Awaiting Feedback

Just sent off the first 5 chapters off for review by my muse (luke) who as always rips apart my writing and puts it back together exactly the way I envisoned it.

Hovering around 83,000 words and went through a bit of a crisis today when I became unsure whether or not people actually wanted to read it, let alone paying £10 to read it as well. Had a nightmare where I saw my book on the shelves in a bargain book shelf or consigned to 3 books for a £1 corner.

Im sure every writer goes through this, or I hope they do because otherwise Im know Im in trouble.

Odd Mix on a Friday

Livejournal doesnt seem to work properly at work, so it looks like Ive been lazy with my postings.

Still writing, and pleased my writing partner Luke, is back online (in more ways than one), and Im gonna pimp his current project.

http://www.roadcartv.co.uk/

A comedy superhero series they are hoping CH4 will pick up for their 7:55pm 5 minute slot.

Family and kids are fine.

Still waiting on my new handheld phone so no new reviews. Kind of pissed because Ive lost a few word files on the damn thing, and because it syncs up with my machine, it fucks the sync'ed files on my work machine.

Im writing this at home while awaiting Big Brother, but realising that my laptop is getting old, but dont tell it.

Damn my battery is low, till next time.

Empty Head

No writing today - spent the train ride sleeping, and will most likely do the same on the way home.
Plus I left my word files at home, but did bring my pen and paper so there is no excuse.

When Does Writing Begin?

gwaunquest made a comment that she had wanted to write from the age of 8.

I can identify with that, but my main problem was not having anything to write about.

While I am sure my writing does have something to do with my role-playing interests, I, like a lot of people, got into role-playing by accident, and if I analysed it, I could have so easily missed it completely.

Being creative has always been an obsession, its just knowing how and when to focus and discipline it. The great guitarist Steve Vai said that everyone has music in them, its just he has the discpline to practise and write it down on paper and record it.

School for me wasnt the breeding ground I expected it to be writing-wise, and even a year long exile in Spain didnt really produce anything worthwhile (erotic fiction and fan-fic doesnt really count).

I am putting my thoughts and ideas down as to how this book, Orchid, came into being, and hopefully it will surprise even me.

80k Writing Target

This morning I was able to type up some writing that I had done that was backlogged from the week. I've only scratched the surface but reached the 80,000 words barrier. What that means is that if I want the book to be about 400,000 words in length, and my target date for the 1st draft to be completed is the 30th November 2006, then I need to start writing instead of 1,000 words a day, I need to up the ante to 2,424 words a day.

I have been writing and re-writing the prologue, because its short and sweet it also serves a vital intro purpose to two important characters. Im sure Ill keep re-working it right up to the publishing date!

I am also "plotting/storyboarding" whatever you want to call it, a sequence where 4 characters go and do 4 things all at the same time, but what they each do all influences the other 3 - confused? I was, but am using storylines PC program with excel.

Time on the X axis, characters on the Y axis. Each cell is an event - write in that order.

Lots more to write, but concentrating on story and plotting as well as dropping hints for later events.

Writing Progress 3

Just creeped over the 78,000 word barrier.

Hold it creeped is the wrong word - it conjures up the imagine of barely enough effort to attain this amount.

You have no idea whether I have written 78,001 words or 78,999 words.

Let me start again.

Yesterday, after renewed passion, I have reached 78,000 words, with so much more to come. I have, after a quiet walk home, realised how two independent characters know each other, and in addition to that worked out several ways in which they have become unwittingly tied together, and how their actions directly affect each other.

I have also added another layer of forebodding menace to a relationship which I was of the belief was not strong enough. I love the idea of a Damocles Sword hanging over a character, situation or impending event.

It is a joy again to write, and I hope that the book isnt too depressing that people feel bad after reading it.

I shall shortly be doing some word targets to meet the November 2006 deadline for the first draft, and see what comes. At my current lazy style, I will have only written 108,000 words, so I need to get my skates on.

Writing Inspiration

I've written in earlier journals about the PC programs I use to concoct my master story with, but not once mentioned the books I have read and refered to when writing.

They are an unusual mix, some expected, and some not so expected.

So in addition to the TV childrens reviews, I shall also be touching on each of the books I am reading to enhance my writing.

I will be breaking them down into

Writing - style and grammar
Referece - books I refer to while writing for names, ideas and well reference
Creative Books - books I have that inspure and point out writing pitfalls and methods to create scenes, plots and melodrama etc...

Don't hold your breath, but Id love some recommendations as well to add to my collection. The more odd ball the better, just as long as they are still in print and purchasable.

Writing Backwards

Last night I broke the 76,000 word barrier, whilst at the same time dodging all the pitfalls a writer normally comes up against. For me the regular problems I have to solve, and actually enjoy accomplishing it, is character motivation. Why would a character do a certain act or say something at certain time. It becomes more vital when the decision they choose is relevant to a critical plot moment. Once you realise their choice it actually makes writing earlier chapters easier because you know their mindset.

Every choice a character makes is based on past experiences. Even snap decisions must come from somewhere - the sub-conscious.

Towards the end of my novel I know there are going to be some incredible upheavals, deaths, choices, murder even, and amongst all this mess heroes will die and yet still have to make decisions that benefit them or those they care about.

XXX

On a separate note, Ive noticed a few extra people on my friends list - nice to have you watching, but Im also aware there are many more people reading than posting. Hi.

End of the Week

Well that week went quickly.

Quicker than I ever could imagine.

Didnt get much done in the way of writing (2,000 words in 9 days is crap), but did manage to sort out a few things in my life and with 2 of my clients (accounts related) which Im happy about.

Its just my main job Im worried about. As you may or may not know I work in the centre of London and commute 3 hours a day (round trip). The job pays well, but I need something a little closer to home. My current company is planning on moving, but close enough that I will be at most 30 minutes drive away, but still far enough to demand a company car (because I cant run two!)

Thats the trouble with 3 jobs. With 1 you can keep things moving nicely, and you have only 1 job to worry about. With 3, I have 3 masters to keep happy, and because of my financial situation I have to keep them all.