NaMo...

No, I'm not officially participating. The stress wears on me. The requirement is to write 50,000 words of a new novel in 1 month. I don't need to start another novel. I need to finish two that are already started. Instead of thinking in terms of a new novel, I'm going to think in terms of the average word count a day: 1667. I know I'm able to write 1,000 words a day. This will be a challenge to increase that total. That's 12,500 words a week.

More additions...

I cut a lot, and shuffled a lot, and added a lot. I'm relaxing a bit in my writing, and discovered that I do my best writing at night, late. I'm going to have to figure out how to work this, so I'm not wearing myself out. It's more difficult to work with material that's already there, deciding what to keep and what to move and how to re-write those pesky POVs. Suggestions that I start over, I've considered, and then I start reading what's there, and it's good stuff. It needs work, so now I'm doing the work. We'll see where it leads.

Another chapter...

The POV is straightened out, and the next chapter is ready to be tackled, when I'm more awake, tomorrow morning. I'm learning a lot in this whole process, including that my writing has improved a lot in the last several years. Good to know.

I enjoyed a wonderful break with a dear friend, today. It says a lot that I was still able to meet my word count. Whoohoo! I also managed to work on a few other projects, and do a bit of my PTBW. I am blessed.

I'm learning...

I pushed to meet my 1,000 word goal, and revised several chapters of the current WIP. According to the word count, it was only 1,000 words added, but a lot of re-writing was done, as well as some cutting and rearranging. I'm much happier with how it's reading, now.

Today, I read an interview with Diana Duncan, and it was the encouragement I needed to keep believing in myself. Not that I claim to be the writer she is, but she knows what it is to struggle, and she stuck to it.

A great day...

Now, looking at the numbers, it doesn't look like I've done much; however, I completely re-wrote a chapter, putting it all in one POV, and started on the next.

Tonight, I attended my Desert Rose meeting, where Mary Wine was a guest speaker. She attended in Victorian Garb and though the title of her program was "The Secret Life of Underwear," she shared the history of clothes and how and why they changed. It was fascinating.

I'm slow...

...which is frustrating. I did manage to rewrite a chapter of the WIP. The original, again, was from several POV, so I had to re-work it so it made sense. That's always more of a struggle than I like to imagine it will be, as I don't want to lose what's there. Sometimes, there's nothing for it but to cut what doesn't work anymore. And sometimes, it requires writing it from a different POV, but that also means making sure that the POV will work. I also did some scene re-arranging and a bit of research. Other projects were worked on, as well.

This is fun...

The rewrite is starting to move along. I started on page nine and finished on page twenty-four. I've made up for all the stuff I've cut by adding new material that I hope works for the story. I have a clearer idea of where the story is going, and the hero and heroine meet much earlier, maybe not early enough, but one step at a time. A few other things were also worked on, today. It feels good. I'm thinking and considering a number of different things, and turning much of it over to God. Prayer is such a comfort.

More re-writing...

I expanded some of the material, and cut more. It's better. I also worked on another project for a while. And PTBW was finished in good order, today. It's been a productive day, though the numbers don't show it. That's okay. I'm learning so much.

Back to Monday...

I re-wrote chapter two, and realized that my hero and heroine are not meeting soon enough, so it's time to rethink and re-plot, a bit. It's a good story. I've learned a lot since I first started it. It's worth saving. Re-writing is necessary for a better story, and I'm fine with that.

Found myself able to go back to book 3, recognizing the need to explode the last scene I wrote. It's amazing to realize my understanding of the process is expanding, because I'm working with several manuscripts at once. Though the stories are quite different, they reveal clues that are applicable to all, the need to explore the inner workings of the characters, the need for details like sight and smell and touch and hearing.

And the project continues. I'm learning a lot about myself. Hopefully, my journey will help someone else.

Several of my friends are doing random acts of kindness, tomorrow. I haven't decided yet what I want to do... actually, I did it. It required a bit of planning, writing a thank you note that will hopefully arrive tomorrow.

Stuck... but not for long...

I was growing frustrated with all the POV problems, so I pulled out another partially finished manuscript. There were only a few POV glitches, and all were easily fixed. I don't know what I'll work on tomorrow. I'll decide when it arrives. I am finding that my writing is coming more easily when I simply allow myself to follow where my thoughts go. I woke up thinking about today's manuscript, and rather than continue to struggle with the one from yesterday, I'm letting it rest (not for long) while I let my brain work through a different problem. The success seems to be multiplying. Then again, I've only been experimenting with the new routine for a few days. We'll see what happens long term. I also worked on a couple of other projects. A good day's work.

Taking a break...

I needed a different perspective, so I pulled out a half completed contemporary manuscript and started working. I haven't opened it in over four years. First I went through and checked for continuity and viability. Now, I'm editing, cutting extra material that doesn't move the story along. When I was reading I recognized my old problem with POV, so I'm going to need to make some decisions about who has the most to lose in each chapter.

The right word...

I didn't add much to the WIP, but I did find some better words. The project had some editing and rearranging done. All is in God's hands. When I feel frantic and out of sorts, I question everything I do. When I turn to God and offer Him my trust, calm permeates every corner of my heart. You would think it would be easy for me to trust God, and yet worry seeps in with annoying regularity. And here is the reason why Jesus teaches to pray always. :-)

No much added...

The brain has been on vacation, but that should be over soon. Though I haven't written much, I have been mulling over the story. I've a basic outline, but I need to fill in quite a bit. A bit of editing was accomplished, today.

Sometimes, the goal is to make it through the day. I made it.

Not a lot added...

However, did you know that "ouch" is documented from 1837? Alas. I have to figure out something for my book set in 1817. "Ow" is used as an exclamation of surprise in the 14th century, but as an expression of sudden pain it doesn't show up until 1919. Hrmph doesn't show up at all, and harrumph doesn't show up until 1918.

Tolkien used things out of their proper timeline, but I'm not Tolkien. For example, he describes the dragon firework as sounding like a steam engine. It's a fantastic, clear image, but it only makes sense to me as a reader, not for the time frame, as Lord of the Rings is mythical, pre-history. He does have a gift for painting a picture with words.

Busy work day...

Though I spent most of the day on PTBW, I couldn't resist pursuing what I knew came next in the WIP. Now, I can call it a day, or at least begin to unwind. Never have I been so content to put in 12-16 hour days. True enough, a lot of that time is spent thinking, working through the plot, backstory, details that will never make it to the page, but fill out the story in my own mind, so I'm able to tell a richer tale. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.

Good work...

It never ceases to surprise me how much easier it is to write more when I stop trying to shut out one book in favor of another. This past weekend, I finally gave in and worked on an upcoming manuscript. I had several ideas I wanted to explore. Since then, I've added quite a bit to the current WIP, with a clear plan of what comes next. The creative imagination is an interesting occurrence.

Review and edit...

I worked on several projects, including book 3. I went back and read through the last scene I wrote, and did some editing. Then I started working on the next scene.

After the power outage, last night, I'm finding it difficult to concentrate. Lack of sleep is not helpful. Back at it, tomorrow.

Not much writing...

...was accomplished, today. Not necessarily a bad thing. I had a delightful chat with a very dear friend. We spent quite a bit of time talking writing. Sometimes, it helps to talk things through, solidifying ideas and concepts. A lot of my "think" time is spent fleshing out my characters. It may never make it into the story, but helps me recognize what matters in the story and what is extra information.

Other writing was accomplished, which is also taking a clearer form.

God is good.

Another scene...

...completed, in book 3. I worked a little on book 5 as well, and the project. It is such a relief to be able to put the stories in my head on paper. The books I've read over the years have helped me in so many ways, from choosing what I truly like and love and learning how to set boundaries. I'm so grateful for writers who share their stories. I hope my stories help someone, too.

Stormy weather...

Every time I go to open a document, I hear thunder. So, it's late in the evening, and I'm calling it quits. I'll work on book 2, tomorrow. I did a lot of planning for book 5 (I can't seem to keep the hero out of my head), and I started the next scene in my head. I'll type it in, tomorrow. I worked on the project. More thunder, again. So, off I go. I must admit that storms are a bit of a trial. I endeavor to trust God, but memories of my computer processor exploding during a lightning storm are still pretty vivid, and it's been 7 or 8 years.

Editing - done...

The whole of the day was spent finishing the first round of editing for book 2. Whew. Now, I'll put it away for a week or two. Then I'll open the document again and do another edit.

I added a bit to book 3 over the weekend.

Other projects are also progressing.

My brain is fried, in a good way. :-)