I'm actually writing again - a salvage project and a new project. And I cannot say how much I've missed this - the urge to write, the drive and desire to create something. It's been missing for the majority of this year and I've been miserable for it. Maybe this means that other things will start to shift and improve too - a girl can hope anyway.

Tags: writing
Current Mood: relieved

So vg_ford  pointed me in the direction of a new program (at least new to me).  ywriter is a really interesting program. I've always just written. From brain to fingers to computer/paper. But the last few months I haven't written anything - blocked worse than I've ever been. And grumpy for it too.

I'm so desperate to write again that I'm going to try it from an outline. I have stories in my head it's just that when I try to put them down they feel off. so - I've been working on a new project that's been circling in my head and I've decided to try it this way. And something must be working as I've got 3k words in an outline. and it's starting to even make sense. Can't say for sure if its going to stick or if I can get beyond the outline but it IS something. and something is a whole lot better than what I've been accomplishing.

On to Solstice House

Tags: solstice house, writing
Current Mood: creative

For the last few months, I have been writing at the dining room table - which of course - has led to it becoming a giant puddle of clutter. And actually - I only wrote like that for about two and a half months. The last while, I've been completely unable to write word one. Just an empty mess of doubt and suckage. I've tried fixing the little stuff - did some tests - I've been doing a lot to get healthier the last two months too so, for brief spans, I've reverted to my former habits to see if I could find an answer. None of those things were my catalyst. This morning, as I moved my computer for breakfast, it occured to me that I haven't had a dedicated space in too long. Sure, I could go back to my regular office but then my hours would be so limited as I can only be in my office when the baby is asleep - he's a handful and a half now.  So - I put together a small little desk tucked in a corner of the dining room. Dedicated space that I can make pretty. Maybe it won't work and then I'll try something else. Again. Hopefully this will help. Maybe I can start getting back to normal. Well - what passes for normal for me anyway.

Tags: blocked, writing
Current Mood: hopeful

( A bit of Sarah Weirdness... )

Tags: writing

But not necessarily in that order.

( The Bad )

( The Updates )

Now, for my favorite part of this post.

( The good )

I think that's everything on the brain tonight. I've not gotten anything written today - not like I usually do. It's just been one of those days when the brain is unwilling to assist. The muse is singing but the brain can't seem to translate it tonight. Perhaps tomorrow.

Tags: kids, life, writing

And it's nice to have the occasional rocking day. I managed 5k in PQ, and am two, maybe three chapters from the end, depending on how I end up closing out. I have an opening for a *gasp* Happy Ending! This never happens! I may run with it and see if I can't be happy with a happy ending. Not sure yet. This splat draft has taken way too long - I did Thosha in 31 days, Strange Angels in 34, this has taken double that and then some. Yes, I had sick sick kids and the holidays and other obligations in the meantime but still, I can't help feeling like that is no excuse. Of course, I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something. I probably forgot to send an email or two. Something.

Anyway - I'm hoping to have the splat and the first round of revision notes done by Saturday morning and then I can go back to Thosha's revisions. For a little while. Then I'll flip back to PQ for the next round. And then I'll have my usual debate about whether or not to post it to the group :P I always end up posting it but I wonder if it wouldn't be more helpful to switch back to SA instead. Or the Next Splat, whatever that may be. The goal is to do one a year. Revisions take so much longer but, if I can keep the splats coming, I'll never be out of something to work on. Maybe the novella, the near-apocolyptic science fantasy rolling around in my head waiting for me to come back to it. I've already written the legend of Indima's namesake - part of my process, write the legends first... use them in stories later ;) Funny how its the legends that keep getting published (partly because they're finished first) Blur of Tiers, Moronar's Chosen, Moronar's Vessel, Battle Brothers, and the Fall of Tyandor - all of them the history of my Acknivarian Cycle planets. And I've gotten way off topic. I need to go finish PQ before I start planning for the Next Project :P

 

Tags: purgatory's queen, writing

and I'm happy as a clam!

So - I didn't do nano officially - which is a good thing given I spent most of this month dealing with the aftercare of CrazyHorse's pneumonia. I've been writing anyway though - 20k on the new novel so far this month and I've got a few days left in november but I really don't see the draft being done until MidDecember. Pushes my desired timeline way back but - I figure I'll start revisions after the holidays and then worry about the rest. I'm really liking this project though. There are, of course, a lot of things that need work - it is a rough after all - but the story itself, the bones of it - I'm liking that a lot. It's been a little difficult to find the balance between the world being as dark as I would like and still being believable. I've not found that balance yet - but I suppose leaning towards the believable is better in the long run.

I've got a whole bunch of questions to type up today - starting a new feature on my other blog - interviews. Should be interesting. I have a couple authors in mind I just need to get their questions to them :)

Hubster is out in the woods hunting. I'm really hoping he can fill up his stamps this year. It would be really nice to have venison all winter, not to mention that it is far more cost effective and means that I can play with ingredients I might not have splurged on... So, I'm hoping.

And there's something of a sekrit project in the pipelines. Not sure if I'm supposed to talk about it or not yet so I'm being cautious... but stay tuned.

Now off to work on Purgatory's Queen before Hubster gets home and I get kicked out of the office so he can sleep.

Tags: pq, writing

and if you're working as a writer - it might be an interesting read for you. It isn't that there aren't some 4theluv and low paying markets out there that are worthwhile - I've actually been in several when the market appealed to me and mostly when I was truly just beginning - but it is definitely a good idea to be picky about which ones.

visit this ruckus from pgtremblay  and pay attention to the comments... it's a very interesting read and I am indebted to time_shark  for pointing it out.

Tags: publishing, writing

So, after the crazy month of nonworking, I'm back to writing. It was the longest stretch I've had in about three or four years, maybe more than that. I'm not sure. I do know it's been a really LONG time since I had such a run of nonwriting. I haven't gotten much done today of course, given Crazyhorse's issues, but the last few days- I think six maybe? I've been really working again and it feels SO nice to get back to doing what I love doing. This project is a little weird, and a lot fun. My first draft is being posted to my crit group as I go, and I'm getting some great insight that will help when I sit down next month to revise. But, from what I can tell right now, the first draft and the second draft will be completely different. I need to work at getting the atmosphere a little better (ok a lot) and work in the tech more seamlessly but I'm trying for something a little different (at least for me!) I'm attempting to mix two subgenres of my favorite genre. Cyberpunk and Steampunk - by definition I'm not sure they can coexist but it's great fun to try! I'm really looking forward to seeing how it ends...

It needs research, it needs atmosphere, but it has neat gadgets and neat sociological, political, and global elements. Basically, I'm having more fun with my writing than I have since February when I was working on HH. It's nice to come home and now- I'm off until all the kids are sleeping. or at least in their beds.

Tags: fiction, project, writing

I got a new project today... it's interesting. I'm aiming for 110k finished - and my first drafts tend to be shorter than goal so for this, I'm aiming for 75k in 60 days, faster if the muse strikes and I can get to my paper before the iron gets cold.

I'm really enjoying creating one character in particular - her name (for now) is Mishka and she's really... interesting. So is her sister.  For the moment I'm just playing with ideas in my head - jotting down a few notes here and there and seeing what I want, how dark I want to take it. how thin I make the sheen of civility in my near-dystopian future. In short - I'm feeling better than I have in a long time and I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out...

Tags: project, writing
Current Mood: creative