Juan's comments (member since Feb 12, 2009)

Juan's comments from the Write in 2009 group.

Aarrgghh!! Writing is happening at a snail's pace lately. Only two weeks of the volleyball season left, however, so I should find myself with a lot more writing time. Hope everyone else is having better success.

Yes, back to the daily grind but with jet lag and the volleyball season having just started (I'm a teacher and a volleyball coach) it's still not in full swing yet. :-(

Wow. It's really difficult to write when one is on vacation. I just got home last Monday from The Philippines. We (my wife, son and I) were there for two weeks and it's absolutely insane how much time is taken with seeing family and friends and catching up. I honestly thought I'd be able to get a few hours in everyday but, alas, I was mistaken. I did - since my novel is set in New Jersey, Singapore and Manila - accomplish some research so I will have to go back to chapters I've already written and liven them up with things I saw, tasted and heard.

Anyway, now that I'm back, I will be able to get back to my routine and finish my book. Happy writing everyone.

HAHA! Yes, the typing part can be a pain sometimes but I suppose that when it's all done and you've made your last revision and typed the final word that's why it's so rewarding. I don't know. I've completed a couple of screenplays and have yet to finis my first novel. I'll let you know how rewarding it is when it's done.

Everyone, enjoy your weekend.

Renee wrote: "Juan,

Don't you have spellcheck? It's great. you click that and everything is fixed. Also my computer underlines all the stuff I miss, except those ones that are words, but don't belong. Like pu..."

Hi there. Yes, I have spellcheck. I didn't mean corrections in terms of spelling. What I meant were those changes in my choices of words, phrasing, etc that writers like us change all the time. Now, how would some kind of device or software change those for me without being plugged in directly to my brain? LOL!

Juan

Well, it's been hard to keep the momentum going. It seems that the lazy days of summer are harder to write in than the overworked days of the teaching year. I wanted to get my first draft completed before I go on vacation at the end of the month. I don't know if that's going to happen. Bugger! Anyway, as my friends at Gotham have said, writing a novel is a marathon and not a sprint. And,I've completed 3 marathons so it's one step at a time, one word at a time.

For those of you who are a good spell on your manuscripts, share some of that mojo would you. ;-)

Kjersti, well. I haven't heard anything about you but I think I'd like to...HAHA! Surely the good stuff must be true. ;-)

Renee, hi. Hmmm. Maybe we can make it and make millions. LOL! Actually, there is software that allows you to dictate your words and then the computer interprets and puts the words on the screen. I've not tried it yet - it seems too good to be true - but I might. If I do, I'll let you know how it goes. Thing is, I'd probably have to have my manuscript written (at lest longhand on legal pad) because I don't know if I can think any corrections or anything like that, too.

Like I said, earlier...hmmm.....

Glad to hear that everyone's writing. I'm back to a good groove again and am trying, desperately, to finish my first draft and get a first round of revisions done by the time I go on vacation at the of the month. Isn't there some device I can attach to my head and the typing gets done instantaneously from my brain to the screen and the words appear before me? Ha ha!

Enjoy your weekend all and Happy Fourth of July for those who are celebrating.

Hi everyone. Hope you're all doing well, getting ready for the lazy days of summer and getting a lot of reading and writing done. It's been a very hectic couple of weeks, which has stalled my rhythm, but I'm back on track and my fingers are tapping on the keys. I've got six chapters to go. They're all mapped out. It's just a matter of getting them written. The easy part. Yeah, right.

Anyway, keep at it.

Juan

P.S. Paige, hi. Nice to meet you too.

Welcome Lori. Happy writing!

Hi everyone. Still plodding away. How are all of you doing?

Juan

Hi all!

Well, the novel is coming along; much slower than I'd like but it's coming. I'm a little behind - thanks to two crazy weeks that disrupted my usual schedule - but I am back on track.

By the way, if anyone is in the NY area or going to be on May 16, the NY Writer's Coalition is having a marathon day of writing and workshops. I'm raising money for them so if anyone is interested in donating I'd really appreciate it. http://www.firstgiving.com/juanbas is the link to donate. I've only pledged $150.00 so, if everyone contributes, it won't be a lot out of pocket for any one person. Thanks.

Also, and you have to preregister for this, the Book Expo America Writer's Conference starts May 27. I've been before and I think it's a great experience for writers to learn craft, get/stay motivated and to make connections for those of us who want to get published. The link is http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/

Anyway, hope everyone is well. Enjoy your weekends.

Juan

I think that's the inside joke. It's not that they were lost and some island. It's that we, the viewers, are getting so lost in what is going on. Actually, I listen to The Official LOST Podcast (available from abc.com and iTunes) and it helps. Plus, they give away some inside information that also makes things easier to understand.

Eveyone enjoy your weekend, your Easter and your Passover....and for those of who celebrating other things, enjoy those too.


Write, write, write.

Juan

AARRGGHH! It's already after 8pm and I'm swamped...and I haven't written yet. And, there's LOST tonight. Looks like it's going to be a late one.

Uh oh! I'm on a good run still but I'm suffering from an odd case of "paralysis by anticipation." I can see the end and I know how I want to get there. I just have to sit down and write but I just want it done already. Does anyone else get this way?

Okay, back to the book. Ciao for now.

Juan

Hi everyone. Been a while since I stopped in. Update: been writing well and o a good run. Been doing, on average, 800 words a day. Thanks for all of your support. I should finish my first draft by then middle of next month, I imagine.

Hope everyone's doing well in achieving your writing goals.

Juan

Thanks for all the hellos.

I just wrote 380 words and I'm about to jump back to it. Friday and Saturday were highly unproductive, in terms of writing that is, but, alas, sometimes life does get in the way. I've decided that I'm going to write as much as I can everyday with a 100 word minimum each day.

Anyway, happy writing everyone.

Juan

Hi everyone. Hope you're all meeting your challenges. I just joined and I think this is great. It's going to help keep me grounded and focused towards finishing the first draft of my first novel. I think I'm about 100 or so pages away. I've been ona good run as of late (meaning the last two weeks) but before that my writing time was terribly sporadic. Anyway, I just wanted to say 'hello'. Keep writing everyone.