I've finished one YA novel about a farm girl who lives on the reservation and has to run things alone while trying to deal with the threat that took out her father.

My second is Firebug, one about arson and the destruction is brings on the Res here each year.

I have 2 short stories that will be in the e-book Menage-20 that will be coming out in a month or so. I'll post you a link so you can see that when it's available.

I'm still learning the ropes mostly, but I'm having great fun doing it.

You seem to have a good dose of experience under your belt. Your profile says you've been writing quite a while, eh?

Hi Wendy.
My summer was one of catch up. Repairing and rehabilitating things that were neglected last summer. Nov. 21, 2009 I have 14 pages or 3,500 words for November. Sent off two queries to Literary agents. Also sending out over 260 copies of my newsletters to family, friends and readers.
What kind of things do you write Wendy?
Alan

AD, I liked your quotes about imagination and the advice about not doubting yourself. I think that is very true.

I've been off in farming land for the summer and am just getting back to hanging around a bit. I hope your summer went well too.

Excellent word count by the way- most impressive!

November 12, 2009

508,439 Total words. 7 pages and 1,750 words for November. No one visits me anymore. I wonder what they will call this group in 2010? would it still be write in 2009? Oh well. Staring to get my three annual newsletters are ready to be sent. Alkali Flats and Positive Spin.

October 31, 2009 Total: 506,739 words (2,028 pages) 24 pages done for this month. 5,000 words.
Well the scary month is over. November is tomarrow and I start again to work toward submitting my latest novel.

October 25, 2009 505,739 words.
17 pages for Oct. 3,250 words.
I wrote myself a correction order using the source of the Simon and Schuster's Handbook for Writers.
This time it concerns writing "Concise" sentences and capitalization of titles and ranks.
I notice no one has stopped by for some time. I check under my arms. Whew! maybe that is it.

Quote: "Imagination is everything. I is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein
October 20, 2009 504,489 total words written. 12 pages this month at 2,004 words. Working on submitting writing project #118 "The First Phylum" to agents and Norwescon writing contest.
I had an amazing realization yesterday about how first time authors, celebrities and politicians get published with such ease, while the rest of us work year after year and don't. It is one difference. "They never had any other considerations other than they would get published. This supports the agent and publisher who want to be reassured that the project has worth. Doubt youself, your abilities etc, and your work will be doubted.

October 10,2009 at 502,239 words. Only 3 pages for 750 words in October.

October 6, 2009 Only at 2 pages this month. Trying to update my Literary agent search project. Found an interesting quote: "The author writing a story esimates many, many efforts. If he is right, it is an interesting story and sells. If he is wrong, it is not an interesting story and it doesn't sell." LRH
I have not taken in account of all the efforts to correctly estimate.

Ok, I did 19 pages last month and On october 2nd I have done 1 page so far for 250 words. Grand total 501,739 words. Started the search for a literary agent and publisher. Anyone have some advice?
Each year I crack open a mailinglist as I try to gain the attention or interest of someone connected in the publishing industry.

September 25, 2009. I just broke 500,000 words. The 500,000th word was "David". I am over 2,000 pages and so far this month I am at 14 pages or 3,500 words.
I having fun writing "Samantha the Salmon" and intrigued with the re-write of "Target II".
If you have time, look up "Cargo Cult Science". I found it an interesting term. It appeared in the book I read of "Writing & Selling Science Fiction" by SFWA.

Ok, September 20, 2009 and it is the start of fall. So far have 12 pages, 3,000 words this month with 48 pages proofread and edited. Total now at 499,739 words. Nearing the 1/2 million words...

September 12, 2009 4 pages or 1,005 words so far for this month. Total at: 497,739 words or 1,992 pages.
Still time to enter my 1/2 way to a million words contest. Just guess what the 500,000th word will be. So far "the" and "a" have been entered.
Also have a lead in writing for the drugfreeworld.org . Who knows what it might lead to.

Ok, It is September 5, 2009. Labor day weekend and boy did it rain all day. I completed my printing program for my Captain Adam Series. I have written 2 pages, 500 words so far this month to be at: 497,239 words or 1,990 pages. Also completed 15 pages from three seperate stories for proof-reading.
First contestent has guessed the 500,000th word will be "the".

I sold a 4 episode set of "The Adventures of Captain Adam Smith" series. First true word of mouth sales of fiction that I am aware of. The problem of Amazon.com sales is that you never know who or how a sale was generated.
Have first page, 250 words for September. So at 496,989 words. I have a contest where if anyone guesses the 500,000th word, or what day they think I will write my 500,000th word, they will get a free Episode I of my series.

End of another month. Only 5 pages, 1.250 words for this month. I did have 2 submissions. As I stated before I have a lot of proof-reading, editing and re-reading to do.
I did go back and came up with this lifetime stat of 496,739 words or 1,988 pages written. I wrote an article about my writing goals entitled: 1/2 way to a million words. It is on http://positivepr.livejournal.com.

AD, howdy! Sorry to hear about your sister's knee. Hope that gets better. It's good to see you are still plugging along! happy writing.

August 20, 2009. Notice no one has stopped by in a while. I have a bit of different stats. 2 pages written so far for 500 words, 31 pages re-worked which is an old story I am re-aquainting myself with again and making corrections as I go and 11 pages I have proof read 2 stories I have finished. The problem is that after you write, you still have a lot of work to do.
Been having fun with "Samantha the Salmon" children story. Melvin is a Puffer fish who drinks like a fish and like's shrimp cocktails.

I added up so far this year and have just under 60,000 words written or about 239 pages. Pretty good. Now the bad news, I have not done anything so far for August. Sister broke her knee cap, estate jobs clamoring for my attention and a backlog of editing and proof reading to do. Ineed to write a page to break the log jam.

Ok, July is done and I did 27 pages or 6,750 words for the month. August is hot, and I must switch my outdoor work early in the morning and my writing in the AC of the afternoon.
Katie is coming to pick up latest manuscript to proof-read. And I now have 2 stories, one 14,000 plus words to edit. Thinking of either working on "Target One" or "Sammy the Salmon". Hmmm?

July 20th, 2009 At 20 pages or 5,000 words so far this month. Able to put back my writing daily schedule in, despite warm weather and other projects.
Closing on the climax to story of "Love for Ransom". Perhaps climax is not a good word for a love story huh? Lets say before the end. Oh, not that end, I mean, oh for heaven sake is every word relating to sex! Geeeze.

July 15th, 2009 Found a good resource "Writing and selling Science Fiction" by SF Writers of America.
At 12 pages, 3,000 words. Found an essay contest at Norwescon, and definition of "On Spec" Writing an entire novel before one has an editor either interested in it or alredy obligated to purchase it.
Keep banging the keyboard!

Awesome, A.d.! Keep up the good work. :D

July 12, 2009 at 9 pages or 2,249 words for the month of July.
Quote of the week: "Luck is the residue of design" Branch Ricky 1950.

July 9, 2009 At 6 pages; 1,498 words so far for July.
Sold another copy of "Pempgus: The Positive Pig" at Amazon.com.. Always a good thing. Wonder if I shoud switch my genre to children's books?
New word of the week: Ignominiously: adj. Marked by or involving dishonor or disgrace; shameful. 2) Meriting disgrace; despicable. 3) Tending to diminish one’s self-respect. [Ignominy: L> in- not + gnomen name, reputation]

Ok, It's July 5, 2009. It is hard to get back into the saddle, but have 2 pages done, or about 500 words so far for July. Getting close to finishing "Love for Ransom" story, on page 51. Also printed first
draft of "The First Phylum" a SF novel. Will turn it over to one of my writer group members for proof reading. Also finished printing Episode IV "Sweet Dreams" on my "The adventures of Captain Adam Smith" series. Ready to be mailed out. Working on Episode V. already entitled: "The Medicos". The writing is the fun part, and then comes all the editing and type setting etc.

Hi AD!!
*leaves note in large box with a finger print lock, so if Paul comes to visit he can't read it. In the box there is a bar of chocolate too*

Hey guys,

I'm really bored and I wondered what would happen if I left a baby at Paul's place. So that's what I'm going to do! It's a robot but a very sophisticated robot that with the help of magic can do all that a human baby can do as well as grow up. I haven't created multiples for fear of a Rozen Maiden reaction. Which has happened before when multiple dolls have been created with magic.My great great grandmother made multiples of these dolls and they will kill anything and anyone denying the dolls of attention from there orderer.

No people were harmed in the making of this letter

Coolio I hope you have fun!

Ok, it's another month. It's hot out and I am back from Big Lake, Alaska. Had a great time. Went to Sarah Palins (previous) home, to Adelle Morgan concert part of the family talent show, the Iditarod Trail headquarters and witnessed a bowling ball morter being fired off. Only in Alaska!
Got some great ideas for another episode with a frozen planet. 24 hours of light will do that to you.

oooh

Quote of the week: "For every rule of thumb, there is always an insolent pinky finger that does its own thing.” Page 66 The Writer’s Little Instruction Book.
Stats as of June 17, 2009 7 pages 1,705 words.

Hey that is 1,203 words that you didn't have the day before! I think that is very exciting news :]

Very Sluggish start. Outside weather has demanded more of my time in estate repairs and projects. Only have 5 pages by the morning of June 14, 2009 done. That's 1,203 words. Currently working on 2 fictional stories: "Love for Ransom" and The 5th Episode of "The Adventures of Captain Adam Smith" known as "The Medicos".

yeah it does!!!

Funny you mention Sarah. It just so happens that one of my cousins in Alaska is good friends with her. They both graduated from Wasilla high school.
I was looking at my totals for the first 5 months and have found that my statistics exceed last yeasr already. 2008 I wrote 116 pages or 29,000 words. So far in 2009 I have written 204 pages at 51,000 words.
Proof that this group works.

Happy June!!!

Have a safe flight and a fun time in Alaska. Say Hey to Sarah for us ;]

Ok, so it is the end of another month. Final count is 29 pages written, 7,250 words, 99 pages proof read, 2 fictional stories submitted, 2 NF articles sold, 340 views of my network sites, with 21 posts and one review.
In some areas like writing, I am down to the 2nd lowest total for 2009, and yet in other areas I am up. In June I fly to Alaska for a reunion and in July I have a convention in Sokane, WA. Are we having fun yet?

Outstanding work Alan :]

wow

Well it is May 29, 2009 and I have 25 pages this month 6,250 words. I have complete a major novel, have my artist working on two book covers and the word of the week is:
Denizen: n. 1. An inhabitant 2.) A person , animal, or thing at home or naturalized in a region or condition not native to it. v.t. To make someone or something a denizen. [AF < deinz inside < de intus from within:] SOS 387 Inhabitant or occupant.
So writers are denizens of Goodreads.

Yeah, Great Job Alan,
Be sure to keep us updated on the results of your submissions :]

Thanks. I am working on a list of commonly misspelled problem words. I am going to use them to help me in the spelling department.
Sent off two submissions today.

COngratulations on your crawling. I hope things go well for you. :)

Katie is a member of writer's group and likes my stories as well as has a good grasp of grammar and english, so I have turned over the final read to her to double check my work. I finished "When the Earth Changed" story and will submit it to SpoCon writing contest on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Also joined Pheonix APA which is a publishing group where I am preparing to submit a bio and intro to my first episode of "The adventures of Captain Adam Smith".
Slowly I crawl out of obscurity and into the light of public view.

Word of the week: Grok: 1.) is to share the same reality or line of thinking with another physical or conceptual entity. From Wikipedia
2.) Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed - to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience. It means almost everything that we mean by religion, philosophy, and science - and it means as little to earthlings as color means to a blind man. From the Novel.
3) To understand intuitively or by empathy; to
establish rapport with and to empathize or communicate sympathetically with. Groks: past p. and Grokking present P. Oxford English Dictionary.
4.) a Grokked concept becomes part of the person who contributes to its evolution by improving
the doctrine, perpetuating the myth, espousing the belief, adding detail to the social plan, refining the idea or proofing the theory. [from Novel: Stranger in a Strange land by: Robert A.Heinlein in 1961]
A wooper huh?! May 22, 2009 stats: 20 pages, 5,000 words, 89 pages proofread.

Kind of slow this month. Weather has been nice and I am working on outside projects. May 18, 2009 stats are so far at 16 pages or 4,000 words. I have three seperate stories in the editing and proofreading stage which is also time consuming. I have proofread 78 pages so far this month.

I love stumbling across new words. It always brings a smile to my face and my soul to discover a new way of saying something :]

Sounds like a good plan. happy writing! :)

I come across these words in my reading and I put them on a word list to improve my vocabulary. I may like what a word means, but I am careful not to use too many unfamiliar words as readers can be turned off by it. One writes to be understood, and if a reader has to look up a bunch of words, they may lose interest and it detracts from the plot.