Adrian D. Roberts's Blog, page 6
December 10, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
Today was a very productive day. I'd budgeted 3 days to get Reason formatted and uploaded. That's about what it took me last time. Imagine my surprise when it was all done by 3.00pm. There were a couple of hiccups, I forgot the final spellcheck until I was halfway through the first format. I'm glad I remembered, it picked up about ten typo's from my edit amendments.
A bit later, while I was doing the Create Space format, I realised I wasn't doing the latest version. I was actually formatting the previous version of Reason. That cost me about an hour.
I'm very happy with it all and hopefully it will all be up for sale shortly across Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Nobles and loads more. I can't wait to order the new hard copy.
This afternoon I took a bit of time out to watch TV, finish my Christmas cards and wrap all the presents. I can then start fresh tomorrow on the Crusade final edit. I've already got a head start on that by doing 24 pages last night while my little girl was alseep. I'll be doing the same tomorrow and Friday night.
One annoying thing today. I wanted to get my daughter a small present to go with her bigger ones. I was thinking of a My Little Pony toy, nothing fancy. They only had the big stuff in Toys R us yesterday so I got her a Littlest Pet Shop toy. The head moves when you brush it's hair. Perfect! No, the brush has a magnet in it and I didn't notice. It's my own fault, it did have warning labels all over it and said it was for 4+. Oh well, I'll have to sort something else out and time is disappearing fast.
A bit later, while I was doing the Create Space format, I realised I wasn't doing the latest version. I was actually formatting the previous version of Reason. That cost me about an hour.
I'm very happy with it all and hopefully it will all be up for sale shortly across Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Nobles and loads more. I can't wait to order the new hard copy.
This afternoon I took a bit of time out to watch TV, finish my Christmas cards and wrap all the presents. I can then start fresh tomorrow on the Crusade final edit. I've already got a head start on that by doing 24 pages last night while my little girl was alseep. I'll be doing the same tomorrow and Friday night.
One annoying thing today. I wanted to get my daughter a small present to go with her bigger ones. I was thinking of a My Little Pony toy, nothing fancy. They only had the big stuff in Toys R us yesterday so I got her a Littlest Pet Shop toy. The head moves when you brush it's hair. Perfect! No, the brush has a magnet in it and I didn't notice. It's my own fault, it did have warning labels all over it and said it was for 4+. Oh well, I'll have to sort something else out and time is disappearing fast.
December 9, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
With the final edit of Reason complete I went to work on the new chapters I wrote for Crusade. There are 50 pages and, based on my recent work, I presumed it would take all morning for the edit. This afternoon I needed to pop out for the last of the Christmas shopping and I'm off in a few minutes to pick up my little girl. My plan was to finish the edit and take it with me to work on once she was asleep.
I actually had the edit done by 11.30 and all the amendments done by lunch. I was back by 3.00 pm so I've spent the last hour printing off Crusade for it's final edit. I have the first 50 pages in my bag to work on later.
I could not believe how little I needed to amend the new stuff. I've been implementing everything I've learned over the last six months into my writing. It's a lot cleaner now and needs less polish. How much of that is rose tinted glasses syndrome, I couldn't honestly tell you.
I do feel very good about it all though.
P.S. I spelt syndrome right on the first go. Cool!
I actually had the edit done by 11.30 and all the amendments done by lunch. I was back by 3.00 pm so I've spent the last hour printing off Crusade for it's final edit. I have the first 50 pages in my bag to work on later.
I could not believe how little I needed to amend the new stuff. I've been implementing everything I've learned over the last six months into my writing. It's a lot cleaner now and needs less polish. How much of that is rose tinted glasses syndrome, I couldn't honestly tell you.
I do feel very good about it all though.
P.S. I spelt syndrome right on the first go. Cool!
December 8, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
Things seem to be going well at the moment. I'm on a real roll with my work. Today it was my plan to complete the amendments for Reason and I did. It took a ten hour day, but it was worth it. I've also printed off the pages of the additional chapters for Crusade I finished writing last week. I'll be editing those tomorrow morning.
If everything goes to plan, the new updated edition of Reason will be uploaded at the end of the week. Hopefully I will then be able to have Crusade published before Christmas. When I say before, I could well be talking about Christmas Eve. The schedule is a bit tight, but I believe it is achievable.
When I went out on Friday night, I noticed I've got to use the next notch up on my belt. Not good. I've let my exercise really slip over the last five months. That is also part of my grand scheme. Get back on with the exercise. I managed my full workout this morning and I want to do that every day this week, with a run to finish on Friday.
All in all, it's looking good.
If everything goes to plan, the new updated edition of Reason will be uploaded at the end of the week. Hopefully I will then be able to have Crusade published before Christmas. When I say before, I could well be talking about Christmas Eve. The schedule is a bit tight, but I believe it is achievable.
When I went out on Friday night, I noticed I've got to use the next notch up on my belt. Not good. I've let my exercise really slip over the last five months. That is also part of my grand scheme. Get back on with the exercise. I managed my full workout this morning and I want to do that every day this week, with a run to finish on Friday.
All in all, it's looking good.
December 7, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
It's Sunday and I'm working. Not a lot, but I wanted to get a couple of hours in today. 30 pages amended, bringing the total to 100. The plan for tomorrow is to import them all by the end of the day. It should be possible. I'm averaging about twenty pages an hour and I have one hundred and ninety to do. It will still be a long day.
I was on Goodread's earlier and I stumbled on books by Richard Castle, as in the murder/mystery series Castle with Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. I'm a big fan of the show, I think it's brilliant and I can't wait until season seven comes out in the UK. I was confused how a fictional author could write books. It turns out they've written the books they made up for the show. I wanted to get on with the editing so I didn't look into them. I'm going straight back to Goodread's and see if they've had good reviews. If so, I'll give them a go.
Last night I was looking after my two year old. After she went to bed I did thirty pages of amendments. Later in the night, after I finished she woke up. She didn't complain or anything, but she looked so cute with her mussed up hair, I gave her a big cuddle. To be honest, with her relaxed on my shoulder, I didn't want to put her down. Eventually I got up the will power to put her back to bed.
I've been trying to quantify my feelings while I was hugging her and I can't. The love I feel for my little girl is so immense I can't describe it.
Well that was a bit mushy, still true though.
Back to the writing stuff, I've added the soundtrack to X-Men 2 to my writing/work playlist. It's a good choice.
I was on Goodread's earlier and I stumbled on books by Richard Castle, as in the murder/mystery series Castle with Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. I'm a big fan of the show, I think it's brilliant and I can't wait until season seven comes out in the UK. I was confused how a fictional author could write books. It turns out they've written the books they made up for the show. I wanted to get on with the editing so I didn't look into them. I'm going straight back to Goodread's and see if they've had good reviews. If so, I'll give them a go.
Last night I was looking after my two year old. After she went to bed I did thirty pages of amendments. Later in the night, after I finished she woke up. She didn't complain or anything, but she looked so cute with her mussed up hair, I gave her a big cuddle. To be honest, with her relaxed on my shoulder, I didn't want to put her down. Eventually I got up the will power to put her back to bed.
I've been trying to quantify my feelings while I was hugging her and I can't. The love I feel for my little girl is so immense I can't describe it.
Well that was a bit mushy, still true though.
Back to the writing stuff, I've added the soundtrack to X-Men 2 to my writing/work playlist. It's a good choice.
December 6, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
I did it as planned yesterday. I completed the edit of Reason and even did ten pages of amendments before going out. To keep the momentum going I've just finished more 26 pages. I'm looking after my two year old tonight so I plan to get some done once she's asleep.
If I keep this up, Reason will be updated before Friday. That would be a real boost for me.
It was a late night with a few beers last night and I'm knackered. I think I've earned an hour on Batman Arkham City.
Oops, I'm so tired I sent it out without even spell checking. The edit function is very useful!
If I keep this up, Reason will be updated before Friday. That would be a real boost for me.
It was a late night with a few beers last night and I'm knackered. I think I've earned an hour on Batman Arkham City.
Oops, I'm so tired I sent it out without even spell checking. The edit function is very useful!
December 5, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
Another 100 pages edited while sitting in an uncomfortable seat yesterday. I bet I'm going to pay for that later. The plan is to finish the edit today and begin entering all the amendments over the weekend. I really feel like I'm on a roll at the moment and I don't want to let up.
Hopefully I should have the revised edition up by Wednesday/Thursday next week. It all depends on how long it takes me to do the formatting.
One of the strange things is that I am actually enjoying reading the book again. I wrote it and read it at least a dozen times by now, but I still enjoy it. I wonder if other writers feel that?
On a completely different note, I can't believe Mclaren still haven't sorted their driver line up for next year. I really feel for Jenson Button, I think he's proved he still has it as a potential champion winner, if they give him a good enough car.
Time to get back to that lovely chair. Onwards!
Hopefully I should have the revised edition up by Wednesday/Thursday next week. It all depends on how long it takes me to do the formatting.
One of the strange things is that I am actually enjoying reading the book again. I wrote it and read it at least a dozen times by now, but I still enjoy it. I wonder if other writers feel that?
On a completely different note, I can't believe Mclaren still haven't sorted their driver line up for next year. I really feel for Jenson Button, I think he's proved he still has it as a potential champion winner, if they give him a good enough car.
Time to get back to that lovely chair. Onwards!
December 4, 2014
Reason For Vengeance
I struggled to focus on Tuesday when I started re-editing Reason. Yesterday I tried something new. I didn't turn my computer on and worked at the dining room table downstairs. I can't say it was the most comfortable place to work, but there were no distractions. I didn't even have music playing, I was completely cut off and it worked. I edited over a hundred pages yesterday and it was careful, word by word checking.
I can't believe some of the stuff I found. Mostly it was a distinct lack of punctuation and I expected that. I've learned a lot since publishing it, hence why the re-edit and re-publication. What really surprised me were the double words, words out of order and wrong words. Not many, but more than I expected. It shows you are never ready to publish, all you can do, is the best you can on a given day.
My cold and cough came back yesterday and I skipped Karate, very annoying. I spent the time well though by doing an extra fifteen pages, so at least it wasn't wasted.
Time to get back to it and shut down my computer again.
I can't believe some of the stuff I found. Mostly it was a distinct lack of punctuation and I expected that. I've learned a lot since publishing it, hence why the re-edit and re-publication. What really surprised me were the double words, words out of order and wrong words. Not many, but more than I expected. It shows you are never ready to publish, all you can do, is the best you can on a given day.
My cold and cough came back yesterday and I skipped Karate, very annoying. I spent the time well though by doing an extra fifteen pages, so at least it wasn't wasted.
Time to get back to it and shut down my computer again.
December 2, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
Today started well. I amended the second part of Crusade to accommodate the new chapters I'd written. After that I went through the following editing exercises:
Checking I'd used OK and no Ok or ok.
I'd added the capital for words I'm using for some technologies.
Checking I used past and passed correctly.
Wrote a small addition to the end of Crusade
That all took me to lunch time so I printed off the manuscript for Reason again. I wanted to start on it's last edit before re-publication. When I started to look at it about 2.30 pm, I found I had just run out of steam. I didn't have the focus to check every word.
I needed to pop into town at some point this week so I went and did that rather than completely waste the afternoon.
New day tomorrow and a new start. I think I'll do the editing downstairs where there are no distractions.
Checking I'd used OK and no Ok or ok.
I'd added the capital for words I'm using for some technologies.
Checking I used past and passed correctly.
Wrote a small addition to the end of Crusade
That all took me to lunch time so I printed off the manuscript for Reason again. I wanted to start on it's last edit before re-publication. When I started to look at it about 2.30 pm, I found I had just run out of steam. I didn't have the focus to check every word.
I needed to pop into town at some point this week so I went and did that rather than completely waste the afternoon.
New day tomorrow and a new start. I think I'll do the editing downstairs where there are no distractions.
December 1, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
I had a good afternoon in London on Friday. I met up with some old friends in a pub by Covent Garden. There was good beer and good conversation. I like going into London, I worked there for eight years and there are some parts I know well. I get the train into Euston station and then it's a pleasant walk down to Covent Garden. On previous trips I've arrived earlier and gone to the British Library and the British Museum, both are nearby. I actually walk past the British Museum.
Today was a good day. Another 5,000 good words written and as it happens, that finishes off the additional section I've been writing. It came in at a total of 21,000 words and, if it's all included, will bring the total of the book to 148,500. A much more respectable number.
I need to make some amendments to integrate it into the story but nothing too bad. I just finished one of those and I think I only need to do one more.
Something I have noticed is that my spelling has improved. It's no way near perfect, but I'm getting a lot more words correct than I used to. Now if only I could get my grammar and punctuation up to the same level. Word doesn't really cover punctuation very well.
I do have a second addition in mind for the book. I've been thinking about it and I'm not so sure anymore. If I do it, it moves a major character out of position and a whole stack of cards comes crashing down. Fixing a weak point could have far bigger ramifications. I'm really not sure. Hmm, I just had an idea of another way to write it or more accurately, one of the suggested amendments might make more sense now. Something to consider overnight.
Well it's been a ten and a half hour day’s work and my dinner is almost ready. Time to call it a day.
Today was a good day. Another 5,000 good words written and as it happens, that finishes off the additional section I've been writing. It came in at a total of 21,000 words and, if it's all included, will bring the total of the book to 148,500. A much more respectable number.
I need to make some amendments to integrate it into the story but nothing too bad. I just finished one of those and I think I only need to do one more.
Something I have noticed is that my spelling has improved. It's no way near perfect, but I'm getting a lot more words correct than I used to. Now if only I could get my grammar and punctuation up to the same level. Word doesn't really cover punctuation very well.
I do have a second addition in mind for the book. I've been thinking about it and I'm not so sure anymore. If I do it, it moves a major character out of position and a whole stack of cards comes crashing down. Fixing a weak point could have far bigger ramifications. I'm really not sure. Hmm, I just had an idea of another way to write it or more accurately, one of the suggested amendments might make more sense now. Something to consider overnight.
Well it's been a ten and a half hour day’s work and my dinner is almost ready. Time to call it a day.
November 27, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
The second productive day in a row! 5,500 words today and it was a normal day, start at 9.00 am, finish at 6.00 pm. I am back up to speed. I really could have continued on, the next couple of thousand words are buzzing round my head, but they will have to wait at least until Sunday.
Thursday night I go an see my little girl and tomorrow I'm off down to London to catch up with some old friends. I'm not leaving until midday so I will be reading through all of the new stuff in the morning and taking a printed copy for proper editing on the train.
I'm on twitter and I wanted to update through my phone and can you believe it, I can't! My HTC Wildfire with Android 2.2 isn't supported by twitter. To be fair I am a bit old fashioned, I normally only use my phone as a phone with an occasional pic. I normally leave the internet switched off to save battery.
I really was gobsmacked to see I couldn't use twitter though. Oh well. It's annoying but I'm not going to get a new phone. I like my Wildfire, it's small enough to fit in my pocket easily and light. Before that I used a Motorola Razor, Nokia 8210 and originally a Nokia 6110. In seventeen years, that's not very many. There were two more, a Motorola that made me swear off them for life (it didn't stick, the Razor came much later) and an LG I used for less than a year I think.
What I look for in a phone size and weight. The new iphone is really not designed for me.
Thursday night I go an see my little girl and tomorrow I'm off down to London to catch up with some old friends. I'm not leaving until midday so I will be reading through all of the new stuff in the morning and taking a printed copy for proper editing on the train.
I'm on twitter and I wanted to update through my phone and can you believe it, I can't! My HTC Wildfire with Android 2.2 isn't supported by twitter. To be fair I am a bit old fashioned, I normally only use my phone as a phone with an occasional pic. I normally leave the internet switched off to save battery.
I really was gobsmacked to see I couldn't use twitter though. Oh well. It's annoying but I'm not going to get a new phone. I like my Wildfire, it's small enough to fit in my pocket easily and light. Before that I used a Motorola Razor, Nokia 8210 and originally a Nokia 6110. In seventeen years, that's not very many. There were two more, a Motorola that made me swear off them for life (it didn't stick, the Razor came much later) and an LG I used for less than a year I think.
What I look for in a phone size and weight. The new iphone is really not designed for me.
