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Agony Aunt
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Today I mostly wrote ... the word count thread.
Good work Anna. I work as a mental health nurse three days a week and am seeing more and more people struggle with their moods and emotions as a result of the whole Covid thing. Real privilage to have the opportunity to try and alleviate their distress but it's very exhausting. I guess that's one of the reasons I persist in throwing myself wildly into my writing whenever I get the chance. Otherwise, I think it would even get this fool down.
On the third chapter of the final story in my latest book. Written just over a thousand words so far today. Hoping the get another few thousand poured out before the turning of the day.
When you leave a piece of a book, and its detailed plot, for 'when I get there,' be advised that if you're an extreme plotter like I am, you will get there eventually, and it will be hard work!I'm not saying not to, but I should have left myself at least some instructions and a statement of 'I will leave this for now.' In writing.
I am paying for my sin, except that I now have a clear understanding of why I did it, and it will eventually be better for the process. Specifically, the villain wins - for a while - and I knew it would happen, but couldn't face the details back then (2007 is a long time ago).
I'm actually optimistic that what results will be much better than what I could have planned back then, but it isn't being much fun.
Wish I could empathise Alicia but I have absolutely no idea how a book will evolve from one chapter to the next although I always write the final paragraph of the book right at the start. Seems to work for me!
So many different ways to write, Stuart! I knew exactly where this was going in 2000, through the Great Reorganization of 2007 (GR07 in my notes), and all the way to the end. On the other had, it's taking me forever!
Had I known...
I am always fascinated by how people go about this writing lark. Whatever the method, the process, the outcome, you are all heroes to me.
Totally. I definitely write better by pants but at the same time, when I was talking to someone the other day about the next series I'm going to write, I realised that I pretty much know what happens, it's just getting the detail of how they make it from the beginning to the end that takes time!
I'm more like Stuart, I know how it will start (although several stories had had the start 'moved back a step or two) and I've got a fair idea of the ending, (Although that can change as the story and characters develop) and I've got an idea of a few of the stops along the road. Writing the book is a case of getting from one end to the other, fitting in as many of the stops as possible but with plenty of room for new, far more interesting stops that the characters have provided for my delectation and delight :-)
I got absolutely nothing done today - had my second virus shot yesterday, and my brain was basically offline today. Maybe tomorrow. I don't care - the second shot means a diminution in stress, and I can sleep a few extra hours, take some extra pain meds, and it will be over soon.
Great news about the shot Alicia, even if the writing suffered it is worth it for that. Not a huge account of action here either. I must start a new K'Barthan Extra soon. At the moment I'm bound up with sorting the one I've just finished though.
Glad you got the second shot. A couple of friends of mine had a torrid time with their first shot but they also have moderate long covid so that may be the causeLady wife didn't have much problem with her first shot
Finally done a blog post so now I can say I've written something today! https://mtmcguire.co.uk/2021/02/06/du...
I did a blog post this morning, too.It doesn't count - not fiction - but here it is:
https://liebjabberings.wordpress.com/...
I have had a very good writing day since I finished my reorganization - no fiction words yet, but several thousand organizing words, and I'll take it.
I credit the tension being lower due to politics and pandemic stress being reduced by Biden and getting the second shot (now that the reaction is passed).
I'm in a very hopeful mood - and ready to roll tonight or tomorrow with actual fiction.
Glad things are levelling out for you Alicia. We've both had our first jabs, so that's a step in the right direction.
I've not really cracked on with book 3 in the Quilt Detective series, just lots of restarts and reworkings, but I have now done a bit of a cull of characters, reshaped and tweaked, so am good to go. Again. Looking back I first started this one in September 2017!
But I did 1400 words 3 days ago, then about a thousand. Aiming for another 1000 today. As long as I don't get distr... ooh biscuits! and cup of tea
Karen wrote: "Glad things are levelling out for you Alicia. We've both had our first jabs, so that's a step in the right direction.
I've not really cracked on with book 3 in the Quilt Detective series, just lot..."
Well done, it's all movement in the right direction!
I have had to rebrand my K'Barthan Shorts series as Extras because I can't really sell an 85k novel as a short and even though it's long if it's in a series of shorts, I won't be able to do anything useful with it like try for a bookbub.
I have changed the name of a directory on my website which involved changing the word 'freebook/' to 'images/' in about fifty pages. Ah ...
On the up side, the designs are all done now and signed off. So there's that. I have changed one lot of books on Google and overhauled and updated my listings there at the same time. It's taken ages but I thought that ouside Amazon it seems to be the one most worth doing.
So mostly marketing this week but I do now have a new logo which is epically cool and I am in the process of fixing pretty much the entire list of 'book things I need to get round to' some of which have been awaiting my attention for seven or eight years. So definite progress!
Nothing much for me today except uploading the preorder and sorting it on all the main retailers and writing a very, very, very long blog post. https://mtmcguire.co.uk/2021/02/14/th...
M.T. wrote: "Karen wrote: "Glad things are levelling out for you Alicia. We've both had our first jabs, so that's a step in the right direction.
I've not really cracked on with book 3 in the Quilt Detective se..."
I'm watching what you do, and taking note, because I will have to do a few of these thing - not to the scale you are doing - when I finish the trilogy AND put up the prequel short story (or more) and any sequels. Hope I haven't fouled it up already.
Alicia wrote: "M.T. wrote: "Karen wrote: "Glad things are levelling out for you Alicia. We've both had our first jabs, so that's a step in the right direction.
I've not really cracked on with book 3 in the Quilt..."
The big thing that helps me is loads of tables where I just tick what's done. So a table that is 'upload new cover' with a list of sites across the top and the names of the books along the sides and I just tick them as I do them. That way I never get the thing where I forget what I've done.
With your backlist, MT, you HAVE to be organized. Keep it simple, keep it going.On another front, the weekend got me past the minor reorganization of this part of Book 2, and onto almost 600 actual words. It felt good to actually be writing, though my brain chose this time to be as non-functional as possible (the chocolate?).
I want this book finished. I am tired of being the one-book author.
Don't belittle yourself Alicia. One book is considerably more than most of the population produce :D
Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Don't belittle yourself Alicia. One book is considerably more than most of the population produce :D"Just to agree with Rosemary here. Quality has a quantity all of its own ;-)
Alicia wrote: "With your backlist, MT, you HAVE to be organized. Keep it simple, keep it going.On another front, the weekend got me past the minor reorganization of this part of Book 2, and onto almost 600 actu..."
I'm with the others on this. I think the way you keep your writing moving forward is a cuffing wonder. Here's to bloody-minded people who keep on going whatever. ✊🏼👍🙂
Had a good day - the scene is finished except for some editing - and an attempt to reduce it from 1400 words a bit.I blocked the internet and sat here, even when the brain was toast. My process works when my brain doesn't - but the refinement still requires at least a while with a functional brain.
I am determined.
Jim wrote: "Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Don't belittle yourself Alicia. One book is considerably more than most of the population produce :D"Just to agree with Rosemary here. Quality has a qua..."
Thanks, Jim. It would be far easier if I weren't so picky - but then it wouldn't be the kind of books I want to write. No point in putting my whole body and soul into it if I'm not going to write as well as I possibly can.
Edited 2 more chapters in the last few days so gradually slogging through it!
Gathered almost all the details going into the next scene - the general reorganization of this section made it go fast. I might even get some written tonight - already have a beginning and ending section.FL: It made no sense to feel abandoned.
I chose not to go to Colorado for Thanksgiving at Susan’s, in the busiest travel season of the year, to spend it awkwardly socializing with a small child, my pregnant daughter who is mad at me, and her husband’s normal family.
Well, if you put it like that…
and
LL: “Call me after your second date with the lovely Dr. Ben.”
“Of course.” But she hadn’t promised when.
Around 70 previously non-existing words. Good for a start.
637 words written yesterday and going great guns when I made the mistake of checking the formatting. All the previous chapters are fine but the one I'm working on insists on having mirror margins. Aha! I said to the screen. I know what to do, I have made notes - 10 minutes to find the notes. "Highlight the offending paragraphs, go to page layout, margins, press normal."Nope, that didn't work. It was already on normal anyway. So I became the definition of insane - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Today is another day and I shall ignore the offending paragraphs until they agree to do as I tell them. See - mad!
Repeatedly uploading books to ingram because a) it's glitchy and I have to keep doing everything twice and b) because they want certain the ISBN on the cover produced in black and white only but ... get this ... they aren't like that in the template. I hate all this pointless time wasting fuckery.
The world serves to waste your time. Rats!
I confess I haven't the patience for it. I've just not bothered. Life is too short for that sort of nonsense
Alicia wrote: "The world serves to waste your time. Rats!"Yep. Gits!
Jim wrote: "I confess I haven't the patience for it. I've just not bothered. Life is too short for that sort of nonsense"
Totally, Jim. It's another big plus to my getting designers to do the covers. So annoying and a waste of everyone's time as well, not just mine and the designers but their own, too.
Ho hum. Anyway, I now have all the files, hopefully they will pass muster today. Fingers and toes crossed.
We will be able to say, "We knew Mary when..."Keep at it. We're proud of you.
Thanks Alicia. Mum's had a light stroke so life is on hold now and I am in Sussex with bro looking after her. I'll have to isolate from the McOthers for two weeks when I get home now. Ho hum.
I'm so sorry, Mary. Please give her my best - and prayers for her recovery. She is so lucky you and your brother can be there with her.
M.T. wrote: "Thanks Alicia. Mum's had a light stroke so life is on hold now and I am in Sussex with bro looking after her. I'll have to isolate from the McOthers for two weeks when I get home now. Ho hum."Sorry to hear it, it's a bit of a beggar all round really :-(
I wrote almost a thousand words yesterday, finished the scene, hated it, and dumped the whole in a temporary file - for whichever snippets of dialogue might be retained.Then I went into why my gut didn't like it, figured it out (will blog), and much more happily have restarted with the intention of writing something much better.
I haven't done this before, not this radically, but I know I'm right, and will get it done now that I'm no longer fighting my gut. Honestly, there are easier ways to live - but my name goes on it, and I have to be able to read it myself with pleasure.
Alicia said I have to be able to read it myself with pleasure.I know what you mean, Alicia. During the last holiday I had (whenever that was!!!) I read one of my own, earlier books and was pleasantly surprised to find I liked it. It didn't spoil my holiday!
So keep going, it's worth it.
yes sometimes you just know something isn't working
Anna wrote: "Alicia said I have to be able to read it myself with pleasure.I know what you mean, Alicia. During the last holiday I had (whenever that was!!!) I read one of my own, earlier books and was pleas..."
The POINT is to write exactly what you want to read, so that when you are living in a tiny place you have something you actually like - and if your memory has gone, all the better!
Alicia said: and if your memory has gone, all the better!That's a good point, Alicia, although I hope I never get to the point where I forget my camel etc. Camel? Yes, quite a lot of my own life incidents end up in my books and one was the hour long, unbelievable conversation I had with a camel. I've toned it down for the book, which is a shame really, but it is true and one day in the far, far, (I hope) future, when I can't do very much, I am going to read it and remember and relive.
I have photos to prove... And the Mr heard...
And they'll wonder. That's the best part - that the young ones will wonder.I still have hopes that something will ameliorate the effect of the disease I battle - and that I'll get a renaissance of sorts, or at least a slowing of the deterioration, and get something done.
I can manage without it, but it would be so welcome.
You are doing all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for all the people you can, while you can, Alicia. No one can expect more.
Although not "beautuful" at all from me!
I dunno though, it describes my writing exactly - not quite what it should be.
Yesterday, the fog lifted.Today, I took everything I had, finished it, made sure it accomplished its goals, polished it, and declare it done.
It is not what I expected when I started - and yet, somehow, it will do. I am not a pantser, per se, but within the confines of my iron structure, I love letting loose and finding the silk purse.
At 1787 words, it is longer than I planned, but not longer than I need, I think. 'Twill serve.
This is why I keep writing. I'm in love.
Well done Alicia - really is no feeling like typing The End!I'm currently working through the second draft of The Truth About Trees. Hoping to be half way through by the end of the weekend.
Alicia wrote: "Yesterday, the fog lifted.Today, I took everything I had, finished it, made sure it accomplished its goals, polished it, and declare it done."
Yay!
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Yesterday I wrote 1377 so that'll see me through the 100 word average for 13 days. And today - well, we'll see - I've only got the morning to write so I'd better get started.