I’m midway through a comprehensive rewrite of my 150k+++ word manuscript, slated for completion in time for the Nebula Conference (May, 12–14) and I’m sharing the progress for your encouragement and accumulated wisdom.
Sharing my ups and downs through the process helps immeasurably with my accountability, and fuels an internal competition.
If you’re working on a project and you care to share your experience here, please do — or chime in with questions and zingers.
Like Nostradamus knows what to order. I knew client work would get in the way. Had to press go on a website project, and a BIG holiday project popped up today.
Still things to do before I'm finished. But the heavy lifting is over.
Today was the start of the biggest restructuring of the book. I hope I grabbed all the right parts and plunked them in the proper spot. It also happened to be the beginning of the big show stopper scenes, so lots of fun action writing for the next day or two.
There's still 16k left. Though, with the revised ending order, I'm sure to chop out 1–2k.
Fell one scene short of my goal today, but my afternoon and evening was filled recording and assembling Tuesday's podcast. So it is what it it. I'm half-asleep as I type
Tomorrow evening is slammed, so I hope I can figure a way to sneak in some extra words.
Made it through Chapter 58 of 68. So there's light at the end of the tunnel. But with 33k words and a lot of restructuring left, there's still much to do.
I dream of writing ninety-thousand word books, because my unfazable energy began to wain at the 150k mark.
I'll wrap the week up tomorrow with only ten chapters left. three, or four will require major restructuring in order to land the main plot and character plots closer together. Gotta love experimentation.
Epic sci-fi/fantasy is more of a lifestyle than a genre.
An odd mid-chapter to mid-chapter day. I prefer starting and finishing chapters in the same day. But the numbers are the numbers.
The big bummer. I realized have to give yesterday's work another pass. There's too much pivotal info in those chapters and I was not in top form. So I'll tackle them after i get to the end. They're better than they were two days ago, so I'll live with that until I can't.
Typing away this morning when I hit a small mistake that affected a major plot point. The two obvious choices were, chop it out or perform exploratory surgery on the manuscript to this point. The mistake offered a grounding color to the story that improved the scene, but it wasn't crucial enough to merit the heavy lifting needed to adjust all the leading threads to this point. I was a bit stressed when I recalled the "Modified" Axiom.
If you have a specific mechanical aspect in your story, like an engine, computer, or gun. In order to bypass the expertise needed to mollify knowledgeable readers, the trick is to add the word "modified" before the subject, and voila! it passes the sniff rest. So, I added a modifier to my problem and problem resolved. Plus, I added a dash of extra color in the process.
Taking a break before we drive down to Atlanta for a family weekend. Under a hundred words from my 25k weekly target, but I'd like to hit my 6k mark for the day. I've become somewhat proficient at writing in the car. And I think I can slip away for a bit after dinner.
For all you comic creators who either hate all my numbers, or want to talk comic book projects. I'm falling behind on a comic project now and will start another thread to track that one. So if you want to talk the highs and lows of that process, keep an eye out for that thread this weekend.
Pulled a double today in the writing studio to make-up for the short week, and my mind is mush.
Let's hear it for modal jazz, soundtracks, noise-cancelling headphones, and Be Focused timer app to keep me rolling with the writing sprints. I can't recommend it enough.
I have one short, three-page, chapter to wrap Act 2 up. Then we're into Act 3!
I'm feeling the calendar crunch. It's a short week after our amazing walk with the ancient trees yesterday. I'd like to hit 6k words a day to try and recoup the day. We'll see.
I should finish Act 2 this week and aim for a good start on Act, 3 next week. It's a lot, but there are some BIG changes in store for the ending and I need he time.
Quick update. Monday was our 19th wedding anniversary, and we spent the day hiking through the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The only remaining Old Growth forest in the East Coast. It was a life-changing and recharging experience. So no words.
I had visions of a lot more, but the first scene required some restructuring and an infusion of some progress on a character's promise. Then the next scene had a bunch of loose threads that needed attention. Whew!
Great day of writing and I had an exiting call with a great writing organization about my increased involvement in their programing and fundraising this year.
Any headway on your project? Remember, thinking is progress.
DONE! (ish)
Wrap-up word-count: 4,988 (13 pages)
Book Total: 193,669 (488 pages)
Like Nostradamus knows what to order. I knew client work would get in the way. Had to press go on a website project, and a BIG holiday project popped up today.
Still things to do before I'm finished. But the heavy lifting is over.
BLACKFIRE Status:
Friday’s word-count: 6,598 (17 pages)
Weekly total: 32,136 (77 pages)
Total to date: 190,281 words (480 pages)
Made it through Chapter 67 of 68.
That's it, I'll finish the last chapter over the weekend.
It should be around 3k words (9 pages)
Monday–Wednesday, I'll tweak a few things and polishing the opening chapters.
I'll update you on those final steps.
Thursday word count, 5,758
Twelve pages of warfare combat and apocalyptic destruction today.
Tons of minor changes and two HUGE additions. The "makes the hair stand up" kind of ideas.
10k words/28 pages left...
Wednesday word count, 6,895
Today was the start of the biggest restructuring of the book. I hope I grabbed all the right parts and plunked them in the proper spot. It also happened to be the beginning of the big show stopper scenes, so lots of fun action writing for the next day or two.
There's still 16k left. Though, with the revised ending order, I'm sure to chop out 1–2k.
The LONG days will soon be over.
Tuesday word count, 6,991
Need to squeeze in a two/three paragraph moment to cap this scene off, but I'm spent.
There's still a lot to do with and the days are vanishing.
Monday word count, 5,643
Fell one scene short of my goal today, but my afternoon and evening was filled recording and assembling Tuesday's podcast. So it is what it it. I'm half-asleep as I type
Tomorrow evening is slammed, so I hope I can figure a way to sneak in some extra words.
BLACKFIRE status:
Friday’s word-count: 5,940 (16 pages)
Weekly total: 29,514 (76 pages)
Total to date: 158,148 words (403 pages)
Made it through Chapter 58 of 68. So there's light at the end of the tunnel. But with 33k words and a lot of restructuring left, there's still much to do.
Thursday word count, 6,850
I dream of writing ninety-thousand word books, because my unfazable energy began to wain at the 150k mark.
I'll wrap the week up tomorrow with only ten chapters left. three, or four will require major restructuring in order to land the main plot and character plots closer together. Gotta love experimentation.
Epic sci-fi/fantasy is more of a lifestyle than a genre.
Wednesday word count, 5,562
Great first-half today. Then life, some driveway auto servicing, dinner, and Ted Lasso.
Just finished of the last 800+ words in time to read more of CRYPTOCRACY. (graphic novel)
Tuesday's word count, 5,078.
An odd mid-chapter to mid-chapter day. I prefer starting and finishing chapters in the same day. But the numbers are the numbers.
The big bummer. I realized have to give yesterday's work another pass. There's too much pivotal info in those chapters and I was not in top form. So I'll tackle them after i get to the end. They're better than they were two days ago, so I'll live with that until I can't.
Typing away this morning when I hit a small mistake that affected a major plot point. The two obvious choices were, chop it out or perform exploratory surgery on the manuscript to this point. The mistake offered a grounding color to the story that improved the scene, but it wasn't crucial enough to merit the heavy lifting needed to adjust all the leading threads to this point. I was a bit stressed when I recalled the "Modified" Axiom.
If you have a specific mechanical aspect in your story, like an engine, computer, or gun. In order to bypass the expertise needed to mollify knowledgeable readers, the trick is to add the word "modified" before the subject, and voila! it passes the sniff rest. So, I added a modifier to my problem and problem resolved. Plus, I added a dash of extra color in the process.
Monday's word count, 6,084.
Was a fuzzy blob most of the day. Nothing came easy today and I wrote later than I'd like.
I peeked ahead at tomorrow's chapters and I'm excited to get started. I love this third act and can't wait to see if my rejiggered ending lands.
TGIF!
Today’s word-count: 4,949
Hoped to get past 6k today, but I drove all 4-hours to Atlanta & I'm spent.
I'm 3 chapters into Act 3 (ch 47)
Weekly total: 26,938
Total to date: 128,639 words
This weekend, I'll write on the comic & here on Substack.
Good night.
Friday mid-day check in.
Taking a break before we drive down to Atlanta for a family weekend. Under a hundred words from my 25k weekly target, but I'd like to hit my 6k mark for the day. I've become somewhat proficient at writing in the car. And I think I can slip away for a bit after dinner.
For all you comic creators who either hate all my numbers, or want to talk comic book projects. I'm falling behind on a comic project now and will start another thread to track that one. So if you want to talk the highs and lows of that process, keep an eye out for that thread this weekend.
Okay, look for my weekly recap tonight!
Thursday's word count, 8,330.
Pulled a double today in the writing studio to make-up for the short week, and my mind is mush.
Let's hear it for modal jazz, soundtracks, noise-cancelling headphones, and Be Focused timer app to keep me rolling with the writing sprints. I can't recommend it enough.
I have one short, three-page, chapter to wrap Act 2 up. Then we're into Act 3!
Anyone take some steps forward, or back today?
Wednesday word count, 7,283.
I would have stopped in the sixes, but I miscounted what chapter I started with today, so a clerical error in my favor.
I'm on track to finish Act 2 on Friday and complete [at least] three chapter in Act 3.
The inadvertent progress is great, but I question if I'll make it to the end of the book before I leave for the Nebula Conference.
Tuesday's word count, 6,253.
I'm feeling the calendar crunch. It's a short week after our amazing walk with the ancient trees yesterday. I'd like to hit 6k words a day to try and recoup the day. We'll see.
I should finish Act 2 this week and aim for a good start on Act, 3 next week. It's a lot, but there are some BIG changes in store for the ending and I need he time.
Quick update. Monday was our 19th wedding anniversary, and we spent the day hiking through the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The only remaining Old Growth forest in the East Coast. It was a life-changing and recharging experience. So no words.
TGIF!
Today’s word-count: 5,483.
Almost done with Chapter 35 (just one scene left) and past the halfway point of the book!
Weekly total: 25,906
Total to date: 103,002 words
Tomorrow, I’ll be at the South Carolina ComicCon doing the comic book thing.
#WritingCommunity
Thursday's word count, 5,163.
I had visions of a lot more, but the first scene required some restructuring and an infusion of some progress on a character's promise. Then the next scene had a bunch of loose threads that needed attention. Whew!
Now to finish the week strong.
#WritingCommunity
The race is won by those who keep on running it!
Wednesday's word count, 5,139.
Great day of writing and I had an exiting call with a great writing organization about my increased involvement in their programing and fundraising this year.
Any headway on your project? Remember, thinking is progress.
Today's word count, 4,864.
Fell short of my 5k daily goal, and lost our weekly bocce match, but I had a good time with both.
Tomorrow's another day!