Editing SC again. Doing some tightening on the manuscript. Came to a better understanding of how this is supposed to work. Still usually takes me 5 or so passes to get it where it needs to be. So 90k words to slowly pound through for set dressing removal.
Today was yard work, then watching my son play on his playset. Climbing the ladder sliding down, again and again. Finally I set up my hammock and just relaxed for a bit. Some days are very nice.
Queries out for SC. I know it will be weeks, but damn I want this to work this round. Have to spend more time in QT and MSWL looking for good agent fits, then researching the hell out of them. So exhausting.
#writing #quering #booksky
Good session with my writing group last night. Gave me focus on my first few chapters to make them great, rather than just good. I highly recommend finding a writing coach and a writing group that can both cheerlead for you, but be honest about improvement.
Well pretty good actually. 2700 words yesterday. Not to shabby. Cleaned up and proofed. On to chapter 4 of WoS.
uses multiple POVs to express the character of the Company. It's risky, but I like it.
Also, hammered out the rewrite of chapter two for the sequel WoS. Off to do a new Chapter 3 that is a "Nemesis" Chapter, carrying the Antagonists from SC into WoS. (2/2) #writing #booksky
Chapter 3 of SC is off to the writing group. We'll see how it goes over. It's a slightly ambitious chapter that establishes stakes and politics but comes in two different POVs. Considering the whole book, while focused on one primary POV - (1/2)
#writing #booksky
Time to throw out more agent querries. Wish me luck.
Sounds interesting. Love to see what comes of it. My Religion fell into the Monotheistic side. Population that mythologized the Geneticist who altered their ancestors. Broke my brain a bit conceptualizing it.
It's a lot to consider, and how to differentiate it from Earth Religions if not on earth. Have a good handle on it now, but it was a lot to map out.
Created a bunch of random "quotes" for the Text. Established the tenants of the religion, and <gasp> wrote it all down. Now I can keep it coherent in the future and not just have people ripping off random curses.
Well.. realized if I was going to have a religion for my characters to "follow" it should probably have some structure.. created Holidays, sketch of a Theological Book "Voice of the Maker" with a whole bunch of "Sub" books like a bible and stuff.
Still working on SC, but it's at the let my writing group read bits of it to make sure it's worked stage. EL hit a wall, but should be able to jump back into it next week. Now to save up for cover art. Don't want no lazy AI slop, so have to find a way to pay an artist.
Whew.. chapter 1 went through my writing group today, and got good marks. One of the readers even picked up on how one of the unique words evolved.
V. Happy. Now to work on refining Chapter 2. It's a big swing chapter, with a POV shift. Necessary but tricky to bring the reader along.
When you finally have a breakthrough on an opening line that sums up the book and sets the tone:
"Training a company to be the first to die was an arduous task. "
I really like it, just needed to get out of my own way, finally. So much better then "The sun rose over.. blah"
Finished .t writing seminar with some pretty good results. Also, tapes and filled the cracking plaster on my kitchen ceiling. Arm sore now. Sanding next, then paint, then floor!
Tired. Long week and I'm still behind. Will have to finish up over the weekend. Did some editing on SC first and second chapter, but that's about it.
Geh.. no writing today. Work was busy and I had to focus on that all day.
Today was meeting with my current coach and going over my first chapter rewrite idea. He thought it was good and made some additional suggestions. So SC gets a new first. Need to review it a few more times, then get a live read of it to see if it is hitting better, with less confusion
Ok.. 28k on new novel. Steam Company's first chapter faired ok, but was still a bit much on a new reader. So revision time again. Main problem, giving a military hero a real choice, when they act on Orders.
Joy of writing, sometimes all your planning makes you jump the gun on plot points. Then you need to go back and add stuff to expand the narrative. But it's good, cause the story is there, I just skipped a bit.
About 23.5k as of today. Did some editing to improve chapter 1. Planning some chapter one reads with live readers in the coming weeks for both Steam Company and Empathy Labyrinth. Have decided on cover spec for EL. Still not sure on SC.
New novel broke 22.5k today. First novel had some minor editing to improve Frank's emotional arc over the story. Starting to add details to my FB Author page.
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My Author FB
Blech . Flu to ear infection to stomach bug. I haven't had a week without illness since mid January. This is getting very old
Relapsed on my flu, so not getting any writing done this week. Will jump back on it next week.
16k on new novel. Act 1 is functionally complete. Need to work on the ending of the chapter, but moving along steadily.
Managed another about 2k on the ride home. 15k at the end of act 1. Act 2 will need to be much longer, but it does cover two more murders and the investigation. Aiming for 70k total
Hit 13k today. Act 1 almost complete. Story is coherent and will hopefully just need polish when done.
New book is at 9.2k and 4 chapters now. Flowing pretty well.