A bit of fun...

My current reading material consists of Dick Couch's The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228 and Kim Watters's Home Sweet Home. Kim's hero has a sister who makes candles for a living, and I thought, "Ooooo I'd like to do that." My very next thought was, "Until a story started percolating in my brain," which would be as soon as I had a spare bit of space in my head. Anytime I'm doing something that requires little thought, story ideas pop in for a visit, where they're mulled, shaped, and discarded or further developed.

I've had a terrible time concentrating, today. There are days like that. I'm doing some editing, and a little adding, but not much. I've also been working on some other projects that seemed to crowd out everything else. Back at it, tomorrow.

Not bad...

I only added a little over 500 words, but I cleaned up quite a bit. As I worked on editing, I discovered a problem with what I like to think of as time warping, and I really dislike it in a historical novel. It's fun in science fiction, where it belongs. One of my characters knew too much for the time period, so I re-wrote it with material that would fit the time and place. It did lead to a bit of fun between the hero and heroine. We'll see how it goes once the story is finished.

Good work, today...

More than 1200 words added, and another 10 pages edited. I can see at least one place that needs expanding, but I'm not quite sure how so that it works in the story. The scene needs to reveal information and/or move the story along. It does that in a minor way, at this point. I'll think about it, and go back to it, in a bit. This is so much fun. Thanks God for the joy.

Still progress...

Only added 750 words to the WIP, but also edited 16 more pages. Continuity was also more carefully worked through, so the time line is better, clearly. In addition, I worked on The Project, editing the first chapter. A good day's work.

Not quite the same progress...

I only added 300 words, today, but I've done a careful read-through of the first 16 pages of the current 104. I discovered details I'd forgotten that will need to be verified and worked into the continuity of the rest of the story, as it currently stands. I feel like the work was good. I hope to pick up the pace. Today was not one of my better days. I had a rough night's sleep, and a bit of trouble concentrating. With storms moving in, the headache is a bit plaguesome. It could be worse. It has been worse. So, I'm hopeful for better work as I become more accustomed to my new schedule that I created for myself. God is good.

Another 1000+ words

I once again penned the outline, trying to give myself a sense of the overall story. I've filled in all the partially written sections that were inserted to remind of things that needed to be part of the story. Now, it's time to start at the beginning and checking for continuity and flow, making sure things make sense. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up the 1000-words-a-day, but I'll not stop making the effort. I'll take it a day at a time, and see where it goes. I'd really like to pick up the pace of my work, but I also want to make sure I acknowledge that I'm putting far more into my work than I ever have before. All is in God's hands.

A bit of fun...

Another 1000 words + 1. I met the goal by fleshing out two different sections. It's such an amazing experience to write this way. I've never been so consistent. I don't feel like I should be doing something else. I truly feel like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing right now. Oh, and I've stopped writing from the end to the beginning, and I'm currently filling in from the beginning to the end. It's fun.

And so the story grows...

Another 1000+ words. I spent the morning outlining what was already written. Then I worked on the time line. Some sections needed to be moved. One of them was moved several times before I found the right spot for it. As it turned out, that's the scene that was exploded, today. I work on remembering to show not tell. As a side note, I once again found myself struggling with words I couldn't use! What a blessing writer Diane Gaston shared the online etymology dictionary.

Still moving foward...

Today, I added another 1,000+ words. This time it wasn't a single scene but fleshing out several scenes. Some were picking the right words, and some were sketching a general idea for fleshing out later. Again and again, I wonder if I'm crazy, and then I start writing and everything in my heart settles.

"Step into the darkness, in faith. God loves you."

Still moving along...

It's so exciting to see the story unfolding. I'm still holding to writing over 1,000 words a day, but Sunday. I try to make it a day of rest, though I find I'm unable to stop the ideas niggling, so I pull out pen and paper, jot it down, and add to the document the next day. I'm endeavoring to take to heart God's admonition to rest on the Sabbath.

The Project is ready for a thorough re-read through, from beginning to end. I haven't done that since I've shared it with my readers. I made changes one chapter at a time, without looking beyond the chapter I was working on, because it's too easy for me to become distracted.

TIP: From Barbara Kingsolver, guest at Writers In The Storm blog: Don’t wait for the muse. She has a lousy work ethic. Writers just write.

Still working backwards...

Another 1,300+ words added. I'm now more than half way through the maximum number of words. The new scene is one I never anticipated adding, and yet it's necessary for the plot and setting. Simply amazing. God is good.

Trivia: My favorite music for writing is the score to Lord of the Rings.

And so it continues...

Another 1,000 words; half way for the minimum number of words, but I know myself well enough to anticipate exceeding the minimum by the time I'm finished. I'm still working scene by scene from the end to the beginning. I don't know why I find this less stressful and far less troublesome, but I do. The Project's new chapter has been shared with three of my five readers. I hope to have The Project finished by the end of the summer.

It's growing...

I've now completed half my required word count for book two. I hope to complete it by the end of this month. I'm still writing over 1000 words a day. Outlining the book, last night, was productive. I moved a scene, and then exploded a couple of scenes. I'm still writing from the end to the beginning. I don't know why, but it's easier for me. I've done some work on The Project and blogs.

Another unexpected turn...

The beginning is finished, I think. The end is finished, I think, and there are bits and pieces throughout the middle. Interestingly enough, I'm actually writing the rest of this story backwards, from the end to the beginning. It's currently easier to wonder how I reached a point in the story, and write the what-happened-before. I also worked on The Project's new chapter, and a couple of other things. I'm meeting my word goals for the WIP and then exceeding it with all the other writing. I also completed my PTBW. And it's only 6 o'clock in the evening. I've written an outline of what I have written for the WIP, and I'm going to work on that this evening. I need to do a little shuffling of a few of the scenes, then tomorrow I'll be working on expanding, or exploding scenes, as one of my friend's describes it.

Happy Independence Day!

I was delayed posting, thanks to thunderstorms, but none the worse for wear. It was a productive day, and that needs to be celebrate! I added over 1400 words to the WIP. I added a new chapter to The Project. I've started my own Declaration of Independence. It's more work than I anticipated. And I added a bit to the future short story. I also emailed with friends and had a delightful chat with my younger brother. I read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, part of my tradition for the day. I'm so grateful to live in a place and time when so many opportunities are available. God bless all those who value freedom.

Lucky thirteen...

I added only thirteen words, today, but it's nothing to complain about. I talked with a dear friend about the storyline, and I rearranged bits already written to properly fit the outline. Next, to continue filling in what is there, now that I have a much better idea of the story as a whole, and the time line. What a blessing to have friends who ask questions that are pertinent, allowing me to clarify the story in my own mind, making the telling easier. We talked of other things besides my stories, of course. A day well spent.

Still cleaning up...

Didn't meet my 1000 words, again, but did add about half of that, and am 1/2 way through editing what is there. Had several continuity glitches that are now straightened out. I've also added a character, and shuffled and reworked several characters. There are things I truly love about this story, and things not so much, but I'm learning and making it better every day.

Worrying with faith...

I worked on my budget, today. Like many people, right now, I'm struggling. My main source of income laid me off, at the beginning of the year. I decided to put my faith in God and pursue what I believed He had laid on my heart. It's been six months. I wonder if I've missed opportunities, because I've turned down a couple of potential offers, though none of them were sure. I felt I should focus on my writing. It seemed the timing was perfect. My savings is dwindling, slowly but surely, so I asked God for a breadcrumb as I drove home from dropping off work, with no work to pick up, today. It isn't that I don't trust God, I do. However, I'm not as good at trusting myself. In truth, I prayed for God strength my weakness, to help my unbelief. My blog hasn't been accessible since last night, so I thought I'd check again. Here it is, and this quote appeared in one of my widgets: "Rejoice at your weakness. When you are weak I am strong. Strong to help, to cure, to protect." --Two Listeners

Thanks God for yet another breadcrumb.

Missed the goal, today...

...but not unhappy about it. I only added 100 words or so. However, I re-arranged sections that no longer fit where they were. I also added a character who had been missing, not intentionally, but simply overlooked, and necessary. Every English manor needs a butler. Clearly, this one doesn't play a huge role, but it would be noticed if he weren't there. Now, he is. I also shuffled some maids, and their roles in the house. The changes smooth out some rough edges, and answer some questions. I will add more, tomorrow. With neatening up those few details, more of the story is surfacing. It's amazing. I feel so blessed. Thanks God. And The Project is off to another reader.

Surprise...

As I picked up work, this morning, I found myself wondering how to work out a snag in the story. I returned home with a firm idea, and started typing. I needed to complete my work for the day and used it as a break between writing sections. By the time I finished, I'd added over 3,700 words to the WIP and more to the short story. It's so exciting to see the stories reveal themselves.

Tonight, Desert Rose had their monthly meeting, and I had the opportunity to chat with new members and share my wonderful experience with the chapter's Mentor Program. I'm so grateful for this remarkable group of women, mostly, and appreciate their support and encouragement. I don't think I would have made it this far without them. God sends blessings, and it's often in the form of individuals who share our journey, even if only for a few moments.