To those who have decided to peripherally monitor this train to see of it goes off the rails, I feel obligated to inform you that I am not a same time every day writer. It comes when it comes and the schedule allows. I would love to be a same time every day AM writer. Alas, there are days when I am a PM writer, and even late night writer. (In fact, that is most days) Happy Scribing.
Nov. 15 - Day 15 - 726 words
Sometimes these analyses can seem like part of the writing day. But, then, it is totally at my discretion, I suppose. I can comment as much or as little as I like. Seeing as how this day’s post is being posted a day late, I will probably make it little. Let me just say, moving forward, that these day to day comments on the writing day may not be as verbose as those which came before.
Pfftt! Who am I kidding. My rambling mind gets to typing and who the heck knows what is going to come out. Wild stuff man! I mean like craaaaazy hulabaloo! I’m talking human sacrifice, dogs and cats and living together, mass hysteria! For those of you thinking that last line sounded familiar, you are correct. It is from Ghostbusters. (Bill Murray in the Mayor’s office) Anyway, like I was saying, these may get shorter.
This day’s writing was another smooth effort. (Love those) I was continuing a conversation between my MC’s and kind of knew what direction I wanted to go from the day before. In the middle of going there, an idea popped into my head about adding something interesting to the scene. And it was good, b/c it would take care of two things. Getting a character I wanted out of the way, well, out of the way. And, adding some drama to the scene.
I left off right in the middle of doing that. Day 16’s writing day has yet to begin, (minutes away) so I will ride out where I left off, add a few retrospective things relevant to the two previous books in the series (found here at B&N) and close out the chapter.
So, yeah, a smooth day this day, feeding coal into the hopper train to keep it moving. Happy writing.
“If money is an issue, I have a nest egg squirreled away. I know you are good for it.”
“Hiding money from the wife, Rube?” He said sarcastically, placing his bottle of suds on top of the sofa table coaster. He plopped on the soft convertible, remote in hand.
“What makes you say that?”
“Just call it a hunch that if Gloria knew anything about that nest egg, it would have been cracked open and scrambled by now, with a side of bacon.”
Nov. 16 – Day blah blah – 652 Words
Hmm, what to say about tonight’s writing. Um … Uh … it was a continuation of yesterday’s writing? That is probably the best I can do, because that is what it was. I didn’t quite complete the chapter like I planned, but it was a productive day, nonetheless. Which leaves completing the chapter tomorrow, which may mean a truncated word count. (see day 12/week 2) We will see. I can’t account for what may pop in my head and I end up running with.
So, there you go, another day on the rails riding my novel train. Glad I could share it with you. I would tell you to share this post, and my others, with friends if you like the journey so far, but it’s not like you need someone else in your life telling you what to do. So, I will just say that I am glad you stopped by, and hope you continue to do so.
Oh, and I would tell you to buy and rate my books, but that would totally go against what I just said I wouldn’t do. So, I am not going to say that. I will, however, provide the link for astute readers to avail themselves of my work. (Man, am I laughing at myself right now. But, hey, a little promotion never hurts. ) Happy writing people. Astute Link.
Though he plainly saw what she was wearing, the dynamics of the unexpected precarious situation in which he found himself, prevented his senses from fully registering the form fitting laced teddy sculpting her curvaceous, tanned body.
Nov. 17 – Day 17 – 694 Words
Tonight’s writing session was satisfying, though a tad disappointing. It was satisfying, because for stretches at a time my fingers were humming along on the keyboard. A tad disappointing, because I did not close out chapter 3 like I planned. Grrrrr! Oh, I am right there, hanging on the precipice, but failed to get it done tonight. You may be wondering why, if I was so close, didn’t I just go ahead and work it out?
Having two standard length novels under my belt, along with Irony 1, (which I consider novelish at 39.9k), as well as the novella Deep Within, (all found here) I have learned something in the process. “What is that, Robert? How not to sell books?”
Oh, I see I have a smart aleck in the house. No, Mr. Smarty Pants, what I have learned is not to burn myself out on any given writing day. I get to a point, and if it is time to stop, it is time to stop. I make a few notes about where my mind is, and the direction I am thinking of taking things, and then close the document.
Some may or may not agree with my method in this sense. That is okay. We must all use methods that work for us and gel with who we are. To me, novel writing is a marathon. It is about steady pacing until the end. At least, that is what I have made it, because it works for me. I have heard in some cases of authors banging out novels in two weeks, maybe three. I mean full length babies too.
God bless them, but I don’t know if I could pull it off. Rather, I may be able to, but am unwilling at this point to test if I can. Besides, I don’t think I would be able to write through the smell of burning brain cell flesh.
In fact, I am getting a whiff of something burny at the moment. To be safe, I’d better stop here. Thanks for stopping by and happy writing.
This time he did look away, sheepishly panning the Charcoal Sky canvas piece painting, a Christmas gift from his sister, hanging above the headboard. If his brown skin tone was able to disclose it, she would have noticed the slight blush in his cheeks.
Nov. 18 – Day 18 – 555 Words.
If I am not mistaken, I have this for an exact count on another day. Wait, let me check. Yep, I sure do. Day 1 gifted me 555 words as well. Does that mean good luck or something? Is the book blessed? Or is it bad luck and cursed to have the exact same word count on two separate days. Hmm…555, what does that number mean?
Okay, so I am just typing words and having some fun with the word count number, but the thought occurred to me that some may take that stuff seriously. I personally think it just means that I have more words toward my goal, and that if it means anything, it is that I have been consistent in my work habits. Well, at least for 18 days. Hmm, but what if I am wrong and they are right. What if it does mean something?! What if it does?!
*SLAP!* “Get a hold of yourself man! It is just a number! You have a book to write, and that book is not The Number 555!”
Whew, thanks for that. You are right. I have to keep it together. Can’t go off half-cocked now. Gotta stay the course and drive the train. Incidentally, the number was originally 556, until I subtracted a word from the blurb as I was posting it in the calendar. Wait, should I have done that? Is it bad luck to take away or add words right before posting? Should I go back and re-add that word? And then up the count one number? Crap! What was the word?! What was it!? Oh my word, I can’t remember the word!!!!
“I don’t think slapping is going to help this time. I am going to have to finish this for the poor guy. I am going to brew him up some chamomile tea. Don’t worry, he will be okay.”
What is the word?! What is that bloody word??!!
“Hmm, but first, I have to go get the wooden stick we keep in the closet for when he gets this way. Okay folks, so, from what I see here he usually ends this by thanking you all for stopping by and wishes you happy writing.”
“It’s not because of what happened again, is it?” Gloria asked, referring to the near day and a half of hell they all went through, during the holidays last year, when her daughter was abducted from outside of the very same school they were parked in front of, and nearly killed by a homicidal religious zealot.
Nov. 19 – Funner Day – 674 Words
Okay, so with yesterday’s analysis, I had a little neurotic word fun. What’s that you say? We read the post. Don’t try and sell us on neurotic word fun. You went off the deep end, and had to be slapped and hit with a wooden stick to be brought back. Alright, alright, so maybe sometimes I lose it over words and writing and novel trains and the like. Still, I am okay now and that is what counts.
Now, about tonight’s writing session, I finally got around to greasing the wheels of one of my plot points in the story. I know I’ve been writing this thing for over two weeks now, but last night and tonight is the first where I felt I was actually writing the 3rd book in the series. I am still unclear on some things going forward, but the book is taking its first breaths toward breathing on its own. And when that starts to happen, the writing becomes funner.
Funner? Is that a word? I know for a fact it is not, but I am leaving it in anyway, because these posts have to be about something other than telling you that I am writing. And tonight’s theme apparently is funner. Yes, that’s it, the book is starting to become funner to write. And if I post this with that word still in here, I may just not sell another 100 books that I am already not selling. Oh well, gotta be me, right? Happy writing people.
“So, I says to Cassidy, hey man, if you don’t want to help on the case, I will. We can go into Morgy’s office right now and tell him that you have a problem helping to prosecute a man, who shot and killed his son’s molester, because you would have done the same.”
Nov. 20 – Day 20 – 750 words
The miracle of tonight’s session is that it was 750 words. As tired as I was when I sat down to write, I did not think to get that many. However, I’ll take it and run away like a word thief in the night. I suppose I could have stopped earlier than when I did finally call it quits, but I was ending chapter 4 and wanted to get it in. It wasn’t a case of going into burnout to do it. (Day 17) I was tired yes, but still had words buzzing in my head. I didn’t have to think about the scene or scenario or anything. I was deep in it by then and it begged to be completed. So, I did. What I would consider burnout is continuing to add to this analysis. I’m fried, and don’t feel like punching another key. Happy writing people.
“Aw, give the poor kid a break. Obviously, something is wrong. Ashley, honey, what is going on? Why aren’t you eating? You sick or something?” He reached over and felt her forehead, then squeezed it.
"Daddy!”
“Derrick Penderbottom, how do you expect her to learn proper table manners if her own father is the horseplay instigator.”
Nov. 21 – Day 21 – 458 Words (End of Week 3)
Okay, so, you know from yesterday’s update that this writing day began with the start of chapter 5. I was unsure how I wanted to begin the scene, as there was no continuity from the previous chapter. That took a minute. Then, once I decided on how I wanted to begin (A car chase) some research was in order. I wanted genuine street names and a couple of driven by landmarks in the chase. Google maps provided this nicely, though, if you’ve done your thing with google maps, then you know it is slow going, and some places you aren’t allowed to see in detail. Still, I’d rather have the resource than not.
458 words? A bit low for my taste, but I will, again, take them like a word thief in the night. The book’s body is beginning to form and soon I will be able to adorn it with clothing. Irony 3 Novel Train, destination “The End,” still on the tracks. Happy writing people.
“You’re gonna lose him, Rube!” He added, watching their man make a swerving high-speed left onto North Madison. A maneuver, he thought, not likely repeated by a lesser vehicle. Their thief had stolen well.