Well, I posted my line edited manuscript of "Glimmer in the Maelstrom" away on Thursday and felt very happy with it - caught up with some sleep on Friday as well as meeting a friend to talk about our impending projects. 

Full on family weekend this weekend, but come Monday I'll be ready to dive back into the plotting of the new trilogy with enthusiasm and vigour.  I definitely want to have made a start on it before the Easter school holidays start!

I've had a slow week, full of study, but I did grab my time for FW and dash out a summary of the ending, so I know where each 10K is going to stand in the story.
Strange how things just follow... i had no idea before I actually started teh story... i just handed the reins over to the characters, and look were they took me! love it!
sounds like Alyson is on a roll... im really happy for you girl. You deserve it totally!
And now Glimmer is sent off... did you cry Lou? did you at least say good bye?
Im planning to have the first draft done by the time I leave for uni in April (28th) so I have 6 weeks and only 40K to do... simple!
later...

Timna, I'm so pleased Four Winds is shaping up so well for you.  And you're right, that amount of work is achievable.  Let us know how you go.

I didn't cry when I posted Glimmer away, because I'll have the proof sheets back within a month and will get to read it all again, but I must admit I cried several times while reading the manuscript.  I wouldn't have thought it would affect me so much this time, as I've read it so many times before.  But each time it does.  Guess the characters are just so real to me.

Anyway, I'm getting on with plotting the next trilogy, so that's taking my mind off it.  Hoping to start writing draft within a fortnight.

Wrote 12,000 words in three days over the weekend. Working on two books concurrently - find that much better to switch from one to the other when I get stuck and that way it keeps it fresh and I can be stewing over the one I am not working on which I find I need.

Anyway, really, really pleased with that huge word count. Some of it was great too! Some I feel will need a big edit but that's for later.

Received a package from HM&B in Canada - was not expecting so very excited. Turns out it is an edit they have done and I have to go through and do my own line edit so if I want to make any changes or don't agree with theirs I can fix it.

Have to get it back to them in 14 days, including postage time. So... off I go. Hard thing is I'm not sure what they have changed and what is mine. I have found a couple of words as they fel different but some feels different and I ahv found it was mine! Funny how some lines stick with you and others I am pleasantly surprised to find I wrote! What fun! So here I am getting out the red pen again. Yay!

I have not done as much as I would like this week. It seems like everytime I go to sit down something has come up. My brotherin law had bad accident at work and ended up in hospital and my sister went for op as well. I done about 2000 words though. On a better note the diet is going well.

I've been gone for so long but that's because I've been busy with uni beginning and trying to adjust to everything.
I've started a new novel (I know it's bad to!) that I've temporaily named 'Yearnings' and it's a fantasy one. So far I've only a short prologue and chapter one. I had it workshopped by a few people in my group for novel writing class. Anyway, I was just wondering what I could do to get ideas flowing. I'm sort of like really, really stuck on how to continue this! Whenever I come to write it's because a scene comes to my mind and I see it and then write it down. But now that I've got it down and all... I'm stuck!! I have to get writing, get my outline down ASAP!! I don't know what to do.

I'm having such fun plotting at the moment, post-it notes all over the front of my fridge - I really must get a big whiteboard.  The ideas are coming thick and fast and even though I'll only have the bare bones of the trilogy worked out when I start, and will have lots of spaces to fill in (which I love) there's plenty of action to keep me driving forwards, so hopefully I won't be having the same probs you are Jocelyn.  Although, I'm sure there'll be interesting moments along the way...

Wow, they've sent your book back for line editing already, Alyson.  They are in a hurry to get it into that December slot!  But that's all good.  And I know you like the red pen stuff, so it should be fun. Did the manuscript have any editing marks on it?  Or was it a clean copy?  And have they given you a list of the standard editing marks to use on the manuscript (maybe you already know them.  I didn't.)?  Or are you to fix it and send them back a clean copy?  Am sure HelenB would be able to help if you get stuck with anything.  And naturally if you want to ask me anything, I'm only an email away.

Nancy, so pleased that despite the medical problems around you, you've managed to keep writing.  Sometimes that helps keep you sane   When I first started writing I was told that there were two sorts of writers - the ones who were crushed by emotional dramas and couldn't write, and those who escaped their emotional dramas by losing themselved in their writing.  It's better to be the latter sort when you have deadlines, but I don't think escaping helps you sort out the problems.  Guess you can't have it both ways.  Anyway, happy to hear that you're pleased with your diet.  It's nice to have control of these aspects.

Jocelyn, glad Uni is settling down.  Re the problem of ideas, did you give your main character a quest or problem to solve when you started the book?  That's always a good place to start thinking about plot.  If your protagonist has to get something or find someone (usually for high stakes - to save a world, true love, whatever) that can drive the story along and you just make sure there are plenty of interesting obstacles for them.  Quest stories are good for fantasy.  I'm always advocating that people 'wing it' where possible (and let their subconscious be their guide) but I'm well aware that doesn't work for everyone or even for some all the time, and that the plot structure can be really helpful.  If you get really stuck try the plotting formula:

This is a story about...............(main character)

Who wants.............................(goal)

Because..................................(motivation)

But they can't get it because.....(conflict)

I use this several times during the course of a story to remind myself what is uppermost in my characters minds, as when one goal is reached, you need to think about what they want/need next.

Hope it helps.

i think life has two speeds, go and stop. Uni is busy, exams, essays and assignments AND i've got gamsat in two weeks. So its all go at the moment. However I'm just writing a few hundred words here and there when i get stuch with my study and things are developing. The story isn't quite clear yet, but its moving forward.
Al and Lou, great to hear that the editing is all going well. Oh and I had an idea ( yes its very scary!) instead of a white board Louise, you need something less mundane. What about a mobile that is round and decorated and you can peg your ideas up around in a circle. And when you get stumped you can sit there and watch them spin around and around and around around around around. KIdding!
Deb how is it all going???????

splat ya later
h.

Hi guys, like everyone else it seems, I've been swamped by work.. though I have kept writing and now am close to 25,000 words WooHoo! However, I found just writing about it under the one file start to get a little confusing, so I've split it up into 'chapters' and have found that easier. Some chapters I have written already, but I keep getting little ephiphanies so I have decided to think about it a little more and solve a few problems before I continue. I'd love to try Nancy's idea of a spinning mobile just to make me laugh everytime I saw it!
Has anyone else tried by working on different chapters at the same time...and more importantly.. did it actually work?? I have tentatively titled my book "The song of the Phoenix" (I'm not sure if hasn't been used before)
I'm glad the process of getting your book published is moving so fast, Alyson. Obviously, the actual writing the book is only half the job!
Anyway, keep creating everyone
love kylie S

Lou

My MS was clean copy. I set up my laptop next to their copy so I am reading through both at the same time. so interesting to see certain words they have changed throughout, changed a dress colour in one spot, changed a few 'Oh Gods!' to 'Oh boy' and such things, then added an 'Oh hell'. I am having a giggle as I go.

I have found two large chunks they have cut out which were self-indulgent funny scenes but both did have merit in that they set up later pay offs of jokes or emotional bits so I have at least added back one line to keep those pay offs relevant - would make no sense leaving them in other wise.

No editing marks list. I would love a copy if you have one at hand. I have to write any changes I would like to make in red pen on the MS and post back.

Last I heard its actually an October hard cover UK slot so very soon. Eek! Will have a big day tomorrow editing away...

Love the idea of the circular mobile, Helen.  Sounds like a sort of Tibetan prayer wheel (and when it comes to plotting I need all the help I can get) and I can just imagine it flapping away like a maniac beside me.  Wouldn't it be cool to write heaps of ideas for each of the characters on one, and then just spin and select an idea for each scene.  You'd certainly end up with an unusual and unpredictable novel!

Kylie, glad to hear you're still managing to write despite being super-busy. I have a friend who promises herself that she'll write 100 words a day, and that gets her in front of the computer even when she really doesn't feel like it - then if it's really too hard to write, she stops at 100 words.  But most times she writes much more than that.  And setting such a low target gets her over the initial "don't want to do it" hump, after which things usually flow along nicely.  Not a bad idea.

I don't have a list of editing marks, Alyson.  I've just made my own list from seeing what my editor writes, but it's scraggling and only I would understand it.  So I'll try to get back to you with somewhere you can access a list, or write you up a legible copy of what I have.  In either case, good luck with it.

It feels like ages since I posted anything on this thread.Well, maybe that is because it has been. blush

I am glad everyone is still writing, even if it is only a little bit.
Sorry you got stuck though, Jocelyn. I hate it when that happens. Try to relax and just trust. When you do that the story can just tell itself.

Just printed out my novel!
It is HUGE! 596 pages and that's only Times New Roman font. Wait until I have to print it out in Courier for the EnVision. It will be so heavy I will need a wheel barrow to get it to the post office.

Now it is time to get out my new coloured pens and edit it! Scary stuff...

Lots of coffee and chocolate or so I am told, helps.

deb

i wish i could begin writing again.. i have a few topics i'd like to write on, but nothing that throws a spark yet. the last piece i was working on got to me too much as it was too realistic to my childhood and it really created a problem for me when i was trying to bring some of my childhood into the storyline.. far too emotional for me to do. sometimes i want to write a story about a group of friends like "cirlce of friends" by maeve binchy.. or a script like the writer does for "secret life of us".. but i just don't know what i am good at right now.. things seem so shaky sometimes.. even though i have everything i've mostly always wanted at this stage so far.. i just, i become unstable sometimes and i don't have reason- does this make any sense? emotionally, i just don't think i'm able to produce anything at this time, yet i'm sure Virginia Wolfe wrote some of her best works while she was feeling stressed or emotional.. that Charlotte Bronte wrote "Jayne Eyre" when things weren't working out for her.. how do i know? the bronte sisters had a very hard life.. Miss V. Wolfe was still writing when she was on the border of going crazy. yet i'm not sure.. i'm not losing my mind lol.. i just can't seem to bring myself to focus on many things lately.

i'm soo sorry for babbling.. perhaps writing even odd things such as this it will be taken as a sign of writing.. to write about anything at all is still to write. does this count? hmm.. it won't help when i'm just sitting here writing to myself if that was the case.

i really am sorry for going on and on.
kerrie.

It's the one time you have a real excuse to indulge in loads of coffee and chocolate, Deb!!! Did I mention I actually thank M&Ms in my dedication in my book?

Still going through my line edit. Found out I can email in changes, thank goodness. Will save me about $40 postage to UK! I've been in touch with my editor about possible Aussie release date as I was only ever told of UK ones. She said it is up to the Australian office. So everyone has to keep their fingers crossed for me that they will publish here.

Visualise buying a copy from Borders, or K-Mart, or Target. Are you visualising? There you go off to the counter, paying Aussie dollars...

Thanks guys! I'll let you know how I go. Fingers crossed!

What a brilliant idea, Alyson. Dedications to the M&M company.
I could thank Cadbury, Mars bars, Nescafe`, Smiths Crisps, Sara lee, the Nestle`s entire choccie range.... AH! the list goes on....

deb

well ive been away for the weekend, a show jumping comp, but i am back now, and i have had to catch up in uni, let along FW, but im almost there... the only problem is, its only going to be 80K on this draft... does this really matter though? it is a teenage fantasy at present... and yes, im only 10K away from this mark. gulp!
The end is planned out, i just have to write it now.
good luck Alyson and everyone else... its the interuptions that make it all the more speial when you dive back into it.
And Deb, i have a wheelie you can borrow if need be!

:D :D

I WROTE 500 WORDS!!!

i took a notepad on the train and just started writing. i decided to chose a topic... child abuse- as depressing as it is, i actually wrote 100 words on it from a childs perspective.

AND i kept writing! 400 words later... i think i could be onto something, even a short story perhaps. at the moment i've more dedicated to art.. but perhaps i could have the best of both worlds and write 100 words a day.. a novel wouldn't build fast.. but i would be writing still :D

Kerrie.

Well, I've been away at the beach all week and did absolutely no work!  Had the most fabulous time, though, and came back all refreshed and ready to dive into the next trilogy.

Kerrie, so pleased that you're writing, and any topic is fine.  Just keep the juices flowing and keep practising so your individual style can develop.

Timna, 80k is right on the mark for a young adult novel and 100k is a respectable length for an adult novel, although usually for fantasy it's a tad longer.  But 100k shouldn't worry a publisher (I wouldn't think) as you usually get an edit where they tell you to add more stuff in and that way you'll have room.

Red Pen Deb!  Stealing Alyson's title.  I love that phase of the job, Deb.  It feels so commanding and 'in control' sitting their with your red pen, slashing and making executive decisions.  Makes you feel like a 'real writer' - or it does for me, anyway.

Alyson, I'll be visualising your book at my local Kmart, and me asking them to get in more copies because I want heaps.  Fingers crossed.

 

 

well i did it! I typed 'The End' and meant it! I have finished my first draft of my first real MS. I can see the use of all those past attempts to get this story on the right track, and i have found the way.... " Ive seen the light" so now, i can offically say that my Project Muse, is free. The whole, get it out there and on the page, pushed me through it. and like i said before, it is only 80K at present, but i can see room for more back in the story. Add abit more development to the story line. Love it!
Bring on the celebrations.... my turn for the tiara at tonight's chat!

You definitely get the tiara, Timna.  And the biggest bowl of m&ms and when we corner the Cafe Muse waiter I'm shouting you a big frothy coffeeish concoction.  Yum, yum.

Another Muser makes it through.  Bring on the cream pies Helen!

 

YAY, Timna!!!
Doesn't it feel wonderful to have completed a whole book!!!!!
Good for you....

If nothing else ever comes of it you have done sometyhing tremendous - not that I doubt you in anyway!!! Now all you have to do is edit it! BLAH!



deb

Timna - congrats congrats congrats on this thread as well as the Happy News thread - it deserves to be on both, that's for sure!!!

And how do you feel Lou? 3 Project Musers with finsihed projects in a little over a year! Not bad, not bad at all. Certianly gives me a kick in the pants to get the next one of mine done!

So pleased for you, Timna! What a feat. You, my girl, have written a book! What a thrill.

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It makes be pretty darned happy, Alyson, I must say.  I've met a lot of aspiring writers in the eleven years I've been writing, and I can tell you from personal experience that there are very few who actually finish a book, let alone go on to edit it and submit it to a publisher. 

What you've done, Timna (and you too Deb), is elevate yourself from the position of Wannabe writer to Professional Writer, and when you're published you'll be able to call yourself an Author (which is pretty cool, don't you agree, Alyson?).  So, take the time to think about that.  No matter how long it takes you to get published, you are doing this work as a professional writer.  Respect yourself accordingly, and don't let anyone stomp on your aspirations. 

You are now officially beyond that.

Oh, forgot to say that the plotting is going great guns.  I've never done such detailed plots, but it's all coming to me at the moment so I'm doing lots of water work to keep the 'flow' happening (washing dishes, clothes, floors etc) and taking copious notes.  Don't seem to be angsting about writing draft either, so the creativity of plotting must be keeping my addiction satisfied.  I'll have a very secure safety net under me when I start this next book, but still lots of room for flimming.

well i feel like it was really worth it, and now its cooking away, putting alittle distance between it all, and then i'll start editing. Im in no hurry now.. the big thingw as getting the story out of me in the first place.
Have to give the next two books some more thought, as i cant very well submit this book and have no idea where the rest of the story is hiding.
but, i have 5 weeks before im down to uni, so i will leave that time to study and just plan and dive into editing afterwards.
Yay me! Feel so proud!
Bring on that coffee and bowl of M&M's!!!

Yay Deb and Aly too.... i know how you felt now!

Almost done with this first edit... Very fiddly business editing, not sure if it's ever going to agree with me, but hey... it's a part of the process.

It will still need another clean through after this one, and then it's print it out and then off to EnVision. YAY!

deb

Wow Deb. You have been a busy bee! Bzz bzz bzz.

5 weeks will be great Timna, give Four Winds time to simmer...

Lou, sounds like you are on such a roll. All that rain in Qld must have been great for your imagination! Maybe I need to take a long bath or go to St Kilda this weekend for some inspiration...

I have 10,000 done on one MS and 6000 on the second. I am working on both concurrently. Hard going still as I am only just getting to know characters. They told me alot last night, some important characater traits and motivations which is a big help. Hopefully this weekend can rip through some great new chapters.

Flim, flim, flim...

So glad you feel proud of yourself, Timna.  So you should!  And I can commiserate with you Deb about some aspects of writing not being so fab.  I was always that way with plotting because most of my ideas come during the actual writing, but because this one is all backstory it's much easier.  And I think I didn't like editing at first either (silly, but I can't clearly remember the early ones - must be like having a baby, you just forget!).  Now I love it, although I'll admit sometimes it's hard work.

Alyson, I so admire your ability to write two stories at once.  And you are so clever to have picked a husband who is fine with you spending so much of your free-time writing - that's quite rare apparently.  (So you people who are as-yet unattached and already know you are meant to be writers, make sure you pick a partner who is okay with you locking yourself away for hours at a time.)

The page proofs for Glimmer in the Maelstrom arrived yesterday and they look beautiful all set out as they'll appear in the book.  I can't wait to see it all bound up and ready to sell   Only another three months to go.  But in the meantime I can content myself with reading it again, this time looking for typos.  Must admit I keep getting lost in the story and find it very hard to concentrate on the task at hand.  Luckily they're also sending it out to a proof reader who will hopefully pick up anything I miss.  So reading page proofs is definitely a fun part of the process.

 

Well, its good to see that everyone is progressing so prodigiously! Now, motivated by being completely left behind in the project muse stakes by, well, everyone, I am making a concerted effort to get my story finished by the end of the year! Bear witness peoples, I have decided to get my butt into action, do not accept anymore excuses. I've decided to give up my television time for my writing ( ouch!)
Sometimes I think I'm so stupid - like I need anymore deadlines When I graduate I will have degree in one hand and my project muse story in the other, I promise.

Signed and sealed in blood, Helen!
But giving up your tellie time! OUCH!!! Now that's dedication.
We will be proud of you no matter what though, Helen. You can have the degree in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other and we still would be happy.

deb

Yay, Helen. Sometimes that's what it taks - to put your goal out there so you are not the only wearing carrying it. We can help you carry it this year.

Do we have a title so we can bug you about it? How about current word count? Can you come to any chats so we can help you along the way if you get stuck or have good news to share? CAn't wait!!!

Helen, you have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you make that commitment, and I am so going to hold you to it

The time has come, my little warrior-plait princess, for you to ante up as Alyson said:  Title?  Word count?  We'll take whatever you've got.  And we hereby promise to encourage you enthusiastically every step of the way.

Anyone else who'd like to give a progress report at this point, Kylie?  Skaldi?  Mick? would be most welcomed to do so.

My report: I'm currently finishing off my page proofs for Glimmer and will be posting them away tomorrow night.  Straight back into plotting then which I will report about later in the week.  Very happy with my progress at the mo (hand around those m&ms, I say!)

Well, everyone is buzzing along. I haven't been able to even be near a computer or have some quiet time to jot down some thoughts. The last week and a half have been hectic. My gran finally passed away (she suffered from dementia) and once again she was able to gather the whole family together in Wilmington, SA to celebrate her life and her love. It was also my daughter's 18th (we flew back Sat evening for the party Sat night!) I'm feeling a little disconnected... I realise more now how much I look forward to writing and how much I need that creative outlet. I'm hoping that the school holidays will be a productive time for "the feather of a phoenix".. appropriate because I'll be empty nesting then (sob!)
kylieS

Skaldi, reporting in as ordered (salutes Louise).

I haven't done a great deal this month. Lack of enthusiasm. I have every intention of getting back to it. I'm still around page 80, about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way through. I've been distracted looking at PhD & Masters courses at different uni's and re-writing/updating a series bible for another project.

I'm thinking of applying for a New Screenwriter's inititave, which is due in by October. So I will need to have completed at least a first draft for that. I'm hoping to make it thru a second draft, as I can already see lots of stuff which needs contemplating and fixing. Which is good, as it gives me somewhere to go.

Sk.

Go for it Skaldi. So good to have a goal with a date affixed to focus your mind on your project.

Kylie, the empty nest syndrome should bring out lots of great emotion in your writing! So glad to hear that your whole family was able to come together at such a time. You will all look bakc and realise how lucky you all were to have experienced that.

I've been finding my stories a little hard going and had a couple of breakthroughs this weekend.

On one I realised that I had the wrong characters embroiled in the wrong story! The premise is out there for the taking but I was forcing the wrogn people to be going through with it all! So I let them go ... sigh and brought on two new people who will have so much more fun with the situation. Never ever done that before sowill be interesting to see how it goes.

On my other project, which I was having such an easy time with a couple of weeks ago I could not get myself to start up again. A bit of fear of what if I open the file and have nothing to say. Then I looked up and saw my GARLAND hanging on the wall! I hadn't been wearing it when trying to write the last couple of weeks. I put it on the proceeded to write 4000 words. New scenes, new situations, new quirks, new character traits came to me. I wrote lots of bits out of sequence and it was great fun. Yay!

So next time I hit a wall, someone please remind me to wear the right protective head gear!

Al

Kylie, I'm so pleased you were able to get your family together.  My Grandmother had a 90th birthday party with relatives coming from all over Australia and it was so great to have everyone together celebrating her life.  She died shortly afterwards, but I know how much it meant to her, to have us all near (my mum is the youngest of nine, so you'd better believe, the hall was packed).

Deadlines are a wonderful thing, Skaldi.  I can heartily recommend them.  There's nothing like the fear that 'you won't make it' to get you switching off the telly or getting up early to put in that extra hour.  And the benefits of being creative aren't only in the process.  I'm sure that's what Kylie is discovering now.  I find if I have too long a break away from writing, even if I am busy with other things, I get mysterious little emotional problems and psychological upsets.  But when I'm writing up a storm, none of that 'outside' drama seems to worry me.  So I'm sure there is something bad that happens when you stop, some blockage that diverts your creative energies into unproductive avenues!  So do try to find time, Kylie.  I know you have a busy life, but even if it was just ten minutes with a diary before you go to bed, that would help.

Alyson, I really felt for you with that problem of the characters not fitting into the premise, but I was also very pleased for you that you could see why the story wasn't working - that's such a sure sign of writing skill, to be able to identify a problem like that.  Often when people are beginner writers and they stall on a project, they have a sense that "something's not right" but they can't work out for themselves what's wrong.  And it's only through practise of writing that you get the necessary sensitivity to be able to see the problems for what they are.  So despite that it set you back, do feel pleased for yourself that your skill as a writer is improving all the time.  That's such great news.

And the garland.  Wow, it reminded me I haven't been wearing my tiara for ages!  Will dust it off and put it on this very morning.

Page Proofs away on time.  Plotting today.  Meeting Kim next week to discuss dividing my draft plot into three books.  Can't wait for that

Has everyone gone on holiday?  It's not easter yet (she says cracking her liquorice whip), so let's have some updates, people.

I've just finished my detailed plot and posted it away to Kim - will be meeting her on Friday to workshop that and talk about her book "The Frost Giant" which is coming along beautifully. 

Next Tuesday I will be writing draft.

I feel all goosebumpy writing that.  Anticipation is such a wonderful thing.

 

Hello everyone!
Well, I have completely finished creating my new world, map, culture, history, people and storyline, (11 1/2 filled exercise books later! And filled 12 crystal disks with research!) and have finally began writing my book.
So far, I have only completed the opening and the beginning of Chapter One - but I was wondering if any of you ever find some similar problems, like mine, while writing:
You sit up for hours writing a particular part - are delighted with it - but when reading over it the next day, it doesn’t seem all that wonderful for some reason and you are tempted scrap it, but you are scared that maybe you are being too critical?
or:
That creating place names and names for creatures (or otherworldly beings) is difficult because you don’t want to be trapped with "typical" and "overdone" names?
Thankyou all! Luv melyssa

Okay, Licorice Whip Louise!!!!
Well, finished my first paper draft a couple of days ago. Improved the story some, but it still needs work. The word count dropped by about 5000 words, so I did manage to trim it.

Melyssa, I think what's happening is quite common. Well, it is for me!!! HA!

You write something, and then when you read it a few days later, you think it's not very good.
I think self doubt taints your opinion, being hyper critical does as well. You have to give yourself permission to write crap - not that I am saying yours is crap - I am saying, that if you give yourself permission just to write you don't have this going back to check and edit business.
By checking, re-writing and editing every few days you will never get your book written.

Just write straight though, get the story down. You can come back and edit it when it's done. Make it shine then.

deb

Melyssa, Deb is so right. "By checking, re-writing and editing every few days you will never get your book written." I too found out the hard way too, but two years later and I have finished a draft that I am proud of. Whats that old saying, 'Write with your heart first and your mind last'. So true!
I found discipline the best way for me to write, what with my busy life, so everyday I wrote at least 1500 words. While it took me two years to produce a draft, I had only begun writing comfortably 6 months ago... and im all the wiser for my errors.
Hang in there... and dont past judgement until you have finished at least one draft.
oh, thats all.

Sorry Lou!

At over 15,000 words on my MS. Only finding time on days off to write but can do ~5000 and over on those days. My editor sent me a sweet email asking how my bnext book was going. 'Not nagging - just keen.' It has been two months today since I sold my book so maybe she should be nagging. I should set myself a time to get it finished. 1 month to complete first draft? I've got time off the next couple of weeks so should get lost done.

Keep on my case so I do!

Cadet helen reporting as ordered Ma'm!!

Well, I'm proud to say that I've actually got TWO projects on the burner at the moment and I'm really enthused by what I've got so far, not much of a story by the words are just great! And following the nagging last week about titles I have two potential ones, BUT they're not definate yet, once I find the right title I often find that everything falls into place for the first few chapters but I'm still a little unsure of these. So I've got "Duality" and "Key to the Sun" as temporary titles rather than just my project muse story so its a start. Am not anticipating to write much in the next couple of weeks because of exams. However the world is a strange place and who knows what might happen...
splat ya later

Hi everyone!

Between doing the bas statement and sorting out other stuff, I have managed to put together a proposal for 'Ghostown'. This is for potential producers and have emailed it and a heap of other information about it to the director.

Sk.

Well, bad news at this end - Jake ate my licorice whip.  But if I need attention in future, I'll stomp my foot, okay?

Pleased to hear that everyone is enthusiastic and moving along with their projects.  I'm 'moving along' with mine but didn't get to write draft yesterday as I'd hoped - realised I needed a bit more working on which threads are main ones in the story and which are subsiduary.  Also finding that ideas for scenes are flooding into my mind (some for book three which is a tad disappointing - long time to wait to write those), so while the inspiration is happening I'm jotting it all down and fleshing it out.  So much of this business of writing is intuitive and I'm learning you really need to be flexible in what you're doing on any given day - at least at this stage of the project!  So I'm putting my impatience to write draft on the backburner and "going with the flow".  Maybe tomorrow...

My manuscript is going well and it looks like I am going to be on target for a early finish. In am now finding (after such a long time of not getting anywhere with the book)the story pouring out a lot. I am trying to write at night as the kids have been sick.
I will be getting a bottle of Ricadonna to celebrate when I do(I am trying to be positive here LOLOL.
Luv Nancy

At 1pm today, Monday, 21st April, 2003, I will officially begin the first book of my prequel trilogy.

Yay for exciting new beginnings!  Don't you love the start of projects where the world is so full of potential?

Nancy, so pleased that your novel is coming along well.  The first time you write a book it's a huge learning curve and you're coping with it so well.  Can't wait to hear that you've typed "The End" although there's no rush.  Better to let the story dictate the word-count, rather than arbitrarily ordering it yourself. 

Thus, Good Luck, Louise!
Fingers crossed!
Grace

Yay for me!  1700 words yesterday - the prologue and first chapter just blurked themselves out onto the page.  I've never had an easier beginning.  Maybe my affirmation: "I am effortlessly successful at everything I do," is starting to work

Hey all,

Well done Lou!!! Can't wait to see where it all began almost as much as I can't wait to see where it's ending. Bring on June!!!

Well, the research is going amazingly well for my book. I am currently trying to reconstruct what the Earth might have looked like back in cira 11,000 BC. Alot of fun for someone that really, REALLY hates geology and geography. I'm learning all about plate tectonics (never thought it would go into that at all). You live and learn eh? hehe

One good thing is that the more I research, the more I'm wrting. I still don't have a truly good idea about my ancient setting (I cover two time periods - 11,000 BC and present day Australia) so I'm working more on the present day setting. Going well so I'm happy.

I'm becoming soooo totally engrossed in it. The more I think about it the more I discover and its just fabulous. As I'm sure many of you know!!!

Oh well there's my update. I'll keeping working hard (becoming more hermitized by the day) and I wish everyone else the same - in a good way!! hehe

Luv to all, Caz.

Yay Lou!!! What a great start!!! I have to live through you and remind myself not to start something new - to finish my current fab story and not sneak over to the new one that popped into my head the other day...

Just back from hols today. Did manage to get about 1500 words done last week! And that was ferreted away in my bedroom with my laptop on my knees. Time with the family is NOT conducive to writing! But I ached to get something out so had to sneak it in. Now have a few friends coming to stay all weekend (coming down for the big Collingwood Essendon clash) so fingers crossed I can hide away and get something done!!!

Got paid today!!! So that's very very exciting. I guess I can now officially call myself a 'professional' writer.

Happy writing!!!

Yay for Alyson's pay cheque   Did you take a photo of it to keep for posterity?  I did with mine.  I keep it in my 'brag file' with all the other nice things that make me feel good about writing.  Then when I'm having a blah day I get the file out and pour over it, reading nice reviews and fan letters, reminding myself that the hard work is all worth it!  Looking at copies of pay cheques may seem mercenary, but it works as a positive reinforcement for me.

Caz, I'm so thrilled for you that you're into your research in a big way.  That's so cool.  One of the things I love about writing fantasy is being able to research and write about things I'm interested in - that way I'm never bored.  Do keep us updated, and do you have a title yet?

I had a great two days of writing then the kids came home from Grandma's!  So I'm back on school holidays with them until next week.  I promised myself at the start of the year that I wouldn't work on school holidays, so I'm not.  And I'm not stressing, just taking notes of things that pop into my head and knowing it will all be there on Tuesday when I get back to it.  Have been gardening: planting scented pansies, and I bought a Blue Moon rose yesterday which was a big thing for me.  My grandma had one when I was little and I've always associated them with her, always wanted one but was scared that I wasn't clever enough to keep it alive.  Anyway, I bit the bullet and bought one and it's so very, very beautiful and the smell is like... well, I was going to say it's like heaven but it's actually like my Grandma's kitchen which is probably the next best thing!

 

Hey all,

Unfortunately Lou I haven't thought of a title as of yet. I'm sooo crap at titles so I'm kind of avoiding it until I really do need one. Besides I want to be a bit further into the acutally writing so I can get a feel for it better. My hopes are that one will come in time. It goes under the heading of 'Egyptian Odyssey' for the purpose of saving at the moment though. Keep you all posted.

Good luck with the rose planting. My mum's just gone all crazy with bulbs (bought about $100 worth in the last few weeks) so I have a strange feeling I'm be baited into planting them for her!!! Blah, hate potting mix!! hehe

Luv to all, Caz.