Word Count 3/23 - Easter Sunday March 23, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Hear the Grass Grow, The Nine Mothers, Writing , add a comment
So, I was off on vacation for part of last week and the week before. In the realistic part of my mind, I knew that I wouldn’t have time to come up with 10,000 words, even if I had brought my computer. Okay, maybe I thought somehow it would get done. Note the passive verb there.
I knew I’d have time on the plane, and at least one day while my wife was prepping for the wedding (she was a bridesmaid). And that was exactly the amount of time I had. I think it was a self-fulfilling prophecy kind of thing going on. I probably could have made more time if I’d really tried.
Anyway, in the 6 days we were gone, I got 1,114 words written for part of The Nine Mothers in my little Moleskine notebook. (avg: 186 words/day) Of course, writing by hand slowed me down to about 50% of my speed as compared to using a computer. I kind of thought it would slow me down more than that…
Of course, now that I’m back, I’ve decided to go back to working on a project I’ve been trying to do since high school. It’s gone through at least four different titles, but I believe my official title is now: Hear the Grass Grow, Sound the Ringing Horn. In the past two days (aka this weekend), I’ve written 848 words for that one. I think that’s pretty good considering I went out to lunch, took a nap, and went to a party yesterday, and then today was at church, followed by visiting family, followed by preparing for the coming work week.
I’ll get into more details about HtGG (as I now call it) when I actually get closer to releasing it into the wild.
In Which Evil Monkey Scares Me March 13, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Writing , add a commentJeff VanDermeer posted 7 tips for Beginning Creative Writers.
(2) Understand that you need to pay your dues. The worst thing you can possibly do as a beginning writer is think because you have a blog, a pen, and MySpace account that you and Gene Wolfe are now best pals and should be sharing writing advice with one another. If a Wolfe-type wants to, hey–that’s great. None of us are posturing. But don’t assume it.
So, I don’t go around friending people I don’t actually know (okay, except Ben Gordon) on MySpace, let alone giving anyone writing advice. I don’t think I have any writing advice to give. But I do have a blog, a pen, and a MySpace account. Am I posturing? I don’t know… is assuming that more than one person actually reads this blog posturing? Probably. But I like to think I do it in a self-effacing, self-deprecating sort of way.
As fellow-Chicago-wannabe-writer Cesar Torres commented:
I write a blog where I talk about word counts, writing accomplishments and links to useful sites for writers and people wanting to learn about publishing. I hope I haven’t broken any of these seven points from the guide! Pride is a deadly sin.
As for the rest of the list, I’m not feeling entitled to anything, and I’m working to get better. Hope that keeps me in line.
Word Count 3/12 March 12, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Writing , add a commentI always hate making excuses. It’s been 8 days since my last Word Count update, and I’ve averaged 5.625 words per day since then. The only thing I can say is that it’s better than 0. At least at this rate, I’ll have a finished novel in 36 years. A rate of zero would put my completion date at Never.
I’m hoping that on vacation (maybe on the plane at least) I’ll have the free time make up for all my slacking. I mean, I know it’s BS because I’ve still been doing my posting at Give Me The Rock, so it’s not like I don’t have any free time. But there was Lebowski Fest last weekend, and I’ve been trying to get in a full week of work in 3 days this week… so I know there is a reason, even if it’s not an excuse.
Word Count 3/3 March 3, 2008
Posted by fanaticalpupil in : Writing , add a commentWords today: 592
Average: 456 (my goal average is 495, so I’m behind, but not by too much)
I was thinking about trying to copy Elizabeth Bear’s word count posts, but I don’t have a cool graphic like that to show my word count (speaking of that, The Nine Mothers is up to 13,270). So, let’s try this…
How many different ways can I say: probability; program/routine
Stopped because: Bedtime
Pretty sure I’ll: be listening to Apologize and Hurt on repeat for the final scene of the book
Bonus:
Currently Reading: A Game of Thrones. Yep, I ended up going for the long first book in the unfinished series. I’m liking it, though.