Adrian D. Roberts's Blog, page 8
October 1, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
I've had a few days off including some time to help my sister move house which was time well spent. Except for yesterday though. After a hectic couple of days moving I thought I'd take the morning to play Empire: Total War and start work after lunch. Yeah, that didn't happen. I made the mistake of watching an episode of the West Wing with lunch and it was so good I watched another, then another, then another... You're seeing where this went. I stopped watching at 11pm, so much for will power.
Never mind, that was September and the plan was always to spend October editing.
Here we are 1st of October and may the editing commence.
Commence it did. I printed out the manuscript for the first time and that is a great thing to see. A word or page count on a screen does not have nearly the same impact as seeing the pages sitting, all together stacked up on your desk.
After absorbing that wonderful sight for a few minutes I got to work. My writing is certainly cleaner this time with a lot less mechanical issues. It helped that a friend had already taken a look at the first half and I'd been doing the morning re-through of the previous days work.
I did 158 pages today and I'm very pleased with the result. I haven't found any structural issues and aside for some conversations that feel they need bulking up it's looking good. Of course that might just be my rose tinted writers eyes.
For Reason I personnally did two editing runs with three more done by my Mum, Rich and Graham. Hopefully they'll be up for doing it again along with my friend Stuart. For Crusade I'm hoping, time permitting to do four runs at it myself.
I am interested to see how many errors I will find in that final run.
Never mind, that was September and the plan was always to spend October editing.
Here we are 1st of October and may the editing commence.
Commence it did. I printed out the manuscript for the first time and that is a great thing to see. A word or page count on a screen does not have nearly the same impact as seeing the pages sitting, all together stacked up on your desk.
After absorbing that wonderful sight for a few minutes I got to work. My writing is certainly cleaner this time with a lot less mechanical issues. It helped that a friend had already taken a look at the first half and I'd been doing the morning re-through of the previous days work.
I did 158 pages today and I'm very pleased with the result. I haven't found any structural issues and aside for some conversations that feel they need bulking up it's looking good. Of course that might just be my rose tinted writers eyes.
For Reason I personnally did two editing runs with three more done by my Mum, Rich and Graham. Hopefully they'll be up for doing it again along with my friend Stuart. For Crusade I'm hoping, time permitting to do four runs at it myself.
I am interested to see how many errors I will find in that final run.
September 25, 2014
Crusade For Vengeance
Something very surprising happened this morning. I finished the first draft!
As I said yesterday, I had a really good days writing and I knew that the scene was coming to an end. I had to stop as I needed to have dinner before going to Karate. This morning I did my normal read through and started writing. A hundred words in I realised that this was the perfect ending to the book. There were six more scenes that I originally had in mind to write after this one but I realised they wouldn't work. Three were no more than filler that could be covered in a bit of back story in book two and the other three were too long. They would have forced a whole new act in the story and that didn't work.
There I was staring at my screen having written a whopping one hundred words and I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted to do. I spent the next hour going through it from as many angles as I could think of and always came back to the same conclusion. In the process I even came up with a kicker start to book three.
So that's it, the first draft of Dark Vengeance Book Two, Crusade For Vengeance, is done. I think I'm going with Crusade, it fits better and has more ompf to it, Mr Cox used to say. He was my primary school headmaster.
I'm going to take a couple of days to rest my brain and help my sister move. After that I'll get the cover sorted and book description so I can post it for pre-order on Smashwords.
Oh, as it turns out I didn't double book myself for Sunday. Belt test is tomorrow so I'll be heading back to Essex on Sunday.
Total of the First Draft - 132,132 words.
As I said yesterday, I had a really good days writing and I knew that the scene was coming to an end. I had to stop as I needed to have dinner before going to Karate. This morning I did my normal read through and started writing. A hundred words in I realised that this was the perfect ending to the book. There were six more scenes that I originally had in mind to write after this one but I realised they wouldn't work. Three were no more than filler that could be covered in a bit of back story in book two and the other three were too long. They would have forced a whole new act in the story and that didn't work.
There I was staring at my screen having written a whopping one hundred words and I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted to do. I spent the next hour going through it from as many angles as I could think of and always came back to the same conclusion. In the process I even came up with a kicker start to book three.
So that's it, the first draft of Dark Vengeance Book Two, Crusade For Vengeance, is done. I think I'm going with Crusade, it fits better and has more ompf to it, Mr Cox used to say. He was my primary school headmaster.
I'm going to take a couple of days to rest my brain and help my sister move. After that I'll get the cover sorted and book description so I can post it for pre-order on Smashwords.
Oh, as it turns out I didn't double book myself for Sunday. Belt test is tomorrow so I'll be heading back to Essex on Sunday.
Total of the First Draft - 132,132 words.
September 24, 2014
Crusade for Vengeance
I'm liking Crusade more and more as the title for book two over Return. It is popping up more often in my writing and it's natural, I'm not forcing it in. If anyone has any opinions I'd love to hear them.
Return For Vengeance
Crusade For Vegeance
They are both awful and you need to back to the drawing board.
Today was an excellent day's writing. Almost 7,000 words completed which includes what I think is an absolute stonking chapter (yes I used stonking, I like to stonk and you have to be over thirty in the UK to get that one). It had lots of emotion and tied up several things I have had in my head since day one, well maybe month one but you get the idea. They have certainly been on my cork board since it went up.
Karate tonight and I find out if I've been stupid, double booking myself for Sunday. I've got a very strong suspicion that I have.
Total now at 132,000 words (actually 131,898 but I'm in such a good mood I'm rounding up, I think I've earned it today).
Return For Vengeance
Crusade For Vegeance
They are both awful and you need to back to the drawing board.
Today was an excellent day's writing. Almost 7,000 words completed which includes what I think is an absolute stonking chapter (yes I used stonking, I like to stonk and you have to be over thirty in the UK to get that one). It had lots of emotion and tied up several things I have had in my head since day one, well maybe month one but you get the idea. They have certainly been on my cork board since it went up.
Karate tonight and I find out if I've been stupid, double booking myself for Sunday. I've got a very strong suspicion that I have.
Total now at 132,000 words (actually 131,898 but I'm in such a good mood I'm rounding up, I think I've earned it today).
Lucy
I came away from the cinema last night trying to work out what I felt about Lucy.
I'll say right off the bat that I ignored the whole using more than 10% of the brain stuff as a Macguffin and left it at that.
The visuals were fantastic all the way through, particularly the wild life inserts that gave an extra depth to the scenes. It was truly inspiring story telling.
From the trailers I was expecting an action film and for the first half, that is pretty much what I got, fear, excitement, payback, everything. Then things started to get metaphysical as Lucy expands her mind and powers. It was strange in a way, as it switched from Leon to the Fifth Element without being as good as either.
Worth a watch I would say and I enjoyed it but I doubt I'll be buying the DVD.
I'll say right off the bat that I ignored the whole using more than 10% of the brain stuff as a Macguffin and left it at that.
The visuals were fantastic all the way through, particularly the wild life inserts that gave an extra depth to the scenes. It was truly inspiring story telling.
From the trailers I was expecting an action film and for the first half, that is pretty much what I got, fear, excitement, payback, everything. Then things started to get metaphysical as Lucy expands her mind and powers. It was strange in a way, as it switched from Leon to the Fifth Element without being as good as either.
Worth a watch I would say and I enjoyed it but I doubt I'll be buying the DVD.
September 23, 2014
Return For Vengeance
It's getting harder. There is no other way to say it.
The writing itself is OK I think when I can get the proper concentration behind it. What is making it harder is remembering everything. Below are a few of the things I keep having to refer back to.
Who knows what?
Where has a character been?
How does this tech work?
What is this tech called?
What are the rules for this?
I've got a hard copy for Reason For Vengeance, an excel spreadsheet, a notebook for soft notes (writing things out), a notebook for hard notes (rules set in stone), a cork board and a white board.
I am constantly checking all of these things and referring to the previous 100,000 plus words I have already written for book two. When I look at people like Terry Pratchett, David Weber, Raymond E. Feist, Robert Jordon and George RR Martin I don't see how they don't just drown in information. Pratchett, Weber and Feist are the real heroes though Martin is getting a lot of kudos at the moment. Martin has done six books in Ice and Fire where Pratchett has 36 Discworld novels, 26 Harrington novels for Weber and I lost track of Feist a while ago with his series beginning with Magician.
So hats off to these astounding authors and I'm sure there are many others like them.
Anyway, that's my gripe for the day. Not too bad at 4,500 words. Dinner is cooking and then I'm off to see Lucy at the cinema. I've been looking forward to that for a while and I think I've earned a bag of minstrals as well.
Total now at 125,000 words.
The writing itself is OK I think when I can get the proper concentration behind it. What is making it harder is remembering everything. Below are a few of the things I keep having to refer back to.
Who knows what?
Where has a character been?
How does this tech work?
What is this tech called?
What are the rules for this?
I've got a hard copy for Reason For Vengeance, an excel spreadsheet, a notebook for soft notes (writing things out), a notebook for hard notes (rules set in stone), a cork board and a white board.
I am constantly checking all of these things and referring to the previous 100,000 plus words I have already written for book two. When I look at people like Terry Pratchett, David Weber, Raymond E. Feist, Robert Jordon and George RR Martin I don't see how they don't just drown in information. Pratchett, Weber and Feist are the real heroes though Martin is getting a lot of kudos at the moment. Martin has done six books in Ice and Fire where Pratchett has 36 Discworld novels, 26 Harrington novels for Weber and I lost track of Feist a while ago with his series beginning with Magician.
So hats off to these astounding authors and I'm sure there are many others like them.
Anyway, that's my gripe for the day. Not too bad at 4,500 words. Dinner is cooking and then I'm off to see Lucy at the cinema. I've been looking forward to that for a while and I think I've earned a bag of minstrals as well.
Total now at 125,000 words.
September 22, 2014
Return For Vengeance
Boy am I struggling a bit at the moment. Ever since Tuesday last week it has been hard to write. Hmm actually it seems to go back to the week before that.
I wonder if it is because the end is in sight now and I am down to 30,000 ish words left to go? I'm really not sure. It could be that I'm just tired. Writing a book in a month and a half is hard work.
Well I am onto the home straight so I need to dig deep and keep going.
The good news is that the cover art is in from Matt Hubel and it's excellent. Grittier than the first one I think and that does fit in with the scene it comes from. Have a look on my blogs main page, I've put it up there. I'll also have it on Facebook once the full size imagery comes through.
Well time for dinner. Total now at 120,000 words.
I wonder if it is because the end is in sight now and I am down to 30,000 ish words left to go? I'm really not sure. It could be that I'm just tired. Writing a book in a month and a half is hard work.
Well I am onto the home straight so I need to dig deep and keep going.
The good news is that the cover art is in from Matt Hubel and it's excellent. Grittier than the first one I think and that does fit in with the scene it comes from. Have a look on my blogs main page, I've put it up there. I'll also have it on Facebook once the full size imagery comes through.
Well time for dinner. Total now at 120,000 words.
September 17, 2014
Return for Vengeance
I had a bit of a surreal experience while writing yesterday. I was quite happily knocking out the story and then at the 3,000 word mark for the day I hit a wall. It wasn't like I didn't know what I wanted to say next. That was fine, I was in the middle of an action sequence and generally it's the easiest thing for me to write. It was more like I completely ran out of energy.
I then spent the next hour procastinating and doing anything but writing so I decided to jack it in for the day. I still worked for the next couple of hours, but it was more to do with back ground stuff rather than directly writing.
Oh well. I've got a couple fo days with my daughter so I won't get back to it until Friday.
Speaking of which, she's down stairs playing with her toys so I better get back to her.
Total now at 117,000 words.
I then spent the next hour procastinating and doing anything but writing so I decided to jack it in for the day. I still worked for the next couple of hours, but it was more to do with back ground stuff rather than directly writing.
Oh well. I've got a couple fo days with my daughter so I won't get back to it until Friday.
Speaking of which, she's down stairs playing with her toys so I better get back to her.
Total now at 117,000 words.
September 15, 2014
Return For Vengeance
After a relaxing weekend I was ready to get on with it and start playing catch up from Friday's appalling day. I pleased to say that I managed it. The story has been flowing, with new twists and turns popping quite naturally. Of course that is how I feel about after just writing it. Readers may well disagree and so might I when I do my read through in the morning.
While I was relaxing yesterday a new story idea came to me. It's in a completely different direction and comes under Urban Fantasy, possibly Horror. I've had an Urban Fantasy story kicking round my head for a while now but it was too Supernaturalesk for my liking. Not because I dislike Supernatural. No, it was too on the nose really. Two women going round fighting vampires, werewolves etc in the modern day. See very similar. The characters are very not Sam and Dean but the rest kind of smacks of plagiarism.
My new story is completely different and from a bit of research I did at the weekend, I think it is even original. It could really have a Horror take to it but I think I've read a total of two Horror books in my life so I'm not comfortable writing it. This story has grabbed me so much that I'm tempted to do it between book two and three of Dark Vengeance. It might give me enough distance to keep book three fresh. I'll have a think and make a decision after book two is published.
The other question is to make the main character male or female. It could go either way but the female version is taking shape in my head. I don't want to be too samey in my writing but this one is nothing like Valerie, Hanna, Troll, Julianna or any of the others in Dark Vengeance. I might do what Writing Excuses advised and write a monologue for both and see who jumps out at me the most.
On a completely different note, I forgot to buy a cucumber for my salad. I'm very annoyed with myself. Speaking of which, the potatos are almost done so time for dinner.
Total now at 114,000 words.
While I was relaxing yesterday a new story idea came to me. It's in a completely different direction and comes under Urban Fantasy, possibly Horror. I've had an Urban Fantasy story kicking round my head for a while now but it was too Supernaturalesk for my liking. Not because I dislike Supernatural. No, it was too on the nose really. Two women going round fighting vampires, werewolves etc in the modern day. See very similar. The characters are very not Sam and Dean but the rest kind of smacks of plagiarism.
My new story is completely different and from a bit of research I did at the weekend, I think it is even original. It could really have a Horror take to it but I think I've read a total of two Horror books in my life so I'm not comfortable writing it. This story has grabbed me so much that I'm tempted to do it between book two and three of Dark Vengeance. It might give me enough distance to keep book three fresh. I'll have a think and make a decision after book two is published.
The other question is to make the main character male or female. It could go either way but the female version is taking shape in my head. I don't want to be too samey in my writing but this one is nothing like Valerie, Hanna, Troll, Julianna or any of the others in Dark Vengeance. I might do what Writing Excuses advised and write a monologue for both and see who jumps out at me the most.
On a completely different note, I forgot to buy a cucumber for my salad. I'm very annoyed with myself. Speaking of which, the potatos are almost done so time for dinner.
Total now at 114,000 words.
September 13, 2014
Return For Vengeance
Friday was a very poor day, only 600 words. It wasn't that I had nothing to write, I knew exactly what was going to happen. I just struggled to have the drive to do it. After five hours struggling, I gave up and went and watched the West Wing for about five hours.
The most annoying thing is that I was 2,000 words ahead of schedule. Now I'm 2,500 words behind again. The silver lining though is that, when I was behind, I worked harder. Maybe that'll help.
I know what caused it and I think that I'm over it now so come Monday morning it should be a different story.
The most annoying thing is that I was 2,000 words ahead of schedule. Now I'm 2,500 words behind again. The silver lining though is that, when I was behind, I worked harder. Maybe that'll help.
I know what caused it and I think that I'm over it now so come Monday morning it should be a different story.
September 9, 2014
Return For Vengeance
A very good day today. The story is really coming together and flowing constantly. I wrote almost 3,000 words this morning and I have hit the 6,000 word mark well before 6pm. I could have kept going for another fifteen minutes or so but my hands are tired and so is my brain.
I've got a couple of days off from the writing now as I'm spending time with my daughter. Well worth it and I go off 2,000 words ahead of schedule which is a good feeling. It's the first time I have been ahead since I started work on this book. Long may it continue.
Nope I can't think of much else to say really. Oh there is one thing. The weather was very nice today and particularly when I got to 5,000 words I had to resist the temptation to go sit in the garden. It wasn't easy I can tell you but I persevered and I feel better for it.
Total at 107,000 words.
I've got a couple of days off from the writing now as I'm spending time with my daughter. Well worth it and I go off 2,000 words ahead of schedule which is a good feeling. It's the first time I have been ahead since I started work on this book. Long may it continue.
Nope I can't think of much else to say really. Oh there is one thing. The weather was very nice today and particularly when I got to 5,000 words I had to resist the temptation to go sit in the garden. It wasn't easy I can tell you but I persevered and I feel better for it.
Total at 107,000 words.
