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. Image: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=332099&nseq=41
March 7/8 – Days 127 & 128 – 1012 Words
Hey, look at that; March 7th and 8th lined up with days 127 and 128.
“Which means it has been that way since the 1st, and you just noticed it.”
Thank you Captain Buzz Kill.
“Just sayin’.”
Yeah, yeah, go spend some time with your personal Lord and Savior for a while.
“You do realize that is not an insult, right?”
I heard a guy in the dining car say there was no trinity.
“What? Let me at him!”
Alright, folks, that should keep him busy for a while. On to the update. Let me say right up front that there WILL be changes in how I do things for my next novel. What do I mean? One thing is perhaps a more detailed outline. I say perhaps because with me the book doesn’t really come alive in my mind until I am writing it. I could write a manual for an outline, but then start writing and it all changes. So, that may change some, but not by leaps and bounds. What will change by those leaps and bounds is using a writing program to keep everything sorted. I am pretty good at remembering key words and phrases to events in pass chapters. So, when it comes time to reference something for continuity, or remember a name, I can type a particular word or phrase in document search and find it.
The problem? Two fold. One, and it happened during the penning of Irony 2 a few times, is that I am writing a sequel and sometimes need to go back to the previous book to reference something. That means finding the document, opening it, and finding the information. Then, there is what if I have to reference more than one thing? And I have to do it time and time and time again? You can see my problem. (It didn’t happen all that much, but enough to annoy me) Which brings us to the second problem; the back and forth can stunt writing. No more need be said about that. I am sure you get my point.
There are a few other things, but, in short, I am seriously considering writing software for my next project. I’ve looked around and yWriter seems to be the best freeware for the job. If it doesn’t measure up, I have heard talk of Scrivener. We will see. I am not a newbie in the sense that this is my first novel, but I am not a greased veteran either. I would classify myself as ‘still learning my craft,’ and anything that can aide me in that I will give a whirl and see how it goes. There are those who swear by writing software, so, again, we will see.
As for the actual writing I am doing now, I advanced the book another thousand words these past two days and the Irony 3 Novel Train is still on the rails. A beautiful thing? You betcha!
“Oh, yeah, buddy?! Well, I’ll be sure to tell the Holy Spirit to haunt your house tonight! You’d better believe that!”
*Sigh* Happy writing people. Feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.
March 9/10 – Days 129 & 130 – 1022 Words
I have realized something that may throw a time delay wrench into my Irony 3 publishing plans, and am unsure about what to do about it. It is not a big deal, per se. However, where being unsure comes into play is that I am fond of symmetry. What am I talking about?
“Please, cause I am all like on pins and needles over here.”
Then I hope they are sticking you good. Didn’t think I would pick on your sarcasm, did you?
Anyway, the symmetrical difficulties begin with the publishing dates of both Irony – Book 1: The Animal, and Irony – Book 2: Gin Soaked Dreams. If you by-passed the links to this next sentence, totally ignoring my clandestine marketing attempt, then I will tell you. They were both published on the same date at smashwords, October 13th. Yes, it was done by design. I was close to completing the last rewrite of 2 in the fall of last year, noticed the publish date of 1 and said, “Why not?”
Are you seeing the problem now? Exactly. Barring disruption, I anticipate Irony 3 being totally completed, rewrites and all, sometime in July. That would mean a pre-order of approximately three months, if i want to publish on the same date. I have never had a book on preorder for that long and don’t know how I feel about it. Is that too long? Normal? (will have to look that up) Past preorders I have done, for both the aforementioned Irony 2, and Sticky Buns, were about a month.
I suppose it could work in my favor, giving me time to do marketing. Well, as much as I do, anyway. If you haven’t figured it out yet from reading the inner workings of my quirky mind for the past 19 weeks, I am not the chest-thumping look at me kind of author. I have read some workarounds concerning that particular author’s problem, and will be crawling forward with some of them in the months to come. Anyway, back to my symmetry problem. What to do? What to do?
“You could just be happy with the accomplishment of completing the 3rd novel in a series, possibly considering more installments in the future, and publish the darn thing when it is ready and forget about it.”
Yeah, I could, and thank you for that.
“I’d like to thank the academy, and--”
Not gonna happen tonight.
Yes, I could go in the direction you say, but I just think there is something to publishing all of them on the same date. Well, whether there is or not, I don’t know. It is just something I would like to do. I don’t know why I want to do it, I just do. Of course, the seed of this was planted once I published 2 on the same day as 1. I figured it was a moot point, since 3 would be completed sometime in the Spring. (My original plan) Now that it is looking like I will finish near the month of October, the moot point beckons for relevance.
“There is something else you could do?”
Yeah? What is that?
“This is going to sound radical and all out there in outer space, but just remember, throughout the annals of time--”
Oh, spit it out already.
“Publish your stupid book on October 13, 2015 and shut up already!”
Hmm, I guess I could do that too. Either way, now that you have called the book stupid, you don’t get anything from the profits.
“Pfft! You won’t get anything from the profits either.”
What was that? Mr. Imaginary character who is on the verge of becoming an exticntionary one?
“This book will sell MILLIONS of copies!”
Yeah, okay, suck up a whole bunch, whydonthca.
Anyway, folks, that about wraps this loony puppy up. I advanced the book another 1000+ words and the Irony 3 Novel Train is still on the tracks. A beautiful thing if I do say so myself. Happy writing and feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.
March 11/12 – Days 131 &132 – 1048Words
Alright and alright, let’s get this Novel Train party started, right? It is update time, and that means all the bats get let out of the belfry for a while.
“Are you calling me a bat?”
No, it is just an expression.
“You mean, you expressing that I am a rat-like creature who hangs from the ceiling of dark, clammy caves?”
No, but you see that shoe over there?
“Yeah, why?”
If it fit, would you put it on?
“Of course, why wouldn’t—Hey!”
Okay then, on to the brief update. Things are heating up to a boil now, simmering at the moment, but in a few short words the pot will be rolling in steamy bubbles. My main character, Detective Reginald Thomas Williams of the Bay City police department, is about to be sucked back into a case he thought was dead and buried. In addition, there is something grave going on with his partner and wife. In addition, some bad guys are on his tail. In addition, the cops are looking for him. In addition--
“So that we are clear, you are saying that I look like a flying rat, right? And that I live in some kind of bell tower?”
See that glove over there?
“Okay, okay, I get it. But, just remember, the inside of your head is the empty, deserted, dank, cob-webbed belfry that I live in. Not only that, but if I am a living being, animal or otherwise, then I have bathroom needs. And anytime I get the urge to go, guess where-- ”
Alright, I get your point. You win. You’re not a bat, okay?
“In fact, my bladder is feeling full right no--”
I said alright. You win, geez. Man, now I forgot where I was.
“In addition.”
Oh, right. Thanks, Fidget.
“Fidget? Who’s Fidget?”
I just meant that sometimes you are fidgety, that’s all.
“Oh, because I thought you were calling me a bat again.”
Nope, but you are a little Fidget-y.
“Hey, why did you hyphenate the Y?”
Typo. Can I get on with it now?
“I smell a rat.”
Does he have wings?
“You…! I…! Grrrr!”
In addition, folks, that about wraps this loony puppy up. Happy writing and feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.
March 13 – Day 133 – 535 Words
End of another writing week on the rails of the Irony 3 or Bust Novel Train. 535 miles down on this day and that just about rocks socks. I would explain what ‘rocks socks’ means if I knew. Buuuut, I don’t. It rhymed and I went with it and that is all I have to say about that. Not much to say except for the job got done and I advanced the dream another 500 words. Pretty soon, I will have a finished manuscript on my hands. At the moment, however, I have a main character who needs to get busy figuring out what he is going to do about another killer loose. One he is familiar with, no less. While I am working that out, feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.
For the week’s end Jam I give you ‘Feeling Good’ by the esteemed Nina Simone. Happy writing people.
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