burn over this weekend.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 196

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words: 295
Chapter Twenty total words: 3664
Total words for the new draft: 91,823
What I hate: Not enough sleep.
The Good: Finished the scene.
The Bad: I'm forging on despite feeling like it's weak and needs expanding or cutting. The Perfect Girl is having understanding issues on the concept of second draft.
Fave line: "I think you're right, I do need a new dress. What do you have that's suitable for Rintar's?"
What I'm looking forward to: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!this coming weekend!
What I'm not looking forward to: All the stuff that happens in Chapter Twenty that I skipped over. I don't know if the restaurant scene will go in Chapter Twenty or be pushed back.

Stellar Gift of Death Post 195

Stellar Gift of Death 2011 Revision

Progress Bar from Writertopia

METRICS
New Words:278
Chapter Twenty total words: 3369
Total words for the new draft: 91,528
What I hate: Wondering why I haven't gotten a phone call from the credit union I've been expecting.
The Good: I've chipped into the confrontation scene.
The Bad: I spent way too much of today waffling on this scene. If I have to come back and add to it, I have to come back and add to it.
Fave line: "Your hair may look like a paint supply explosion, but nothing else has changed."
What I'm looking forward to: AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!this coming weekend!
What I'm not looking forward to: All the stuff that happens in Chapter Twenty that I skipped over. I don't know if the restaurant scene will go in Chapter Twenty or be pushed back.

2012 Fiction Word Counts Weeks 18 - 20

Week 18

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 19

Progress Bar from Writertopia

Week 20

Progress Bar from Writertopia